Dark Times. Temporal Complexity and the Anthropocene in TV Series

TV series focused on the theme of the Anthropocene and its associated dilemmas are notably scarce. The scarcity is attributed to the theme’s inherent complexity from a scientific standpoint and its contentious nature within the socio-cultural milieu. Consequently, there is an imperative to devise a narrative modality that mitigates this complexity and renders the subject more comprehensible to the general audience. Recent advancements in eco-narratology suggest that certain narrative structures facilitate the articulation and transmission of Anthropocene-related concerns (Goodbody, 2018). The Anthropocene, as a construct, is often linked to the characteristics of a complex system. Deacon (2006) posits that complex systems are defined by non-linearity, interdependence, and multi-scalarity. Caracciolo (2021) forwards the notion that these attributes can be mirrored in narrative constructs, thereby enabling them to encapsulate system complexities pertinent to the Anthropocene. Through an analysis of the television series Dark (Netflix, 2017-2020), this discourse aims to illuminate how intricate narrative structures within the series exemplify a method of portraying the Anthropocene theme. Such portrayals foster a distinctive cognitive and emotional resonance with the audience, engaging them with the intricacies of the phenomenon.