IR TV Review: DARK MATTER - EPISODE 1 (“A Quiet Life”) [Apple TV-S2]

The concept of quiet in the "Dark Matter" scenario depends on the nature of what is happening around you. With Jason (Joel Edgerton) at the end of the last season causing a feedback loop it caused an inevitability and Jason 2 despite his intent also left a deadlock in space/time. The first season concept was an interesting build. The second season is perhaps trickier in a certain way because it is an escape from one’s self, both literally and metaphorically. Meanwhile there is also a utopia setting with two other characters who although they live in an idealized world feel completely separate in certain ways from the lives they are living. Within this season from the get go also Jennifer Connelly takes a more active role because it is required. However her decision is based on a choice from last season whether it was correct or not.

The question one inevitably asks is about the amount of serum left. Beyond that is the wild card of Leighton (Dayo Okeniyi) who begins playing with the idea of want and temptation in a couple different planes of reality. Everyone has a different path. Jason’s just happened to be based around a certain person which is still what causes the pain among others that might never be satiated since he is running from himself. Interestingly enough there is also a third force beyond which should be interesting since we know nothing about that motivation. "Dark Matter" was pretty great the first season and has a lot to live up to. The first episode establishes a continuation with some new elements and some old ones. Within this season with author Blake Crouch continuing to lead as a writer at least the concept of character always remains an important basis. 85%/B

By Tim Wassberg