Dark Matter

:

Season 1
  • Network: SyFy
  • Series Premiere Date: Jun 12, 2015
Season #: 3, 2, 1
User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 219 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 182 out of 219
  2. Mixed: 20 out of 219
  3. Negative: 17 out of 219
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  1. piskin
    Jul 18, 2016
    10
    This tv series is amazing i don't know why critics are skeptical about this series. I love the story and the mysteries behind the characters. It makes a very compelling story.
  2. Wynne
    Jul 11, 2015
    10
    Critics should be required to watch more than one episode before rating--if they were, every tomato on this page would be fresh. By episode 5, I have to say that this is by FAR the best show on television. It is PHENOMENAL. It is everything you loved about Mass Effect and a bold new future for science fiction--one that reduces some of the pain from losing Firefly (though it's not asCritics should be required to watch more than one episode before rating--if they were, every tomato on this page would be fresh. By episode 5, I have to say that this is by FAR the best show on television. It is PHENOMENAL. It is everything you loved about Mass Effect and a bold new future for science fiction--one that reduces some of the pain from losing Firefly (though it's not as frequently funny and it's way more dramatic, you can see the parallels.)

    The acting, direction, environments, and plots are all fresh. The music is very Mass Effect-like. The initial cliches of the pilot, obliterated by the twist and its following episodes, become a mysterious and fascinating backdrop which allows us to get to know the characters and their universe as they get to know themselves. This show likes to take your expectations, present them to you, and blithely proceed to beat them to a pulp.

    Melissa O'Neil is AMAZING. She portrays the kind of character one either wants to be or to be with. She is the glue that holds together a brilliant cast which has amazing chemistry, one where every character is important, distinct, and interesting, even the one who seems like an Expy of Jayne (Three). Each has their secrets, their flaws, and their mysteries. Each is sympathetic enough to make you curious about their past, their hidden sides, and their fate. You wonder, who is the traitor and why? The questions are pervasive and increasingly fascinating as enough hints are dropped to keep theories branching out in your brain. It's a lazy interest with a lot of staying power--you're not irritated by an excess of curiosity; it builds slowly and delights the mind.

    I am eagerly drinking up every new episode, and I hope you will join me. I don't want this show to become another Firefly. Don't take the critics' reviews for granted--watch this show (MORE than one episode--the first episode always has to establish the setting, so it's never quite as smooth as the following endeavors!) and judge for yourself.    … Expand
  3. HiDef-Jules
    Nov 9, 2015
    10
    I'm so glad to have an awesome scifi show to watch again. Great cast, great writing and fantastically produced. If you like Firefly and great space opera then you'll love this. Cant wait for season 2.
  4. Combustive
    Dec 22, 2015
    10
    Really enjoying this show. Haven't been drawn in to a TV series for a while (being more of a Mass Effect person rather than Battlestar or Star Trek) and I feel like the show really hit the mark with the characters and story. Perhaps having a smaller budget helped keep these things in focus. Easy to get in to. I really hope it keeps running.
  5. DonMega
    Dec 2, 2015
    10
    I grew up being a huge fan of shows like Babylon 5, Star trek tng, voyager, ds9, firefly and my all time favorite show is farscape. I have been waiting years for a similar type of sci-fi show to come out but was disappointed until I watched dark matter 2015. This has everything from an engaging story, the cast is excellent and acting is good. The backgrounds are excellent and well made,I grew up being a huge fan of shows like Babylon 5, Star trek tng, voyager, ds9, firefly and my all time favorite show is farscape. I have been waiting years for a similar type of sci-fi show to come out but was disappointed until I watched dark matter 2015. This has everything from an engaging story, the cast is excellent and acting is good. The backgrounds are excellent and well made, like the ship interior or interiors of different locations. I also enjoyed the dialog and small comedic moments.

