Apple TV+’s latest offering, the sci-fi thriller seriesDark Matter, has rapidly climbed to the top of Reelgood’s streamingpopularity charts, overtaking competitors likeFallout,Bodkin, andBaby Reindeer. The series featuresJoel Edgertonas Jason, a physicist who finds himself whisked away to a parallel universe where his life has taken a drastically different path.
Dark Matteris adapted from the 2016novel by Blake Crouch, who also serves as the series creator. This adaptation has garnered considerable acclaim, with critics and audiences lauding Edgerton’s compelling performance and the series' intricate plot that skillfully mixes suspense with speculative science. The narrative’s complexity and the ethical dilemmas it presents have struck a chord, making it appealing in the crowded field of streaming options.
Dark Matter
Based on his novel of the same name, Dark Matter is a sci-fi drama-thriller television series created for Apple TV+ by Blake Crouch. The series follows a physicist who is kidnapped and thrown into an alternate reality where he witnesses one potential path his life could have taken. However, he learns that the lives of his family are in jeopardy by an alternate version of himself.
Dark Matter, based on Blake Crouch’s novel, has quickly become a viewer favorite, drawing in audiences with its complex storyline and the stellar performance ofJoel Edgerton. The series, which explores the fascinating theme of alternate realities through the eyes of a kidnapped physicist, has opened to solid reviews, securing a 78% critical score and a 72% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. This reception placesDark Mattercomfortably among Apple TV+’s other successful offerings.
Dark Matter Review: Existential Sci-Fi Drama Succeeds with Romance and Thrills
Joel Edgerton, Jennifer Connelly, and Alice Braga lead Dark Matter, a romantic sci-fi thriller based on Blake Crouch’s book.
Dark Matter Thrives with the Stellar Chemistry of Connelly and Edgerton
InDark Matter, the convincing dynamic between co-stars Jennifer Connelly and Joel Edgerton is the heart of the series. The Apple TV+ series benefits immensely from their authentic on-screen chemistry. Connelly praises Edgerton for both his undeniable talent and also for his approachability and openness as an actor.
“It was great working with him. He’s so good. And he’s really open and generous as an actor and available and easy to be with. We really worked easily and happily together.”
Their preparation for the roles involved intensive discussions and rehearsals, focusing on how to portray their marriage as a tangible, lived-in relationship rather than a generic one.
We talked a lot. We had a lot of rehearsals that were sort of like conversations about the marriage and about choices we could make to make it feel specific and not sort of like a generalized marriage.
This groundwork was crucial, especially considering the limited screen time they had to establish their characters' pre-crisis relationship before the storyline introduced its more fantastical elements.
“Like, how do we make this feel lived in? Because we didn’t have too much time together when things were good, where they were good as a couple before this alien version [of Jason] comes in so quickly. So yeah, [we had] conversations and brainstorming together about things that we could do to make them feel believable as a couple.”
Unlike some competitors plagued by abrupt cancellations that can alienate viewers, Apple TV+ has a track record of renewing its key series. For instance,Foundationis set for a third season,Silowill return for a second outing, andFor All Mankindhas been renewed through its fifth season.
Apple TV+ continues to invest significantly in its sci-fi slate, demonstrating a commitment to the genre’s fans. Shows likeMonarch: Legacy of MonstersandInvasionhave also been confirmed for more seasons.
