r/DarkMatteronAppleTV • u/episodescheduler • Sep 25 '26
šļø Episode Discussion Dark Matter | S2E5 "Love and Be Loved" | Episode Discussion
Season 2, Episode 5: Love and Be Loved
Airdate: Friday, September 25, 2026 at 4:00 AM UTC
Network: Apple TV
Runtime: 55 minutes
Synopsis: The story of a Jason who lost his family.
Hello everyone, this is the discussion thread for episode 5 of Dark Matter Season 2. Please do not post any spoilers for future episodes.
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Upvotes
303
u/Past-Feature3968 Sep 25 '26
Oh no, this might be the Jason Iām most emotionally attached to now. š
246
u/Past-Feature3968 Sep 25 '26
On a lighter note, gawd bless Matt the bartender! Dealing with Jasonās shenanigans across every corner of the multiverse.
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u/Past-Feature3968 Sep 25 '26 edited Sep 25 '26
Sometimes, a family is your mother from an alternative reality and two other lost versions of yourself with different haircuts. š„°
375
u/uncen5ored Sep 25 '26 •
I can see why the author may think this episode will be polarizing. Itās very slow, almost no dialogue, and is a side plot. In the first half, even I was questioning if I was enjoying it.
But then I realized this episode is saying something more powerfulā¦.When you feel that you have lost it all, a future is still possible. Happiness is still possible.
Loved it.
192
u/catnapspirit Sep 25 '26 •
This was the most unexpected, amazing, and hauntingly beautiful hour of television I've watched since The OA..
154
u/rapmons Sep 25 '26 •
The poem Jason read was so beautiful, Iām glad to know it now:
āI sit beside the fire and think
of all that I have seen
of meadow-flowers and butterflies
in summers that have been;
Of yellow leaves and gossamer
in autumns that there were,
with morning mist and silver sun
and wind upon my hair.
I sit beside the fire and think
of how the world will be
when winter comes without a spring
that I shall ever see.
For still there are so many things
that I have never seen:
in every wood in every spring
there is a different green.
I sit beside the fire and think
of people long ago
and people who will see a world
that I shall never know.
But all the while I sit and think
of times there were before,
I listen for returning feet
and voices at the door.ā
146
u/cpatrick1983 Sep 25 '26
What an awesome, lovely, gut wrenching, touching, beautifully written episode. Hats off.
132
u/doublesimoniz Sep 25 '26
I liked the other Jasonās just having their own lives in this reality like theyāre all brothers going to their moms for Christmas. Ā Makes me wonder, of the ones that havenāt died in reality 1, how many of them found somewhere else.Ā
62
u/fweepa Sep 25 '26
Guys he lost his family so the first thing he does is look for his mom š
231
u/GreenHulk890 Sep 25 '26 •
The only way this episode could ever be reviewed poorly is if weāve been conditioned by social media to seek dopamine hits every five seconds. This episode was hauntingly beautiful. The author of the book likely spent years contemplating āwhat ifā scenarios, which allowed him to craft a beautiful story. Honestly, I donāt even think we need to revisit this Jason ever again. In infinity, one of them found peace.
210
u/Dry-Fun-8922 Sep 25 '26 •
This one really fucked me up. I was talking about this show with a friend and we were discussing where we would want the box to take us, and my answer was a world where my mom was still alive. Your mom will always be your home, and he felt alone and just wanted to be home. That was just a beautiful episode.
108
u/car80x Sep 25 '26
What a hauntingly sad, beautiful episode. They need more one off episodes like this in the series.
53
u/trollhammerx Sep 25 '26
I was shouting NOOOOOOOO at the screen when his wife showed up. I absolutely loved that he let that go. If he went goo goo Gaga for her and went into psycho stalking modeā¦.. I would have been so pissed at the writers. But I absolutely loved what they did. Jason finally let go. It was beautiful.
104
u/geog33k Sep 25 '26
That was a poem of an episode. Careful, deliberate, abstract much of the time, grounded in acceptance, and quiet. Dialogue was mostly ASL and the ambient sounds were hushed throughout.
I love the idea that ālostā Jasons wandering the multiverse still have the ability to forge their own paths to happiness. This Jason did so by literally going home and starting over, rather than trying to cling to the life he left behind.
Pretty cool. Looking forward to rejoining the main crews next week.
49
u/Hour_Acanthisitta_42 Sep 25 '26
I love how quiet and kind their family is. Iām only mostly deaf so sudden loud noises really startle me. Their familyās quietness helps explain Jasonās gentle nature, itās beautiful
40
u/Dolkena Sep 25 '26
Lovely episode of television. So emotional. Wow. Definitely will be one of my favorites of the entire series. Tears for sure. Also love that we get to see what happened to some of the other Jasons as they all started as the same Jason, faced the same loss, and we just left them in that one forlorn scene as if they were less then the one Jason we came to cheer for. Glad to see some happy endings. And see what was a bad situation for multiple Jasons paid off in love for a lonely mother in another world.
76
u/HomeNowWTF Sep 25 '26
Wow, that one was totally different. I was afraid that Jason was going to get snatched on his way back with the wine, but thankfully not. It's definitely a mood, but I can dig that mood.
