I was eagerly awaiting both DM and KJ even before they aired their very first episode; and while both shows are on the cheap side (and even some of the actors, like DM's Anthony Lemke, made a few jokes about this in various interviews), I found them enjoyable enough to have great anticipation for their second seasons.
For quite a while, though, I have been enjoying KJ considerably more than DM. I think KJ benefits from a faster pace, a whole lot more humor/bantering between the characters (DM is really dour most of the time), and a LOT more consistency in characters and storylines. It seems fresher, more dynamic, and more engaging. (And yes, I know it is an oxymoron, as both shows are chock-full of TV tropes and clichés.) Also, I agree with the poster who wrote that KJ seems to have more stylish camera work.
At the same time, DM seems to have CGI/FX that are an entire level above those seen in KJ: their buildings and spaceships are more elaborate and detailed (even if their design is more reminiscent of the 1990s) and rendered at what appears to be a higher resolution(?). This is a particularly sore point for me: many of KJ's f/x are almost bottom-of-the-barrel... And, of course, DM benefits greatly from having spent much of its budget on a single steady set (the Raza's interior) where most of the action takes place, while KJ seems to prefer using a larger variety of (especially external) environments, which would be (again) refreshing if they were not so poorly realized so often.
In terms of the season opening episodes, both series put forth something a bit flawed. KJ's 2.1 was very good, but 2.2 came across as muddy. The creators introduced 3 or 4 major changes/new plot lines/new characters in a single show, half of which would have needed another episode to fully flesh out, hence 2.2 turned out to be a little hurried and confused. By comparison, DM's 2.1 and 2.2 started out more coherent, but quickly devolved into a 'red wedding' whose only purpose seems to have been to work as a giant reset button for the series. I am hoping the actors playing One and Six left on their own, for greater projects. Admittedly, I have found their characters more and more annoying (especially after having re-watched the entire S1 before the new season), and I suspect this feeling was shared by many viewers (which is presumably why they were written out?), but I hate when actors fall victim to flaws in the script. It was certainly not the fault of Roger Cross and Marc Bendavid that they were required to play hard-core intergalactic criminals with the personalities of angst-ridden high school teenagers...
Regardless, I am really looking forward to the rest of the new season from BOTH shows. I just wish DM were a bit easier to watch. Its characters often act out of character from one episode to the next, and they are so saddled with constant self-doubt and immature self-pity, it is hard to believe they are the toughest mercenaries of the Galaxy when they keep acting like rejects from The Breakfast Club...
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Laura_luton
9 years ago
I lose track with Dark Matter too easily, Im not as involved with it so dont worry too much
I find numbers and names and face changing and double crossing too much
Killjoys is easier, Dutch has a dark past, but we see a lot of that. D'avin is our introduction to the world, hes new to it and he asks the questions the others always explain whats happening
Johnny is the heart and the moral side his interest in the religion helps us understand that as well
They are very flawed characters as well, which makes them easier to connect to
Dark Matter I dont feel connected to any character at all
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Newton820
9 years ago
I've lost the will to watch Killjoys but I'm still hanging on with Dark Matter, just.
I'm Brian and so is my wife!
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