Although it’s one of the most celebrated subgenres of science fiction, cyberpunk is criminally underrepresented in live-action TV. Fans have a hard time finding any long-form content to watch that’s not animated, and are generally still waiting for a series that does it justice. The thing is, there is already one that most people forget about: Altered Carbon. Starring Joel Kinnaman and Anthony Mackie as the same character, this groundbreaking Netflix series left an indelible mark on streaming over its two seasons and is proof of the unexplored potential of the genre on TV. There may be more cyberpunk stories on the way for different streaming platforms now, but it all began with mercenary Takeshi Kovacs being re-sleeved.

‘Altered Carbon’ Has One of the Most Creative Worlds in Science Fiction

When thinking about cyberpunk, it’s usually the neon haze, fast-paced action, and interconnectedness between humans and technology that come to mind. All this is present in Altered Carbon, of course, but it also highlights other essential tropes of the genre, like the ever-expanding social gap between the rich and the poor, and how death isn’t the end in a world where the line between the human soul and raw data is blurred. In the series, this is mostly represented by the cortical stack, a disk-like device that stores one’s consciousness and may be inserted into different vacant bodies called sleeves.

That’s where protagonist Takeshi Kovacs comes in. Once part of a rebel group called the Envoys, he is re-sleeved and brought back to life after 250 years at the request of a man named Laurens Bancroft (James Purefoy). Part of the wealthy elite known as Meths (like Methuselah, not that other thing), Bancroft recruits Kovacs to investigate his own murder, which didn’t fully succeed thanks to his remote satellite backup (something only made available to absurdly rich individuals). If Kovacs succeeds, he gets to live again in his new sleeve, which is one hell of a prospect after centuries of pretty much not existing.

The series is based on the Richard K. Morgan novel of the same name, posing many of the same philosophical questions. While Meths live in impossibly tall buildings high above the clouds and may be perpetually re-sleeved inside clone bodies, people like Kovacs deal with different sleeves (that is, if they even get new ones) and live precariously in the darkness of the surface. Because of all that, notions like identity and morality become fluid, since death isn’t necessarily final, and your current body may very well not be the only one you’ll ever have.

‘Altered Carbon’ Broke New Ground in Live-action Cyberpunk on Streaming

There’s a reason there aren’t many live-action cyberpunk series around: the genre usually thrives in animation, which favors the surreal aesthetic and fast-paced narratives. Replicating it in live-action is a huge financial risk, since production costs are often higher than the average series’ budget, thanks to setting and CGI, for example. As Joel Kinnaman revealed at the time, Altered Carbon itself had “a bigger budget than the first three seasons of Game of Thrones.” That’s a risk not many are willing to take, of course, an investment that’s usually reserved for feature films with blockbuster potential.

So, when Netflix released Altered Carbon in 2018, it felt almost like a statement that not only could it compete with premium cable in both scale and tone, but also give audiences something they wouldn’t find on TV. It was the first proper live-action cyberpunk series in decades, effectively opening the doors to the genre for fans and newcomers alike. The series checks nearly all of cyberpunk boxes, including the pulpy noir feel of Takeshi Kovacs’ story, the existential sublayer that is intrinsic to it, and an R-rating mostly due to its gritty action sequences and adult themes.

Thanks to all that, Altered Carbon shaped what cyberpunk could be in a series. Its first season was acclaimed by audiences and critics thanks to its impressive visuals and futuristic pulpy detective story. Only in cyberpunk would you find the story of a man in a body that isn’t his, using an abandoned hotel managed by an Edgar Allan Poe AI (Chris Conner), for example. All that happening in live-action with live actors sets the series apart from other works of the genre in visual media. Season 2 then doubled down on what made the series special, but, unfortunately, it didn’t work out as well as Season 1 did.

Despite Being Short-Lived, ‘Altered Carbon’ Has Become a Cult Favorite for Fans of Cyberpunk

Image via Netflix

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Altered Carbon‘s sleeves are a unique narrative device, and having different actors playing the same character over the seasons seemed like a great way of keeping things fresh and adding star power to the series. Two years after Season 1, Kinnaman was replaced by Anthony Mackie as Takeshi Kovacs, and, while that would seem like a great idea at first, it didn’t translate on screen. Mackie’s version of Kovacs is more charming than Kinnaman’s brooding take, and many behind-the-scenes changes also affected how Season 2 felt to the audience, leaving behind the neon-drenched setting and pulpy noir atmosphere.

