Official poster for Dark (2017)
2017 · Series · Germany

Dark (2017)

Four Families, One Cave, Every 33 Years

Time travel Parallel universes
9/10Score
Paradox Meter 4/5

Verdict

Give Dark (2017), Netflix's German series, two or three episodes before you judge it, and keep a notepad nearby. I'm giving it 9/10, because few shows map out a time-travel story this far ahead: it ran three seasons as planned, and the later seasons keep paying off clues the first one left. The rules are strict and the writers rarely cheat, so the Paradox Meter shows 4/5.

By Loop & Branch Editorial · published · Paradox Meter 4/5: “Solid, with small gaps you only notice on a rewatch.”

Quick answer Dark (2017), Netflix's first German original series, sends members of four families through a wormhole in the caves under their town's nuclear power plant, in 33-year jumps, into a past that for most of the series can't be changed.

Teaser

Official teaser · Netflix

The premise

In Winden, a small German town, a child goes missing, and the search exposes the double lives, secrets, and fractured relationships of four families: the Kahnwalds, the Nielsens, the Dopplers, and the Tiedemanns. Netflix's logline sends those families "on a frantic hunt for answers."

The teenagers at the center are Jonas Kahnwald (Louis Hofmann) and Martha Nielsen (Lisa Vicari). Around them are the adults, including Ulrich Nielsen (Oliver Masucci), Katharina Nielsen (Jördis Triebel), Hannah Kahnwald (Maja Schöne), and Charlotte Doppler (Karoline Eichhorn).

The first season opens in 2019. Beneath the town's nuclear power plant runs a cave system, and members of the families discover a wormhole inside it. From there the story widens to include 1986 and 1953. Netflix's 2016 announcement already promised "a surprising twist that ties back to the same town in 1986."

How it handles time

The wormhole works in fixed jumps of 33 years, into the past or the future. That's why the first season moves among 2019, 1986, and 1953, and why many characters appear at two or three ages, often played by different actors. Wikipedia calls the route both "the wormhole" and "the passage." Later seasons add more years and, in Season 3, "a parallel world tethered to the first," as Wikipedia's overview puts it. The details of that world belong in the spoiler section.

The bigger rule isn't the jump size. Wikipedia says the plot makes "prominent use of the bootstrap paradox," the kind of puzzle where an event or an object turns out to be its own cause. Italian Wikipedia ties the plot to the Novikov self-consistency principle and the predestination paradox: characters can move through time, but they can't change their own fate or anyone else's. A trip to 1986 is never a rescue mission. It's an investigation into how things got the way they are.

Netflix's page tags the series "Time Loop," but don't expect a story where someone wakes up to the same morning again and again. For most of its run, Dark is one closed chain of cause and effect, and the suspense comes from watching each link click into place. Even the soundtrack albums are called Cycle 1, Cycle 2, and Cycle 3.

Objects travel too. H. G. Tannhaus's book A Journey Through Time (Eine Reise durch die Zeit) passes between characters in different eras, so the same small prop keeps resurfacing in other hands.

Critics noticed how far the show pushes against the genre's habits. Wikipedia sums up IndieWire and TV Guide as saying the second season "managed to subvert several tropes regarding the concepts of time travel." Kaitlin Thomas of TV Guide wrote that it "couches its sci-fi themes in conversations about free will and destiny." I think the series keeps its own rules better than any other time-travel show I know. The one place it strains comes late, below the spoiler marker.

What works

Continuity behind the camera pays off on screen. Odar directed all 26 episodes and Friese wrote or co-wrote each of them, so the show never changes hands between seasons. David Griffin of IGN found that the second season "can hurt your brain at times," then added that the creators "reward your patience with some stellar WTF moments."

The casting has to sell the same person at different ages, often with two or three actors in one role. When the series won the Grimme-Preis in 2018, the jury singled out casting director Simone Bär along with Friese, Odar, production designer Udo Kramer, and three actors "as representatives for the full cast": Angela Winkler, Louis Hofmann, and Oliver Masucci. Hofmann also won the Goldene Kamera's "Best Newcomer" award that year, for Dark and several films.

Winden is a patchwork of real places in and around Berlin and Brandenburg. The church stands in Stahnsdorf South-Western Cemetery, the bridge and tracks belong to the abandoned Wannsee–Stahnsdorf railway, and the Olympic Stadium Bell Tower plays the power plant's gates. Only the reactor towers are computer-animated. Don't skip the opening titles either: Ben Frost's score and "Goodbye" by Apparat featuring Soap&Skin do as much to set the tone as the cinematography by Nikolaus Summerer.

Reviews improved after the first season. Rotten Tomatoes shows 90 percent for Season 1, 100 percent for Season 2, and 97 percent for Season 3 (as of October 5, 2026). Metacritic gives Seasons 2 and 3 scores of 82 and 92, although each rests on only four critics. For the final season, Patrick Cremona of Radio Times gave it 5/5 and called it "science fiction at its most mesmerising, its most confounding and its most exhilarating."

Others went further. Nick Schager of The Daily Beast wrote, "No time-travel saga has ever been this headache-inducingly elaborate, original and poignant," and BBC Culture's 2021 poll ranked Dark No. 58 among the greatest TV series of the 21st century. For me, it's the reference time-travel series.

What doesn't

The first season starts slowly, and some critics never warmed to it. Season 1 has the lowest Metacritic score of the three, 61 from 10 critics (four positive reviews, six mixed). Mike Hale of The New York Times wrote that "if you give Dark a few episodes you may find yourself hooked," which reads as a warning as much as praise. Emily St. James of Vox went the other way: "at a certain point, it becomes difficult to care about what's happening, beyond simply wanting to figure out how everything is connected."

The complexity costs something, too. Jack Seale of The Guardian wrote that "the narrative is forbiddingly elaborate on purpose," and the cast list keeps growing: by Season 3 there are alternate versions of many main characters. Long breaks between episodes make the family trees hard to follow, so I'd watch each season over a few weeks at most.

Glenn Garvin of Reason criticized a heavy-handed message, a lack of sympathetic characters, and unoriginality, according to Wikipedia's summary of his review. The second complaint is the one worth taking seriously. Every family here runs on secrets, and for long stretches it's hard to root for people who lie to each other this much.

Final score

Overall: 9/10. Three seasons that play fair with one enormous puzzle; a slow first season and a cast you have to track with real concentration are all that keep it from a 10.

Paradox Meter: 4/5. One wormhole, one jump size, and a fixed past the plot respects, with a single extra paradox late in the run that the spoiler section explains.

Dark family tree (no spoilers by default)

Dark is set in Winden, a small German town, and follows four families: the Kahnwalds, the Nielsens, the Dopplers and the Tiedemanns. By default, this family tree shows only who’s who at the start of episode 1. To see more, choose how far you have watched: season 1, season 2, season 3 before the finale, or the finale.

Text version

The same data as the interactive tree, as plain lists. The first list is spoiler-free; each later list is collapsed and includes everything revealed up to that point. Source: Loop & Branch research dataset v1.2.2 (2026-10-07).

Before you watch (no spoilers)

