Dark (TV Series 2017–2020) Poster

(2017–2020)

User Reviews

Review this title
3,647 Reviews
Sort by:
Filter by Rating:
10/10
Wish I could give this 11/10
This show is the best thing Netflix has done. It is an absolute masterpiece of story telling.
2,233 out of 2,428 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
An engaging masterpiece from start to finish
savindri21 June 2019
Insanely good, every episode shocks you in ways you never thought was possible. The constant gripping revelations were so unexpected but tied the story so well together. Exceptional and convincing acting skills by the entire cast and tons of heartfelt scenes between different character dynamics. This show is the perfect epitome of a well thought out show, meticulously crafted and executed so well and overall knows where it's trying to advance it's story. This show has revolutionized time travel storytelling and is definitely one of the most smartly and consistently written shows of our time
1,835 out of 2,004 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
Intoxicating
jimajima-320-95229814 June 2019
This is quite possibly the greatest show I've ever known to exist. It's just so pure. Every scene is saturated with substance. It's actually so good that I won't binge watch it. I take in each episode (possibly without blinking) and savor each experience. I'd write more, but my mind is seriously blown.
1,129 out of 1,255 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
Watch in German with subtitles
savagecaption13 May 2019
I tired to watch this with the English dub but it was just terrible. It's the only show I've ever given a chance in a foreign language and I don't regret it. If you're the kind of person who watches shows with subtitles anyways then this is for you. It just hits the spot in every way you can imagine. Amazing writing, acting, great plot, and leaves you mind blown.
1,001 out of 1,130 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
German masterpiece!
Mork_the_Borg8 July 2019
This feedback is currently based on the first 10 episodes of season one (still watching the series as we speak), and to be honest it made me downgrade my rating for 'Stranger Things' quite a bit. It's clear that this series is the child of a genius - everything just works. The acting is great, the cinematography is great, the soundtrack is awesome (reminds me of Klaus Schulze at times), and the story-line is mind-boggling. This series is just miles above anything that leaves Hollywood. Wish that all productions could be like this. Thanks Netflix for bringing this awesome series to me screen. Say bye-bye to public television!
998 out of 1,129 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
Life is a labyrinth
huetagolimaya2 June 2020
Dark is a deliciously morbid research on human decisions and their interconnection in between each other and through time. This family sci-fi drama tightly stuffed with literature, philosophy, science references and focuses on such themes as determinism, Christianity, freedom of will, existentialism, quantum physics. Dark has a bit of lovecraftian vibe to it, not in terms of monsters, yet in terms of unseen evil, an existential dread, where "the evil" is Time itself. The show operates on a higher level of scriptwriting, there are no filler scenes let alone episodes, and details are also mega international. Everything is important because everything is connected. Get ready for a hella ride. And don't blink while you're watch it.
234 out of 259 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
Dark, a thrilling brain scrambling sci-fi series
bettercallsaul-017539 August 2020
Dark is Netflix's one of the best supernatural, science fiction series. The narrative is mind-bending and utterly complex, but you could see how well it has been planned and how much time has been put into the production and creation of this show. There are various reasons that make this show a fantastic series that is bound to mess with your mind, for sure. Now, science fiction is not everyone's cup of tea, and that is understandable, but trust me Dark really takes it up a notch. And if my words still hasn't convinced you to watch it yet, I hope the following few points can.

1. The Characters and Their Arcs

Dark has a whole lot of characters, I won't lie. And for someone who dislikes too many characters, this might pose as a bit of a challenge, but it is all worth it. None of the characters are purely saints, and that is the best part of this show. There is no good and evil, but rather a realistic fact that good and evil resides in everyone. We are all the heroes and also villains in the story, one way or the other. It is compelling to see how as viewers, you are confronted with your own initial prejudices and views about the characters, and how they change along with the progress of the show. It will make you so conflicted till the point that you're not sure who is wrong and who is right, and you'll empathise with them all, for sure. This is how the characters are crafted in the show, and it makes it very difficult to choose favourites.

2. The Plotline and The Writing

Trying to explain Dark's plotline will be like trying to understand whether the chicken came first or the egg. It is one of the most intricately written stories, but so well laid out and perfectly planned that it will never cease to surprise you at any point. The writers have planned everything out, and they do not miss a single detail. Easter eggs are laid out throughout the show and the whole plotline it just too clever. So clever, it will blow your mind every time.

Dark is a show full of thrill, suspense, and mystery, laden with hints of the supernatural and family drama. At no point will you feel bored or underwhelmed, that is a given guarantee. The beauty of this show is that the suspense and mystery keeps you hooked right until you've finished the show, and even then, you will be craving for more; questioning, scratching your head. The twists and turns are superb and very intricately placed in the storyline. They are dramatic but not stupid. Nothing is wasted on space, story or with dialogues. In Dark, know that every single visual, every single dialogue, everything has a role to play.

