It’s rare for a CW show to feel genuinely gritty. Most of the network’s roster leans into the glossy, the supernatural, or the teen-angst-ridden melodrama that defines a certain era of television. But then there was In the Dark. When people talk about the cast of In the Dark, they aren’t just listing names on an IMDb page; they are talking about a group of actors who took a potentially gimmicky premise—a blind woman solving a murder—and turned it into a messy, sweaty, high-stakes thriller that lasted four seasons.
Honestly, it worked because it was uncomfortable. Perry Mattfeld didn't play Murphy Mason as a saintly victim of circumstance. She played her as a disaster. Murphy was caustic, manipulative, and frequently the most unlikeable person in the room. That’s why we loved her. The ensemble surrounding her had to be just as grounded to keep the show from floating off into absurdity.
The Evolution of Perry Mattfeld as Murphy Mason
Perry Mattfeld wasn't a household name when the show premiered in 2019. By the time it ended in 2022, she had become synonymous with a very specific type of anti-hero. To play Murphy, Mattfeld spent a significant amount of time at Guide Dogs of America. She wasn't just "acting" blind; she was learning the mechanics of it. She studied how to use a cane, how to navigate space without sight, and how to interact with a service dog.
It’s worth noting that the show faced some early criticism for not casting a blind actor in the lead role. The producers, including Nicky Weinstock, have discussed the search process extensively, noting that they looked at many actors with visual impairments before settling on Mattfeld. While the debate over representation in Hollywood is vital, Mattfeld’s performance was undeniably committed. She captured the specific physicality of Murphy—the way she used her other senses to manipulate people, or the way her eyes didn’t quite "track" the person she was screaming at.
The chemistry between Mattfeld and her canine co-star, Levi (who played Pretzel), was the emotional heartbeat of the series. Levi was a Golden Retriever who basically deserved his own billing. In a show where every human character was constantly betraying each other, Pretzel was the only constant.
Brooke Markham and the Heart of Guiding Hope
If Murphy was the chaos, Jess Damon was the anchor. Brooke Markham played Jess with a vulnerability that often made her the show’s most relatable character. Jess was the "best friend" archetype, sure, but the writers eventually let her break.
Think about the dynamic in the first season. Jess and Murphy are co-workers at Guiding Hope, the guide dog school run by Murphy's parents. Their friendship is codependent in a way that feels incredibly real. Jess enables Murphy, and Murphy exploits Jess. It’s a toxic cycle that felt more like a real-life friendship than most TV dramas care to admit.
🔗 Read more: Blink-182 Mark Hoppus: What Most People Get Wrong About His 2026 Comeback
Markham brought a warmth that balanced Mattfeld’s sharp edges. When Jess finally started to pull away—when the murders and the money laundering became too much—it felt like a genuine loss for the audience. You weren't just watching a plot point; you were watching the disintegration of a family unit.
Casey Deidrick and the Redemption of Max Parish
Max Parish was never supposed to be a good guy. He was a money launderer for a drug kingpin. Yet, Casey Deidrick played him with such a soulful, hangdog charm that he became the primary love interest.
Deidrick, known for his work on Days of Our Lives, brought a ruggedness to the cast of In the Dark that the show desperately needed. Max and Murphy’s relationship was built on a foundation of mutual trauma and illegal activity. It wasn't "will-they-won't-they" in the traditional sense. It was more like "will-they-both-end-up-in-prison-before-dinner."
Their chemistry was electric because it felt dangerous. Max wasn't trying to "fix" Murphy. He was just as broken as she was. This nuance is why the fandom became so protective of the character. Even when Max was making terrible decisions—which happened roughly every fifteen minutes—you understood his motivation. He wanted out, but the gravity of his past kept pulling him back in.
Rich Sommer and the Descent into Obsession
Most people know Rich Sommer as Harry Crane from Mad Men. In In the Dark, he played Dean Riley, a cop who starts as a sympathetic ally and ends up as something far more sinister.
Sommer is incredible at playing "the guy next door who might have a body in his trunk." His portrayal of Dean was a masterclass in the "banality of evil." He wasn't a mustache-twirling villain. He was a father, a detective, and a man who made one catastrophic mistake and spent the rest of his life trying to cover it up.
