Dark Matter

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.

Let me start by saying that I read a book years ago and the plot has always stuck with me. Over the years I forgot what the book was called or the subplots but I never forgot how it made me feel. It was such an incredible idea that I felt like everyone could identify with. That maybe you had regret over one decision in your life and what would your life be like had you made a different decision? I've described the plot to so many people but have never been able to recall the title. It's driven me nuts for such a long time because I've talked about it so much. Yah, Google I get it but I just never tried.

I started watching this and as it unraveled I thought, no, did someone copy that book's plot and then write a show? It was so similar I thought, that can't be a coincidence. And of course it isn't. It is the book!! Well, slight differences but overall the idea is the same.

I love this adaptation and of course some of my favorite actors added to an amazing experience. Mostly I am just over the moon that Blake Crouch did the adaptation so the feel is very similar. This time I feel there is much more psychology involved in how our past can affect our futures and it's all so fascinating. Love, love, love!!!

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.

I always like to wait until a season is over before I start watching it because I hate waiting week to week and like to binge watch my shows. I'm so glad I did that with Dark Matter because it would've drove me nuts waiting a week between episodes. Once I started I couldn't stop watching, I'm not saying it's the best show ever but it's a solid sci-fi series that's definitely worth watching. It has an all-star cast led by Joel Edgerton, Jennifer Connolly, Alice Braga and Jimmi Simpson. Usually when big names like that are attached the show is pretty good. This show actually makes you think about all the possibilities that your own life could've taken if you just made some different decisions. It makes you really think about your regrets and even the simplest of decisions that changed your life.

Obviously, there are some holes in the plot as there are numerous other series. I have not read the books, so I'm not familiar with what to expect but generally, it was a very well produced acted and filmed miniseries. The acting was good quality. There were lots of twist and turns, and it was very difficult to predict what was going to happen. I may be interested in taking a look at the book or books if there are books as I'm not familiar with the author I would recommend considering this for a watch as I had to binge watch it I was that interested in it , Jennifer Connolly was very good as was Joel Edgerton.