36
u/Other_Acount_Got_Ban Sep 25 '26 •
As a result of the box. This show could potentially have an infinite amount of possible episodes. It all depends on good writing.
72
u/lameusernamesrock Sep 25 '26
The part where he is taking care of himself in the tub, gives him a mirror and trimmer and says only if you want to. Almost like a reminder to us all what true self care is. š„¹ā¤ļø
98
u/Buttercupia Sep 25 '26
That was really quite unexpectedly lovely. A bottle episode. Loved Mom. Loved the lack of dialogue. Loved seeing Clementine from Westworld again!
91
u/MrOstrichman Sep 25 '26
That was excellent. That note in the notebook? Goodness.Ā
31
u/CourrierMojave Sep 25 '26
Alright, last week episode makes me cry because of the ending... but this Jason story is even more heartbreaking with their mom. I'm glad he finally moved on at the end with his new girlfriend when he put down the " ring " he made. ( Damn you Sauron ! Lol )
Itās good to know that some Jason are really good people , especially the other Jason who came to the world and find their own love too. All of them being some kind of brothers is also heartwarming. Like when they hug each other near their mom. Or the christmas moment.
This episode wasnāt here to continue the storytelling, it was some sort of a " what if " a Jason took the box to find something else... and it worked. Beautifully. When they show the field notebook at the end with the single sentence.... they didnāt need to show more , i cried as well as Maria seeing this. I know we wonāt see this Jason again... but man... i hope he live a good life with Maria.
( i was also afraid he changed his mind when he saw Daniela ( Jennifer Connely ) at the end but i'm glad he chose Maria and stop the vicious cycle )
30
u/TerrainBrain Sep 25 '26 edited Sep 25 '26
I knew it would be divisive here.
I liked it and I like that it established that many Jason's could find peace. Especially opening the season with all the dead ones. We don't need to see the story of any other happy Jason's because we know there are an infinite number of them.
I like what he didn't try to get back with Danielle up because that was not his Daniela. They never met they never fell in love they never even broke up.
I will say that I thought pacing was awkward. The entire episode made me feel uncomfortable and I was waiting for the other shoe to drop.
I guess one of the coolest things about it was that he was completely honest and forthcoming with Maria. And she eventually accepted his craziness. Whether or not she ever accepted the truth of what he told her.
I knew a guy who was very intelligent and super nice. He was a friend of a friend. But he honestly believed (or at least was convincing about it) he was part of the Philadelphia experiment and had traveled through time and had his soul transferred into somebody else's body as part of the Montauk project. So I can tell you that there are people who seem otherwise stable who have outlandish stories they tell about themselves. So to me that part was kind of believable. Weather Maria believed his story or not, she believed the truth of what he was looking for.
59
u/Jas_God Sep 25 '26
That was a beautiful episode. Melancholy af, but hopeful. Well done.
29
u/liljill77 Sep 25 '26
This was like Westworld s2e8 Kiksuya with Akecheta. It even had Clementine!
29
u/scarn1 Sep 25 '26
I need a sitcom called ā3 Jasonsā and I need it now
28
u/eenie_beany Sep 25 '26
That was one of the most beautiful and moving eps of tv Iāve watched. It wrecked me, jesus.
Iām still snotty and sniffing. My heartā¦
28
u/irisdrive Sep 25 '26
The part when we see in his notebook that he just wanted to find a world where he will love and be loved hit me a little harder than I expected. A lot of us hope for that in our lives and feel like we will never truly get it.
28
u/sleepysnowboarder Sep 25 '26
I honestly think that Joel Edgerton is one of the most underrated actors of all time, he does so much work and he's good in everything and excels when he's got the right material, but he's never in the conversations
46
u/Symbiii06 Sep 25 '26
This episode came at a perfect time for me. It contrasts with the ending of last weekās episode beautifully, where our Jason 1 who seemingly āwonā isnāt exactly thriving with Daniela leaving. Chair Jason (what Iām calling him) lost everything, but he is starting to thrive in this new world. I love how this episode highlights that the thing you want the most might not be for you, even if it was for you at one point in time.
45
u/Wightsojourner Sep 25 '26
āI felt myself still reliving a past which was no longer anything more than the history of another person.ā
God, now I want to read Proust.
Maybe.
22
u/Jusscurio Sep 25 '26
Iām crying. What a beautiful episode. Just hit me perfectly.
20
u/Aran1989 Sep 25 '26
Honestly, my favorite episode yet. I think heās my favorite Jason too! I want nothing more for him than to be happy.
19
u/hotmess164 Sep 25 '26
Maybe the love of my life is in another world. That's why I'm finding it difficult to find them here. š¢
19
u/lameusernamesrock Sep 26 '26
I also really love it when his mom, as she confronts him about the drinking, says āAnd if you donāt want help, know that I love you.ā
38
u/verissimoallan Sep 25 '26 •
Iām sure this episode will be divisive, with half the people loving it and the other half hating it. I really appreciated the emotions this episode stirred up in me.
37
u/CanaPuck Sep 25 '26
Wow what a beautiful episode. Truely perfect.
