Dark’s Haunting Montage Is Going Viral 8 Years Later

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In June 2020, it said goodbye to its devoted audience and left an immense gap following its three-season run that captivated viewers emotionally. Often hailed as one of the best shows of modern times, Dark was rich with scenes so meticulously crafted they transcended their initial airing, becoming ingrained in popular culture for years to come and mesmerizing a fresh audience. A defining moment from the first season that altered the show’s atmosphere is resurfacing once more among fans for a particular reason.

Approximately eight years following its premiere in December 2017, a chilling compilation from Season 1, Episode 5 titled “Truths,” is seeing a resurgence on social media platforms such as TikTok. Despite the episode being widely recognized as one of the best, this revival isn’t solely driven by nostalgia. At its core lies the haunting rendition of “Me and the Devil” by Soap&Skin, which not only accompanies a crucial moment in the series but also heightens it. The song encapsulates the emotional depth of the show, highlighting its recurring themes of destiny, generational suffering, and unyielding quest for truth. In 2025, as the track experiences viral fame, it’s also drawing both new and returning viewers to the compilation and the Dark series.

The Montage That Changed the Tone of Dark

The story unfolds in the quiet and secure town of Winden, Germany, where residents are plagued by recurring disappearances of young boys. At the heart of this mystery is Mikkel Nielsen, a young boy whose vanishing act sets off a series of events that unravel a tangled web of interrelated families: the Kahnwalds, Nielsens, Tiedemanns, and Dopplers. Hidden beneath the surface are generations-old secrets that bind these families together. The show skillfully blends elements of dƩjƠ vu and conversations about the apocalypse with a realistic portrayal of family dynamics.

In a striking turn of events, episode five of “Dark” delves deeper into emotional depth and weightiness. Essentially, the series becomes even more haunting in this installment. The storytelling technique here involves the clever use of split screens to underscore similarities across different timeframes, such as showcasing Charlotte Doppler in 2019 and Egon Tiedemann in 1986, both grappling with the same unresolved child disappearances. This episode also introduces us to the early stages of significant relationships and fixations, like young Hannah KrĆ¼ger’s scrapbook dedicated to Ulrich Nielsen, juxtaposed with adult Hannah’s insistent phone calls to him in 2019 as he grieves his lost son.

It’s clear that Hannah, whether she was a teenager or an adult, has been deeply enamored with Ulrich, and the parallel narratives suggest that events are repeating themselves. This latest episode suggests that time doesn’t progress in Dark ā€“ it loops back on itself. Viewers are left trying to piece together the time mystery, only for the episode to lead towards a heart-wrenching revelation, leaving a sense of deceit hanging in the air. In an interview with in 2019, one of the show’s creators, Jantje Friese shared some insight that could explain why episode 5 proved such a pivotal moment.

Therefore, in season 1, “Truths” serves as a pivotal episode, providing viewers with insights into the journeys of the characters. The climax of the episode, the haunting montage, follows a series of emotionally charged scenes: Jonas reuniting with Martha, Bartosz receiving a cryptic call from Noah, and most significantly, Hannahā€”feeling jealous, hurt, and neglectedā€”tells the authorities she witnessed Ulrich assaulting Katharina. What sets this sequence apart isn’t just what follows; it’s the way it is presented and edited.

Immediately after Egon Tiedemann presses the stop button on his recording device, the eerie melody of ‘Me and the Devil’ plays, causing an immediate sense of emotional weightlessness to fall. The scenes that unfold are chilling: Ulrich’s arrest, Katharina’s distress, Hannah’s shocked comprehension of her actions, and older incarnations of the characters grappling with the repercussions of this pivotal moment. Here, Dark moves beyond its origins as a mystery, transforming into a tragedy where each action has already been determined to follow a tragic path.

