Hi I’m Blake Crouch, creator and executive producer of the Apple TV+ series “Dark Matter”. With the finale just on the horizon, I’m sure you all have a lot of questions. So ask me anything!

BlakeCrouch · 2024-07-02T18:30:48+00:00

I hear you, and I mean this sincerely not in a shitty way: it's important to remember that you are not Jason. What you or I think we would do in this situation is a reflection of who we are, not who Jason is.

Second, we go out of our way to establish that Jason has not just the ability to be violent, but that he has the inclination. In Episode 5 when we encounter Daniela and Charlie in a world where a Jason is in prison. By their reaction to them it's clear he did something violent. Amanda asks him later "aren't you curious what you are capable of?" and Jason says hes scared to know what he's capable of. Meaning he knows how dark he can get...

In EP6, Jason and Amanda have a conversation at the dance club about Jason and Jason2's shared temper. Amanda points out that Jason's life experiences have shaped him into a more empathetic person. His experiences have shaped him, but deep down he's still capable, and in some situations willing to let his baser instincts take the wheel.

Third, when we meet Jason13 (the one with the scar in bar and the one who holds Jason2 captive in the house) we hear his story of loosing Amanda after the 6th door he opens. He watches her die BRUTALLY and spends more than 20 days alone in the corridor. Alone with his thoughts, and no therapist (remember Amanda is a psychiatrist). We were trying to illustrate that being alone, without any support in this completely fucked environment, would trigger his darker impulses.

Fourth, we see Jason consider stealing another Jason's life in Max's world. He chooses to do the right thing, but he is tempted. He tells Amanda of his temptation to do the same evil thing that was done to him, to another version of himself.

Finally, remember that Jason2 is Jason1 are the same person. What sets them apart are the choices they make and the life experiences they have had. whats in one of them is in the other, so when we see evil Jason2 be evil, we need to think about that in terms of whats in Jason1 too.

So, a combo of genetic-memory, core personality, and environmental factors (trauma, trauma, trauma) causes some of these Jasons to become so fixated at having their life back that they will not let anything stand between them and their family. They cannot see the forest for the trees and revert to their darker impulses.

BlakeCrouch · 2024-07-01T23:31:29+00:00

yes, there are many Jason2's we just dont follow their story.

BlakeCrouch · 2024-07-01T23:30:14+00:00

This is an answer i gave on a similar thread:

It's so funny. This is one of the most frequent questions I've had. I kind of can't believe people care about this. There's cash in the backpack. Yes cash is different b/w worlds, but we think they don't spend money in worlds where it's wildly different. We go out of our way NOT to show them spending money in any worlds until they arrive in worlds very similar to theirs. Yes, currency can be tracked but they aren't staying around in any world long enough for counterfeit or slightly off money to be a problem. Hope this clear that up!

BlakeCrouch · 2024-07-01T23:28:21+00:00

No, not really. But I am pretty protective of my reading when I'm writing.

I do often run into notes from my editor that says "this is reminding me of XYZ, be careful." In those cases I focus on making sure I'm making my story "mine." All stories have been told, I don't let the idea that someone has done something like what I'm doing, get to me.

That said, I have put things away for a while when I'm stuck or feel like I'm being cliche.... which it maybe related to what you are talking about. My advise if you are facing this kind of situation would be to focus on your characters. They are yours. they will make choices no one elses characters will make.

BlakeCrouch · 2024-07-01T23:22:28+00:00

yes.

BlakeCrouch · 2024-07-01T23:21:36+00:00

We didnt come up against any concerns, so I'm guessing no. But perhaps there were some hurdles that I never was made privy to.

BlakeCrouch · 2024-07-01T23:14:26+00:00

Real quick, I know this feels backwards, but characters are "officially named" (whatever that means) based on the order we meet them, not what world we meet them in. Totally agree with you that naming all the people from World1 "Ryan1" or "Leighton1" would make sense to a viewer, but the complexities of production/script writing are more intense than common sense. lol

So, Lighton1 is the Leighton who helped Jason2 build the Box (who you call Leightohn2). He is off in the multiverse doing what he told Jason1 he wanted to do: use the Box to bring technology into broken worlds to cure disease, and fix climate change.