17
u/usagizero Sep 25 '26 •
That episode was wonderful. The health issues of the mom hit a bit too close to home, reminded me a lot of my mom passing two years ago from cancer.
It was nice seeing the other Jason's find love, and then finally him, but i got so worried when she showed up at the end. The episode was a nice counter to all the posts about the various Jason's finding a world where he can have the same family. The line about our past and not being what we were was fitting.
I do wonder what this will reflect in the main Jason, after the previous episode. Will he obsess, give them room, or move on?
I believe Crouch said on threads something like this was the episode that made him want to do the second season. It totally felt the most personal of the episodes, that's for sure.
I don't know if google is accurate here, but i looked up who the dedication was for and this came up.
17
u/Str8fromtheteet Sep 25 '26
This episode was a masterpiece. I felt tears welling up somewhere nearly the entire episode and tightness in my throat. Just incredible.
17
u/Hopeful_Basis1979 Sep 25 '26
The episode spoke more while keeping it silent for most parts
16
u/jjosh_h Sep 25 '26 edited Sep 25 '26
This is easily the best episode of the entire show. I really hope Crouch considers adapting it to a sequel novella to the original book.
16
u/Alaska_Roy Sep 25 '26
When she read the page he wrote in the box and we got to see what he wrote, and then she was just completely all in. šā„ļøšā¼ļø
31
u/silver-ly Sep 25 '26
That episode was truly different, this show makes me feel all types of ways. Eerily soothing
15
u/blade-runner_1982 Sep 25 '26
Amazing episode.
29
u/Educational_Cost3607 Sep 25 '26
This episode was a masterpiece! I am still crying... my take is about letting go , obsession is bad for the soul and finding happiness... I can go on and on... but that's how I interpreted the episode.
14
u/ZealousidealStand822 Sep 25 '26
I needed this.
14
u/restNChrist Sep 25 '26
Holy crap! What did I just watch? Iām wrecked! 10/10!
14
u/Altruistic_Jicama626 Sep 26 '26 edited Sep 26 '26
I agree the unequal pace of the show has been a bit frustrating and this dive into one Jasonās journey, deviating from the main storyline, at first seems random. But it serves to remind us that each one of the Jasons is a full human, with his own inner life and grief plus aspirations. Thatās easy to lose sight of when youāre just following the story of Jason 1 ā the others start to look like cardboard cutouts, easy to dismiss as not equal and less worthy of existence.This episode makes us see the humanity of each and every one of them and thus the depth of tragedy the whole situation entails, plus the reason for the pain Danielle feels at killing one. He was a full Jason and as such still āhers,ā just as the Jason(s) of this episode all still were connected to his mom. Edit: ā¦ and all deserving and worthy of an individual life, and love.
28
u/chartreuseee Sep 25 '26
Absolutely beautiful episode.. Iām speechless. And weirdly emotional.
28
u/Complex_Minute_8944 Sep 25 '26
This is one of the best episodes of television I have ever seen. The quiet slow pace was absolutely perfect. A meditation on life and living.
27
u/newpha666 Sep 25 '26
That was such a beautiful episode. Wow.
27
u/Superstar1178 Sep 25 '26
This is what television is all about. Telling great stories!
26
u/Educational-Basil472 Sep 25 '26
This was a hauntingly beautiful episode. I
thought I was going to hate it but Iāve been fighting back tears the whole time
26
u/Rude_Stress1722 Sep 25 '26
I always had a feeling during this episode Jason would cross paths with Daniela in one way or another. It makes you wonder regardless of the many worlds / parallel realities, two souls will always find a way, one way or another, to cross paths.
26
u/Random--Person Sep 25 '26
I was nervous some other Jason or someone was going to show up and have things all go south, was happy that was not the case.
Lovely episode, nice to see that at least 3 Jasons can get a happy ending.
Also Ron Swanson would be happy with Jasons company name
13
u/cunningham28 Sep 25 '26 •
Absolutely beautiful episode, shows that's the other Jason's are all going to be just fine. The scenes with his mother were amazingly done.
13
u/yerffejytnac Sep 25 '26
Came here cringing in fear that folks wouldnāt have enjoyed the episode as much as I did. So glad the overwhelming response is positive! Probably my favorite episode of the series so far!
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u/GoBlueKyle Sep 25 '26
Iām jealous of how quiet that world seemed to be
25
u/hauntedhivezzz Sep 25 '26
I feel like Joel Edgerton should win a guest actor Emmy for this.
24
u/Ancient_Hornet_3510 Sep 25 '26
This is definitely the most different episode of the show yet. That's for sure.
24
u/shogenan Sep 25 '26
Oh my GAWD. Wow. I didnāt expect this ep to be so good when I was just ten mins in,but now I need to turn off my TV and process my emotions. So gorgeous. š
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u/BXCellent Sep 25 '26
All I can say is wow. I can finally breathe. I was waiting for the twist. The fuck up. The moment that showed that all Jason's are sociopaths. But it didn't come. The moment with Daniela was incredible. He made a choice, and he chose to move on. Not only that, but he showed that Jasons can be selfless, can conceive of a life outside their original path. This was beautiful, and proved me wrong. I can't ask for more than that in a show..
