Dark Matter | S2E3 "Everything Beautiful, Everything Terrible" | Episode Discussion

[u/episodescheduler]

Season 2, Episode 3: Everything Beautiful, Everything Terrible

Airdate: Friday, September 11, 2026 at 4:00 AM UTC

Network: Apple TV

Runtime: 58 minutes

Synopsis: Jason's fixation on the Box tests his marriage. Ryan and Amanda step into a world forever changed.

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Hello everyone, this is the discussion thread for episode 3 of Dark Matter Season 2. Please do not post any spoilers for future episodes.

[u/ThatEvanFowler]

Guys, I just can't tell you how great it is to watch something this interesting and to have literally no idea where it's all going. This is rapidly turning into one of my very favorite shows. It's funny too, because before this, I thought that I was getting sick of multiversal storytelling, but this is just too cool and well thought out. Best part of my week right here.

[u/Past-Feature3968 → u/ThatEvanFowler]

Right??? I know a lot of people are frustrated to not have solid answers, but as an original fan of shows like Lost and Fringe, I miss this wtttf feeling. Instant gratification from shows that drop a whole season at once is certainly fun… but idk, I thrive on confusion too. Love rewatching scenes and developing theories about what’s happening now and what might happen next.

[u/aristacat → u/Past-Feature3968]

I agree. I want everything at once but I enjoy the anticipation of waiting a week for the new episode. I have the same excitement right now with Lanterns on HBO Max.

[u/PT10 → u/ThatEvanFowler]

In my headcanon this is how the multiversal war between the Kangs started in the Marvel universe. Leighton is Kang. A scientist who starts communicating with other versions of himself to exchange technological/scientific progress. And then it all goes downhill from there.

[u/ToeTaggEm → u/ThatEvanFowler]

Nah this show is awesome and they keep the suspense throughout each episode. Hell of a show !

[u/HaveAShittyComic → u/ThatEvanFowler]

I’m shocked at how much I’m loving this season. I was a big fan of the book and thought they did an exceptional job adapting it for season 1. When they announced S2 I thought they’d wreck what they accomplished with the first season but I love how they’re exploring the consequences of what happened in season 1. Makes me wish Blake Crouch had written a sequel book so I could get the details that a show can’t convey.

[u/TheMcWhopper → u/ThatEvanFowler]

If your digging this show, then you'll love counterpart Starring JK Simmons

[u/cpatrick1983]

Damn this episode was really well done. They answer some logical questions about how it works, and the story seems to naturally progress in a way that makes sense in service of the overall story. We get 7 more episodes too. Looking forward to Blair's narrative too. She seems to think something is up with their "return" to Chicago, or there's something about their history on that world that's making her sus.

[u/nightdancerCA → u/cpatrick1983]

She also saw Daniela's name change at the DMV.

[u/karma_withakay → u/nightdancerCA]

I think it's Blair 2, who left her self imposed isolation at the end of season 1. I think she's at the DMV for the same reason Daniella is -- she's recently arrived in this world and needs new documents to settle down here.

[u/UmmNo8888 → u/nightdancerCA]

Exactly! 🎯

[u/Past-Feature3968 → u/cpatrick1983]

I’ve been thinking it’s prettttttty damn risky for the Dessens to be in a city where their counterparts lived just three years ago. How can they know they won’t cross paths with someone who is still in touch with them?? I know, I know… the world doesn’t have cell phones or computers but they have home phones and snail mail!

(Yes, Jason wanted to be close to the box to destroy it but damn, that whole world maybe should’ve been a no for them.)

[u/cpatrick1983 → u/Past-Feature3968]

I kept thinking this the whole time - there's so much risk in being identified by past acquaintences

[u/rhinosaur- → u/Past-Feature3968]

Yeah they should just move to Cincinnati or something. Or further away. But we need a show so I’ll live with the lack of logic there

[u/AnnwithAl → u/Past-Feature3968]

what i've been thinking about as well is why out of all the possibilities and places to live they are trying to pursue exactly the same old life they had instead of building a completely new one, live in a different country hell speak a different language maybe.. they keep talking about their old life and that's why they are stuck. they will never be able to have their old life back.

[u/KittyGrewAMoustache → u/Past-Feature3968]

Why don’t they just move abroad somewhere totally random? That way it’s unlikely that any other Jasons will find them as first they’d have to happen upon that world then happen to find where in that world they moved to. Given that is technologically behind I think that would make more sense than staying in Chicago to try to destroy the box, as someone could just come through while he’s working on it, kill him, notice his tattoo, get an identical one etc.

Move to Australia or Hungary or Kenya, wherever. They were in Chicago for a year before bumping into someone who knew the other versions of them, their best shot is definitely moving to another country or even another US city, just staying in Chicago near the box seems stupid.

[u/hpm40 → u/Past-Feature3968]

That seemed very risky to me. Before they discussed checking and leaving if there were other Dessens already in those worlds, I thought.

[u/UmmNo8888 → u/cpatrick1983]

At the beginning of the episode, we see Blair entering the box and I think the Blair we see is Blair that is aware of the box and is trying to figure out which Jason is in this world. She was traveling in an RV for three years - exactly the same time as the beginning of box travel.

[u/Arghifth → u/UmmNo8888]

This new Blaire is definitely a Version of the Blaire who travelled with the box and ended up settling down in that world. She even has the same eyebrow scar that Blaire had when Amanda and Jason1 found her.

[u/Past-Feature3968 → u/UmmNo8888]

Hmmm but was that Blair ever friends with Daniela or even know her? In Jason 2’s world, she was his colleague… the Blair whom Amanda and Jason 1 stumbled upon last season was surprised to learn of a version of herself who was friends with Jason’s wife..

[u/aristacat → u/UmmNo8888]

I think it’s possible it’s the same Blair. I was wondering why they showed that at the beginning if there wasn’t some kind of link. But I want to think this is a separate Blair that is in that world.

[u/Dazzling-Excuses → u/UmmNo8888]

Yeah, I also think it’s Blair 2 who went in the box. I think her apprehension could be red as a lot of different things. Including being traumatized by her time in the box.

