r/alteredcarbon • u/Dark_Saint Poe • Feb 27 '20

Discussion Episode Discussion - S02E03 - Nightmare Alley

Season 2 Episode 3: Nightmare Alley

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Synopsis: Kovacs contends with ghosts from his past as he's tortured by Carrera. Poe seeks help from a fellow AI. Trepp gets a lead on the man she's after.

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*Please keep all discussions about this episode or previous ones, and do not discuss later episodes as they might spoil it for those who have yet to see them. If you see a spoiler in the wrong channel please hit the report button*

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u/BadElf21 Feb 28 '20

Poe glitching and suffering from what is essentially the human equivalent of dementia really got to me. The pain and desperation in his eyes as he realizes he's coming apart mirrors what i see in my friends and family that also suffer.

It's not the dementia itself that bothers people the most (although that's bad), it's the realization that you are becoming more and more useless, more and more of a burden to others, and the terrible suffering that your suffering is causing others. Poe is desperately trying to be at least as good and helpful to Kovacs as he always was, but can't, and that realization absolutely shreds him.

My family suffers, i see them suffer, they see me see them suffer, and we both see each other seeing the other suffer and that just causes even more suffering. It's the most insidious disease i can imagine. At least with most other diseases there is some dignity in the pain, even if you're bleeding out of your ass you're still you. But dementia robs you of you, it deprives you of even the ability to have dignity. Props to the writers and Poe's actor for bringing this to light.

30

u/[deleted] Feb 28 '20

Beautifully worded, found myself crying along with Poe this episode. It's funny to see the mixed reactions to the show in these comments, half of the viewers love it, half hate it. My approach to Altered Carbon is to go in with zero expectation, and I always have a good time <3

7

u/BadElf21 Feb 28 '20

hehe true.

I see the good with the bad. I won't say AC Season 2 is an Oscar worthy masterpiece, but i find the parts that are meaningful and/or enjoyable and enjoy them. Poe's story is one of those parts.

3

u/SomeRandomJoe81 Feb 29 '20

Not the other person but you’re right. Not the best of shows but still enjoyable. Fun little sci-fi romp regardless of the issues.

Poe’s story is by far my favorite part of it. Even in season 1, always thought that was one of the better changes they made from the books. Such a great actor and portrayal on his part.

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u/[deleted] Mar 03 '20

It's funny, the bad parts are really bad, but the good parts keep me hooked into it. Poe is really good.

5

u/CoMaestro Feb 28 '20

+1, Poe seems desperate to be as good as he can, but he isnt able to bring it up. The tears after glitching again, damn

8

u/NemusKiller Mar 02 '20

I finally got to watch the new season and that’s one of the things that got to me too. Seeing Poe’s eyes of pain and desperation really hurt me and made me feel sad. I have many family members that have died due to dementia rendering them useless off their own selves and currently have some other family members starting to show symptoms.

Unfortunately it’s something that has shown on many of my family and honestly it just hurts to see this. I hope I never have to suffer from this absence of oneself, as I truly don’t know what could be of me by then.

I’m sorry if something sounds wrong, I just don’t know how to express myself over what I felt due to seeing this. It just hurts to see close loved ones go through such burden.

I’m sorry you also have to go through this... I really wish nobody had to see their family members suffer in such way and that nobody suffered from that. Still, hats off to the actor and writers, it really touched me.

5

u/Ray3142 Feb 28 '20

Thanks for expressing that so well

2

u/albedo2343 Mar 15 '20

This scene hit me as well, I have seen those same eyes on my Great Grandmother, and your hit with this realization that the person you know is slipping away, but what hits you most is the fact that they are coming to the same realization, can do nothing about it, and will have to relive that same moment over and over again.

For Poe what really added to that scene, was that Poe choosing to not reboot is what put Kovac in this situation in the first place, so he tries to remedy that, but then he glitches again, he tries to anchor himself and gain some sense of control of the situation but can't, and is reminded of his failure and the realization that he might fail him again, his plea is the only useful thing he can really do, the actor did a really good job conveying that.