1899
The creators of DARK (one of my all-time favorite shows) are back with a brand-new concept. Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese’s 1899 (trailer here) follows immigrants on a steamship traveling from London to New York, as they get caught up in a mysterious riddle after coming across another vessel adrift on the open sea. With an ensemble cast of Europeans making their way to America, the incredibly intricate and mysterious series focuses on the dynamics of the characters before diving into a reality-bending tale that will keep any viewer jumping from one episode straight into the next. As a bonus, the series treats language in a fascinating way. With characters speaking in their native English, French, Spanish, German, Danish, or Cantonese, the show embraces the beauty and difficulty immigrants faced when decamping to America. Many scenes show that while the characters may not understand exactly what is being said, there are deeper ways to communicate with each other that breach the language barrier.
One of my favorite aspects of DARK was the multitude of clues and double meanings placed throughout the show, and 1899 follows brilliantly in its footsteps. The creators have talked about how they don’t ever want to toy with the audience, but instead give them real answers tucked into the art direction or throwaway lines. The final twist can even be seen in the first episode if you really pay attention (though I totally missed it). Please, turn back to the turn of the century in one of the best mysteries of the year (in the original language of course!).
—Jackson Ingraham, Executive Assistant