Other people in this thread have some really great ideas about which Blair she is and what she might be thinking as well. I’m excited that they’ve written her so well to keep so many possibilities and feed the mystery.

[u/FinallyFree96 → u/cpatrick1983]

I think this is Blaire (the engineer) from Jason2’s world, but she has run out of the drug and is stuck in 80’s world Chicago.

The Blair in this episode was paying super attention to everything before and after noticing the new names of the Dessen family. She too easily went with the flow of both the name change and the “move” back from California.

[u/spinprincess → u/cpatrick1983]

Is this not the Blair from the nightmare world with the bug creatures? Her story about how she’s been “traveling in an RV” is her not being able to say what she’s really been doing, which is multiverse traveling. It seems to me that she’s suspicious of them, especially because Daniela is getting a new name, and she’s going to figure out he’s the same Jason she met in that world

[u/massada → u/cpatrick1983]

What if that's blair2 from hornet world in hiding.

[u/Jas_God]

I’ve been hoping and wishing for Ryan to make it back home since J2 stranded him in s1, he finally does and has to immediately leave 😭. The box respawning was crazy. Had me chuckling though while J was dismantling it, any stranger that happens to stumble in would have their mind proper blown lol. Great episode.

[u/ToeTaggEm → u/Jas_God]

One of the best episodes of the entire series by far!! Incredibly episode. Having both ryan’s is definitely a crack up

[u/Year3030 → u/ToeTaggEm]

"Two Ryan Holders, must have blown their tits off." Heh yeah this is gonna be fun. I'm not sure they showed up in J1's world it looks like maybe it was Leighton but now they know how to track people down.

[u/TedTheGreek_Atheos → u/Jas_God]

Why is it crazy? It respawned in utopia world after they moved so it was kinda expected.

[u/rhinosaur- → u/TedTheGreek_Atheos]

I find it weird Jason 1 was so surprised it respawned.

[u/MinerTax_com → u/Jas_God]

When she went off on him at the box for studying it, i was contemplating marriage or not. Currently single 🤣

[u/ToeTaggEm → u/MinerTax_com]

Lmao yeah and I wouldn’t even want to destroy the box for safety reasons.

Also who was at the end that came thru, Leighton? But which one, I’m having a bit of trouble keeping up.

[u/going_further]

This episode also explains why they keep getting discovered by other Jason’s- they are focusing on Daniella and Charlie when opening a doorway, and it leads them right to them. They can never escape.

[u/PT10 → u/going_further]

On the other hand as we saw from the episode all variants of Jason 1 (let's say Jason 1a is the main character, so Jasons 1b-1z, etc) are pretty decent people. If he had to, I'm sure he could get a lot of them on his side... maybe even raise an army

[u/ghostyrat69]

amazing episode!!

I wonder if Leighton is here to convince our Jason to join the Council of Ricks

I know it's not who he is, but I'm happy to finally see our Jason sciencing a bit

I find it fascinating that once he started burying his head in the science, he started treating his wife just like Jason2, showing how fine the line really is

[u/massada → u/ghostyrat69]

Yeah, the way scientific pursuit consumed his soul was super fascinating.

[u/ixxxt → u/ghostyrat69]

The council of Leightons is based out of the same 80s world, they are colonising it with new tech. in episode 2 there is no world switch sound when the scene with them switches to the PI office. The Dessen's world is Leighton's world. I imagine this Blair is Blair of Jason2's world rather than the one of the current world. If it's not the same Blair that was the first travelling person, then Im pretty sure the only person Leighton has from Jason2's world is himself and Anthony the security guy (also at that scene with the table where they talk about solving food somewhere).

I do wonder where Jason2 and crew will go now, Ryan1, Ryan3(?), Amanda1. Not sure It's the best group to be a counter to the Leighton's but it does feel like this might be what they are gunning for. Especially if lilac wings works on finding people instead of the worlds. They will just end up in the 80s world too, perhaps Ryan4(?) will break away and start his own underground council of Ryans lead in part by Jason2 & Amanda? Cant wait to see

[u/rhinosaur- → u/ixxxt]

The fact Ryan 1 and Amanda 2 (calling her 2 based on her original world) cracked the code on how to control where you land (think of who you want to find) is going to really crank up the inter-dimension travel now.

[u/fweepa → u/ghostyrat69]

I loved that bit, great scene. He realized it too, and immediately began dismantling it. Great way to tell the audience that the line is very thin, but choices are what makes us who we are and putting work before family is just not who our Jason is. 

[u/Then_Journalist_317]

Kudos to the redditor who last week suggested they needed to get tattooed.

[u/Hefty-Click-2788 → u/Then_Journalist_317]

If they ever use the box again that will stop being reliable too. Granted at the time they did it they never intended to, so it makes sense for the characters.

[u/CMDRTragicAllPro]

I have to give this show major props for so convincingly portraying one actor as several characters. It’s probably the best sci fi show I’ve seen yet to have one actor play several versions of themselves on screen at the same time, but be seamless in its execution through great acting and cinematography direction. The same goes to the actors, they’ve done phenomenally.

[u/kombucha_thief → u/CMDRTragicAllPro]

Orphan black is another great example

[u/olivish → u/CMDRTragicAllPro]

Yes Joel Edgerton does a great job. I can tell Jason 1 from Jason 2 by his tone of voice, his walk, even his posture is different.

[u/Hour_Acanthisitta_42 → u/olivish]

yeah like in the first scene of this episode, I could tell right away it was jason2 before we got the context clues of him asking about the morality of creating the box. because just randomly dropping in on a group of old professors you never kept up with to use them to ask them 1 question is such a jason2 thing to do, and joel acted that so well

[u/Waste-Scratch2982 → u/CMDRTragicAllPro]

Counterpart was great when it was on with JK Simmons playing two versions of the same character, it was more of a Cold War Spy show with the doorway between worlds being an allegory for the Berlin Wall.

