Dark Matter Online

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.

I'm not going to write a rave review of this show, many others have done it before me, it was a really good series, the stories were well crafted, it was high standard in the world of sci-fi were you see a lot of cr***. I just want to direct you to the writer and creator Joseph Mallozi's blog to read why it was cancelled and wasn't saved, which demonstrates once again the haughtiness of "money making moguls" in networks deciding that we, the viewers, are just bottom lines and they're just milking the milky way however fast they can. Disrespecting loyal fans is no longer a tenable posture in the industry, especially when dozens of awful shows get produced that don't have the level of quality this one had, especially in the sci-fi genre and on SYFY. Besides The Expanse, there wasn't much being done towards giving sci-fi afficionaos the real deal. Personnaly, I believe in the downfall of the $ all-mighty culture of the entertainment industry that disregards viewers' choices especially when they're loyal to the series. We too can unite and fund movies-series outside the realm of the establishment if need be. It's about time WE decide not the networks.

Im not even a Scifi fan i watched the first episode out of pure curiosity it was on tv and nothing else was showing ..

Then i found my self being so positively surprised and curious that i started watching the show and became a steady watcher a the lead actors did a great job also enough humor action suspense in it ....i don't get why they stopped the show also the android was so funny and great everything they tried to do in the show had a potential of being GREAT ...

THEN they just cancelled it i mean WTF why the show was great even a NON scifi fan like me liked the show

It's sci fi for for sci if fans. This show fills a gap that was left by galactica and stargate universe and the like. I liked it so much I decided to get on and leave a review in hopes that it wouldn't get canceled by the anti sci fi overly critical critics. It is a major challenge to take on a show set in space with the ships, technology, characters, plot, and in this case they are on the right track. Just look at the ship set, it's awesome. After seeing the typical bad reviews I am convinced there is a plot to keep sci fi from staying on the air. The bad reviews sound like the people who originally hated firefly and look what happened there. It's nice having a new show without vampires, zombies, and high school drama that you can turn to when you want something in outer space with FTL. This show is great, has a smile on my face, and has me waiting for the next show.

Watched all three seasons over a one week period. Hope someone will bring it back for season 4 or at least have a series ending two hour episode/movie for some finality. The Corporate Wars seem to be resolved. Now I want to know how the world survives the Black Ships and the Machine Revolution plots. What happens to the characters after finding out the memories revealed in season 3? This show got better each episode. Although rated an 8, I could very well give it a 10 as it provides everything that I ask for in a series to be entertained.

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.

This series starts off great, love the characters and the universe this story plays out in. Season 2 has some less intriguing episodes, but still delivers! Season 3 is the clincher though! Everything is brought full circle and a whole new element is revealed! AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! Please don't leave us hanging!

Three more seasons!

Three more seasons!

Three more seasons!

!!!!!

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 simply ignore all the bad reviews about this show and just give it a chance, you will see for yourself that it is very far from what some silly kids wrote about in those bad reviews... It has a great potential to become a good show with good mystery around every corner. It wasn't the best pilot but after watching the 2nd episode I honestly can't wait for the 3rd one to come out...Backstory , the characters are OK, and it is weird to read bad things about the special effects . Even though I always want the best special effect in the shows I am watching , it was never really that important to me , if everything else was good... Take some of the older sci fi shows that didn't have thhe best special effects , but you liked them for everything else. The weird thing was that the special effects here are much better than what was said in some bad reviewa. In short - It is a good show for all

--- sci fi and mystery fans out there ;)

I've held off a bit before posting a review. The first few episodes of Dark Matter felt like they could go either way - descent into predictability and mediocrity, or rise into engrossing characters and ideas. After seven episodes, I'm convinced: it's the latter, and then some.

Each episode has been better than the last. Dark Matter is showing the same strengths that made Stargate SG-1 and it's spin-offs so addictive. Strong, likable characters. Solid performances by actors you may not have seen a lot of times before. Story lines that often seem breezy and lightweight, yet conceal a lot of clever writing - courtesy of Mallozzi and Mullie, two of the key writers on Stargate.

The most recent episode is a great example. The crew finds an 'entertainment android' and assembles it. What follows is a nice bit of fencing with our preconceptions. Yes, the android can perform sex - and we get the predictable jokes. But it can also cook, which is far more important, given the crew's short rations. And it also harbors some nasty surprises. The story mixes humor, suspense and even tragedy. Sure, it's 'just' traditional space opera. But space opera deftly handled, to the point where it becomes absolutely compelling.

