As a German I tend to avoid German movies and shows, as their quality rarely is convincing. But I was constantly confronted with the hype surrounding Dark, so I gave it a chance.
Season One was okayish, not spectacular though. Time travels, some mystery. Nothing we hadn't already seen.
Season Two was actually very good, had several emotional highlights.
Season Three was imho a clusterfuck but for some reason beloved by almost everyone else.
But seriously, besides the rare emotional moments this series was an endless series of people gaining knowledge either by someone else telling them for various and absurd reasons or gaining it directly out of nowhere.
Example: How the hell did Claudia learn about the third world? How does she know what initiated the process in that third world? Yeah, "she figured it out over 33 years". Marvelous.
It's also an endless series of "We have to repeat all these things again to reach a distant point where we might change something about it."
These two elements are pretty much half of the series.
The rest are fillers of people being dumb and/or evil.
So I'll rate this 7/10, for season 2. I wouldn't recommend the show though.
It's a small town drama centered around a child disappearance, with some detective/mystery elements and the occasional sci-fi element in the first half of the season, and then the sci-fi/time travel element is prominent a lot more in the second half.
It's not at all the grand thing everyone praises it to be.
While a lot of time travel stories are unncessarily overly-complex, and this is no exception, it does manage to weave most of it's plot threads and elements together decent enough.
One of the problems is that there's sometimes too many characters, and it's combined with multiple time periods, that most of the characters don't get the focus that they need. And most if not all of them are not likeable.
For example, the show quickly introduces boring teenage drama and an affair plot. I hate these, because most stories involving them are rubbish. And you put them in a time travel plot? No.
What makes it worse, is that there's quite a bit of teenage drama and focus on affairs/love triangles. Stupid.
There even highschool drama in multiple time periods. They even throw in an obsession plot.
There simply isn't much time travel plot being weaved in the show in the first half, and so most of what's left is small town drama. So both the small town drama and the time travel stuff end up not being that interesting.
The plot is stretched out. The romance/relationship storylines are boring.
There's not a lot of intelligence in regards to the time travel or dialogue. It's sometimes boringly predictable or generic.
Too many questions are raised and not enough answers, And often the answers we do get are stupid. There's also too much cryptic dialogue. Some cryptic dialogue is ok to do, but when you too much you look arrogant.
The first half of the season focuses more on the small town drama than the case about children being taken and killed. And yeah part of the small town drama is connected to the time travel shenanigans, but it's not a lot connected to what you are witnessing. It's just boring normal drama for most of the season. They wasted a lot of the potential.
The storyline goes into some strange and dumb directions, not even related to the time travel, like the obsession plot.
The method of time travel in the show is also kinda stupid, It reminds me of the method in Back to the Future, but without the cool factor, and in that movie it was all about a whacky adventure and having fun with light sci-fi elements, so it worked. Here it just seems dumb, where it's all about the serious atmosphere. It feels similar to the same method of time travel as Back to the Future, except in this show it's crawling down a tunnel and opening a hatch and then you've time travelled. The other method is a device that makes a portal that makes you time travel. That's it. Oh and it was built by someone in the 20th century with 20th century parts. Oh and only he can make it. As bad as that is, it gets worse later on, as it's revealed he didn't really make it, but was delivered the plans by someone else in the future. Or something. Ugh.
Most Recommended, #1 on my list.
A really worth watching with almost every emotion perfectly gathered with a really awesome story.
Drama, Thrill, Love, Suspense, Science Fiction and what not. :heart:
Its strange. Really strange. Intricate. Convoluted. Difficult to keep track of initially but later you have that moment of clarity and things start connecting. I only have one lingering question. Who killed Laura Palmer?
You need to watch 7 episodes at least before appreciating the show,AND learn all the names of the characters from the beginning or you will be lost
First of all. this show is not all sci fi
1 1/2 episodes was more than enough. Plenty of shock noise/music every so often to make sure you're awake or to 'scare' you.
None of the characters are interesting and the story is just meh.
Have no idea why so many people on Trakt love this, but then lots love CSI, the Kardashians and Big Brother so there's no accounting for bad taste.