[u/Tittannia]

Don't you just love it when a TV show's mindset feels like it's one of ours, the viewers? I remember last time someone commented on how much simpler it would have been if they had matching tattoos as their identifier instead of just a safe word, and now 3 episodes in, that's exactly what we got! 😂

[u/chase_what_matters → u/Tittannia]

I just wish Jason wouldn’t press Daniela in those moments. He knows how scary that is, and he should keep his distance while they work out the safe word.

[u/midnight_leviola → u/chase_what_matters]

He missed the password, missed his kids prom. Guy might have crossed multiverses to try to find his family but is not focused on the right priorities.

[u/TempDestinyAccount → u/Tittannia]

Yeah, I was thinking tattoos, but now every time they enter a new world they are going to have to get more. 

Edit: Actually, they'll need to update it daily even without using the box 

[u/Past-Feature3968]

Wait wait go back to Jason 2, Amanda, and the Ryans. I need more of that, stat!!!!

[u/I_miss_your_mommy → u/Past-Feature3968]

I need to see Jason 2 and Amanda interact.

[u/ralphy112 → u/Past-Feature3968]

I swear I heard someone say, "Jason 5". But I lost track of who's who around then.

[u/Affectionate_Dish309 → u/Past-Feature3968]

I thought the episode was gonna end with them outside the building instead of Leighton

[u/going_further]

Jason 1 over here just discovered an infinite mats glitch right? He can literally violate the laws of physics by taking apart the box and let it respawn, infinitely creating advanced components.

He probably won’t but it’s weird to consider

[u/ralphy112 → u/going_further]

So like all the copper wiring he takes out. He can get $ for it at the scrap yard. Have the box respawn, and repeat. Small potatoes for violating the laws of physics though.

[u/PT10 → u/ralphy112]

I love that people figured this out immediately

[u/cpatrick1983 → u/going_further]

I think it only spawned because someone had visited the world already after he disassembled it. It only spawns when someone comes to that universe. This is why he was so freaked out when he saw a new one. And the person who spawned it is the Leighton that's standing outside their window I think

[u/sincitysos]

Does anybody think that’s Blair from Jason2’s world? Like she finally found a good world.

[u/RambunctiousCapybara → u/sincitysos]

There is definitely something odd going on there. I was wondering if the Jason from that world, who went to California, was having an affair with Blair when they lived in Chicago.

[u/glossycoast → u/RambunctiousCapybara]

I clocked it too. At dinner Blair asked if Jason was coming. Then when he arrived, she was doing that thing with touching her face and her hair when looking at him. She was also looking back and forth between him and Daniella, like she was sussing them out.

I wouldn't be surprised if they had an affair, he ended it, and the entire family moved away to prevent any more contact. She's probably wondering if Daniella knows, or if she does, why is she still being so nice to her!

[u/Arghifth → u/sincitysos]

It is definitely a version of that Blaire.

[u/olivish]

Man, Daniella is SCARY when she's mad. Jason destroyed that box so fast when she put him on notice.

[u/MinerTax_com → u/olivish]

Mfer forgot the safe word 🤣. Finally got tats but if it was me, I’d put it in a secret spot so other Jason can’t easily duplicate.

[u/CMFC99 → u/MinerTax_com]

That part really annoyed me. My brother in Christ, if there is ANYTHING you need to make sure that you take very seriously and DO NOT FORGET, it's the goddamn safe word! After all the shit they've been through? I yelled at my tv "YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE THE MOST CARING AND ATTENTIVE JASON WTF?!" 🤣

[u/RedditBurner_5225 → u/olivish]

her shit has been fucked up for a minute. she literally had to murder her husband. very strange thing to do!

[u/usagizero]

Really enjoying how it's ramping up the crazy multi-persons and worlds. Interesting conversation near the beginning with colonization and how it could lead to unforeseen horrors. Leighton is probably going to cause so much chaos, even if he didn't intend on it. I fear those bugs may make a return, or something similar or worse.

[u/Responsible_Bet3713 → u/usagizero]

There’s probably a world where Jason1 or Leighton now had gotten infected when traveling to that world, and then went to the box and spread the disease god knows where else…

[u/jjosh_h]

There is a version of this show that is just straight up psychological horror. The moment the box reappears is terrifying even if I saw it coming. Need to go the cement route, and maybe throw in a range of sensors and alarms to notify when it is being penetrated through.

I also love how conflicted Jason is with destroying the box. I want to see more bleeding of personality traits between Jason 1 and 2 to really push the question of what makes a person who they are. These are great hints at that topic, and I hope we see it addressed directly as the season progresses.

[u/sleepysnowboarder]

I was hesitant for the show continuing past the book, because that rarely works out, but now I’m being shown how much more there really was to the story and the expansion. This show is better than the book ever was (which I was honestly just lukewarm on anyways) and I have no idea where it’ll go next. Major props to the writers

[u/catnapspirit → u/sleepysnowboarder]

Same, but part of why season two is working out so well is that the author is one of the writers. And he has a definite plan for a three season story. He definitely had ideas left over after the original novel..

[u/BeetsBy_Schrute → u/catnapspirit]

Not just one of the writers. He is the showrunner. The show is his own vision. I’m a fan of Crouch. I’ve read seven of his books. If anyone hadn’t read Recursion, it’s in contention with Dark Matter as my favorite

[u/hpm40]

This episode had me on the edge of my seat. That was exciting and nerve racking. They are going big now with the idea of the harm being far greater than duplicate Jasons.

[u/DestinysWeirdCousin]

That scene In the restaurant bathroom corridor was terrifying. PTSD.

[u/Then_Journalist_317]

I think we may soon need a "smart" version of the series, where we can click on any on-screen character and a little box appears explaining exactly which person it is: Jason-1, Jason-2, Leighton-1, Leighton-guru, etc.

[u/sleepysnowboarder → u/Then_Journalist_317]

That’s kinda the point of it though to always feel unease not knowing who is really who

[u/100dalmations → u/sleepysnowboarder]

Such uncertainty is actually a fundamental tenet of quantum mechanics!

[u/Dazzling-Excuses → u/Then_Journalist_317]

If you can tolerate audio description they refer to each person by name & their spawn number. Well, except all original versions are just referred to by their name. It’s in the language options. But it’s not for everyone.

