‘Dark Matter’ — The Life You Choose and The Ones You Don't
Apple TV+’s new series explores regret and self-discovery in the multiverse
On paper, the TV adaptation of Blake Crouch’s Dark Matter (based on his 2016 bestseller of the same name) isn’t supposed to work as well as it does. The 9-episode series employs many familiar plot points and overused tricks in creating the kind of parallel universe story that Hollywood has been obsessively putting on the screens in the last decade or so. Multiverses are everywhere these days — making the whole phenomenon feel like we’re re-living the golden days of Sliders all over again. That’s not a complaint, though: we got some fascinating movies (Spider-Verse 1-2) and TV shows (Dark) out of it. But the abundance of such narratives means that anything new in the genre will have a tough time coming up with something fresh and captivating.
So, if you watched Dark Matter’s double premiere last week, you might think the show seems to head down on the well-trodden paths these types of stories often tend to. And you’re right: for the most part, there isn’t much innovation here we haven’t seen before. You can anticipate most of the turns even if you get their order wrong. And yet, after having seen the entire season, I’d be lying if I said that this wasn’t the most enthralling, gripping, and emotionally rewarding multiverse trip I’ve been on in a long time.
The first two (or maybe three) episodes only set the tone and vibe of what’s to come, and even if you're not totally convinced by them, I'd urge you to stay on and keep watching. The inner core that differentiates Dark Matter from most of its contemporaries only begins unfolding in the back half once the central idea is entirely revealed. That’s when you’ll truly understand that Crouch doesn’t aim to impress with mystery or regular sci-fi components but rather a character-driven, empathetic, and emotional side that observes the concept of regret as an essential part of the human condition.
The author’s interest lies in portraying the alternatives to one’s life: What could’ve been if I made a different decision? Who would I be, then? Many of the answers — coming in various shapes and forms — are here, and they aren't as straightforward as many of us would think.
Jason Dessen (Joel Edgerton superbly cast) is a beloved husband, father, and friend living in Chicago. He’s got a beautiful and sensible wife (Jennifer Connelly fulfilling every straight man’s idea of a perfect partner), a shy teenage son (Oakes Fegley on its way to Hollywood notoriety), and a low-key, quiet life he’s been mostly happy living. His career didn’t pan out the way he hoped (he’s a college professor), but he hasn’t regretted his choice of family over ambition, recognition, and wealth many years ago.
But in another universe (and stop reading now if you haven't seen the premiere or want to avoid spoilers entirely), there's a Jason who did the opposite. He chose work, obsession, and the urge to accomplish his daring and mind-boggling ideas as a quantum mechanics physicist. He invented a giant cube in a lab and a drug that allowed him to visualize and enter numerous ever-changing parallel worlds that are based on feelings and thoughts. Through hundreds of trips inside this box’s infinite corridor, Jason 2 has found Jason’s reality (the one I described earlier) and decided to kidnap him and take over his place.
He observed him for weeks, elaborately planning every detail of the abduction, and carried out a plan to send him back to the world he came from. What Jason 2 couldn't anticipate, however, is that our Jason will relentlessly fight to find his way back to his family with a helper named Amanda (Alice Braga is the conscience of the series) on his side.
The way Dark Matter executes this pretty basic premise is the key here. As the show gets deeper, you’ll soon realize it only uses the scientific angle as a catalyst for the underlying drama. The multiverse box has a set of intangible and intriguing rules (operating from each person’s emotions and subconscious probably being the best one), but its primary role is to represent endless variations and opportunities. You're sort of aware — based on the framework of the narrative — that it won’t explore all of them because that would make it too loose and unfocused. Yet Crouch reveals just enough of the other universes (sometimes visually gorgeous and technologically evolved, sometimes listlessly bleak and threatening versions of Chicago) to put the personal drama in perspective.
Through Jason and Amanda’s journey, the series purposely guides us into the psychological impacts of meeting a separate version of ourselves in an altered reality. Crouch grants us time and space to relate to that mental and emotional turbulence while bringing us closer to the characters as they gradually grow more intimate with each other, too. There’s an inherent intimacy embedded in traveling between worlds with only one person to trust, who is in the same boat as you. It's overwhelming to see a changed version of yourself and your loved ones who might not even know you in another realm. Yet most multiverse stories move on quickly from this particular aspect because they usually focus on higher stakes like saving the world or someone in particular.
The most appealing feature — besides the first-rate performances — in Dark Matter is that it allows the protagonists (and us) to dwell on this powerfully emotional aspect. In fact, I’d argue that’s the whole point. And it resonates profoundly because we all have regrets stemming from tough choices that shaped who we became and changed our trajectories in life. Jason 2 might commit heinous crimes and horrific acts for his selfish agenda, but despite all that, you can still see the human in him, driven by a desire for love and family. He’s not necessarily a typical villain or an inherently evil person, but someone with genuinely vulnerable moments throughout the show who can earn our sympathy, even if his fate is inevitably heading toward a tragic outcome.
“What if” is a potent (and entertaining) concept for a reason. Multiverse narratives are popular and ever-green because we all wonder about the impact of our decisions from time to time. Dark Matter explores several of those possibilities and ultimately reveals that there are no perfect worlds or flawless versions of oneself, regardless of what we do or where we end up. We can never make all the right choices, love the right people, or completely shield ourselves from the losses we’ll suffer in life.
The series also proves it's possible to create a meaningful, thought-provoking, and thrilling story without delivering something ground-breaking. Implementing and connecting valid genre elements can sometimes be just as rewarding as making something from scratch. And for that alone, Dark Matter deserves to be recognized.
Last week, I reviewed Netflix’s latest true-crime comedy Bodkin for Paste Magazine.
If you want to support The Screen, the best way to recommend it to someone who’s into pop culture is by sharing posts like this one above.