A Netflix series that has been hailed as ‘better’ than Game of Thrones is amassing a huge fanbase online, as some say it’s the ‘best show of the last 20 years’.
If you’re a fan of Game of Thrones, then this Netflix series might just become your new obsession.
Trying to find something new to watch when it seems like you’ve seen all there is to see can be difficult, especially if you’re hoping your next binge lives up to the high production levels and intricate storytelling of a critically acclaimed series like Game of Thrones. But according to some TV fans online, there’s one show that actually blows the HBO fantasy drama out of the water.
Game of Thrones is often praised for being one of the greatest television shows released in recent years, but opinions are split over the way the show, which ran from 2011 until 2019, concluded. For some, the ending of the show completely ruined it for them, which is why another series is now being talked about as “better” than the George R.R. Martin adaptation.
The alternative show is called Dark, and it’s a German science fiction mystery thriller series that became Netflix’s first German-language original series when it debuted on the streaming platform in 2017.
Dark is not a high fantasy series in the same way that Game of Thrones is, so the shows are not hugely comparable, but after someone on Reddit asked for a recommendation of which one to watch first, most people agreed Dark was “better”.
In the Reddit post, the person said that they want to watch both Dark and Game of Thrones, but wanted people’s opinions on which one they should watch first.
They said: “I want to start a new series, which should I watch? Dark or Game of Thrones? First, let me make it clear I am not comparing them, and yes, I’ll be watching both of them. However, I was confused about which one I should watch first.”
Commenters were split on the topic, but there were many people who claimed Dark was a “better” viewing experience than Game of Thrones, especially as the poster had also asked to be “hooked on it” from the first episode.
One person said: “Dark will give you better satisfaction when you finish the whole series.”
Another added: “Dark first for sure! It’s the best show I’ve seen in the last decade, and I watch a lot of TV. Please seek out the original German version with subtitles, not the English dub.”
A third wrote: “Dark is the best TV show of the last 20 years.”
There were plenty who disagreed, however. Some said Game of Thrones has the “best storyline” of any show they’ve ever watched, while others said the HBO series is a “better experience” because it has more characters and more interesting sub-plots within the main plot.
Dark ran for three seasons between 2017 and 2020, and is available to watch on Netflix. It primarily follows the story of four families in the fictional town of Winden, as they pursue the truth following a child’s disappearance.
The series sees the families unravel a sinister time travel conspiracy that spans several generations, and explores the implications of time and its effects on humans and nature.
Dark has received critical acclaim for its performances, direction, writing, tone, visuals, and music score, as well as the complexity of its narrative. In 2021, it was ranked the 58th greatest TV series of the 21st century by the BBC.
But as commenters on Reddit pointed out, Dark is not a series you can watch while scrolling on your phone at the same time, as the plot is complicated and requires your full attention – especially if you’re watching it in German with subtitles.
One person wrote: “Dark is great, but you need full attention with the subtitles if you don’t speak the language.”
A second also shared: “I would recommend watching Dark. Whenever you do, though, know that this is not a series that you can half-watch while scrolling on your phone, so be prepared to concentrate, and even then, it may take a rewatch as there are a lot of moving parts within it.”
Dark is available now on Netflix.