I have already previewed the first episode, but due to length I couldn’t really say much about the technical aspect of the show. A long lasting aftereffect of studying film production in college is the inability to watch anything without dissecting the technical components of it. As with any show, the lead up to the premiere is promotion based and very heavily actor and character focused, but I feel that the technical side of it deserves a little exposure too. But fear not, I would be remiss to not provide a few extra preview tidbits in here, so read through for fun information and some cool images.
When Stargate: Universe was cancelled, well before its time, it seemed to take with it the space opera format. As I was watching the pilot of Dark Matter again, because I can justify it as research, I was trying to think if we have had any good space operas on TV since that show ended. The depressing realization I came to is that we haven’t had a single one. We’ve gone so long without a space opera that I was beginning to wonder if the format would ever find the right show to give it a second life. Space opera fans, like me, can finally rest easy because in Dark Matter we’ve found our phoenix to raise space operas from the ashes of television obscurity.
The show employs Lawren Bancroft-Wilson as the Visual Effects Supervisor and with his resume we can all rest assured that the visuals on this show will not only continue to be stunning, but they will also continually evolve in dynamic ways. He’s worked his magic on some amazing scifi shows including (but not limited to) Bitten, Primeval: New World, and Falling Skies. He is not only familiar with the genre, but he’s got a true gift for crafting the visuals that make Dark Matter explode from the screen. Lawren also has a long standing history with Creators/Executive Producers, Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie, from their Stargate days, which will certainly aid in their collaboration to provide the visuals space opera fans crave. Joseph has said that the show will be “ship based” which is exciting for those of us craving space scenes and very good job security for Lawren. I look forward to exploring life on board with these characters.
In the premiere the show spends a good portion of the episode on the ship, but there is an adventure that does introduce us to our first non-ship experience. While I can’t tell you anything about that, because it’s to fun to risk spoiling anything, I can tell you that in future episodes we will get to explore life on space stations and how they exist in the world of Dark Matter. The images I can share with you show the conceptualization and evolution of the space station and you can see how this intricate design came to be. This is a prime example of the exemplary work we can expect to see from Lawren and his VFX team.
The show is building a large and detailed universe for the crew to explore, which means we can expect to see different versions of this space station design. Lawren describes what went into crafting this base design, ” …the concept had to be modular in a way that a space station on one side of a galaxy would be reminiscent of another, but different enough to reflect the economics of what that particular pocket of space could support.” I’m quite excited to see all the different variations we will get to see of this space station design. Space operas of the past had so many different architectural designs for ships and space stations based off of alien races that it was sometimes hard to keep up. Choosing to go with a a basic design, as it seems they plan to, is a smart choice. It also poses a big question for me, within the universe of the show what is the history of these space stations? If they are going with, as Joseph describes it “…space stations suggestive of a single architectural vision…” then who is the architect? Something tells me this is something that will play into the plot of the series and I’m intrigued to see how it is incorporated.
Viewers want to watch a space opera and for the time they are tuned in they want to feel like they are in the dark void of space right along with the characters. In just the first episode all the elements come together in a perfect marriage that will give even the most critical scifi fans pause. From the opening seconds you will be sucked in to your screen and you will feel as if you are standing shoulder to shoulder with these well crafted characters. It takes a truly brilliant show to be able to draw viewers in like that.
Speaking of the cast, we all need to thank Melissa O'Neil's agent for getting her “out of New York” and onto our screens as Two/Boss Lady. They encouraged her into this project and for that we should all be eternally grateful because Dark Matter couldn’t have found a better leader. In fact, we owe a debt of gratitude to the casting team that gathered up this extremely talented cast. Dark Matter could not have been any better cast.
To give the actors the individual recognition they deserve I have a fun character analysis piece in the works, but that will wait until after the show premieres because I don’t want to spoil anything. In the meantime, I’ll provide your preview hookup at every opportunity I’m afforded and Lindsey Salazar will join you every week for detailed reviews about each exciting adventure. Join us on this journey back to space.
To do you until Friday I'll gift you with one more set preview from Lawren, "One of the really nice details of this particular build was how much of the interior of the docking bays we were able to create so that once our ship is inside we can actually see out the windows to the realistic 3D interior of the bay.” Gone are the days of so-so docking bay visuals from space operas of yesteryear. Dark Matter is going to give us an aesthetically pleasing interpretation and I for one am excited to see that come to fruition on my screen.
