Dark Matter (TV series)

Dark Matter is a Canadian science fiction series started in 2015 that was developed by Prodigy Pictures in association with Space channel.[1] The concept was created by Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie while they were working on the Stargate franchise, and was originally published as a comic book series in 2012.

Dark Matter
Title card since the second season
GenreSpace opera
Created byJoseph Mallozzi
Paul Mullie
Based on
Starring
ComposerBenjamin Pinkerton
Country of originCanada
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes39 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
Production locationsToronto, Ontario, Canada
Running time43 minutes
Production companies
DistributorNBCUniversal Syndication Studios (television)
Funimation (home video)
Release
Original network
Original releaseJune 12, 2015 (2015-06-12) –
August 25, 2017 (2017-08-25)

An order for 13 episodes was placed for the first season of the series, which premiered on June 12, 2015, on both Space and Syfy.[2][3] On September 5, 2015, the series was renewed for a second season.[4] Dark Matter was renewed for a third season in September 2016, which premiered on June 9, 2017.[5][6][7] But on September 1, 2017, Syfy canceled the series after three seasons.[8]

Premise

A group of people in stasis pods awaken with amnesia aboard the starship Raza. They have no memories of who they are or their lives before awakening, so they assume the names One through Six, in the order in which they left stasis. They regain control of their vessel and set about trying to uncover their identities and what happened to them.[9] Also onboard is a female-looking android that is linked to the ship.

At the end of the pilot episode, the crew discover that they are a band of mercenaries who are ranked among the worst criminals in the galaxy, leaving them with the dilemma of continuing their original selves' violent path or seeking redemption. Their lives are frequently complicated by secrets from their forgotten pasts.

Episodes
Further information: List of Dark Matter episodes
SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
113June 12, 2015 (2015-06-12)August 28, 2015 (2015-08-28)
213July 1, 2016 (2016-07-01)September 16, 2016 (2016-09-16)
313June 9, 2017 (2017-06-09)August 25, 2017 (2017-08-25)

Cast and characters

Main
  • Marc Bendavid as One / Jace Corso / Derrick Moss (season 1; recurring, season 2)[10][11]
  • Melissa O'Neil as Two / Portia Lin / Rebecca,[10] the de facto captain of the Raza both before and after the mindwipe
  • Anthony Lemke as Three / Marcus Boone / Titch[10]
  • Alex Mallari Jr. as Four / Ryo Tetsudo / Ryo Ishida[10]
  • Jodelle Ferland as Five / Das / Emily Kolburn,[10][12] the youngest member of the crew and the only one not wanted for capital crimes
  • Roger Cross as Six / Griffin Jones / Lt. Kal Varrick[10]
  • Zoie Palmer as The Android / Suki.[10] Palmer also plays the Android's creator Dr. Irena Shaw in the third season.
  • Shaun Sipos as Devon Taltherd (season 2),[13][14] a disgraced doctor and new crewmember in the second season
  • Melanie Liburd as Nyx Harper (season 2; guest, season 3),[15] a new crewmember in the second season on the run from the rest of her people, the Seers

Recurring
  • David Hewlett as Tabor Calchek, the crew's unreliable handler and "talent" agent[16]
  • Jeff Teräväinen as Lt. John Anders, a Galactic Authority officer[17] and former partner of Six
  • Torri Higginson as Commander Delaney Truffault of the Mikkei Combine,[18] an occasional ally
  • David Richmond-Peck as Commander Nieman of Ferrous Corp
  • Natalie Brown as Sarah, Marcus Boone's lover.[19] Though she dies of an incurable illness in season 1, in season 3 the Android finds her consciousness had been digitally uploaded into the Raza's server.
  • Ellen Wong as Misaki Han-Shireikan, commander of the Ishida Royal Guard and childhood friend of Ryo (seasons 2–3)[14]
  • Ennis Esmer as Wexler,[20] a manic sociopath and the leader of a mercenary group who are hired by Delaney Truffault to work with the Raza crew but prove untrustworthy. Although Wexler is killed during season 1, an alternate reality version of him returns in seasons 2 and 3, from a universe where the Raza were never mindwiped and are still villains, with the crew consisting of Portia Lin, Marcus Boone, Jace Corso, Wexler and Tash. This version is significantly less brutal and ultimately sides with the main-universe crew.
  • Mike Dopud as Arax Nero, the leader of a prison gang (season 2)[14]
  • Kris Holden-Ried as Galactic Authority Inspector Kyle Kierken (season 2)
  • Brendan Murray as Victor, leader of a group of rogue androids and love interest for the Raza's Android (seasons 2–3)
  • Andrew Moodie as Teku Fonsei. Ryo appoints Teku, his former teacher, as his advisor (season 3).
  • Mishka Thébaud as Adrian Maro, former assistant to Calchek, who travels with the crew of the Raza during the first half of season 3
  • Ayisha Issa as Solara Shockley, Maro's bodyguard, who also travels with the crew until she leaves with Adrian (season 3)
  • Wil Wheaton as Alex Rook, President and CEO of Dwarf Star Technologies[21]