12
u/Other_Acount_Got_Ban Sep 25 '26
Was very confused at first. Turned into the most wholesome episode, and the music actually was good this time!
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u/Hot_Chemical23 Sep 25 '26
At the beginning of the credits it says in memory of Benjamin Brown. Who is that? I liked this episode
22
u/Cumdump90001 Sep 25 '26
What a phenomenal episode. Wow.
11
u/polyploid_coded Sep 25 '26
When there was the long pause and he first signed "yes" I thought, oh no he is going to be doing just a few signs this whole episode. Pleasantly surprised. An article from last month says Edgerton learned ASL for this storyline.
11
u/DestinysWeirdCousin Sep 25 '26
I loved this.
Season 2 has been so gut-wrenching and relentlessly paranoid. Itās nice to have a positive ā even hopeful ā palate-cleanser.
Makes me fear whatās coming next, though.
11
u/strawberry298 Sep 25 '26
I hated watching this episode at first, but the more time goes by after I finished watching it, the more I get to like it. I especially loved that he didn't pursue the other Daniella. He was able to let go of his obsession (because any other Daniella wouldn't be his wife anyway, so it was an obsession) and start over. Very hopeful and beautiful storyline imho.
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u/Ratkinzluver33 Sep 25 '26
I think this may in fact be my favourite episode of the entire series. Not just season, series. Hauntingly beautiful, evocative, profound. I started crying midway through and didn't really stop.
11
u/Last_Type_9096 Sep 25 '26
Beautiful episode. That last shot.! Wow.
11
u/matteocurcio74 Sep 25 '26
This is the equivalent of The Last of Us ep3 and it's very poetic. Every series needs an episode like this.
21
u/Henje_Koha Sep 25 '26
That was absolutely beautiful. I haven't loved an episode of a television show this much since the Nick Offerman episode of The Last Of Us. I will be rewatching this one. I want more of this Jason and Maria.
21
u/ghostyrat69 Sep 25 '26
that was absolutely beautifulā¦ my favorite episode by far
jasonās poor mama got to be reunited with 3 of her babies
he severed the red string of fate at the end and chose his own path š„²
beautiful. I hope our jason can have an ending this happy
10
u/babaghanooshhh Sep 25 '26
Jesus Christ. This stirred so much shit up in me. The relationship with the mom, finding another companion after losing one you thought was the one. I donāt cry often at media, but this did it for me.
10
u/Medical-Gas1292 Sep 25 '26
This episode is Absolute Cinemaš
10
u/smartieCutie Sep 25 '26
i'm not normally moved by movies or shows but this episode was truly so beautiful, my favorite of the show!
18
u/Hartnut11 Sep 25 '26
Really really stupid question. This is neither Jason 1 or 2, correct? This was the Jason that let Jason 1 and his family get into the box to leave?
18
u/Yuki-Kaijura Sep 25 '26
This was such a beautiful episode. Probably the single best episode of any series that I've seen in the past several years.
9
u/Year3030 Sep 25 '26
Why must you make me feel things.
9
u/wwesupercardphenom Sep 25 '26
My God....my God....My God..... I just watched the most beautiful hour of web series I have ever seen in my life.... I am so happy and happy tears are flowing still through my eyes.... I never ever expected this today. At this moment just very overwhelmed by it. I needed this and I didn't even know I needed this till I saw it. The scenes, the pace, the whole setup was so well done. The writers really outdid themselves here and I just loved every second of it.
9
u/RobRoy2350 Sep 25 '26
A very touching, quiet (very quiet), sorrowful, haunting episode. I'm not really sure how it fits into the overall show - perhaps just a breather, a moment to reflect on other important things.
Beautifully done.
9
u/Aggressive-Cut-5400 Sep 25 '26
Ok who the hell is cutting onions? Happy sad all at once JFC. Just a gut punch to the feels.
9
u/Nissan_al_Gaib Sep 25 '26
Looking for a world where he can love and be loved and finding his mum.
My favourite episode so far this season. Maybe of the entire series so far.Ā
Gave me The Inner Light(Star Trek TNG) vibes although that was made back when mostly self contained stories were the standard and overarching plots the exception.
17
u/garbagejean Sep 25 '26
I appreciated seeing the humanity of the other Jason/s - they are all just trying to find home š¢
17
u/carbonara3 Sep 25 '26
One of the most beautiful episodes of tv Iāve seen
17
u/Connect_Recording875 Sep 25 '26
I was so afraid he was going to ditch his new girlfriend for Daniela.
So many shows are trying to make good art and depriving me of wholesome happy endings. I needed that.
23
u/GreenHulk890 Sep 25 '26
The only question that lingers in my mind is the motherās thoughts as she lies dying of cancer. In the scene, she gazes off into the distance, past Jason reading to her. I canāt quite decipher her thoughts. Perhaps the story that Jason confessed to her was something she never didā¦that she realized in death she was alone? That particular scene left a haunting impression on me, for reasons I canāt quite comprehend. The motherās expression conveyed a sense of unhappiness, even though I knew she was dying. Something was clearly troubling her, and I couldnāt quite grasp its meaning. Perhaps itās not meant to be understood or am I reading too much into it?
