Warning: This article mentions topics of suicide that some readers may find distressing.
A Netflix series has dominated the board and been hailed by fans as the 'greatest show ever made.'
Despite being less mainstream, this time-travel thriller has built a cult following, with fans and critics dubbing it better than the gritty Black Mirror.
Dark premiered on Netflix in December 2017 and ran for three critically acclaimed seasons until June 2020.
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Set in a bleak, eerie town of Winde, Germany, the dystopian drama-thriller redefines the time-travel genre in a way that few shows have managed. Right from the start, viewers follow an ensemble cast connected by a web of secrets, disappearances and time loops spanning multiple generations.
Co-created by director-screenwriter couple Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese, Dark was the streaming giant’s first German-language original series - and viewers have been loving it.
Some fans have drawn comparisons to similar themes shown in hit series Stranger Things but Dark feels more mature and more intellectually demanding to uncover the storyline. If anything, it's Stranger Things' darker, moodier cousin.
With a flawless 100% Rotten Tomatoes score, the 'very underrated series' earned praise for its brilliant writing, unpredictable twists and 'densely woven mystery.' Furthermore, it outperformed huge series like The Crown, Mindhunter, and Peaky Blinders.
The story begins with Jonas, a teenager grappling with the aftermath of his father's suicide. Things take a turn when his schoolmate Erik mysteriously disappears, setting off a chain of events that delove into the characters' 'double lives and fractured relationships' that has viewers 'wondering the whole time.'
“Dark is the best show ever, an absolute masterpiece,” said one Reddit user.
“I skipped Dark for 6 years because I thought it was a horror based solely on the cover and a few trailers I saw of season 1," another viewer commenting adding that they felt late to the party. "Finally watched it this year. It’s a masterpiece! No other show has ever told a story this good in 3 sessions! I’m so glad I finally gave in and watched it.”
Over on Rotten Tomatoes, one positive viewer recommended: "Having Stranger Things withdrawals? Tune in to the eerie supernatural German Netflix show that will make you think twice about stepping into caves."
Someone else praised: "Dark is one of those shows that stays with you long after you've finished watching."
All three seasons of Dark are now available to stream on Netflix.