Dark Matter Review: When Jason Dessen goes to a pub to meet his friend, he probably didn’t expect his life to change forever, but that’s exactly what happened – after he came out, he found himself in a life that mirrored his own… but not really. Confused about his new surroundings that feel more and more different with every step, he finally realises that he has been duped in the worst way possible, possibly by himself. Will Jason be able to get out of this horrible nightmare and go back to his loving family, or will he be stuck forever in a space that goes against the very fabric of reality as we know it?
The series stars Joel Edgerton, Jennifer Connelly, Alice Braga, Jimmi Simpson, Dayo Okeniyi, and Oakes Fegley, and is directed by Jakob Verbruggen, Celine Held, Logan George, Roxann Dawson, and Alik Sakharov.
– No Spoilers –
Dark Matter Review
Apple TV’s Dark Matter is, as the title mentions, a dark and dreary affair. It’s not really confusing in 2024 since it’s something that we have seen many times by now (thanks, Marvel), but it does make for a neat mystery, especially because we try to figure out the imposter’s headspace and why he is doing what he is doing, as well as what his endgame is. When the series first starts, it’s a typical warm family that we are given to witness, but that only gives us a small snippet that opens up wide as we move forward in the runtime.
However, the family is the least of the problems here – it’s Jason against himself and a look into the multiverse that he helped create. The series is a grim look at what one can consider “enough” and being satisfied with what you have or, essentially, greed. Jason Two is constantly searching for something in his life; after having achieved everything professionally, he feels like he has missed out on a home life, and thus he searches far and wide (literally!) to fill that hole. However, that’s a difficult task when one is not sure of what fulfils them. It’s not a one-size-fits-all thing, you know?
The series is a solid watch and extremely enjoyable in bouts. There are moments that are truly thrilling, and I found myself sitting on the edge of my seat multiple times throughout its 9-episode runtime. That, however, is not the case throughout the runtime. There are large chunks of runtime where nothing truly happens, and there’s a ton of dialogue that slows the pace. And yes, dialogue is great and all. But you want something major to happen that makes your heart pound or the next thrilling thing to take your breath away, and these moments come very few and far between.
We clearly move towards an explosive ending (which the series does give), but the road to that ending gets sluggish after a while. Even some of the “thrilling” moments feel like duds and unimportant in the grand scheme of things when we all know from the get-go that Jason’s true enemy is he himself. That’s an interesting aspect of the series as well – we do get to know a lot about Jason’s own thoughts and feelings and why we get to see what we do. It helps us connect with him as a protagonist and care for him during the final moments.
Speaking of final moments, the last episode is insane, and there are moments when it got difficult to figure out who is who. Dark Matter does its best to constantly remind us which Jason is the one we are following, but you will find yourself a little lost sometimes. However, that’s a good thing, in my opinion. The ambiguity and insanity work well for this series, and the heightening tension during the last episode really does well for the climax. Surprisingly, the ending is both shocking and oddly emotional, and you feel for Jason, his relationship with his family, and oddly for Jason Two as well.
Joel Edgerton does a fantastic job as Jason Dessen – he looks both menacing and innocent, which works well for the role that he is playing here. His turmoil and thought processes are relatable, and although not acceptable, it’s not totally out of the world. His portrayal of Jason Two and his breakdown of the man that he is and his thought processes is both terrifying and revealing, as all of these people are different shades of grey. Meanwhile, Jennifer Connelly as Daniela Vargas Dessen is both emotionally resonant and a woman with great conviction. She feels like someone you can look up to honestly, and her iron resolve comes out in every scene, although she has a vulnerable side to her.
Final Thoughts
In the end, Dark Matter leaves us with many thoughts surrounding the complexities of life and human nature and the depths to which greed will take us. These complex characters and their complex relationships are great to watch, but if you want to binge this, it’s going to be a slow watch. However, for those who will follow this weekly, the series delivers a healthy dose of twists and turns, albeit its tendency to slow itself down significantly in between key moments might be annoying for some, if not most.
Dark Matter will stream every week on Apple TV+ from May 08, 2024. What did you enjoy about the series? Let us know in the comments below!