Why Netflix's Sci-Fi Masterpiece Still Reigns Supreme 8 Years Later

Netflix is home to many great TV shows, and when it comes to sci-fi, it’s already been eight years since the release of its best show. Netflix has stood out for its original content, of which some now rank among the best TV shows of all time, such as Mindhunter and Ozark – and if there’s one genre where Netflix has succeeded, it’s sci-fi.

Among Netflix’s best sci-fi TV shows are the animated anthology series Love, Death & Robots, 3 Body Problem, and Stranger Things, and it’s now also home to Black Mirror. As great and popular as these shows are, Netflix peaked in the world of sci-fi with one show that was released eight years ago and hasn’t lost its greatness.

It Has Now Been 8 Years Since Dark Released On Netflix

Created by Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese, Dark is a German sci-fi mystery thriller TV series that ran for three successful seasons. Set in the fictional town of Winden, Germany, the events of Dark begin in 2019, with the disappearance of a young boy, Mikkel. As the police, including Mikkel’s father, Ulrich, investigate, so do Mikkel’s siblings and their friends, among them Jonas.

The investigation is further complicated by the appearance of the body of a young boy who isn’t Mikkel, and both Ulrich and Jonas find out that time travel is involved in Mikkel’s disappearance. Dark is one of the smartest and most complex sci-fi TV shows ever, but without becoming nonsensical.

Dark debuted on Netflix on December 1, 2017, and it was a huge hit with critics and general audiences thanks to its writing, performances, tone, concept, narrative structure, and complexity. Dark is one of those rare TV shows with no bad episodes and which are worth watching more than once.

Why Dark Should Still Be Considered Netflix’s Best Sci-Fi Show

Jonas in Dark, wearing a yellow coat, with the forest behind him

While it’s true that Netflix has a great catalog of sci-fi shows, none has come close to the greatness of Dark. One of Dark’s biggest strengths is how well-written it is, as no one would have suspected there was time-travel involved throughout its first episodes. Dark begins as a mystery drama, and gradually shows its sci-fi elements.

Dark’s complexity could have ended up being a flaw and what could kill the show, but it’s actually one of its biggest strengths. Thanks to its use of time travel, many people and events throughout the show’s three seasons are connected, but it’s so well-written that it successfully avoids inconsistencies, plot holes, and contradictions.

The different timelines, characters, and connections between them make Dark a puzzle-like show that keeps the audience engaged and putting everything together, bringing the audience into the mysteries. Dark’s production value, with impeccable cinematography, enhances the show’s tone and mysterious atmosphere, and, of course, the performances of its cast add to the show’s high quality.

No other Netflix sci-fi show since Dark came out has come close to its greatness, and it absolutely deserves the title of the streamer’s best sci-fi show and one of the best sci-fi shows of all time.