A Mind-Bending Ride Through the Multiverse

I recently spent the New Year's holiday binge-watching 'The Dark Matter' with my husband, and I'm still reeling from the experience. I had previously recommended 'Chinese Lessons' to you guys, but this time we decided to go in a completely different direction.

It all started when my husband suggested we watch 'All Coincidences Are Not Coincidence' (I'd only heard that it was an adaptation and knew who was in it), and I countered with 'The Past' (I'd actually suggested that one to my husband a week before the holiday). Little did I know, we'd devour the entire first season in just a few days - that's 9 episodes, folks!

The show's premise is mind-bending, to say the least. It's an adaptation of a book, and it explores the concept of multiple universes, where every possibility plays out in a different reality. I found myself getting lost in the idea of what could have been, and what might be.

The Good Stuff:

The main character and his friend carry the entire show! I loved them - they're so well-developed and relatable. I'd love to check out their filmographies.I found myself wanting to keep watching (it's weird, but true). The show's got a great hook.It's an adaptation!The concept and script are pure genius... or at least, that's what I think. It's this mind-bending idea that there are multiple universes, and in each one, there's a version of us living a different life. In one, we might have kids; in another, we might have chosen a different career path...The execution (point 4) is impressive, but I can see where it might fall short. I'm not entirely sure.The Chicago scenes are unforgettable - if that's actually what the city looks like (for some reason, it reminded me of a balmy Baltimore evening, and I felt a pang of nostalgia, even though I only lived there for a few months).There are some thought-provoking moments (beyond point 4), but they're few and far between.The music is fantastic - it's got this great, uplifting quality to it, especially at the end of some episodes. We only realized later (after checking the credits on our Apple TV subscription) that they'd listed the song and artist below! That's super convenient, and we're grateful for it. When it's dark and gritty, I love it; when it's more melodic, my husband does. We're just two different people, I guess.The Not-So-Good Stuff:

I was a bit surprised by the episode count - I think it could've fit into 5 episodes. At times, it felt like we were just treading water.Many of the supporting actors got lost in the shuffle.It's possible to get a bit confused, but the storytelling is done in a way that keeps you on track.The character of Amanda was really annoying at first, but I found myself rooting for her by the end.I was disappointed by how much time was wasted on unnecessary drama.The cinematography wasn't the most impressive, but the story makes up for it. It's not the prettiest thing I've ever seen, but it gets the job done. Although, it did remind me of 'The Mobile Phone' (with its dark color scheme).There were some clichéd moments (“appreciate what you have” and the like) that didn't really resonate with me. My partner is a bit of a romantic, so he enjoyed it, I think. I did get a bit emotional at times, but sometimes I wish there was a bit less of that and more actual story.There just weren't that many interesting events, and I got tired of all the door openings and closings, if I'm being honest...I didn't feel the urge to read the source material (like I did with other books), but for some reason, it's still on my to-read list. Maybe it's just curiosity.I was expecting to be blown away by Jennifer Connelly, but somehow, I just wasn't. Although, there were a few moments where she was smiling and her teeth were showing, and she looked lovely with her long black hair down - the kid was adorable, of course. And in the later episodes, she did kind of remind me of Jared Leto.Interesting Points:

I haven't read any reviews or watched any interviews (like I usually do), but I saw a foreign headline that said the book is better than the movie. I kind of agree with that.This isn't the first time one of this author's books has been adapted into a TV series. I think I read that the movie “The Pines” (or something like that) was based on one of their books too.I got the feeling that the creator wanted to make us realize that our thoughts are material. What we imagine in our minds can manifest in real life! That's really valuable (although, it's a bit of a cliché - see point 7 “minuses”).I've got to admit, I got a weird vibe from watching this series - 'Once at Night' - even though, in terms of meaning, they're not connected at all...Who's It For:

If you're into interesting theories and books, and you've got a romantic streak, you'll love this series!

My Rating:

3 out of 5. And... I'm liking it!

Verdict:

I'd give it a solid “good” if I hadn't seen the series “DEVS” before (which I really loved - it's hard to explain, but it's just one of those things). That series deals with a similar theme, but in a more subtle way. So, logically, I thought I'd love “The Tomorrow Man” more, but nope! DEVS is still my number one - and that's all there is to it!