German productions are mostly comedies. Whether in cinema or streaming, they tend to focus on lighter material. Dark proved that Germany can also handle more complex science fiction. A new series on Netflix aims to engage with sci-fi as well.
What is Das Signal about?
- The astronaut Paula returns from her mission in space
- Her husband Sven and their daughter Charlie are already waiting for her return
- But their plane from Chile to Germany suddenly disappears and no one knows what happened.
The series tells the story of this family in three timelines. The focus is on Paula’s time on the space station, the time before the mission, and the consequences of the disappearance. A major mystery serves as the red thread of the story, which runs through the four episodes.
For those who want to catch up on a few sci-fi classics, they can check out this list:
The 13 Best Science Fiction Movies According to IMDb
A Mix of Sci-Fi, Drama, and Mystery
Florian David Fitz plays the father Sven, who has to cope with the situation after his wife Paula’s disappearance. His daughter Charlie struggles with the loss. Fitz manages to portray the concerned and caring father convincingly in the series. His love for his daughter is always believable, and there is chemistry in the flashbacks with his wife Paula.
Paula, played by Peri Baumeister, despite being surrounded by her astronaut colleagues, conveys a sense of loneliness, which preserves the isolation of space. The mystery and the discovery she makes are thrilling and leave viewers eagerly anticipating the next episode.
However, the series is not only about science fiction. As mentioned earlier, a significant part of the series deals with processing loss, the anger it can cause, and the connections that are formed between the characters.
At times, the series recalls sci-fi masterpieces like Interstellar or Arrival, but it never reaches their epic scale or the stunning visuals and ideas. Overall, the series lacks visual creativity. While the mood and emotions come across, more experimental courage would have benefited the series.
Das Signal succeeds in bringing together mystery, science fiction, and drama. The actors are convincing, and the short duration of the series ensures that nothing feels too long. However, the series would have benefitted from developing its own ideas and experimenting more visually.
For German film and series culture, such a production after Dark is encouraging. For those open to anime, they should also check out this sci-fi series: An anime on Netflix reminds me of Blade Runner and captivated me every second
