Dark Matter

I wasn't too happy with the storyline in the 3rd season, but overall I enjoyed M more than almost any other sci-fi show in recent years. I include Expanse in this comparison---clearly a better show in many ways, but not much damn fun, to be honest. Dark Matter's writers kept us entertained for three seasons with some frolicking interstellar hijinks. The actors made a good ensemble. Whatever the secret sauce the DM team used to turn a pretty silly concept into a tight, interesting show, I wish they would share it with the Expanse team.

This show didn't necessarily break any new ground in the Sci-Fi genre, but was certainly more enjoyable than much of the vile dreck currently on television (a single shot of Melissa O'Neil strutting down the ship's corridor with a gun on each hip is more entertaining than all 22 seasons of "The Bachelor").

The combat scenes, whether with guns, swords or hands and feet, are well-staged and cohesive. The real heart of the show was the relationships between the characters, all of whom wake up at the beginning with no memory of who they are why they're on this starship. Considering that seemingly everyone in the universe is trying to kill them for one reason or another, they decide it's best to stick together.

It's a shame that the SciFy network abruptly yanked the show after a cliffhanger in the third season. They at least owe the cast and crew, and its fans, a two-hour movie to wrap things up.

Forget all the hater reviews and watch for yourself. Dark Matter has potential. No, they don't have awesome CGI special effects or unique sets - but they don't need it. There is no need to go over-the-top with the plot line as it stands. This show is more about the characters figuring out who they are, and deciding whether or not to follow the script laid out for themselves in life, or forging ahead and doing the "right" things and turning everything upside-down in the process.

Yes, some of the characters start off pretty predictably, but so what. Show me complete originality in any new TV series or movie these days. For the plot thus far, these characters will work.

I for one have been waiting a number of years for another good SciFy Western, and with just a wee bit of effort and refinement, Dark Matter could become a suitable successor to Firefly. For now, I'll give it a solid 8 - for a pilot

I just hope it lasts...

If you love Firefly, you will love this. Although Firefly's characters are more lovable, Dark Matter's characters are more interesting. Dark Matter has better effects, production value and plots but you will grow to love the characters as much as Firefly's characters.

I didn't get into this show when it first came out in 2015, because the first episode implied a dour, serious and depressing sci fi show. Thankfully this time around I believed the IMDB ratings and sat through the first few episodes. After establishing the back stories and the world, Dark Matter starts to shine with gripping twists and plots that make you come back for more.

Much of the time watching it, I think to myself how thankful there are 3 seasons because the episodes are so great. It's the Firefly we could have had, the Firefly we deserve.

I won't go into detail with spoilers, BUT abrupt cancellation of this series that has a rabid cult following left the plot hanging at the most unspeakably bad critical point I could possibly imagine!

Similar situations with the wonderful but woefully short lived Firefly and the earlier but much longer running and similarly popular Farscape led to fan outcries and wrap up movies, though I'm not sure this cliffhanger could have been resolved in less than a season short of actual unabashed divine intervention...

Premature cancellations seem to have become a far too common occurrence - one almost wonders how the redoubtable Babylon 5 was allowed to finish gracefully, though its sequel series did not fare so well