Most of us have probably wondered at some point how different our lives would be if we had made different choices at crucial moments. However, I have not taken it to the extreme of breaking into a parallel reality, finding a better version of myself, and forcing them to switch places at gunpoint. Perhaps it’s just laziness or lack of a Ph.D. in quantum theory that holds me back.
It seems like the concept of the multiverse is having a moment in popular culture, but it’s the science that still takes the spotlight. Despite the replication crisis in the hard sciences, popular screen productions continue to feature well-credentialed characters bending time and space to their will. From Michelle Yeoh’s verse-jumping in “Everything Everywhere All at Once” to Doctor Strange in Marvel’s “Multiverse of Madness,” these portrayals may be nonsensical but are presented in a triumphalist manner.
Apple’s latest series, Dark Matter, also takes for granted its own narrative plausibility by throwing viewers into the deep end of its fantastical multiverse plot without much explanation. The show follows physics professor Jason Dessen, who is kidnapped into an alternate reality where he is a famous scientist and entrepreneur, causing confusion and existential terror.
Despite drawing comparisons to The Twilight Zone, Dark Matter manages to capture the sense of being the only sane person in a world that doesn’t make sense. Joel Edgerton’s portrayal of Jason brings a bruised vulnerability that adds depth to the character, even if his credibility as a physicist may be questionable.
As Jason navigates this alternate reality with the help of familiar faces like his wife Daniela and psychiatrist Amanda, he must confront his doppelgänger who wants a taste of the life he left behind. The complex emotional dynamics between the characters add depth to the plot, even as the show struggles with pacing and a bloated storyline.
Overall, Dark Matter is a handsomely produced and reasonably intriguing series with solid leads that make it worth watching, despite its flaws. In this universe, there are far worse shows to spend your time on.
