Altered Carbon (2018)

Kernel Score: 85% · 2,196 ratings

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama

First aired: 2018-02-02

Seasons: 2 · 18 episodes

Is Altered Carbon worth watching?

Worth watching. A stylish cyberpunk murder mystery where minds can swap bodies. The world and fight scenes look great, though the story gets messy, and it only runs two seasons.

Watch it if you

  • love cyberpunk and noir mysteries
  • like big sci-fi worlds with violence and style
  • want a short binge

Skip it if you

  • dislike graphic violence and nudity
  • want tight, clean plotting

Best for: Binge weekend

Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.

Where to watch Altered Carbon

US availability, updated 2026-10-23.

Overview

After 250 years on ice, a prisoner returns to life in a new body with one chance to win his freedom: by solving a mind-bending murder.

Altered Carbon parents' guide: ages 15+

Parents need to know that Altered Carbon is a TV-MA cyberpunk thriller with violence, dark themes, and mature content typical of hard sci-fi noir.

  • Violence & scariness: Strong — Cyberpunk noir with backstabbing, fighting, and a murder investigation across a dystopian setting.
  • Sex, romance & nudity: Moderate — TV-MA rating and neo-noir genre suggest mature sexual content typical of the source material.

Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official TV-MA rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.

Shows like Altered Carbon

If you liked Altered Carbon, these are the shows we'd watch next.

  • Foundation (2021) — 87%: Large-scale sci-fi epic with deep ideas.
  • Mr. Robot (2015) — 89%: Dark, paranoid tech thriller with strong characters.
  • Orphan Black (2013) — 87%: Identity-bending sci-fi thriller with a great lead.
  • Fringe (2008) — 91%: Mystery-of-the-week with big sci-fi ideas.
  • Pantheon (2022) — 86%: Smart, adult animated sci-fi about uploaded minds.
  • The Peripheral (2022) — 85%: Near-future thriller with mysterious technology.

Cast

  • Anthony Mackie as Takeshi Kovacs
  • Renée Elise Goldsberry as Quellcrist Falconer
  • Chris Conner as Poe
  • Lela Loren as Danica Harlan
  • Simone Missick as Trepp
  • Torben Liebrecht as Colonel Ivan Carrera
  • Dina Shihabi as Dig 301

Altered Carbon FAQ

Is Altered Carbon worth watching?

Worth watching. A stylish cyberpunk murder mystery where minds can swap bodies. The world and fight scenes look great, though the story gets messy, and it only runs two seasons.

Where can I watch Altered Carbon?

In the US you can stream Altered Carbon on Netflix.

Is Altered Carbon OK for kids?

Altered Carbon is rated TV-MA. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that Altered Carbon is a TV-MA cyberpunk thriller with violence, dark themes, and mature content typical of hard sci-fi noir.

What shows are like Altered Carbon?

If you liked Altered Carbon, try Foundation, Mr. Robot, Orphan Black and Fringe.