0/10
Do yourself a favour and stop watching at the end of Season 2. Season 3 is pretty much trash and the ending is awful.
Cast 4/5
Artistry 3/5
What a journey. What a marvelous journey.
After first season I thought the show was needlessly complicated with its ever shifting perspectives, jumping from marital problems of one family to marital problems of another family to various other people and their problems, so on and so forth. I just wanted to follow Jonas, unravel the mystery along with him.
How narrow minded was that thinking.
Dark is a show unlike any other, regardless of the genre. It's not the intricate family tree and the myriad of characters that each have their own part to play in the story, big or small. It's not the seemingly wrong understanding of paradoxes that the show seems to embrace from the get go nor the philosophical themes it tackles throughout. It's how all of it falls into place when the crucial piece of information is revealed in the late stages of the third season, one that puts all the aforementioned pieces in the right place to form a complete puzzle that is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. That's when the intricacy and what I wrongly believed to be needless complication take its true form, a storytelling masterpiece.
When creative freedom is handed to creative people, they create a show like Dark. If that conclusion is the only one Netflix brass conclude from this show, the future of their platform is bright. Dark is developed with foresight, planned out from first to third season with a concrete beginning, middle and an end, all of it executed flawlessly... and it shows.
Among many other themes it tackles, Dark is the Romeo and Juliet story of the 21st century, and the 19th and the 20th. It's a tragic story of loss and futile attempts to change the past while making the same mistakes over and over again. It's also a heartwarming love story, one anchored in family, other between a boy and a girl. One gives a warm and pure sense of fulfillment, the other leaves a bitter taste in your mouth.
A perfect match. Never believe anything else.
This show won't be for everyone, but if you like deep and detailed sci fi, this is a near must see. Let's start by saying that this story is COMPLEX. Honestly, I recommend reviewing a summary between seasons just to confirm that you fully understand the specifics of the relationships. On that note, it is also worth noting that this is viewed with an English dubbing in the US and that will deter some. Aside from those two things, the production quality and attention to details in the story from season one thru season three is really a spectacle to admire. I think the only things I can compare it to is somewhere between Westworld and Stranger Things but focused on time travel. Knowing how everything ends, I do expect to return to the story from the beginning at some point in the future. I am curious if I can pick up on and appreciate more of the nuances now that I have a firmer grasp on how everything is related to one another. Anyways, interesting show with unique storytelling mechanics, and I do recommend if you have a long attention span and like the concept.
Average Season Review: 8.33/10
Recommendation: At Least Give it a Whirl (For Complex Sci-Fi Fans)
Bit of a letdown and too slow for my liking, but I'm gonna (low-key) miss this show. I know I am.
An interesting idea and a promising start, but, unfortunately, the story becomes too confusing by the second season, and too boring by the third season (the great final episode is a good exception). For me it was hard to keep tracking which actor plays which character in which time because of the number of characters and the excessive number of time-jumps in the storyline. Perhaps, either reducing the number of characters, or making the storyline more linear could help there. Anyway, the series worth a watch.
Brilliant series with superb character development, great screenplay, awesome audio and an excellent take on the subject of reality and time travel. It's story arc completion in three seasons is exactly right, doing the story justice without dragging it out. A series that makes you think.
I am not sure where the disconnect is between the first two seasons and the third.
In the first two seasons, there were clear and concise story paths that were complex but thorough in sculpting the web-like story line. Nearly every time there was a twist or a turn in the plot, it was seemingly valid and relevant to the story. This is one of those rare shows that appeared to be water-tight, perfectly engineered and constructed...
...and then season three started.
Apparently the original story line was replaced with gimmicks and intentional confusion. It appeared as though they scrapped the story-boards and writers and decided to replace them with an improv writing team on set. The editing team, I assume, was somehow contractually obligated to use all of the tools in their new video effects software suite.
I cannot rave about the first two seasons enough. This was about as near to perfect of a series as I have ever watched. If it weren't for the fact that I sadly needed closure to the story line, I would recommend stopping at the end of season two. Unfortunately, you will have to wade through looooooong drawn-out scenes of characters just staring at each other for painful lengths of time to get to the conclusion of the series. It stopped being entertaining from the very beginning of the third season and was riddled with hollow plot devices and unnecessary drama as though they were just trying to eat time off of the clock.
