You already know that here you’ll find insights and spoilers, right? hehe
Who hasn’t wondered “what if…?”?
At some point, we’ve all found ourselves imagining alternative scenarios for our lives. What if I had stayed with that person? What if I had accepted that job offer? What if I had moved to another city? These questions take us into a world of possibilities and reflections, where every decision made or avoided can lead us down completely different paths.
AppleTV’s Dark Matterseries invites us to explore these possibilities to the extreme. The plot follows Jason, a scientist who creates a box inspired by Schrödinger’s box theory. This box allows him to travel to a reality where he hasn’t ended an important relationship. Jason switches places with his “self” in this new reality and starts living as if he’s been married for the last 15 years. However, there’s a big problem: Jason hasn’t been married for the last 15 years and hasn’t been transformed by a long relationship. He doesn’t know his wife and has to deal with the consequences of a life he hasn’t lived.
After making a mistake and hurting his wife Daniela, Jason seeks help from psychiatrist Amanda who, in his original reality, was his girlfriend. When he finds her married and well, they talk, and at the end of the consultation, she makes a crucial observation: “You don’t look like someone who’s been married for the last 15 years.”
This scene led me to two important reflections:
Jason believed that his problem was that he had broken up with Daniela and that if he were in a reality where this hadn’t happened, he would be happier. However, when things get difficult, he seeks solace precisely with Amanda, his girlfriend from his original reality. For me, this highlighted Jason’s mistaken projection, thinking that his happiness depended on a person or a life that he didn’t live.
In my postgraduate classes in neuroscience, I learned that the human brain is highly plastic, meaning that every interaction, every experience, alters our brain structure. Our choices and their consequences shape who we become. Jason didn’t go through the same events and challenges that his alternative self experienced during their 15-year marriage. His brain has not been shaped by these experiences, resulting in a disparity between his identity and the reality he tries to live.
What is Neuroplasticity?
Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to reorganize itself, forming new neuronal connections throughout life. This characteristic is fundamental for learning, memory and adapting to new situations. When we live through meaningful experiences, our brain adapts and changes to reflect these experiences.
In theTV’s Dark Matter, Jason didn’t go through the same events and challenges that his alternative self experienced during their 15-year marriage. His brain has not been shaped by these experiences, resulting in a disparity between his identity and the reality he tries to live.
Reflecting on Our Choices
The series invites us to reflect on the impact of our choices and how they shape our identity. Every decision, no matter how small, contributes to the construction of who we are. Experiences accumulated over time alter our brains, influencing our emotions, behaviors and perceptions.
When we find ourselves imagining “what if…”, it’s important to remember that although these reflections can be fascinating, they can also consume us if we’re not careful. Our “what ifs” almost always lead us to believe that things would be better and that we would be more satisfied, but we rarely reflect on how our now could be the best of our paths. Furthermore, questioning our reality is also questioning who we are, because each experience shapes our identity and perception of the world.
Instead of losing ourselves in alternative scenarios, we can use these moments to appreciate the journey that brought us here and the lessons we’ve learned along the way.
But if you’re finding it difficult to stay away from the “I’s” or to like who you are, therapy can help. It can help you to make the changes you are looking for or to make peace with the places your choices have brought you, as well as helping you to reflect better in order to make new choices.
Conclusion
TV’s Dark Matteris much more than just another science fiction series. It is an opportunity to explore in a deep and psychological way the possibilities that each choice presents us with and how these choices shape our identity and reality. As we watch Jason navigate a life he hasn’t lived, we are invited to reflect on our own lives and the importance of each decision we make.
So the next time you find yourself thinking about the “I’s” of life, remember how each experience has the power to shape who you are and how your present can actually be the best of all possible paths. And if you haven’t watchedTV’s Dark MatterI strongly recommend that you embark on this adventure of diverse realities and self-discovery in a scenario of infinite possibilities.