Following this sequence of events, none of the characters on the series remain unchanged. Anguished Ulrich breaks off his relationship with Hannah, while Katharina becomes increasingly suspicious about her husband’s infidelity. Jonas encounters a puzzling package containing a letter from his father traveling through time, which ultimately discloses the truth: “On November 4, 2019, I journeyed through time to the year 1986. The boy from the future remained, and over time he grew into a man. Mikkel transformed into Michael (Jonas’ father), who was unaware of his true place.” He concludes the letter with a revelation that will serve as the basis for the show: “Everything is interconnected.

Why Me and the Devil Hit So Hard ā€” Then and Now

The choice to feature Soap&Skin’s rendition of “Me and the Devil” in the show was brilliantly done by its creator and sound team. The song’s sparse piano, Anja Plaschg’s powerful yet vulnerable vocals, and its eerie, otherworldly tone perfectly complemented the scene’s somber mood. The lyrics echo deeply with the main theme of Dark, with lines like “Early this morning / When you knocked upon my door / I say, ‘Hello Satan / I believe it is time to go'” resonating with the seemingly unavoidable fate that many Winden characters appear to accept or succumb to. Hannah’s decision, for example, seems like a pact she made with her own personal “devil” of jealousy and fixation.

The repeated line, “Me and the Devil / Strolling together,” strongly conveys the characters’ struggle with the destructive elements shaping their lives, whether it’s the persistent time loop, their self-destructive impulses, or generational traumas. A related lyric, “It seems to be that ancient evil spirit / Buried deep within your roots,” reflects the concept of Winden being haunted, its earth steeped in secrets and recurring pain. This theme of walking with the Devil is reminiscent of traditional folklore where the Devil is typically portrayed as a persistent, subtle force, enticing and manipulating human actions.

1) The song perfectly matched the events in the montage at the time, making its impact even stronger. Today, on platforms such as TikTok, a revived version of “Me and the Devil” is still popular. Fans who recall the chilling scene are re-experiencing the goosebumps from the haunting nostalgia the music and lyrics continue to evoke. This continued interest, frequently from people encountering the song outside its original context, demonstrates how a piece of music can leave an emotional mark that lasts, much like how Badfinger’s “Baby Blue” came to symbolize Walter White’s tragic demise in Breaking Bad.

The Viral Impact of ā€˜Me and the Devilā€™

The Song is Igniting a Rewatch Frenzy for Dark

Dark, renowned for its exceptional status in science fiction, weaves an intricate plot across various timelines and realities, delving into profound philosophical themes, all while maintaining a top-notch production quality. Co-creators Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese have consistently highlighted that the show was meticulously crafted with a clear beginning, middle, and end, providing a fulfilling (yet complex) conclusion to its main enigmas. Moreover, the recent revival of Soap&Skin’s “Me and the Devil” montage is serving as a catalyst, luring both old fans back to the enigma of Winden and captivating new viewers.

For individuals who have watched all three seasons of “Dark”, the tune evokes immediately the unique ambiance of the seriesā€”the particular sensation its creators intended to convey, the intense struggle between free will and destiny. The montage in episode 5, emphasizing young Hannah’s act of deceit, provides an early, stark example of how personal desires drive the tragic loops in Winden.

Hannah is frequently referred to as a “destructive force” and isn’t particularly well-liked among fans, due to her character being fueled by envy. She serves as an excellent example of the series’ examination of characters who are imprisoned by their own desires, a theme that resonates when Jonas (in his middle age) tells his younger self, “We aren’t truly free in our actions because we aren’t free in what we desire.” The poignant montage, accompanied by a melancholic tune, effectively communicates this unavoidable predicament.

The current online buzz surrounding the song is serving as a captivating prompt for people to revisit the show after five years have passed. The enthusiastic responses on social media highlight the enduring influence of that particular scene, with many viewers describing it as “pure cinematography.” One fan wrote, “I could tell things were going to get intense when ‘me and the devil’ started playing,” indicating the lasting impact it made on them. Another eagerly announced, “I’ll be starting to watch this again next month,” while a third humorously commented, “Alright, I guess I’ll rewatch Dark.” This renewed interest validates the significance of that scene as an iconic moment, enticing both returning and new viewers to explore the complexities hidden within Dark.

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2025-05-24 23:22