It’s a common problem: shows built around alternate realities often end up feeling remarkably similar to one another. The concept has been explored so many times that it risks becoming a tired trope. Dark Matter suffers from this immediately, at least in my view. Of course, there are exceptions—series like the German production *Dark* managed to do it exceptionally well. Its success came from the intricacy and depth of its alternate reality narrative, not to mention how cleverly it incorporated paradoxes. However, *Dark Matter* comes across as straightforward and foreseeable. It became clear very early on who was behind the mask, and what followed didn't significantly change that impression. The storytelling is rather blunt, which fails to engage the viewer or provoke thought in the way *Dark* did. The performances are acceptable; it’s a capable cast, and while the production quality is high, I simply couldn’t connect with this series after watching two fairly unremarkable episodes. Ultimately, the uncomplicated and conventional approach prevents *Dark Matter* from reaching the same level of innovation as shows that take bolder chances, like *Dark*. Someone new to this genre might still find something to appreciate in *Dark Matter*, certainly. But for those of us who’ve seen a lot of science fiction, it's not an alternate reality—it’s just another familiar story.

Source on TMDB