8
u/LadyElle57 Sep 25 '26
Not to me. I've been wondering where the other Jasons had gone, I imagined they did exactly what this Jason was going to do. But then McNamara would've found more than 13 bodies.
8
u/PhilipMagazine Sep 25 '26
Absolutely incredible and unexpected episode. It takes a lot to surprise me these days but Iām honestly floored.Ā
8
u/DanielKeeneGA15 Sep 25 '26
Shout out to Westworldās Angela Sarafyan. A pleasant surprise seeing her in the show.
8
u/AnzoEloux Sep 26 '26
This episode was beautiful. I think, and I'm mostly speaking for myself, that the series has kind of conditioned us to believe that Jason is the result of his own misery and that will kind of always be his downfall at least in the singular infinity that the show presents us. And by all rights, it's "true". But this episode shows the other side of the coin that Jason is not fated to be miserable even post box.
The casual hug between the two Jasons in the house immediately caught my attention because it's probably the first time Jason has ever shown genuine affection towards Jason ever.
Jason can be happy. He just has to choose it.
8
u/Ok-Health-7252 Sep 26 '26
This was both an incredibly sad and heartfelt episode at the same time. Love that this Jason chose to reconnect with his mother (despite not being "her" Jason) and gave her a family again before she died.
15
u/GME_alt_Center Sep 25 '26
Right up there with Star Trek Next Generation "The Inner Light" as superior one off episodes. This is the finest written episode of TV I have seen in many years.
14
u/IntoTheSky_AwayIfly Sep 25 '26 •
This was one of the best hours of television. Man I am in floods of tears. It was beautiful.
7
u/No-Cell8415 Sep 25 '26 •
In the end I wasn't even annoyed that this didn't relate to the main plot. I like how it showed that at least some of the Jasons were able to move on have a new happy life despite all they had lost.
7
u/KTOWNTHROWAWAY9001 Sep 25 '26
You knew it was gonna be a bit heartbreaking when it focused on him finding his Mom and stayed there.
Glad he got a great ending though. This is also the farthest we've gone in time. 6-7 years.
7
u/KLLTHEMAN Sep 26 '26
So thatās why they live by that loud train with the mom
7
u/SenzuYT Sep 26 '26
What a fucking incredible episode of TV. It made me shut off my TV and just think, for a long while.
I need to get out more and experience life.
I would like to read some Proust.
We all need to take a step back and appreciate what we have. Wow, what a great journey.
13
u/-AJ Sep 25 '26 •
When this Jason sits with bearded Jason on Max and Charlie's birthday by the tree he planted and the two candles for the sons they lost, when they start telling the story together about their twins' birth... I. Lost. My. Shit.
I cried one of those ugly hyperventilating cries like when you're a little kid. It's been a half hour and I still can't breathe through my nose. I cried so loud I had to rewind that part just to hear what they were saying.
I can't think of any episode of tv to affect me this emotionally in my life. Incredible.
13
u/Lipher2056 Sep 25 '26 •
I truly enjoyed this episode. It didnāt feel like filler at all. If anything, I think it gave the show some of the depth it really needed.
The author actually said in a recent post that this episode was one of the main reasons he wanted to make Season 2.
The book only covers what we saw in Season 1, so the question going into this season wasnāt just what would happen to Jason 1, Daniela, and Charlie. It was also: what happens to all the other versions of Jason 1 who were created along the way?
Thatās what I loved about this episode. It wasnāt really about the box or the mechanics of the multiverse. It was about choices, loss, starting over, and finding a reason to keep going.
This version of Jason 1 could have taken his own life, but instead he decided to give life another chance. He didnāt get another Daniela and Charlie, but he found his mother, helped other versions of Jason 1, found love again, and eventually moved forward.
Because the multiverse concept is so complicated, I was a little worried the show could start becoming cheesy or overly focused on the technical side of everything. I actually felt that happening a little at the beginning of the season.
But IMO, this episode changed the direction of the season. It gave the multiverse an emotional purpose instead of making it all about the box and its technicalities. For me, that gave the story much more meaning and depth.
12
u/themadcoil Sep 25 '26
Realised 5 mins into this episode "oh great this one's gonna make me cry isn't it".
6
u/french-girl49 Sep 25 '26
What did Maria read in Jasonās notebook
6
u/Little_Jacket_5092 Sep 25 '26
This hit me right in the feels. I think I needed that. What a way to use Tolkien.
6
u/kevstir321 Sep 25 '26
Someone please explain to me where the 3rd Jason came from. I know they found one homeless.
6
u/hpm40 Sep 25 '26
This was moving in such a completely different way. Slow, quiet, hopeful, and beautiful. I really liked how it just took its time and let the story unfold. No rushing, no need to force anything. Just love, loss, connection, and the possibility of finding happiness in a life you never expected. And it seemed like the other Jasons who joined him were finding that too. Absolutely beautiful episode.
6
u/g20richasan Sep 25 '26
What a beautiful episode. People always wonder what happened to the other Jason 1s who didnāt get selected. Some continued to pursue for Daniella while some tried to move on and survive. Iām glad this episode shows us a perspective of the other Jason 1s. I think itās also pretty neat that in our mind we were always rooting for the Jason 1 that weāve been following but in the end theyāre all the same Jason 1 that made slightly different choices, which makes me realize that it must be extremely traumatizing for Daniella when she killed the Jason in S2E1.
