The Dark Matter timeline is both fuzzy and complicated. This 2024 sci-fi, mystery Apple TV show deals with alternate universes where different versions of protagonist Jason Dessen (Joel Edgerton) exist, so the confusion is par for the course. The series also doesn’t reveal many specific dates, so figuring out the exact year or time period is difficult. The first episode in particular fools around with when a scene actually occurs, forcing the audience to work out the proper order of events for the plot. And because the show follows two variations of Jason Dessen, we need to sort out the timelines for both characters to make sense of the story. Here is a breakdown of when the events in Dark Matter take place.
What is the Dark Matter Apple TV show timeline?
The following is a rundown of the Dark Matter timeline from the perspectives of both the original and alternate Jason Dessen characters. To make the timelines easier to follow, we’ll split them into the two universes that the show follows.
The lists below are correct through to episode 4 of the show, but we’ll update this as the Apple TV show releases more episodes through its nine-episode run. We will assume that the show takes place in late 2015, since that is the year that the book’s timeline starts. However, there are details that separate the book version from the show version, so that’s as far as our assumptions will go on that front. We will also call the original Jason “Jason 1” and the alternate Jason “Jason 2” for clarity.
Jason Dessen 1 Timeline for Original Universe
- 16 Years Ago – Daniela Vargas tells Jason Dessen that she is pregnant. Jason 1 chooses her and their future children instead of his career. They have a shotgun wedding, and Daniela Vargas becomes Daniela Dessen (Daniela 1).
- 15 Years Ago – Twins Charlie and Max Dessen are born. However, a few years after that, Max passes away due to unknown complications after his third surgery.
- 12 Years Ago – Jason 1 loses funding for his projects and becomes a physics professor at Lakemont College, while Daniela 1 decides not to pursue painting anymore. This is likely due to the financial and emotional hardship of not only having children, but having to deal with Max’s health problems.
- Current – Ryan Holder wins the coveted Pavia Award. Jason 1 is abducted by Jason 2 and is thrown into the alternate world.
Jason Dessen 2 Timeline for Alternate Universe
- 16 Years Ago – Daniela Vargas tells Jason 2 that she is pregnant. Jason decides to prioritize his work over her and their future children. They break up, and Daniela Vargas keeps her name.
- 10 Years Ago – Jason 2 wins the coveted Pavia Award. Upon receiving the prize, Leighton 2 approaches him and asks him if he has any ideas he can invest in. Jason 2 becomes a cofounder of Velocity Labs where he starts research on creating The Box.
- At some point during research and development, Ryan 2 creates the Lavender Fairy drug at the behest of Jason 2. Psychiatrist Amanda Lucas oversee trials of the drug to ensure its safety and efficacy.
- About 2 Years Ago – Jason 2 begins a relationship with Amanda. She describes their relationships as “off and on.”
- About 14 Months Ago – Jason 2 chooses to become the second test subject for The Box after feeling guilt that the first subject named Blair Caplan disappeared. Jason 2 goes missing with reports of family and friends trying to locate him afterwards. He successfully reaches Jason 1’s universe and rents out a storage space to keep supplies and record notes of Jason 1.
- Some time after his disappearance, an unnamed third test subject goes into The Box, but we don’t learn any information about this person
- Current – Jason 2 abducts Jason 1 at gunpoint, injects him with a dose of Lavender Fairy, and sends him to the alternate timeline.
