Author: Etan Vlessing

September 01, 2015 9:00am PT by Etan Vlessing

Syfy’s ‘Killjoys’  Ken Woroner/Temple Street

The sci-fi series are set for sophomore runs to debut in 2016.

Killjoys and Dark Matter will be back for second season runs on Syfy.

The U.S. cable channel ordered another 10 episodes of Killjoys from Orphan Black producer Temple Street Productions and creator Michelle Lovretta, to air in 2016. Syfy also added 13 more episodes of Dark Matter from rival Canadian producer Prodigy Pictures and creators Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie, again to air in 2016.

Canada’s Space channel ordered a second cycle for Killjoys, but isn’t yet confirming a second season for Dark Matters. Killjoys will return to Syfy after the first season averaged 1.5 million viewers.

The series is produced by Temple Street and Syfy, in association with Space and distributed worldwide by Universal Cable Productions. Killjoys follows a trio of interplanetary bounty hunters who chase deadly warrants throughout the Quad, a distant planetary system on the brink of a bloody class war.

“With exciting space-based action, deep world building, and a standout cast, Killjoys has struck a nerve with viewers and critics alike,” said Bill McGoldrick, executive vp of original content at Syfy, in a statement. The Killjoys rookie season finale saw Dutch (Hannah John-Kamen) and John (Aaron Ashmore) seeing the tables turned on them by Khlyen (Rob Stewart), who kidnapped D’Avin (Luke Macfarlane) and transported him to Red 17 for apparent Level 6 genetic mutations.

“Mostly the journey next year is going to be for our trio to have a greater understanding of what really happened on Arkin, what is the connection that Khlyen and or Dutch have to that and what does that mean to their greater existence,” Killjoys creator Lovretta told The Hollywood Reporter after the first season finale.

Dark Matter, which averaged 1.8 million during its first season on Syfy, follows six people who wake up on a derelict spaceship, the Raza, without any idea of who they are and how they got there. The first season Dark Matter finale saw the mercenary group becoming evermore paranoid and distrustful of each other as they are held captive by Alexander Rook (Wil Wheaton), who created Two, played by Melissa O’Neil.

The series also stars Marc Bendavid, Anthony Lemke and Alex Mallari Jr.

International

Netflix/screengrab

To mark the debut of House of Cards season three, THR will be breaking down the biggest moments from each episode every day through March 11. Read the previous breakdowns: Chapter 27, Chapter 28, Chapter 29, Chapter 30, Chapter 31, Chapter 32, Chapter 33, Chapter 34.

Foreign policy crises do tend to intrude on presidential campaigns, so it’s no surprise when President Underwood’s (Kevin Spacey) stumping in Iowa is interrupted when eight Russian troops are killed in the Jordan Valley. Middle East chaos soon has Frank cutting short his campaigning, putting another huge wrinkle in his plans.

See more ‘House of Cards’: Frank Underwood’s Most Ruthless Moments

Speaking of potential challenges for Frank, Doug Stamper (Michael Kelly) meets hacker Gavin Orsay (Jimmi Simpson), who tells him told Rachel Posner (Rachel Brosnahan), who clocked him on the head at the end of season two, is dead. A bloody crime-scene photo is produced. Doug, losing his unrequited lover, falls off the wagon. It’s unclear how this will affect Frank going forward, but it seems clear he is uncomfortable with what’s going on with Doug.

During Doug’s visit to the White House, Frank promises him he’ll get back to health, and sends him home. Frank calls Dunbar to blast her for coming “very close to killing” a recovering alcoholic. Is Frank truly concerned for Doug, or does he just want him to stop associating with Dunbar?

Meanwhile, Remy Danton (Mahershala Ali) is carrying his own torch for ex-lover Jackie Sharp (Molly Parker). While giving her talking points, Jackie mentions her new husband and step-children. Remy’s cutaway reax shot has him no longer flirty, but fuming.

Later in the episode, Remy’s pulled over in his car by a cop. Showing too much lip, he’s arrested. After being cut loose, Remy shows up on Jackie’s doorstep and kisses her. For a long time. The price of his career is having no one in his life — or so he thinks. 

Read more ‘House of Cards’ Creator on Season 3 Obstacles, Netflix Leak and Killing Characters

Meanwhile, Frank and Claire are having little luck turning the table on Russian president Petrov (Lars Mikkelson). He wants revenge for his dead troops. Russian ambassador Alexi Moryakov tells U.N. colleague Claire (Robin Wright) that Petrov may have killed his own troops to thwart her Middle East peace mission. 

Presidential advisors are skeptical when Claire relays that intel. They sense a trap set by Moscow. But Frank sides with Claire, and orders troops into the Jordan Valley. Death does strike, however, when Frank and his team in the situation room watch as U.S. troops covertly parachute into the Jordan Valley. A fire fight breaks out, and one American soldier is killed.

“Shut it down. Bring them home,” a somber Frank declares.  

Petrov calls and tells Frank he’s trying to bring him down, again (Remember Claire and Michael Corrigan). Now it’s Frank’s turn to slam the phone down on Petrov. 

An epic battle awaits.