This Dark season 3 review was originally published in June 2020 and is spoiler-free.
Dark is the quintessential “hidden gem”. It’s a show many will overlook simply because it’s in German. Whenever I’ve recommended it to friends, they often lose interest when I mention it. It’s a real shame because the final season has proven what I, and many others who gave it a chance, suspected all along. It’s one of the greatest TV shows of all time.
I previously wrote about the six things we wanted to learn (spoilers ahead!) in the new season. In an unusual turn for a sci-fi show, Dark actually delivered the answers I wanted and then some. For a show as complex and mind-bending as Dark, this is no small feat. It has numerous interlocking storylines spanning multiple time periods and parallel worlds. it’s a miracle that writers and creators Jantje Friese and Baran bo Odar kept track of it all, let alone brought it to a logical and satisfying conclusion. But they managed it.
Dark Season 3 Review: Untangling the web
Dark is a sci-fi thriller series set in the small town of Winden. It begins with the disappearance of several local children and the suicide of an artist, Michael Kahnwald. Finding himself lost in the wake of his father’s suicide and feeling responsible when one of the children vanishes, Jonas (Michael’s son & the series’ protagonist), sets out for answers. What follows is a reality-breaking tale of lies, deceit and love centred around a menacing time travel conspiracy.
As each season has progressed, the story has grown ever more complex and thought provoking. This was great to watch as it unfolded. But I was nervous it would ultimately fail to deliver and crumble under the weight of its own mythos. Thankfully, this doesn’t happen – even when the third season doubles down on the complexity. Luckily, this is Dark in its essence. It is so adept at embracing its central themes (although arguably too heavy-handedly at times) that the complexity only supports the plot and characters rather than undermining them. If I can’t untangle this web (until I’m supposed to), how can the characters? This made me hugely empathetic for them as I learnt in parallel.
Dark Season 3 Review: Characters
With so many characters, it’s incredible how well they’re individually fleshed out and how their arcs concluded. While some had noticeably less to do than others (Magnus somehow managed to spend most of his time getting busy with his girlfriend), their motivations and feelings towards each other never feel forced. Most impressive, however, is the casting. When a younger/older version of a character shows up, I never doubted who they were supposed to be. Many Hollywood movies cast older/younger versions of characters with little regard for how their counterparts look. So it’s refreshing to see how meticulously it’s done here. It has become a staple of the series, but season 3 highlights what a resounding achievement the casting has been.
I was concerned that the show would fail to address the time in between the different versions of each character. Yes, we know Person A starts here and ends up here. But what had they been doing in the 60-odd years in between? Episode 7 (perfectly titled “Between the Time”) was probably my favourite of the series. It fills in these blanks expertly and delivers some of the best and most shocking revelations. It skilfully sets up one of the most satisfying season finales I’ve ever seen.
Dark Season 3 Review: Themes and finale
As with most things considered to be “the best”, Dark isn’t without its flaws. As mentioned, the central themes of time travel, fate, destiny and free will are certainly drilled into your mind. Most episodes contain a monologue on at least one of them and occasionally it becomes tiresome. That said, the monologues are often so artfully written and well delivered it is hard not to enjoy them despite their overuse. In this season, the biblical allegories are also kicked up a notch and seem like a way of easily (perhaps lazily) presenting two clear sides in the conflict. Ultimately, I’m not sure this was such a bad thing. The rest of the series contained so much betrayal and duplicity it was somewhat relaxing to have a clearer understanding of the two opposing forces. It was a predictable yet enjoyable choice.
What wasn’t predictable was the finale. While the picture certainly becomes clearer after episode 7, I doubt there was anyone who saw Dark playing out the way it did back when it began. What followed in the finale wasn’t only one of the most satisfying and unpredictable conclusions, but one of the best of any TV series in recent memory. This is no Game of Thrones. More like Breaking Bad. A finale true to the series it is concluding and one that is perfectly timed. While three seasons may not seem like a lot, it felt perfect to end it here. And Dark achieved more with so few than some do with many (11 seasons of The X-Files anyone?).
Verdict
Dark is a show that explores the nuances of time travel to a level I haven’t seen before. While the paradoxes and theories it explores are utterly fascinating, it’s the exploration of the effect time travel has on people that is its true achievement. Season 3 wraps the series up so well that, even though I’ll miss it greatly, I have no desire to see any more of it. Its themes and characters were examined to their fullest extent in nearly every case. There may be disagreement on the ending, but I can’t see anyone signing a petition for a reshoot on this one.
Beautifully filmed, fantastically acted and definitively concluded, Dark is a series that ends perfectly in its prime and should be remembered as one of the all time best.
Dark season 3 is available to stream on Netflix.
Final Score: 10/10
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