I am not attempting to do a smear-piece on this series, 2/3 of it truly was a masterpiece. I hope to find another series that is as well crafted and engaging as the first two seasons of DARK. With that, I hope its creative integrity isn't compromised should I ever be so lucky to find another.
First season masterpiece
Second season very very good
Trird season what's this shit
Too bad, a great idea in fist and second season developed poorly in the last season.
I expected a lot more disappointment for me. The story is good, but the processing, directing, etc. It's very weak or rather very bad and I don't understand how this series can have such a high rating. with closed eyes I rate 6 out of 10 and only for the story otherwise I would give 5 out of 10 It's a pity that such a good looking series spoiled like this, but what to expect from Netflix I have not seen anything good from them, not even in terms of movies 90% is bad mainly because they want such money for it. Sorry my English is bad.
Great show, I didn't feel much on the third season, but it felt super rewarding for the last 3 episodes. And the "Dark" title isn't that fitting, IMO. It should be called "The Knot" instead, or something like that, it'd make even more sense and more tone, I guess! I'm placing it under spoilers out of respect for those who may think it is a spoiler, but I honestly think it would be a better title for this one!
Phenomenal. Will go down in history as one of the best series of all time. Many of the show's flaws can even be seamlessly corrected through a remastering. This is a series not only worth a-list voiceovers but, ironically, one most will probably still need the subtitles for, in order to keep track of the puzzles.
If you like mysteries, you'll like this show.
If you like time-travel, you'll like this show.
This show is very well done. Writing, acting, visuals. The first season only has minimal time-travel in it. Season 2 ramps it up a bit. But season 3 ... hold on to your hats!! Time-travel is fast and furious. Sometimes it is a bit hard to keep track of who is who in which era. I will definitely have to rewatch this show a couple more times to get really comfortable/understand with all the time-traveling elements and the complicated relationships. But it's definitely worth it.
One of the greatest shows ever! Watch only if you are interested in time travel, wormhole and stuffs like that
What a wonderful tv series.
My daughter is also her mother, and there is no paradox, full score
So the ending was definitely rushed, likely because they didn't get renewed for a season 4..... that said, I think it ended beautifully. This is the level of satisfaction I was hoping for with something like Lost... but on Dark, I actually got it.
DARK S02 (2019) REVIEW ⏱
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:scroll: Plot : A family saga with a supernatural twist, set in a German town Winden, where the disappearance of two young children exposes the relationships among four families and leads to unconventional happenings.
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:man:⚖ Review : After S01, S02 is still bizzare but most addictive at the same time. The characters evolve, drama and tension and Mysteries unravel like none you have seen in S01. Science Fiction at its exhilarating best. This seasons draws more towards the inevitable apocalypse which all wants to avoid. It's Still creepy and confusing but engaging as always. . Characters do not typically have conflicts or goals beyond trying to figure out what’s going on. But that search for answers is all the dramatic impetus a show like Dark needs.
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:thumbsup:Goods : The Narrative on how everything is linked keeps you on edge of your seats throughout.
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:thumbsdown: Bads : It's Addictive.
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:fire: Final Rating : 9/10
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:white_check_mark: Recommendation : S03 Out on June 27, 2020. You won't want to miss this one.
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DARK (2017) S01 REVIEW ⏱
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:scroll: Plot : A family saga with a supernatural twist, set in a German town Winden, where the disappearance of two young children exposes the relationships among four families and leads to unconventional happenings.
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:man:⚖ Review : Dark by Netflix is a German show is arguably the best of scripts turned reality in reel world. Dark is difficult to watch but at the same time infectious enough to stop watching it. The Mystery and Eerie Environment and the Goofy Background Music elevates the atmosphere around you and keeps you hooked. Though the story takes time to set it's tone but leaves you with questions and more questions after each episode which you become desperate to get answers for. The narrative demands your patience and your brain. It's a show where you make your own theories to predict the next twist. Dark is a puzzle to be solved. Dark is gripping, captivating and true to its title.
