The Expression Hub

Genre: Cyberpunk/ Thriller

No. of episodes: 10(in season 1) and 8 (in season 2)

Presented by: Netflix

” In modern warfare there are no victors; there are only survivors.”

Lyndon B Johnson

Statutory Disclaimer: This web series contains a lot of explicit content as well as violence. Children below the age of 13 are advised not to watch it. If they have to, then they must do it under parental guidance.

First of all a very big apology to all my readers and subscribers for keeping you waiting for the next blog post for a very long time. I am sure you might be super excited to find out what the next blog post is all about . I can understand your curiosity as I, too as a blogger am super excited to share with you my latest pick. But before I do share my latest pick in the awesome world of web series, I had to make the disclaimer which I have made above because I am a very responsible blogger . And I do feel that being a responsible blogger comes with a lot of accountability on your shoulders. Some might feel that the above disclaimer was unnecessary. But I do feel that if you are accountable to your readers and subscribers then you should be super honest about whatever you share with your audience.

Okay so a lot has been said about the disclaimer , now lets come straight to the point. So, ladies and gentlemen presenting you my latest pick in the fantastic world of web series- a cyberpunk thriller named Altered Carbon. I don’t think a majority of you might have heard of it . But those who have heard about it, do share your experiences with me. I would be happy to listen it from you. And also if you have any favorites in the genre you can tell me about it as well in the comments section. I would be happy to feature it in my upcoming blog post as well as a token of appreciation for the love poured in by my ever expanding family.

Synopsis: The show is based on a novel written by Richard K. Morgan of the same name. It has its timeline set in 360 years in the future, the year being 2384. The story is set in a futuristic metropolis known as the Bay City. The human body too has undergone a lot of modifications as now a person’s memories and consciousness are now recorded onto a disk shaped device called a cortical stack which is implemented in the vertebrae of a person.The specialty of these storage devices they can be reverse engineered and mass produced. But this comes with a bane as well- if the person’s stack is destroyed or doesn’t has a backup, they cannot return back to life.

Enter Takeshi Kovacs, who is also known as the Last Envoy who survived an uprising against the new World order. He is spun back to life by a 300 year old Meth named Laurens Bancroft who decides to give him a new shot at life. But he has a condition- the Envoy gets the shot only if he is able to solve his murder case. So does the Last Envoy solve the murder case? Or does he fail in doing so ? In doing so what all murky truths he encounters?This is what the first season of the web series is all about. In the second season, he however has a new mission in his hand. This time the mission is to search for his lost love and Envoy leader Quellcrest Falconer. Is he able to find her? What all difficulties does he encounter during his search ? Does he go to search for his love single handed or do some people join him in the mission ? The answers to these questions are for you to find out.

Assessment: Well, the show revolves around the advances the human body has undergone . On one hand, humans have undergone a lot of changes as part of the so called evolution. But at what cost ? The web series tries to explore the concept. The web series also tries to understand the role emotions play while undertaking decisions whether for the greater good or for one’s own good. The positives of the show:

1. A gripping story line.Since the story is based on the novel written by Richard K. Morgan, credit goes to both the author as well as the creator of the show(Laeta Kalogridis). You will never find a dull moment in the show.
2. The fantastic histrionics by all the characters in the show. The credit for this goes to the efforts put in by the casting directors. I am sure they must have undertaken a lot of efforts to find the right actors for each character. The actors fit in so beautifully in the roles.
3. The beautiful cinematography undertaken by the cinematographers, They deserve a huge shout out as well for creating a beautiful, realistic and nerve wrecking experience.
4. The dialogues of the show . Each one is a masterpiece in its own. They don’t just seam into the story line beautifully but they also give you a lot of food for thought . So be ready to have some serious discussions after each episode of the show. They are going to stimulate your brains a lot.
5. The theme music is just fantastic. Though you don’t understand what words are being said, but the music just brings goosebumps on your skin whenever you hear it. So credit goes to the music director of the show for creating such a chilling piece .

The negatives of the show:

1. The show contains a lot of explicit language which is just not suitable for watching. It just makes you cringe in disgust .
2. The show also contains a lot of intimate scenes which makes you wonder if can you avoid those parts and rush the story forward. After all you are interested in the story and not the slow motion intimate scenes . I agree these are somewhat essential to the story but you need not fill the entire show with it.
3. The story also contains a lot of violence . These can be a bad influence especially to those children who are adolescents. So that is the reason if this show is to be viewed by children, then it must be done under parental guidance.

The view: The pros outweigh the cons, so its a great show to watch. After all , it is an innovative take on what a dystopian future might look like . Also , the show is an interesting take on how emotions rule our decisions which we take for ourselves or for the greater good. And it contains all the ingredients which are necessary for a good watch. Also, the dialogues said by the actors gives your brain a lot of stimulation. So do give it a watch once especially if you are a lover of the genre or if you want some intense brain stimulation. Believe me it won’t disappoint you . You will surely enjoy it just like I did. Do share your experiences in the comments section. Would love to hear it from you.

Baap dialogue: Season 1: It is not our enemies that defeat us. It is our fear. Do not be afraid of the monsters. Make them afraid of you. (Poe)

Season 2: Fear holds you back. It keeps you from seeing the world as it is. Many men much older than you never get past it. But if you are strong, if you allow yourself to let your fear go, nothing can stand in your way. (Danica to a little girl)

Que : What is the real name of Quellcrest Falconer, the lost love of the Last Envoy?

a. Zendaya Angelou

b. Amara Fuller

c.Lela Loren

d. Nadia Makita