The storylines are connected, and no episode will leave you without questions in your mind. You will definitely want more, and when you think you've figured out the plot, the show writers will pull out another secret, another stunt that will leave you speechless for sure. It is amazing, and I cannot tell you how many times my jaw had hung open while watching this show.

3. Family Dynamics and Drama

It would be wrong to leave out the drama because it surely plays a pivotal role in this show. As I've already said how exceptionally well the character arcs are, same is with the family drama too. The show brings together the individual lives of four families whose paths - futures, present, and past - intricately cross with one another, connected in a whole big loop (and by connected, I mean really connected). Questions about sacrifices and betrayal and love all come into focus as the show progresses; who's hiding what, and who's related to who. How far will you go to save your family, to save the ones you love? It is a question that repeats itself over and over, playing out as an elaborate bigger theme.

Each family has their own humanly possible problems to deal with. Starting from loss and grief to battling one's sexuality and past, it deals with all the aspects in a coherent way. At its core, Dark is largely about familial relationships that span generations, about tragedies, and betrayals that shape them, about the love and hurt, ultimately bringing everything and everyone together in a very complex web. If you thought understanding the family dynamics and drama in Once Upon a Time and Game of Thrones was difficult, wait until you watch Dark.

4. Time Travel, But With Logic

One of the setbacks of this show could have easily been its time travelling storyline because, let's face it, it is super hard to create a reasonable time travel story. Often than not, shows dealing with this theme has the risk of losing the logical explanation and then witness everything going haywire. But Dark surely takes this theme at its best and delivers to us a complicated show that you'll eventually understand. To put it lightly, time travel also exists in the show as a metaphor of confronting your own self, past and future, and in the way paving the way for growth (and maybe destruction too). It doesn't actually mess up with its varying range of timelines, and keeps a note of all the complexities, all the timelines, knitting everything together in a clean circle. At times, it may get difficult to understand and seem to get haphazard and it surely will be confusing, but things play out well. It is all well at the end.

5. The Various Philosophical Themes

In the midst of family drama and time travelling, Dark also has in store a whole array of philosophies to boggle your mind and keep you questioning your own beliefs, your sanity long after the show is over. Largely dealing with the question of time and human origin, the show tends to treat time in the same vicinity as that of God. To create a world without time enslaving us humans is one of the central running theme of this show, and something that it follows quite religiously. Using fantasy, it takes on a very different angle or storytelling in the television era, questioning the meaning of faith and family, blood and time. It takes into questions about fate, destiny and choices. Can you change your destiny? Can you be truly free from the clutches of time? Can you change your future? Are we really ever free of time?

6. A Visual Delight

Apart from the brilliant lead of casts and the super confusing yet fantastic plotline, Dark is also blessed with pleasing visuals which is a definite 10/10. The creepy forest setting provides an excellent view to the storyline, adding a sense of fear and dread in the viewers. The caves too provide an atmospheric essence to the story, a pioneer of time travel that connects everything. The settings are eerie and mostly unsettling, and seem to be always announcing an impending doom. It can be agreed that the cinematography really adds a whole boost to the whole series, adding exclusively to the suspenseful storyline. It complements the show really well, and becomes one of the reasons why this show is extremely amazing to watch.
216 out of 241 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
7/10
I Loved the 1st Season and Hated the 3rd Season
christophertritch24 December 2021
I feel really conflicted about this show. I thought the first season was fantastic. But, by the time the 3rd season ended, I felt thoroughly annoyed by this show.

Season 1 has a really interesting, unique, and well crafted plot. The story is a little complicated, but not overly so. The 1st season was a fantastic scifi mystery story. It really sucked me. After watching the 1st episode, it was difficult to drag myself away from the TV.

It was thus with high hopes that I began watching seasons 2 and 3. However, after watching them, I find myself wishing the show had been cancelled after season 1.

As time goes on, the plot gets more fantastical, unrealistic, and contrived. It also gets really complex. The show introduces a huge cast of characters, and it becomes difficult to remember who everyone is. I felt like I needed a spread sheet in order to keep track of everyone.

Ultimately though, I think this complexity was covering up a stupid plot. Throughout the show, there are coincidences, things that don't make sense, and characters who behave in absurd ways. I'm also not certain that the established rules of the show's scifi mechanic are always portrayed consistently.

Also, the show gets ham-fistedly dramatic. Many of the characters love to give big dramatic speeches, and to give long soulful stares. Towards the end of the series, I fond myself constantly rolling my eyes.