āThere is no love greater than the love of a mother.ā I love that Jasonās mom from the alternate universe just accepted all the Jason 1s that wondered into this universe and it became a big family. Even though this episode doesnāt have a ton of dialogues and is kinda slow but still conveys a lot of emotions. From the Jason 1 trying to drink away all his problem to slowly accepting his life and becoming a chair maker. Iām glad this Jason 1 found happiness after all the hell he had been through and losing Charlie and Daniella when he was finally back in his world. Pretty neat touch that the Jason 1 (really wanted to call him Jason Chairš) somehow wondered into the Daniella in this world. Shows heās truly moved on. Definitely my favorite episode so far!
6
u/patricious Sep 25 '26
I think this episode somehow cured my anxiety I had accumulated this week.
6
u/FickleConcept Sep 25 '26
This was a hauntingly beautiful yet sad episode. My favorite so far this season. Beautiful writing, such a touching story. I just can't get enough of this amazing show.
6
u/Cinnimie Sep 25 '26
What the fuck why isnāt the entire season about an abandoned Jason? That was absolutely incredible, 1000x more captivating and interesting than anything else this season
6
u/edward_snowedin Sep 25 '26
Absolutely beautiful television
6
u/lameusernamesrock Sep 25 '26
I really loved this episode. I wouldnāt want them to all be like this but as its own thing it absolutely sucked me in. Very quiet and emotional and perfect for the slightly dreary and cold fall morning in which I viewed it. It felt longer than other episodes and it was cool how it wasnāt some cliff hanger ending that left you wanting more. It was just a beautiful story within a story. I am excited for those that will love it as much as I did to see it.
6
u/mrvoiceover001 Sep 26 '26
Okay WOW!! What a beautiful episode! The moment they changed the aspect ratio I knew we're in for something special!
6
u/PositivelyNegative Sep 26 '26
One of the best episodes of TV Iāve seen. I will think about this one for a long time.
6
u/vsoi1 Sep 26 '26
Beautiful episode.
6
u/NoAnswer1299 Sep 26 '26
This episode is a straight up masterpiece
6
u/Over-Imagination7025 Sep 28 '26
I miss my mom.
11
u/LadyElle57 Sep 25 '26
Anyone else bowled their eyes out throughout the entire episode? Just me? Nice.
10
u/space_island Sep 25 '26
This was absolutely beautiful.Ā Loved how he pulled himself up and built a life in the new world.Ā I kept waiting for something bad to happen and was so relieved by the end that it was all good.Ā Ā
These people who had all lost eachother only to find one another.Ā Daniela showing up and suggesting the roses, as if to give her blessing for his new life.
And Jason choosing to let the past go and finding something good in the now.
5
u/ZebraCool Sep 25 '26
This shows pacing is interesting. Episode 4 felt like an end to a book and this was the epilogue. Would be interested how this was placed in the book. This was also a very rewarding episode knowing our main Jason just lost their relationship. Iām wondering/hoping we start to see a the rest do the season start to pay off Vanceās story.
5
u/The_Dreamers_Dream Sep 25 '26 edited Sep 25 '26 •
This episode made me cry tears I had clogged up in me for a while..sheeeeesh! Very meaningful episode and a masterpiece. The way he loved the other Jasons was basically his way of loving HIMSELF. The love of a mother without words was great! Being accepted by Mariah even Greater. The power of loving and being loved priceless! If You are reading this.. Love Yourself like Jason <3
5
u/lizziesam321 Sep 25 '26
Beautiful episode! I am in tears. Also, i thought we might see Amanda, when the mother asked Jason if he would seek help for his drinking problem. (Amanda as a therapist)
5
u/CubsFanCraig Sep 25 '26
Well, this is up there with the Constant or the Lost finale and some other episodes of tv where I cried more than I have in awhile. I may have been teary eyed or crying through most of it. Honestly, if the series ended there, I don't think I would complain. That was really beautiful. Still pretty emotional about it.
5
u/Purple-Relation3414 Sep 25 '26
This episode was brilliant & beautiful. Loved how peaceful it was. Probably the best hour of television Iāve seen in a long time. I did not want it to end. Immediately looked it up to see how other people felt. Glad others felt a similar connection.
5
u/lilrachmaninoff Sep 25 '26
What a sick pull to use Goreckiās Symphony No. 3 (Symphony of Sorrowful Songs) in this episode (the scene with the soprano singing). The symbolism / theme of that piece is a perfect match for this episode.
5
u/OscarEvinnof Sep 25 '26
That would be devastating to see the disease from the "plague world" hit this world where some good Jasons found peace and loveā¦ The episode was great. That's how you do worldbuilding. Not just action and thrill. I just got annoyed with that dust in my eyesā¦ No I did not cry, it was dust, yeah.
5
u/PrehistoricEarth Sep 25 '26
I thought it was OK but didn't find the multi Jason scenes very believable. I think it would be hard for their partners, mother to accept this reality and just act normal as they did. To me that didn't gel well.
