Post by B5Erik on Jun 27, 2021 22:35:21 GMT
Chances are, Dark Matter flew under your radar.
Created by Stargate producers and writers Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie, Dark Matter, "Brought the fun back," to Science Fiction TV. No, it wasn't a lighthearted, slapsticky show, but it was fun, and it did have just enough humor to keep it from following the recent trend in Science Fiction TV towards dark and deadly serious (see The Expanse as an example of a brilliant show that is oppressively serious).
Sticking with what they knew, Mallozzi and Mullie drew from their Stargate colleagues (writers, producers, directors, actors) and immediately had a top notch group of people to work with. While the main cast didn't feature anyone from a main cast in any Stargate show, one of the actors was a guest star on an episode of Atlantis (Jodelle Ferland), and they also had some main Stargate Atlantis actors in recurring roles (Torri Higginson, Dr. Elizabeth Weir, and David Hewlett, Dr. Rodney McKay). A handful of Stargate guest actors also appeared on Dark Matter in supporting roles, as Mallozzi and Muller knew that they were excellent and could be counted on to do a great job (which they did). Oh, and Melissa O'Neil from The Rookie is one of the stars of the show, and she's all kinds of awesome.
But what's it all about?
Well, it opens up right in the action. One at a time, six people wake up out of stasis pods to find that they are on a starship (a smaller starship, but one equipped with FTL drive). The ship is suffering from a major set of systems malfunctions, and their lives are already in jeopardy. With the situation farily quickly resoved they suddenly realize that they don't know where they are, why they're there, or even who they are. A complete case of memory loss for each of them.
Now, while that could have resulted in a rather contrived set of stories, Mallozzi and Mullie manage to make the show rather unique, and use the memory loss as a long term plot point. And, as we later find out, getting their memories back may not be such a good thing, after all.
What do they find out about themselves fairly quickly? Well, they're mercenaries and hired guns who often resort to murder to achieve their mission objectives. They're shocked to find that out, and don't really know what to make of it. The memories that made them those dangerous people are gone, but parts of those personalities are still there - the parts that make them capable, and willing to do what has to be done to achieve a goal. But the parts that made them callous and unfeeling - completely lacking in empathy - are gone. What you're left with are a bunch of badasses with consciences and a sense of morality. Well, some sense of morality - a rather flexible one.
What we find out about them later on is even more interesting, and their adventures are fun and exciting. Mallozzi and Mullie definitely achieved their goal with Dark Matter. It's just a shame that SyFy canceled the show despite good ratings. (Why? Because SyFy didn't own the show, and they wouldn't make money off of it later on, unlike the show they replaced it with.)
Still, Dark Matter is DEFINITELY worth watching for fans of fun Science Fiction adventure with a galactic sweep. It's got small caper stories, and huge galaxy wide war and politics stories. The writing is excellent, as is the acting and the direction. It's a great show. It's just a shame that SyFy canceled it the way they did, which kind of prevented it from being picked up elsewhere.