Netflix's "Dark" season two review: a twisted series gets a lot darker.
And you thought your parents were weird? Consider yourself lucky that you weren't born in Winden.
Before I present my review and opinion, let's read the "Dark" season two synopsis:
Six months after the disappearances of Mikkel, Jonas and Ulrich, Winden's web of mysteries deepens -- and the fate of the world hangs in the balance.
By: Nick
(Evil*) Editor-in-Chief, 8FLiX
*as presumed by some "Stranger Things" stans, and maybe also The Duffer Brothers.
"Dark" season 2 review & opine, in short:
Dark, season 2, picks up 6 months later. While Mikkel (Daan Lennard Liebrenz) is settling in to his new surroundings, Jonas (Louis Hofmann) remains stuck in his. And as if things couldn't get more complicated for the brothers, a few new characters are introduced.
Adam (Dietrich Hollinderbäumer) is an important addition to the plot this season. He's the leader of a group of 'Travelers' trying to 'restart the world'. Adam has a seriously scarred face thanks to constant time travel (I'll get back to him in a second).
Dark, season 2, gives more attention to the different time periods we saw throughout season 1 (1921, 1953, 1954, 1986, 1987, 2019, 2020, 2053). Believe it or not, this helps the viewer understand a lot more about what's happening in Winden. But, make no mistake, this time travel sh*t is still twisted - in a good way.
As more Winden children go missing, the police bring in a special investigator (played by the great Sylvester Groth) to help solve the mystery. Investigator Clausen, you can say, is on a mission. He has a very peculiar interest in the case - but, as you likely figured out after season 1, everyone in Winden has an interest.
Not So Strange After All
The Stranger's (Andreas Pietschmann) motives take on a life of their own. We learn his true identity and he ties up some loose ends and presumed plot holes from the first season. That being said, dozens of other character backgrounds are explained in greater detail as well. As the puzzle comes together for the characters, so it does for the viewer.
Things To Watch For
So, there are three happenings that one must pay close attention to while binging this season. 1) The dialogue, especially Adam's. He's sort of playing 'God' here. Adam's words and actions are so very important. 2) Facial features (like, eye colour, scars, etc.). This, too, will help you piece together this massive puzzle. 3) The names of the characters. Some are alike for a reason.
Detective Wöller still has an eye injury (the cop with the badass eyepatch). How he got the injury was not explained in season 1. Keep an "eye-out" for some sort of rationale behind his wound.
Why, tho?
Last season I pronounced Dark as the best sci-fi series on the network. I still feel that way. Beautifully written, directed and shot. The acting rarely, if ever, misses a beat.
Watch this series in spite of the original language (German). There's no shame in reading subtitles, or using the numerous language-dubbed soundtracks. And then, after you watch Dark, watch it again.
(Originally posted June 21, 2019. Edited for aesthetics June 29, 2020 and March 11, 2021 and October 4, 2022)
By: Nick Runyeard
Evil Editor-in-Chief, 8FLiX
