Stephen King Calls This 95%-Rated Netflix Original Masterpiece a "Terrific Show"

When horror master Stephen King makes a recommendation, it's worth paying attention to. And one such recommendation is the German series Dark.

Stephen King Praises Dark Calling It "Dark and Complex"

Dark is one of the most ambitious and intelligent projects in recent years, which deservedly earned cult status and redefined the sci-fi thriller genre.

On his X account, Stephen King wrote:

“DARK (Netflix) is dark and complex...and...well...very German. Terrific show. If you get confused, go to MetaWitches and check out Metacrone's recaps. Detailed and helpful.”

What Is 'Dark' About?

2019, the tiny German town of Winden is shattered by the terrible news that fifteen-year-old Erik, a local schoolboy, has disappeared. Soon, another child disappears – this time, it's 11-year-old Mikkel, who vanished in the woods.

The town elders are especially concerned because something similar happened in 1986. That tragedy was rooted in dramatic events that occurred in 1953 when construction of a nuclear power plant began near Winden.

Three timelines, several families, and a dark secret are tightly woven into a grim story in which everyone must confront their fears.

'Dark' Is One of the Most Confusing Shows of Our Time – but You'll Enjoy It

There's no shame in admitting that you don't fully understand what's going on in Dark. At a certain point, it seems as if the show's creators have become lost in their own time loops.

Throughout the show's run, the internet was flooded with diagrams and theories as fans tried to unravel the family ties of characters who turned out to be their own grandfathers or enemies.

This is precisely the genius of the show, though. It doesn't try to confuse you – it gradually reveals its complex structure, one puzzle piece at a time.

If you accept this, you can relax and enjoy the powerful drama of the characters' personal stories as they're drawn into a vortex of time against their will.

Our Recommendations on How to Watch 'Dark'

To avoid making diving into Dark too confusing, remember a few simple rules:

1. Accept that you don't know what's going on. Let the series piece the puzzle together for you.

2. Focus on one character and follow their story. Despite the nonlinearity of time, the plot is strictly linear for each character.

3. Memorize names, or keep a family tree of the Winden families handy. It will save you from having too many questions.

4. Most importantly, enjoy the mystery. You don't need to understand all the principles of time travel with scientific precision. What's much more important is observing the human dramas that unfold against this sci-fi premise.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Dark'?

• Dark has 95% from critics and 94% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the series has a score of 8.7/10.

Where to Watch 'Dark'?

Dark is available to steam exclusively on Netflix.