Dark Matter just messed with my brain. After making a bunch of notes during Friday’s third episode, I basically had to throw everything I thought I knew out the window thanks to that final scene aboard the space station.
Yes, apparently, that was Jace Corso looking for the Raza and its crew members, causing me to sit forward and exclaim, ‘What the hell?!” This was, of course, moments after Five discovered the gun that killed the young man she found in the storage room earlier.
Written by Martin Gero, Episode 3 had the hallmarks of an Agatha Christie murder mystery, with a dead body found and the murderer among the folks trapped on the ship with no connection to the outside world. There were plenty of lingering camera shots at various team members, causing viewers to wonder which one was the culprit. It was easy to assume Three was the man responsible for killing the kid and even wiping their minds because he avoided the Android’s lie detector test until One literally put a gun to his head.
I’m still holding out hope the Android is somehow controlling everything on the Raza; every time Five came close to outing who had done the mind wipe something went wrong with the ship. I can’t help but feel the Android is controlling the situation no matter how innocent her face appears to be. (Remember Ash from Alien??) My assumption the faulty sensor was fake wasn’t true, but the gamma radiation scare certainly could have been.
Did Five program the Android? Is Three really single-minded, or is he an evil genius? Does One really have feelings for Two, or did he kiss her to gain her trust?
That’s the thing with Dark Matter. Just when I think I know what’s going to happen, a curve ball is thrown to make me reassess my assumptions.
In my opinion, that’s the mark of a great TV show.
Notes and quotes
- Four’s martial arts skills are kick ass.
- “Have a good time playing with your stick.” — Three
- “It’s chocolate protein pudding day!” — Five
- I wish I could initiate magnetic boots.
- The Dark Matter set has really become an effective part of the cast, thanks to dark corners, fluorescent lighting, steam and that grimy and scuffed look.
Dark Matter airs Fridays at 10 p.m. ET on Space.
Paul Mather was showrunner on the iconic series CORNER GAS, the most successful sitcom in Canadian history. He also ran the internationally acclaimed commercial hit LITTLE MOSQUE ON THE PRAIRIE. Paul co-created and co-ran the Gemini-nominated series DAN FOR MAYOR for CTV and created and ran MEN WITH BROOMS for CBC. Outside of the sitcom format, Paul was head writer and a Supervising Producer on one of the Canada’s highest-rated and most enduring shows, the news satire RICK MERCER REPORT. Since moving to the U.S., Paul has developed with CBS, and was a Supervising Producer on NBC’s THE MICHAEL J. FOX SHOW and on FRIEND ME for CBS.
