Home Theater Geeks 555 Transcript
Please be advised that this transcript is AI-generated and may not be word-for-word. Time codes refer to the approximate times in the ad-free version of the show.
Scott Wilkinson [00:00:00]:
In this episode of Home Theater Geeks, it's an installment of What I'm Watching, and what I'm watching is Dark Matter on Apple TV+. So stay tuned.
TWiT.tv [00:00:15]:
Podcasts you love.
TWiT.tv [00:00:17]:
From people you trust. This is TWiT. Hey
Scott Wilkinson [00:00:26]:
there. Hey there, Scott Wilkinson here, the Home Theater Geek. In this installment of What I'm Watching, I'm going to talk about a show on Apple TV+ called Dark Matter. The first season aired in 2024, and now we're into season 2. This is one reason I— one of the things I object to in streaming platforms and TV series is the long wait between seasons. But this one was worth the wait, let me tell Season 1 is based on a novel of the same name by Blake Crouch, who is now the showrunner and head writer for the series. Season 2 goes beyond the novel. Season 1 was essentially the novel.
Scott Wilkinson [00:01:22]:
Season 2 now extends the story beyond that, and Crouch is writing this new material as well. So there is quite a bit of continuity. The story is based in Chicago. Jason Dessen, played by Joel Edgerton, is a physicist leading a fairly uneventful life as a college professor with his wife Daniela, played by Jennifer Connelly, and his son Charlie, played by Oakes Fegley. One night, Jason is coming home from his favorite bar. And he's abducted by a stranger who turns out to be himself from a different universe. He's known in the, uh, in the story as Jason 2. In his universe, Jason 2 did not marry Daniela, but instead became a world-famous physicist who invented a technology whereby a person can travel between universes when they step inside of a large concrete box.
Scott Wilkinson [00:02:36]:
Now, this is based on the real-world concept of quantum superposition, which in the real world only applies to subatomic particles. And so this is where the fiction of science fiction comes in. When someone is in the box, they see an infinite series of doors, and opening a door leads to a particular universe. And it turns out that the person's state of mind helps determine which universe it is. So the characters try to imagine the universe they want To enter. Now, this hints at the concept of, in quantum physics, that an observer determines the outcome of an experiment with their conscious intent. And that's a real thing. It's exactly how quantum experiments work.
Scott Wilkinson [00:03:37]:
But again, not— we don't know that it works on macroscopic objects like people. Now, Jason 2 always regretted not marrying Daniela and having a family. So he travels to Jason's universe, abducts him back to the alternate universe where he came from, and then returns to the original Jason's universe to take his place as Daniela's husband and Charlie's son— Charlie's father, rather. Leaving the original Jason to wonder what the hell is going on and eventually try to get back to his original universe, to where he really belonged. There are some other important characters I want to mention. They include Jason's best friend, Ryan Holder, played by Jimmy Simpson, who's a chemist who created a drug that shuts down part of a person's brain and allows them to be in quantum superposition within the box. Then there's Jason 2's psychiatrist girlfriend Amanda Lucas, played by Alice Braga, and the billionaire financier of Jason 2's quantum superposition project, whose name is Leighton Vance, played by Dayo Okoniyi. O-K-E-N-I-Y-I.
Scott Wilkinson [00:05:14]:
Now, all of these characters exist in multiple universes, having slightly or very different lives. Another important aspect of this story is that when Jason makes decisions within the box, other versions of himself are created. This is not well explained, at least not as far as I've gotten, but it hints at the so-called many-worlds interpretation of quantum physics in which decisions cause a branching of universes. This is a genuine, uh, interpretation of quantum physics. No one knows if it's what's actually happening because we can't really yet, uh, see other universes, but it's a valid scientific theory and interpretation of quantum physics. So it's another interesting aspect of the show. Now, Dark Matter is definitely a character-driven show. Um, the quantum— the quantum superposition element allows characters from different universes to interact.
Scott Wilkinson [00:06:36]:
But it's those characters' actions and responses that really drive the story. Now, I'm a few episodes into season 2, and I'm really enjoying it. It's really, really fun. Yes, it can get confusing at times. Which Jason is which, for example? And of course, the notion of parallel universes or the multiverse is nothing new in science fiction. I mean, Marvel Comics has been using it for years. There's lots of examples. But in this particular exploration of that concept, it's fascinating and more thoughtful than many.
Scott Wilkinson [00:07:21]:
And the actors do a great job of creating and developing their characters. So I highly recommend This show to you. It's called Dark Matter. It's on Apple TV Plus, and new episodes drop on Fridays. So I hope you'll check it out. Now, if you have a question for me, send it along to HTG@twit.tv, and I'll answer as many as I can right here on the show. And if you have a home theater you're proud of, Send me some pics. I'd love to see them, and maybe we'll get you on the show to talk about it.
Scott Wilkinson [00:08:04]:
Until next time, geek out! Geek out!
