What I’m Watching: Dark Matter (Season Finale)

Dark Matter: Season 3, Episode 13 “Nowhere to Go” (B+)

It’s always nerve-wracking to watch a season finale without knowing whether the show will be back for another go. I still contend that this is one of the most underrated shows on television, and definitely a perfect fit for Syfy, yet I known just one person – my friend Sean – who actually watches it. The ending of this episode was big, and I do hope that we’ll get to see what this world looks like in season four. Two’s execution of Four got postponed and then became rather irrelevant, with Four ultimately stepping in to stop Two once they realized that she had become infected and was being controlled by the aliens. It seems that in this world it’s still very much a human-dominated space game, and the arrival of these mind-controlling beings is cause for great alarm. The return of Wexler was welcome since he did manage to be handy and it’s nice to see people switching sides a bit, though it’s hard to keep track with Four wanting to kill them and Portia deciding to team up with her captive Three when she realized that they were better off working together to prevent certain annihilation. The emergence of the black ships seems like an irreversible event, and Six may have sacrificed his life in the process. I wish that this season was ending on a more definitive note specifically because we don’t know what’s out there and if there’s a future for this show. It’s been a great season – let’s hope there’s more coming.

Season grade: B+
Season MVP: Zoie Palmer as the Android

What I’m Watching: Dark Matter

Dark Matter: Season 3, Episode 12 “My Final Gift to You” (B+)

How quickly things change on this show after people have vowed to kill each other. Boone delivered Two straight to Four, who seemed more than ready to execute her if the crew of the Raza didn’t give him the blink drive. Two was able to gain the upper hand but got undercut by an assassination attempt on the emperor and then, by episode’s end, she was saving him from certain death at a treacherous Misaki’s hand and then getting ready to shoot him back on the Raza. After he got his memories back, Four changed, and it’s not clear what’s gotten him back to some semblance of the person he was. Obviously whatever he told Three about his role in Sara’s death was scarring enough for Three to get his clone body shot so that he wouldn’t remember it, and the revelation that Two had a daughter with the Android’s creator is huge news that changes everything considering the fact that a criminal space-marauding ship is hardly the place for a young child. Five recognizing Teku and seeing a kindred spirit in him thanks to Four’s memories was interesting, and I suppose it’s helpful to have a guide on who to trust in a royal court filled with deceptive and murderous elements. Nyx has now been avenged, so I see no reason that Four couldn’t rejoin the crew if he does some serious atonement, though I’d imagine Three will have something to say about that. And the Android really has to warn her human friends, who just acknowledged that they value her opinion as a member of the crew, about the impending android revolt.

What I’m Watching: Dark Matter

Dark Matter: Season 3, Episode 11 “The Dwarf Star Conspiracy” (B+)

This show continues to jump around, but at least now we’re coming back to something that we looked at before, involving the aliens coming through the anomaly and inhabiting human hosts. After Three’s nightmare made him take a stand against the rest of the crew about their mission since he had a very bad feeling about it, they went anyway and he did not end up in good shape. Fortunately, both Two and Six think on their feet very well, and they were able to talk to Commander Tarkanian and Dr. Aaron and tell them the truth about what was going on. Unfortunately, Lieutenant Sajen wasn’t quite on the good side of things, and she managed to escape with a few other hosts who are sure to cause problems in the future for the crew. Dr. Aaron calling in a nuclear strike and then shooting himself in the head was not good news for Two, but she did get knocked out and dragged out just before the explosion. The fact that it was Boone who saved her and is now taking her to wherever he plans to is disconcerting, and I’m sure that a face-to-face with the other crew is going to account for a good portion of the content of the final two episodes. I like that the Android got a new suit and talked to Two about boobs, inserting big-word terms that go together like humanity and instrumentality, sexuality and functionality in the conversation to celebrate that the very fact that she can choose a new look should make her happy. Six is always ready to give people the benefit of the doubt, even if they’re not exactly people.