Kahnwald
Nielsen
Doppler
Tiedemann
Wöller
  • Torben Wöller
    Born
    1981
Obendorf
  • Erik Obendorf
    Seen in
    2019 (S1E1)
  • Jürgen Obendorf
    Born
    1971
    Seen in
    2019 (S1E1)
⚠ Spoilers: Dark family tree up to the end of season 1ShowHide
Kahnwald
  • Daniel Kahnwald
    About
    Winden's chief of police in the 1950s and Ines's father.
    Children
    Ines Kahnwald
    Versions
    adult, played by Florian Panzner (S1)
    Born
    1915
    Seen in
    1953 (S1E8)
  • Hannah Kahnwald
    Also
    Hannah Krüger (birth name)
    About
    Jonas's mother and Michael's widow, having an affair with Ulrich Nielsen. Born Hannah Krüger: her father Sebastian is seen with her, aged 14, in 1986.
    Parents
    Sebastian Krüger
    Partners
    Mikkel Nielsen (married), Ulrich Nielsen (affair)
    Children
    Jonas Kahnwald
    Versions
    teen, played by Ella Lee (S1); adult, played by Maja Schöne (S1)
    Born
    1972
    Seen in
    1986 (S1E5, S1E9); 2019 (S1E1, S1E5)
  • Ines Kahnwald
    About
    Michael's mother and Jonas's grandmother; hides Michael's suicide letter. In 1986 she is a nurse who gains the trust of a lost boy (Mikkel). She raised Mikkel, who grew up as Michael Kahnwald. Netflix: she offers to adopt him, and Mikkel Nielsen becomes Michael Kahnwald.
    Parents
    Daniel Kahnwald
    Children
    Mikkel Nielsen (adoptive)
    Versions
    teen, played by Lena Urzendowsky (S1 recurring); adult, played by Anne Ratte-Polle (S1); elder, played by Angela Winkler (S1)
    Born
    1940
    Seen in
    1954 (S1E8); 1986 (S1E10); 2019 (S1E1)
  • Jonas Kahnwald
    Also
    the Stranger (his adult self)
    About
    Teenage son of Hannah and Michael Kahnwald; returns to school in November 2019 after his father's suicide.
    Parents
    Mikkel Nielsen, Hannah Kahnwald
    Partners
    Martha Nielsen (romance)
    Versions
    teen, played by Louis Hofmann (S1); adult (as the Stranger), played by Andreas Pietschmann (S1)
    Born
    2003
    Seen in
    1986 (S1E7, S1E10); 1986 (S1E7, S1E9); 2019 (S1E1, S1E2, S1E5, S1E7, S1E9, S1E10); 2019 (S1E5, S1E7, S1E9); 2052 (S1E10)
  • Sebastian Krüger
    About
    A man who appears in Netflix's family tree from S1E5. Hannah's father. Seen driving with 14-year-old Hannah in 1986.
    Children
    Hannah Kahnwald
    Seen in
    1986 (S1E6)
    Note
    Netflix spells "Sebastian Kruger" (no umlaut) [24]; Wikipedia "Sebastian Krüger" [23]. Krüger is Hannah's birth family; grouped with Kahnwald through Hannah.
Nielsen
  • Agnes Nielsen
    About
    Tronte's mother, who arrives in Winden with him in 1953.
    Children
    Tronte Nielsen
    Versions
    adult, played by Antje Traue (S1)
    Born
    1910
    Seen in
    1953 (S1E8)
  • Jana Nielsen
    About
    Mother of Ulrich and Mads. Tronte's wife.
    Partners
    Tronte Nielsen (married)
    Children
    Ulrich Nielsen, Mads Nielsen
    Versions
    teen, played by Rike Sindler (S1 recurring); adult, played by Anne Lebinsky (S1), season-level; elder, played by Tatja Seibt (S1)
    Born
    1942
    Seen in
    1986 (S1E3); 2019 (S1E7)
  • Katharina Nielsen
    Also
    Katharina Albers (birth name)
    About
    School principal and Ulrich's wife. Born Katharina Albers, daughter of farmer Hermann Albers.
    Parents
    Hermann Albers
    Partners
    Ulrich Nielsen (married)
    Children
    Mikkel Nielsen, Martha Nielsen, Magnus Nielsen
    Versions
    teen, played by Nele Trebs (S1); adult, played by Jördis Triebel (S1)
    Born
    1970
    Seen in
    1986 (S1E7); 2019 (S1E1, S1E7, S1E9)
  • Mads Nielsen
    About
    Ulrich's younger brother, who vanished in 1986. Ulrich realises the dead boy found in the woods is Mads, unaged since 1986.
    Parents
    Tronte Nielsen, Jana Nielsen
    Siblings
    Ulrich Nielsen
    Born
    1974
    Seen in
    1986 (S1E7, S1E9); 2019 (S1E9, S1E10)
  • Magnus Nielsen
    About
    Eldest Nielsen child and Franziska's boyfriend.
    Parents
    Ulrich Nielsen, Katharina Nielsen
    Partners
    Franziska Doppler (dating)
    Siblings
    Mikkel Nielsen, Martha Nielsen
    Versions
    teen, played by Moritz Jahn (S1)
    Born
    2001
    Seen in
    2019 (S1E1, S1E4)
  • Martha Nielsen
    About
    Middle Nielsen child and Bartosz's girlfriend; Jonas has a crush on her. Jonas learns that Mikkel is his father, which makes Martha his aunt.
    Parents
    Ulrich Nielsen, Katharina Nielsen
    Partners
    Jonas Kahnwald (romance), Bartosz Tiedemann (dating)
    Siblings
    Mikkel Nielsen, Magnus Nielsen
    Versions
    teen, played by Lisa Vicari (S1)
    Born
    2003
    Seen in
    2019 (S1E1, S1E9)
  • Mikkel Nielsen
    Also
    Michael Kahnwald
    About
    Youngest Nielsen child; vanishes near the caves in November 2019. Wakes up in the cave and finds himself in 1986. He grows up in 1986 as Michael Kahnwald, Jonas's father.
    Parents
    Ines Kahnwald (adoptive), Ulrich Nielsen, Katharina Nielsen
    Partners
    Hannah Kahnwald (married)
    Children
    Jonas Kahnwald
    Siblings
    Martha Nielsen, Magnus Nielsen
    Versions
    child, played by Daan Lennard Liebrenz (S1); adult (as Michael Kahnwald), played by Sebastian Rudolph (S1)
    Born
    2008
    Seen in
    1986 (S1E3, S1E5, S1E10); 2019 (S1E1, S1E3); 2019 (S1E1)
    Note
    Netflix merges his timeline with Mikkel Nielsen's; his life as Michael from 1986 on is listed under Mikkel Nielsen.
  • Tronte Nielsen
    About
    Ulrich's father and Mikkel's grandfather; lives with his wife Jana. Arrived in Winden in 1953 with his mother Agnes.
    Parents
    Agnes Nielsen
    Partners
    Jana Nielsen (married), Claudia Tiedemann (affair)
    Children
    Ulrich Nielsen, Mads Nielsen
    Versions
    teen, played by Joshio Marlon (S1 recurring); adult, played by Felix Kramer (S1), season-level; elder, played by Walter Kreye (S1)
    Born
    1941
    Seen in
    1953 (S1E8); 1986 (S1E3); 2019 (S1E10)
  • Ulrich Nielsen
    About
    Police officer; Katharina's husband and father of Magnus, Martha and Mikkel; having an affair with Hannah. Son of Tronte and Jana; his younger brother Mads vanished in 1986.
    Parents
    Tronte Nielsen, Jana Nielsen
    Partners
    Hannah Kahnwald (affair), Katharina Nielsen (married)
    Children
    Mikkel Nielsen, Martha Nielsen, Magnus Nielsen
    Siblings
    Mads Nielsen
    Versions
    teen, played by Ludger Bökelmann (S1); adult, played by Oliver Masucci (S1)
    Born
    1971
    Seen in
    1953 (S1E8, S1E9); 1986 (S1E3, S1E5); 2019 (S1E1, S1E7, S1E8)
Doppler
  • Bernd Doppler
    About
    Former director of the Winden nuclear power plant, whose construction he drove; Helge's father.
    Partners
    Greta Doppler (married)
    Children
    Helge Doppler ((disputed))
    Versions
    adult, played by Anatole Taubman (S1), season-level; elder, played by Michael Mendl (S1 recurring)
    Born
    1913
    Seen in
    1953 (S1E8); 1986 (S1E3)
  • Charlotte Doppler
    About
    Winden's chief of police, married to Peter, mother of Franziska. Also mother of Elisabeth.
    Partners
    Peter Doppler (married)
    Children
    Franziska Doppler, Elisabeth Doppler
    Versions
    teen, played by Stephanie Amarell (S1), season-level; adult, played by Karoline Eichhorn (S1)
    Born
    1971
    Seen in
    1987 (S1E3); 2019 (S1E4, S1E10)
  • Elisabeth Doppler
    About
    Younger Doppler daughter, who is deaf.
    Parents
    Peter Doppler, Charlotte Doppler
    Siblings
    Franziska Doppler
    Versions
    child, played by Carlotta von Falkenhayn (S1)
    Born
    2011
    Seen in
    2019 (S1E4)
  • Franziska Doppler
    About
    Elder Doppler daughter and Magnus's girlfriend.
    Parents
    Peter Doppler, Charlotte Doppler
    Partners
    Magnus Nielsen (dating)
    Siblings
    Elisabeth Doppler
    Versions
    teen, played by Gina Alice Stiebitz (S1)
    Born
    2003
    Seen in
    2019 (S1E4)
  • Greta Doppler
    About
    Helge's strict, deeply religious mother and Bernd's wife. Tells the pastor she prayed for Helge to be taken, unsure he was her husband's child.
    Partners
    Bernd Doppler (married)
    Children
    Helge Doppler
    Versions
    adult, played by Cordelia Wege (S1)
    Born
    1917
    Seen in
    1953 (S1E8, S1E9)
  • Helge Doppler
    About
    Peter's elderly father. Suffers from dementia; found in the forest saying he "must stop Noah". In 1953, as a boy, he is struck on the head by Ulrich. Works with Noah.
    Parents
    Greta Doppler, Bernd Doppler ((disputed))
    Children
    Peter Doppler
    Versions
    child, played by Tom Philipp (S1); adult, played by Peter Schneider (S1), season-level; elder, played by Hermann Beyer (S1)
    Born
    1944
    Seen in
    1953 (S1E8, S1E9, S1E10); 1986 (S1E2, S1E4, S1E7, S1E9, S1E10); 2019 (S1E1, S1E2, S1E4, S1E7, S1E10)
  • Peter Doppler
    About
    Psychotherapist; Charlotte's husband, father of Franziska, caring for his elderly father Helge. Also father of Elisabeth. Discovered to be having an affair with Bernadette.
    Parents
    Helge Doppler
    Partners
    Charlotte Doppler (married), Bernadette (affair)
    Children
    Franziska Doppler, Elisabeth Doppler
    Versions
    adult, played by Stephan Kampwirth (S1)
    Born
    1970
    Seen in
    2019 (S1E4); 2020 (S1E10)
Tiedemann
  • Aleksander Tiedemann
    Also
    Aleksander Köhler (the name he uses on arriving in Winden in 1986)
    About
    Director of the nuclear power plant, Regina's husband and Bartosz's father, with dark secrets. In 1986 a young man calling himself Aleksander Köhler arrives in Winden.
    Partners
    Regina Tiedemann (married)
    Children
    Bartosz Tiedemann
    Versions
    teen, played by Béla Gabor Lenz (S1 guest); adult, played by Peter Benedict (S1)
    Born
    1966
    Seen in
    1986 (S1E9); 2019 (S1E2)
  • Bartosz Tiedemann
    About
    Jonas's best friend, son of Regina and Aleksander, and Martha's boyfriend. Agrees to join Noah.
    Parents
    Regina Tiedemann, Aleksander Tiedemann
    Partners
    Martha Nielsen (dating)
    Versions
    teen, played by Paul Lux (S1)
    Born
    2003
    Seen in
    2019 (S1E1, S1E10)
  • Claudia Tiedemann
    About
    Egon's daughter and Regina's mother; newly elected director of the power plant in 1986. Her elderly self approaches Bartosz in 2019.
    Parents
    Egon Tiedemann, Doris Tiedemann
    Partners
    Tronte Nielsen (affair)
    Children
    Regina Tiedemann
    Versions
    child, played by Gwendolyn Göbel (S1); adult, played by Julika Jenkins (S1); elder, played by Lisa Kreuzer (S1 recurring)
    Born
    1942
    Seen in
    1953 (S1E8, S1E9); 1986 (S1E3, S1E6, S1E9); 2019 (S1E9, S1E10)
  • Doris Tiedemann
    About
    Egon's wife.
    Partners
    Egon Tiedemann (married)
    Children
    Claudia Tiedemann
    Versions
    adult, played by Luise Heyer (S1)
    Born
    1922
    Seen in
    1953 (S1E8)
  • Egon Tiedemann
    About
    Police chief investigator in 1986; Claudia's father. A police officer in 1953, married to Doris.
    Partners
    Doris Tiedemann (married)
    Children
    Claudia Tiedemann
    Versions
    adult, played by Sebastian Hülk (S1); elder, played by Christian Pätzold (S1)
    Born
    1922
    Seen in
    1953 (S1E8, S1E9); 1986 (S1E3, S1E9)
  • Regina Tiedemann
    About
    Wife of Aleksander and mother of Bartosz. Claudia's daughter; bullied at school as a teenager in 1986.
    Parents
    Claudia Tiedemann
    Partners
    Aleksander Tiedemann (married)
    Children
    Bartosz Tiedemann
    Versions
    teen, played by Lydia Maria Makrides (S1); adult, played by Deborah Kaufmann (S1)
    Born
    1971
    Seen in
    1986 (S1E9); 2019 (S1E6)
Tannhaus
  • H. G. Tannhaus
    Also
    the clockmaker
    About
    Winden's clockmaker, who has written a book about the theory of time travel. Completes the brass time machine from the broken version brought by the adult Jonas.
    Versions
    adult, played by Arnd Klawitter (S1); elder, played by Christian Steyer (S1)
    Born
    1913
    Seen in
    1953 (S1E8, S1E9); 1986 (S1E10)
Albers
  • Hermann Albers
    About
    Sheep farmer; Katharina's father.
    Children
    Katharina Nielsen
    Seen in
    1986 (S1E3)
Wöller
  • Torben Wöller
    About
    Police detective with an injury to his right eye; most people just call him Wöller.
    Born
    1981
Obendorf
  • Erik Obendorf
    About
    Local teenage drug dealer, missing for two weeks when the series begins. His body is found at the power-plant construction site in 1953.
    Parents
    Jürgen Obendorf, Ulla Obendorf (season-level)
    Seen in
    2019 (S1E1)
  • Jürgen Obendorf
    About
    A junk dealer who sometimes works shifts at the power plant. Erik Obendorf's father.
    Children
    Erik Obendorf
    Born
    1971
    Seen in
    2019 (S1E1, S1E2)
  • Ulla Obendorf (season-level: first appearance dated to the season, not the episode)
    About
    Erik Obendorf's mother in 2019 (season 1).
    Children
    Erik Obendorf (season-level)
    Seen in
    2019 (season-level, episode not sourced)
    Note
    Season-level source only (Wikipedia: season 1); episode UNVERIFIED, so the conservative season-end value is used.
No family shown
  • Bernadette
    Also
    Benni (season-level)
    About
    A transgender sex worker with whom Peter has had an affair.
    Partners
    Peter Doppler (affair)
    Born
    1987
    Seen in
    2019 (S1E10)
  • Noah
    Also
    Hanno Tauber (the name he uses as Winden's pastor in the 1950s)
    About
    A mysterious man who gives Elisabeth a watch; Helge says he "must stop Noah". A priest who looks the same in 1953, 1986 and 2019; in the 1950s he is pastor Hanno Tauber.
    Versions
    adult, played by Mark Waschke (S1)
    Seen in
    1953 (S1E9); 1986 (S1E9, S1E10); 2019 (S1E4, S1E10)
Loops and paradoxes

The brass time machine (object). Tannhaus completes the machine from the broken version brought by adult Jonas (S1E10) [23]; Odar: "it's only one machine, it just comes with different patina levels" [30].

