‘Dark Matter’ Apple TV+ Series Review - An Emotional Multiverse Ride into the Box

The idea of having another version of oneself somewhere thrills everyone, even if it has been shown in several films and shows. Previously depicted in shows like Fringe and Dark, and in the present MCU films, the concept of Multiverse is not new, yet Dark Matter was still able to grab my attention for nine continuous hours.

Based on the blockbuster book by Blake Crouch, the series follows Jason Dessen (played by Joel Edgerton), who gets abducted by another version of himself from an alternate universe. Dessen is a physicist and a professor, who is interested in the expansion of a human's brain's abilities and has a theory of quantum superposition of an object. Though, he understands that it might not be possible practically, until the day when he gets replaced by another version of himself.

As the official plot synopsis revealed by Apple TV+ says, the series is about the road/path not taken and explores the different possibilities. The version of Dessen who replaced him in his universe was able to make his on-paper superposition theory possible in reality, but that came at a cost, which made him regret later what he lost in the process.

The show picks up the pace when things begin to reveal themselves and Dessen realizes what would have made the other version go after his life. Joel Edgerton portrays multiple Dessens seamlessly and even though their faces are the same, he makes us realize that they are not the same person.

Although Jennifer Connelly's Daniela has been portrayed as the second lead after Dessen, she finds herself on the sidelines for the majority of the show until the final two episodes. I feel like Connelly could have been used more, but still, she was able to shine in the portrayal of her character. Alice Braga's portrayal of Amanda felt as if she was in charge of the show. She seems to be the one who was leading the show in the majority of the episodes along with Edgerton. Braga was definitely the show's MVP opposite Edgerton.

The one aspect of a multiverse show is that your mind may end up thinking that two different actors are portraying the two characters of the same person. This is what happens in Dark Matter, Joel Edgerton has a screentime of almost 85%-90% of the show, and still, somehow I believed that the Dessen was regularly absent from the screen. Later in the show, Edgerton portrays hundreds and thousands of Dessen's alternate versions. It also becomes a little confusing as an audience in the end, who is the one they were rooting for. This is the only place I think the show lacked as this scenario could have been exploited to generate more tension. But the creators kept one original Dessen completely separate from the others, which made me wonder if they trust the intelligence of their audience.

Unlike Dessen, Daniela's other versions were much more vulnerable and it felt like she was singular in the multiverse. Once you enter the final episode, you will realize why it was this way. Dark Matter has spectacular high-quality CGI, special effects, beautiful landscapes, and a glimpse into the hi-fi sky touching futuristic cities. It was able to portray different alternate realities perfectly. However, I believe the show was more about one's decision-making than the actual explanation of science and logic behind the device that let Dessen travel the multiverse.

The supporting cast of the show including Jimmi Simpson, Dayo Okeniyi, and Marquita Brooks kept the audience engaged with the superb portrayal of their characters. Their roles were significant to the story and they played their part with ease.

The show kept me hooked till the end, but I believe the ending could have been better. I will not spoil anything as now it's up to the audience for the next 8 weeks to decide if it has a satisfying end or not.

Final Score- [8/10]
Published at Midgard Times
Note: All 9 episodes are screened for this review.
Premiere Date: May 8, 2024, on Apple TV+ with its first two episodes, while the rest will be released weekly every Wednesday.