An essential recap of everything that's happened in 'Dark' so far

Kim RenfroJun 19, 2020, 10:04 IST

Jonas and Martha in "Dark" season three.Netflix

With the final season of Netflix's "Dark" around the corner, we're here to recap the mind-twisting first two seasons.
From Jonas and Martha's complicated romantic history, to the revelation of Adam, multiple worlds, and more, here you'll find all the essential information you should remember before season three.
Warning: Major spoilers ahead for seasons one and two of "Dark."

The final season of Netflix's "Dark" is nearly upon us, so we're here to help fans who want a refresher of the basics before diving back into the twisty world of Winden, Germany.

If you want a more detailed recap of the season two finale, read our full explainer here. And remember: We don't have all the answers yet. There are still plenty of questions left heading into the final season of "Dark" (you can read our list of ongoing mysteries here).

But for now, we've truncated all the essential information you should have top-of-mind going into season three before it premieres on June 27.

Keep reading for a summary of the major plot point in season one and two of Netflix's "Dark."

"Dark" is a series about factions of people, most of whom are related to one another through generations of small-town links, fighting for control of time travel.

Claudia is one of the leaders fighting for control of time travel. Netflix

The three main people involved in this battle are Jonas (also called Adam), Claudia, and Martha.

Middle-aged Jonas and young Jonas together in season one of "Dark." Netflix

Martha and Jonas are technically aunt and nephew, because Jonas' father is Martha's younger brother who got stuck in the past.

Martha in season one of "Dark." Netflix

Martha, Jonas, Claudia, and everyone else in Winden is stuck in a closed loop of tragic events.

The doorway to the cave's passage, which was created by the Sic Mundus group at an unknown time. Netflix

One thing to note: There is a notebook with a trinity knot (or "triquetra") symbol on its cover, which seems to hold a complete account of all the time traveling and cycles people undergo.

Noah holding the notebook in season one. Netflix

One thing to note: There is a notebook with a trinity knot (or "triquetra") symbol on its cover, which seems to hold a complete account of all the time traveling and cycles people undergo.

The cave system, along with a key underground bunker, are connected to the nuclear power plant in Winden.

The God Particle triggered above the Winden nuclear power plant. Netflix

But the fight for control of time travel is more ancient than the nuclear power plant.

The Sic Mundus group use a lot of imagery connected with Hermeticism. Netflix

Adam is Jonas — just grown up and unrecognizable thanks to his scarred face.

Adam as seen in season two of "Dark." Netflix

Claudia is working in opposition to Adam, even though she's trying to help the younger versions of Jonas.

A younger Claudia in the 1980s. Netflix

Noah was one of the main people who worked under Adam.

Noah in season one of "Dark." Netflix

We learned in season two that Noah is the father of Charlotte, and Charlotte's own daughter (Elisabeth) is her mother.

Elisabeth and Charlotte in 2019 in "Dark." Netflix

So the adult-Noah's "evil" actions were all done for the sake of trying to find his daughter, Charlotte, and get revenge on Claudia.

Agnes and Tronte Nielsen, Noah's sister and nephew. Netflix

As for Charlotte, the adult Charlotte in 2019 and 2020 is working as a detective.

Charlotte in the bunker. Netflix

Together Peter and Charlotte started learning more about time travel.

Peter Doppler, Charlotte's husband and Elisabeth's father. Netflix

Charlotte was also looking into H.G. Tannhaus, the man who raised her as his adopted granddaughter.

H.G. Tannhaus is a clockmaker and an expert on concepts around time travel and paradoxes. Netflix

But we need to back up, and trace Jonas' season two journey.

Young Helge and Jonas touching hands through a wormhole, which allows them to time travel. Netflix

Jonas tries to trespass and get into the power plant, where the black mass (aka God Particle) is hidden.

Jonas in 2052 among the destroyed town of Winden. Netflix

A young woman named Silja eventually helps Jonas get back into the power plant.

Silja in season two. Netflix

Adam lies to the younger Jonas and tells him he can prevent everything bad from happening if he stops his father from dying by suicide.

Mikkel/Michael when he's grown up. Netflix

Claudia turns up, and brings Jonas back to her "side." The younger Jonas learns what he can about time travel, Sic Mundus, and Adam.

Louis Hoffman plays Jonas in "Dark." Julia Terjung/Netflix

The day the "apocalypse" is set to happen on June 27, 2020, and there are two versions of Jonas working to try and prevent some major events.

Hannah in season one of "Dark." Netflix

Hannah learns about time-travel, and goes back to the year 1954 using the passageway.

Urlich outside the Winden caves in "Dark." Netflix

Hannah and Ulrich have a fraught past. They were having an affair when Mikkel disappeared.

Young Katharina and young Urlich. Stefan Erhard/Netflix

In 1954, Hannah claims at first to be Ulrich's wife. But when she sees him jailed, she refuses to help get him free.

