Why Netflix Canceled Altered Carbon After Just Two Seasons

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Netflix really hit it out of the park with its cyberpunk series, Altered Carbon, but unfortunately canceled it before it could fully develop. Combined with recent price hikes and the plan to merge with Warner Bros. Discovery, Netflix is currently making decisions that aren’t helping its reputation or subscriber base.

Netflix often creates problems for itself, and its subscribers usually suffer as a result. Raising prices and trying to dominate the market might be easier to accept if Netflix didn’t cancel popular shows like Altered Carbon.

What Went Wrong With Altered Carbon

The cyberpunk crime series Altered Carbon, which premiered in 2018, was canceled by Netflix in August 2020, shortly after its second season finished airing. Netflix stated the cancellation was due to a standard review of how many people watched the show compared to its production costs, as reported by Deadline.

The first season of Altered Carbon received a 70% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but the second season saw a jump to 81%, with critics noting a more focused story and clearer character motivations. Despite this improvement, viewership dropped significantly between the two seasons, as reflected in a large decrease in the audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

After a significant drop in viewership – from 91% to just 37% – Netflix’s statements about low numbers may be true. Viewers have suggested a few reasons for the decline, including the recasting of a lead role with Anthony Mackie replacing Joel Kinnaman. Others were unhappy with how the show deviated from the original story in Richard K. Morgan’s novel.

What Altered Carbon Season 3 Would’ve Been About

The second season of Altered Carbon concludes with Kovacs seemingly sacrificing his life for the woman he loves. However, the season closes with Poe, Kovacs’ AI assistant, reconstructing another body for him. A potential third season could have shown Kovacs in a new body, navigating the world he helped shape.

Netflix Has A Sci-Fi Problem

While opinions on Altered Carbon were divided, canceling it after just two seasons felt premature. Given Netflix’s success with a huge sci-fi hit like Stranger Things, it’s surprising they aren’t investing in developing another high-quality series to take its place.

Aside from the hit Stranger Things, Netflix doesn’t have many popular, continuing science fiction shows. While they’ve had some successes in the past, those shows have been canceled. Currently, 3 Body Problem is their only other ongoing sci-fi series, and though it’s a great show, it hasn’t reached the level of popularity needed to become a major hit like Altered Carbon had the potential to be.

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2025-12-23 02:58