Altered Carbon is still regarded by fans as one of the best cyberpunk stories on streaming, despite its flaws, and rightly so. Perhaps if Season 2 had been given the same conditions as Season 1 to tell its story, the series could have gone on longer and become a classic. In the end, instead of the bold statement it was supposed to be about streaming’s potential, it became almost like a cautionary tale about how unstable the whole system may be. Regardless, Altered Carbon is still very much worth the watch, and is still the standard for what live-action cyberpunk can achieve.

Vikings’ Rondale Moore
Died From Suspected Self-Inflicted Gunshot Wound

Published
February 22, 2026
5:46 AM PST

Sara Ramirez celebrated the life of their late Grey’s Anatomy costar Eric Dane by sharing how he once selflessly supported a guest star on the medical drama.

On Saturday, February 21, Ramirez, 50, became the latest Grey’s Anatomy cast member to pay tribute to Dane, who died at age 53 on Thursday, February 19, following a battle with the neurodegenerative disease ALS.

Ramirez posted a “broken heart emoji” via Instagram and shared a video from trans activist and actress Alexandra Billings, who played Donna Gibson in the classic Grey’s Anatomy season 3 episode “Where the Boys Are.” The powerful episode dealt with Dr. Mark Sloan (Dane) supporting Donna when she was diagnosed with breast cancer while in the midst of transitioning.

In a 15-minute tribute, Billings recalled the way Dane showed her empathy on set and fought for her when her lengthy monologue was supposed to be cut. Per Billings, she shared with Dane how her real-life doctor would “touch my knee or he would hold me” while she was going through the process of transitioning in the 1980s.

Related: Eric Dane Died on 20th Anniversary of His 1st ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Episode

Eric Dane died on the 20th anniversary of his first appearance on Grey’s Anatomy. Dane’s loved ones confirmed his death in a statement on Thursday, February 19, following his battle with ALS, noting that the actor “spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, […]

“[The doctor] would let me know he saw me, no matter what we were talking about,” explained.

After sharing that memory, Dane held Billings’ hand during their scene to emulate the real support she’d received. Later, the director and writer informed Billings that they would have to cut her inspiring monologue for time reasons.

“[Eric] turns to me and he says very quietly, he says, ‘What are the five most important things you say in that monologue?’ … And I told him! I don’t remember what they were, but I told him one of them was about my wife, a line about my wife. And he said, ‘Say that and we’ll do a little improvisation,’” she remembered. “And he turned to the boom mic [operator] and he said, ‘What do you think?’ And from the back, you hear like little Muppets, ‘Yes, that’s a great idea!’ So they were all for it. And that’s what you see in the episode.”

Billings said that “it changed everything for me” when Dane fought for her character Donna to have that moment of catharsis.

“There was no reason in the world for him to do that. It didn’t have anything to do with him,” she said. “Time is money, especially in television. Eric Dane was one of the kindest, most empathetic humans I think I’ve ever worked with. I think that I could count on one hand the amount of times where I’ve left a set … and gone, ‘I can’t believe.’ Or, ‘That was extraordinary.’ And that was one of those times. Eric Dane showed everyone on that set what a true ally looks like. It’s not just talk.”

As she fought back tears, Billings went on, “An ally is present even when there’s danger in them being present. And that’s what Eric Dane did. I didn’t know him. I really didn’t know him but I absolutely knew him. And he will be missed. And I’m going to say something I didn’t get a chance to say to him: Thank you, Eric. Thank you. From all of us.”

Earlier this week, Patrick Dempsey admitted it was “hard to put into words” what his Grey’s Anatomy costar Dane’s death meant.

“He was the funniest man — he was such a joy to work with, and I want to just remember him in that spirit, because any time he was on set, he brought so much fun to it,” Dempsey recalled. “He had a great sense of humor. He was easy to work with. We got along instantly. First scene was him, you know, in all his glory, coming out of the bathroom with the towel on looking amazing, making you feel completely out of shape and insignificant.”

“We hit it off because it was never really any competition,” he added. “There was just this wonderful mutual respect, he’s wickedly intelligent, and I’m always going to remember those moments of fun that we had together and celebrate the joy that he did bring to people’s lives, and the real loss is for us who don’t have them anymore.”

Dane’s family announced on Thursday that he’d died nearly a year after going public with his ALS diagnosis. Per the Mayo Clinic, ALS is a nervous system disease that weakens nerve cells in both the brain and spinal cord and leads to a progressive loss of muscle control.

“[Eric] will be deeply missed, and lovingly remembered always,” his rep said. “Eric adored his fans and is forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support he’s received. The family has asked for privacy as they navigate this impossible time.”