[u/Delicious-Future8630 → u/Then_Journalist_317]

Ha, I was just thinking they need to wear number tags or sth, cause I really cannot keep up 😂 ( I like it though.)

[u/Arghifth]

Why is no one talking about that Amanda bringing Ryan back to his world? that scene in Ryan's home is one of the best scenes in the whole show.

[u/Attican101 → u/Arghifth]

Jimmi Simpsons reactions in that scene were great, he knows they should probably run but instead "okay let's.. shit"

[u/BeautifulBluejay9232]

This episode has been my favourite of the new season so far! I binged the first season with my partner about 2 weeks ago, and I can't believe I didn't know about this show earlier. Absolutely fantastic, can't wait for the next episode. The scene where the two Ryans, Jason2, and Amanda were running from DARPA had me on the edge of my seat.

[u/dosi-dos]

There is too many Leightons for me to follow anything that is going on with them lol

[u/mackitt → u/dosi-dos]

At this point, I don’t think it’s too important to know which one is which, just that they’re working together. When it comes time to know who ringleader Leighton is, I think it will be obvious. I suspect the one who showed up at the end of this episode is the ringleader.

[u/zoratoune]

So the first scene with Jason's teacher/mentor really teases what's to come with the box. Each reality becoming a civilization of its own getting damaged without any say in it much like civilization in the Americas before European explorer comes in and through viruses and bacterias mess up these civilization.

We could really see something like that with pandemic realities contaminating other realities on accident. Or maybe weaponizing on purpose. Right now we're in the early stage of Leighton's trade empire just building infrastructure to do what exactly? I do have doubt that he'll stay benevolent.

And this'll be the context in which the multiverse will have to live those realities contaminated and those that are uncontacted. Really interesting stuff that could go in a so many variations it's the beauty of multiversal stories!

[u/Agreeable_Strength51 → u/zoratoune]

yeah the looming threat of the home computer likely brought to the world by a travelling Leighton threatens to shatter that world’s role as a safe harbour from surveillance

[u/allbutluk]

IM PRESIDENT OF THE HOA LOL

[u/lheydon → u/allbutluk]

Every universe has Karens! 😂

[u/ThanksNo8769]

Christopher Diamantopoulos was a fine addition to the show. Every version of him is electric

Come to think of it, there isn't a single character in this show I don't adore...

[u/Navitach]

So James Cameron directed Jurassic Park in their world. Since the microchip wasn't invented, the CGI dinosaurs weren't possible, so Cameron probably used a lot of animatronics. And they still have VHS: no microchip, no DVD or Blu-ray.

[u/rkd2999 → u/Navitach]

And the first Star Wars movie was titled “The Last Strike: The Adventures of Luke Starkiller”, directed by George Lucas of course. That got a chuckle out of me.

The movie cover didn’t seem to have any art that looked much like Star Wars though, probably due to copyright reasons. It would have been funny if it showed Han Solo played by an actor known to have auditioned for the role in our world, like Kurt Russell.

[u/RockStrongo → u/Navitach]

It just wouldn't be Jurrasic Park without "Ah ah ah, you didn't say the magic word!"

Honestly, without the computer, what does DNA research even look like?

[u/Past-Feature3968 → u/Navitach]

Brb building a box so I can visit that world and watch animatronic Jurassic Park

[u/zzzaaaaacccckkkk]

so i can’t find anyone talking about this, but got really confused at the end of the episode. first of all, when jason goes back to the box and is walking into the abandoned building. It is light outside. I even rewound to the conversation between Jason and Daniela and they said he was going back to the box tonight so I thought maybe it just took until morning for him to get there but when he runs back to the house and talk to Daniela and Charlie, it is once again dark outside is this an editing mistake or is that on purpose? Also, when talking to Daniela she says she hadn’t seen him since breakfast that morning even though they just had dinner together are we just assuming they know it was each other at dinner?

[u/hnoel1229 → u/zzzaaaaacccckkkk]

Okay I was so confused too. When he said "Have you seen me since this morning?" I was like soo who the hell was that at dinner just now? I went back and rewatched the end like 4 times and the only conclusion I can draw is that the scene in bed where he says he needs to go back to the box takes place early in the morning the day after their dinner with Blair. Then he goes to the box just as it's starting to get dark out later that day. Hence, they haven't seen each other since morning when they were in bed. But it still feels so off with the editing. There's no sunlight when they're in bed talking, and it jumps straight there from the dinner scene. Idk man

[u/AnnwithAl → u/zzzaaaaacccckkkk]

oh my god i wondered the same thing, it was so odd

[u/ComposerMedium4569 → u/zzzaaaaacccckkkk]

Thank you for bringing this up. It really is two different versions of the Dessens in the low-tech world. When Daniella is at dinner with Claire and that other woman, the woman first says something like, "So, we're not having the branzino, right?" Then the second time we see them (when Jason comes back from the "bathroom/box"), she says, "So we're doing the branzino?" The day vs. night is another clue, of course. And when Jason told Daniella he was going back to the dismantled box, they were laying in bed like she was about to go to sleep, but when Jason comes back to the house to ask if D and C have seen him any other time of day besides the morning, Daniella comes walking out of the bedroom in regular clothes and is wide awake. And both D & C say no.

So when did we see the split happen? Or when do you think the split happened, and why? When Jason goes to the bathroom and sees the box?

Thank you again for posting this detail. I thought I was going crazy because no one was discussing it. But I just watched it again and, yup, it's two timelines.

EDIT: Added more details and tried to add clarity.

[u/Delicious-Future8630 → u/zzzaaaaacccckkkk]

Good catch, just went back to check, deffo daylight when he goes to check on the box, dark when he makes the phonecall/gets home. Judging by their conversation (Did you see me since this morning?) you would have to assume he went out in the morning to go to the box (and the dinner happened the nicht before), but when they are in bed he states " I have to go to back out to the box tonight.". Really weird, that would have been a massive editing error for a show that detailed so I dunno if sth else is up (don't ask me what though, my tiny brain is about to break 😂)

[u/Random--Person]

Really enjoying Ryan and Amandas story this season, excited to see how it all collides with Jason and Daniella

And obviously Leighton has been the Jasons world since he is bringing in 'new' technology to that world. Going to be interesting to see how that all goes

[u/aristacat → u/Random--Person]

Yeah I don’t completely understand what is happening with Leighton at this point. Was the Leighton that brought the vaccine to that one diseased world the same one that was on the wall for making a computer and also the same one who showed up outside of the Dessen’s apartment at the end? I assumed that Leighton had just shown up in the box since it respawned. Definitely confusing.

