New Divisive Netflix Sci-Fi Show is a Must-Watch for Dark & Interstellar Fans
The new German sci-fi immediately made it into the Top 10. But is it worth the attention?
Summary
- A new German-language sci-fi mystery thriller was recently added to Netflix.
- Almost immediately upon release, the new show broke into the top 10 most watched series on Netflix.
- The show is a fresh approach to the genre, reminiscent of Dark and Interstellar.
On March 7, an intriguing new German-language show was added to the Netflix library. The series will certainly remind you of Dark, although parallels can be drawn with other science fiction, especially Christopher Nolan 's Interstellar, as fans of the latter will notice more than a few similar storylines.
However, audiences have been incredibly ambivalent about the new show, which makes it all the more intriguing. So let's get to the bottom of what this series is all about.
What Is the New Sci-Fi Series About?
The new show in question is The Signal. Naturally, the narratives revolving around the space exploration focus specifically on the experiences of the astronauts themselves. But what if the story followed the astronauts' loved ones, especially when a sinister conspiracy may be unfolding around them?
This German miniseries gives us this much needed point of view, featuring the husband of an astronaut who mysteriously disappeared during a space mission. While trying to unravel the mysteries behind the disappearance, he and his daughter stumble upon a truth that threatens the entire world.
The thriller elements and gritty German realism, spiced with sci-fi elements, draw irreversible parallels to another German-language hit on Netflix, Dark. At the same time, the series is reminiscent of Christopher Nolan's Interstellar, as the narrative is largely based on attempts to reconnect with family through space and time.
The German Series Quickly Made Its Way into Netflix's Global Top 10
The Signal has become one of the most watched shows on Netflix. It ranked second in the global Top 10 non-English series for the week of March 4-10. Meanwhile, according to What's on Netflix, the show continues to hold its ground this week, ranking second in the global Top 25 of all series on Netflix, as well as in the Top 10 in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Australia, Europe and Latin America.
However, the sentiment from viewers is much more contrasting than the ratings, being quite divided.
One of the Lowest Rated Shows of 2024. But Is It Deserved?
For a thriller to be truly successful, the questions posed by the narrative must be satisfactorily answered. Indeed, they are the main driving force of the plot, compelling both the characters and viewers to be in a constant state of suspense, trying to find rational answers to these questions. Often, however, the suspense ends up being unwarranted, as the revelations turn out to be not only disappointing, but anticlimactic. Unfortunately, this is the case with The Signal.
If any mysteries are addressed at all, none of them are convincing, and with a very limited running time that cuts back on subplots and supporting characters, the viewer simply gets a rather superficial, rambling and full of plot holes story that only managed to lure the audience in at the beginning by accident.
As a result, the show has a disappointing 33% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, it's important to note that the show has largely been criticized by defenders of the super-rich, and that's what The Signal largely focuses on in its criticism. So in the case of this series, it's definitely worth forming your own opinion first!
All in all, despite all the flaws, including the CGI that didn't impress everyone, The Signal is still a very exciting novelty of the year 2024, a breath of fresh air in the sci-fi genre and, as we mentioned, it mixes elements of Dark and Interstellar. With only 4 episodes in the series, we definitely recommend bing-watching it.