⚠ Spoilers: Dark family tree up to the end of season 2ShowHide
Kahnwald
  • Daniel Kahnwald
    About
    Winden's chief of police in the 1950s and Ines's father.
    Children
    Ines Kahnwald
    Versions
    adult, played by Florian Panzner (S1, S2 guest)
    Born
    1915
    Seen in
    1953 (S1E8)
  • Hannah Kahnwald
    Also
    Hannah Krüger (birth name)
    About
    Jonas's mother and Michael's widow, having an affair with Ulrich Nielsen. Born Hannah Krüger: her father Sebastian is seen with her, aged 14, in 1986. Learns about time travel from the adult Jonas and later travels to 1954.
    Parents
    Sebastian Krüger
    Partners
    Mikkel Nielsen (married), Ulrich Nielsen (affair)
    Children
    Jonas Kahnwald
    Versions
    teen, played by Ella Lee (S1, S2 guest); adult, played by Maja Schöne (S1, S2)
    Born
    1972
    Seen in
    1954 (S2E7); 1986 (S1E5, S1E9); 1987 (S2E2); 2019 (S1E1, S1E5, S2E1, S2E6); 2020 (S2E1, S2E2, S2E7)
  • Ines Kahnwald
    About
    Michael's mother and Jonas's grandmother; hides Michael's suicide letter. In 1986 she is a nurse who gains the trust of a lost boy (Mikkel). She raised Mikkel, who grew up as Michael Kahnwald. Netflix: she offers to adopt him, and Mikkel Nielsen becomes Michael Kahnwald.
    Parents
    Daniel Kahnwald
    Children
    Mikkel Nielsen (adoptive)
    Versions
    teen, played by Lena Urzendowsky (S1 recurring); adult, played by Anne Ratte-Polle (S1, S2); elder, played by Angela Winkler (S1)
    Born
    1940
    Seen in
    1954 (S1E8); 1986 (S1E10); 1987 (S2E5); 2019 (S1E1)
  • Jonas Kahnwald
    Also
    the Stranger (his adult self); Adam (his elderly self)
    About
    Teenage son of Hannah and Michael Kahnwald; returns to school in November 2019 after his father's suicide. Stranded in post-apocalyptic 2053, he reaches 1921, where Adam shows him that he is Jonas, decades older.
    Parents
    Mikkel Nielsen, Hannah Kahnwald
    Partners
    Martha Nielsen (romance)
    Causal link
    Mikkel Nielsen
    Versions
    teen, played by Louis Hofmann (S1, S2); adult (as the Stranger), played by Andreas Pietschmann (S1, S2); elder (as Adam), played by Dietrich Hollinderbäumer (S2)
    Born
    2003
    Seen in
    1921 (S2E5, S2E6, S2E8); 1921 (S2E1, S2E4, S2E8); 1986 (S1E7, S1E10, S2E6); 1986 (S1E7, S1E9); 1987 (S2E2, S2E7, S2E8); 2019 (S1E1, S1E2, S1E5, S1E7, S1E9, S1E10, S2E6); 2019 (S1E5, S1E7, S1E9); 2020 (S2E2, S2E7, S2E8); 2052 (S1E10); 2053 (S2E2, S2E5)
  • Sebastian Krüger
    About
    A man who appears in Netflix's family tree from S1E5. Hannah's father. Seen driving with 14-year-old Hannah in 1986.
    Children
    Hannah Kahnwald
    Seen in
    1986 (S1E6)
    Note
    Netflix spells "Sebastian Kruger" (no umlaut) [24]; Wikipedia "Sebastian Krüger" [23]. Krüger is Hannah's birth family; grouped with Kahnwald through Hannah.
Nielsen
  • Agnes Nielsen
    About
    Tronte's mother, who arrives in Winden with him in 1953. Noah's sister and a former member of Sic Mundus.
    Partners
    Doris Tiedemann (affair)
    Children
    Tronte Nielsen
    Versions
    child, played by Helena Pieske (S2 guest); adult, played by Antje Traue (S1, S2 recurring)
    Born
    1910
    Seen in
    1921 (S2E4, S2E8); 1953 (S1E8); 1954 (S2E3, S2E8)
  • Jana Nielsen
    About
    Mother of Ulrich and Mads. Tronte's wife.
    Partners
    Tronte Nielsen (married)
    Children
    Ulrich Nielsen, Mads Nielsen
    Versions
    teen, played by Rike Sindler (S1 recurring); adult, played by Anne Lebinsky (S1), season-level; elder, played by Tatja Seibt (S1, S2 guest)
    Born
    1942
    Seen in
    1986 (S1E3); 2019 (S1E7); 2020 (S2E8)
  • Katharina Nielsen
    Also
    Katharina Albers (birth name)
    About
    School principal and Ulrich's wife. Born Katharina Albers, daughter of farmer Hermann Albers.
    Parents
    Hermann Albers
    Partners
    Ulrich Nielsen (married)
    Children
    Mikkel Nielsen, Martha Nielsen, Magnus Nielsen
    Versions
    teen, played by Nele Trebs (S1, S2 guest); adult, played by Jördis Triebel (S1, S2)
    Born
    1970
    Seen in
    1986 (S1E7); 2019 (S1E1, S1E7, S1E9); 2020 (S2E4, S2E8)
  • Mads Nielsen
    About
    Ulrich's younger brother, who vanished in 1986. Ulrich realises the dead boy found in the woods is Mads, unaged since 1986.
    Parents
    Tronte Nielsen, Jana Nielsen
    Siblings
    Ulrich Nielsen
    Born
    1974
    Seen in
    1986 (S1E7, S1E9); 2019 (S1E9, S1E10)
  • Magnus Nielsen
    About
    Eldest Nielsen child and Franziska's boyfriend. His older self is a member of Sic Mundus in 1921.
    Parents
    Ulrich Nielsen, Katharina Nielsen
    Partners
    Franziska Doppler (dating)
    Siblings
    Mikkel Nielsen, Martha Nielsen
    Versions
    teen, played by Moritz Jahn (S1, S2); adult, played by Wolfram Koch (S2 recurring)
    Born
    2001
    Seen in
    1921 (S2E8); 1987 (S2E7); 2019 (S1E1, S1E4); 2020 (S2E7, S2E8)
  • Martha Nielsen
    Also
    the other Martha (from another world)
    About
    Middle Nielsen child and Bartosz's girlfriend; Jonas has a crush on her. Jonas learns that Mikkel is his father, which makes Martha his aunt. Shot by Adam in 2020; another Martha then appears, who says she comes from another world.
    Parents
    Ulrich Nielsen, Katharina Nielsen
    Partners
    Jonas Kahnwald (romance), Bartosz Tiedemann (dating)
    Siblings
    Mikkel Nielsen, Magnus Nielsen
    Versions
    teen, played by Lisa Vicari (S1, S2)
    Born
    2003
    Seen in
    1987 (S2E5); 2019 (S1E1, S1E9, S2E6); 2020 (S2E1, S2E5, S2E7, S2E8)
  • Mikkel Nielsen
    Also
    Michael Kahnwald
    About
    Youngest Nielsen child; vanishes near the caves in November 2019. Wakes up in the cave and finds himself in 1986. He grows up in 1986 as Michael Kahnwald, Jonas's father.
    Parents
    Ines Kahnwald (adoptive), Ulrich Nielsen, Katharina Nielsen
    Partners
    Hannah Kahnwald (married)
    Children
    Jonas Kahnwald
    Siblings
    Martha Nielsen, Magnus Nielsen
    Causal link
    Jonas Kahnwald
    Versions
    child, played by Daan Lennard Liebrenz (S1, S2); adult (as Michael Kahnwald), played by Sebastian Rudolph (S1, S2 guest)
    Born
    2008
    Seen in
    1986 (S1E3, S1E5, S1E10, S2E6); 1987 (S2E5); 2019 (S1E1, S1E3, S2E6); 2019 (S1E1)
    Note
    Netflix merges his timeline with Mikkel Nielsen's; his life as Michael from 1986 on is listed under Mikkel Nielsen.
  • Tronte Nielsen
    About
    Ulrich's father and Mikkel's grandfather; lives with his wife Jana. Arrived in Winden in 1953 with his mother Agnes.
    Parents
    Agnes Nielsen
    Partners
    Jana Nielsen (married), Claudia Tiedemann (affair)
    Children
    Ulrich Nielsen, Mads Nielsen
    Versions
    teen, played by Joshio Marlon (S1 recurring, S2 guest); adult, played by Felix Kramer (S1), season-level; elder, played by Walter Kreye (S1, S2 guest)
    Born
    1941
    Seen in
    1953 (S1E8); 1986 (S1E3); 2019 (S1E10); 2020 (S2E1)
  • Ulrich Nielsen
    About
    Police officer; Katharina's husband and father of Magnus, Martha and Mikkel; having an affair with Hannah. Son of Tronte and Jana; his younger brother Mads vanished in 1986. Arrested in 1953; by 1987 he has spent 34 years locked up in a psychiatric facility.
    Parents
    Tronte Nielsen, Jana Nielsen
    Partners
    Hannah Kahnwald (affair), Katharina Nielsen (married)
    Children
    Mikkel Nielsen, Martha Nielsen, Magnus Nielsen
    Siblings
    Mads Nielsen
    Versions
    teen, played by Ludger Bökelmann (S1); adult, played by Oliver Masucci (S1, S2); elder, played by Winfried Glatzeder (S2)
    Born
    1971
    Seen in
    1953 (S1E8, S1E9); 1954 (S2E7); 1986 (S1E3, S1E5); 1987 (S2E5); 2019 (S1E1, S1E7, S1E8, S2E6)
Doppler
  • Bernd Doppler
    About
    Former director of the Winden nuclear power plant, whose construction he drove; Helge's father.
    Partners
    Greta Doppler (married)
    Children
    Helge Doppler ((disputed))
    Versions
    adult, played by Anatole Taubman (S1), season-level; elder, played by Michael Mendl (S1 recurring, S2 guest)
    Born
    1913
    Seen in
    1953 (S1E8); 1954 (S2E3); 1986 (S1E3); 1987 (S2E5)
  • Charlotte Doppler
    Also
    Charlotte Tannhaus (her name while raised by H. G. Tannhaus)
    About
    Winden's chief of police, married to Peter, mother of Franziska. Also mother of Elisabeth. Raised by H. G. Tannhaus, she starts to question her origins. Tannhaus is not her real grandfather; Noah reveals that he is her father. Adam says Elisabeth will become her mother.
    Parents
    Noah, Elisabeth Doppler, H. G. Tannhaus (guardian)
    Partners
    Peter Doppler (married)
    Children
    Franziska Doppler, Elisabeth Doppler
    Versions
    teen, played by Stephanie Amarell (S1), season-level; adult, played by Karoline Eichhorn (S1, S2)
    Born
    1971
    Seen in
    1987 (S1E3); 2019 (S1E4, S1E10); 2020 (S2E4, S2E5, S2E8)
  • Elisabeth Doppler
    About
    Younger Doppler daughter, who is deaf. Leads a group of survivors in 2053. Adam says she will become Noah's wife and Charlotte's mother.
    Parents
    Peter Doppler, Charlotte Doppler
    Partners
    Noah (married)
    Children
    Charlotte Doppler
    Siblings
    Franziska Doppler
    Versions
    child, played by Carlotta von Falkenhayn (S1, S2); adult, played by Sandra Borgmann (S2)
    Born
    2011
    Seen in
    1987 (S2E5); 2019 (S1E4); 2020 (S2E5, S2E8); 2052 (S2E4); 2053 (S2E8)
  • Franziska Doppler
    About
    Elder Doppler daughter and Magnus's girlfriend. Her older self is a member of Sic Mundus.
    Parents
    Peter Doppler, Charlotte Doppler
    Partners
    Magnus Nielsen (dating)
    Siblings
    Elisabeth Doppler
    Versions
    teen, played by Gina Alice Stiebitz (S1, S2); adult, played by Carina Wiese (S2)
    Born
    2003
    Seen in
    1987 (S2E5); 2019 (S1E4); 2020 (S2E2, S2E5, S2E8)
  • Greta Doppler
    About
    Helge's strict, deeply religious mother and Bernd's wife. Tells the pastor she prayed for Helge to be taken, unsure he was her husband's child.
    Partners
    Bernd Doppler (married)
    Children
    Helge Doppler
    Versions
    adult, played by Cordelia Wege (S1, S2 recurring)
    Born
    1917
    Seen in
    1953 (S1E8, S1E9); 1954 (S2E3)
  • Helge Doppler
    About
    Peter's elderly father. Suffers from dementia; found in the forest saying he "must stop Noah". In 1953, as a boy, he is struck on the head by Ulrich. Works with Noah.
    Parents
    Greta Doppler, Bernd Doppler ((disputed))
    Children
    Peter Doppler
    Versions
    child, played by Tom Philipp (S1, S2 recurring); adult, played by Peter Schneider (S1, S2 recurring), season-level; elder, played by Hermann Beyer (S1)
    Born
    1944
    Seen in
    1953 (S1E8, S1E9, S1E10); 1954 (S2E3); 1986 (S1E2, S1E4, S1E7, S1E9, S1E10); 1987 (S2E3); 2019 (S1E1, S1E2, S1E4, S1E7, S1E10)
  • Peter Doppler
    About
    Psychotherapist; Charlotte's husband, father of Franziska, caring for his elderly father Helge. Also father of Elisabeth. Discovered to be having an affair with Bernadette.
    Parents
    Helge Doppler
    Partners
    Charlotte Doppler (married), Bernadette Wöller (affair)
    Children
    Franziska Doppler, Elisabeth Doppler
    Versions
    adult, played by Stephan Kampwirth (S1, S2)
    Born
    1970
    Seen in
    2019 (S1E4); 2020 (S1E10, S2E4, S2E8)
Tiedemann
  • Aleksander Tiedemann
    Also
    Aleksander Köhler (the name he uses on arriving in Winden in 1986); Boris Niewald (his real name) (season-level)
    About
    Director of the nuclear power plant, Regina's husband and Bartosz's father, with dark secrets. In 1986 a young man calling himself Aleksander Köhler arrives in Winden. Tells Clausen his original surname was Köhler.
    Partners
    Regina Tiedemann (married)
    Children
    Bartosz Tiedemann
    Versions
    teen, played by Béla Gabor Lenz (S1 guest, S2 guest); adult, played by Peter Benedict (S1, S2)
    Born
    1966
    Seen in
    1986 (S1E9); 2019 (S1E2); 2020 (S2E7, S2E8)
  • Bartosz Tiedemann
    About
    Jonas's best friend, son of Regina and Aleksander, and Martha's boyfriend. Agrees to join Noah.
    Parents
    Regina Tiedemann, Aleksander Tiedemann
    Partners
    Martha Nielsen (dating)
    Versions
    teen, played by Paul Lux (S1, S2); adult, played by Roman Knižka (S2 guest), season-level
    Born
    2003
    Seen in
    1987 (S2E7); 2019 (S1E1, S1E10); 2020 (S2E1, S2E7, S2E8)
  • Claudia Tiedemann
    Also
    the White Devil (what her dying father calls her)
    About
    Egon's daughter and Regina's mother; newly elected director of the power plant in 1986. Her elderly self approaches Bartosz in 2019. Opposes Adam; her dying father calls her "the White Devil".
    Parents
    Egon Tiedemann, Doris Tiedemann
    Partners
    Tronte Nielsen (affair)
    Children
    Regina Tiedemann
    Versions
    child, played by Gwendolyn Göbel (S1, S2 guest); adult, played by Julika Jenkins (S1, S2); elder, played by Lisa Kreuzer (S1 recurring, S2)
    Born
    1942
    Seen in
    1953 (S1E8, S1E9); 1954 (S2E3); 1986 (S1E3, S1E6, S1E9); 1987 (S2E2, S2E3, S2E4, S2E5, S2E7, S2E8); 2019 (S1E9, S1E10, S2E6); 2020 (S2E4, S2E8); 2052 (S2E6); 2053 (S2E2)
  • Doris Tiedemann
    About
    Egon's wife. Has an affair with Agnes.
    Partners
    Egon Tiedemann (married), Agnes Nielsen (affair)
    Children
    Claudia Tiedemann
    Versions
    adult, played by Luise Heyer (S1, S2 guest)
    Born
    1922
    Seen in
    1953 (S1E8)
  • Egon Tiedemann
    About
    Police chief investigator in 1986; Claudia's father. A police officer in 1953, married to Doris.
    Partners
    Doris Tiedemann (married)
    Children
    Claudia Tiedemann
    Versions
    adult, played by Sebastian Hülk (S1, S2 recurring); elder, played by Christian Pätzold (S1, S2)
    Born
    1922
    Seen in
    1953 (S1E8, S1E9); 1986 (S1E3, S1E9); 1987 (S2E3, S2E7)
  • Regina Tiedemann
    About
    Wife of Aleksander and mother of Bartosz. Claudia's daughter; bullied at school as a teenager in 1986.
    Parents
    Claudia Tiedemann
    Partners
    Aleksander Tiedemann (married)
    Children
    Bartosz Tiedemann
    Versions
    teen, played by Lydia Maria Makrides (S1, S2); adult, played by Deborah Kaufmann (S1, S2)
    Born
    1971
    Seen in
    1986 (S1E9); 2019 (S1E6); 2020 (S2E8)
Tannhaus
  • H. G. Tannhaus
    Also
    the clockmaker
    About
    Winden's clockmaker, who has written a book about the theory of time travel. Completes the brass time machine from the broken version brought by the adult Jonas. Raised Charlotte.
    Children
    Charlotte Doppler (guardian)
    Versions
    adult, played by Arnd Klawitter (S1, S2 guest); elder, played by Christian Steyer (S1, S2 guest)
    Born
    1913
    Seen in
    1953 (S1E8, S1E9); 1954 (S2E3); 1986 (S1E10); 1987 (S2E3)
Albers
  • Hermann Albers
    About
    Sheep farmer; Katharina's father.
    Children
    Katharina Nielsen
    Seen in
    1986 (S1E3)
Wöller
  • Bernadette Wöller
    Also
    Benni (season-level)
    About
    A transgender sex worker with whom Peter has had an affair. Torben Wöller's sister.
    Partners
    Peter Doppler (affair)
    Siblings
    Torben Wöller
    Born
    1987
    Seen in
    2019 (S1E10); 2020 (S2E1, S2E2)
  • Torben Wöller
    About
    Police detective with an injury to his right eye; most people just call him Wöller. Bernadette's brother.
    Siblings
    Bernadette Wöller
    Born
    1981
    Seen in
    2019 (S2E1); 2020 (S2E1, S2E7, S2E8)
Obendorf
  • Erik Obendorf
    About
    Local teenage drug dealer, missing for two weeks when the series begins. His body is found at the power-plant construction site in 1953.
    Parents
    Jürgen Obendorf, Ulla Obendorf (season-level)
    Seen in
    2019 (S1E1)
  • Jürgen Obendorf
    About
    A junk dealer who sometimes works shifts at the power plant. Erik Obendorf's father.
    Children
    Erik Obendorf
    Born
    1971
    Seen in
    2019 (S1E1, S1E2); 2020 (S2E1)
  • Ulla Obendorf (season-level: first appearance dated to the season, not the episode)
    About
    Erik Obendorf's mother in 2019 (season 1).
    Children
    Erik Obendorf (season-level)
    Seen in
    2019 (season-level, episode not sourced)
    Note
    Season-level source only (Wikipedia: season 1); episode UNVERIFIED, so the conservative season-end value is used.
No family shown
  • Noah
    Also
    Hanno Tauber (the name he uses as Winden's pastor in the 1950s)
    About
    A mysterious man who gives Elisabeth a watch; Helge says he "must stop Noah". A priest who looks the same in 1953, 1986 and 2019; in the 1950s he is pastor Hanno Tauber. A member of Sic Mundus who reveals that he is Charlotte's father. Shot dead by Agnes in 1921.
    Partners
    Elisabeth Doppler (married)
    Children
    Charlotte Doppler
    Versions
    teen, played by Max Schimmelpfennig (S2); adult, played by Mark Waschke (S1, S2)
    Born
    1904
    Seen in
    1921 (S2E1, S2E4, S2E8); 1953 (S1E9); 1954 (S2E3); 1986 (S1E9, S1E10); 2019 (S1E4, S1E10, S2E5); 2020 (S2E5, S2E8)
  • Silja
    About
    A teenager among the survivors in post-apocalyptic Winden, sign-language interpreter for their leader Elisabeth. Frees Jonas and helps him reach the God Particle.
    Versions
    teen, played by Lea van Acken (S2)
    Born
    2036
    Seen in
    2052 (S2E1); 2053 (S2E2)
Loops and paradoxes