Dane was survived by two daughters, Billie and Georgia, from his marriage to Rebecca Gayheart. A GoFundMe was set up to support his daughters on Friday, February 21, and has already raised more than $274,000 towards a $500,000 goal.

Former Prince Andrew
Don’t Even Think About Being King!!!

Published
February 22, 2026
5:17 AM PST

It can be a significant commitment to watch a television show that is relentlessly bleak because of how demanding a binge experience may be. While watching a film about serious subject material can be draining, it only requires a viewer to commit to a single story that has a resolution. Committing to watching a dark or disturbing show every week, or consuming it all if it is released at once, means that the material has to be incredibly compelling to justify the emotional punishment.

Television has become a bolder medium within recent years, so it is not a surprise that some of the most distressing dramas were made more recently when shows were allowed to include more graphic content that wouldn’t have been allowed within a more restricted era. Here are the heaviest television dramas, ranked.

10

‘This Is Going to Hurt’ (2022)

Image via BBC

This Is Going to Hurt is one of the best medical dramas of all time because it does away with all the clichés that have become common within hospital shows. Rather than painting the healthcare industry in a positive light and overlooking the issues that doctors face, This Is Going to Hurt explored the life of an overworked, brilliant OBGYN worker (played by Ben Whishaw) who faces emotional turmoil while trying to assist his patients.

This Is Going to Hurt isn’t just a compelling exploration of the failings of the contemporary healthcare industry, but a surprisingly moving study on how bigotry and homophobia were sadly an issue in contemporary Britain. Those who love The Pitt owe it to themselves to check out This Is Going to Hurt, even though it’s not an easy watch by any stretch of the imagination.

9

‘Andor’ (2022–2025)

Image via Disney+

Andor is by far the darkest Star Wars story ever told, and it’s hard to even believe that it takes place in the same connected universe as something more family-friendly like The Mandalorian. While anyone with a passing knowledge of the series knew that the show was going to end on a downbeat note because Cassian (Diego Luna) sacrifices himself at the end of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, it was surprising the degree to which Andor paralleled and predicted real political events.

Andor masterfully examined how a fascist, military government like the Galactic Empire could commit a genocide and dissuade any resistance groups from doing anything about it by pitting them against one another. Even if it leads to a happy conclusion in the original Star Wars trilogy, Andor puts the dark subtext of what George Lucas created into reality.

8

‘Mr. Robot’ (2015–2019)

Image via USA Network

Mr. Robot may be a wildly entertaining series because of its frequent twists and turns, but the subject material is quite heavy. The character of Elliot Alderson (Rami Malek) is tormented by a traumatic past that includes abuse at the hands of his father (Christian Slater), and uses his pain to fuel a hacktivist society aimed at bringing powerful people to their knees.

Mr. Robot gets darker with each progressive season, as there are major characters that die, and other twists that may be shocking. The brilliance of what Sam Esmail achieved with the series was that he didn’t deny the corruption and unfairness of contemporary society, and explored (for better or worse) why people like Elliot were compelled to take a stand against the forces of capitalism and fascism that threatened to extinguish the rights of those who didn’t have any means to protect themselves.

7

‘The Knick’ (2014–2015)

Image via Cinemax

The Knick is a very realistic medical drama from Steven Soderbergh, a filmmaker who is no stranger to making dark films. The series explores the origins of contemporary medical science during the beginning of the 20th century, and shows how hospitals were completely ill-equipped to deal with the spread of infectious diseases.

The Knick was aware of the social and political issues that were dealt with in hospitals at the time, acknowledging how racism and classism made it hard for doctors to do their work. It’s also one of the most visceral examinations of addiction ever seen on television, as Clive Owen gave an awards-worthy performance as a brilliant physician who was unable to suppress his urges. As with many Soderbergh projects, the commitment to realism is what made The Knick truly unforgettable, especially when compared to other medical dramas.

6

‘Ozark’ (2017–2022)

Image via Netflix

Ozark is the rare drama show that has a very twisted sense of humor, yet still has dramatic twists that are quite serious. What’s most remarkable about the series is that it showed no concern about the character being likable; Marty Byrde (Jason Bateman) is a bad guy who is involved with even shadier members of the Mexican drug cartel, and his wife Wendy (Laura Linney) proves to be even more sinister when she becomes the “Lady Macbeth” of the series.

Ozark was frequently willing to get quite controversial by including graphic murder, torture, emotional abuse, and assault, as there seemed to be nothing off-limits. In fact, Ozark may have become so popular because it was willing to go to dark places that most dramas wouldn’t even think about going to, even during the boom of aspirational content within the streaming wars.