    Although I was never a huge fan of stargate sg1 I was a big fan of stargate atlantis so seeing the same writers and creators of the stargate francise wasn't a huge shock because you can just feel the vibe in this show that past sci-fi shows had. The writers have done an amazing job on the show and I really hope this gets renewed because I would be extremely disappointed. If you grew up watching space opera's like I have mentioned above you should enjoy this. This is the only good space sci-fi in the last couple years.    … Expand
  6. Tss5078
    May 20, 2017
    10
    Once in a generation, a show comes along that insists you pay attention to it. Nearly fifty years after the debut of Star Trek, Dark Matter is the latest show turning heads in the world of science fiction and it is like nothing you have ever seen before. Blending elements of Star Trek, Lost, and Knight Rider, this new show from the producers of Stargate SG1, will have you talking about itOnce in a generation, a show comes along that insists you pay attention to it. Nearly fifty years after the debut of Star Trek, Dark Matter is the latest show turning heads in the world of science fiction and it is like nothing you have ever seen before. Blending elements of Star Trek, Lost, and Knight Rider, this new show from the producers of Stargate SG1, will have you talking about it and pining for the next episode.

    Orbiting a planet out in deep space on the edges of civilization, six people wake up on a spaceship, with no memory of who they are or how they got there. After pairing up and searching the ship, they discover it's full of weapons. With the help of an android they find on board, the crew discovers they are orbiting a disputed planet and the weapons are likely for the colonists below. The crew quickly becomes attached to the colonists, that is until they learn the horrible truth, that they are mercenaries at the top of the galactic authorities most wanted list. They know they must be there to remove the colonist for one of the big corporations that now run the galaxy, but with the lose of their memories, came something no one could have expected, a conscience. Eventually, the crew of the ship called, The Raza, decide they have to stick together and find out who they are, where they're from, and what happened to them, so begins Dark Matter.

    Each episode is another adventure, dealing with the authority, their old enemies, and their old employers. They don't know their friends from their enemies, but after each adventure they get another piece of the puzzle and we get a glimpse into their passed lives. Together with the crew, the audience has the pleasure of trying to figure out who these people were, what happened to them, and debate on where they may be going.

    Much like Star Trek, this show has a virtually unknown cast, and is slowly producing it's own stars. I only recognized a couple of name, but the different skills each cast member present is as incredible and unique as the characters themselves. The women on board have moves that would make Bruce Lee jealous, but not to be overlooked is the cast interactions with each other, which often times are hilarious. The cast is diverse and so are the characters and their backgrounds, in coming together they all play on each others strengths and weaknesses to make this one of the most enjoyable shows on television.

    I watch a lot of TV, probably a lot more than is healthy, but in all this time, there have only been a handful of shows that I can honestly say, I could not wait to see the next episode, Dark Matter is one of those shows. Honestly I get home early on the nights it on and put on SyFy fifteen minutes early so that I don't miss a second. The first two seasons are currently streaming, go and watch the pilot and I promise you, weather you love science fiction or not, Dark Matter will have you hooked.    … Expand
  7. krikaoli
    Aug 2, 2015
    10
    This is a very unique show, without clichés. At each episode I like more and more the show. The actors and the script are fantastic and this is the best present-day science fiction series.
  8. zorgzag
    Sep 3, 2017
    10
    this is the best sci-fi movie ever!!! We all want to see it and the fans won't give up. @netflix , we're counting on you! Such a shame that was a fascinating storyline!!
  9. fallendemon
    Sep 2, 2015
    10
    The premise of the show is simple enough. Everyone wakes up in a stasis with amnesia. The show is low budget so no cool effects etc.. The earlier episodes we get to find out who they are fairly quickly. By episode 8 or the show takes off.

    I hope they get a bigger budget for season two the stories in season one is fun to watch!!

