Watching Dark S1 E1 was quite the experience. If you’re viewing it for the first time, the show can quickly become overwhelming and complex. There are some things you need to know before watching Dark and others you should remember while watching the show. Below is an explanation of Dark S1 E1.
Dark S1 E1 Made Easy:
Characters:
There are so many characters that it can be tough to keep track of who is who. To make it easier, here’s a checklist of the main characters.
| Khanwald Family | Nielsen Family | Doppler Family | Tiedman Family | Obendorf Family |
| Jonas (Son) | Ulrich (Police Officer) (Dad) | Charlotte (Female Police) | Regina (Mom) | Erik (Missing Child) |
| Michael (Dad who Committed Suicide | Katharina (Mom) | Peter ( Charlotte’s Husband) | Aleksander (Dad) | |
| Hannah (Mom) | Mikkel (Son who goes on missing) | Helge (Old Man with Dementia) | Bartosz (Son) | |
| Martha (Daughter) | ||||
| Magnus (Son) | ||||
| Mads (Ulrich’s Brother who is Missing from 1986) |
Main Plot:
The story is set in the German town of Winden, where Erik goes missing and Jonas’s dad, Michael, hangs himself. The plot revolves around four intertwined families. Michael leaves a letter before committing suicide. Later in the episode, Ulrich’s son, Mikkel, also goes missing. The entire town and the police officers (Ulrich and Charlotte) are searching for them. At the end of the episode, they find a boy who is not Mikkel or Erik, but rather a boy dressed in outdated ‘80s clothing. It’s implied that the nearby nuclear plant in Winden might be messing with the timeline.
The characters keep asking, “Not where, but when?”
There are a lot of secrets. Ulrich is having an affair with Michael’s widow, Hannah. Ulrich’s wife, Katharina, and Hannah’s son, Jonas, are unaware of the affair. Jonas discovers that his friend Bartosz is dating Martha, who has a history with Jonas. A woman is waiting to open a letter that she is not supposed to open until November 4, at 10:13.
Years:
• Now: 2019
• Similarities with: 1986
Ulrich’s brother, Mads, went missing in 1986. Erik and later Mikkel go missing in 2019, just like 33 years ago. Helge, an elderly man, keeps saying, “It’s going to happen again.”
A Mysterious Cave:
There’s a mysterious cave in Winden. If someone enters it and takes certain routes, they may end up in another timeline.
Erik is kept in a mysterious room, where it seems they are preparing to burn his eyes, just like the dead boy found earlier.
If things weren’t clear before, hopefully, this explanation helps make sense of what’s going on in Dark S1 E1. Remember the families and timelines—Dark will get easier to follow as you go along.
I personally loved the pilot episode, especially the overall dark ambiance. The music is top-notch, and the plot is mysteriously interesting. I can’t wait for the second episode to unfold.
IMDb Rating: 8.1
FGM Rating: 8.2
