Altered Carbonis one of the few sci-fi TV shows that is virtually flawless when it comes to worldbuilding, which will definitely appeal to fans ofThe Expanse. While there have been someexcellent low-budget sci-fi TV shows, the genre is usually associated with high expenses and a complex plot. When done well, sci-fi is one of the most exciting genres as the possibilities are virtually limitless, andThe Expanseis a great example.The Expanseis a high-budget, far-reaching sci-fi show, which lasted six seasons and has often been described as “Game of Thrones in space.” That said, evenThe Expansewas canceled too soon.
An intricate premise and big budget can often work against the sci-fi genre, no matter how good the shows are, andThe Expanseshowed a harsh reality about the genrewith its struggles to stay on air. Despite a passionate fan campaign and critical acclaim, the show was canceled twice, but was able to wrap up most of its storylines in the short final season. Still,The Expanseis missed, leaving behind the demand for another excellent sci-fi show, with a compelling world and similar tone.Altered Carbon, though also canceled too soon, is a great option to watch next.
Altered Carbon’s Tone And Aesthetic Will Feel Familiar To Expanse Fans
Altered Carbon And The Expanse Have Both Been Praised For Their Worldbuilding
Altered Carbonis a cyberpunksci-fi show with a mystery element, set in the far future. It follows Takeshi Kovacs (Joel Kinnaman), who is a former soldier, released from prison so that he can use his skills to solve a crime. While their main storylines are treated differently,fans ofThe Expansewill be familiar with the futuristic film noir aesthetic ofAltered Carbon. Both shows have a dark and gritty tone and revolve around a mystery, which reveals a wider conspiracy. InAltered Carbon, this is a murder, while it is a missing person inThe Expanse.
Rotten Tomatoes critics' rating
Rotten Tomatoes audience rating
2015
6
95%
85%
2018
2
75%
64%
Whilethe terminology inAltered Carboncan be confusing, most viewers will soon get used to it and begin to understand the show’s world. InAltered Carbon, people’s consciousness is uploaded into a chip, which can be implanted into a different body. This allows the super-rich to achieve immortality, regularly swapping bodies.The Expanseis set in a slightly less distant future, with plausible inventions and a realistic political systemthat sometimes echoes reality. Both shows have been widely praised for their immersive worldbuilding, which feels real but includes surprises and very disturbing reveals.
Altered Carbon Was Canceled Too Soon
Altered Carbonwas visually stunning, and had some emotional and powerful moments, like the Day of the Dead scenes, during which a character put her dead relative’s consciousness in a different body for the evening. Still, the show had some flaws, often jumping between timelines and introducing extra complexity over time, especially in season 1. This was often unavoidable in a show where characters could swap bodies, but there were times when plots felt rushed and therefore confusing. That said,fans ofThe Expansewill appreciate the ambition inAltered Carbon, and the show’s many-layered storytelling.
Netflix reportedly canceledAltered Carbondue to low viewing figures.
WhileThe Expanseended with season 6, giving closure to many of the main storylines,Altered Carbonwas canceled after season 2, which aired in 2020. It has been widely assumed that Netflix had made the decision due to the COVID pandemic, but this was apparently not the case. Netflix reportedly canceledAltered Carbondue to low viewing figures, making the series one of many sci-fi shows that have been canceled too soon. The second season ofAltered Carbonhad set the stage for a third, frustrating viewers who understood the show’s flaws but still wanted to see more.
Altered Carbon Is Still Worth Watching Despite The Early Cancellation
Both Altered Carbon and The Expanse Are Even Better On A Rewatch
Altered Carbonis stillworth watching for its neon cyberpunk visuals and many fascinating ideas. While the show might have lost its way a little in season 2,Altered Carbon’s first season was extremely popular, attracting a 91% positive review on Rotten Tomatoes. Even season 2 attracted an 81% Rotten Tomatoes score despite a much lower audience rating. The show strikes a very interesting balance with exciting fight sequences like Rei’s clone scene, quieter emotional moments, and genuinely disturbing scenes.Altered Carbonis unlikely to get a season 3, but the first two seasons are excellent.
AsbothThe ExpanseandAltered Carboncan be complex at times, both shows are even better on a rewatch. Some of the more tangled plotlines make more sense, and it is easier to keep track of some of theAltered Carboncharacters when they are using different bodies than their usual ones. BothAltered CarbonandThe Expansehave moments of foreshadowing that can easily be spotted when viewers are looking for them. Finally,The Expansehas an extremely satisfying ending, without an abrupt cliffhanger, and it is reassuring to know this during a rewatch.
Altered Carbon
Cast
Altered Carbon is set in the far future, at a time when a human’s consciousness can be stored in a device called a Stack and transferred into different bodies, allowing people who have the means to become functionally immortal. Takeshi Kovacs (Joel Kinnaman and Anthony Mackie), the former member of a rebellion against Stack technology, is awakened and released from prison so that he can be employed by a wealthy man to solve the man’s own murder. The Netflix original series is based on the 2002 novel of the same name by Richard K. Morgan.
The Expanse
The Expanse is a sci-fi series set in the distant future where humanity has spread out across the solar system, but the alliances between the three most potent governing bodies have reached a state of the cold war. In the series, a mixed crew finds themselves at the center of a dangerous intergalactic conspiracy that threatens to bring war to the colonized worlds.