Guest
  • Andrew Jackson as The General, the leader of the rebel group Procyon Insurrection[22]
  • Amanda Brugel as Keeley, a miner the Raza crew encounter on a mission[23]
  • Ruby Rose as Wendy, an entertainment model android[16]
  • Rachael Ancheril as Della, a colonist on a planet oppressed by Traugott Corporation
  • Dan Jeannotte as Derrick Moss, One's original identity before assuming that of Jace Corso
  • Jessica Sipos as Tash, a member of Wexler's mercenary group.[20] Although Tash is killed during season 1, an alternate reality version of her returns in seasons 2 and 3 as part of the parallel Raza crew.
  • Jon Cor as Vons, a member of Wexler's mercenary group,[20] who may be Tash's brother, lover or both - they don't subscribe to "outdated social categories"
  • Conrad Pla as Cain, a member of Wexler's mercenary group[20]
  • Kerr Hewitt as Sgt. Voss, a Ferrous Corp soldier who serves aboard the FCS Deliverance[24]
  • Franka Potente as Chief Inspector Shaddick of the Galactic Authority's Serious Crimes Division (season 2)[25]
  • Inga Cadranel as Alicia Reynaud, a businesswoman who wants what Emily Kolburn (Five) stole (season 2)

Production

Principal photography for the first season began in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on January 9, 2015,[26] and concluded May 20, 2015.[27]

On September 1, 2015, Syfy renewed Dark Matter for a second season. Chris Regina, Syfy's senior VP of program strategy, said that "With its mysterious premise and fascinating characters, Dark Matter has built an incredibly loyal, passionate and engaged fan base. We look forward to another out-of-this-world season from this talented creative team."[28][29][30] Production on the second season began on December 9, 2015,[31] and concluded May 6, 2016.[32]

The third season began production on November 18, 2016.[33] Dark Matter's third season would be its last and the show's cancellation was announced in September 2017. According to Mallozzi in various interviews, the show was picked up by Syfy's acquisition division in New York, but it wasn't well received by the network's original programming division in Los Angeles.[34] In addition, while the series was outperforming several Syfy first-run programs, the network wasn't able to monetize the show because it was an acquisition.[35]

Broadcast

Dark Matter premiered on Syfy in the United States on the same day as Canada.[3] Within the following week, the series premiered on Syfy Australia and Syfy UK – on June 13 and 16, 2015, respectively.[36]

Reception

As of 21 March 2022, review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes gave season 1 an approval rating of 68%, with an average rating of 5/10 based on reviews from 19 critics.[37] The sites consensus statement says: "... [the] premiere benefits from likable characters and a concluding twist, but its gaping plot holes and worn premise add up to an aimless episode." Metacritic gave the series an average score of 58 out of 100, based on reviews from 5 critics, indicating "Mixed or average reviews".[38] On Rotten Tomatoes season 2 received a 100% rating based on 7 reviews,[39] and season 3 also received a 100% rating based on 7 reviews.[40]

Ratings

The series premiere pulled 273,000 overnight viewers on the Space channel in Canada,[41] and 1.28 million viewers for its premiere on the Syfy channel in the U.S.[42]

