Episode 7 of Dark Matter kicks off with Daniela feverishly messaging Ryan, desperation etched on her face as she seeks his whereabouts. Ryan, of course, remains silent, prompting Other Jason to step in, offering to soothe her frayed nerves through the art of culinary enchantment.
Charlie, too, is seething with frustration, but the situation takes an unexpected turn when Detective Mason arrives on the scene, her keen eyes locked on the search for Ryan Holder, now mysteriously absent. Other Jason weaves an intricate tale, painting Ryan as a drunken stranger, his last sighting shrouded in booze-fueled oblivion. Daniela listens intently, her skepticism simmering beneath the surface. As Mason departs, she confronts Other Jason, her gaze piercing through his lies, demanding answers about the enigmatic ampoule.
Other Jason, unfazed, fabricates yet another tale, casting Ryan as the ampoule's maker, his erratic behavior a byproduct of the mysterious compound. Meanwhile, our Jason and Amanda decide to take a respite from their world-hopping odyssey, immersing themselves in the warmth of empathy and indulging in a moment of leisurely camaraderie over snacks and heartfelt conversations.
Their journey takes an unexpected detour at a sky bar, where the air between them thickens with the promise of romance. As they share stories of their doppelgängers in this parallel realm, Jason sets out to reconnect with his family, while Amanda, weary of the endless chase, resolves to stay put. Jason embraces her in a tender farewell, slipping a few vials into her bag, a lifeline back to reality.
Upon returning to the familiar box, Jason surveys the world before him, and the realization dawns—this is the same realm where Other Jason had deposited Ryan in the previous episode. With only two vials left, Jason's mind races as he strategizes to find the right world. A glimmer of hope flickers as he engages with Daniela, who, thankfully, stands by his side this time. They pledge to make the most of their evening, but fate has other plans.
A jarring revelation shatters the tranquility—a Jason already occupies this world, intimately entwined with Daniela in their bedchamber. Our Jason's world begins to unravel, and in the throes of his turmoil, he seeks solace in Charlie's presence, their conversation taking place amidst the kitchen's warm glow. As Holly's anniversary looms, Charlie's anguish is palpable, and Jason's attempts to console him fall flat. Charlie retreats, leaving Jason to grapple with his own demons.
Determined to set things right, Jason flees into the night, his destination clear—the Village Tap, where Ryan holds court as a garage owner, his university dreams shattered by a DUI. The stage is set for a confrontation that could alter the course of their realities forever.
As the tension escalates, Mason's relentless inquiries about Ryan once again draw the spotlight on Other Jason, who can virtually taste the looming danger. Desperate to defuse suspicion, he ventures out that very evening, snatching another Ryan from the box, and deposits him into our realm as a decoy.
Meanwhile, Our Jason, clutching his last vial, stands sentinel at the threshold of the final door, his heart brimming with the longing to return home. And as fate would have it, he succeeds, emerging from the shattered concrete landscape to find an abandoned ampoule mocking him on the ground. With renewed urgency, Jason rushes back, the reality of his surroundings gradually sinking in. Along the way, a serendipitous coincidence greets him—the movie "Upgrade," Blake Crouch's other mind-bending sci-fi masterpiece, playing at the cinema, a subtle nod to the author's dedicated fanbase.
Finally back in the sanctuary of his own home, Our Jason's relief is short-lived as he realizes that Other Jason has already breached his sanctuary. Preparing for battle without the luxury of a firearm permit, he arms himself with mace and a sharp knife, determined to protect his territory. But fate seems to be playing a cruel game, for as he steps out, Other Jason storms into the same store, realizing too late that he's not the only player in this deadly game of cat and mouse.
