Connelly is nice to look at as all the time, together with her efficiency because the prime universe’s Daniela extra intriguing than her parallel universe counterpart, managing that tough stability of being initially oblivious to the grand deception going down in her own residence and being the robust lady that she is. However the actual standout from the supporting forged is Jimmi Simpson, who serves as a fantastic foil to Edgerton’s characters, irrespective of which universe we discover ourselves in or model of Ryan that Simpson performs.
In watching Darkish Matter, it was arduous not to attract comparisons with Apple TV+’s current thriller collection The Changeling and Constellation. The latter collection, specifically, centered on a pair affected by parallel universes converging, with variations of characters displaying totally different dynamics regardless of their bodily similarities. Whereas Constellation poised this premise as an overarching thriller on what precisely was happening, Darkish Matter is comparatively upfront with the viewers within the sort of story it’s telling. This actually works to its benefit, each by way of accessibility and pacing moderately than needlessly attempting to delay its telegraphed twist as Constellation had.
The cinematography all the time echoes nearer to numerous status tv thrillers nowadays, with washed out colours within the daylight and inside sequences and fixed shadow and heat mild throughout its many nighttime scenes. Visually, Darkish Matter is dependable although not particularly distinct from a lot of its contemporaries, staying grounded even with its science fiction premise and core idea of parallel universes. This extends to the sound design, one thing that had crucially elevated Constellation, with Darkish Matter preserving issues comparatively low-key in its aural presentation.
Other than the extra antagonistic facet of Edgerton’s efficiency, the factor that’ll maintain audiences coming again for extra with Darkish Matter is its sense of tempo and well-crafted cliffhangers to most of its eight episodes. Crouch, together with the opposite writers and administrators he’s working with to adapt his novel, match numerous story in every episode and know simply convey every installment to a tantalizing shut, daring viewers to tune again in to see how issues unfold. It’s right here the place the narrative sensibilities of the story shine the strongest and, luckily, it by no means seems like an episode of Darkish Matter overstays its welcome.
Darkish Matter may be very well made and buoyed by its robust ensemble forged, utilizing its sci-fi premise as a springboard into strong thriller territory that Edgerton performs to the hilt. Anybody conscious and appreciative of Apple TV+’s rising library of unique thrillers will discover Darkish Matter proper within the streaming service’s wheelhouse, albeit with a slight sci-fi twist befitting its best-selling supply materials. Apple TV+’s catalogue, Darkish Matter stands about on par or barely above a lot of its contemporaries, well-executed and well-cast although maybe overly acquainted for these on the lookout for one thing a bit extra thematically distinct.
