Warning: This review of Apple TV+ dark matter Contains minor spoilers.
Multiverse. It is very hot right now. A perplexed person might believe that this is why Apple TV+ was created dark matter, to cash in on the current craze. But that won’t stop the show, which is based on Blake Crouch’s novel of the same name, from getting its due. you see, dark matter It’s a diverse story that has enough thought put into it – and enough clever plotting – to feel somewhat fresh in a world where endlessly diverse stories are becoming stale.
It’s probably best that you don’t read this review (thanks for clicking, though). dark matter Completely Blind will at least make the first episode, where the concept of the show is set up an incredible mind-fuck, but for those who already know the basic concept or have read the book or just don’t care. Do, please continue.
dark matter The story follows Jason Dessen (Joel Edgerton), an ordinary community college professor in Boston, who is suddenly kidnapped and transported to a different world where his wife, Daniella (Jennifer Connelly) and son Charlie ( Oaks Fegley) are not around. Instead, he discovers that he is the inventor of a box that can transport people to an infinite number of other worlds and that the people from this new world have swapped places with him. Desperate to return to his family in his own world, he is joined by his girlfriend in this world, Amanda (Alice Braga), and the pair begin jumping around the world in search of their home universe.
Anyone reading that basic plot description wouldn’t be wrong in thinking that this sounds like any other show about people struggling to get home via some science fiction MacGuffin. Both long jump And slider Immediately came to my mind, but they’re not the only people who have used this trope. However, dark matter By basing the story on character rather than science fiction, it avoids playing out like a tired tale. Jason’s mental state affects the world he jumps into, meaning the entire series plays as a giant metaphor for human connection and emotion. It not only focuses on our “hero” Jason, but also returns to the “villain” version, highlighting his struggles and realization that life can’t be perfect.
By focusing the series’ real focus on characters and allegory, dark matter Presents a multifaceted exploration of the home in a way that feels refreshing. It’s really messed up and everything doesn’t go the way you think, especially as Jason’s search is getting out of control and “evil” Jason’s life is doing the same. Everything seems pretty messed up in this multiverse but that’s because it’s a reflection of human life, not a science fiction idea. It creates a compelling story of humanity with a thin layer of science fiction on top.
However, it’s not just that aspect that propels the series to nine-episodes. Crouch, who adapted the book for TV himself, perfectly paces the plot twists and universe-altering moments so that when the series feels like it’s about to drag into excess, a new dynamic emerges. As the show was moving towards its conclusion there is a mic-drop moment that was shocking, which was executed so well that I had to pause the show in shock.
It doesn’t mean to say that dark matter It is a perfect series. Like its characters, who often want two contradictory things at once, the show can feel both too long and too short. Despite its solid construction and the presence of emotional gut punches and plot twists, a season of nine episodes feels like exactly the wrong length for this story. The show looks like it would make a wonderful two-hour movie or, on the exact opposite side of the spectrum, a multi-season soap opera like the one above. long jump And ending each season on cliffhangers for every shocking moment. Watching the show it feels like despite its overall quality, we are either getting too much of it or not enough.
You certainly can’t know much about either Edgerton or Connelly, especially the latter. In a high-concept science fiction series the pair ground the story so that it works. Episodes filled with powerful emotional moments and the many realities Jason has to face with his wife and son are all incredibly impactful. Connelly is particularly intense, playing the same characters but different ones again and again. His performance alone is worth the time.
Apple TV+ has had some hits and dark matter Could easily be next. The question really is whether anyone will find it. This can be a tough sell in a streaming world saturated with content, especially since jumping into it without thinking is the best approach. However, those who seek it out are going to find something truly unique, a rare find like a universe of only slightly different content.
dark matter Streaming now.