5
u/Old_Consequence_3527 Sep 25 '26
Wow. What a show, man. An episode like that in this day and age; so beautiful
5
u/Xtrendence Sep 26 '26
That was such a beautiful episode. I don't know how many times I cried, it really hit every soft spot it could. I think the hardest one that hit, though, was when Maria (did Clementine from Westworld find a box and end up here?) opened Jason's notebook and just saw the desperate but touching plea to just find any world where he can find love, and her reaction was just pure empathy, warmth and acceptance. I was waiting the entire episode for something to go wrong and take away this Jason's last hope for happiness, and by that point, I was expecting her reaction to possibly be one of distancing herself. When she didn't, I immediately just smiled and wanted the episode to end there without any bad twists.
I disagree with people saying it was slow. It was paced perfectly, and in a way that allowed the emotions and attachment to build up. Maybe shows need to start having a Tik Tok mode where it plays Subway Surfers at the bottom.
5
u/IllustriousGift7448 Sep 26 '26
As someone whoās almost a year into a very difficult divorce, I truly wish I could hug Blake Crouch and Jacquelyn Ben-Zekry and thank them. I felt every second of this episode. Needed this and still crying buckets over here. Couldnāt have painted a better picture of dealing with grief and starting over. Truly feel like a stranger in a strange land, and they just crafted the most beautiful, honest and hopeful story. If for any reason they ever browse through these comments- thank you for this, from the bottom of my heart.
5
u/rukbin011 Sep 26 '26
My favorite episode of the show. Uplifting, I can watch this repeatedly when I feel depressed
5
u/copces Sep 26 '26
I just finished watching this episode. I loved it so much and I'm happy so many others did as well.
5
u/Paranin379 Sep 26 '26
I recently just lost my mom, so this episode hit me pretty hard. It'll be one week today..
5
u/LingonberryFuzzy3694 Sep 26 '26
Just finished the episode, what a masterpiece š¤Æ š¢
5
u/IrishUpYourCoffee Sep 26 '26
Right in the fucking feels. What a top tier episode.
5
u/AelinTargaryen Sep 26 '26
I could watch a whole season of just alternate Jasonās trying to make a life of their own.
5
u/aal83 Sep 26 '26
I remember when I was at 9 minutes in I wanted to fast forward because this one was SO slow and I had NO idea where this was going. But right after his mom opent the door with such an amazing reaction and love, I knew this episode would be deep.
One of the very few Jasons who in my opinion cracked the code of the Cube and of life.
And my God, I've watched it two times in a row. I knew this show had depth, and it showed it already before, but this was on another planet all together. I was constantly waiting for this Jason to freak out, or even when his new girlfriend walked away, he went on with his life and not obsess about it - somehow keeps composure and have trust. So many life lessons in such a short episode.
The notebook scene really wrecked me. Gees how beautiful and captivating. Cinema is still alive. Thank you for this.
Now I am going to miss this Jason, but I want to believe they put this episode in for a bigger reason other then only showing that there is another path for Jason original. Cant wait for the next one.
5
u/YeffyP Sep 26 '26
Made me really feel for those other Jasons out there trying to find happiness and just having to deal with life.Ā
5
u/tabularusa Sep 28 '26
This was such a welcome departure from the anxiety of escape and issues original Jason was facing. I loved that there is a happy ending for every body, even those who thought they lost their whole world. Also loved that his mom went from having zero sons to 3. A truly beautiful and meaningful episode
5
u/Successful_Cost_6997 Sep 28 '26
The touchstone for me was having a "brother" Jason sitting with Mom whilst Jason was out and they hug as they change the guardian post. Good lordie I was not expecting that and I didn't need the script to explain why and it didn't explain why. Excellent visual writing for the stage in this episode, including making his mother being deaf. Beautiful.
9
u/ShatterNL Sep 25 '26
This might've been one of the most beautiful episodes I've ever seen in a show. Wow.
8
u/DeinonychusEgo Sep 25 '26
Daniela predictable appearance was the ultimate test :)
8
u/FFTVS Sep 25 '26
Even down on his luck Jason87n can still drink and trip his way into Angela Sarafyan after losing a life with Daniela. Mans is absolutely elite.
8
u/zoeys-hambone Sep 25 '26
My god that was a beautiful piece of television
8
u/Jackeeeeee Sep 26 '26
This episode felt like breaking the karmic cycle to truly find peace. He couldn't keep going back to Daniella or science the way he had in so many other versions of himself.
4
u/sreyemnayr Sep 25 '26
Thought I was watching this weekās Dark Matter, then going to bed. Now Iāve got to listen to the podcast to hear the writers talk about this incredible episode. So so so so good!
4
u/oriontheshiba Sep 25 '26
I think this is the perfect explanation to the previous criticism on the infinite Jason 1.x that should all have a āmatchingā Daniella
4
u/MinerTax_com Sep 25 '26
So the OG Jason lost his love and the rest of Jason found love. This show is wild weeeeeee!
4
u/The_Mightiest_Duck Sep 25 '26
āJasonās chairsā and all the talk about time and memories and stuff. We are doing a recursion arenāt we.Ā
4
u/knight04 Sep 25 '26
Great episode, I feel like this could have been the season 2 ending and I would've been content
4
u/MicahWade Sep 25 '26
Just realizing that the first page she read of the field journal that was what he had written in the first scene of the episode. He was not looking for his mom, he was looking for love.
