Warning: This assessment of Apple TV+’s Darkish Matter accommodates minor spoilers.
Multiverses. So scorching proper now. A jaded individual would possibly consider that that’s the reason Apple TV+ made Darkish Matter, to money in on a present craze. However that may not be giving the present, which relies on Blake Crouch’s novel of the identical title, its due. You see, Darkish Matter is a multiverse story with sufficient thought to it — and sufficient intelligent plotting — to really feel like one thing recent in a world the place infinite multiverse tales appear to be getting stale.
It’s in all probability greatest you don’t learn this assessment (thanks for clicking, although) as going into Darkish Matter fully blind will make not less than the primary episode, the place the present’s idea is ready up an unimaginable mind-f**okay however for many who already know the essential idea or have learn the guide or simply don’t care please proceed on.
Darkish Matter is the story of Jason Dessen (Joel Edgerton), a lowly neighborhood school professor in Boston who’s out of the blue kidnapped and wakes up in a unique world the place his spouse, Daniela (Jennifer Connelly), and son Charlie (Oakes Fegley) should not round. As a substitute, he discovers that he’s the inventor of a field that may transport individuals into an infinite quantity of different worlds and the him from this new world has swapped locations with him. Determined to return to his household in his world, he’s joined by his girlfriend on this world, Amanda (Alice Braga), and the pair start leaping by means of worlds in quest of his house universe.
Anybody studying that very fundamental plot description wouldn’t be incorrect in pondering that this sounds like several of a plethora of different exhibits on the market about individuals struggling to get house by means of some science fiction McGuffin. Each Quantum Leap and Sliders come instantly to my thoughts however these are removed from the one ones who’ve used this trope. Nonetheless, Darkish Matter avoids enjoying out like a drained story by grounding the story not in science fiction however in character. Jason’s psychological state impacts what the world they soar into is, which means your entire collection performs as an enormous metaphor for human connection and emotion. Additionally it is doesn’t solely give attention to our “hero” Jason however bounces again to the “villain” model as effectively, unpacking his struggles and realization that life can’t be excellent.
By pivoting the true focus of the collection onto the characters and the metaphor, Darkish Matter presents a multiversal quest for house in a means that feels recent. It’s really messy and never all the pieces works out as you suppose, particularly as Jason’s quest spirals additional and additional uncontrolled and “evil” Jason’s life does the identical factor. All the things feels very messy on this multiverse however that’s as a result of it’s a mirrored image of human life, not of science fiction thought. It makes for a compelling story of humanity with a skinny layer of science fiction on high.
Nonetheless, it’s not simply that side that drives the collection nine-episode run ahead. Crouch, who tailored the guide himself for TV, completely paces plot twists and universe-altering moments all through in order that simply when the collection feels prefer it’s about to tug into redundancy a brand new dynamic comes into play. There’s a mic-drop second of jaw-dropping proportions because the present careens to its conclusion that was so completely executed it had me pausing the present in shock.
This isn’t to say that Darkish Matter is an ideal collection. Very like its characters, who usually appear to need two contradictory issues without delay, the present can really feel each too lengthy and too brief. Regardless of its stable building and the presence of emotional intestine punches and plot twists, a single season of 9 episodes looks like the precise incorrect size for this story. The present looks like it might make for a soul-wrenchingly incredible film of two hours or, on the precise reverse facet of the spectrum, a multi-season serial akin to the aforementioned Quantum Leap and ending every season on cliffhangers for every stunning second. The present simply looks like we’re both getting an excessive amount of or not sufficient, regardless of its general high quality.
What you positively can’t get an excessive amount of of is each Edgerton and Connelly, particularly the latter. In a high-concept science fiction collection the pair floor the story in order that it really works. The episodes of crammed stuffed with powerhouse emotional moments and Jason confronts a number of realities of his spouse and son they’re all unimaginable intestine punches. Connelly is very profound, enjoying the identical character however totally different repeatedly. Her efficiency alone is definitely worth the time.
Apple TV+ has had some hits on it and Darkish Matter might simply be the subsequent one. The query is basically if anybody will discover it. In a streaming universe stuffed with content material it might be a tough promote, particularly as getting into blind is the easiest way to enter it. Nonetheless, for many who do discover it they’re going to get one thing really distinctive, a uncommon discover in what looks like a universe of solely barely totally different content material.
Darkish Matter is streaming now.