Dark Matter 

In the dystopian 27th century, six people wake up on a deserted spaceship with no memory of who they are or what they're doing there. They reluctantly team up and set off to find answers with the help of a female android.

Creators:

Joseph Mallozzi, Paul Mullie

Stars:

Melissa O'Neil, Anthony Lemke, Alex Mallari Jr.

8 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Melissa O'Neil	...	Two / ... 39 episodes, 2015-2017
Anthony Lemke	...	Three / ... 39 episodes, 2015-2017
Alex Mallari Jr.	...	Four / ... 39 episodes, 2015-2017
Zoie Palmer	...	The Android / ... 39 episodes, 2015-2017
Jodelle Ferland	...	Five 39 episodes, 2015-2017
Roger Cross	...	Six 39 episodes, 2015-2017
Marc Bendavid	...	One / ... 16 episodes, 2015-2016

Storyline

The six-person crew of a derelict spaceship awakens from stasis in the farthest reaches of space. Their memories wiped clean, they have no recollection of who they are or how they got on board. The only clue to their identities is a cargo bay full of weaponry and a destination: a remote mining colony that is about to become a war zone. With no idea whose side they are on, they face a deadly decision. Will these amnesiacs turn their backs on history, or will their pasts catch up with them?

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Plot Keywords:

spaceship | amnesia | based on comic | 27th century | dark science fiction | 

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Taglines:

Fight to remember. Fight to survive.

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Certificate:

TV-14

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Page

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 June 2015 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dark Matter

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Blue Penguin

Technical Specs

Runtime:

42 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

16:9 HD

Did You Know?

Trivia

The planet Arrakis Sadr, one of the Procyon Insurrection's bases of operations in the show, seen in the eighth episode, is most likely a named such as a reference to the planet Arrakis, also known as "Dune," in the acclaimed science fiction book series by Frank Herbert of the same name (Dune).

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Goofs

In scenes wherein the sky is visible, often constellations appear as they would from Earth. The most obvious example is an episode wherein the constellation 'Orion' is visible.

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Crazy Credits

In most of the later episodes Melissa O'Neil's name appears onscreen with her character depicted onscreen behind it.

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Connections

Featured in MsMojo: Top 10 Shows that TOTALLY Ripped Off Better Ones (2018)

User Reviews

Looking very good

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.