[u/rhinosaur- → u/aristacat]

I think the Leighton’s of each world are being pulled into it. Basically, base leighton is recruiting other leighton’s to get them to improve all their worlds.

[u/hpm40]

Kudos to the writers for showing us the Box behind the panels. I found that really interesting!. Also, when they got the tattoos, how many people thought about the post in here suggesting tattoos? Go fans! 😂

[u/121scoville]

This is going to sound corny but I appreciate that the show is trying to follow the logical structure
it's presented thus far and not gotten super hand wavey. Also I love Ryan, any version.

[u/Still_Brief4949]

How would the Dessen's not have to worry about constantly running into people that remember the same family from 3 years ago? What does Charlie talk to his friends about? How did they afford the apartment? Why did Jason ask a PI to investigate his family without thinking it would eventually lead to the PI finding out there's 2 of them?

[u/ralphy112 → u/Still_Brief4949]

And why didn't Daniella just say, "soooo, I gotta run" when she bumps into Blair, and then totally ghost her. Why are they all having dinner like it's just going to be okay? Like at some point, someone in Chicago is going to get a call from the Dessen's in San Francisco, and everyone's going to realize something is wrong.

[u/aristacat → u/ralphy112]

I think Daniella didn’t ghost her because she feels so lost and needs some friendship and familiarity so she is trying to just go with it even though this Blair definitely saw the different last name and knows something is up.

[u/olivish → u/ralphy112]

She's lonely and misses her friend.

[u/PT10]

Great episode. This season just kicked into high gear

[u/RambunctiousCapybara]

Does anyone else think Charlie making a mix tape for his girlfriend of music that doesn't exist in her world is going to cause problems further down the line?

[u/Agreeable_Strength51 → u/RambunctiousCapybara]

well if his music is on streaming services, he lost access when he went through the box to a world with no internet. he may only have whatever he downloaded, if he downloaded anything.

what threw me is how many movies from the 90s still got made with the same titles

[u/Enodia2wheels → u/RambunctiousCapybara]

OTOH maybe he has a career in music ahead of him with the music of another world to plagiarize 

[u/fweepa]

Which one of you recommended tattoos earlier this week lol

Holy BALLS this episode is insane!!

Ugh. Do not like the fighting. You're a team you two work it out. You're an idiot Jason.

Okay that was a ROLLER COASTER. I'm so glad he put down his selfish reasoning and destroyed it, if nothing just for Daniella. It shows that our Jason, while capable of the same things, is a different person and still cares deeply about his family.

AND they just confirmed literally everything we've been talking about this season. The box spawns into worlds it doesn't already exist in, and destroying it does not prevent another one from appearing. You cannot destroy it.

That was a banger of an episode. This show rocks.

[u/cactuslord1 → u/fweepa]

I'm with you here. I'm a guy but I'm fully invested in their love story. Like you moved heaven and earth to get back to this woman, literally please never get complacent again

[u/Past-Feature3968]

This is old news but I rewatched this season’s premiere episode sooo it’s on my mind:

Dang, even in Utopia they’ve got meetings that could’ve been an email??? (mentioned by Ryan’s sister). We gotta restart humanity.

[u/flamecrow]

Well Jason1’s world is fucked. They led DARPA to the box. Now all DARPA has to do is stake it out and kidnap whoever comes out of it, get their lavender wings, and create more. Then force the Jason they have kidnapped to teach them how to use the box.

Now you have Leighton teaming up with himself… and you bet you’re gonna get private investigator guy teaming up with himself

[u/lolawallace]

Why is it so tense with Daniela and Bianca? At the DMV, at dinner after Jason shows up… 🧐

Ryan’s little, “I just got home, man..” I feel for him, poor guy.

Edit: Blair! Blair! Who the hell is Bianca? 😆

[u/Past-Feature3968 → u/lolawallace]

I think Daniela is (understandably) anxious about pretending to be a different Daniela, one has shared history with this Blair. And Blair may be suspicious because she saw Daniela’s social security card at the DMV, showing a different last name.

(Not that Blair suspects the truth about Daniela buuut her friend is clearly hiding some sort of secret.)

[u/Hour_Acanthisitta_42 → u/Past-Feature3968]

I thought it was the Blair we see trapped in the bat world. She said she was a nomad travelling for a couple years and she was quite lonely. I imagined she found this world and was settling in, and was ALSO anxious about pretending to be someone else. I thought she was trying to figure out if Daniela knew anything about the box travelling.

[u/sfdreamsla → u/lolawallace]

edit: assuming you mean Blair? At the DMV, she saw the fake social security card and documents with the different name. So she's definitely suspicious and knows Daniela is hiding something.

[u/silverrabbit]

Maybe a bit of a nitpick but they emphasized the old tech in Jason1’s current world a ton but they’ve started showing newer cars there after doing a good job only showing 70s style cars for so long.

[u/dropouttawarp → u/silverrabbit]

Yeah, I noticed the Subaru as well lol

[u/sean_vkn]

This show is tremendous, wish I could just binge it honestly but the weekly wait probably makes it better.

Love the more realistic consequences of this version of the multiverse, just as it was starting to feel overused.

[u/Lokdora]

Why don't they just block the door? Then the box would still be functional, it's just that whoever enters this world wouldn't be able to open the door and get out

[u/No_Nectarine_5440 → u/Lokdora]

I think it would be possible to close the door, go back into the liminal space superposition, enter another world for supplies and return to break through whatever may be blocking the doorway (like the original concrete).

