Akash Singh | Contributor
Featured image: Netflix’s first German-language series showcases a thrilling mystery that rightfully sets itself apart from the likes of Stranger Things. | Courtesy of Netflix
Netflix’s first German-language series, Dark, has generated a lot of buzz as a result of its similarities to another popular show, Stranger Things. However, Dark rightfully sets itself apart from the likes of its predecessors.
The series takes place in the bleak town of Winden, Germany. The show opens with local children mysteriously disappearing, and despite the efforts of local authorities and residents, these children are never found again. From there, the audience is introduced to the central cast, who are desperate to find out why this is happening.
The format of the show follows one perspective to the next as the characters try to uncover the truth behind the strange events in their town, which they come to realize have been taking place for quite some time.
This is a significant part of the story, as there are many characters for the viewer to keep track of. However, each character plays a crucial role in the narrative of the show, so it doesn’t feel as if spending time with a certain character is a waste, as they’re all involved in one way or another.
At the same time, Dark establishes its main themes within the first few episodes, so certain events become obvious early on in the show. However, this doesn’t take away from the thrill of the unnerving suspense awaiting viewers—they are still unaware of the full story.
The show’s cinematography and audio should be given praise, as they are the groundwork for the story’s grim tone. The visuals are crisp, capturing the phantasmic landscapes surrounding Winden, building the haunting vibe of a town trapped within a nightmare.
The composer, Ben Frost, has done a fantastic job in creating a soundtrack that complements the show’s tone.
Anita Khan, a fourth-year Kinesiology student, usually doesn’t watch shows in a foreign language, but gave Dark a shot and was hooked her from the very first episode.
“There seems to be a lot of plot twists and characters with different backgrounds,” Khan says. “It’s also the kind of story where you don’t know what’s going to happen next and if you try to guess, you’re usually wrong.”
The show has frequently been compared to Stranger Things, as they have similar stories, but Dark is ultimately meant for a mature audience, due to its explicit content and complex storyline.
While mostly serving as popcorn entertainment, Stranger Things thrives on incorporating comedy to an otherwise suspenseful story with elements of horror, while Dark focuses on delivering a mysterious and thought-provoking tale that wants viewers to analyze what’s happening on the screen, rather than just watching for the sake of entertainment.
Dark’s pacing is slower, so more time is taken to effectively introduce each of the characters and flesh them out.
Farhnaz Fazli, a third-year Biology student, found Dark to be an amazing show that she plans to continue watching.
“It has a Stranger Things feel, but at the same time it’s very unique. Certain twists throughout the story definitely makes this show different from anything I’ve ever seen.”
Regardless of certain similarities to other shows, Dark is a successful attempt by Netflix at delivering a German series to North America. With only 10 episodes, each around an hour in length, this series is sure to satisfy a desire to binge-watch, and the show’s various elements from the plot to the visuals make this a viewing experience like no other.
