One epic, forgotten sci-fi show takes inspiration from the beloved space western Firefly while weaving in traits reminiscent of the 2026 movie Project Hail Mary. Since the show’s release in 2002, Firefly has held a special place in the hearts of sci-fi fans everywhere. When Fox canceled it after one season, there was a huge uproar. The show had a quasi-conclusion with the 2005 movie Serenity. However, dedicated fans spent 24 years pushing for a revival before news broke that Firefly would return as an animated TV show.

Now that we know Firefly is coming back, it’s a waiting game. The show is currently in development, and it’s too early to have a projected release date, especially since animation typically takes longer than live-action. A great way to pass the time is to watch other TV shows, movies, and comics with the same vibe as Firefly.

One of the best and most underrated choices, Dark Matter, ran from 2015 to 2017 and has long been forgotten. Dark Matter is a Firefly-like show with a Project Hail Mary twist, making it the ultimate combination of a beloved classic sci-fi show and a new sci-fi movie that’s bound to gain “classic” status.

Dark Matter Combines Rebel Criminals & Amnesia In An Epic Space Opera

When Dark Matter first came out, it was immediately compared to Firefly, and the comparison makes complete sense. A ragtag group of misfit criminals is living in a world of corporate greed and government control. The rebels are just trying to survive. Like Firefly, it falls into the space western subgenre, combining the scale and space travel of space opera with the renegade style of Westerns.

However, a key part of Dark Matter is the amnesia premise. In the 2015 TV show, six strangers wake up on a rundown spaceship, Raza, with no memory of who they are or how they got there. This concept was most recently nailed by the transcendent 2026 movie Project Hail Mary, starring Ryan Gosling. The passengers aboard both the Hail Mary and the Raza gradually regain their memories and discover their greater purpose.

On top of that, both the hit movie and the underrated space opera are heavily character-driven. Like Project Hail Mary, the story focuses on character growth and transformation through emotional connection. Rocky and Ryland change each other. Similarly, the crew in Dark Matter tries to figure out who they want to be as individuals and as a team. Even though they are revealed to be the worst criminals in the galaxy, they have the chance to reinvent themselves due to their amnesia. The show also throws a little bit of Stargate into the mix.

However, Dark Matter is also distinct from those shows in that it has a much darker, grittier edge than most other space operas. The closest in tone that I can think of is Battlestar Galactica. There’s almost a horror undertone to both sci-fi series.

Dark Matter Can Be Binged In 1 Week

The best part about watching Dark Matter is that it’s available for free and easy to binge. All three seasons of the show are up on the CW website, so there’s no need to be concerned about which subscription services you may or may not have. Some countries outside the United States also have it on Prime Video.

The show also feels like it was made for the streaming era, rather than episodic network TV. The mysteries and story arcs span multiple episodes, rather than each arc feeling isolated. The pacing is really great. The sci-fi series balances a high-concept world with a very relatable and grounded drama.

What’s more, it won’t take forever to get through. Dark Matter lasted just three seasons before it was unceremoniously canceled. Each season has 13 episodes lasting about 45 minutes. As such, it will only take about 30 hours to binge the entire sci-fi series. If binge-watching is an all-day affair, you could finish the series over a three or four-day weekend. If you prefer to split it up into a few episodes at a time, the entirety of Dark Matter could be finished in about a week, making it a short-term commitment.

Release Date

2015 – 2017-00-00

Directors

Ron Murphy, Andy Mikita, Bruce McDonald, John Stead, T.J. Scott, Amanda Tapping, Craig David Wallace, Gail Harvey, Lee Rose, Paolo Barzman, Steve DiMarco, Melanie Orr, Mairzee Almas, T.W. Peacocke

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  Alexander Mandra

  Ishida Cruiser Soldier #2

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