What I’m Watching: Dark Matter

Dark Matter: Season 3, Episode 10 “Built, Not Born” (B+)

As this season of assorted unconnected plotlines continue, it seems that things are taking an especially dark turn given the twist of the final scene. We learned some very important, previously unknown information in this episode, specifically about who the Android is and why she’s such a part of the crew. I think Two was just as surprised as we were to learn that she and Dr. Shaw, the woman who created the Android – and has her same face – were apparently in love. Seeing each member of the crew through the memories that were shared with the Android as they realized just how close they were to her was informative, and it makes sense now that she’s so ingrained to everything. Dr. Shaw having an accent was helpful since she didn’t seem to be all that much like the Android, and it was clear that Two felt a connection to her even though she couldn’t understand why. The Android telling Three that she likes that he speaks his mind with no thought of consequence because they have that in common was a nice moment. The suggestion that Sarah should given an android body was a very smart one since she was sure to go crazy in her consciousness-only existence. The only problem is that it turns out that Dr. Shaw and her android army are actually evil. The crew of the Raza has more than enough enemies, and now it seems that people - or not quite people, I suppose - that they thought were friends are actually just another threat they'll have to contend with.

What I’m Watching: Dark Matter

Dark Matter: Season 3, Episode 9 “Isn’t That a Paradox?” (B+)

I was talking to the one person I know in real life who watches this show, my friend Sean, about how he feels about this season. I personally think it’s been terrific, but I understand that it’s been somewhat directionless, in that each episode is more of a standalone plot that only gets tied back to everything in the closing moments with a shot of Four conspiring to get the blink drive back and take out the crew of the Raza once and for all. Regardless of where things are headed, this was a fun diversion. I’m all for traveling to the present day and seeing how our jaded, future-oriented characters act. It was especially fun to see how easily Two fit into current times, suggesting that they look in a chocolate shop and begging Three to get a dog. The Android’s gathering of information, including her minivan purchase and Uber suggestion, was hilariously robotic, and I love that she accidentally ruined the finale to a major show when she tried to chime in to friendly conversation. Five actually had the best time, getting to know the kids who were impressed with her video game abilities and then apparently who were the ancestors of the inventor of FTL, which is a cool history thing that this show invented. I love time travel, and while I’m not so clear on how causality works with them always going back in time to inspire FTL invention and Five going back to cause a disruption that she already caused, I was into it.

What I’m Watching: Dark Matter

Dark Matter: Season 3, Episode 8 “Hot Chocolate” (B+)

This crew just can’t catch a break. Whether it’s something wrong with a member of the crew or with the ship itself, they’re constantly encountering anomalies that present tremendous problems and put them all in danger. Fighting evil alternate versions of themselves had to be put on the backburner as another, even more familiar threat returned, with Four sending a clone body to lead an invading army whose infiltration was made possible by hacking the Android. I’m glad to see that, in her new programming-only form, Sarah is quite a force to be reckoned with, looking out for the crew, helping Five to take back control of the Android from inside her little simulated reality, and locking the man who dared to try to infiltrate her systems deep in his own mind. I like that Five was able to say “Hot Chocolate” to shut down the Android and reboot her. Two got to take out some aggression in hand-to-hand combat with Four on the ship, and his departure at the end of the episode was ominous as he promised not to stop hunting them. This show loves to have major things happen in its closing moments as its end credits appear on screen, and this episode was no exception. The blink drive seems to be much more trouble than it’s worth, as indicated by the latest development, the electronic pulse that went through the ship and knocked everyone on board out. Whether or not someone is coming for them, this can’t be good.

What I’m Watching: Dark Matter

Dark Matter: Season 3, Episode 7 “Wish I Could Believe You” (B+)

Well, Six didn’t stay away for too long, and though his return comes at the expense of a number of innocent lives, we never really got to know any of those characters, so it’s not much of a loss for us viewers. I thought at first that Six was stuck in a time loop of his own, which seemed like a strange thing for the show to repeat so early on, but it turns out that it was much more like the endless simulations that Shaw had to undergo on “Person of Interest.” There were evidently some notable glitches in the interrogation process being used by Six’s captors, and I liked watching him realize multiple times that what was happening around him wasn’t real. Seeing him turn the tables on his captors by putting one of them under so that he would reveal his coordinates instead was cool, and it was a clever solution to everything. Six going to see his family only to find that his son had a new father was sad, but again, it’s best for viewers if he remains undistracted aboard the ship. Three noting the loneliness of Sarah’s existence and Two stopping by to visit her suggest that we have plenty more to experience in that semi-real part of the show, though it’s much more worrisome to see the Android act out some strange routine which ended with her pointing a gun at Three. That can’t be good news, and the fact that none of the crew has any idea is especially bad.