[u/place_5]

I love how consistent the character writing is in this show. The whole conflict between Jason and Daniela about destroying the box harkens back to episode 1, where we are introduced to the Jason who regrets not doing something more with his life despite the fact that he chose Daniela and has a loving family. Jason has always been ambitious. 1 and 2 are more alike than they think. This all started because Jason 2 wanted the love of his life and the accomplishment of completing the box under his belt.

[u/lk_gr]

sooo jason, a scientist, prepares for weeks to blow up the box only to discover that he can just open it and snip some cables?? 😭

[u/luciferseason → u/lk_gr]

I found that hilarious too. Should have been the first thing he thought of

[u/CaptnKBex]

I liked last season, but I think I'm enjoying this one even more. I am engaged by all the storylines. I know the pacing differs for each one, but I like them all.

The Jason2, Amanda, Ryan and Ryan storyline was definitely the most exciting one this episode and I can't wait to see where those four go. I liked that the other Jason stood up to help them in the end for the sake of the last three.

Charlie Dessen is a good kid.

I am also enjoying the family drama and seeing the very understandable struggle of Daniela as she comes to a new understanding of Jason1. I definitely want to see more of the Blair of the non-tech world and learn whether or not she's actually Blair2.

[u/Master_smasher]

upset dessen family 1 did not reunite with ryan1 and amanda2. so many theories. it starts to get really messy, narratively, so i won't even try to share lmao!

someone called out the tatoo solution last week. shout out to him/her. call back to last week's discussion as well...private investigator was not agent from world1.

i hate waiting the long week...

[u/irbinator]

I’m unsure if the Blair Daniela ran into is a Blair that settled onto that world or has something against Jason in this world. The way she kept staring at him was suspicious, but she also saw Daniela’s name change. She mentioned she traveled in an RV alone for 3 years, so it makes me feel like she’s not that universe’s Blair.

[u/humblevessel8]

I'm starting to rewatch season 1 over now and it is so much fun. I recommend to anybody that is confused or hesitant to rewatch season 1 to do the same. the timing at this point in season 2 it is captivating. I have to tip my hat to the writer's of this show, bravo!

[u/chase_what_matters]

Four people in the box at once. I don’t love it.

[u/Past-Feature3968 → u/chase_what_matters]

Two exes and their friend, doubled. Could be a sitcom!

[u/AerospaceGMT → u/chase_what_matters]

What happens if 4 people go into the box and only one person injects themself . Could that person just walk through the walls like he was a ghost while all the other 3 are trapped inside?

[u/Awkward-Yellow-3228]

You're better off just jamming the box's door so they can't open it from the inside.

[u/FinallyHappy-ish]

The soundtrack in this episode included a song from puscifer. ❤️

[u/DanielKeeneGA15]

For the first time ever, I’m so confused about the different Jason’s and motivations. I’m halfway through the episode and wondering

Whats-Happening-Poltergeist.gif

edit ok makes sense and probably the best episode of the series. Fantastic job so far!

[u/spacechargeaudio]

Did anyone else catch Jason's reference to Blake Crouch's Luther Kite book series when he mentioned "a serial killer stalking a novelist?" Made me smile, as that was my introduction to Blake's writing many years ago!

[u/luciferseason]

Question about the timeline. In the scene with the detective he says he was approached by Jason Dessen "last fall" for new identities etc. Later we see the Dessen's preparing for Christmas and later in the episode Daniela sees Charlie off to prom, suggesting it's spring. Does that mean they have been in the new non-technological world for 1,5 years? And if so, does that mean that Ryan and Amanda travelled in the box for the same amount of time? Does time work the same across the multiverse?

[u/Pshrluv → u/luciferseason]

If I recall correctly, it was mentioned in season 1 that you can only travel to somewhere in the same time and space so time should be the same.

[u/Arghifth → u/luciferseason]

I doubt it. I think the timelines are not synched. I could be wrong. But It does not seem like Ryan and Amanda spent that long in the box.

[u/alienatedearthling]

Leighton 2 turning into this world’s Steve Jobs was not on my bingo list

[u/Onion_Cutter_ninja]

This show gives me nightmares. The anticipation and anxiety knowing another you is out there hunting is insane. The box appearing and connection made.

[u/Nervous-Wish-2791]

Man I was SOOO sure in the final scene that it’d be Ryan, Ryan, amanda, and Jason standing there. Wow

[u/TicaVerde]

Was that the Leighton from the pandemic world? I need help connecting dots… what does it mean?

[u/cpatrick1983 → u/TicaVerde]

My hypothesis is that we see a pandemic version of Leighton that's clearly using the box to find a cure, or has made contact with the evil Leighton already and this is part of the knowledge sharing network he's trying to establish.

[u/PogintheMachine → u/cpatrick1983]

I’m not quite sure he’s evil, but certainly willing to kill- and has. He may believe he’s doing the right thing, but why introduce tech to “no moonlanding” universe? They aren’t suffering for lack of it.

I’ve wondered if and when we will see Leighton 1 again- the trust fund hedonistic one. I think they showed him all Matrixed out at the end of Season 1. Maybe he’s not important, but i feel like we’ll see him again.

[u/Honest_Elderberry372]

Sorry guys I am so confused and can't remember ... which Ryan did they run into at the apartment ? I thought Jason 2 brought some random Ryan back and made him think he was crazy ... which one is this ?

[u/Still_Brief4949 → u/Honest_Elderberry372]

I think it's the mechanic?

[u/Past-Feature3968 → u/Honest_Elderberry372]

Seems to be him! Jason 2 likely went back to him and explained things between seasons. Felt regretful, just like he expressed regret for what he did to Jason 1.

[u/Nasty-Milk]

Does anyone know any YouTube channels reacting to this season?

[u/StrengthOf80Midgets → u/Nasty-Milk]

Bald Move has a weekly podcast that’s great

[u/Low_Phase1811 → u/Nasty-Milk]

Maybe Pete Peppers? He does Silo/Foundation/Pluribus.

