Season 1, Episode 11: “Episode Eleven”
Air date: August 21, 2015
Oh, hey there Dark Matter. You are looking mighty fine these days and I, for one, am incredibly happy you’ve turned into this exciting and character-driven sci-fi show.
When we left off in last week’s episode, Two’s life was in the balance. And by “in the balance” I mean, “floating in space” and I was devastated. Thankfully, Dark Matter decided to make it up to me in “Episode Eleven” as I was treated to the best episode thus far. It really says something about the show that every new episode subsequently becomes the best episode. There’s got to be a lull, I know, but since episode three, Dark Matter hasn’t hit it.
At the start of the episode, we’re forced to watch the final few moments of last week’s episode again, secretly hoping that maybe it was all a lie, that maybe Two wasn’t thrown out of an airlock. Dark Matter is a cruel mistress and instead keeps things as they are: Wexler and his crew of no-good-doers have commandeered the Raza, Two has been vaulted into space without a suit, and the rest of our numbered crew are locked inside the Raza’s infamous vault. I have to say, I have a feeling that the answers the crew are looking for will be found in this vault, as it’s been central to a few major stories now and as One says, they don’t even know half of what’s in there.
Wexler then pulls out One for interrogation/torture about a planet where Jace Corso stashed his goods. Joke’s on Wexler and his stupid toothpick because One is the Jon Snow of the Raza and he don’t know shit about no “treasure planet.” Wexler doesn’t believe him so he grabs Five as incentive for One Snow to remember, as she’s not on the bounty list and is, according to him, disposable. Thankfully, the bad guys don’t get a chance to do anything to hurt my boo Five because of an FTL drive error and they’re forced to turn to her for help.
That’s right, Five is the hero. Again. Not only does she carry a knife in her boot to the free the boys but she’s also a genius.
Five explains to them that the FTL is kind of a rebellious teenager and it’s always sneaking out of the ship late at night, breaking family heirlooms along the way. Last time it nearly killed the Android and she asks for suicide volunteers, so naturally, Blonde #1, Vons, raises his hand.
In a shocking twist, things don’t go so well for Vons out in space and he’s not going to be making use of gravity any time soon, if you know what I’m saying. But what’s this? TWO IS BACK, Y’ALL. She’s not quite sure how she alien’d her way out of that freezing, no-oxygen mess, but she does it and boy is she pissed. I love, love, love angry Two, especially when she makes quick work of Blonde #2, Tash.
Meanwhile, in the vault that is quickly becoming the Central Perk of the Raza, One Snow decides to get on his soapbox, all riled up that even though they are all suffering from hypoxia, they are the men of the Raza and they should do something. The best part of this scene is the fact that it is intercut with scenes of Two kicking soldier butt without even messing up her hair. Even Five gets in on the action, saving Two’s life when Baldie Bad Guy decides to make an appearance.
Two then heads to the bridge to deal with Wexler’s weasel face, who has an “oh shit” moment when he realizes that not only has his Seal Deal gone south (by way of screwing over Commander Truffault) but Two is also miraculously alive and did I mention she’s pissed? Hell hath no fury like a woman almost murdered and Two decides to turn the tables on Wexler by imprisoning him in the airlock without his trusty toothpick to keep him company. He’s his usual cocky self, confident that Two won’t actually kill him, even after he divulges the new code to free the boys from the vault, but Two surprises everyone when she actually goes through with the murder. I probably shouldn’t be, but I’m definitely on board the Take No Prisoners Two Train.
With the day saved thanks to the ladies of the Raza, Two and the Android (making a much-needed appearance) have a heart-to-heart. The Android divulges to Two that she is an “advanced biosynthetic organism”, or rather, she’s the build-a-bear of humans, fully equipped with life-saving nanites to keep her alive in case of zombie virus or an unexpected trip into space.
I would have expected the episode to end on that note, but things with Dark Matter aren’t always so simple. Instead, the crew continues the deal with Mikkei, delivering the device down to the planet’s lab. High-fives for everyone for a job well done. Except, well, the device begins malfunctioning and as the Marauder reunites with the Raza, the planet goes all Alderaan on us.
Then the episode ends.
What the heck.
Dark Matter airs Fridays on Syfy at 10PM EST.
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