Charlotte and Elisabeth: each is the other's mother. Charlotte is Elisabeth's mother, and Elisabeth (with Noah) is Charlotte's mother. Netflix calls it "a so-called bootstrap paradox" [24:C19E10].

  1. Charlotte Doppler is a parent of Elisabeth Doppler.
  2. Elisabeth Doppler is a parent of Charlotte Doppler.

Jonas makes his own conception possible. Jonas leads young Mikkel through the passage to 1986; Mikkel grows up as Michael Kahnwald and fathers Jonas. Old Claudia: Mikkel must travel to the past "so Jonas can be conceived" [23:S2E6].

  1. Jonas leads Mikkel through the passage to 1986, which makes his own conception possible.
  2. Mikkel Nielsen (as Michael Kahnwald) is a parent of Jonas Kahnwald.

Tannhaus's book A Journey Through Time (object). Old Claudia gives Tannhaus the book he will later write; Netflix: "the contents exist without an author. It's a so-called bootstrap paradox." [24:C37E6]

The brass time machine (object). Tannhaus completes the machine from the broken version brought by adult Jonas (S1E10) [23]; Odar: "it's only one machine, it just comes with different patina levels" [30].

⚠ Spoilers: Dark family tree up to season 3, before the finaleShowHide
Kahnwald
  • Daniel Kahnwald
    About
    Winden's chief of police in the 1950s and Ines's father.
    Children
    Ines Kahnwald (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Versions
    adult, played by Florian Panzner (S1, S2 guest, S3 guest)
    Born
    1915, Adam's World
    Seen in
    1953, Adam's World (S1E8); 1954, Adam's World (S3E4)
  • Hannah Kahnwald
    Also
    Hannah Krüger (birth name); Hannah Nielsen (married name in the other world)
    About
    Jonas's mother and Michael's widow, having an affair with Ulrich Nielsen. Born Hannah Krüger: her father Sebastian is seen with her, aged 14, in 1986. Learns about time travel from the adult Jonas and later travels to 1954. In the other world she is pregnant and married to Ulrich. Has a daughter, Silja, with Egon Tiedemann.
    Parents
    Sebastian Krüger (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Partners
    Mikkel Nielsen (married, Adam's World), Ulrich Nielsen (affair, Adam's World; married, Eva's World), Egon Tiedemann (affair, Adam's World)
    Children
    Jonas Kahnwald (Adam's World), Silja Tiedemann (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Versions
    teen, played by Ella Lee (S1, S2 guest, S3 guest); adult, played by Maja Schöne (S1, S2, S3)
    Born
    1972, Adam's World; 1972, Eva's World
    Seen in
    1911, Adam's World (S3E7); 1954, Adam's World (S2E7, S3E4, S3E7); 1986, Adam's World (S1E5, S1E9); 1987, Adam's World (S2E2, S3E7); 1993, Adam's World (S3E7); 2019, Adam's World (S1E1, S1E5, S2E1, S2E6); 2019, Eva's World (S3E3, S3E6); 2020, Adam's World (S2E1, S2E2, S2E7)
  • Ines Kahnwald
    About
    Michael's mother and Jonas's grandmother; hides Michael's suicide letter. In 1986 she is a nurse who gains the trust of a lost boy (Mikkel). She raised Mikkel, who grew up as Michael Kahnwald. Netflix: she offers to adopt him, and Mikkel Nielsen becomes Michael Kahnwald.
    Parents
    Daniel Kahnwald (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Children
    Mikkel Nielsen (adoptive, Adam's World)
    Versions
    teen, played by Lena Urzendowsky (S1 recurring, S3 guest); adult, played by Anne Ratte-Polle (S1, S2, S3 guest); elder, played by Angela Winkler (S1)
    Born
    1940, Adam's World
    Seen in
    1954, Adam's World (S1E8); 1986, Adam's World (S1E10); 1987, Adam's World (S2E5, S3E2); 2019, Adam's World (S1E1)
  • Jonas Kahnwald
    Also
    the Stranger (his adult self); Adam (his elderly self)
    About
    Teenage son of Hannah and Michael Kahnwald; returns to school in November 2019 after his father's suicide. Stranded in post-apocalyptic 2053, he reaches 1921, where Adam shows him that he is Jonas, decades older. Taken to another world, where he was never born.
    Parents
    Mikkel Nielsen (Adam's World), Hannah Kahnwald (Adam's World)
    Partners
    Martha Nielsen (romance, Adam's World; Eva's World)
    Children
    the Unknown (Eva's World)
    Siblings
    Silja Tiedemann
    Causal link
    Mikkel Nielsen (Adam's World)
    Versions
    teen, played by Louis Hofmann (S1, S2, S3); adult (as the Stranger), played by Andreas Pietschmann (S1, S2, S3); elder (as Adam), played by Dietrich Hollinderbäumer (S2, S3)
    Born
    2003, Adam's World
    Seen in
    1888, Adam's World (S3E3); 1890, Adam's World (S3E7); 1911, Adam's World (S3E7); 1921, Adam's World (S2E5, S2E6, S2E8); 1921, Adam's World (S2E1, S2E4, S2E8); 1986, Adam's World (S1E7, S1E10, S2E6); 1986, Adam's World (S1E7, S1E9); 1987, Adam's World (S2E2, S2E7, S2E8); 2019, Adam's World (S1E1, S1E2, S1E5, S1E7, S1E9, S1E10, S2E6, S3E7); 2019, Adam's World (S1E5, S1E7, S1E9); 2019, Eva's World (S3E1, S3E4, S3E5); 2020, Adam's World (S2E2, S2E7, S2E8, S3E1, S3E3, S3E4, S3E6); 2023, Adam's World (S3E7); 2052, Adam's World (S1E10, S3E7); 2052, Eva's World (S3E4); 2053, Adam's World (S2E2, S2E5, S3E4, S3E7); 2053, Adam's World (S3E6)
    Note
    Not the Unknown: two different characters. The Stranger (S1) is the adult Jonas; the Unknown (S3) is Jonas and Martha's son.
  • Sebastian Krüger
    About
    A man who appears in Netflix's family tree from S1E5. Hannah's father. Seen driving with 14-year-old Hannah in 1986.
    Children
    Hannah Kahnwald (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Seen in
    1986, Adam's World (S1E6)
    Note
    Netflix spells "Sebastian Kruger" (no umlaut) [24]; Wikipedia "Sebastian Krüger" [23]. Krüger is Hannah's birth family; grouped with Kahnwald through Hannah.
Nielsen
  • Agnes Nielsen
    About
    Tronte's mother, who arrives in Winden with him in 1953. Noah's sister and a former member of Sic Mundus. Daughter of Bartosz and Silja.
    Parents
    Bartosz Tiedemann (Adam's World, Eva's World), Silja Tiedemann (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Partners
    the Unknown (Adam's World), Doris Tiedemann (affair, Adam's World)
    Children
    Tronte Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Siblings
    Noah
    Versions
    child, played by Helena Pieske (S2 guest); adult, played by Antje Traue (S1, S2 recurring, S3 recurring)
    Born
    1910, Adam's World
    Seen in
    1910, Adam's World (S3E7); 1921, Adam's World (S2E4, S2E8, S3E7); 1953, Adam's World (S1E8); 1954, Adam's World (S2E3, S2E8); 2053, Adam's World (S3E7)
  • Jana Nielsen
    About
    Mother of Ulrich and Mads. Tronte's wife.
    Partners
    Tronte Nielsen (married, Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Children
    Ulrich Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World), Mads Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Versions
    teen, played by Rike Sindler (S1 recurring, S3 guest); adult, played by Anne Lebinsky (S1, S3 guest), season-level; elder, played by Tatja Seibt (S1, S2 guest)
    Born
    1942, Adam's World
    Seen in
    1954, Adam's World (S3E4); 1986, Adam's World (S1E3); 1987, Adam's World (S3E2); 2019, Adam's World (S1E7); 2020, Adam's World (S2E8)
  • Katharina Nielsen
    Also
    Katharina Albers (birth name)
    About
    School principal and Ulrich's wife. Born Katharina Albers, daughter of farmer Hermann Albers. Her mother is Helene Albers.
    Parents
    Hermann Albers (Adam's World, Eva's World), Helene Albers (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Partners
    Ulrich Nielsen (married, Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Children
    Mikkel Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World), Martha Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World), Magnus Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Versions
    teen, played by Nele Trebs (S1, S2 guest, S3 recurring); adult, played by Jördis Triebel (S1, S2, S3)
    Born
    1970, Adam's World; 1970, Eva's World
    Seen in
    1986, Adam's World (S1E7); 1987, Adam's World (S3E2, S3E5); 2019, Adam's World (S1E1, S1E7, S1E9); 2019, Eva's World (S3E1, S3E6); 2020, Adam's World (S2E4, S2E8, S3E2)
  • Mads Nielsen
    About
    Ulrich's younger brother, who vanished in 1986. Ulrich realises the dead boy found in the woods is Mads, unaged since 1986.
    Parents
    Tronte Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World), Jana Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Siblings
    Ulrich Nielsen
    Born
    1974, Adam's World; 1974, Eva's World
    Seen in
    1986, Adam's World (S1E7, S1E9); 1986, Eva's World (S3E1); 1987, Adam's World (S3E2); 2019, Adam's World (S1E9, S1E10); 2019, Eva's World (S3E1, S3E6)
  • Magnus Nielsen
    About
    Eldest Nielsen child and Franziska's boyfriend. His older self is a member of Sic Mundus in 1921. Stranded in 1888 with Jonas, Bartosz and Franziska.
    Parents
    Ulrich Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World), Katharina Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Partners
    Franziska Doppler (dating, Adam's World)
    Siblings
    Mikkel Nielsen, Martha Nielsen
    Versions
    teen, played by Moritz Jahn (S1, S2, S3); adult, played by Wolfram Koch (S2 recurring, S3)
    Born
    2001, Adam's World; 2001, Eva's World
    Seen in
    1888, Adam's World (S3E2); 1921, Adam's World (S2E8, S3E6); 1987, Adam's World (S2E7); 2019, Adam's World (S1E1, S1E4); 2019, Eva's World (S3E1, S3E6); 2020, Adam's World (S2E7, S2E8, S3E2); 2053, Adam's World (S3E6)
  • Martha Nielsen
    Also
    the other Martha (from another world); "Female Stranger" (her adult self in the other world, per Wikipedia's credit); Eva (her elderly self in the other world)
    About
    Middle Nielsen child and Bartosz's girlfriend; Jonas has a crush on her. Jonas learns that Mikkel is his father, which makes Martha his aunt. Shot by Adam in 2020; another Martha then appears, who says she comes from another world. The other Martha comes from another world, where she is dating Kilian Obendorf. The other world's Martha has a child with Jonas, the Unknown.
    Parents
    Ulrich Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World), Katharina Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Partners
    Jonas Kahnwald (romance, Adam's World; Eva's World), Bartosz Tiedemann (dating, Adam's World), Kilian Obendorf (dating, Eva's World)
    Children
    the Unknown (Eva's World)
    Siblings
    Mikkel Nielsen, Magnus Nielsen
    Versions
    teen, played by Lisa Vicari (S1, S2, S3); adult, played by Nina Kronjäger (S3); elder (as Eva), played by Barbara Nüsse (S3)
    Born
    2003, Adam's World; 2003, Eva's World
    Seen in
    1888, Adam's World (S3E3, S3E4, S3E6); 1987, Adam's World (S2E5); 2019, Adam's World (S1E1, S1E9, S2E6); 2019, Eva's World (S3E1, S3E2, S3E3, S3E4, S3E5, S3E6, S3E7); 2019, Eva's World (S3E1, S3E2, S3E3); 2020, Adam's World (S2E1, S2E5, S2E7, S2E8, S3E1, S3E7); 2052, Eva's World (S3E4, S3E6, S3E7); 2052, Eva's World (S3E6); 2053, Adam's World (S3E4, S3E7)
  • Mikkel Nielsen
    Also
    Michael Kahnwald
    About
    Youngest Nielsen child; vanishes near the caves in November 2019. Wakes up in the cave and finds himself in 1986. He grows up in 1986 as Michael Kahnwald, Jonas's father. In the other world he never travels back in time.
    Parents
    Ines Kahnwald (adoptive, Adam's World), Ulrich Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World), Katharina Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Partners
    Hannah Kahnwald (married, Adam's World)
    Children
    Jonas Kahnwald (Adam's World)
    Siblings
    Martha Nielsen, Magnus Nielsen
    Causal link
    Jonas Kahnwald (Adam's World)
    Versions
    child, played by Daan Lennard Liebrenz (S1, S2, S3); adult (as Michael Kahnwald), played by Sebastian Rudolph (S1, S2 guest, S3 guest)
    Born
    2008, Adam's World; 2008, Eva's World
    Seen in
    1986, Adam's World (S1E3, S1E5, S1E10, S2E6); 1987, Adam's World (S2E5, S3E2); 2019, Adam's World (S1E1, S1E3, S2E6); 2019, Adam's World (S1E1); 2019, Eva's World (S3E1, S3E6)
    Note
    Netflix merges his timeline with Mikkel Nielsen's; his life as Michael from 1986 on is listed under Mikkel Nielsen.