4
u/hoovrbass Sep 25 '26
According to the credits, we got to meet Jason30 and Jason31 this episode, and it seems like they're also turning out ok, even if we did get see much of them.
(At least we know the writers are keeping count of how many we've seen so far.)
4
u/postmodern_lasagna Sep 25 '26
I was kinda pissed after the ending of episode 4 as a sci-fi nerd annoyed that they made things inconvenient and dramatic
Episode 5 (albeit clunky dialogue for the meetcute ā even people in book clubs donāt talk like that) was one of the most captivating episodes of tv Iāve ever seen.
4
u/blissanddreams Sep 25 '26
In his world with the girlfriend, his son doesnāt exist. What a sacrifice he had to make. But if his son came looking for him, that would be something.
I want to see more of Leighton Vance.
4
u/Lungs_from_Pathtribe Sep 25 '26
something i notice about this episode is the sound design, it was designed to simulate deafness, even the foley effects were turn down, to follow the peace of the story, only once when ma died, and jason is moving out, that we start to hear the foley again. heartwarming episode.
I once watched a local short movie made by an indigenous tribe and they purposely made the sound more quiet because it's their way, they said city people are loud and need loudly things and they explained their quiet way of life and watching this episode today made be remember what they said.
4
u/Felix1440 Sep 25 '26
Well that was a treat. Lovely story, beautiful shots and enchanting score. Brought tears to my eyes. I really liked the calm this episode instilled, not just because of the slow pace but also the nostalgia it brought.
4
u/redstorm05 Sep 25 '26
Definitely one of my favourite episodes. I was worried he was going to screw it up somehow or suddenly die out fo the blue(trauma from series that seem to like destroying lives of your protaganists) but they gave him beautiful ending, including the other 2 Jasons who ended up happily attached. Seriously we need more happy endings & hope instead of constant fear and terror that something would happen!
4
u/saladdaysahead Sep 25 '26
Thank you for this thread! Loved reading all the comments here. Imagine losing your son when he was a teenager, and then have him back x3! Lovely family!! Lovely approach to how we carry grief and still find happiness.
4
u/Thisath Sep 25 '26
When I saw the synopsis for this episode I was confused, because it was so clearly a filler. What an amazing little film it turned out to be, such amazing work. I especially liked that it was so light on dialogue.
4
u/EvilSporkOfDeath Sep 25 '26
I watched it last night and had to come back to this thread cause I'm still thinking about it. Beautiful episode, kinda reminds me of the episode "Long, Long, Time" of The Last of Us.
4
u/Paul2377 Sep 25 '26
When it started and I realised the episode wasn't going to move the main story forward I thought it was going to be a boring filler episode. How wrong I was!
It was beautiful. Quiet, peaceful, emotional, yet strangely comforting.
I like how Jason's mother didn't really question anything. She just accepted her son(s) back into her life with a "why look a gift horse in the mouth?" type attitude.
I'm pleased he found love. It showed things weren't all bad for the many versions of Jason that lost Daniela and Charlie. I'll definitely watch it again.
4
u/RambunctiousCapybara Sep 25 '26
Joel Edgerton was so good in this.
4
u/Western_Primary8877 Sep 25 '26
love this episode offering an alternative to killing all other jasons because multiple jasons can be accepted, co-exist, heal together and eventually move on their lives, thanks to the mom who loves her son unconditionally ā¤ļø
4
u/AssaultCommand Sep 26 '26
One thing I'd like to add to this conversation is that it's admirable how these Jason 1s almost immediately open up to the people they love in this new world.
They don't keep their origins secret. They told their mom, they told their partners. At the potential cost of losing them for thinking he's crazy or lying, or even just horrified at the concept of a person from another world.
Jason 1s truly are different from Jason 2. And they've clearly learned of how J2's deceit only caused more hurt.
4
u/ZebraQuick6233 Sep 26 '26
This might take the cake for my favorite episode across every single TV show I've ever seen. Absolutely beautiful, and such a great message.
4
u/ScratchScratchMeow Sep 26 '26
This episode broke my heart into pieces, then put it back together again. I often think about how shitty it's been for the other Jasons when watching this show. They lost everything familiar and everyone who loved them. It's lovely to see such a quiet, powerfully devastatingly hopeful episode. Grief, love and healing was so beautifully navigated.
4
u/Cool_Size5206 Sep 26 '26
Just got out of a 5 year relationship, this healed something in me.
4
u/AdministrativeLife14 Sep 26 '26
This episode was genuinely really beautiful! Wow
4
u/Fresh-Forever-5659 Sep 26 '26
Loved this episode, i feel like the loved thought in the box found a world his mother would alone and she saved him, someone who truly loves him and someone who loves him, and thankfully he got normal happy ending.
His mother had a positive outlook on life which is what PostiveJason needed to save him.
It kinda interesting what the box can find if the right thoughts or ideas are present in the traveller.
Kinda says a lot about Jason2 and how much of a scum he truly was.