Dark Series Review: Dark is a German science fiction thriller created by Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese, released on Netflix in 2017. The series gained international acclaim for its complex narrative, exploring themes of time travel, free will, and the cyclical nature of time. With its atmospheric storytelling, intricate plot, and philosophical depth, Dark has become one of the most celebrated sci-fi series of the modern era.
Dark Synopsis
Set in the fictional German town of Winden, Dark begins with the mysterious disappearance of a boy named Erik in 2019, which echoes similar disappearances that occurred 33 years earlier in 1986. The disappearance prompts four interconnected families—the Nielsens, Dopplers, Tiedemanns, and Kahnwalds—to uncover the dark secrets lurking beneath Winden. As characters begin to investigate these strange events, they discover a hidden network of time travel tunnels beneath the town’s nuclear power plant, connecting Winden across multiple time periods—1953, 1986, 2019, and beyond.
What sets Dark apart from other time-travel shows is how deeply it immerses itself in the consequences of time travel. Time in Winden moves in cycles, and characters are trapped in a deterministic loop, where the past, present, and future influence one another in a closed cycle. The characters must confront questions of fate, destiny, and whether free will exists, as they struggle to break this loop and save their loved ones from doom.
Dark Series Review
At its core, Dark is a show about time and its philosophical implications. The series draws on concepts from Nietzsche’s idea of eternal recurrence (the belief that time is cyclical and everything repeats infinitely) to debates about free will versus determinism. One of the series’ central questions is whether people have the ability to change their fates or if they are doomed to repeat the same mistakes.
The show also delves into the idea of duality, represented visually and thematically throughout the series. Characters are frequently seen in mirrors or facing their doppelgängers from different timelines, highlighting the tension between their present and future selves. The show further explores the concept of cause and effect, showing how actions in the past reverberate through time and influence future events in sometimes tragic ways.
Religious and mythological symbolism is also pervasive. The mysterious group led by Adam is called Sic Mundus Creatus Est (“Thus the world was created”), referencing a Latin phrase from the Bible. The series frequently makes allusions to biblical stories like Adam and Eve, with the time-traveling war between Adam and his counterpart, Eva, mirroring humanity’s fall from grace and the battle between predestination and free will.
Character Development
The characters in Dark are arguably its strongest asset. The show follows multiple generations within the four main families, and the complexities of time travel force the audience to engage deeply with their interconnected lives. Each character is portrayed in different timelines, which adds a significant challenge for viewers trying to keep track of who they are and what they represent at different points in time.
Jonas Kahnwald, one of the show’s central characters, starts as an innocent teenager dealing with the suicide of his father, Michael. As the series progresses, Jonas transforms into a tragic hero figure, burdened by the knowledge that he is caught in a time loop. His journey takes him across different timelines, where he meets different versions of himself, including his future, bitter self known as “The Stranger” and, eventually, the enigmatic figure of Adam. Jonas’ story is a powerful exploration of identity, the duality of human nature, and the lengths people will go to change their destiny.
Other notable characters include Hannah Kahnwald, Jonas’ manipulative mother, who uses time travel for her own gain; Ulrich Nielsen, a police officer who becomes obsessed with finding his missing son; and Claudia Tiedemann, who plays a key role in uncovering the secrets of time travel. Claudia, in particular, is a standout character—one of the few in the series who seems to grasp the full scope of the time travel mystery and is actively working to change the future.
Cinematography and Atmosphere
The visual aesthetic of Dark is one of its most striking features. The town of Winden is bathed in a muted, often gloomy color palette, which reflects the show’s bleak, fatalistic tone. The cinematography captures the eerie atmosphere of Winden, with its dense forests, abandoned nuclear power plant, and cryptic underground tunnels. This haunting visual style creates a sense of foreboding that permeates the entire series, intensifying the sense that something much larger—and much darker—is at play.
The series also makes excellent use of music to heighten its emotional and atmospheric impact. The soundtrack features a mix of eerie instrumental pieces and haunting songs from artists like Apparat, Agnes Obel, and Fever Ray. The opening credits, accompanied by Apparat’s “Goodbye,” set the tone for each episode, evoking a sense of melancholy and mystery.
Complexity and Challenges
Dark is often praised for its intelligence, but it can also be difficult to follow, especially for viewers who are not accustomed to complex, nonlinear storytelling. The show requires close attention, as its web of characters, timelines, and paradoxes becomes increasingly intricate as the series progresses. At times, it can feel overwhelming, as new mysteries pile on top of old ones, and the answers are often elusive.
However, this complexity is also what makes Dark so rewarding. The writers carefully layer the narrative, providing enough clues and payoffs to keep the audience engaged while still leaving plenty of room for interpretation. The series rewards multiple viewings, as subtle connections and details become clearer on rewatch.
Conclusion
In an era where sci-fi shows often rely on flashy effects and spectacle, Dark stands out for its thoughtful, meditative approach to time travel and the human condition. It’s a show that grapples with big ideas about fate, identity, and the nature of existence, all while telling an emotionally compelling story about families and the secrets that bind them. With its intricate plotting, strong performances, and haunting atmosphere, Dark is a masterclass in storytelling that leaves a lasting impression long after the credits roll.
For viewers willing to invest the time and mental energy, Dark offers a rich, thought-provoking experience that few other shows can match. It’s not just a sci-fi thriller; it’s a deep dive into the complexities of time, existence, and the choices that define us.