With the final episode of Stranger Things now in the rearview mirror, fans of the long-running Netflix sci-fi series are left grappling with a void in their viewing habits. The show, which captivated audiences for nearly a decade with its blend of supernatural intrigue, 1980s nostalgia, and coming-of-age drama, concluded its fifth and final season in late 2025. According to entertainment reports, the finale has sparked mixed reactions, with some viewers hailing it as a poignant send-off while others expressed disappointment over unresolved threads.
Released in 2017, Stranger Things became a cultural phenomenon, drawing millions with elements like nosebleeds signaling psychic powers, monstrous Demogorgons from an alternate dimension, and visions of dystopian futures. The series, set primarily in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, during the 1980s, followed a group of kids uncovering government conspiracies and otherworldly threats. Its end marks the close of an era for Netflix's flagship original programming, leaving subscribers searching for similar thrills.
Entertainment outlet Us Weekly has stepped in with a timely recommendation, urging fans to fill the gap by streaming Dark, a German sci-fi drama that premiered on Netflix the same year as Stranger Things. "After nearly a decade of nosebleeds, Demogorgons and psychic visions of an apocalyptic future, Stranger Things is finally over," the publication wrote in a recent article. It positions Dark as an underrated gem offering comparable vibes, including a missing child storyline and an 1980s setting, but with a deeper, more mature narrative.
Unlike the more accessible, pop-culture-infused tone of Stranger Things, Dark delves into intricate themes of fate, free will, and the philosophical underpinnings of time travel. The series is set in the fictional German town of Winden, where the disappearance of a child sets off a chain of events unraveling multi-generational secrets. According to Us Weekly, the premise begins with a group of children walking home through the woods one night, only to lose track of their friend Mikkel, played by Daan Lennard Liebrenz.
This incident, coupled with the suicide of teenager Jonas Kahnwald's father, Michael Kahnwald—portrayed by Sebastian Rudolph—triggers a broader investigation. Jonas, played by Louis Hofmann, becomes central to the unfolding mystery. "Mikkel’s disappearance and the suicide of teenager Jonas’ father, Michael Kahnwald, are the first dominoes to fall in the multi-generational unraveling of Winden," Us Weekly reported, as the search exposes a vast time travel conspiracy linking families across eras.
What sets Dark apart is its meticulously structured storytelling, which spans three distinct time periods: 1953, 1986, and 2019. The narrative alternates between these timelines, requiring viewers' full attention to piece together the puzzle. Us Weekly described it as "an intelligent exploration of fate, free will and the existential implications of time in a narrative that deftly alternates between three different time periods." Every detail, from character motivations to plot twists, serves a purpose, avoiding the randomness sometimes criticized in other time-travel tales.
The show's gripping mystery is intertwined with elaborate family dramas involving the Kahnwald, Nielsen, and Doppler families. Viewers are encouraged to research these lineages, as the casting creates uncanny resemblances across generations. "Do yourself a favor and look up characters like the Kahnwald, Nielsen and Doppler families—you’ll marvel at how the casting department of the show managed to find multiple individuals who capture the essence of their characters across different generations," the article advised.
Even when physical matches aren't exact, the actors' performances convey continuity through shared mannerisms and emotional depth. Fans on platforms like Reddit have humorously speculated that the older actors might have time-traveled to portray their younger selves, highlighting the casting's effectiveness. Us Weekly noted that "the performances from the entire cast pitch-perfect, but they also mirror each version of themselves across timelines."
Beyond the script, Dark's atmosphere plays a pivotal role in its immersion. Cinematographer Nikolaus Summerer and production designer Udo Kramer crafted visuals reminiscent of a feature film. Dark color palettes, often under cloudy skies and rain, combined with foreboding forests and shadowy interiors, evoke a sense of dread. "The productive values are akin to a feature film, with dark color palettes often drenched in cloudy skies and rain, foreboding forest locales and dimly lit interiors with deep shadows create evocative and immersive mood-setting," according to the review.
To aid navigation through the timelines, the production team used distinct color grading: muted tones for the 1950s, warmer hues for the 1980s, and cooler shades for 2019. This subtle technique helps viewers orient themselves without disrupting the flow. The eerie ambiance extends to the soundtrack, where carefully selected songs amplify tension during key scenes.
The opening theme, "Goodbye" by Apparat featuring Soap&Skin, immediately establishes an ominous yet stirring tone. Other tracks, such as "Familiär" by Agnes Obel, "Me & the Devil" by Soap&Skin, "When I Was Done Dying" by Dan Deacon, and "Industry" by Mire Kay, are deployed at pivotal moments. Us Weekly praised how these "perfectly-chosen needle drops" and songs "envelope the viewer like a musical blanket," enhancing the show's haunting quality.
Dark consists of three seasons, all available for streaming on Netflix since their respective releases between 2017 and 2020. Created by Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese, the series garnered critical acclaim for its originality, earning a 95% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes from both critics and audiences. It was Netflix's first major German-language original, paving the way for international content on the platform.
In the wake of Stranger Things' conclusion, comparisons between the two shows have intensified. While Stranger Things leaned on American pop culture references and ensemble casts of young actors, Dark offers a more cerebral, adult-oriented experience. David Harbour, who played Jim Hopper in Stranger Things, recently called the series' season 5 finale "the show's 'Best Episode,'" according to related reports, underscoring the emotional weight of its ending.
Yet, not all viewers may find Dark an easy substitute. Its complexity demands active engagement, unlike the more binge-friendly pacing of Stranger Things. Us Weekly acknowledged superficial similarities like the missing kid angle and 1980s setting as a "Trojan Horse" to draw in fans, but emphasized that "in reality, though, the two shows are nothing alike."
As Netflix continues to expand its sci-fi library—currently featuring 26 standout shows as of December 2025, including titles like The Closer—recommendations like Dark highlight the platform's depth. For those mourning the Upside Down's closure, Winden's time-bending enigmas provide a compelling next chapter. All three seasons are streaming now, inviting viewers to unravel its secrets at their own pace.