5

‘The Leftovers’ (2014–2017)

Image via HBO

The Leftovers is about as upsetting as one might imagine based on its premise; the series explores the aftermath of an inexplicable global event in which a small fraction of the population disappeared without a trace. Although The Leftovers is a mystery that follows how the survivors attempt to seek answers when science and faith both come up short, it’s also a devastating portrayal of how hard it can be to piece back together a shattered life.

The Leftovers is immensely affecting because of how strong the performances are, as none of the science fiction components make the characters any less dramatically authentic. While some of the show’s fans interpreted its final episode, “The Book of Nora,” to be slightly optimistic, there are so many distressing and disturbing moments sprinkled throughout the entirety of The Leftovers that it is certainly not for the faint of heart.

4

‘Six Feet Under’ (2001–2005)

Image via HBO

Six Feet Under set a precedent for HBO’s ability to tell compelling drama shows that weren’t tinged with a crime element. While it could have felt like a more traditional family melodrama, Six Feet Under presented a grim (albeit occasionally funny in a dark way) examination of the lives of a family that owns a funeral home.

There’s a major death in every episode of Six Feet Under, and the range of reactions that they inspire leads to some of the show’s most interesting insights about the facets of human nature. Nonetheless, even the most life-affirming moments in Six Feet Under wrestle with the inevitability of death, with the show’s finale “Everybody’s Waiting” being a standout because of a perfect montage that shows the fates of all of its characters in the weeks, months, years, and decades afterward.

3

‘The Wire’ (2002–2008)

Image via HBO

The Wire has been praised by real journalists, politicians, and law enforcement officials because of how realistically it portrayed the realities of the drug trade. Creator David Simon was a former reporter for the crime beat in Baltimore for well over a decade, and used his experience to inspire a powerful, searing look at the ways in which drug-related crime impacted local communities, trade, politics, education, and reporting. The Wire was relevant when it first started airing, and it feels even more important today.

The Wire dealt with harrowing issues such as the neglect of children, drug addiction, violence against unhoused people, and abusive tactics utilized by cops. While viewing all five seasons in their entirety is a rewarding experience because of the many great characters, The Wire is nothing but an authentic depiction of the world as it is, and not what one may want it to be.

2

‘Top of the Lake’ (2013–2017)

Image via Sundance Channel

Top of the Lake is an unusual drama series that had an unexpected continuation when creator Jane Campion decided to develop a second season many years after the first installment had been thought to be a miniseries. What was most surprising about the renewal of Top of the Lake was that it was hard to imagine how the series could be sustainable with such a dark premise; the series frankly deals with a murder investigation involving a young woman, and does not shy away from issues of sexism, abuse, and trauma.

Top of the Lake has a realistic approach to storytelling that may be familiar to those who have seen Jane Campion’s films. While the first season of the show at least has some catharsis in its ending, the second (which was subtitled Top of the Lake: China Girl) is almost unwatchably bleak.

1

‘The Shield’ (2002–2008)

Image via FX

The Shield was groundbreaking television because it served as an alternative to the ways that law enforcement had been depicted in the media up until that point in time. While cops had traditionally been presented as sympathetic and honorable, The Shield presented the ultimate anti-hero in Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis), a corrupt member of the Los Angeles Police Department who uses his position as the leader of Strike Force to wield dangerous authority without ever being subjected to serious repercussions by his superiors.

The Shield presented complex and thoughtful ethical debates because there were instances in which Mackey’s extreme tactics were necessary to take down even more loathsome villains. However, the arc of the show ultimately leaned in a tragic direction, resulting in one of the bleakest, most unsparing finales in television history, with the haunting finale episode “Family Meeting.”

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The Shield

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Release Date

2002 – 2008

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Directors

Guy Ferland, Scott Brazil, Clark Johnson, Dean White, Stephen Kay, Gwyneth Horder-Payton, D. J. Caruso, Nick Gomez, Paris Barclay, Peter Horton, Félix Enríquez Alcalá, Philip G. Atwell, Terrence O’Hara, Billy Gierhart, Brad Anderson, Craig Brewer, David Mamet, Davis Guggenheim, Frank Darabont, Gary Fleder, John Badham, Leslie Libman, Michael Fields, Scott Winant

Writers

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Shawn Ryan, Glen Mazzara, Charles H. Eglee, Kim Clements, Kevin Arkadie, Gary Lennon, John Hlavin, Lisa Randolph, Reed Steiner, Angela Russo-Otstot, Diego Gutierrez, Ted Griffin, Elizabeth Craft, Emily Lewis, Jameal Turner, Renee Palyo

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