  • the Unknown
    About
    A time traveller seen at three ages at once (boy, adult, old man), with a cleft lip. Son of Jonas and the other world's Martha, and Tronte's father.
    Parents
    Jonas Kahnwald (Eva's World), Martha Nielsen (Eva's World)
    Partners
    Agnes Nielsen (Adam's World)
    Children
    Tronte Nielsen (Adam's World)
    Versions
    child, played by Claude Heinrich (S3); adult, played by Jakob Diehl (S3); elder, played by Hans Diehl (S3)
    Seen in
    1888, Adam's World (S3E3); 1954, Adam's World (S3E4); 1986, Adam's World (S3E6); 1986, Eva's World (S3E6); 1987, Adam's World (S3E1, S3E2); 2019, Eva's World (S3E3, S3E4)
    Note
    Not the Stranger: two different characters. The Stranger (S1) is the adult Jonas; the Unknown (S3) is Jonas and Martha's son. No surname in any source. Grouped with the Nielsens because he is Tronte's father (S3E4); he is the son of Jonas Kahnwald and Martha Nielsen.
  • Tronte Nielsen
    About
    Ulrich's father and Mikkel's grandfather; lives with his wife Jana. Arrived in Winden in 1953 with his mother Agnes. His father is the Unknown.
    Parents
    Agnes Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World), the Unknown (Adam's World)
    Partners
    Jana Nielsen (married, Adam's World, Eva's World), Claudia Tiedemann (affair, Adam's World)
    Children
    Ulrich Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World), Mads Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World), Regina Tiedemann (Adam's World (unconfirmed))
    Versions
    teen, played by Joshio Marlon (S1 recurring, S2 guest, S3 guest); adult, played by Felix Kramer (S1, S3 guest), season-level; elder, played by Walter Kreye (S1, S2 guest, S3 recurring)
    Born
    1941, Adam's World
    Seen in
    1953, Adam's World (S1E8); 1954, Adam's World (S3E4); 1986, Adam's World (S1E3); 1987, Adam's World (S3E2); 2019, Adam's World (S1E10); 2020, Adam's World (S2E1, S3E2)
  • Ulrich Nielsen
    About
    Police officer; Katharina's husband and father of Magnus, Martha and Mikkel; having an affair with Hannah. Son of Tronte and Jana; his younger brother Mads vanished in 1986. Arrested in 1953; by 1987 he has spent 34 years locked up in a psychiatric facility. In the other world he is divorced from Katharina and married to Hannah.
    Parents
    Tronte Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World), Jana Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Partners
    Hannah Kahnwald (affair, Adam's World; married, Eva's World), Katharina Nielsen (married, Adam's World, Eva's World), Charlotte Doppler (affair, Eva's World)
    Children
    Mikkel Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World), Martha Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World), Magnus Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Siblings
    Mads Nielsen
    Versions
    teen, played by Ludger Bökelmann (S1, S3 guest); adult, played by Oliver Masucci (S1, S2, S3); elder, played by Winfried Glatzeder (S2, S3 recurring)
    Born
    1971, Adam's World; 1971, Eva's World
    Seen in
    1953, Adam's World (S1E8, S1E9); 1954, Adam's World (S2E7); 1986, Adam's World (S1E3, S1E5); 1987, Adam's World (S2E5, S3E5); 2019, Adam's World (S1E1, S1E7, S1E8, S2E6); 2019, Eva's World (S3E1, S3E6)
Doppler
  • Anatol Veliev (unconfirmed person)
    About
    Named only in Netflix's family tree, as Helge's father with Greta.
    Partners
    Greta Doppler (Adam's World, Eva's World (unconfirmed))
    Children
    Helge Doppler (Adam's World, Eva's World (disputed))
    Note
    UNVERIFIED: single source (Netflix family-tree drawing; relationship read from the drawing's layout). Netflix's text never names him; the tree also lists his card in S1E9 data as an unlinked id. Grouped with Doppler only through Netflix's tree drawing (unverified).
  • Bernd Doppler
    About
    Former director of the Winden nuclear power plant, whose construction he drove; Helge's father. Killed by the Unknown in 1987.
    Partners
    Greta Doppler (married, Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Children
    Helge Doppler (Adam's World, Eva's World (disputed))
    Versions
    adult, played by Anatole Taubman (S1, S3 guest), season-level; elder, played by Michael Mendl (S1 recurring, S2 guest, S3 guest)
    Born
    1913, Adam's World
    Seen in
    1953, Adam's World (S1E8); 1954, Adam's World (S2E3, S3E4); 1986, Adam's World (S1E3); 1987, Adam's World (S2E5, S3E1)
  • Charlotte Doppler
    Also
    Charlotte Tannhaus (her name while raised by H. G. Tannhaus)
    About
    Winden's chief of police, married to Peter, mother of Franziska. Also mother of Elisabeth. Raised by H. G. Tannhaus, she starts to question her origins. Tannhaus is not her real grandfather; Noah reveals that he is her father. Adam says Elisabeth will become her mother. Born in 2041 and brought as a baby to Tannhaus in 1971.
    Parents
    Noah (Adam's World, Eva's World), Elisabeth Doppler (Adam's World, Eva's World), H. G. Tannhaus (guardian, Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Partners
    Peter Doppler (married, Adam's World, Eva's World), Ulrich Nielsen (affair, Eva's World)
    Children
    Franziska Doppler (Adam's World, Eva's World), Elisabeth Doppler (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Versions
    teen, played by Stephanie Amarell (S1, S3 guest), season-level; adult, played by Karoline Eichhorn (S1, S2, S3)
    Born
    2041, Adam's World; 1971, Eva's World
    Seen in
    1971, Adam's World (S3E7); 1987, Adam's World (S1E3); 2019, Adam's World (S1E4, S1E10); 2019, Eva's World (S3E3, S3E6); 2020, Adam's World (S2E4, S2E5, S2E8, S3E2); 2041, Adam's World (S3E7); 2053, Adam's World (S3E2, S3E7)
  • Elisabeth Doppler
    About
    Younger Doppler daughter, who is deaf. Leads a group of survivors in 2053. Adam says she will become Noah's wife and Charlotte's mother. Charlotte is born to her and Noah by 2041.
    Parents
    Peter Doppler (Adam's World, Eva's World), Charlotte Doppler (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Partners
    Noah (married, Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Children
    Charlotte Doppler (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Siblings
    Franziska Doppler
    Versions
    child, played by Carlotta von Falkenhayn (S1, S2, S3); adult, played by Sandra Borgmann (S2, S3)
    Born
    2011, Adam's World; 2011, Eva's World
    Seen in
    1971, Adam's World (S3E7); 1987, Adam's World (S2E5); 2019, Adam's World (S1E4); 2019, Eva's World (S3E6); 2020, Adam's World (S2E5, S2E8, S3E2, S3E5); 2021, Adam's World (S3E7); 2041, Adam's World (S3E7); 2052, Adam's World (S2E4); 2053, Adam's World (S2E8, S3E2, S3E7)
  • Franziska Doppler
    About
    Elder Doppler daughter and Magnus's girlfriend. Her older self is a member of Sic Mundus. In the other world she, not Elisabeth, is deaf.
    Parents
    Peter Doppler (Adam's World, Eva's World), Charlotte Doppler (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Partners
    Magnus Nielsen (dating, Adam's World)
    Siblings
    Elisabeth Doppler
    Versions
    teen, played by Gina Alice Stiebitz (S1, S2, S3); adult, played by Carina Wiese (S2, S3)
    Born
    2003, Adam's World; 2003, Eva's World
    Seen in
    1888, Adam's World (S3E2); 1921, Adam's World (S3E4, S3E6); 1987, Adam's World (S2E5); 2019, Adam's World (S1E4); 2019, Eva's World (S3E1, S3E6); 2020, Adam's World (S2E2, S2E5, S2E8, S3E2); 2053, Adam's World (S3E6)
  • Greta Doppler
    About
    Helge's strict, deeply religious mother and Bernd's wife. Tells the pastor she prayed for Helge to be taken, unsure he was her husband's child.
    Partners
    Anatol Veliev (Adam's World, Eva's World (unconfirmed)), Bernd Doppler (married, Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Children
    Helge Doppler (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Versions
    adult, played by Cordelia Wege (S1, S2 recurring, S3 guest)
    Born
    1917, Adam's World
    Seen in
    1953, Adam's World (S1E8, S1E9); 1954, Adam's World (S2E3, S3E4)
  • Helge Doppler
    About
    Peter's elderly father. Suffers from dementia; found in the forest saying he "must stop Noah". In 1953, as a boy, he is struck on the head by Ulrich. Works with Noah. Netflix's family tree names Anatol Veliev as his father.
    Parents
    Greta Doppler (Adam's World, Eva's World), Bernd Doppler (Adam's World, Eva's World (disputed)), Anatol Veliev (Adam's World, Eva's World (disputed))
    Partners
    Ulla Schmidt (Adam's World, Eva's World (unconfirmed))
    Children
    Peter Doppler (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Versions
    child, played by Tom Philipp (S1, S2 recurring, S3 recurring); adult, played by Peter Schneider (S1, S2 recurring, S3 guest), season-level; elder, played by Hermann Beyer (S1, S3)
    Born
    1944, Adam's World; 1944, Eva's World
    Seen in
    1953, Adam's World (S1E8, S1E9, S1E10); 1954, Adam's World (S2E3); 1986, Adam's World (S1E2, S1E4, S1E7, S1E9, S1E10); 1987, Adam's World (S2E3); 2019, Adam's World (S1E1, S1E2, S1E4, S1E7, S1E10); 2019, Eva's World (S3E3, S3E6)
  • Peter Doppler
    About
    Psychotherapist; Charlotte's husband, father of Franziska, caring for his elderly father Helge. Also father of Elisabeth. Discovered to be having an affair with Bernadette. Grew up outside Winden with his mother.
    Parents
    Helge Doppler (Adam's World, Eva's World), Ulla Schmidt (Adam's World, Eva's World (unconfirmed))
    Partners
    Charlotte Doppler (married, Adam's World, Eva's World), Bernadette Wöller (affair, Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Children
    Franziska Doppler (Adam's World, Eva's World), Elisabeth Doppler (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Versions
    teen, played by Pablo Striebeck (S3 guest); adult, played by Stephan Kampwirth (S1, S2, S3)
    Born
    1970, Adam's World; 1970, Eva's World
    Seen in
    1987, Adam's World (S3E5); 2019, Adam's World (S1E4); 2019, Eva's World (S3E3, S3E5); 2020, Adam's World (S1E10, S2E4, S2E8, S3E2, S3E5)
  • Ulla Schmidt (unconfirmed person)
    About
    Named only in Netflix's family tree, as Peter's mother with Helge.
    Partners
    Helge Doppler (Adam's World, Eva's World (unconfirmed))
    Children
    Peter Doppler (Adam's World, Eva's World (unconfirmed))
    Note
    UNVERIFIED: single source (Netflix family tree). Do not merge with Ulla Obendorf (Erik's mother in Wikipedia's recurring cast): no source links them. Grouped with Doppler only through Netflix's tree drawing (unverified).
Tiedemann
  • Aleksander Tiedemann
    Also
    Aleksander Köhler (the name he uses on arriving in Winden in 1986); Boris Niewald (his real name) (season-level)
    About
    Director of the nuclear power plant, Regina's husband and Bartosz's father, with dark secrets. In 1986 a young man calling himself Aleksander Köhler arrives in Winden. Tells Clausen his original surname was Köhler.
    Partners
    Regina Tiedemann (married, Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Children
    Bartosz Tiedemann (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Versions
    teen, played by Béla Gabor Lenz (S1 guest, S2 guest, S3 guest); adult, played by Peter Benedict (S1, S2, S3)
    Born
    1966, Adam's World; 1966, Eva's World
    Seen in
    1986, Adam's World (S1E9); 1986, Eva's World (S3E3); 2019, Adam's World (S1E2); 2019, Eva's World (S3E1, S3E3, S3E6); 2020, Adam's World (S2E7, S2E8)
  • Bartosz Tiedemann
    About
    Jonas's best friend, son of Regina and Aleksander, and Martha's boyfriend. Agrees to join Noah. Stranded in 1888. With Silja he fathers Hanno (Noah) and Agnes.
    Parents
    Regina Tiedemann (Adam's World, Eva's World), Aleksander Tiedemann (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Partners
    Martha Nielsen (dating, Adam's World), Silja Tiedemann (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Children
    Noah (Adam's World), Agnes Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Versions
    teen, played by Paul Lux (S1, S2, S3); adult, played by Roman Knižka (S2 guest, S3 recurring), season-level
    Born
