Dark is an enigmatic German thriller science fiction series co-created by Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese. So if you're looking for shows like Dark then you've come to the right place.
Considered one of Netflix's top series, it is the platform's first German serial and has won fans worldwide.
The story follows the characters of the fictional village of Winden, Germany, as they pursue the truth following the mysterious disappearance of a child.
The vanishing ultimately exposes the secrets and hidden connections between four local families, who slowly unravel a sinister time-travel conspiracy that runs for several generations.
As more children begin to go missing, the town goes on alert, and investigations look back to similar events that occurred 33 years and 66 years ago.
The families find themselves trapped in a web of mysteries involving a mysterious cave, a suspicious nuclear power plant and a strange man who newly arrived in town.
Throughout the show, Dark explores the existential implications of time and its effects on human nature.
If you like mystery series filled with improbable plots and scenarios, you'll want to check out the list of eight shows like Dark that we've put together for you.
Enter the world of Strangers Things, one of Netflix's most popular series and one of the most comparable to Dark. With a similar premise of the disappearance of a child, enter the world of the supernatural and follow a group of friends on the exhaustive search for a missing group member.
How about three siblings who having been moved to the unsettling mountain town of Curon by their mother, set out to find her when she disappears.
Don't miss our list of excellent shows like Dark that will bring you hours of entertainment. If you have any other suggestions, don't hesitate to leave them in the comments below.
OUR LIST OF SHOWS LIKE DARK
Stranger Things
Stranger Things is a science fiction / horror mash-up with large slab-like doses of 80s nostalgia. Think of a grown-up version of Goonies and you're on the right track!
Curon
Curon is an Italian supernatural drama that throws in a bit of horror for good measure. Having been moved to the unsettling mountain town of Curon by their mother, the teens set out to find her when she disappears.
Black Summer
If you loved The Walking Dead, then you'll enjoy Black Summer. It takes the best elements of the Zombie genre and spins a compelling tale of survival in a post-apocalyptic landscape.
Archive 81
In Archive 81, Dan is a skilled restorer tasked with repairing fire damaged footage shot in 1994 about an apartment building that burned down in mysterious circumstances. But what strange things is he really seeing in the tapes in this Sci-Fi thrille...[Read More]
Black Spot
If you're a fan of shows like The Bridge, Trapped or The Killing, then French offering, Black Spot, is definitely one for you. Laurène Weiss is the Captain of a small police force in Villefranche, a mountainous town surrounded by a dense forest and o...[Read More]
Homecoming
Heidi Bergman is a therapist at a live-in facility called Homecoming, designed to rehabilitate veterans when they return home. But four years later, and with no real memory of her time there, she discovers the real reasons why she left.
Snowpiercer
In a post-apocalyptic world, all that is left of humanity is on board Snowpiercer, a 1001 carriage train that is divided by the haves and the have-nots. A thriller/drama that that takes a few episodes to get in to.
The Haunting Of Hill House
Hill House feeds on the lives of those that live there and now the fractured Crain family must confront the disturbing and horrifying memories of their old home when the past comes back to haunt them. A perfectly crafted, traumatic rollercoaster of a...[Read More]
How Many Seasons Does Dark Have?
Dark is Netflix's first German-language original series and premiered in December 2017. Following positive reviews, the second season was renewed and released in June 2019.
In the launch trailer for the second season, the series was announced as a story told in three cycles, and the third and final season was released a year later, in June 2020.
Thus, the series ended with three seasons, with a total of 26 episodes.
How Good Is Dark's Soundtrack?
As well as having an incredible story, Dark features an extraordinary compilation of artists in its musical portfolio over the three seasons.
From existing songs from the 80s to contemporary indie artists, the series has created a vast and powerful soundtrack.
The opening theme for the episodes was “Goodbye” by Apparat in collaboration with Soap&Skin. The songs of the vocal ensemble Roomful of Teeth were also featured strongly in several episodes.
The third movement of Caroline Shaw's Partita for 8 Voices was featured in the first season. In addition, several songs by famous artists were brilliantly coupled with each scene, adding further suspense and mystery to the series.
Why Is Dark So Popular?
Dark is an intriguing show full of mystery and drama. The unique storyline, wrapped in conspiracy, time travel and plenty of plot, keeps the viewer's attention on screen from beginning to end.
The characters are complex and well-developed. At every moment, the series shows us how the concept of good and evil are mere simplifications that we build.
It is difficult to fully sympathise with any character since most of them have some dark secrets. Dark is not a story of villains but humans acting according to their own interests.
Besides its brilliant story and incredible performances, the series is also highly well-produced.
Visually, all the sets are built to live up to their name. The colours are dull and grey, the atmosphere is dark and depressing, and something always seems to be hiding in the cold Winden forests or the typical torrential rain of the episodes.
The temporal setting is also a highlight of the work, featuring scenes in three different eras, where the attention to detail is impressive.
The scene cuts also have a didactic function, mainly to show the same characters at other times or cause and consequence relationships between events we watch.
Despite being initially compared to Stranger Things, the series has gained fame for its complex plot and themes involving time travel and physics concepts.
Dark was voted as Netflix's best series in a poll conducted by the website Rotten Tomatoes, beating Stranger Things itself and the also acclaimed Black Mirror.
Dark received critical acclaim, with praise for its tone, visuals, acting, casting, musical score, and the ambition and complexity of its narrative.
It won the Grimme-Preis award, the most important award in German television, and in 2021, BBC Culture ranked Dark as the 58th greatest TV series of the 21st century.
For sure, a series not to miss!