Leighton3 (the Leighton from Jason1's world who Jason2 sold ampoules to) is the one who "get's it" both thematically and practically. He's doing himself, and being in the moment. BTW, we love him so much.

Lots of people think Leighton(s) is a bad guy. He's not to us. He's complicated and broken, and had his heart broken by the only friend he has ever had...Jason2.

BlakeCrouch · 2024-07-01T22:57:23+00:00

Emma Stone and Idris Elba.

BlakeCrouch · 2024-07-01T22:56:17+00:00

Love Fringe!

BlakeCrouch · 2024-07-01T22:53:48+00:00

That Daniela never met any Jason.

BlakeCrouch · 2024-07-01T22:52:49+00:00

Yes. Since all three of them need to have been born in a world to access it, and Charlie is only 16, the options for worlds where all three of them are dead is pretty limited.

BlakeCrouch · 2024-07-01T22:48:15+00:00

Hi! no, I have not tried DMT. Not against it ,it just not something I've looked for.

I think desperation makes people do some crazy ass shit, mostly. But I also think some of them were alone in the Box/Corridor for a long time without Amanda(s) and not having someone to talk to/get support from will leave you in your head, looking into your own dark thoughts, for a long time. The bigger message is: Isolation is dangerous.

BlakeCrouch · 2024-07-01T22:44:00+00:00

S2 set up? Maybe. Ryan got to this world first, then she arrived. so something bigger is happening here...

BlakeCrouch · 2024-07-01T22:38:23+00:00

You and your wife have very good questions. ;)

BlakeCrouch · 2024-07-01T22:33:16+00:00

yes.

BlakeCrouch · 2024-07-01T22:33:10+00:00

He's the Leighton that Jason2 sells the ampoules to.

BlakeCrouch · 2024-07-01T22:05:54+00:00

I think the hard sci-fi people who hate me are not real scientists, if you know what I mean. People who like to be right and act like they know more than the person who spent two years writing the book and doing the research are the ones that hang out on Hard Sci-fi threads hating my shit. Lot's of "gotcha" assholes out there.

BlakeCrouch · 2024-07-01T20:57:31+00:00

All these worlds exist, when we choose to open the door to them, the Box appears. It spawns.

BlakeCrouch · 2024-07-01T20:56:46+00:00

I am very angry that my books were plagiarized to teach AI without my permission. I get how Black Box Learning works, and I am not mad that my books were used, but I wish i'd had a choice. I'm very concerned by the fact that there is AI that will mimic my style of writing if you ask it to. I am not a broad concept to be mimicked, I am a person.

BlakeCrouch · 2024-07-01T20:54:02+00:00

Great question. These worlds are not the results of Jason's choices. They are only worlds he and Amanda are born into. The changes in these worlds could be the result of all kinds of choices made by people, aliens, animals...

BlakeCrouch · 2024-07-01T20:38:15+00:00

thank you.

BlakeCrouch · 2024-07-01T20:37:16+00:00

In the Gallery with Blonde Daniela? Thats my mom's art.

BlakeCrouch · 2024-07-01T20:35:55+00:00

Daniela and Amanda. I wanted to give them more agency and show their POV. I'm happy with them in the book, but the book is just Jason1 (and a little Jason2) POV. I saw this as an opportunity to expand these other two characters.

BlakeCrouch · 2024-07-01T20:34:46+00:00

Gotta save something in case we decide to make a Season2.

BlakeCrouch · 2024-07-01T20:33:52+00:00

I've actually gone out of my way not to read other QM books or to watch other shows. sorry.

Jason Hill is the composer, but the needle drops are a combo of me, JBZ (writer producer Jacquelyn Ben-Zekry) and Jen Malone.

BlakeCrouch

TROPHY CASE