    2003, Adam's World; 2003, Eva's World
    Seen in
    1888, Adam's World (S3E2); 1890, Adam's World (S3E7); 1904, Adam's World (S3E7); 1910, Adam's World (S3E7); 1921, Adam's World (S2E1); 1987, Adam's World (S2E7); 2019, Adam's World (S1E1, S1E10, S3E7); 2019, Eva's World (S3E1, S3E6, S3E7); 2020, Adam's World (S2E1, S2E7, S2E8, S3E2); 2052, Eva's World (S3E6)
  • Claudia Tiedemann
    Also
    the White Devil (what her dying father calls her)
    About
    Egon's daughter and Regina's mother; newly elected director of the power plant in 1986. Her elderly self approaches Bartosz in 2019. Opposes Adam; her dying father calls her "the White Devil". Kills her counterpart from the other world and poses as her.
    Parents
    Egon Tiedemann (Adam's World, Eva's World), Doris Tiedemann (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Partners
    Tronte Nielsen (affair, Adam's World)
    Children
    Regina Tiedemann (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Siblings
    Silja Tiedemann
    Versions
    child, played by Gwendolyn Göbel (S1, S2 guest, S3 guest); adult, played by Julika Jenkins (S1, S2, S3); elder, played by Lisa Kreuzer (S1 recurring, S2, S3 recurring)
    Born
    1942, Adam's World; 1942, Eva's World
    Seen in
    1953, Adam's World (S1E8, S1E9); 1954, Adam's World (S2E3); 1986, Adam's World (S1E3, S1E6, S1E9); 1987, Adam's World (S2E2, S2E3, S2E4, S2E5, S2E7, S2E8); 2019, Adam's World (S1E9, S1E10, S2E6); 2020, Adam's World (S2E4, S2E8, S3E2, S3E5, S3E6); 2020, Eva's World (S3E5); 2040, Adam's World (S3E7); 2040, Eva's World (S3E7); 2052, Adam's World (S2E6, S3E7); 2053, Adam's World (S2E2)
  • Doris Tiedemann
    About
    Egon's wife. Has an affair with Agnes.
    Partners
    Egon Tiedemann (married, Adam's World, Eva's World), Agnes Nielsen (affair, Adam's World)
    Children
    Claudia Tiedemann (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Versions
    adult, played by Luise Heyer (S1, S2 guest, S3 guest)
    Born
    1922, Adam's World
    Seen in
    1953, Adam's World (S1E8); 1954, Adam's World (S3E4)
  • Egon Tiedemann
    About
    Police chief investigator in 1986; Claudia's father. A police officer in 1953, married to Doris. Fathers Silja with Hannah during an affair in 1954.
    Partners
    Doris Tiedemann (married, Adam's World, Eva's World), Hannah Kahnwald (affair, Adam's World)
    Children
    Claudia Tiedemann (Adam's World, Eva's World), Silja Tiedemann (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Versions
    adult, played by Sebastian Hülk (S1, S2 recurring, S3 recurring); elder, played by Christian Pätzold (S1, S2, S3 recurring)
    Born
    1922, Adam's World; 1922, Eva's World
    Seen in
    1953, Adam's World (S1E8, S1E9); 1954, Adam's World (S3E4, S3E7); 1986, Adam's World (S1E3, S1E9); 1987, Adam's World (S2E3, S2E7)
  • Noah
    Also
    Hanno Tauber (the name he uses as Winden's pastor in the 1950s); Hanno (birth name; son of Bartosz and Silja)
    About
    A mysterious man who gives Elisabeth a watch; Helge says he "must stop Noah". A priest who looks the same in 1953, 1986 and 2019; in the 1950s he is pastor Hanno Tauber. A member of Sic Mundus who reveals that he is Charlotte's father. Shot dead by Agnes in 1921. Born Hanno, son of Bartosz and Silja.
    Parents
    Bartosz Tiedemann (Adam's World), Silja Tiedemann (Adam's World)
    Partners
    Elisabeth Doppler (married, Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Children
    Charlotte Doppler (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Siblings
    Agnes Nielsen
    Versions
    teen, played by Max Schimmelpfennig (S2, S3); adult, played by Mark Waschke (S1, S2, S3)
    Born
    1904, Adam's World; 1904, Eva's World
    Seen in
    1910, Adam's World (S3E7); 1920, Adam's World (S3E7); 1921, Adam's World (S2E1, S2E4, S2E8); 1953, Adam's World (S1E9); 1954, Adam's World (S2E3); 1986, Adam's World (S1E9, S1E10); 2019, Adam's World (S1E4, S1E10, S2E5); 2019, Eva's World (S3E6); 2020, Adam's World (S2E5, S2E8); 2021, Adam's World (S3E7); 2023, Adam's World (S3E7); 2040, Adam's World (S3E7); 2041, Adam's World (S3E7); 2052, Eva's World (S3E6)
    Note
    "Tauber" is not a family: Hanno Tauber is the name Noah uses as Winden's pastor in the 1950s [24:C32E2]; Wikipedia's tree labels him "Hanno Tauber a.k.a. Noah" [23:family tree]. By birth he is Hanno, son of Bartosz Tiedemann and Silja [23:S3E7].
  • Regina Tiedemann
    About
    Wife of Aleksander and mother of Bartosz. Claudia's daughter; bullied at school as a teenager in 1986. Dies three months after the apocalypse.
    Parents
    Claudia Tiedemann (Adam's World, Eva's World), Tronte Nielsen (Adam's World (unconfirmed))
    Partners
    Aleksander Tiedemann (married, Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Children
    Bartosz Tiedemann (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Versions
    teen, played by Lydia Maria Makrides (S1, S2, S3 guest); adult, played by Deborah Kaufmann (S1, S2, S3)
    Born
    1971, Adam's World; 1971, Eva's World
    Seen in
    1986, Adam's World (S1E9); 2019, Adam's World (S1E6); 2020, Adam's World (S2E8, S3E2)
  • Silja Tiedemann
    About
    A teenager among the survivors in post-apocalyptic Winden, sign-language interpreter for their leader Elisabeth. Frees Jonas and helps him reach the God Particle. Daughter of Hannah and Egon, born 1988; with Bartosz the mother of Noah and Agnes; dies giving birth to Agnes.
    Parents
    Egon Tiedemann (Adam's World, Eva's World), Hannah Kahnwald (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Partners
    Bartosz Tiedemann (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Children
    Noah (Adam's World), Agnes Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Siblings
    Jonas Kahnwald, Claudia Tiedemann
    Versions
    child, played by Aurora Dervisi (S3 guest); teen, played by Lea van Acken (S2, S3); adult, played by Lissy Pernthaler (S3 guest)
    Born
    1988, Adam's World
    Seen in
    1890, Adam's World (S3E7); 1904, Adam's World (S3E7); 1910, Adam's World (S3E7); 1911, Adam's World (S3E7); 1993, Adam's World (S3E7); 2041, Adam's World (S3E7); 2052, Adam's World (S2E1); 2053, Adam's World (S2E2, S3E6, S3E7)
    Note
    Wikipedia's cast table credits teen Silja (Lea van Acken) as a season 1 guest, but no season 1 episode summary or Netflix entry identifies her; that season 1 appearance is UNVERIFIED and not used.
Tannhaus
  • Gustav Tannhaus
    About
    Blind factory owner in 1888, early Sic Mundus member and H. G. Tannhaus's grandfather.
    Parents
    Heinrich Tannhaus (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Children
    Leopold Tannhaus (Adam's World, Eva's World (unconfirmed))
    Seen in
    1822, Adam's World (S3E3); 1888, Adam's World (S3E2, S3E3)
  • H. G. Tannhaus
    Also
    the clockmaker
    About
    Winden's clockmaker, who has written a book about the theory of time travel. Completes the brass time machine from the broken version brought by the adult Jonas. Raised Charlotte. Was given baby Charlotte shortly after his son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter died in a car accident.
    Parents
    Leopold Tannhaus (Adam's World, Eva's World (unconfirmed))
    Children
    Charlotte Doppler (guardian, Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Versions
    adult, played by Arnd Klawitter (S1, S2 guest, S3 recurring); elder, played by Christian Steyer (S1, S2 guest, S3)
    Born
    1913, Adam's World
    Seen in
    1953, Adam's World (S1E8, S1E9); 1954, Adam's World (S2E3); 1971, Adam's World (S3E5); 1986, Adam's World (S1E10); 1987, Adam's World (S2E3)
  • Heinrich Tannhaus
    About
    Founder of Sic Mundus and Gustav's father; tried to bring his dead wife back.
    Children
    Gustav Tannhaus (Adam's World, Eva's World)
  • Leopold Tannhaus (unconfirmed person)
    About
    Named only in Netflix's family tree, between Gustav and H. G. Tannhaus.
    Parents
    Gustav Tannhaus (Adam's World, Eva's World (unconfirmed))
    Children
    H. G. Tannhaus (Adam's World, Eva's World (unconfirmed))
    Note
    UNVERIFIED name/position: Netflix family tree only. Consistent with Wikipedia ("Gustav Tannhaus, H. G. Tannhaus' grandfather") [23].
Albers
  • Helene Albers
    About
    Katharina's mother, very strict with her daughter. Seen pregnant as a young girl in 1954. Works at the psychiatric facility; kills Katharina in 1987.
    Partners
    Hermann Albers (Adam's World, Eva's World (unconfirmed))
    Children
    Katharina Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Versions
    child, played by Mariella Aumann (S3 guest); adult, played by Katharina Spiering (S3)
    Born
    1942, Adam's World
    Seen in
    1954, Adam's World (S3E4); 1987, Adam's World (S3E2, S3E5)
    Note
    Wikipedia's cast table and character list credit adult Helene (Katharina Spiering) as a season 2 guest [23][36], but no season 2 episode summary mentions her and Netflix introduces her at S3E2; the season 2 appearance and how she is identified there are UNVERIFIED and not used. Netflix introduces her in its guide at S3E2 [37]; Wikipedia's cast table lists her (adult) as a season 2 guest [23].
  • Hermann Albers
    About
    Sheep farmer; Katharina's father.
    Partners
    Helene Albers (Adam's World, Eva's World (unconfirmed))
    Children
    Katharina Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Seen in
    1986, Adam's World (S1E3)
Wöller
  • Bernadette Wöller
    Also
    Benni (season-level); Benjamin Wöller (name in the other world)
    About
    A transgender sex worker with whom Peter has had an affair. Torben Wöller's sister.
    Partners
    Peter Doppler (affair, Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Siblings
    Torben Wöller (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Born
    1987, Adam's World; 1987, Eva's World
    Seen in
    2019, Adam's World (S1E10); 2020, Adam's World (S2E1, S2E2, S3E2)
  • Torben Wöller
    About
    Police detective with an injury to his right eye; most people just call him Wöller. Bernadette's brother.
    Siblings
    Bernadette Wöller (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Born
    1981, Adam's World; 1981, Eva's World
    Seen in
    2019, Adam's World (S2E1); 2020, Adam's World (S2E1, S2E7, S2E8)
Obendorf
  • Erik Obendorf
    About
    Local teenage drug dealer, missing for two weeks when the series begins. His body is found at the power-plant construction site in 1953.
    Parents
    Jürgen Obendorf (Adam's World, Eva's World), Ulla Obendorf (Adam's World, season-level)
    Siblings
    Kilian Obendorf
    Born
    2004, Eva's World
    Seen in
    2019, Adam's World (S1E1)
  • Jürgen Obendorf
    About
    A junk dealer who sometimes works shifts at the power plant. Erik Obendorf's father. In the other world he has two sons, Kilian and Erik.
    Children
    Erik Obendorf (Adam's World, Eva's World), Kilian Obendorf (Eva's World)
    Born
    1971, Adam's World; 1971, Eva's World
    Seen in
    2019, Adam's World (S1E1, S1E2); 2019, Eva's World (S3E1); 2020, Adam's World (S2E1, S3E2)
  • Kilian Obendorf
    About
    Erik's older brother in the other world; Martha's boyfriend and co-star in the school play.
    Parents
    Jürgen Obendorf (Eva's World)
    Partners
    Martha Nielsen (dating, Eva's World)
    Siblings
    Erik Obendorf
    Born
    2003, Eva's World
    Seen in
    2019, Eva's World (S3E1, S3E3)
    Note
    Wikipedia's recurring cast lists Kilian in seasons 1 and 3 [23:recurring cast]; no season 1 episode is sourced, so the season 1 appearance is UNVERIFIED and not used. Wikipedia lists him in seasons 1 and 3 [23]; Netflix has him only in the other world [24:C59E0].
  • Ulla Obendorf (season-level: first appearance dated to the season, not the episode)
    About
    Erik Obendorf's mother in 2019 (season 1).
    Children
    Erik Obendorf (Adam's World, season-level)
    Seen in
    2019, Adam's World (season-level, episode not sourced)
    Note
    Season-level source only (Wikipedia: season 1); episode UNVERIFIED, so the conservative season-end value is used.
Loops and paradoxes

