The Netflix series Altered Carbon is based on the neo-noir sci-fi novels of Richard Morgan. The gritty, fantasticial setting is a world where no one dies. Meths (methuselahs) rule the universe because they have insane money and access to infinite lives.
The key to eternal life is a chip called cortical stack invented with an alien technique. Any living being’s consciousness can be stored in it, ensuring an immortal existence. But, there is a group that is against the misuse of this technology. Takeshi Kovacs is one such rebel who used to fight against the oppression that came with the stacks. The series is truly brilliant, with a multitude of awesome characters. Today we are going to share with you 5 characters whom fans loved and 5 they truly hated.
Most Hated: Ortega
Ortega is a Latina cop in Konrad in the season 1. She was featured in all the episodes of the series and helps maintain a romantic angle in the show, in the absence of Quellcrist Falconer. She is hands down the most typecast character throughout all the episodes.
She is ill-tempered, bilingual, and extremely gorgeous, of course, with dreamy brunette locks. When she is not kicking gangsters’ asses, she can be found hurling abuses in everyone’s faces or blabbering about something in Spanish. She is a stereotype straight off the bat.
Most Loved: Poe
Poe is by far the most loved character of the Altered Carbon series. He meets Kovacs for the very first time when the latter visits the AI’s hotel looking for an old-fashioned comfortable stay. After that, both became inseparable. He lightens up the dense dark mood, provides subtle comic relief, remains a loyal and faithful friend, and plays shrink, too, when Kovacs asks him to help Lizzie with the therapy. Chris Conner has absolutely lived the character.
Most Hated: Reileen
Reileen is the second lead antagonist of the series. She is also the long lost sister of Kovacs, whom he loves a lot. But, she is hugely infatuated with him and wants him to reciprocate her feelings. Problems arise when she starts acting on those feelings.
Reileen’s hated because all her plots and schemes seem child-like and very cartoonish. Her being an extra omni-woman (she’s a meth, owns all the shady facilities of the city, has the sleeves of all influential people, and is Kovacs’ sister at the same time) does not help her character much either.
Most Loved: Kovacs
Kovacs is the lead protagonist of the AC and he plays an anti-hero for most of the part. Fans loved both Joel Kinnaman’s Kovacs and Will Yun Lee’s, but Kinnaman takes the cake. It’s such a shame we won’t be seeing any more of Kinnaman Kovacs, now. He’s really got the best face, expressions (or rather a deliberate lack of them, sometimes) and bod combination required for the role of a cyberpunk hero. Without him Netflix, no matter what you have, it won’t be enough.
Most Hated: Lizzie Elliot
Lizzie is a prostitute at a brothel on the streets, owned by Reileen. She is an amiable innocent woman doing her job honestly. Bancroft loves her company and she even conceives a child with him during a visit. Her character starts getting tons of hate when she magically gets a gazillion super powers and out of this world ninja moves. This happened after she recovers from her injuries (mental) with Poe’s help. He also decided to download a bunch of skills for her while she was in virtual therapy with him.
Most Loved: Laurens Bancroft
Laurens Bancroft is the lead antagonist of the series and is featured in all of its 10 episodes. He is an extremely rich meth with apparently infinite sleeves.
He even has a personal remote server that backs up his consciousness every 24 hours should he die or get killed somehow. He is the one who resurrected Takeshi Kovacs for an assignment. Mr. Bancroft is not necessarily evil, as he has an arguable streak of good in his heart. Every few days, he loves to play Jesus by touching and distributing supplies to fatally infected refugees. Let’s just say James Purefoy has totally nailed this character.
Most Hated: Quellcrist
Apart from being the legendary fighter and the leader of the Uprising, she was also the genius scientist who invented the cortical stack. This seems incredibly unrealistic and that’s the main reason why fans showered hate on this character. Moreover, close up shots of her every few minutes got a bit annoying. On the top of that, she kept appearing throughout the season in flashbacks and sometimes in the form of voice-overs. How much more of a person can you take?
Most Loved: Ortega
Despite being hated for the stereotyped role, she was also hugely loved for her character. Ortega brought a fresh romance into the show. It helped that Kovacs was in a sleeve of his boyfriend, coincidentally a cop named Ryker.
She fought extremely well, whether it was with ruthless gangsters or her nail-biting catfight with a naked Reileen. Her steamy romance scenes with Kovacs were very delicate and beautifully filmed too.
Most Hated: Miriam Bancroft
Miriam Bancroft is Laurens’ wife. She is more than a hundred years old and loves being a femme fatale. She enjoys the company of young men. Kovacs becomes a new obsession for her from the first time she sees him, so she stalks him until he gives in and sleeps with her. That’s not her only motive, however. Apparently, she wants him to do something for her too. There is nothing much to hate about her until it is revealed that she is the reason Lizzie turned insane. On knowing Lizzie was pregnant, Miriam beat her black and blue, driving her mad.
Most Loved: Ghostwalker
Mister Leung, otherwise known as the Ghostwalker, is the X factor of the series. This character was not originally written in the book. He was exclusively created for the screens. He is an ardent religious man, devoted to his boss, Reileen. His mysterious aura and brutal demeanor are often portrayed in contrast and you never know when he will strike next. This character has a distinct charm about him, and was definitely appreciated for adding oodles of it to the show.