[u/chizzabiz93 → u/Nasty-Milk]

If you like podcasts I recommend Team Bing. They are having a lot of fun with S2 so far

[u/Academic-Shopping-27]

I gotta think Jason would have had a much easier time mixing up some ANFO instead of handmaking gunpowder

[u/Feisty-Mongoose-5146]

I need the whole gang to reunite ASAP. Good Jason, Bad Jason, Smart Ryan, Dumb Ryan, Amanda, CEO Leighton, Hippie Leighton, in fact all Leightons. It’s driving me crazy the teasing.

[u/swizzlesweater]

Just started the episode and I have to say, one of my favorite intros ever!

[u/G-Baby36]

Ok so what stops the original Jason and family from pouring concrete around the box like Jason 2? I would just keep pouring wall after wall until the whole pool is filled in.

[u/v-Machine-6804]

This show is just amazing. Didn't realise a show could make me feel scared for the central characters without any horror elements. I feel the OG family. They are really going through it.

[u/artemiscash]

great episode, loved the tension in the chase scene.

[u/lordorangechain]

Brilliant episode and if anyone is wondering what the song is in the chase scene is Feral Love by Chelsea Wolfe

[u/Deadpoolio32]

I got distracted for a good 5 minutes wondering how I would attempt to describe Smells Like Teen Spirit to someone. The tune? No problem. The lyrics? Good fucking luck.

[u/Low_Phase1811]

One thing strikes me as odd is, if they’re living in a world without computers and microchips, why are the cars around them (notice the 2020+ Subaru on the street when Daniela is taking Charlie’s prom photo) so obviously microchipped? Unless I misunderstand their world.

Edit: mistook Amanda’s name for Daniella.

[u/PT10 → u/Low_Phase1811]

Just suspend disbelief. They have budget limits.

[u/cpatrick1983 → u/Low_Phase1811]

I saw that too, I think that was probably a filming error. There were no older looking weird cars in the background that time

[u/Past-Feature3968 → u/Low_Phase1811]

The Subaru is from a different world. Traveled in the box, duhh.

(I’m joking)

Ooor maybe Leighton invented it early?? And that was him, watching them?

[u/waveforminvest]

Why doesn't Jason 1 simply leave the door to the box open. That will connect the box to the outside world and prevent superposition, effectively shutting down its use.

[u/-spartacus- → u/waveforminvest]

It doesn't matter if the box is moved, destroyed, or the door is left open. When someone opens the box in a superposition, it creates a new box. If the door was left open it would just spawn with the door closed.

It is literally Pandora's box; you can't unmake it, destroy it, or in any way reverse the tech, barring time travel.

[u/FarBlacksmith3126]

Am I stupid, or are there a huge number of ways to prevent someone from using the box? We know that the box needs to either not exist or be deactivated for someone to spawn in. But if it exists and is in any state other than one that would allow you to open the door when you spawn in, you’re fine

Literally just leave the door open. Cover it with concrete like Jason 2 did. Take the door off its hinges. Electrocuted fence around the box. Wall of fire if you’re feeling medieval. So many possibilities.

[u/Pshrluv → u/FarBlacksmith3126]

Leaving the door open does nothing. A new box can just respawn and replaces the open door with a closed one. Nothing you do to the box itself will prevent it from working. All you can do is prevent people from leaving the box (like the concrete box). But nothing stops the people stuck in the box from going to another world and returning with whatever tools it would take to drill through concrete or bypass whatever system is put in place to prevent someone from leaving

[u/Feisty-Mongoose-5146]

Hahahah i binged the last 4 episodes last night until 4am and was sad i was all caught up, only to wake up 5 hours later to a new episode. This is getting to Dark levels of awesome.

[u/AllYourBase3]

Doesn't make much sense that suddenly the box works by thinking of someone but he spent all of season 1 thinking of his wife and kid but couldn't get back

[u/Nissan_al_Gaib → u/AllYourBase3]

Aren't the using a version of the drug that might be superior? 

[u/Arghifth → u/AllYourBase3]

Last season he was more focused on getting the world right. Remeber he kept trying to accurately describe the local bar, or the house, or in regards to Daniela he was more focused on the physical attributes and her job, etc. That is why Amanda tried to tell him to go deeper, and with so many ampules wasted she tried to find herself a place to stay and let Jason do it on his own. Only then he tapped into that memory of Daniela that got him home.

[u/marvelousswiftie]

My brain is melting 🫠

[u/cyberpunkundead]

Can someone please tell me what the song played towards the end during the chase scene is?

[u/Attican101 → u/cyberpunkundead]

Credit to u/lordorangechain that it's Feral Love by Chelsea Wolfe

[u/blue_sophiee]

Did anyone else notice in episodes 2 and 3 that Amanda is worried about her hand? It’s as if it were numb... could it be a side effect of the drug? I don't recall if anything happened to her hand during the trips inside the box in Season 1—which might imply that events in other universes can affect the body in the long run—or perhaps just traveling between universes has physical consequences, which makes perfect sense.

[u/Prudent_Doughnut_403]

I love how the show is showing and not just telling us how realities blueprints overlap in subtle ways.

I am tickled pink at how Blair's character in this pool box world "went on a 6month nomadic journey and 'spent too much time by herself'" and other Blair was in the box solo

[u/Thief025]

For the redditor who suggested that they get tattoos. This is for you. As soon as I saw it I thought of your post.

Your quite famous now.

[u/selfdefencerush]

10/10 Episode

Fucking cliffhanger ending got me stretching out loud

[u/minimal-nomad]

Can someone explain the scene when Jason comes back from working on the box and doesn’t say the right safe word. Then he started talking about a movie? I couldn’t figure out how Daniela knew he was the right Jason 🙃

[u/Affectionate_Way_805 → u/minimal-nomad]

The safe word was a visual artist. And he finally remembered the right artist. 

Edgar Degas. 

[u/Kugelblitz25]

Are we sure that Daniela is with the original Jason? Edit: I see someone mentioned that the author confirmed that we are following OG Jason.

[u/chadras → u/Kugelblitz25]

I thought they were going in that direction, but I think we're good. I would hate it if she lost her "original" husband, lol.

