Parents' Guide to

Dark

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Eerie German series is violent and disturbing -- it's dark.

TV Netflix Science Fiction 2017
Dark Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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age 17+

Based on 8 parent reviews

Sky N.
Sky N. Parent of 2, 4 and 8-year-old
May 18, 2023
age 18+

Not worth it. Definitely not for under 18.

This show lives up to its name. It’s definitely dark. There is a lot in the show that never gets explained. Lots of sex and naked teens. Everyone is cheating…. Do not let a child under 18 watch this. I can’t believe one of the reviews let their 12 year old watch it Swiss or not, that’s just bad parenting. A child should never be exposed to these scenes. Very graphic violence as well and some very disturbing images. Multiple suicides, people dead hanging from trees. The list goes on and on.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Silvan M.
Silvan M. Parent of 12 and 15-year-old
February 19, 2023
age 14+

Great show, but needs parental guidance

Our daughter is 12, and she watched it with us. I wouldn't let her watch it alone, though, mainly because of the complex storytelling. There are sex scenes, but they are not too graphic for a Swiss person. There is some graphic violence, but not too much. Watching it was a great family event, leading to many interesting discussions with our kids.
See all 8 parent reviews

What's the Story?

The first German original series produced for Netflix, DARK is a dramatic, supernatural mystery about some missing children and a town's dark history. It's 2019, and teenager Jonas (Louis Hofmann) has returned after spending some time in a mental hospital to help him cope with his father's suicide. Now back in his small town of Winden, which is known for being near a problematic nuclear power plant, he learns that his classmate Erik has been missing for almost two weeks. Meanwhile, his mother (Maja Schöne) is having an affair with the police chief, Ulrich Nielsen (Oliver Masucci). But when Jonas and his friends decide to search in the woods for something that Erik may have left behind, Chief Nielsen's son Mikkel (Daan Lennard Liebrenz) also disappears. As investigator Charlotte Doppler (Karoline Eichhorn) works the investigation, strangers and corpses begin appearing around town, and odd phenomena continue to occur. Meanwhile, Winden's older residents begin sensing that history is repeating itself. As the community wrestles with what's happening, secrets are uncovered, and how four families are connected to the crimes and to each other is slowly revealed.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (8):
Kids say (29):

This ominous series features an overarching story that starts out slow and difficult to follow but becomes worthwhile as it unfolds. The mixture of murder, mystery, and supernatural elements raises more questions than it does answers. While this serves to pull in audiences, the show's odd and sometimes disturbingly emotionless vibe creates a sense of apprehension that isn't easy to let go of.

Certain elements of the series feel similar to shows like Stranger Things and The OA, but Dark is unique enough to hold its own. However, the sheer number of characters in the story makes it frustratingly difficult to fully understand what drives them. Certain details of the story get a little muddled with the translation, too. Nonetheless, it succeeds at telling a strange story that is eerily entertaining.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the differences between shows produced for U.S. audiences vs. those produced for audiences from other countries. Why would a show that worked very well for U.S. audiences not appeal to audiences from other countries (and vice versa)?

  • What makes a series like Dark appealing? Is it the sense of foreboding or confusion it creates? The lack of answers? Do you think the violent imagery is necessary? Why or why not?

TV Details

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