💡 You might also like: Why Grand Funk’s Bad Time is Secretly the Best Pop Song of the 1970s
The pivot at the end of Season 1 is one of the best twists in recent TV history. Seeing Sommer transition from a protector to a predator was chilling. It shifted the entire tone of the series from a "murder mystery" to a "cat-and-mouse" thriller.
Supporting Players Who Kept the Stakes High
The wider ensemble was equally impressive.
- Morgan Krantz as Felix Bell: Felix started as the comic relief—the awkward, rich kid trying to run a business. But Krantz turned him into the show's moral (if misguided) compass. His loyalty to Murphy was both admirable and pathetic.
- Thamela Mpumlwana as Tyson Parker: Though he only appeared in flashbacks and the pilot, Tyson was the catalyst for the entire series. His murder drove the plot for the first two seasons.
- Matt Murray as Gene Clemens: As the series progressed, the police presence became more central. Murray’s Gene provided a necessary foil to the criminality of the main cast. He was the "good cop" in a world where "good" was a relative term.
- Keston John as Darnell Bell: Darnell was the bridge between the criminal underworld and Murphy’s circle. John played him with a stoic intensity that made you forget he was technically a criminal for most of the run.
Why This Cast Worked When Others Failed
The "gritty CW" experiment doesn't always work. Riverdale started grounded and ended with superpowers. In the Dark stayed in the mud.
The cast understood the assignment. They didn't try to make their characters likable. In a world of curated social media and "perfect" protagonists, seeing a blind woman be a total jerk while running from the mob was refreshing. The actors leaned into the sweat, the smeared mascara, and the unwashed hair.
There was a tactile quality to the performances. When Murphy was stumbling through the woods or Max was hiding in an attic, you felt the claustrophobia. That isn't just good writing; it's actors who are willing to be physically uncomfortable for the sake of the story.
The Legacy of the Show and Its Representation
While the show concluded after Season 4, it remains a staple on streaming platforms. People keep coming back to it because of the performances.
📖 Related: Why La Mera Mera Radio is Actually Dominating Local Airwaves Right Now
The show did make strides in hiring actors with visual impairments for supporting roles and as consultants. For example, Calle Walton, who played Chloe (Dean’s daughter), is legally blind in real life. Her presence on the show added an authenticity that bolstered Mattfeld’s performance. It provided a counterpoint—showing a different experience of blindness that wasn't defined by Murphy’s bitterness.
The writers also hired blind writers, like Ryan Knighton, to ensure the scripts weren't just "imagining" what it’s like to live without sight. This collaboration between the cast and the creative team is what prevented the show from becoming a caricature.
Practical Insights for Fans and Aspiring Actors
If you're looking back at the cast of In the Dark, there are a few things you can actually take away from how this show was built and how the actors approached their roles.
- Character over Likability: If you are a writer or an actor, look at Murphy Mason. She is a case study in why a protagonist doesn't need to be "good" to be compelling. Focus on what a character wants, not how they want to be perceived.
- Physical Research Matters: Perry Mattfeld’s dedication to learning the mechanics of blindness is what saved the show from being offensive. If you're portraying a life experience that isn't yours, the "work" happens long before the cameras roll.
- Chemistry Can't Be Faked: The "core four" (Murphy, Jess, Felix, Max) worked because they felt like people who had been through a war together. That kind of rapport comes from trust on set.
- The Importance of the "Antagonist": Rich Sommer’s Dean was effective because he was human. The best villains believe they are the heroes of their own stories.
If you haven't watched the show yet, it’s currently available on various streaming services (availability varies by region, but Netflix has long been its home). Watching it now, knowing where the characters end up, makes the early performances even more tragic. You see the seeds of Felix’s desperation and Jess’s eventual breakdown right from the pilot.
The show didn't have a happy ending. It had a realistic one. For a show about a woman who couldn't see, it had a remarkably clear-eyed view of how trauma and crime destroy everything they touch. The cast didn't just play roles; they inhabited a very specific, very dark world, and they invited us to sit in the dark with them.