Netflix's 2024 Sci-Fi Thriller Series is a Must-Watch for Dark Fans
The new sci-fi series may not reach the level of Dark, but it's sure to remind you of the Netflix hit with the mood it creates.
Summary
- On March 7, 2024, a new German sci-fi series was released on Netflix.
- Although the plot revolves around space exploration, the conspiracies that drive the plot are quite reminiscent of Dark.
- It has received mixed reviews but is still a great example of sci-fi shows.
When it comes to modern sci-fi television, Apple TV+ is probably the clear leader, with shows from Foundation to Silo, from Invasion to the recently debuted Constellation. But Apple's streaming service is every bit as good as Netflix, and many of us, for example, are eagerly awaiting the new 3 Body Problem, a live-action adaptation of the acclaimed Chinese novel by Liu Cixin. Although the upcoming series is co-produced by Plan B Entertainment, which delivered the once-iconic The OA, the leading lights of the sci-fi genre on Netflix in recent years have largely been German productions. Perhaps the most telling example is Dark, one of the weirdest, most complex and confusing sci-fi thrillers ever made, which remains one of the platform's flagships.
And if you were once fascinated by the new seasons of the show with Louis Hofmann, schematizing all the family trees like in Game of Thrones, you might enjoy another sci-fi series recently released on Netflix. Plot-wise, it will remind you more of Interstellar or the aforementioned Constellation, but its gripping drama and escalating suspense will certainly draw parallels to Dark. Let's find out what this new German project is all about and whether it's worth our attention.
What This German Show Has to Offer
On March 7, 2024, Netflix added a new mystery drama to its library, The Signal (in the original German, Das Signal). This four-episode German miniseries takes a very fresh approach to the sci-fi genre (and any other space exploration story): usually we are exposed to the experiences of astronauts or their superiors, but rarely do their family and friends, who are not affiliated with space agencies, serve as more than mere plot devices.
In the case of The Signal, the opposite is true, as the point of view follows Sven (Florian David Fitz), the husband of an astronaut who mysteriously disappeared during a mission. While trying to unravel the mysteries behind the disappearance, he and his daughter Charlie (Yuna Bennett) stumble upon a truth that threatens not only their family idyll, but the entire world.
The convoluted thriller elements, conspiracies, and gloomy German verité with a dash of sci-fi draw irrevocable parallels to the aforementioned Dark. Simultaneously, as already mentioned, the new series is also reminiscent of Christopher Nolan 's Interstellar: the narrative is mostly focused on the attempt to reunite with one's family throughout space and time.
High Ratings, Low Scores
The Signal has quickly emerged as one of the most-watched shows on Netflix. For the week of March 4-10, it was #2 in the global Top 10 non-English series. Meanwhile, according to What's on Netflix, The Signal continues to hold its strong position, ranking fifth in the global Top 25 of all series on Netflix this week, as well as in the Top 10 in the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, Europe, and Latin America.
Unfortunately, the show should be approached with a certain amount of caution without overestimating its premise, as The Signal is still far from the quality of Dark or Constellation, according to both critics and viewers. The sentiment of those who have seen the new series is well represented by Rotten Tomatoes, as the audience score was only 36%.
And yet, for all its flaws, including the visual effects that disappointed many viewers, The Signal is still a very exciting project for 2024, and as we mentioned, its atmosphere is sure to draw associations with Dark.