Shani Atias plays Hannah on "Dark." Netflix

Egon Tiedemann's wife, Doris, was having an affair of her own in 1954.

Doris Tiedemann, Claudia's mother. Netflix

Meanwhile, in 2020, Katharina is also learning about time-travel and the passageway.

Katharina in the caves. Netflix

Just before the apocalypse, young Noah found middle-aged Jonas and gave him a letter.

Young Noah in season two. Netflix

Middle-aged Jonas had brought Martha to the bunker, hoping to save her.

Martha in "Dark" season two. Netflix

Then Adam shows up, and shoots and kills Martha.

Adam in season two of "Dark." Netflix

Jonas barely accepts Martha's death before a different Martha comes into the room.

The alternate version of Martha who shows up at the end of season two. Netflix

Meanwhile the middle-aged Jonas went and found Bartosz, Magnus, and Franziska.

Martha, Bartosz, Magnus, and Franziska. Netflix

Franziska is Elisabeth's older sister, and the oldest daughter of Peter and Charlotte.

Franziska and Magnus in season one of "Dark." Netflix

So middle-aged Jonas finds Bartosz, Magnus, and Franziska all together, and says he's going to save them all.

Jonas with Bartosz, Franziska, and Magnus and the time travel machine. Netflix

In the nuclear power plant, Charlotte sees the God Particle activated.

Elisabeth and Charlotte looking through the wormhole. Netflix

Young Noah, along with Claudia and her daughter Regina, plus Peter and young Elisabeth, are in the bunker when the explosion happens.

Claudia, Regina, Peter, and Elisabeth. Netflix

23 questions we have heading into the final season of Netflix's 'Dark'

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An essential recap of everything that's happened in 'Dark' so far

"Dark" is a series about factions of people, most of whom are related to one another through generations of small-town links, fighting for control of time travel.

The three main people involved in this battle are Jonas (also called Adam), Claudia, and Martha.

Martha and Jonas are technically aunt and nephew, because Jonas' father is Martha's younger brother who got stuck in the past.

Martha, Jonas, Claudia, and everyone else in Winden is stuck in a closed loop of tragic events.

One thing to note: There is a notebook with a trinity knot (or "triquetra") symbol on its cover, which seems to hold a complete account of all the time traveling and cycles people undergo.

The cave system, along with a key underground bunker, are connected to the nuclear power plant in Winden.

But the fight for control of time travel is more ancient than the nuclear power plant.

Adam is Jonas — just grown up and unrecognizable thanks to his scarred face.

Claudia is working in opposition to Adam, even though she's trying to help the younger versions of Jonas.

Noah was one of the main people who worked under Adam.

We learned in season two that Noah is the father of Charlotte, and Charlotte's own daughter (Elisabeth) is her mother.

So the adult-Noah's "evil" actions were all done for the sake of trying to find his daughter, Charlotte, and get revenge on Claudia.

As for Charlotte, the adult Charlotte in 2019 and 2020 is working as a detective.

Together Peter and Charlotte started learning more about time travel.

Charlotte was also looking into H.G. Tannhaus, the man who raised her as his adopted granddaughter.

But we need to back up, and trace Jonas' season two journey.

Jonas tries to trespass and get into the power plant, where the black mass (aka God Particle) is hidden.

A young woman named Silja eventually helps Jonas get back into the power plant.

Adam lies to the younger Jonas and tells him he can prevent everything bad from happening if he stops his father from dying by suicide.

Claudia turns up, and brings Jonas back to her "side." The younger Jonas learns what he can about time travel, Sic Mundus, and Adam.

The day the "apocalypse" is set to happen on June 27, 2020, and there are two versions of Jonas working to try and prevent some major events.

Hannah learns about time-travel, and goes back to the year 1954 using the passageway.

Hannah and Ulrich have a fraught past. They were having an affair when Mikkel disappeared.

In 1954, Hannah claims at first to be Ulrich's wife. But when she sees him jailed, she refuses to help get him free.

Egon Tiedemann's wife, Doris, was having an affair of her own in 1954.

Meanwhile, in 2020, Katharina is also learning about time-travel and the passageway.

Just before the apocalypse, young Noah found middle-aged Jonas and gave him a letter.

Middle-aged Jonas had brought Martha to the bunker, hoping to save her.

Then Adam shows up, and shoots and kills Martha.

Jonas barely accepts Martha's death before a different Martha comes into the room.

Meanwhile the middle-aged Jonas went and found Bartosz, Magnus, and Franziska.

Franziska is Elisabeth's older sister, and the oldest daughter of Peter and Charlotte.

So middle-aged Jonas finds Bartosz, Magnus, and Franziska all together, and says he's going to save them all.

In the nuclear power plant, Charlotte sees the God Particle activated.

Young Noah, along with Claudia and her daughter Regina, plus Peter and young Elisabeth, are in the bunker when the explosion happens.