Apple TV’s 9-Part Sci-Fi Thriller Series Has One Of TV’s Best Plot Twists

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As a huge sci-fi fan, I have to say one of the most shocking twists I’ve seen recently was in an Apple TV series that, honestly, doesn’t get nearly enough credit. It’s great to see sci-fi on TV having a real moment right now – shows like Severance, Silo, and Foundation are getting amazing reviews, and I’m really excited about what’s coming next, like the new project from the creators of The Expanse, The Captive’s War.

With so many science fiction shows now available on different streaming platforms, many excellent series don’t get the attention they deserve. For example, Prime Video’s strong cyberpunk show, The Peripheral, was short-lived, lasting just eight episodes, and Star Trek: Starfleet Academy was canceled quickly after it began. Also, Apple TV+’s Dark Matter, a standout show with a clever plot, didn’t receive the recognition it deserved.

Apple TV’s Dark Matter Features An Ingenious Twist Ending

Based on Blake Crouch’s 2016 novel, Dark Matter was a clever and surprising mix of science fiction and suspenseful thriller. The series centered on Jason, played by Joel Edgerton, a regular physicist who gets kidnapped by a version of himself from another world. He then races against time to get back to his own reality before his alternate self takes over his life.

The cast of Dark Matter, featuring Jennifer Connelly as Jason’s wife and Alice Braga as his dangerous counterpart, was incredibly strong. But it’s the show’s complex and surprising plot that really sets it apart. The idea of a double, or doppelganger, has been a recurring theme in science fiction, going all the way back to Fyodor Dostoevsky’s novella The Double.

Many stories about evil duplicates are fairly predictable, which makes the surprising twist in the first season of Dark Matter stand out. Without revealing any spoilers, the plot avoids the typical tropes of sci-fi doppelganger stories, and the ultimate fate of the two Jasons is unexpected.

Dark Matter’s Twist Ending Makes Up For An Earlier Blake Crouch Adaptation’s Shortcomings

The twist ending of Apple TV+’s Dark Matter has cemented its place as a modern classic, and it’s a welcome success for author Blake Crouch, especially considering how his previous TV adaptation fared. Back in 2015, the Fox series Wayward Pines, with a pilot directed by twist-master M. Night Shyamalan, initially looked like a sure thing.

Actor Dark Matter Role
Joel Edgerton Jason Dessen
Jennifer Connelly Daniela
Alice Braga Amanda
Jimmi Simpson Ryan
Oakes Fegley Charlie Dessen
Dayo Okeniyi Leighton
Amanda Brugel Blaire

The series Wayward Pines combined science fiction, suspense, and the feel of a small-town mystery, and featured a fantastic cast including Matt Dillon, Carla Gugino, Toby Jones, Melissa Leo, Terrence Howard, and Djimon Hounsou, among others. Despite its strong start, the show’s complicated plot and unbelievable twists ultimately frustrated viewers. This makes the storytelling in Dark Matter a much better adaptation of Crouch’s work and a welcome return to form.

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2026-04-08 23:08