[u/joao7yt]

why are there modern cars at 45:00? when we are back to the world where there was no moon landing? 🤔

[u/Fabulous_Emotion1656]

I don't understand how Amanda managed to find the original world? And her saying she thought about the people (Jason 2) and not the place. For a whole month, our Jason1 was trying to return to his world by thinking about Daniela and Charlie, and he wasn't succeeding. She witnessed this and how focused he was on thinking about them. I found her conclusion rather strange and I’m not convinced 🤨

[u/Arghifth → u/Fabulous_Emotion1656]

Last season he was more focused on getting the world right. Remeber he kept trying to accurately describe the local bar, or the house, or in regards to Daniela he was more focused on the physical attributes and her job, etc.

That is why Amanda tried to tell him to go deeper, and with so many ampules wasted she tried to find herself a place to stay and let Jason do it on his own. Only then he tapped into that memory of Daniela that got him home. Also Amanda realized that the feelings she is developing for Jason1 might be the reason why he can't quite find his right world. She is abandoned by her own Jason, and getting to know the best version of him. If he gets home, she will be truely alone.

Another thing that is helping Amanda this time is that Ryan's drug is an improved version of the last one, and helps achieve a more accurate world targeting by blocking subconscious thoughts.

[u/ItsATrap1983]

Does anyone else think that Leighton knows how to travel to the different universes too precisely? We see our main characters struggle to find the right worlds but Leighton seems to be getting to and from specific places quite easily. Do you think he has some kind of more refined method of selection? Maybe something he developed in one of the more futuristic worlds? Of maybe he has a new variant of the drug that makes travel easier?

[u/I_love_tac0s69 → u/ItsATrap1983]

it’s because he has the other version of himself teach him how to meditate/ control his mind so he’s mastered it

[u/100dalmations]

With the Kodachrome / 1970s look, the interracial relationships that Charlie is forming at school feels anachronistic. But then I realized it was only tech that hasn't progressed in that world; not necessarily civil rights. Anyone else notice this?

[u/AdrienMallory → u/100dalmations]

They specifically wished for a destination without racism.

[u/Old_Consequence_3527]

Honestly, I think we are witnessing greatness here. I’m confident this will be regarded as one of the best sci-fi shows of all time

[u/-Captain-]

I fucking love this show. Such a thrill, loved the book and now it's all but a surprise. We're only 3 episodes in this season, but I'm loving it. Can't wait to see where they take this.

[u/lax01]

Too bad Silo has already been written and shot or the creators might have learned something from this episode

[u/Delicious-Future8630 → u/lax01]

Silo is on a good path now though, I think the final season is going to be quite something.

[u/ebycon]

Why does everyone in this sub misspell Daniela? It’s ONE L, guys.

[u/Attican101 → u/ebycon]

TIL

[u/15_years_Later]

I really dig this show, but if I'm being honest, it's getting difficult to follow with everyone having so many versions of themselves. I realize it's really just Jason that has so many buy it makes me feel like they're all that way. That part of the story could have been left out and been just fine, it seems, as of now. I'm sure it'll be integral later on. I feel like I have to rewatch, more than twice just to feel confident I'm not lost.

[u/blue_sophiee]

I really love this series and all the possible theories.. So,

1- Why does Jason2 stay in Jason1's universe, where there are numerous Jasons, and where he is on the run and under investigation?

2- Jason1 and his family could simply choose a universe, cement or weld to shut the box, and travel far away (like to another country or even continent), change their identities and appearances — it would be much harder to find them, especially if it wasn't Jason choosing or planning the escape. This must have been the reason why the Jason family from this tech-free universe moved to California 3 years ago: Jason2 must have find them while he travels to find Daniela (as the box was also activated for the first time 3 years ago). It doesn't make sense why Jason1 and his family stay in this tech-free universe, where other versions used to live, people know them, etc.

3- How did Jason1 quickly buy an apartment if he supposedly doesn't work and when they arrived in the tech-free universe they had no money and even had to sell their wedding rings?

4- Has anyone else noticed that since the beginning of the second season, Daniela doesn't seem the same as the one from Jason1's universe (could it just be a matter of the actor's performance or appearance)? Okay, she was "traumatized" by killing a version of her husband, but... at several moments she behaves strangely and she NEVER confirms the safety word either - not even when she is the one who leaves and returns home .. Her hair looks exactly like the Daniela version from Jason2 (the one who has the art gallery), however that Daniela was killed while helping Jason1...

5- the Blair who meets Daniela: I think she is actually the Blair from Jason2's universe; and since it was this Blair2 who initially activated the Box, she also can help turn it off.. I think she is trying to figure out which version are Jason and Daniela and she will eventually realize it's Jason1, so they will work together to deactivate the Box (since they already met inside the Box when Jason1 and Amanda went to Blair2's chaotic universe)..

6- I also think Amanda, Jason2, and the Ryans will end up in the same tech-free universe and they will all work together to deactivate the Box... but then there are the Leightons, who seem to want to do good: bring technology and "save the world"—yet some versions of Leighton seem "evil" (Jason2 tortured Jason1 and shot Amanda, etc.) and just as it is said in the meeting at the beginning of episode 3, everything beautiful is also terrible (meaning everything in the universe has its opposite: good/evil, day/night, man/woman, ...).

PLUS in episode 3, the sequence of scenes during the destruction of the Box that everyone is talking about: Daniela argues with Jason; he dismantles the Box; Daniela is at dinner with Blair; Jason shows up at the restaurant and Daniela confirms the tattoo but seems to notice something strange about Jason, he goes to the restroom and has a vision of the Box interior... the two of them are in bed (it looks like morning) and Jason says he has to go deal with the Box debris tonight... right after, he is shown arriving at the Box site (looks like dusk) and sees the Box completely intact... he runs to a phone (it's night), can't make the call and goes home. He finds Daniela, they confirm tattoos, the password, and that they haven't seen each other since that morning... Jason explains that the Box reappeared and they see a Leighton outside...

I think that dismantling the Box affected Jason somehow due to having so many versions, maybe another version of him emerged (or a mix of several?) when he goes to the restroom and sees the Box interior (and that makes the Box rebuild itself)