What I’m Watching: Dark Matter

Dark Matter: Season 3, Episode 6 “One More Card to Play” (B+)

I like just how frequently we have the opportunity to see interdimensional interlopers like the bad versions of Portia and Boone show up, though I’ll admit it gets very, very confusing, especially since the alternate doubles don’t have distinguishing features like, say, a goatee that Mirror Universe Spock wore that help viewers tell him apart. It’s also hard to remember and keep track of who’s still alive where and all that. I spent a good deal of time trying to figure out where I remembered Wexler from since I was convinced it was more than just this show, and it turns out that Ennis Esmer also stars as neighbor Dave on “You, Me, Her.” He’s certainly among the more sympathetic slimy characters aboard the other version of the Raza, whose crew had no problem spacing a bunch of prisoners to advance their evil aims. Capturing Three and switching him out for their Boone was a smart play, but fortunately Five saw through it and then did her very best to negotiate with Tash. Their android deciding to shoot Tash and talk to Five herself was great, and I enjoyed the very logical discussion between the two androids when they were doing their prisoner exchange. They’re back in Commander Truffault’s good graces, which is a positive, and they’ve lost Adrian and Solara, which means their numbers are down. More problematically, the other Portia has made a new ally in Commander Nieman, a development that can’t be good for the crew of our Raza.

What I’m Watching: Dark Matter

Dark Matter: Season 3, Episode 5 “Give It Up, Princess” (B+)

The Android has always been my favorite character on this show, and every episode that deals with her enhancements is incredibly interesting to me. Obviously the big moment in this episode was seeing her in a red dress setting up a punchline where she told a guy that she never slept with anyone whose ass she had to kick. Yet the bigger thing to me is that she’s so easily able to get these enhancements and that, when she’s using them, she’s not eager to return to her normal mode, since there’s something about feeling real that truly connects with her. She also managed to use the power of the enhancements to their advantage when the team ended up trapped in a sticky situation where the android loyal to Tabor was ready to hold everyone hostage until his master returned, something no one expects to happen at any point soon, if ever. Adrian and Solara are doing well adjusting to being part of the crew, though there are obviously still some bumps. Sending Five in undercover was a risky move given that she’s not really field-trained, but apparently she knows more than her new trainer thought when they started out. Six may be off the job, but his appearance at the end of the episode, both in conversation with Five and on a screen as a secret weapon for Four, proves that he’s not done with the Raza just yet, even if he thinks that he’s left that life behind for more important aims.

What I’m Watching: Dark Matter

Dark Matter: Season 3, Episode 4 “All the Time in the World” (B+)

I’m a big fan of time travel, and reliving the same day over and over comes pretty close to that. My go-to television examples of time loops are the weak show “Daybreak” and a memorable episode of “The X-Files,” and this show followed the format of the same exact events happening every time over and over again with Three hopeless to change them. I like that, when he realized things were changing slightly, he was clued in by the Android that it was because he was affecting it with slight changes he made in what he did to respond. I like that he tried so hard to prove that he was living the same day over and over, and that he even learned French after initially repeating “Allons-y” as “Salon B.” Once Adrian joined him in his groundhog day experience, they were on a better track, and even Four’s phasing assassin joined them in repeating the same day. The last part of the episode took a dark turn as the Android, in an attempt to travel seconds into the past, found herself lying in pieces in a lab and then her Seven of Nine-looking self encountered a creepy version of Five in a starless future. Three, after an episode of repeated moments, seems to be opening himself up more and more to the idea of being with this new version of Sarah, and I’m curious to see where that leads. With Ash taken out of commission thanks to a thoughtless phase through steel, Four isn’t giving up anytime soon, and his next idea seems even more nefarious.

