By the time Dark Matter Season 2 becomes available to stream for those of us with an Apple TV subscription, it'll be more than two years since Season 1 wrapped up. Normally, I'd gripe a bit about the gap, but sci-fi series like this one are few and far between (especially ones that aren't canceled too soon). While I've had every intention of watching Season 2 of Dark Matter when it premieres on August 28, I didn't realize I needed a refresher of why I love this show or why I'm excited for Season 2 until I got one.
It came in the form of a trailer and the cast and writers gathering for Comic-Con in San Diego, which CinemaBlend attended earlier this month. Between what was revealed and what was said, there's one particular thing I'm really excited to see explored this season.
Other Characters Encountering Different Versions Of Themselves
Season 1 of Dark Matter featured multiple Jason Dessens, and watching Joel Edgerton's characters interact with one another at times throughout the season was one of the most fascinating things about the series. Based on what we glimpse in the Season 2 trailer and what was said at the SDCC panel, we're in for more of that in Season 2, and it won't just be Jason who has to deal with the undoubtedly surreal experience of staring into another version of themselves. Here's what Blake Crouch said:
Joel got to have a lot of fun playing against himself in Season 1, and the theme of identity is such a big part of Season 2, and we thought, we have such a tremendous cast and, without giving spoilers, a lot of these folks get to have some scenes against themselves, and that's just a blast to watch unfold.
A big reason why I love the book is because I'm fascinated by the idea of how people might turn out differently based on their circumstances and choices. It's illustrated so perfectly throughout the book-to-screen adaptation, particularly in the season finale, when Jason encountered various versions of himself, some of whom weren't nearly as willing to let him escape with Daniela and Charlie as others.
It's almost impossible to wrap my mind around what that would've been like for all of those other Jasons, and what the tipping points might have been for the ones who wanted to stop them from becoming that guy.
What Happens When You Meet Yourself?
I could go on and on about all of the Jasons, but let's get back to Season 2, because as Crouch mentioned, we're going to get to see other characters in the show encounter themselves. The trailer gives us a peek at Jimmi Simpson's Ryan sitting next to another version of himself. We also see Dayo Akeniyi's Leighton Vance sharing a drink while sitting opposite himself.
Dark Matter writer Jacqueline Ben-Zekry was also at the SDCC panel, and just before Crouch said the thing about the theme of identity in the quote above, she got into the question of nature vs. nurture:
Am I who I am because of the things that have happened in my life, or because of the people in my life, or something written in my DNA and genetic memory. In this season, it's really fun to put our characters together and meet themselves. It's kind of a fun thing to play with, like who am I when you take away all of these other actions.
Ben-Zekry went on to bring up what it's like when you encounter someone who's just like you and you actually find them annoying. I'm not sure if this is a hint about one or more of the characters in Season 2, but it's an amusing scenario to consider. She went on to add:
I think it's one of those situations where, what happens when you meet yourself. Do you love yourself or do you find yourself hating yourself? That's a really fun thing to play with, and to watch our actors, who are just extraordinary, portray and live that theme out loud for all of us to think about when we're at home.
Dark Matter really is a series of surreal situations and mind-bending what-ifs.
Season 2 Sounds Like It's Going To Be Really Fun
I love hearing from the writers on the subject of these mind-bending scenarios, not only because it makes me more excited for the show to return, but because it reminds me why I loved Season 1, and was optimistic about Season 2.
Considering the book is a stand-alone, it always seems a bit risky to try to stretch the story into something more. With that in mind, based on the trailer and the SDCC panel, I get the sense the writers put a lot of thought into how to take the story and these scenarios further in a meaningful way. And it sounds like that includes fleshing out the supporting characters in new and exciting ways.
It also sounds like the actors are in for some new challenges, if they're getting to play off other versions of their characters. That's not even getting into the alternate realities we get to see in the show. It's going to be fun to see where the show goes when Season 2 arrives on the 2026 TV schedule.