    Best is to binge watch the whole thing in a sitting.
  10. Charlemagne
    Jun 8, 2016
    10
    Thank God they renewed it and didn't leave us permanently hanging. More character action space opera than sci-fi, but enough sci-fi delivered every now and then to be interesting. It's possible I am too blinded by the glory of Two to be objective, but in that case the show still delivers.
  11. Existentialman
    Jun 13, 2015
    10
    I thought it was great! It has a Star Wars/Star Trek/Firefly vibe to it, with it's own unique identity and storyline. I watched it last night and thought it was great and it the morning I thought about it again and liked it even more. It's tough to judge based on just one episode, especially with so many mysteries introduced in the first episode, but I'll certainly tune in next week toI thought it was great! It has a Star Wars/Star Trek/Firefly vibe to it, with it's own unique identity and storyline. I watched it last night and thought it was great and it the morning I thought about it again and liked it even more. It's tough to judge based on just one episode, especially with so many mysteries introduced in the first episode, but I'll certainly tune in next week to see where it goes. I don't want to put in any spoilers, but if you like any of the shows or movies I mentioned above I would definitely check it out.… Expand
  12. ifor
    Jun 22, 2015
    10
    Best science fiction show i've been watching in quite a while, the first 2 episodes where kick-ass.

    The acting is good, the story so deep and the general appearance of the universe is just amazing.
  13. hamal
    May 16, 2016
    10
    A rather intriguing Firefly-like space adventure with plenty of mystery, diverse characters, and action to keep me interested. By far my favorite new show.
  14. Sicily
    Jul 3, 2015
    10
    I love the show so far. Granted, the acting is a little off but new actors need to find their place and the character they portray. You always need to give it a few episodes for the actor to define the character. Take a look at Firefly, Stargate, or Farscape. All of those shows weren't really good till a few episodes in. Im really glad we have another space show out worth watching. TOI love the show so far. Granted, the acting is a little off but new actors need to find their place and the character they portray. You always need to give it a few episodes for the actor to define the character. Take a look at Firefly, Stargate, or Farscape. All of those shows weren't really good till a few episodes in. Im really glad we have another space show out worth watching. TO THE TROLLS OUT THERE: What else is there?… Expand
  15. Fbot
    Jul 5, 2015
    10
    This is a very fun show. It has a diverse cast of characters with mystery and intriguing plots. There's no particular high octane fancy-shmancy hard-to-believe sci-fi weirdness or crazy looking aliens. Just a lot of down to earth problems with good and bad people out there in space and from different parts of society with high and low tech. The start was a little slow, but it takes timeThis is a very fun show. It has a diverse cast of characters with mystery and intriguing plots. There's no particular high octane fancy-shmancy hard-to-believe sci-fi weirdness or crazy looking aliens. Just a lot of down to earth problems with good and bad people out there in space and from different parts of society with high and low tech. The start was a little slow, but it takes time to build these complex worlds, so patience will pay off for the internet savvy person who needs information instantaneously. Kind of a mixture between blade runner, firefly, the Star Trek reboot and the Star Wars haves and have-nots, except without the aliens and instead with just us humans trying to get by in another part of the galaxy. enjoy… Expand
  16. sugarBaby
    Jul 5, 2015
    10
    Wow. This is scary good, dark and fun sci-fi spaceship-based show. The crew make trips to planets and space stations/other ships and are trying to keep out of trouble after awakening from their stasis pods and realizing that they are criminals. Multiple story lines during an episode, interesting twists, and a savvy hit and run space ship for this derelict crew of interesting characters.Wow. This is scary good, dark and fun sci-fi spaceship-based show. The crew make trips to planets and space stations/other ships and are trying to keep out of trouble after awakening from their stasis pods and realizing that they are criminals. Multiple story lines during an episode, interesting twists, and a savvy hit and run space ship for this derelict crew of interesting characters. Funny scenes get mixed in with more intense, "yo, look out..." scenes. Similar to Stargate Universe/Stargate, battlestar galactica reboot, firefly and star wars. No aliens, just us folk battling each other out there in space. Cheers.