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:thumbsup:Goods : The Narrative of script by Baran bo odar is magnificent. The Screenplay and Cinematography with the Outstanding BGM Sets the mood from get go.
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:thumbsdown: Bads : Tests your patience. Not a Entertaining Show but a Challenging show to understand and deep dive into.
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:fire: Final Rating : 8.5/10
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:white_check_mark: Recommendation : A Must Watch for someone who is looking for something fresh and unique. A Brilliant Show.. Season 2 Here I Come..
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awesome but I don't get it why everyone predicted 2020 to be the end of the world well
end is coming xdxd
27 June 2020
will update if nothing happens :)
The show stands out to describe as a fusion between Stranger Things and True Detective. Great show, great music, great actors performances.
.GREAT SERIES ONE OF MY TOP 5 FOR SUBJECT SPACE TIME TRAVEL .ACTING VERY GOOD IS WORTH TO SEE
The show is a bit of a brain teaser and it can be hard to remember the characters and their relationships. It's a great show to watch if you like to analyze a story and its characters. It's probably not a good show to watch if you're looking for mind numbing content that's easy to watch while half asleep.
The production quality and acting are great. The writing is phenomenal considering the complexity involved, and how many other shows screw up similar themes. The end of season 2 opens up season 3 to even increased complexity, which runs the risk of the writers making a mess of things. Still, they've done a great job so far so if anyone is going to do it right, it's probably them.
One of the best shows on Netflix.
anxiously waiting for season 3 :see_no_evil:
Finished season one. Great show, really well put with heavy atmosphere all along with music that keeps you on your toes. The series focus a great deal on visual and audio. Best to watch it on big screen with good speakers or headset.
The dialogues aren't that fast so the subtitles were easy to follow.
I think it would have been best to have a couple less episodes in the season. At some point, with so much clues you can already guess some twists. Some scenes were a tad too long for my taste.
The cast is phenomenal, the characters and their different versions are so akin, it's almost disturbing, the best I have seen. Great production overall.
Each episode was raw, riveting, emotional. The actors and actresses were cast perfectly against their past and future selves. The plot starts slow and dials up by the mid of season one, heating up to a feverish pace at the end of Season two. It is one of tv's finest/smartest/deepest shows/foreign shows ever. The writers and director/s really knoecked it out of this world! Litterally! I pray Season 3 comes soon and beyond!!
Magnificent ! I did a binge watching. The only negative point of this series is that you have to stay focused all the time. A moment of distraction and we quickly lose the thread between the different versions of the characters. Despite certain temporal paradoxes, this series is devoured. Highly season 3
daaamn season two has so much into it that i can't think of anymore things that they can do for this show
I have a complaint. This series keeps your eyes glued to the screen, and won't let go! I just loved it. I keep searching for good quality sci-fi, and most times when there's nothing to watch, Netflix delivers! There was Russian Doll, and now, the second season of this wonderful series. This season feels a lot more polished, a lot better edited, and a much tighter leash on the overall storytelling adds that much more of a zing. Now need to go get some shut-eye before Stranger things drops next month ;)
Waiting for the new season.
Basically, Dark is the Futurama episode Roswell That Ends Well...
I really love this show. Hope there will be a 2nd season!
Well...just finished the first episode and do have to say that you shouldn’t let the language matter close your mind! Very impressive series actually! ;)
Review by chillikunBlockedParent2023-01-02T17:53:32Z
I consider myself an educated viewer than can grasp complicated plots but to even then was confusing at times with ever changing timelines and cast for the same character ; on top of that when a new world was introduced it was even agastly
S1 started well with mystery missing children and the overlapping timeliness with bodies dropping by and a mystery on what purpose they were killed with main purpose to graps the changes in Wisden !!
S2 started to overall all three timelines and despite the complications it seem to go somewhere with a mission to find an origin to undo the apocalypse
S3 is where it unhinges with overlapping works and Adam & Eve fighting for supermacy it gets boring and confusing at the same time and i gaveup on understanding the reason and just winged it from here
I spent my New Years weekend of 2023 hoping to watch a critically acclaimed masterpiece but I would have rather traded with something cheeerful and honestly didnt think it would take me 4 days to finish this show.