This is all the more amazing, considering the less-than-promising concept upon which Dark Matter is based: a crew wakes up on a starship, with no memory of who they are. It sounds like a recipe for cookie-cutter tedium. But four or five episodes later, this collection of apparent stereotypes has become a tight group of multifaceted characters, just as likable as Stargate's Jack O'Neill, Daniel Jackson and Sam Carter. I really didn't think Mallozzi and Mullie could pull it off. But they not only did it, they did it in fewer episodes than I could have imagined.

No, this is not Shakespeare. It's unapologetic genre fiction. If you found Stargate SG-1 too corny, or too silly, then forget Dark Matter. But if you've got a place in your heart for sci-fi adventure painted boldly on a huge canvas, Dark Matter is a must-watch. Don't give up after one or two episodes - give it a chance to build, and it won't disappoint.

The only possible downside is the originating network: SyFy. A network run by boobs who persistently greenlight - then almost immediately kill - excellent new shows. I'm gritting my teeth, and fervently hoping Dark Matter will be allowed to build the cult following it deserves, over many, many seasons.

How long it's been since we saw a spaceship based show which is not a spin off, sequel or reboot? Yes Star Trek, Stargate and BSG spin offs were successful in many ways, but still they didn't offer a brand new Universe. Right now this show looks like some sort of inspiration from Firefly/Andromeda/Cowboy Bebop with a feel of EVE online if you know what I am talking about and I am absolutely loving it... I can see Joseph Mallozzi learned a couple of lessons from SGU failure, so now the producers of the show try to balance action with a slow story development and hints on how far and global the story can go... It's great, the ending of episode 4 boosts imagination - jump clones, a killed emperor, potential intergalactic conflict... And the humor, it's not dumb... So if you like intelligent Space sci-fi with bits of mystery , you're welcome...

This review comes after the show is well into it's seventh episode. When I first started watching this show, I was put-off by how terrible the intro video looked. Yes, in terms of special effects and post- production quality, I felt this show was severely lacking, and even more so because it's a sci-fi. But as the episodes kept coming, the show subtly but compellingly tugged me to appreciate the intricacies of human interaction, of the many mysteries on that ship, and the good pace of character development. The seventh episode had a good dose of humor, some of it childish but mostly enough to elicit a good solid chuckle. Without getting into the plot and other details, I would suggest you guys start watching this show, it has quite a lot to offer.

I'm hard to please and sci-fi is a hard genre to pull off but this show is ticking all the boxes for me! If you're a fan of interstellar drama then this show deserves your attention.

You have a crew with a story across a collection of star systems brewing with intrigue and human struggle. Sets that harken to the lived-in grittiness of Farscape and a core mystery.

It's true that it starts with a heavy handed trope of memory loss and borrows a character idea almost completely from Firefly but there is nothing wrong with emulation as long as it brings invention to the table. And that it quickly does, characters here are each flawed and self-conscious of ruining a chance at a fresh start.

We haven't had a series with so much potential in this genre in a LONG time. That's not an accident, it's hard to make people. Can't wait to see what happens next!

Dark Matter is one of the best shows that I've ever watched. I love all the action and story lines in each and every season. The characters are well developed and contribute something to the show. I haven't missed an episode since I heard about this series. It saddens me to find out that Dark Matter has been canceled on Scyfy since it has one of the highest ratings on that channel (that's what I've read anyway). I hope other outlets like Netflix, Amazon, or Hulu pick this series up. It would be a shame for this show to not end properly. #TeamRaza

Was really looking forward to seeing season 4, only to hear it wasn't happening :(

Enjoyed season 1 - that got me hooked, and each season just got better for me. Was interested to see where they were headed with at the end if season 3.

Just finished watching all 3 seasons for the second time. And, I find I want more. The S03 Ep13 left me amazed and totally ready for a new season. What a way to end..... an Alien Invasion no less. I'm primed and ready for more great SciFi but alas, some knucklehead group of trolls succeeded in creating a false image about this show. Then the cancellation happened. What a disappointment. This production should have been supported to the max. Now we all lose here.

You wake up on a spaceship--course unknown, mission unknown, really everything unknown, because you have no memory of your life prior to the moment. You discover there are five others on board--also without recall, apparently. There's also an android who needs a little reprogramming to make "her" usable.