    P.S. Forget the haters, it's up to episode 4 now, and the show is evolving nicely. Judge for yourself.    … Expand
  17. EdmondH
    Jul 22, 2015
    10
    This is now my favorite show on TV. I find myself muddling through the week just to get to Friday. I do like killjoys but for me it just doesn't have the depth and and the characters that dark matter has. The acting is first rate, not a usual formula for SYFY. The premise is excellent and has many roads that can be traveled. The cast is movie quality. It is the closest thing to fireflyThis is now my favorite show on TV. I find myself muddling through the week just to get to Friday. I do like killjoys but for me it just doesn't have the depth and and the characters that dark matter has. The acting is first rate, not a usual formula for SYFY. The premise is excellent and has many roads that can be traveled. The cast is movie quality. It is the closest thing to firefly yet. And as we'll know firefly was the best show ever. I am already awaiting the blu ray set. Let's keep this ship flying.… Expand
  18. Nachojones
    Aug 10, 2015
    10
    Currently binge watching episode 7 of the first season and I really like it. It reminds me of early STNG and Firefly. It's going to be a long wait for the next season. The characters are interesting and familiar without being cliche. I think they've done a great job. I don't know what people expect from a first season. Big thumbs up here. The only thing I have a slight problem is theCurrently binge watching episode 7 of the first season and I really like it. It reminds me of early STNG and Firefly. It's going to be a long wait for the next season. The characters are interesting and familiar without being cliche. I think they've done a great job. I don't know what people expect from a first season. Big thumbs up here. The only thing I have a slight problem is the ships android. The eye closing, when she processes something, is silly. But that is just a minor complaint. I love this show.… Expand
  19. Colwolf77
    Aug 15, 2015
    10
    After watching the pilot episode and admit I wasn't too impressed. The characters were a little cliche and it felt a little flat. I've now watched 10 episodes and my opinion has totally changed around, the premise of the story builds as you get to know a little more about each of the characters. I know this is turning into a great series because I find myself rooting for the crew when theyAfter watching the pilot episode and admit I wasn't too impressed. The characters were a little cliche and it felt a little flat. I've now watched 10 episodes and my opinion has totally changed around, the premise of the story builds as you get to know a little more about each of the characters. I know this is turning into a great series because I find myself rooting for the crew when they get into any predicament. Each actor is starting to really embrace their roles and you can really see it in each episode that goes by. I love this series and can't wait to see how it develops in the future.… Expand
  20. Armchairwarrior
    Sep 2, 2015
    10
    A show with a very good story. Must binge watch the whole thing. It is low budget. But story gets better after a few background episodes of who they are. The show gets its legs by episode 8.
  21. sysphus
    Sep 2, 2015
    10
    The show is low budget, so no cool effects. But it has excellent story develop and characters. It will take a few episode to get to know them. Best to binge watch the whole season at one sitting.
  22. mtc1954
    Sep 30, 2016
    10
    'Professional' critics need to nerd up. This is a great show. Small ship, scruffy crew, brainiac kid - yeah cliche to a fault BUT everyone wakes from cryo with total amnesia. Instant mystery. Well written with brutal scenes matching Firefly. Deep intrigue in every episode.
  23. deir
    Feb 19, 2016
    10
    all in the spirit of EVE Online I look forward to the second season
    i liked this serial with the first series
    all mysteriously extraordinary unusual staging of this scene the audience
  24. farmerfan
    Aug 5, 2016
    10
    What a brilliant , intelligent sci fi series. Don't listen to the bad reviews, these are people who lack the intelligence to appreciate good sci fi, and probably should be watching Bay Watch reruns or Charlies Angels or whatever. Anyway, this series was such a pleasant surprise, brilliant acting, very good casting, and great suspenseful plot and storyline. Do yourself a favour and watch this.
  25. mjune10
    Aug 14, 2016
    10
    I recommend this show to anyone who likes sci-fi or action/adventure series. The characters are all generally likeable and the storyline is interesting. I really hope they renew the show for another season because I think there is much more that can be done with it.
  26. Split_Decay
    Jan 8, 2018
    10
    Dark Matter something of wonderful narrative and intense Sci-Fi battling is what creates a thrilling TV show, over the 3 seasons it had it was more engaging to watch and the inclusion of new plots and stories with each passing episode makes it all the more entertaining, It just a shame we may never see any more of it, why Syfy why.
  27. mosconstein
    Jul 7, 2015
    9
    The show it still in its early episodes but, right now, il looks promising. There's everything you'd like to see in a sci-fi opera (spaceships, psychotic androids,laser guns...) and the plot seams to develop one episode after another.
  28. Caedes
    Aug 12, 2016
    9
    Simply the best SyFy tv shows in over a decade. Special effects are cheap (it gets better in season 2) but it makes up for it with great character development and good stroy twist here and there.
  29. Nadrac
    Jun 30, 2015
    9
    Good character focused scifi adventure with a lot of potential, and character driven shows always take some time to really get started. It's a budget show, and uses that budget on what matters, and the acting is good, sometimes even great. Anthony Lemke is amazing.
  30. Djtoodles
    Sep 20, 2016
    9
    Found the show by accident when researching the actual dark matter for a uni project. Read the premise gave it a go and im pleasantly surprised, characters are good, story is interesting. It has vibes of Farscape or Andromeda (you should also watch they are great) but modernised and with less one dimensional characters. Its also nice to see good guys who are flawed and selfish (for theFound the show by accident when researching the actual dark matter for a uni project. Read the premise gave it a go and im pleasantly surprised, characters are good, story is interesting. It has vibes of Farscape or Andromeda (you should also watch they are great) but modernised and with less one dimensional characters. Its also nice to see good guys who are flawed and selfish (for the most part), yet are also likeable, which I think is a sign of good character creation.

