Ep 5. Truths

In the fifth episode of the first season of Dark, titled “Truths”, the secrets of the past continue to unravel as more information is discovered about the missing teenager, Erik Obendorf.

The episode begins with Jonas Kahnwald, still searching for answers about his father's suicide, who follows his therapist to a support group meeting. Here, Jonas meets Regina Tiedemann who tells him the story of how her father, Claudia's predecessor, cleared out the building site for the nuclear power plant in Winden. This moment served as a turning point in the history of Winden, which is later revealed in the season.

Back in the present, Ulrich Nielsen is questioned about his affair with Hannah Kahnwald, along with Erik’s disappearance. The investigation is complicated by the presence of newcomer Charlotte Doppler, a police officer who grew up in Winden and has a personal connection to the town. Meanwhile, the parents of Erik are still struggling to find answers about where their son could be.

As the episode progresses, tension rises within the Kahnwald family. Martha, Jonas’s love interest, confronts her father, who is having an affair with Hannah, and demands that he end the relationship. Additionally, Jonas’s mother, Hannah, deals with her own guilt over her affair with Ulrich and her involvement in covering up Erik’s disappearance. She goes to great lengths to keep her secret safe from the police investigation.

Throughout “Truths”, the supernatural elements that have been hinted at throughout the series become more prominent. Mysterious stranger Noah is revealed to have a much larger role in the events of Winden, and his intentions grow murkier. Jonas’s grandfather, whose dementia has been hinted at earlier in the series, is revealed to be one of the connections between the past and present. In one particularly eerie scene, he receives a visit from his younger self, creating more questions about the nature of time and reality in Dark.

As the episode draws to a close, the focus is on two main climactic moments. The first is the discovery of Erik’s stash of drugs in the caves under the power plant, which lead to a realization that there may be more secrets hiding in the depths of the mysterious Winden caves. The second is the reveal of the true identity of Noah, which throws the character's earlier actions in a completely different light.

Overall, “Truths” is a pivotal episode in the first season of Dark. It builds on the themes of secrecy and supernatural happenings that have been present throughout the series and starts to bring more pieces of the puzzle together. Through the use of flashbacks, character development, and plot twists, “Truths” further builds the tension and intrigue that has made Dark one of the standout shows of recent years.