All good things must come to an end, but this end came too soon for our liking. Recently, the sad announcement came that Dark Matter was being cancelled after three fun seasons, which is a real shame considering that this show was one of the most exciting, fun and creative shows to have been shown on Syfy. This final series picks up where series 2 left off with Four now becoming a villain and igniting a corporate war that would trouble the crew of the Raza throughout this season, whilst also including alternate doubles, evolving androids and the promise of an alien invasion. As always, this series was super fun throughout as each of the storylines presented were intriguing, the stakes were high, and the characters were still the best aspect about it and what kept the stories grounded. There are some missteps along the way of course; new characters Adrian and Solara exist only to temporarily accommodate the Raza whilst Six goes off to do his own thing, which has been a common problem in past seasons with One, Devon and Nyx. Plus, this series ends on a massive cliffhanger that will never get resolved as a result of the cancellation, which is a true shame considering the potential presented here, as well as the potential of the show as a whole.
Dark Matter was a show that started off as a unique little show with a fascinating premise, which then gradually improved in quality with each season. This was a series that offered gripping storylines with mind-blowing surprises and twists at every turn, whilst also serving up high intensity action set pieces and heavy doses of humour that was sorely needed when things got grim. Some audiences might see this as being childish or nonsensical, but shows like this need to have levity and optimism otherwise you are just mired down in depression and angst, plus it helps make the dramatic moments even more so despite this show introducing alternate realities, body-possessing aliens and super-tech toys like the Blink Drive. However, what made all of this work throughout its three-season run, and what made audiences keep coming back, was the characters, and the development for each of the Raza crew from the start of the first season to the end of the third season is truly impressive.
We see the nanite-powered Two struggling with the tasks of being a heroic leader despite her instincts telling her she was anything but, the damaged and sardonic Three starting out sarcastic and arrogant before ending up having a beautifully tragic love story with Sarah despite her just being just a digitally-downloaded conscious form, Six going through a redemption-driven arc from betraying his friends at the end of season one to being one their most trusted allies, Five (the youngest crew member) ended up becoming a true badass by the end, and finally the Android gradually evolved into something much more than just a robot. The show stayed true to its characters, maintained its course, and dared to take risks when needed, especially when Four regained his memories during the end of season two, becoming Emperor Ryo Ishida, and effectively being the principal antagonist here.
The characters were what made this show truly special, and that was largely down to the amazing cast that brought those characters to life. Melissa O’ Neil, Anthony Lemke, Jodelle Ferland and Roger Cross are still effective leads who manage to take their characters to real emotional depths and heights, Alex Mallari Jr. makes a great villainous foil, whilst Zoie Palmer proves to be the true powerhouse as the Android. The chemistry between these actors still holds up strongly, it was evident from day one; it became more integral as the show went on, and the passion for both the show and their characters shines through their performances.
Overall, it’s really sad that this story is going to end in the middle of the book without even having the chance to wrap things up properly, but Dark Matter has been an amazing ride from start to finish. Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie created a show that will continue to be special in its own right after its cancellation, and it was the amazing cast that had us emotionally invested all the way. Thanks for the ride Team Dark Matter, it was worth every episode.
DARK MATTER: SEASON 3 / CERT: 15 / DIRECTORS: RON MURPHY, BRUCE MCDONALD, STEVE DIMARCO, J.B. SUGAR, GAIL HARVEY, PAUL DAY, JOHN STEAD, CRAIG DAVID WALLACE, MELANIE ORR / SCREENPLAY: JOSEPH MALLOZZI, PAUL MULLIE, ALISON HEPBURN, IVON BARTOK, LAWREN BANCROFT-WILSON / STARRING: MELISSA O’ NEIL, ANTHONY LEMKE, JODELLE FERLAND, ROGER CROSS, ALEX MALLARI JR., ZOIE PALMER / RELEASE DATE: 11TH SEPTEMBER