All that said, the 1st season is really good. I have a love/hate relationship with this show. I recommend that you watch the 1st season, but pretend that the 2nd and 3rd seasons don't exist.
33 out of 41 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
The big things and the little things don't follow the same rules
nelsonreismonteiro21 July 2020
To add to all other 10/10 reviews, I will tell you my personal take.

This show challenged my thoughts and emotions, and not always in a pleasant way. Behind all the plot and puzzles, its themes truly makes me reflect about meaning of life and drags me to uncomfortable places. And believe it or not, it feels good. Paradox!?

I would love to be on the writers room to see how they planned, wrote and executed this project. I would love to pass through the experience from the other side. Maybe I should create a time machine for it.

Thanks to everyone that took the risk to allow, work and help them to bring their vison to reality. You have done a magnificent work.

Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese thank you and congratulations for your masterpiece. You wrote your name in history!
16 out of 19 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
5/10
Absolutely adore the first season.
moustachepimp6 September 2021
I personally love the first season of dark and have watched it three times. I regard it as some of the best tv ever made. However I feel like what the themes, the feel, and the writing were of the first season was not carried on into the subsequent seasons. The mysteries set up in the first first season were not resolved, or revealed satisfyingly, and concepts became more zany and less grounded as the show went on. Season 2 I could enjoy even though I could feel something was off. When I watched episode 6, that felt the most like season 1, I started to clue in that this was not at the same level as season 1 was for me. Season 3 was by far the worst. The whole season was pretty bland, the reveals had no eureka moments to them, and I thought the ending and ultimate reveal was lame and lazy writing.
17 out of 27 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
Masterpiece!
andyolivares3 July 2019
I rarely write a review but this is truly a masterpiece. Excellent storytelling without holes in the plot or weird artifacts to fill a gap. You can see how hard the writers worked to create a coherent story. Keeps you intrigued the whole time.

The best part is that season 2 is as good as the first one. Take that HBO!

One of the best shows I've seen in a while. Kudos Netflix and keep up the good work!
498 out of 568 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
Insanity captivate
aydin-jd3 July 2019
I tend to analyze things to bits and find a lot of si-fy movies/series have been dumbed-down or childish. Dark, seasons 1&2 have been outstanding so far. Acting, directing, and cinematography are excellent. You need to follow the dialogues closely and pay attention to subtle hints/gestures. In today's trend of fast-food approach towards everything, this is very refreshing.

I highly recommend watching it.
185 out of 207 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
It's too good as a whole and After S3 it is all time best
tashdid-5455829 June 2020
The story as a whole is mind bending. You can never imagine what can happen next. The cinematography and acting is spot on. It has most satisfying and a bit complicated ending as well... Season 3 just made it a thing to remember...
102 out of 112 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
9/10
Dark, gritty and interesting.
lanycera1 December 2017
I can't agree with the reviewer before me. They are not trying to copy Stranger Things, and I don't want to go into 'copying' at all - because Stranger Things has parallels to a few games, movies and books that have been popular before it was even in the making.

'Dark' is slow paced in the beginning, but it keeps you on the edge of your seat. It is tense, the cinematography and acting is great. There is so much more depth to it than the mentioned Stranger Things. It's not bloated with special effects and didn't have a Hollywood budget. This is how TV should be. It has got a Donnie Darko feeling to it.

I guess the majority of people complaining about the pace would also complain about Blade Runner 2049 or Interstellar...so please, just stick to Marvel movies. :)
1,174 out of 1,362 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
Superb
craigf506 July 2019
Abdolutely tremendous show! Original and keeps you hooked throughout. The characters are so complex and the acting is excellent. One of the best shows I have seen. Can't stop recommending it to family and friends. Love it.
180 out of 202 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
How is this show not the highest rated TV show out there..!!!
cfsmarandi16 June 2020
This show made me write my first review on IMDB... I must say this show is beyond incredible, truly and genuinely a masterpiece... Everything about this show is just perfect, the story, the casting, the acting everything is perfect...
85 out of 93 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
7/10
Drawn out
public2-627-81089311 October 2021
The premises are clear at the beginning of the second season. The only new pieces of information come at the end of the third season. During the one and a half seasons in between, we see the characters struggle against their fate. A struggle that is ultimately futile since the characters do not have agency: we know since the beginning of the second season that everything is predestinated. Watching the characters fight with their inevitable fate becomes boring mid-second season, because we already know where it'll end. Some small twists are revealed, but fundamentally the story is standing still. This changes in the show's last episode, in which a loophole is introduced that allows the story (and its characters) to progress. The end makes sense and if fulfilling, but should've come earlier.
10 out of 11 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
the atmosphere
Kirpianuscus12 August 2019
It represents the best part of a wise crafted serie. In same measure,the serie is a portrait of a community. And great plot, defined more by nuances than by colors. A serie about webs of past. And about reconciliation with yourself. Travels, questions, a large puzzle. And a profound good serie about shadows, people and truth.
27 out of 37 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
5/10
Not sure if I watched the same show
masta_maze14 August 2021
Dark was extremely good in the first season when it started as a drama/ thriller with some supernatural elements. I was hooked. But it went downhill so fast in season 2 and 3. I always had the feeling the writers couldn't decide where to go and at the same time wanted too much. So it became more and more messy. It's a perfect example for shows that became victim to their own success. As the writers wanted more and more to deliver something special and unexpected, they expanded the plot of season 1 to more and more time levels and dimensions to get a mixture of butterfly effect and lost that didn't work out. As I am from Germany myself I know that it's a common thing here to exaggerate, overdo and overact in tv shows and movies. That's why most german shows are crap or become crap over time.

