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Dark Matter review: A man’s dangerous journey through alternate lives
12th August, 2026 01:37 PM
Dark Matter is a science-fiction thriller series that mixes family drama, mystery, and alternate realities. The story follows Jason Dessen, a physicist and family man whose ordinary life changes after he is abducted and taken into another version of his own world.
When he discovers that another version of himself is living the life he once had, Jason begins a difficult journey to find his way back to his wife Daniela and their son Charlie.
Jason wakes up in a life that is not his
At the beginning of Dark Matter, Jason Dessen appears to have a fairly simple life. He is a professor, husband to Daniela, and father to Charlie. His life is not perfect, but he is content with the family he has built.
That changes when Jason is kidnapped while returning home one night.
He wakes up in a different reality where people know him as a brilliant scientist who has achieved something extraordinary. The problem is that Jason does not recognise this life as his own.
He soon discovers the existence of the Box, a mysterious machine that allows people to move between different realities. The Box is at the centre of the entire story because it gives Jason a chance to search through countless versions of the world in an attempt to return home.
Jason’s biggest enemy is another Jason
The most interesting part of Dark Matter is that Jason is not simply trying to escape from a stranger. He is trying to escape from another version of himself.
The alternate Jason, often referred to as Jason2, has made very different choices. He is connected to the creation of the Box and has lived a life that is far removed from the family life Jason originally chose.
Jason2 takes Jason’s place in his original reality, leaving Daniela and Charlie believing that he is the same man they have always known. However, changes in his behaviour begin to raise questions.
This creates one of the strongest parts of the series. Daniela is not just waiting for Jason to return. She has to work out why the husband standing in front of her suddenly feels different.
A journey through different lives
Jason’s attempt to return home takes him through a series of alternate worlds. Some are almost identical to the reality he knows, while others are frightening and destroyed.
Amanda becomes an important part of this journey. She understands the Box and helps Jason navigate the strange corridor of doors leading to different realities. Together, they learn that reaching the correct world is not as simple as choosing a door.
Their state of mind also affects where they end up, making Jason’s emotional struggle just as important as the science behind the Box. Meanwhile, Daniela and Charlie are dealing with the consequences of having Jason2 in their lives.
By the end of the first season, Jason’s family manages to escape the immediate danger surrounding the different versions of Jason. The family enters the Box and searches for a reality where they can live safely.
Season 2 raises the stakes
Dark Matter is officially returning for a second season on Friday, August 28, 2026. The new season will continue exploring the consequences of the Box and the different versions of Jason created by the alternate realities.
For viewers who enjoyed the first season, the return is likely to be less about explaining how the Box works and more about dealing with what its existence has done to Jason’s family.
