Erupt: Dark — TV Series Review
A visually magnificent mindsweeper
A sci-fi, supernatural, thriller-drama series.
3 seasons.
4 families.
26 episodes.
Countless secrets!
Dark is Netflix’s first outing with a German original series, and it’d be considerate of us to let you know that this isn’t a show to be watched just for its entertainment factor. Your think-tank is sure to be tested severely throughout the show’s runtime.
The series spans just over 3 seasons and 26 episodes. However, it mystifies the human mind with its complexity and provides a riveting narrative, which stirs up the thrills and chills.
The beginning and the end, of a series or a movie, are very significant elements for raking in big box office numbers and declaring them a success. Season one of Dark starts off with a graphic scene of a suicide, striking the viewers with its very first rays of perplexity. However, it sets the tone right for a captivating dramatic experience, with an environment filled with suspense and apprehension.
And the end of season three leaves everyone in a bittersweet state of mind — sweet, because all the questions raised by the previous seasons get answered in an emphatic fashion, and bitter because this hype train had a rather small journey. The final season ends within a blink of the eye, leaving the viewers asking for more.
The second season left everyone in utter shock with the death of a beloved character, and also disclosed one of the biggest secrets of the entire series, giving rise to a whole new threshold of endless possibilities.
Season three comes up with intriguing new characters who prove to be the missing pieces of this sophisticated jigsaw puzzle.
The revelation of the Origin and Adam’s counterpart brings up an interesting curve to the tangled storyline. The fate of all the characters gets revealed, and unfortunately, some of them have an unjust and cruel destiny.
The elaborate demonstration of the infinitely occurring loop and the exploitation of the solitary yet significant loophole was awe-inducing. With the mystery reaching its crescendo in the season finale, Dark features what might be one of the best series finales ever, providing a hefty justification to the immense hype and anticipation it spawned with its previous two seasons.
The plot is extremely prone to getting messed up with a whole lot of loopholes, but the writers of this show have gone the whole nine yards in stitching up a layer of exhilaration over it. The secrets about the relation of the characters with the infinitely occurring loop and their fates make Dark a spectacular show to watch.
These secrets are the strongest plus points of the entire series, with each revelation bringing with it an overdose of perplexed gasps, disbelieving stares and astounding conclusions.
The acting is good enough to keep the viewers glued to their screens. Louis Hofmann stood out with the portrayal of a distraught, overburdened Jonas Kahnwald. Maja Schöne (Hannah Kahnwald) and Jördis Triebel (Katharina Nielsen) also made a mark with their performances.
From a totally unlikable character in the first two seasons to being a woman who just wanted love in the final one, Maja crafts a commendable character out of Hannah — a feat to be praised. Jördis brings out the pain of a helpless mother in the eyes of Katharina, and her strong emotions keep the viewers completely engaged.
Baran bo Odar (co-creator of the show along with Jantje Friese) has done a splendid job with the direction. His visualization is to the point, and an admirable feature of the entire series were the scenes that were left unexplained — the viewer understands what the sequence depicted at a point later on and discovers the hidden secret behind that scene, giving rise to sudden epiphanies.
This trust laid upon the viewers’ ability to decode the whole meaning of the unexplained sequence on their own shows the subtle art of meticulous direction. The minus has to be, as has been already mentioned, that the third season was rushed with a lower number of episodes.
The grim and mysterious ambience of Dark hits differently.
The sequences are framed with authenticity and the scenic locations of the Bavarian forests provide a heavy touch of an unknown supernatural force. Just like German football and their cars, Dark’s cinematography also shows the touch of German class. The opening theme, “Goodbye” by Apparat, satisfyingly aids the opening credits, making it serenely surreal. Music has always been the catalyst in defining the gravity of the scenes and Dark has an admirably “dark” background score.
Some characters deserved more screen time in the final season, as they were considered to be important characters previously. The fate of a few characters should have had better treatment, as they were made the pawns of suffering throughout the loop.
We expected more enlightenment towards the history and creation of the Sic Mundus. Adam’s horrific transformation was ignored — only a single sequence was shown — which, personally, was a letdown for me. The Origin was considered to be the most integral part of the recurring loop and yet, the attention given was subdued and it lacked character development.
In retrospect, Dark sets all the checkboxes ticking. From being a thought-provoking thriller to a timeless drama, this show challenges the very reality of our existence.
Dark is definitely a must-watch during this impasse of a lockdown. You can spend hours discussing self-made theories with your fellow “Darked” friends, but such discussions would become fruitless once you finish watching the whole series. Dark doesn’t leave any stones unturned with its coup de grace.
