Warning: This article contains spoilers about season 2 of Netflix’sAltered Carbon.
Quellcrist is no longer a figment of his imagination; shes back in the flesh.
In fact, by the end of the season, she and Kovacs have officially switched places.
Credit: Diyah Pera/Netflix
Now Quellcrist is on her own journey, and Kovacs lingers as a figment of her imagination.
How did the two seasons differ for you?
RENEE ELISE GOLDSBERRY: In season 1 Quell is mostly a figment of Kovacs mind.
‘Altered Carbon’ star Renee Elise Goldsberry talks her expanded role in season 2.Diyah Pera/Netflix
He really manifests her in a way that moves him forward, and she is a support to him.
The tables turn in season 2 in an interesting way.
They really do flip roles in a way.
We actually gave her two names.
We had Quell and Quellder, just to be clear on set.
We wanted to be very specific about who we were dealing with.
One of the biggest questions were dealing with in season 2 is, what is our identity?
Whether were human or AI.
Weve already asked, is it our body?
But now were asking, is it our memories?
These are the questions were asking in various ways through season 2.
When dealing with Quell, we get to meet different manifestations of who she is.
How does Anthony Mackies interpretation of Takeshi Kovacs compare to Joel Kinnnamans, or Will Yun Lees?
Thats the challenge of our show, and the coolest part.
Its something I learned in the theater: When youre doing really big shows, characters change.
InAltered Carbon,we have the advantage of a different journey.
Each of the different Kovacs are defined by their different goals and intentions.
Thats another way we play with what is identity: What is our purpose, what is our goal?
That defines us in a way.
How would you describe her relationship with the remaining Kovacs' sleeve?
Its interesting because it reminds me of the end of season 1 with Kristin Ortega.
And its kind of like who am I going with, what am I going to do?
This technology, and our exploration of it in our show, allows us to really explore love.
Were looking at these two beings.
Wouldnt you go to any version of them to ease your pain?
Shes defined by her purpose again, shes back.
The only thing that separates the two of them at this point is the end of Stronghold.
You know, can see clearly, that every Kovacs would make the same decisions.
With the right conditions, it’ll grow again."
I love what she says to Kovacs in the last line: “Im going to live.”
She does not let herself off the hook with the intention that it was supposed to be for good.
To me, its extremely hopeful.
Shes back, shes herself, and now on point to bring down the Protectorate.
We dont know yet what else she learned from her time with the Elder and their technology.
She learned a lot from what seems like failures.
What are you interested or excited for more people to see about your guys original version ofHamilton?
I was in the filmed version of the staged production ofRent.
Jeffrey Seller was the producer of bothRentandHamilton.Radical Media teamed up with Sony and they filmed our last show.
People always ask me, “What do you like better, film/TV or theater?”
Theater sometimes becomes so inaccessible.
But we want to make theater available to everybody.
Theyll also see that the production they saw in Chicago or wherever was also great.
There was no huge mystique.
Well get to see ourselves, because what we dont get to do in the theater is that.
Like now Im watching season 2 and going “oh my god, Chris Conner!”
I get to share in the joy that the audience gets, and Im excited about that too.