    The universe is pretty interesting and borrows ideas from Eve Online and Battletech. This isnt a bad thing as its inspiration is from great sources and has managed to create a rather deep universe which is different enough from others to be new and interesting.

    Casting was very good and all the cast deliver great performances for the most part. My personal favourite is 5 as we see go from random person to member of the crew and badass in her own right. But even the most unlikable of the characters Three (imo), has moments where his character is shown to have depth and likeability and its all acted out very well.

    CGI is good for the budget and although we dont get to see too much cgi action, i assume due to the budget, the bits we get are nice and crisp. I especially like the FTL travel style when they jump, its very cool.

    The story and pacing is excellent, it hands out revelations and backstory fast enough to keep you interested but not so fast as to blow its load all in one episode. Its has enough shocks and twists that they are fun and unexpected without being overused.

    A fun side note its always good seeing some of my old favourites returning as new characters, Drs Rodney McKay and Elizabeth Weir being as awesome as ever :P.

    I hope the show continues to be made after season two, I hope SyFy have faith in the show they have a bad habit of cancelling shows. Ive been telling everyone I know about the show and given how randomly I found out about it I suggest others to do the same. Its a good Sci-Fi TV Show and deserves more viewers than it gets. It has a story and characters which put some other well advertised shows to shame but sadly not the budget.    … Expand
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Critic Reviews

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Metascore
58

Mixed or average reviews - based on 5 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Keith Uhlich
    Jun 15, 2015
    40
    Dark Matter is a dud, and likely to make as much of a dent in the pop-cultural consciousness as the invisible substance it’s named after.
    Read full review
  2. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
    Reviewed by: Rob Owen
    Jun 15, 2015
    50
    A lethal robot (Zoie Palmer), who tries to kill one of the six before they wipe her memory. She then sets about reconstructing the ship’s data, eventually learning the ship’s destination and their possible purpose that throws everything the audience has learned in the show’s first hour into question. It’s a good twist. What Dark Matter makes of it in future episodes remains to be seen.
    Read full review
  3. Newark Star-Ledger
    Reviewed by: Vicki Hyman
    Jun 12, 2015
    50
    A workmanlike space opera.
    Read full review
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