Such is the premise of "Dark Matter"--a new show from Syfy that invokes similarities to "Firefly" with its characterizations. There's the gun-loving meathead, the mysterious young woman...but viewers soon realize that the characters must reinvent themselves. They have clues to their mission, but amnesia offers freedom from the past and past deeds.

After two episodes, it feels like a slowly developing story in terms of the direction the show will take. While it is an action show, there are plenty of mysteries to be revealed. Who erased their memories and why? What's in the small box onboard? What's behind a large door that doesn't want to be opened? And why is the mysterious young woman--who apparently is not crew--on board?

The sets are dark, like The Nostromo or any number of other spaceship depictions. The sound is sometimes muffled. But for now, I am willing to follow this crew to unravel the mysteries and see where fate leads.

Updated at end of first season: The season finished strong. I am increasing my grade to an 8.

The actors care; the characters make sense and fit; the writers have self-referential awareness of sci- fi conventions and norms and make good use of them, and they seem to have a mind to developing themes that unfold over time. I'm engaged. I'm enjoying the show. I look forward to what's going to happen next.

My only hope: the writers develop themes in the midst of action; otherwise, DM (after awhile) will become just another space soap-opera, just another 'wait and let's see what's going to happen next' action drama without any lasting value. Let's all, together--writers and fans-- not let that happen; let's not let the world-building mean nothing; make it into a theme in itself, as it is in Firelfy (the world means what the situation is like--it speaks to the way of life and shifting norms). Let's not let the writers (or those directing the writers) think little of philosophic themes--e.g., existential agency over habitual norms; confronting cynical instinct when morality seemed the norm, etc.--as if these kinds of ideas can just float in the background and not come to fruition. There's so much potential here for good things that I can't help but have high hopes, and the technical skill of the production, set, and the ability of the actors to make things work--all this makes it easy to feel optimistic. My ranking of 9 is provisional and conditional but based on an 'educated guess.' Please, don't let this show turn into a mere workaday thing; let it find its transcendental niche!

Review UPDATE 1: After episode 6: that was the best episode yet--great sci-fi elements, bringing in material that allows for thematic exploration (existentialism vs. embodied memory determinism); characters having past experiences that they care about, from embodied memory, but that have their own new consciousnesses--there's heaps of potential here for thematic focus/representational value (understanding how to be a better human, what being human means, etc.) over Falling Skies soap opera one- episode-to-the-next formatting (which has its perks, to be sure, but can't stack up qualitatively to true works of art, which Dark Matter has the potential to offer).

After Episode 7: still holding strong. Sometimes I worry music is used too much to create a sense of cohesion between sequences, but at least I like the music.

UPDATE after season one: Dang, didn't see that coming! Mole revealed (and I was sad to find out who it was, though I'd be sad whoever it was, really, because each character has been developed sufficiently to care about their individuality). Cool to see Will on there, with beard; he's an old role model from growing up on STNG. Clearly he can act. Hope David Hewlett's character gets more integrated into things (he was my favorite character from Stargate Atlantis).

Well, what can I say? There's much that's set up for interesting thematic developments, come season two, and I think the writers have hinted at how those themes might gain clarity and depth. But I still can't measure thematics until they happen, in full, if they do. Most of the emphasis has been on world-building and mystery/identity development, and that's fine as long as it goes somewhere. It'll be a long wait to see if it does, but I look forward to getting into the mix of what's to come, and I can only hope future episodes give the philosophic problems introduced, in passing, the attention they deserve.

Will there be mini-webisodes from now until next season?

After the first episode, I'm personally rating it as an 8/10. The premise is quite promising with its formula, especially with veteran SG-1/SG-A writers at the helm of the show. The premise though reminds feels a little bit like Firefly and a little bit weirdly enough, a bit like Defiance(though subject to change after 1st episode). One of the MAJOR concerns is that this show is featured on SYFY and as many of us know, the network has been known to low ball budget shows and hinder some of the potential of otherwise great shows and writers. After episode 1, I am definitely intrigued to see what this show has to offer . The show is based on the Comic book of the same name and writer and has some praise to it. Definitely will be sticking around for Episode 2.

Not a bad start. I honestly don't understand all the harsh criticism: I know, it wasn't a perfect pilot episode, but all in all it was quite good. It has a great potential to grow and I was engaged from the get go because I wanted to know more about the characters and their back-story. Memory loss is a cliché, yes, but it can be handled appropriately to create a sense of mystery.