What I’m Watching: Dark Matter

Dark Matter: Season 3, Episode 3 “Welcome to the Revolution” (B+)

This show is dropping characters like crazy. First One at the end of season one, then Nyx at the end of season two, and now, Six, lost not to death but rather to a life far from the Raza. He’s always been a bit different from the rest of them since we know that he never had any bad intentions, undercover before his memories were wiped and then doing his duty once he recalled some of what we had lost to ensure that they wouldn’t continue to pose a threat. It makes sense that Six would feel a moral imperative to stay and help a community that really needed him, and I do hope that this isn’t the last that we’ve seen of him on this show. And I’m not saying that just because he was the only actor in this cast that I was familiar with before I started watching this show, though knowing Roger Cross from “24” did prove helpful in getting into it, especially since this was a much better role for him. We’re now down to the bare bones crew of Two, Three, Five, and the Android, as well as a no-longer-so-mysterious stowaway who isn’t entirely real, a consciousness without a physical body who may well prove to be central to the new ship dynamic. They’re going to need all the help they can get now that another former member of their team, Four, has hired the worst of the galaxy to hunt them down and kill them.

What I’m Watching: Dark Matter (Season Premiere)

Dark Matter: Season 3, Episodes 1 and 2 “It Doesn’t Have to Be Like This” and “Being Better is So Much Harder” (B+)

This to me is one of the most underrated and least talked-about shows on television, and it’s really a very good show. After season one presented a shocking death that turned out to very permanent, we got another loss – Nyx – in the season two finale – that’s already had a serious effect on things since Two and the rest of the crew now want to kill Four. Well, of course he’s not really Four anymore, even though he refers to his former crew members by their numeric names and remembers enough about Nyx that he was furious when he found out that she had been killed. That he wasn’t the one who did it will probably prove inconsequential to Two and Three, since they’re set on killing him anyway since he’s being too much of a menace to continue to exist and terrorize everyone. That anomaly or whatever it was created by the use of the blink drive was intense, eating away everything in its path and absorbing it all into white nothingness. With that one issue resolved, we still have the much more problematic development that Five is continually susceptible to flashing back to these memories, which are very informative but also uncontrollable in their nature, leading her state of consciousness to be highly unpredictable. At least the family is back together for the most part, missing just two of their original ranks but with the addition of a seventh, the android, who makes creative vegetable casseroles and fishes for compliments from her fellow crew members who have to be aware that she’s still evolving.

What I’m Watching: Dark Matter (Season Finale)

Dark Matter: Season 2, Episode 13 “But First, We Save the Galaxy” (B+)

I was going to write that this wasn’t as explosive a finale as I had expected, but I think that would definitely be the wrong choice of words. There was actually plenty that happened, and I think it’s more that things are in such an uncertain state. We learned a surprising lesson from the season premiere which was that the characters are expendable, even those who are part of the original six. Nyx getting killed by Misaki is lamentable, to be sure, but she was never really one of the crew and was doomed to be exiled by them or someone else eventually. Her death, which will inevitably be revealed to the villainous emperor once known as Four, is going to help humanize him, since he obviously still possesses some ties to his better self, informing the android about his plan so that she could warn the crew and try to help them get off the station before everything blew up. It was fun to see the crew in fancy civilian garb, and Five made particular progress as a member of Commander Truffault’s entourage. That she was able to convince an enhanced android that he needed to airlock himself so that he wouldn’t kill scores of people was impressive, and given that she and Six were the only ones conscious at the time of major explosions, it’s hopeful that they made it out okay. I can’t imagine that Two or Three would be cut loose since they truly are the series’ stars, but it’s hard to know with this show. I’m glad it will be back for season three since I think it is a great addition to the TV landscape, and I’ve enjoyed a season that feels like it’s flown by.

Season grade: B+
Season MVP: Zoie Palmer as the Android

What I’m Watching: Dark Matter

Dark Matter: Season 2, Episode 11 and 12 “Wish I’d Spaced You When I Had the Chance” and “Sometimes In Life You Don’t Get to Choose” (B+)