I rate Dark a solid 9 for The first season, 4 for Season 2 and 2 for season 3.
20 out of 34 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
If I could rate it 11/10, I would
tnjmehta29 June 2020
One hell of a mind-bending, but at the same time, soul-soothing journey. A must watch for all Sci-Fi lovers.
84 out of 92 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
I am speechless after watching season 2
bader-you21 June 2019
Sorry I can't express my feelings after watching season 2 , it's masterpiece
516 out of 595 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
A gaze to the abyss. Die Dunkelheit
briefexistance12 December 2017
THIS is the best fking tv show I've seen since true detective's first season. I can't believe how good it is. Beautiful photography, scenarios, costumes, thrilling atmospheric music (gives the chills!!), amazing performances and above everything: perfect beautifully (wunderbar!) storyline.

This is the freaking example, Hollywood. You don't need lots of money and Fx to do a decent story (or in this case, a poetic masterpiece). You just have to portray it, with every resource you have: visually, musically, with dialogue (but not the only one, don't abuse it!).

Every separate plot it's intrincally intertwined. It happens so smoothly it's never forced. Anything. As long as I can remember I never had a "cringe" moment like most shows has. In every episode i was at the edge of my seat. This is how you make a thriller, please, PLEAAAASE take a note, storywriters.

I'm so sad we probably have to wait a year or more to see the possible season 2. I don't have the proper words, it's been an amazing delightful surprise to have the pleasures to see this. Also, German it's one of the most beautiful languages, I love hearing it! We have such dense Nitzschean philosophy everywhere, I could totally smell the darkness. I love this kind of stories, with time travel and meaning of life as a central subject of the story. Determinism? Free will?. Maybe this is why I loved it so much. This show never treats its public with disrespect. They tell you what you need to know when it's appropriate. I love it.

Never an American production could make this dark nihilist hell. I'm glad Netflix is giving us a new cinematic adventure, never could been better. I think it's netflix' best show ever made. Yeah, not even your super loved- big fan base- stranger things does justice to this beautiful masterpiece. Not. even. close. Leave it for the children.

In a word: Perfection!! I hope keep seeing this quality Netflix!
574 out of 667 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
Dark is gonna blow your mind! It's not a series, but an art.
dean-92308-5125723 June 2019
Trust me, this series is one of the finest that I have seen in my life. You really need to watch each and every scene closely and keep track of all the characters. Though, it is gonna mess up with your mind because of it's complexity, but the writing and direction is so excellent that all your questions will be answered eventually. 10/10 to director for executing such a complex story in such a magnificent way. Do yourself a favour by watching it in German as acting is just top notch by all the characters. Changing the audio would kill the mood. I thought season 1 was too good for your eyes to see but seaaon 2 just blew my mind. If you are a fan of movies such as Shutter island, The prestige, Predestination etc. then just go and watch it. This is gonna surprise you in a big way.
260 out of 298 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
7/10
Original & well made
Deux_Vega20 November 2022
The first 2 seasons were very memorable. Hard to follow at times, especially If you took a break from watching. The ambient sound and the dark & gritty vibe added to the suspense and the acting is generally very good. The storytelling is a bit one-dimensional, which Is kind of funny considering the subject, but It's also necessary to keep track on what's going on.

So, all epic and great, until season 3 happened. To me that's where I lost interest. It didn't make much sense anymore and had a hard time following It and whether their assumptions were still solid or not. It became a bit far-fetched only to kind of make the same point season 2 already made.
26 out of 33 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
An error has occured. Please try again.

See also

Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews


Recently Viewed