Hannah Jayapriya

It turned out to be such a sad, sad film after such an interesting premise. Two words: Miss it.

If you are thinking about watching Dark, stop. Just. Go. Watch. It. It is a one of a kind series. There never was and there perhaps will never be anything like Dark. It's one of most wholesome series ever made in the sci-fi genre, I believe. It was purely by accident that I began watching the series, and am ever thankful for it. So many things are just perfect. I'll probably list, in no particular order, all that which appealed to me in the series: 1. The strong storyline with perfect character sketches of each person. No character is handled carelessly. Every one of them come with their mixed bag of character traits that make them loveable or hate-worthy. Isn't how all of us are? 2. The screenplay. Such a perfect and tightly knit screenplay; not one object or action is out of place on screen. Everything built to consume the audience completely. 3. The music. Many a times, I would keep thinking what is so dark about the series? Is it just the name or the overpowering dark lighting. But, I think it's the music that darkens the entire series. It makes the whole thing as dark as how perhaps a black hole might be. 4. The actors. Where did they even find such fine actors? And who does the matching of the young characters with the older ones? How did they manage such close resemblances between the young and old characters? Esp Jonas! The way the guy (the younger one) acts makes you want to leap into the series to tell him it's all ok. It was quite a relief to see the guy laugh and smile in one of their group interviews. 5. The drama. How often have we seen such high science so tightly knit into the everyday life of the common people? In movies? Zilch. However we have seen the vagaries of science in real life, sadly. And, Dark comes very close to showing how bizarre everything could be, if something went awry. Overall, an extremely brilliant piece of work. The sheer imagination of the storywriter amazes me, and the talent and skill that captured all of it on screen floor me! Can't wait for June 21, 2019 to catch Season 2!

This movie was definitely NOT made by someone who understood the late nineties. And, definitely not for those of us who were actually 16/17 at that time. Yes, guys we didn’t have the Internet or mobile phones, but we weren’t stuck with Illayaraja, all right? Perhaps, small mercies that a PB Srinivas or an AM Raja didn’t coo in the background as Ram and Janaki exchanged their lovelorn glances. (Kill Me Now). There were of course some portions that I thoroughly enjoyed. The whatsapp conversations were truly brilliant. How excited all of us are when we talk with each other on our school groups. While most of the times the groups are filled with some stupid forwards, there are times everyone gets involved in some memory and nostalgia washes over like the first raindrops that come mingled with petrichor. And, the reunion was also done tastefully, but this whole thing of it being about just one couple was downright unimaginable. At reunions we do discuss past loves (can one really call them love? Does the word hindsight hold meaning to the director?) and other stuff, but there’s usually so much more. In fact, what one notices in these reunions is that the guys/gals we simply saw through have turned out to be smart looking, and with the ones we shared a little more than friendship look like umm…ok, enough said.

I am posting this soon after watching the entire series in about a week's time. Watch it for its story, for its screenplay, for its foray into human emotions. Delving into the dark territory of understanding the humanity of the ones who take another life, the makers give you something that's not just difficult to digest, but also real and true. Some parts of it are pure art. In fact, high art, must say. Mothers, their love for their progeny...men their need for love, security, and protection, ah! It was pure delight, watching this beautiful series. One series that is sure to alter your perspective of life, crime, punishment, forgiveness, and so much more. Amazing work, no, piece of art.