Jennifer Connelly and ‘Dark Matters’ writers answer final questions

SPOILER ALERT: This story contains spoilers from Episode 9, “Entanglement,” the Season 1 finale of “Dark Matter,” now streaming on Apple TV+.

The finale of ‘Dark Matter’, based on the bestseller by Blake Crouch, has arrived on Apple TV+, and while it answers many questions, it also raises new ones. We spoke to Jennifer Connelly, who pays Daniela Dessen, who has to make an unthinkable choice. We also spoke with Crouch, who adapted his own book for television, and with his co-writer of the final episode, Jacquelyn Ben-Zekry. And we couldn’t resist asking about a possible second season.

For the purposes of this story, characters with multiple selves are referred to by the universe in which they are first seen. So JasonPrime comes from ‘our’ world, while Jason2 and Amanda2 come from the second world shown.

In the penultimate episode of “Dark Matter,” JasonPrime (Joel Edgerton) was reunited with Daniela and their son Charlie (Oakes Fegley). But their happily ever after is postponed when they learn about the existence of other Jasons. And over the course of the episode, we see Daniela struggle with the guilt she feels about abandoning the other Jasons. But we also see JasonPrime prove himself to be the same man she knew, unlike some Jasons who are clearly damaged by their experiences. In a sense, the couple must fall in love again.

That’s a challenge, though, because it means the other Jasons have come home to their own world without a family. Connelly says there’s a point where Daniela actively chooses to stay with JasonPrime and doesn’t even hear about other options: “I don’t think it’s going to be easy or quick,” Connelly says. “And I think that’s what this chapter of the story is about.”

She adds that the two can’t just rush into each other’s arms. “After all the time we spent with Jason trying to get home, we realize it may not be an easy homecoming because of the fallout from what happened,” Connelly continued. “The journey they take together, running away and hiding, is finding the feeling that he is the one.”

The length of that journey was so important that it increased the series from eight to nine episodes. As they went into production, Crouch realized he wanted to delve deeper into different relationships. “I went and said, ‘Hey, I think we need another episode.’ And we were told to do it – and it really makes a difference,” says Crouch.

Connelly agrees. “It didn’t seem likely that with so much to sort through, it could just be an instant ‘Okay, I get it – I definitely know you’re the one,’” she says. “There is so much to digest and process. So I was really happy that we had those last two episodes to explore that, and see how they found each other again.

Connelly wishes it had been easier for them. “After everything, I want it to be a big moment where they hug each other and everything is okay,” she says. “But I just believe this more.”

The Dessens reconcile, and then must survive a group of Jasons attacking their hideout and return to The Box to start a new life in an alternate world. But when they get to The Box, there’s another group of Jasons there. One Jason says, “We came to say goodbye.” The Dessens enter The Box and we see Charlie open the door to an unknown universe with hope on their faces. We also see the fates of other characters – we see Blaire2 (Amanda Brugel) in the Insect World finally on his way home. We also see LeightonPrime (Dayo Okeniyi) embark on a new adventure. He seems exhausted, but Crouch assures us he is happy. “He’s having the time of his life,” he says, noting that he thinks the billionaire might be the most misunderstood character on the show.

But what about Leighton2 from the world of Jason2, who followed JasonPrime to The Box and was last seen bleeding in the hallway? The producers won’t say he’s gone for good. “We’ll see,” Ben-Zekry says teasingly, before adding, “Is anyone really dying in the multiverse?”

Which leads to the question of whether the series will continue, since the season ends where Crouch’s book ends. Connelly, for one, says she’s open to a return. “I don’t know if they’ve made a decision on that yet, but I’ve enjoyed working on it and would love to be involved,” she says. According to Crouch, nothing is planned at the moment and the first season is still making its way to people. Still, he says, “It’s hard to do an entire first season with these characters and not think about what might happen next. But I think for now we’re just trying to enjoy this moment.

There are certainly crumbs left for the audience – like the intertwined fates of RyanPrime (Jimmi Simpson) and Amanda2 (Alice Braga). When last spotted, they appeared to be meeting in what the writers call World 26. Explains Ben-Zekry: “Every world has its nickname: there is Ash World and Water World, and people call this Utopia World. But I didn’t want to call it that, because there is no such thing as a utopia; every place has its downside.”

While Amanda2 chose to remain in World26, RyanPrime was left there without knowing how The Box works or which ampoules he needed to inject himself to travel. RyanPrime approaches Amanda2; she asks if she knows him. RyanPrime responds, “No, but I looked for you.”

Crouch says there’s more to discover. ‘He knows who she is – I won’t say how, because it might spoil future things. But he located her in a really cool way,” he reveals. “He was stranded in this world with no ampoules to get him home. But he knows she might be his lifeline.”

Ben-Zekry adds that World26 was the one she was most involved in creating and shaping. “That world is super important to us because Ryan and Amanda are there. So if there is a season 2, you will see more of it.”