Vote amnesiac badasses: ‘Dark Matter’ in the Bingewatch Awards
One charter of Film Daily is to honor amazing, innovative television cut down in its prime and then remain salty about it for many years afterwards.
Dark Matter is no different: a bingeable, dark mystery describing what happens when six people wake up on a spaceship with no idea how they got there. Impressively, they decide to become murderous badasses rather than look for an authority figure to tell them what to do. Or seek medical attention, for that matter.
But because society worships at the dark altar of Nielsen ratings, Dark Matter went the way of the dinosaurs and was cancelled (unjustly, in our opinion.) Thank goodness we have a Bingewatch Awards poll to right this wrong. In this round, we’re focused on the Best Cancelled Sci-fi/Fantasy TV show.
We pulled the nominations from audience interactions on social media to recognize shows that are gone but not forgotten. Some were recently cancelled and are optimistic for a reprise, while others like Lucifer are ending and have not been cancelled, but fans are still left wanting more.
To honor our fallen brethren, start tweeting at @FilmDailyNews, grab some buckets of popcorn and your most dedicated friends, and get voting!
The Apple TV+ Adaptation
A distinct Blake Crouch adaptation using the same title has revived public interest in Dark Matter stories and offers a modern parallel to the original series’ multiverse themes. The Apple TV+ version premiered in May 2024 and stars Joel Edgerton and Jennifer Connelly across nine episodes in its first season. It was renewed for season 2, which is scheduled to premiere August 28, 2026, keeping the multiverse premise alive for new audiences while the original crew’s story lingers in the background.
Where to Watch the Original Series Today
Viewers interested in the 2015 show need current streaming options to experience or revisit it, especially with renewed franchise attention. The original series is available free on The CW app as of 2026. It also appears on Pluto TV and can be purchased through Prime Video and other PVOD platforms in various regions, making the three-season run easier to track down than it has been in years.
Fan Campaigns and Creator Plans Post-Cancellation
The article mentions audience passion; documenting ongoing fan efforts and creator statements adds context to why the show remains discussed years later. Creator Joseph Mallozzi publicly shared planned season 4 and 5 arcs after the 2017 cancellation, outlining where the crew’s story was headed. Fans have continued campaigns and discussions on platforms like Reddit, keeping the memory of the series active long after its final episode aired.
Why the Original Dark Matter Still Resonates
The article praises the show’s badass premise; a section on lasting appeal explains continued relevance in the sci-fi landscape. Three seasons achieved high critical scores, including a 100 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes for season 2. The series ended on a cliffhanger that left room for more stories, which helps explain why viewers still return to the spaceship crew and their memory-loss mystery.
The original Dark Matter delivered sharp character choices and a tight premise that rewarded binge viewing. Its cancellation left an unfinished arc, yet the show’s inventive take on identity and survival keeps it in conversation whenever sci-fi fans discuss what got away too soon. Renewed availability and the separate Apple TV+ series have only widened the circle of people who now know the title. For anyone voting in the Bingewatch category, the 2015 run still stands as a clear example of what gets lost when ratings dictate the end of a story.
