Dark is a German science fiction thriller television series co-created by the couple Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese.
The story follows dysfunctional characters from the fictional town of Winden in Germany, as they pursue the truth in the aftermath of a child's disappearance. They follow connections between four estranged families to unravel a sinister time travel conspiracy that spans several generations. The series explores the existential implications of time and its effect on human nature and life. It features an ensemble cast led by Louis Hofmann.
Dark debuted on 1 December on Netflix ; it is the service's first German-language original series. The second season was released on 21 June , [ 8 ] [ 9 ] while the third and final season was released on 27 June Dark has received critical acclaim for its acting, direction, writing, tone, visuals, themes, musical score, and the ambition and complexity of its narrative. Many praised the show for its complex narrative structure, which required viewers to pay close attention to detail in order to understand the intricate connections between characters and timelines.
The show's slow-burn pacing, atmospheric visuals, and philosophical themes were also lauded for elevating it beyond typical genre fare. The series direction, handled by Baran bo Odar, was praised for its careful attention to detail, mood, and tone, creating an eerie, tension-filled atmosphere that contributed to the show's success.
Dark was recognized for its ambitious storytelling and has been nominated for and won several awards. Children start vanishing from the German town of Winden, [ 13 ] bringing to light the fractured relationships, double lives, and dark pasts of four families living there and unfurling a mystery that spans four generations. The first season begins in , but later grows to include and via time travel , when members of the show's central families become aware of a wormhole in the cave system beneath the local nuclear power plant.
