The second season of Apple TV's science fiction series "Dark Matter" premiered on August 28, and critics who have watched the new episodes have largely praised them, giving the show a 91% approval rating on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. That is a notable jump from the first season's 81% score.
Reviewers singled out the show's willingness to push its parallel-reality premise further, saying the writers raised the stakes and made the story more original. Several critics also highlighted the performances of Jennifer Connelly and Joel Edgerton, saying both actors reached a new level in their roles. Some reviews, however, criticized the season for a chaotic narrative and an excess of strange, disorienting episodes.
What critics are saying
One reviewer said the second season opens with the same gripping drama as the first but with higher stakes, adding that Edgerton is even more compelling and remains a superb choice to play Jason. Another wrote that the stakes have grown considerably since season one, with Connelly and Edgerton delivering some of the best television performances currently on screen.
A third review described "Dark Matter" as a science fiction thriller with an original concept that digs even deeper into its premise in the second season, exploring the story's more incredible possibilities. Another called it a thoughtful if unexpected continuation, saying the new season takes a bold leap into the unknown that, while strange, is ultimately more thrilling. A more critical review pointed to poor structure, a duplicated plot and a total lack of enjoyment, concluding that the season descends into outright chaos.
The story behind the series
"Dark Matter" is based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Blake Crouch. It follows physicist Jason Dessen, who is pulled into an alternate universe and must cross multiple dimensions to get home, encountering versions of himself living entirely different lives along the way. The new season follows the Dessen family as they set out to explore further parallel realities.