A double dose of this show feels even better when it comes with the news that this show has been renewed for a third season, which I’m so excited to see. It’s also fun to be in Canada currently, where this show airs on its original network, Space. With just one episode left in this season, these two installments certainly upped the ante and got things revved up for an explosive finale. The first episode was a bit more personal, featuring a good bonding experience between Five and Three after the former got kidnapped by a bunch of bad guys and then got rescued by the fearless lug who then offered to stay behind to divert her pursuers and make sure she could get away. This cloning technology comes in awfully handy, but it’s also rather frustrating when you want to just take out the bad guys. The second installment was far more productive on a global scale, as Four used his renewed memories to work to take back his throne. That was all well and good, especially since the crew decided to show up in the nick of time to save the day and his stepbrother abdicated the throne to him, but then we got the predictor-defying twist that, as feared, his memories and past self took over, and he had everyone executed, including his loyal stepbrother. That’s going to be hard to combat, and we’ll see how Nyx plays into everything given that she’s still the same person she always was. It’s very interesting at the same time to see Six plagued by the realization that he probably wasn’t a good person even though he was on the other side of the law, despite Five’s insistence to the contrary. There’s no denying the usefulness of the Android, who has now graduated to making her own hot chocolate under the guise of needing to help prepare a diverse array of food for the crew and who is capable of commanding the whole ship with no human son board. Bring on the finale!

What I’m Watching: Dark Matter

Dark Matter: Season 2, Episode 10 “Take the Shot” (B+)

That closing image of the Android waking up in a bed somewhere off the ship at the end of the last episode was hardly the most worrisome development in this hour. The fact that the Android was dreaming, which shouldn’t be happening, is definitely cause for concern, but the more important takeaway is that her subconscious mind showed her a news broadcast of the Raza crew fighting for their lives, prompting her to make the decision to wake up and save her friends. The hallucinations that Two, Three, and Four experienced were pretty frightening, and though Two was terrified and Four felt like he had been mortally wounded, Three’s was inarguably the worst since he actually pulled the trigger with a gun to his head so that he could be reunited with his lost love. The secondary Android was an intense villain since she displayed no emotion and made some good points, and her insistence that they “take the shot” was particularly chilling. I’m glad that they all value the Android as a member of their team since she’s obviously evolved enough to be a tremendous resource when they need her. Six has returned himself to the status of being a respected member of the crew, and Five now seems like the odd one out, always emphasizing emotion over anything else. Two continues to be a reliable leader for them, and the respect that she commands is a positive thing for the crew since they are sure to face many battles and obstacles in the near future.

What I’m Watching: Dark Matter

Dark Matter: Season 2, Episode 9 “Going Out Fighting” (B+)

They may have started out as criminals, but each member of the crew of the Raza is firmly loyal to the rest, especially when it’s Two whose life is in danger. They didn’t waste any time in preparing to go up against another despicable corporate boss – Rook in this case, played by none other than “Star Trek: The Next Generation” star Wil Wheaton – to get what was needed to save her life. They chose well in selecting Eric Waver as the man to go to in order to gain access to Dwarf Star Technologies, because even before she got her memories wiped, Portia Lin chose to spare him when she killed everyone else who poked and prodded her during her escape. It’s too bad that Eric had to pay with his life for going along with the plan, but at least the crew arrived in time to get rid of the prototype of the new version of Two, who was a formidable foe who nearly killed her. Six is doing of a good job of ingratiating himself with the crew, earning back the trust and respect of Three and Four, the least trusting members of the crew who had a long way to go to forgive him. I’m glad all that business with Three’s eyes and him hulking out is gone – that was a bit creepy for my tastes. I enjoyed the Android acting as more of a friend to Two and Five, eagerly tasting Five’s hot chocolate, and I’m very curious to learn how she ended up in someone’s bed after what looks like an eventful night.

What I’m Watching: Dark Matter

Dark Matter: Season 2, Episode 8 “Stuff to Steal, People to Kill” (B+)

If there’s one thing I love more than time travel, it’s alternate universes. I was pretty sure as soon as we learned that there was a war going on that the Raza had accidentally jumped into the future, but of course that didn’t make total sense because they would have had to return to their time to go around shooting up other ships. Instead, they jumped into another universe, which was dryly explained by the Android, and encountered some other versions of themselves, notably missing Five and only seeing Six in a video before he got his head blown off by a far less forgiving Portia Lin. I like that the crew was just different enough, with a few familiar faces including Jace Corso. Marc Bendavid is no longer a series regular, but he’s sure up for stopping by every once in a while. Letting the crew of this other Raza go was a sign that our crew has turned into good people and that they’re not going to stop to anyone else’s level despite the positive effects getting rid of that murderous scum would have on this universe that they left behind. Four getting to play Emperor was cool, and I liked the fact that One decided to use the other Android to help take back the ship after their Android got taken offline. I would have thought that the modifications the Android used could have enabled her to pretend to shut down and then come back with a vengeance, but I guess for now we need to depend upon the fully human members of the crew to be conscious to save the day. The other slightly non-human member of the crew isn’t looking too good either, and her status as leader of the crew is going to be severely compromised when they find her out of commission in her bunk.

