NOC Week in Review #16: 10/17-23/2026
This week: Midnight Mass with Sana Saeed, the cast of Crystal Lake, Wildwood, Avatar: Seven Havens, Jimmi Simpson on Dark Matter, and a profile on documentarian Michael Joseph McDonald.
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Author: Keith Chow
NOC Recaps ‘Dark Matter’ S2, E9: Got to Give
Episode nine thrusts us back into the main narrative, as Jason and Jason2’s long-awaited confrontation, MacNamara’s interrogations, and a doomed utopian world all build toward the season’s finale — pairing fittingly with Pearl Jam’s “Got to Give.”
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Jimmi Simpson Talks Multiversal Chemistry in ‘Dark Matter’ Season 2
Jimmi Simpson, who plays Ryan Holder in Dark Matter Season 2, discusses playing multiple versions of the same man and his on-screen chemistry with Alice Braga. Plus we’re still fanboying over his own Late Show alter ego.
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NOC Week in Review #15: 10/10-16/2026
This week on the NOC: reviews for Ray Gunn, Avatar: Seven Havens, VisionQuest, dispatches from Hexed, Street Fighter, Whalefall, and Tenzing. Plus another Dark Matter recap.
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NOC Recaps ‘Dark Matter’ S2, E8: Something Special
Episode eight’s bottle-episode detour finally gives Margo Martindale’s Laurel an origin story — and somehow turns into one about being a parent, which pairs fittingly with Pearl Jam’s “Something Special.”
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NOC Week in Review #14: 10/3-9/2026
This week at the NOC: Lauren reflects on The Crow and accountability, Edward reviews China’s answer to the Iraq War film, Mike goes deep on Flanagan’s Carrie with the creative team and cast, we catch up with Amanda Brugel to talk Dark Matter and Pearl Jam, and Josephine previews CatCon.
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NOC Recaps ‘Dark Matter’ S2, E7: Running
The latest episode of Apple TV’s Dark Matter starts to pick up some of the dangling plot threads from earlier
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Amanda Brugel Discusses Her Journey Through ‘Dark Matter’ Season 2
Amanda Brugel, who plays Blair in Dark Matter Season 2, on hiding in the retro world, the pull of identity across universes, and her pitch for Season 3.
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NOC Week in Review #13: 9/26-10/2/2026
This week at the NOC: Dominic goes claws-out with Insomniac’s Wolverine game, Forgotten Island keeps the conversation going with a spoiler roundtable and a composer interview, Elijah hits the red carpet for Star Trek’s 60th-anniversary documentary, and the Dark Matter/Pearl Jam recaps continue.
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NOC Recaps ‘Dark Matter’ S2, E6: Waiting for Stevie
We pair “Present Tense” and “Waiting for Stevie” with Dark Matter’s latest hour, as Daniela searches for herself at a cabin, Jason starts chasing a life he never had, and Blair and Leighton dig up something big underground.
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NOC Week in Review #12: 9/19-25/2026
This week at the NOC: Brad Bird gets a two-part deep dive for Ray Gunn, LAIKA opens its doors for Wildwood, Mike and Lauren hit a historic red carpet for Forgotten Island, LEGO Pokémon lands in L.A., and the Dark Matter/Pearl Jam recaps continue.
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NOC Recaps ‘Dark Matter’ S2, E5: Upper Hand
This week’s Dark Matter recap goes off-script in the best way, following an alternate Jason’s years-long detour through grief, family, and reluctant love — all set to Pearl Jam’s “Upper Hand.” We’re calling it one of the most moving episodes of genre TV we’ve seen all year.
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NOC Week in Review #11: 9/12-18/2026
This week: Dark Matter’s Leighton breaks down his many faces, Tony Weaver Jr. on manga over Marvel and DC, Fast and Furious: Hollywood Drift’s supercharged media day, a Resident Evil review, a visit to LAIKA ahead of Wildwood, a summer of first-time horror watches, and a chat with Dominic Mah about his new novel JQK.
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NOC Recaps ‘Dark Matter’ S2, E4: Won’t Tell
Dark Matter episode four takes its cue from Pearl Jam’s “Won’t Tell,” and we dig into how the song’s themes of doubt and self-forgiveness echo through Jason2 and Amanda’s reconciliation, Leighton’s guilt, and Daniela and Jason’s crumbling retro-world marriage.
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Dayo Okeniyi Breaks Down the Many Faces of Leighton in ‘Dark Matter’ Season 2
Season two of Dark Matter splits its central antagonist across the multiverse. We caught up with Dayo Okeniyi to talk about playing multiple versions of Leighton Vance, the corrupting nature of unchecked power, and why the season’s villain might not be the villain at all.
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Superman Kneels Before Zod in ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ Trailer
Zod coaches Superman in the first trailer for Mr. Irrelevant. We break down what Paramount’s new tearjerker has in store ahead of its Christmas release.
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NOC Week in Review #10: 9/5-9/11/2026
This week, we go back to Forgotten Island twice, head to D23 for Disney Dreamlight Valley, brave Halloween Horror Nights, sit down with the director of Jamarcus Rose and Da 5 Bullet Holes, and recap another episode of Dark Matter.
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NOC Recaps ‘Dark Matter’ S2, E3: Wreckage
Episode 3 of Dark Matter season 2 commits to the Pearl Jam bit and name checks the song “Wreckage” — while the Dessens settle into retro-world life, Ryan and Amanda finally make it home (sort of), and a familiar face turns up outside Jason’s window.
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NOC Week in Review #9: 8/29-9/4/2026
This week, we go deep on Lanterns and Forgotten Island, take a look at a doc about Disney animator Ron Husband, recap Dark Matter and chat with its star Alice Braga, break down the new Street Fighter trailer, and welcome back Shelf Conscious with toy YouTuber and artist Ibrahim Moustafa.
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NOC Recaps ‘Dark Matter’ S2, E2: React, Respond
Episode 2 of Dark Matter season 2, “A Perfect World,” finds its Pearl Jam parallel in “React, Respond” — as the Council of Leightons expands its reach, Ryan and Amanda train for what’s coming, and Jason’s retro-world detective turns out to be a familiar face.
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Alice Braga on ‘Dark Matter’ Season 2: “There is No Perfect World”
We caught up with Dark Matter star Alice Braga to talk about season 2’s uncharted territory — there’s no second novel to adapt this time — her real friendship with author Blake Crouch, and the guilt Amanda carries into the new season.
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NOC Week in Review #8: 8/22-28/2026
This week, we remember Peter Cullen — plus a Dark Matter recap, a Halloween Time at Disneyland preview, reviews of Batman: Knightfall, Colony, and It Ends, and a Lanterns cast and composer interview.
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NOC Recaps ‘Dark Matter’ S2, E1: Scared of Fear
Apple TV’s Dark Matter returns for a second season, and we’re recapping it episode by episode — pairing each installment with a corresponding track from Pearl Jam’s Dark Matter album, kicking off with the season premiere.
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