Blake Crouch's "Dark Matter" returns for a second season on Apple TV+, building upon the multiversal chaos of its debut. While the first season closely followed Crouch's 2016 novel, season two sees the showrunner forging a new narrative path, balancing the intimate struggles of physicist Jason Dessen (Joel Edgerton) and his family with the broader implications of traversing infinite realities.
The season picks up with Jason attempting to reunite with his wife Daniela (Jennifer Connelly) and son Charlie (Oakes Fegley) after their flight from alternate realities at the end of season one. However, the narrative quickly branches into multiple intersecting plotlines. Jason's former companion Amanda Lucas (Alice Braga) and his friend Ryan Holder (Jimmi Simpson) find themselves navigating apocalyptic versions of Chicago. Meanwhile, tech entrepreneur Leighton Vance (Dayo Okeniyi) has established himself as a multiversal power broker, attempting to amass the best technologies across realities. These broader storylines, however, are often less compelling than the deeply personal drama at the show's core.
Where "Dark Matter" truly shines is in its exploration of identity, loss, and love. Edgerton and Connelly's performances highlight the strain on their relationship as Jason grapples with the impossibility of reclaiming the life he lost. A standout episode delves into Daniela's perspective, offering crucial character development and amplifying the unsettling idea that the man she loves may not be who he seems. The series posits that the allure of alternate realities, especially those offering a semblance of perfection or a second chance, is fraught with "infinite regret," a sentiment vividly captured when Charlie considers visiting a reality where his deceased twin brother is alive.
When the series focuses on these meditative, character-driven moments, it achieves a brilliance that rivals top-tier science fiction. One episode masterfully uses minimal dialogue to showcase Edgerton's talent, conveying Jason's journey from despair to a fragile contentment through physicality alone. Margo Martindale also delivers a memorable performance as a recluse finding unexpected purpose amidst the multiversal disruption.
Season two shifts from season one's focus on the lengths one man will go to for love to a more critical examination of what that love truly means. The show suggests that the pursuit of an idealized, imagined perfect life can impede achievable happiness, cautioning against letting fantasies overshadow present realities. This theme extends to characters confronting their own unfulfilled ambitions and past decisions. Jason, for instance, is forced to reckon with his professional achievements when encountering a version of himself who has made world-altering technological advancements.
While "Dark Matter" demonstrates Crouch's capacity for creating compelling television, its unevenness prevents it from reaching true greatness. The ambition is palpable, and the moments of transcendent brilliance are frequent, but the inconsistent pacing and disparate plot threads leave room for improvement. Despite these shortcomings, the series' commitment to exploring complex themes of regret and identity makes it a noteworthy entry in the science fiction landscape, leaving viewers hoping for continued exploration in future seasons.