Dark (TV series)

Dark
Season 1 promotional poster
Genre
Created by
Showrunners
  • Baran bo Odar
  • Jantje Friese
Written by
  • Jantje Friese
  • Ronny Schalk
  • Marc O. Seng
  • Martin Behnke
  • Daphne Ferraro
Directed byBaran bo Odar
StarringSee below
Theme music composerApparat
Opening theme"Goodbye" by Apparat (featuring Soap&Skin)[4]
ComposerBen Frost
Country of originGermany
Original languages
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes26
Production
Executive producers
  • Justyna Müsch
  • Jantje Friese
  • Quirin Berg
  • Max Wiedemann
  • Abraham Davies
Production locationGermany
CinematographyNikolaus Summerer[5]
Running time44–73 minutes
Production companyWiedemann & Berg Television
Original release
NetworkNetflix
Release1 December 2017 (2017-12-01) –
27 June 2020 (2020-06-27)
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

Dark is a German science fiction thriller television series co-created by the couple Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese.[5][6][7] It ran for three seasons from 2017 to 2020. 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 2017 on Netflix; it is the service's first German-language original series. The second season was released on 21 June 2019,[8][9] while the third and final season was released on 27 June 2020.[10][11]

Dark has received universal 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 awarded and nominated for several prestigious awards. In 2021, the BBC ranked the series as the 58th greatest TV series of the 21st century.[12]

The series has gained a significant international following, especially after it was dubbed and subtitled in multiple languages, making it one of Netflix’s most successful non-English-language original series.

  1. ^ Teti, Julia (19 June 2019). "Finding the Greek Drama in Netflix's dark". Film School Rejects. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  2. ^ Nguyen, Hanh (23 June 2019). "Dark: Season 2's Insane Ending and All the Burning Questions Season 3 Needs to Answer". Indiewire. Retrieved 4 February 2020. Dark is a modern-day sci-fi Greek tragedy.
  3. ^ Ruiz, Nicolás (21 December 2017). "Reseña: Dark – Cuando Netflix hace ciencia ficción en serio". Retrieved 4 February 2020. With Dark, Netflix related a complex world of time travel with the intricate symbolism of alchemy and the foundational principles of greek tragedy.
  4. ^ Renfro, Kim (11 December 2017). "Netflix's new series Dark has a terrific and unique soundtrack – here are all the best songs featured". Insider. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  5. ^ a b "Dark, The First Netflix Original Series Produced In Germany Commences Principal Photography". Netflix Media Center. 18 October 2016. Archived from the original on 3 February 2018. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  6. ^ "Netflix Drops Teaser for New German Series Dark". ComingSoon.net. 1 March 2017. Archived from the original on 7 March 2017. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
  7. ^ Netflix (4 October 2017). "Dark Teaser [HD]". Retrieved 4 October 2017 – via YouTube.
  8. ^ Shepherd, Jack (21 December 2017). "Dark renewed for season 2 by Netflix". The Independent. Archived from the original on 27 June 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  9. ^ @DarkNetflixDE (26 April 2019). "DARK Season 2 comes out June 21st!" (Tweet). Retrieved 26 April 2019 – via Twitter.
  10. ^ Gelman, Vlada (30 May 2019). "TVLine Items: Monica Potter's New Series, Netflix's Dark to End and More". TVLine. Archived from the original on 18 July 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  11. ^ Grater, Tom (26 May 2020). "Dark Season 3: Netflix Dates Final Entry In Time-Twisting German Original; Watch Debut Trailer". Deadline. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  12. ^ "The 100 greatest TV series of the 21st Century". BBC Culture. 18 October 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021.