See also

References
  1. "All-New Sci-Fi Series DARK MATTER Exerts Its Gravitational Pull, June 12 on Space". Space (Press release). Bell Media. May 20, 2015.
  2. Kennedy, John R. (December 12, 2014). "Sci fi series 'Dark Matter' to be filmed in Toronto". Global News.
  3. Liszewski, Bridget (May 20, 2015). "Dark Matter Premiere Dates Set". TheTVJunkies.com. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
  4. Enk, Bryan (September 1, 2015). "Dark Matter Season 2 Coming in 2016". Syfy. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  5. Petski, Denise (September 1, 2016). "'Killjoys' & 'Dark Matter' Renewed For Third Season By Syfy". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
  6. Mallozzi, Joseph (November 10, 2016). "November 10, 2016: If at first you don't succeed, try, try, try, try, try again!". Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  7. Gilyadov, Alex (April 7, 2017). "Syfy Sets Summer Premiere Dates for Sharknado 5, Dark Matter, Killjoys, Wynonna Earp and More". IGN. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
  8. Petski, Denise (September 1, 2017). "'Dark Matter' Canceled After Three Seasons At Syfy". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  9. "Dark Matter - Welcome To Your New Home - Review: "Crew Of The Raza" + POLL". SpoilerTV. 2016-07-02. Retrieved 2016-10-21.
  10. Mallozzi, Joseph (December 10, 2014). "Introducing the Dark Matter cast!". Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  11. Mallozzi, Joseph (July 31, 2015). "So, uh, THAT'S why ONE (Derrick Moss)". Retrieved August 1, 2015.
  12. Mallozzi, Joseph (May 14, 2016). "May 14, 2016: Farewell, Jodelle!". Retrieved May 14, 2016.
  13. Petski, Denise (May 6, 2016). "'The Path' Ups Paul James; Shaun Sipos Joins 'Dark Matter'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
  14. Mallozzi, Joseph (June 2, 2016). "June 2, 2016: Bubba's unruly travels! Dark Matter first looks pics! More casting announcements!". Retrieved June 2, 2016.
  15. Mallozzi, Joseph (May 1, 2016). "May 1, 2016: Easy to root for!". Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  16. Mallozzi, Joseph (April 2, 2015). "Dark Matter casting announcements! David Hewlett! Ruby Rose!". Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  17. "July 22, 2015: Lulu! #DarkMatter notes!". Josephmallozzi's Weblog. 23 July 2015.
  18. Maggs, Sam (February 13, 2015). "The Two Baddest Ladies of Stargate Have Joined Syfy's New Show Dark Matter". Retrieved February 13, 2015.
  19. "Space Expands its Universe as it Becomes #1 Entertainment Specialty Network For Key A25-54 Demo". Bell Media. July 21, 2015. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  20. "April 29, 2015: Episode #110 rocks! Smoked meat and scotch! And, a mailbag!". April 29, 2015.
  21. "Wil Wheaton on Twitter". May 5, 2015.
  22. "April 3, 2015: Yet another Stargate-Dark Matter connection! And let's meet some more of the people who'll be bringing you the show! - Josephmallozzi's Weblog". Josephmallozzi's Weblog. 4 April 2015.
  23. Mallozzi, Joseph (January 25, 2015). "Somewhere between druidic and herbaceous!". Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  24. Mallozzi, Joseph (June 25, 2015). "June 25, 2015: We're going to Comic Con! Dark Matter episode #102! More pics! Vids! Secrets!". Retrieved June 25, 2015.
  25. Mallozzi, Joseph (May 24, 2016). "May 24, 2016: Franka Potenta boards Dark Matter!". Retrieved May 24, 2016.
  26. Mallozzi, Joseph (January 9, 2015). "Dark Matter, Episode #101, Production Day One!". Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  27. Mallozzi, Joseph (May 20, 2015). "May 20, 2015: And that's a wrap on Dark Matter's first season!". Retrieved June 15, 2015.
  28. Friedlander, Whitney (September 3, 2015). "Syfy Gives Second Seasons to 'Dark Matter,' 'Killjoys'". Variety. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  29. Petski, Denise (September 1, 2015). "'Killjoys' & 'Dark Matter' Renewed For Season 2 By Syfy". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  30. Schwartz, Ryan (April 29, 2016). "Killjoys, Dark Matter Get Season 2 Premiere Dates at Syfy". TVLine. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  31. Mallozzi, Joseph (December 9, 2015). "December 9, 2015: Production begins on Dark Matter season 2!". Retrieved December 9, 2015.
  32. Mallozzi, Joseph (May 6, 2016). "May 6, 2016: And that's a main unit wrap on Dark Matter season 2!". Retrieved May 6, 2016.
  33. Mallozzi, Joseph (November 18, 2016). "November 18, 2016: Dark Matter Season 3 – Day 1 of 91!". Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  34. Pena, Jessica (March 29, 2019). "Dark Matter: Why Was the Syfy Series Cancelled? The Show's Creator Says…". TV Series Finale. Retrieved 2019-06-20.
  35. Jones, Adrienne (5 September 2017). "Why Dark Matter Really Got Cancelled By Syfy, According To The Creator". Retrieved 2019-06-20.
  36. "Foxtel in June: 200+ new shows including Orange Is The New Black, True Detective, Suits, PLL, Wimbledon and more". The Green Room. Foxtel. June 1, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  37. "Dark Matter: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  38. "Dark Matter : Season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
  39. "Dark Matter: Season 2". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  40. "Dark Matter: Season 3". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  41. "DARK MATTER's Mission a Success as Series Premiere Pulls in 273,000 Overnight Viewers Last Friday on Space". BellMedia. June 15, 2015. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
  42. Kondolojy, Amanda (June 15, 2015). "Friday Cable Ratings: 'Alaskan Bush People' Tops Night + 'Childrens Hospital', 'Girl Meets World', 'Tanked' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on June 18, 2015. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
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