Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Eerie German series is violent and disturbing -- it's dark.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Dark
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 9 parent reviews
Based on 35 kid reviews
Kids say this is a complex and gripping series that is best suited for older teens due to its mature themes, including violence, sexual content, and dark themes like suicide and drug use. While some found it to be a masterpiece with incredible storytelling and character development, others warned that the intricate plot can be confusing and not ideal for younger viewers.
- complex themes
- mature content
- gripping storytelling
- suited for teens
- confusing plot
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
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?
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
- Premiere date : December 1, 2017
- Cast : Louis Hofmann , Oliver Masucci , Karoline Eichhorn
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Science Fiction
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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