If you haven’t seen Apple TV+’s “Dark Matter” yet, drop what you’re doing RIGHT NOW and go binge the entire show in one sitting.
Don’t watch the trailer (it gives away major spoilers) and maybe read the book (author: Blake Crouch) first.
And until you do both of those things, STOP READING RIGHT NOW. MAJOR spoilers below!
This post includes spoilers both from the book and from the TV series, so even if you’ve read the book, be warned — I will be spoiling the TV series here as well.
If you’re new here, “Dark Matter” was one of my favorite books I read in 2023. It was so good I wouldn’t shut up about it. I made several friends read it and, as a matter of fact — it’s even my book club’s pick for next month.
When I tell you reading “Dark Matter” broke my brain to the point I spent months delving deep into subreddits, fan theories and the science of quantum mechanics and superposition.
Whenever I finish a really thought-provoking book, I usually open up a browser tab on my phone or MacBook and jump headfirst into the rabbit hole. Is there a movie coming? Who’s been casted (or, fan casted)? Is there a sequel?
“Dark Matter” was not an exception.
The ability to step into a box and travel to an alternate reality? One that a different version of yourself occupied — or, still occupies?
Insane. Mind blowing. Incredible.
Y’all, when I tell you how fast I SPRINTED to the internet to throw myself down that rabbit hole?
I was so stoked to find that not only would it be a TV series, but it had already been optioned, cast and filmed (in Chicago!)— and would be debuting within the coming months.
I am so impatient so this pleased me. Immensely.
I re-subscribed to Apple TV+ solely so I could watch this show (with the added benefit of “Ted Lasso” reruns, of course), and I made Ryan watch it with me.
I was a little apprehensive after watching the trailer — it gave away so much of what was coming in the book!
But, luckily, there was good reason for that. I really liked that the show explored not only Jason’s quest to get back home, but also gave us a whole subplot of Jason2’s life in Jason’s world.
I wrote back in my original review of “Dark Matter” that I had two minor criticisms with the plot: Amanda’s storyline was left unfinished, and I wanted a “sequel of sorts” told from Jason2’s perspective.
Apple TV+’s series gave me both of those, flawlessly.
I felt like just enough was changed from the book to keep the series feeling fresh and new. Crouch added some unexpected twists and expanded storylines for those of us that have already read the book, but still followed closely with the heart of the book’s original plot.
I was obsessed with “Dark Matter” season 1, and — dare I say it? — I think I actually like the show better than the book.
I’m thrilled to see that a second season got the green light, and I can’t wait to see where this show goes.
Anyway, back to the premise of “Dark Matter.”
After we watched the show, Ryan and I of course had to ask each other: Would you go into the box?
We both said yes, even though my “yes” was a little more hesitant than Ryan’s yes.
I’ve always lived my life trying to answer the “what if.” A huge reason I picked my job here in Flagstaff over an offer I had back in Michigan was because of the “what if.”
So, naturally, curiosity would get the better of me, and I’d want to answer all the “what ifs.”
So much so, that I’ve made a list of them. Here are five alternate realities I would love to explore if I had the chance to do so.
- What if my Peace Corps service didn’t come to a screeching halt when COVID broke out? I’d originally hoped to finish my two years of service, then move to Spain to teach English, and then pursue a career with the Foreign Service. I would love to see what my life would look like if COVID hadn’t prompted an unexpected move to Arizona. This is my biggest “what if.”
- What if I had turned down my scholarship and acceptance at my alma mater to go to a college closer to home? Just to back up a bit, in addition to the “always live life trying to answer the ‘what if'” rule I have, I also have a “never live life trying to follow a boy” rule. I came very close to enrolling at a college close to my hometown to maintain my high school relationship (which, thank gosh I did not do. Please note: I do not think I would like this reality, but I would very much like to know what it was like.)
- What if I took The Onion up on the job offer they’d given me years ago? A fun fact: back when I worked at the Chicago Tribune, I was hired on through a temp agency. I ended up interviewing with other publications in order to coerce the Tribune into hiring me on full-time, and I ended up getting a job offer from The Onion. While I originally just wanted an offer to leverage at the Tribune, it ended up being harder than I thought it would be to turn down the offer from The Onion. I do wonder how life would have ended up if I’d taken it.
- What if I took a job with the Legislature back in Michigan? Right before I moved to Chicago, I was living in Mount Pleasant, Mich., and dating a guy who lived in Lansing. He was trying to convince me to move to Lansing with him, and I was interviewing for jobs. I ended up getting an offer working for Michigan’s House of Representatives, but I didn’t think the job was a good fit and turned it down (please see No. 2 for clarification) — and a few weeks later, my offer from the Tribune rolled in. Just like No. 1, I do not think I would have liked this reality, but am so very curious to see how it would have turned out.
- What if Yukon was still alive? This was one of my and Ryan’s first thoughts. We would love to experience a reality where Yukon never got sick and was still living happily and healthily with us.
Am I relieved this box doesn’t actually exist to complicate my life in any way, shape or form? Probably. As much as I do wonder about the path(s) not taken, I really do love my life as it’s turned out to be so far.
I definitely don’t want hundreds of other versions of me beating down my apartment door to get to Ryan and Ochi.
Would you go into the box?
