Dark Matter

TV review by Joyce Slaton, Common Sense Media
Dark Matter Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 14+

Mysterious sci-fi thriller full of guns and surprises.

Syfy Drama 2015
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Parents say

age 14+

Based on 5 reviews

Kids say

age 12+

Based on 5 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that the comics-based Dark Matter is a tense sci-fi thriller set on a mysterious spaceship. The setting may alarm young viewers: It's shadowy and menacing with weird light and shadow; noises on the soundtrack are metallic rasps and unnerving echoes. Futuristic guns are fired often; there's martial-arts-style fighting including swordplay; and an android's hand is severed (bloodlessly) on-screen. Expect cursing such as four-letter words ("hell," "s--t") and gendered cursing such as "bitches" and "pretty boy," as well as some flirting and passing references to sex. Kids who love dark sci-fi will enjoy the show, but others may find it a bit of a yawn.

Community Reviews

christianfreiss
christianfreiss Adult
September 21, 2020
age 18+

Overall Disappointing

If you want to sample the series, I’d say the best episodes are "We Voted Not to Space You", "Isn't That a Paradox?", and "The Dwarf Star Conspiracy". In short it’s disappointing largely because it hooks poorly. Like all shows it teaches you to care about the characters, even the mission. Like life, it is full of hooks. The key is offering twists and turns in a way that is enjoyable for the audience. Comedians understand this best. The viewer is left perplexed and disappointed. On the upside I’d say that it does have a cool android and Three’s character does have a moment of authenticity, see episodes listed above. Content: mostly sci-fi violence, but some moments are gory to include a couple of suicides. Relationally it does push the moral of friendships but the examples of stability (Threes childhood, Six’s past family) was glossed over. Every other interaction is sexual in nature to include several examples of homosexuality. Some profanity.
cubicinfinity
cubicinfinity Adult
December 31, 2019
age 15+

I enjoyed it

It's too bad it got cancelled. As for the content, here's what you need to know: The first season has a fair amount of sexual content. Both the first and second seasons contain a lot of unnecessary violence that did bother me. The show becomes more moral as the characters develop. In my opinion, the third season is the best in every way. Something I personally value is that this show allows characters to make choices that sacrifice some lives to save more. This is contrary to a weakness I find in some shows that rule against killing at all, at the expense of some dumb outcomes. Disclaimer: I don't have any kids.
See all 5 parent reviews

What's the Story?

At the opening of Syfy's series DARK MATTER, six strangers wake up on a spaceship with no idea who they are or why they're there. They name themselves after the order in which they wake. Fearful One (aka Jace Corso, played by Marc Bendavid), icily composed Two (aka Portia Lin, played by Melissa O'Neil), brash Three (aka Marcus Boone, played by Anthony Lemke), mysterious Four (aka Ryo Tetsuda, played by Alex Mallari Jr.), young empath Five (aka Das, played by Jodelle Ferland), and cheerful Six (aka Griffin Jones, played by Roger Cross) are slowly starting to put the pieces together, alternately hampered and assisted by the on-ship android (Zoie Palmer). The ship is on course to land on a nearby planet soon. Who's there? What's their business on the planet? And why are they under attack from unknown predators?

Is It Any Good?

Adapted from a fiercely beloved comic book, this series boasts a cool, innovative gimmick: The characters are as lost as new viewers. We're all figuring out together what's going on and all surprised by sudden plot twists and turns. The intriguing premise is matched by interesting characters, each with his or her own backstory that will slowly be teased out. It's all quite immersive stuff, with a few major flaws. One is the familiar character of Three, who's playing a classic sci-fi trope: He's Han Solo, he's Chris Pratt from Guardians of the Galaxy, he's Bill Paxton in Aliens. You know the guy.

The other flaw is the less-than-creative setting, all cramped corridors lit with strips of colored neon. Really? Presumably hundreds of years into the future and neon is the best we can find? Sigh. More tropes include women in revealing adventurer gear (hi, Lara Croft!) and computer systems pulled straight from every space movie you've ever seen. Dark Matter actually has an innovative plot; it's just that the creators have marooned stock characters and a clichéd setting within it.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Dark Matter is adapted from a popular comic book. What other shows or movies were originally comic books? How is this show alike or different from the others you've seen?

  • What clues are you given as to the show's time frame? How do dramas communicate the year in which they take place?

TV Details

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