Charlotte and Elisabeth: each is the other's mother. Charlotte is Elisabeth's mother, and Elisabeth (with Noah) is Charlotte's mother. Netflix calls it "a so-called bootstrap paradox" [24:C19E10].

  1. Charlotte Doppler is a parent of Elisabeth Doppler.
  2. Elisabeth Doppler is a parent of Charlotte Doppler.

The Unknown is his own great-grandfather. The Unknown fathers Tronte; Tronte fathers Ulrich; Ulrich fathers Martha; Martha (of Eva's world) is the Unknown's mother. Vulture: "He is Jonas's great-great-grandfather and Martha's great-grandfather" [29].

  1. The Unknown is a parent of Tronte Nielsen.
  2. Tronte Nielsen is a parent of Ulrich Nielsen.
  3. Ulrich Nielsen is a parent of Martha Nielsen.
  4. Martha Nielsen is a parent of the Unknown.

Jonas is an ancestor of himself through the Unknown. Jonas fathers the Unknown, who fathers Tronte, grandfather of Mikkel, who grows up as Michael and fathers Jonas. Netflix: Jonas is Agnes's "great-great-grandson" [24:C17E2].

  1. Jonas Kahnwald is a parent of the Unknown.
  2. The Unknown is a parent of Tronte Nielsen.
  3. Tronte Nielsen is a parent of Ulrich Nielsen.
  4. Ulrich Nielsen is a parent of Mikkel Nielsen.
  5. Mikkel Nielsen (as Michael Kahnwald) is a parent of Jonas Kahnwald.

