Dark Matter

I just watched the first two episodes and I am already hooked. Imagine waking up one day and the world as you know it has changed.

Beautifully constructed. There is a mixture of suspense, drama, and thrill. It's the type of confusing that builds curiosity rather than making you feel completely lost.

I like the question the show asks... could one choice really make your life so very different? If you ever had a thought like that, you'll enjoy this. I think that's why I connected to the story so much.

This show is one of the best sci-fi shows out there right now. I can't wait to see where it goes.

Dark Matter is an original and suspenseful sci-fi that will keep you interested throughout the season. The story is about a man named Jason Dessen (Joel Edgerton) who gets abducted into an alternate version of his life. To get back to his family he'll have to go through countless versions of his what his life could've been. It's like his very own multiverse. And while there are more and more shows/movies on the multiverse, this one actually feels original. The show has so many twists and turns and takes you into so many different directions that you can't wait to see what happens next. I'll tell you what, Apple TV+ is absolutely killing it. Almost all of their shows have been great. Only a couple of their originals are what I consider bad. I'd put Dark Matter somewhere in the middle. Thats not a bad thing considering how many great shows they have.

Dark Matter starts well. As these mini-series tend to go, the first episode is like a pilot. Often the show creator -- in this case Blake Crouch, adapting from his own novel -- writes and directs, as Crouch does here. After this great opening, though, the pace slows way down. To the point of agonizing boredom.

The book, which I read years ago, is a stripped-down edgy sci-fi thriller. The sentences are punchy, the paragraphs and chapters short. The sci-fi is given just enough mumbo jumbo to make it intriguing and credible in the book; here it's dumbed down quite a bit.

Crouch seems to be expanding things to make more of a drama. Near the end, this is done to great effect. But in episodes 2, 3, 4, the set-up is just too slow, and it's still confusing. I had to explain to my wife what was going on. Crouch is withholding the purpose of the box, but this only befuddles the story. Better to explain what it is from the outset, then let the drama of Jason's attempt to return home unfold, and Jason 2's run of the perfect life coming apart.

But things start clicking again around episode 5, then 6, and halfway through episode 8 -- Jupiter -- you know the show is at its best.

And Joel Edgerton is always good in everything he does.

7.5/10.

Considering how close the first two episodes have stuck to the book, those of us who've read the book know what's coming and that should be enough to silence the haters. I'm personally excited to see the final act played out on screen.

And yes, the Dark Matter book came out over a year before the show, Counterpart.

For those looking for solid science, I would a) wager that they themselves don't know what the science actually should be and b) consider this is fun fiction. Blake Crouch is certainly closer to Dean Koontz than Stephen Hawkings. Just enjoy the fun and let's hope they stay true to the book in the final act because it's gonna be crazy.

The show's theme is reminiscent of the TV series Sliders, but with superior production values and a a more mature tone. After watching the first five episodes, I'm genuinely intrigued by the direction it's taking. I eagerly await episode 6, as there have been only a handful of series in recent years that truly piqued my interest.

Every aspect of the show is commendable. The talented actors portray captivating characters, the script is well-crafted, and the production quality, set design, and cinematography are top-notch. In my opinion, this is Apple TV's finest work yet-they've ticked all the right boxes. I highly recommend giving it a watch, and I sincerely hope it continues to impress.