What I’m Watching: Dark Matter

Dark Matter: Season 2, Episode 7 “She’s One of Them Now” (B+)

I enjoyed this episode because it veered more towards science fiction than just ships in space with not one but two important focuses. The first is the return of the clone transport technology where users can remain safe from harm while projected clones run headfirst into dangerous situations but need to make sure that they choose their own exit to keep any of the memories of their clones. The second is the introduction of this drive with jump technology that makes fuel, distance, and time no object. That technology didn’t end up working too well, and I’m curious to see what has become of our crew and where they ended up. After Nyx and Devon started to bond following Devon’s confession of accidentally letting a little girl die while he was high, they were set to be looking out for each other, and it appears that Devon died for doing just that when Nyx’s predictor friends came looking for her. This show’s body count is rising, and given how easily series regular One was dismissed, I can’t imagine that Devon is going to survive being stabbed. On a lighter note, I enjoyed seeing Five take the lead on this particular mission, telling Three to make himself useful by passing her the conveniently-placed cookies that didn’t seem to have any adverse or malicious effects on her. The Android repeatedly commenting on the snugness of Three’s outfit was hilarious, as was Five’s reaction to Three being open to the idea of climbing into the pod naked.

What I’m Watching: Dark Matter

Dark Matter: Season 2, Episode 6 “We Should Have Seen This Coming” (B+)

I like when this show brings aboard new characters, especially since we’ve lost a couple of regular players recently. I’m also very intrigued by Nyx, whose past is coming to light a bit more now as a skilled predictor of what is to come. Watching her see how her escape would play out and then follow through to recreate exactly what she knew would happen was cool, and that definitely explains her ability to counteract every move made by Four in their combat training sessions. Nyx obviously has more personality than her brother, who has been so affected by his time spent in simulations that he can’t carry a friendly conversation, instead so concerned with knowing what will happen. Two’s frustration with being predictable was what drove her to try to play against type, and though it didn’t quite work, she did manage to save the ship. It was Four, instead, who helped Milo find a way out, not one that would have saved him or would have helped Nyx have more time with him, but one that would weaken those manipulating him and set them back considerably in their quest for galactic domination. I like that Three and Six are mending fences thanks to Six being cool under pressure and saving them. Five is on to Devon, who seems more addicted than dangerous. And the latest development with Two’s hand is definitely disconcerting, since she’s the steady rock who has kept them together thus far and may now need some repairing of her own.

What I’m Watching: Dark Matter

Dark Matter: Season 2, Episode 5 “We Voted Not to Space You” (B+)

It seems that every episode of this season is going to involve the newly expanded crew of the Raza fleeing from a new enemy and barely evading capture and certain death. What’s interesting is how they’re making their way through those enemies, first with the Android killing the GA personnel at Five’s command and now with Two shooting the real Jace Corso after he played a card that should have spared his life to help her climb higher up the chain. I hadn’t expected to see Jace so soon since Marc Bendavid left the show, but I guess he was up for one last guest spot to close out the other character he created. It’s enticing and entertaining to see the Android acting human in a bar, as the upgrade is making her much more reckless, to the point that she pretty much crash-landed the ship to avoid detection while she refused to spout specific statistics that would make the other crew members nervous. The projection showing up to tell her that her programming was flawed even before the upgrade and that she has become a danger to those on board is disconcerting, and her refusal to acknowledge it means that she’s well aware of what is happening. Hopefully, Four sparing Chief Inspector Kierken’s life when he easily could have killed him will help to show the good guys at the GA that this crew isn’t all bad. I’m intrigued by Nyx’s super hearing, and I’m eager to know what other surprises she is hiding.