5 Sci-Fi influences and other homages featured in Netflix’s Altered Carbon
By Shah Shahid
Netflix’s latest original sci-fi is cyberpunk noir Altered Carbon, and it’s every fanboys dream mashup of genres and storytelling.
Altered Carbon, based on the book of the same name by Phillip K. Morgan, is set in a future where people can live forever. They do this by backing up their consciousness and downloading it into multiple bodies based on their financial status.
Takeshi Kovacs (Joel Kinnaman) is similarly put into a new body after 250 years by a wealthy socialite, who wants Kovacs to solve his own attempted murder, in a brand new future that is foreign to us, but completely alien to him.
Altered Carbon draws heavily on many influences of science fiction and other genres of storytelling to convey its immensely large world building and, at times, convoluted plot and story arcs. Fans of many different genres of film and TV, and more specifically, classic films from those genres, will be able to see the influences in the Netflix series, but all of which serves to further the story, and truly enhance this unique show.
Let’s take a look at 5 science fiction influences and homages that can be found in Netflix’s Altered Carbon.
Blade Runner
Right off the bat, the aesthetic and visuals of Altered Carbon is incredibly reminiscent of Ridley Scotts cult hit Blade Runner, which was continued in its sequel Blade Runner 2049 by (now) Oscar-winning cinematographer Roger Deakins.
The setting and establishing shots of a futuristic San Francisco (Bay City in the show) look very similar to that of the dystopian Los Angeles portrayed in both Blade Runner films. The bright lights and colourful people of all walks of life and backgrounds pretty drive home the blended society of the future that both stories also contain.
The visuals are so alike, that it feels like the story of Altered Carbon could easily be set in the distant future of the Blade Runner universe.
The Matrix
Along with stunning visuals, Altered Carbon features some of the most exciting and intense action sequences on television (or film) in a long time. The action choreography instantly brings to mind the creativity and unique-ness that was last experienced with the Wachowski Sisters’ The Matrix trilogies.
The Matrix movies provided an interesting element of fight sequences that seamlessly blended hand to hand and weapons combat in visually riveting ways. Altered Carbon does the same thing as it features some amazing gun-porn and hand to hand beat downs, including, at one point, even blending the two in one of the better action set pieces of the show that sees an immense gun and sword fight from a 360 degree perspective.
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Battlestar Galactica
The idea of a rebellious group of activists, fighting against the power in a science fiction future definitely sounds like sci-fi gene staple. But Altered Carbon differs in its depiction of the rebellion, who are just as much guided by their spiritual and philosophical ideologies, as they are by technological and practical motivations.
Quellcrest Falconer, (Renee Elise Goldsberry) is depicted not just as the leader of the rebels, but a saviour type figure who becomes immortalized as a warrior-poet in the future that Kovacs awakens in. Flashbacks of her time also show how the concept of immortality and living forever influences her reasons to fight.
Similarly Battlestar Galactica (the rebooted series) had ideas and discussions about the concept of immortality and fate that transcended the techy-ness of a science fiction show, and infused it in spiritual conversations and philosophies. Even the ending of the series is highly debated as being incredibly open-ended and more of a spiritual resolution, than a practical science fiction ending.
Edgar Allen Poe
Altered Carbon has some dollops of goth culture influence as well, through one character, the artificial intelligence known as, appropriately enough, Poe. (Chris Connor).
Poe is the A.I. that runs the hotel that becomes the headquarters of Kovacs and his crew. the hotel is also aptly named, Raven.
The Raven is a poem that author Edgar Allen Poe is known for, and it’s clear to see the influence that he had on Poe himself. Everything from his clothes and actual Raven themed decor permeated through out the hotel. Even more obvious is (Spoilers!) Poe’s last words at the end of the series as he directly quotes his name sake.
Artificial Intelligence wanting to be human
Through Poe, Altered Carbon also is able to create a central theme around the desire for artificial intelligence, to be human. Poe, despite being a virtual character, desires to be human, and comes across as one of the more human characters on the show through his compassion and love for all around him. This is especially relevant in a show that deals with people living forever, and how that affects their own humanity.
This is explored in great science fiction classics as well, such as Steven Spielberg’s AI: Artificial Intelligence, or even through the story arc of the character of Data (Brent Spiner) throughout the Star Trek: The Next Generation series and its subsequent films.
Film Noir
Altered Carbon also has heavy influences from the film noir genre as the premise acts as a detective story along the likes of China Town or L. A. Confidential. The hero has to dive deep into an unknown world, with unsavoury characters and uncover dirty dealings, corruptions and sexual mysteries, as well as finding romance himself in an attempt to find the bad guy.
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It’s straight out of a pulp noir classic, and when juxtaposed with the science fiction and cyber punk world, it enhances the story that much more.
Did you notice any other influences during Altered Carbon? Let us know in the comments below.