In the new AppleTV+ series Dark Matter, a physics professor named Jason (Joel Edgerton) undergoes a chilling ordeal when he's snatched off the streets of Chicago and swapped with an alternate version of himself. This substitute Jason, rather than laboring over teaching disengaged undergraduates, boasts as a celebrated scientist who has devised a device capable of transporting individuals into parallel dimensions.
Despite his achievements and wealth in his own reality, this alternate Jason yearns for the simpler life of the original Jason, particularly envying his loving family: his devoted wife (Jennifer Connelly) and son (Oakes Fegley). Driven by this desire, he brazenly steals them away, leaving the real Jason adrift amidst a labyrinth of parallel worlds. He embarks on a quest, navigating through different realities in search of his true home.
There was a time when Jason harbored aspirations of groundbreaking discoveries and prestigious accolades. However, opting to prioritize his family, he settled for a life marked by delivering uninspired lectures to indifferent college students. Meanwhile, Jason's friend Ryan (Jimmi Simpson), immersed in other scientific endeavors, garners recognition with significant scientific awards. Jason harbors a semi-secret resentment, reflecting on the divergent paths they've taken and the opportunities he feels he's missed.
Dark Matter originates from the creative mind of Blake Crouch, who adeptly adapts his own 2016 novel bearing the same name. This series is a blend of thriller, family drama, and an exploration of physics fundamentals, delving into intricate concepts such as quantum mechanics, superposition, and the enigmatic dark matter. Through its narrative, the show delves into themes of longing, regret, and desire, offering viewers a compelling journey through the intersections of science and human emotion.
As the displaced Jason grapples with confusion and desperation, the imposter Jason exudes a more edgy and menacing demeanor, albeit subtly. Joel Edgerton's portrayal navigates through challenging moments, avoiding the trap of becoming a mere conduit for science fiction jargon. An early scene set in college sees Jason elucidating concepts like quantum mechanics and Schrödinger’s cat, setting the stage for more eccentric dialogues as the show progresses.
Jennifer Connelly finds enjoyment in portraying multiple Danielas, each distinguished not just by varying hairstyles, but also by Connelly's adept shift in body language. Regrettably, the alternative Danielas prove to be more captivating than Jason's supportive wife, albeit they appear fleetingly, leaving Connelly with the predominantly ungratifying central role. Nonetheless, she shines in a handful of substantial scenes towards the end of the season, serving as a reminder of her Oscar-winning talent, though these moments are regrettably sparse.
Characters engage in a discussion about liminal space while physically experiencing it. This instance literalizes a concept often relegated to the realm of metaphor, akin to Alice in Wonderland's protagonist descending into a real rabbit hole, symbolizing the crossing of thresholds between worlds within the narrative.
Typically, I advocate for books being adapted into TV shows rather than movies, especially for projects that require ample time to introduce audiences to many concepts. While a movie adaptation inevitably involves trimming some content, it presents a preferable option to a drawn-out nine-episode series. The narrative becomes a bit bloated before reaching the halfway point of the season, and condensing everything into a concise 2-hour film would have better served the story, characters, and audience alike.
Dark Matter begins May 8 on AppleTV+. Sci-fi fans, check it out!