At first I was a little afraid all the action would take place on the ship they wake up, but in the end they visit a planet, which I why I love scifi in the first place: discovery. In some ways it reminded me of Firefly (it remains to be seen, of course, if it can reach such a level of greatness - probably not, but never say never). Even some characters, like the young girl with green hair (Jodelle Ferland) has a River Tam kinda vibe. And, you gotta admit, the android lady was a bit creepy, and transmitted the artificial intelligence uncanny valley quite well.

I would say give this TV show a chance before writing it off, maybe wait for a couple of episodes and see how it develops. The screenwriters are allegedly talented people with plenty of experience and if they manage to keep audiences interested, we might be looking at something great here. If not, well, thanks for trying.

Given my snap impression of this show was that it was a Firefly knockoff, I'm really glad that I kept watching, as any similarity really is in that they're a bunch of outlaws on a ship and that 5 has some Kaylee/River-esque abilities...and that 3 and Jayne both fulfill the same stereotype.

Anyway, I find this series very watchable, and am currently in the middle of the final season.

This isn't flawless drama, nor is it flawless sci-fi, but but it is quite good. You'll see a lot of comparisons to other shows, but as Emerson says, "Comparisons are odious". While aspects of this do indeed resemble many recent, and some older shows, the sum total of the plot line equals a unique entity.

It's also a mystery show, that pays off in nibbles and gulps, and finally in large meteors, and finally planetoids of answers - and it doesn't make you wait season after season for these payoffs.

It has no real throw-away episodes, either; it sticks to its major plot line throughout.

Nevertheless, it has flaws, yet astonishingly it corrects them whenever it can - even mid-season! That is a rare occurrence, because as everyone one knows, once you correct a problem (in fighting sequences, in science, et al, you are admitting that there was an error, and isn't admitting to error illegal?

It's a quality sci-fi drama that takes FTL (faster-than-light) travel for granted, has a mixture of high-tech and old tech, has constructed human beings and astonishingly quick but flawed human cloning, energy and projectile weapons, a horrid political amalgam of human world governments, overly powerful, unethically competitive, and resoundingly corrupt mega-corporations, a Galactic government for sale to the noisiest bidder, and a small handful of people who try to do the "right thing".

The show explores ethics in a system overburdened with large- scale and small-scale corruption, and the evolution of a philosophy of survival.

It is a good, complex show that has a production schedule similar to the modern-day "Sherlock Holmes" series - sort of a you'll see 'em when we make em", attitude that before the days of streaming was a death sentence to any show, irrespective of its good qualities.

I enjoy it very much.

So, a group of misfits travelling together on a space ship where they get into various scrapes and their past comes back to haunt them... Yes it's been done before in Firefly and prior to that Blakes 7 and numerous other shows. Still there are some engaging performances (notably the android) and it doesn't take any brain power to watch, so it fills an hours entertainment admirably.

Would I like more "meat on the bones" so to speak? Yes I would but I'll take what's given and enjoy nonetheless.

One thing I will say in its favour is that it doesn't belabour plot points for weeks and weeks (yes, I'm looking at you Lost). There is enough of an over-arching plot to hold the season together without it getting bogged down in its own mythology.

If this keeps up I can see them winning awards (third way through season 2 at moment).

OK, so they're all pretty young, and pretty, and young. But they're also all interesting actors and each has something special to offer the script. Indeed, the plot balances them nicely and really it's hard to know who the 'main' character is because they are all unique and lovable in their own special way. And weirdly, this is bizarre, because in their own way they are all (or were) pretty nasty people.

The sets are maybe not the best, and the special effects I can't even remember.. but you know why? Because the plot is so good. I'm involved in the story and really wondering what will happen next. This is as sci-fi should be: not a lazy way to tell sub-standard stories and replace plot with effects and lazers, but a great character development and interesting (and different) story line which engages you, which uses the flexibility and allure of the future to create the scene.

Unlike some series ('How to get away with murder' springs to mind) it doesn't try to get attention by lots of sex and killing or oddness. Simply good stories.

I recommend you watch the first 3 episodes and if you don't like it, leave it alone. For me, I was hooked by episode 2 and then it just got better and better. Season 2 even delved deeper into the overarching story. I've got high hopes for this, and as long as they keep it well paced they should have a winner for many many many seasons.

Discovered this on Netflix and couldn't tear myself away. Long story short, if you are a sci fi fan (a la Firefly, SG, Orphan Black, etc) this is a great show. Season 3 ended with a cliffhanger and lots of unanswered questions that could easily carry another season without getting stale. I hope Netflix will produce more episodes.