There are series you watch politely. There are those that are “generally not bad.” And then there are “Dark Matter” (Dark Matter) 2015 year — a rare case when, after the very first episodes, your hand reaches for the next button on its own, and only one thought spins in your head: “Why didn’t I watch this earlier?”
The story begins simply and powerfully. Six people wake up aboard a huge spaceship. None of them remembers who he is. Not a name, not a past, not even why they ended up here at all. The only things they have are a strange ship, a pile of questions, and a feeling that the answer may turn out to be far more terrifying than they think.
And from that moment on, the series accelerates so hard that it’s already impossible to stop.
The main strength of the series for us is its momentum.
It is at such a level here that after one episode you want to immediately turn on the next. Then another one. And then suddenly discover that it’s already night and you have somehow watched half the season.
And this is not a case where the momentum is built only on shootouts.
Something is constantly happening here: new worlds, chases, betrayals, unexpected alliances, technologies, androids, corporations, political intrigue, personal secrets, and very good plot twists.
I would especially like to mention the crew of the “Raza.”
Melissa O’Neil, Anthony Lemke, Alex Mallari Jr., Jodelle Ferland, Roger Cross, and Zoie Palmer very quickly turn from merely a group of strangers into a team that is genuinely interesting to watch. Especially good is the Android played by Zoie Palmer — one of the most charming characters in the series.
And another plus: the series is big, but not endless.
In total, there have been three seasons — 39 episodes, from 2015 to 2017.
But we warn you in advance:
if you start watching in the evening with the words
“Just one episode and then bed”,
there’s a risk you’ll greet the dawn somewhere already in the second season. 😄
“Dark Matter” is exactly the kind of series where you want to watch not the next episode, but all the seasons at once.
A very gripping, dynamic, atmospheric and simply incredibly enjoyable science fiction series.
The momentum here is remarkably high. Each episode adds new layers, new twists, new doubts. Just when you think you’ve figured out who is who, the plot knocks the ground out from under your feet again. At the same time, the series does not turn into chaos. It remains composed, smart and very gripping. The characters are revealed gradually, and with each episode you begin to feel warmer toward them, even when you realize that many of them have far from clean hands.
The atmosphere works especially well. There are tense shootouts, moral dilemmas, and a genuine space vibe with the exploration of the unknown. But the main thing is the feeling that you, together with the heroes, are trying to assemble the scattered pieces of a puzzle. And that puzzle turns out to be far more complex and interesting than it seems at the beginning.
“Dark Matter” — is that rare case when you want not just to finish the season, but to devour all the episodes and all the seasons in one gulp. Because the intrigue holds until the very end, and after the finale there remains a pleasant aftertaste and a desire to immediately rewatch the key moments with new knowledge.
If you love quality science fiction with strong characters, unexpected twists and genuine dynamism that won’t let go, this series is worth your time. And it’s better to set aside plenty of it. Because stopping will be very hard.
The ratings speak for themselves:
IMDb: 7.5 / 10 (based on more than 48 000 viewer ratings)
Kinopoisk: 7.3 / 10 (based on about 30 000 ratings)
Metacritic: 7.9 / 10
Rotten Tomatoes: 89% from critics and 89% from viewers for the series as a whole (a high approval rating from both critics and audiences, which is an excellent indicator for science fiction series on the Syfy channel)
And it's interesting that seasons 2 and 3 on Rotten Tomatoes each have 100% from critics, meaning the series was rated noticeably higher over time than at the very beginning.
At the same time, viewers think that 7.5 on IMDb is even slightly underrated, especially if you watch all three seasons in full.
So our Gaya 9.2/10 is quite understandable.
And besides, anything that gets from us above 9 points, we already strongly recommend for viewing — and for the widest possible audience.
🎭 Characters you fall in love with from the very first episode
At first it seems like they're just "six blanks," but as fragments of memory return to them, stunning characters are revealed. They are not ideal heroes. They are morally grey, dangerous, with dark pasts, but that is exactly what makes them so alive. Their transformation from frightened victims into an elite team ready to tear anyone apart for the sake of "their own" is the classic "found family" trope, and here it is executed at 10 out of 10.
A separate delight is the Android. Without spoilers, we'll say just one thing: her evolution, her sarcasm and her attempts to understand human emotions (and not only those) make her one of the best artificial intelligences in the history of science fiction series. She steals every scene she appears in.
🏆 Verdict: Why should you watch this right now?
"Dark Matter" is the quintessence of entertaining, yet at the same time smart and profound science fiction. It recalls the best days of "Firefly," "Battlestar Galactica" and "Fringe," and many masterpieces of world science fiction. For fans of "Stargate" or "The Expanse," this is a genuine hidden gem and pure viewing pleasure! 🚀
This is a series that respects your time. It doesn't stretch out the pleasure over dozens of seasons (only 3 seasons, which are watched in one breath), it delivers a clear, rich and incredibly interesting story from beginning to end.
If you're looking for a project that will grip you from the first minute and not let go until the final credits of the last episode — turn on "Dark Matter."
🌟 Gaya rating: 9.2 / 10 An absolute must-have for fans of space science fiction, action and twisted mysteries. A series that gives pure viewing pleasure! A very captivating, dynamic, atmospheric and simply incredibly enjoyable science fiction series.
We really enjoyed it.
