Netflix’s ‘Dark’ (2017–2020): A Writer’s Delight, and Infinite Déjà Vu
With the dramatic conclusion of the third and final season to the German science-fiction series “Dark” on Netflix, there is nothing left to do but reflect on the remarkable and catastrophic journey of which we have all just embarked. The limited series, originally pitched to me as a “Stranger Things for Teenagers,” was, in contrast, unique beyond all comprehension. It did not take long for me to realize that what I had gotten myself into as a viewer was not a German Stranger Things at all, but a story so elaborate and complex, I dread to imagine the length and intricacy of the original pitch in the writers’ room. The aptly titled show is a convoluted web of timelines and possibilities, a trail of breadcrumbs left in a hurricane, and is so severely addictive that I dare viewers to take longer than a week to finish each season.
The story begins with the disappearance of a teenager in a small German town called Winden, home to a nuclear power plant and some mysterious caves. Winden residents, despite their obvious hatred for the town’s existence, never seem to leave. Generations of families have lived here before, and generations will live here after — but, when a second child goes missing, everything descends into chaos. Decade long secrets come to the surface to reveal double lives, supernatural obligations, hidden intentions, and vicious rumors that are only sometimes accurate. As the true nature of this terrible place and its former and future inhabitants come to light, we see that these dark truths run far deeper than we ever could have imagined — but don’t expect it to stop there. In fact, every time you think you’ve figured something out, look again. And again… And one more time, for good measure.
The show itself is one giant risk, asking viewers to have the patience and the courage to solve the puzzle, identify characters as their younger or older selves based on miniscule physical traits, and each time they feel they have come close to the answer, the writers laugh. After a while, I felt like Charlie Day and his conspiracy wall — and then season three turned the entire story upside-down (pun intended).
As someone who can often predict what will happen next in Hollywood’s par-for-the-course format, I almost gave up. The frustration of having collected so many breadcrumbs only to discover a whole new trail of them was debilitating. However, I got over it, powered through, and I was rewarded with one of the most masterful and cathartic endings in science-fiction television to date.
The beauty of this show is in its relentless repetition, its infinite Déjà Vu, and its brutal consequences. Everything has a purpose. Everyone is connected. Every story is a missing piece to a much larger puzzle. As a fiction writer, I cannot imagine a world in which these creators did not know the exact beginning and end to each character, no matter which path they took in an endless loop. No wonder they offer a spoiler-free series guide for viewers — but what I wouldn’t give to see their notebooks…
Some might turn away from the complexity of the story, and others might not give it a chance at all because it is in German, but those who stick it out for all three seasons are in for a ride they will not soon forget. I implore you to make the journey.
Tip: We viewed the series with both the subtitles and dubbing simultaneously, and I recommend trying the latter first. The voice actors are excellent, and soon you will be so caught up in the story, you won’t notice that the lips are off!
“Dark” was directed by Baran bo Odar, and was created and written by Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese with episode writers: Marc O. Seng, Martin Behnke, Ronny Schalk, and Daphne Ferraro.
It is now streaming on Netflix.
