A Very Dark Matter
Hi,
It’s been a while!
What I’m Writing
I’m about 20k words into Clouds of the Future and so far I’ve only changed my mind and threw away two entire chapters. That’s a good sign, right?
I’m hoping to post a preview chapter here next month, after I get some feedback from my writing group.
Multiverses Done Well
It seems like every time I come across a new piece of scifi/fantasy content, there’s a multiverse involved. This is probably driven by the success of the MCU’s Endgame film and Sony’s Spider-Verse series. The problem is, like many sci-fi tropes, multiple universes can quickly turn into a fan service, inside baseball, thing.
The obvious application for a multiverse is “What If…?” Franchises rely on an ongoing story for their popularity. “What If?” is a way to add to those stories and please their fans without “violating” the rules of established continuity. “Love the villain we killed off in the third film? Well, here’s what would have happened if…”
Disney literally has a show called “What If…?”, and it does exactly what it says on the tin. Even though it looks like an attempt to cash on the multiverse introduced in the Marvel films, What If? is a throwback to a popular comic series from the mid-70s. It was probably my first introduction to multiple universes.
“What If…?” is a fun show if you’re into the movies and streaming shows, and even more so if you read the comics. If you’re not an established fan, “What If…?” quickly becomes “Who cares…?”
So, it’s nice to come across a show that’s using the multiverse idea in a world (worlds?) that you don’t need encyclopedic memory or Wikipedia to understand. Dark Matter on AppleTV+ is exactly that.
Dark Matter establishes a world in its first episode, then wastes no time pulling the rug out from under you. This means anyone can hop on and enjoy the fun. It also means that, rather than focusing on universe-shaking events, its multiverse is about character.
The most common approach to multiple universes says that every time we make a decision, we create a new timeline.
- Not going on that blind date.
- Going on it and meeting your future partner.
- Staying in bed an extra five minutes.
- Getting up on time, so you walk the dog at 6:30, and save a kid from being hit by a car.
But these events are most often tied to a bigger picture. In Star Trek’s City on the Edge of Forever, saving a single life would have led to the allies losing World War II. The MCU’s Endgame has its heroes manipulating smaller events to literally save their entire universe. (Or is it to create one that survives? Ugh. I need a Motrin.)
Six episodes in, Dark Matter is about identity. Are you who you are because of the city you grew up in? Your career? Your education? What does your life look like when you spend all your time at the office? Or at home? Are you the average of the five people you spend the most time with, or is there something deeper that makes you who you are?
I should probably be getting a cut from Apple TV+ subscriptions for all the time I hype their shows, but seriously, check this one out.
Independent Book Review
I mentioned a review from IBR a month or so back. It’s finally live on their site.
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That’s all I have. See you next month, and have a happy 4th of July, if that’s your kind of thing.
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Eric Goebelbecker
Trick of the Tale LLC
25 Veterans Plaza #5276
Bergenfield, NJ 07621-9998