Jonas makes his own conception possible. Jonas leads young Mikkel through the passage to 1986; Mikkel grows up as Michael Kahnwald and fathers Jonas. Old Claudia: Mikkel must travel to the past "so Jonas can be conceived" [23:S2E6].

  1. Jonas leads Mikkel through the passage to 1986, which makes his own conception possible.
  2. Mikkel Nielsen (as Michael Kahnwald) is a parent of Jonas Kahnwald.

Agnes is both the Unknown's partner and his ancestor. Agnes has Tronte with the Unknown, and the Unknown descends from Agnes through Tronte, Ulrich and Martha.

  1. Agnes Nielsen and the Unknown are partners.
  2. Martha Nielsen is a parent of the Unknown.
  3. Ulrich Nielsen is a parent of Martha Nielsen.
  4. Tronte Nielsen is a parent of Ulrich Nielsen.
  5. Agnes Nielsen is a parent of Tronte Nielsen.

Hannah is Jonas's mother and also his distant ancestor. Hannah's daughter Silja is Agnes's mother; Agnes is Tronte's mother, Ulrich's grandmother and Mikkel/Michael's great-grandmother. So Hannah is Jonas's mother and his great-great-great-grandmother.

  1. Hannah Kahnwald is a parent of Silja Tiedemann.
  2. Silja Tiedemann is a parent of Agnes Nielsen.
  3. Agnes Nielsen is a parent of Tronte Nielsen.
  4. Tronte Nielsen is a parent of Ulrich Nielsen.
  5. Ulrich Nielsen is a parent of Mikkel Nielsen.
  6. Mikkel Nielsen (as Michael Kahnwald) is a parent of Jonas Kahnwald.
  7. Hannah Kahnwald is a parent of Jonas Kahnwald.

Egon is ancestor of Noah and Agnes on both sides. Noah's mother Silja is Egon's daughter, and Noah's father Bartosz is Egon's great-grandson (via Claudia and Regina).

  1. Egon Tiedemann is a parent of Silja Tiedemann.
  2. Silja Tiedemann is a parent of Noah.
  3. Bartosz Tiedemann is a parent of Noah.
  4. Regina Tiedemann is a parent of Bartosz Tiedemann.
  5. Claudia Tiedemann is a parent of Regina Tiedemann.
  6. Egon Tiedemann is a parent of Claudia Tiedemann.

Unconfirmed: IF Tronte were Regina's father, Bartosz would be his own great-grandfather. Only if Tronte's belief were true: in S3E2 he visits Regina, who he believes is his daughter [23:S3E2]. No source confirms it, so this loop is not asserted.

  1. Bartosz Tiedemann is a parent of Agnes Nielsen.
  2. Agnes Nielsen is a parent of Tronte Nielsen.
  3. Tronte Nielsen is a parent of Regina Tiedemann. (unconfirmed)
  4. Regina Tiedemann is a parent of Bartosz Tiedemann.

Tannhaus's book A Journey Through Time (object). Old Claudia gives Tannhaus the book he will later write; Netflix: "the contents exist without an author. It's a so-called bootstrap paradox." [24:C37E6]

The brass time machine (object). Tannhaus completes the machine from the broken version brought by adult Jonas (S1E10) [23]; Odar: "it's only one machine, it just comes with different patina levels" [30].

⚠ Spoilers: Dark family tree including the finaleShowHide
Kahnwald
  • Daniel Kahnwald
    About
    Winden's chief of police in the 1950s and Ines's father.
    Children
    Ines Kahnwald (Adam's World, Eva's World, The Original World)
    Versions
    adult, played by Florian Panzner (S1, S2 guest, S3 guest)
    Born
    1915, Adam's World
    Seen in
    1953, Adam's World (S1E8); 1954, Adam's World (S3E4)
  • Hannah Kahnwald
    Also
    Hannah Krüger (birth name); Hannah Nielsen (married name in the other world); Hannah Wöller (married name in the original world)
    About
    Jonas's mother and Michael's widow, having an affair with Ulrich Nielsen. Born Hannah Krüger: her father Sebastian is seen with her, aged 14, in 1986. Learns about time travel from the adult Jonas and later travels to 1954. In the other world she is pregnant and married to Ulrich. Has a daughter, Silja, with Egon Tiedemann. In the original world she is Hannah Wöller, expecting a child with Torben.
    Parents
    Sebastian Krüger (Adam's World, Eva's World, The Original World)
    Partners
    Mikkel Nielsen (married, Adam's World), Ulrich Nielsen (affair, Adam's World; married, Eva's World), Torben Wöller (married, The Original World), Egon Tiedemann (affair, Adam's World)
    Children
    Jonas Kahnwald (Adam's World), Silja Tiedemann (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Versions
    teen, played by Ella Lee (S1, S2 guest, S3 guest); adult, played by Maja Schöne (S1, S2, S3)
    Born
    1972, Adam's World; 1972, Eva's World; 1972, The Original World
    Seen in
    1911, Adam's World (S3E7); 1954, Adam's World (S2E7, S3E4, S3E7); 1986, Adam's World (S1E5, S1E9); 1987, Adam's World (S2E2, S3E7); 1993, Adam's World (S3E7); 2019, Adam's World (S1E1, S1E5, S2E1, S2E6); 2019, Eva's World (S3E3, S3E6); 2020, Adam's World (S2E1, S2E2, S2E7)
  • Ines Kahnwald
    About
    Michael's mother and Jonas's grandmother; hides Michael's suicide letter. In 1986 she is a nurse who gains the trust of a lost boy (Mikkel). She raised Mikkel, who grew up as Michael Kahnwald. Netflix: she offers to adopt him, and Mikkel Nielsen becomes Michael Kahnwald.
    Parents
    Daniel Kahnwald (Adam's World, Eva's World, The Original World)
    Children
    Mikkel Nielsen (adoptive, Adam's World)
    Versions
    teen, played by Lena Urzendowsky (S1 recurring, S3 guest); adult, played by Anne Ratte-Polle (S1, S2, S3 guest); elder, played by Angela Winkler (S1)
    Born
    1940, Adam's World
    Seen in
    1954, Adam's World (S1E8); 1986, Adam's World (S1E10); 1987, Adam's World (S2E5, S3E2); 2019, Adam's World (S1E1)
  • Jonas Kahnwald
    Also
    the Stranger (his adult self); Adam (his elderly self)
    About
    Teenage son of Hannah and Michael Kahnwald; returns to school in November 2019 after his father's suicide. Stranded in post-apocalyptic 2053, he reaches 1921, where Adam shows him that he is Jonas, decades older. Taken to another world, where he was never born. In the finale he and the other world's Martha prevent the origin.
    Parents
    Mikkel Nielsen (Adam's World), Hannah Kahnwald (Adam's World)
    Partners
    Martha Nielsen (romance, Adam's World; Eva's World)
    Children
    the Unknown (Eva's World)
    Siblings
    Silja Tiedemann
    Causal link
    Mikkel Nielsen (Adam's World)
    Versions
    child, played by Jonas Gerzabek (S3 guest), season-level; teen, played by Louis Hofmann (S1, S2, S3); adult (as the Stranger), played by Andreas Pietschmann (S1, S2, S3); elder (as Adam), played by Dietrich Hollinderbäumer (S2, S3)
    Born
    2003, Adam's World
    Seen in
    1888, Adam's World (S3E3); 1890, Adam's World (S3E7); 1911, Adam's World (S3E7); 1921, Adam's World (S2E5, S2E6, S2E8); 1921, Adam's World (S2E1, S2E4, S2E8); 1971, The Original World (S3E8); 1986, Adam's World (S1E7, S1E10, S2E6, S3E8); 1986, Adam's World (S1E7, S1E9); 1987, Adam's World (S2E2, S2E7, S2E8); 2019, Adam's World (S1E1, S1E2, S1E5, S1E7, S1E9, S1E10, S2E6, S3E7); 2019, Adam's World (S1E5, S1E7, S1E9); 2019, Eva's World (S3E1, S3E4, S3E5, S3E8); 2020, Adam's World (S2E2, S2E7, S2E8, S3E1, S3E3, S3E4, S3E6, S3E8); 2020, Adam's World (S3E8); 2023, Adam's World (S3E7); 2052, Adam's World (S1E10, S3E7); 2052, Eva's World (S3E4, S3E8); 2053, Adam's World (S2E2, S2E5, S3E4, S3E7, S3E8); 2053, Adam's World (S3E6, S3E8)
    Note
    Not the Unknown: two different characters. The Stranger (S1) is the adult Jonas; the Unknown (S3) is Jonas and Martha's son.
  • Sebastian Krüger
    About
    A man who appears in Netflix's family tree from S1E5. Hannah's father. Seen driving with 14-year-old Hannah in 1986.
    Children
    Hannah Kahnwald (Adam's World, Eva's World, The Original World)
    Seen in
    1986, Adam's World (S1E6)
    Note
    Netflix spells "Sebastian Kruger" (no umlaut) [24]; Wikipedia "Sebastian Krüger" [23]. Krüger is Hannah's birth family; grouped with Kahnwald through Hannah.
Nielsen
  • Agnes Nielsen
    About
    Tronte's mother, who arrives in Winden with him in 1953. Noah's sister and a former member of Sic Mundus. Daughter of Bartosz and Silja.
    Parents
    Bartosz Tiedemann (Adam's World, Eva's World), Silja Tiedemann (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Partners
    the Unknown (Adam's World), Doris Tiedemann (affair, Adam's World)
    Children
    Tronte Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Siblings
    Noah
    Versions
    child, played by Helena Pieske (S2 guest); adult, played by Antje Traue (S1, S2 recurring, S3 recurring)
    Born
    1910, Adam's World
    Seen in
    1910, Adam's World (S3E7); 1921, Adam's World (S2E4, S2E8, S3E7); 1953, Adam's World (S1E8); 1954, Adam's World (S2E3, S2E8); 2053, Adam's World (S3E7)
  • Jana Nielsen
    About
    Mother of Ulrich and Mads. Tronte's wife.
    Partners
    Tronte Nielsen (married, Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Children
    Ulrich Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World), Mads Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Versions
    teen, played by Rike Sindler (S1 recurring, S3 guest); adult, played by Anne Lebinsky (S1, S3 guest), season-level; elder, played by Tatja Seibt (S1, S2 guest)
    Born
    1942, Adam's World
    Seen in
    1954, Adam's World (S3E4); 1986, Adam's World (S1E3); 1987, Adam's World (S3E2); 2019, Adam's World (S1E7); 2020, Adam's World (S2E8)
  • Katharina Nielsen
    Also
    Katharina Albers (birth name; her name in the original world, where she is single)
    About
    School principal and Ulrich's wife. Born Katharina Albers, daughter of farmer Hermann Albers. Her mother is Helene Albers. In the original world she is Katharina Albers and single.
    Parents
    Hermann Albers (Adam's World, Eva's World, The Original World), Helene Albers (Adam's World, Eva's World, The Original World)
    Partners
    Ulrich Nielsen (married, Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Children
    Mikkel Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World), Martha Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World), Magnus Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Versions
    teen, played by Nele Trebs (S1, S2 guest, S3 recurring); adult, played by Jördis Triebel (S1, S2, S3)
    Born
    1970, Adam's World; 1970, Eva's World; 1970, The Original World
    Seen in
    1986, Adam's World (S1E7); 1987, Adam's World (S3E2, S3E5); 2019, Adam's World (S1E1, S1E7, S1E9); 2019, Eva's World (S3E1, S3E6); 2020, Adam's World (S2E4, S2E8, S3E2)
  • Mads Nielsen
    About
    Ulrich's younger brother, who vanished in 1986. Ulrich realises the dead boy found in the woods is Mads, unaged since 1986.
    Parents
    Tronte Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World), Jana Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Siblings
    Ulrich Nielsen
    Born
    1974, Adam's World; 1974, Eva's World
    Seen in
    1986, Adam's World (S1E7, S1E9); 1986, Eva's World (S3E1); 1987, Adam's World (S3E2); 2019, Adam's World (S1E9, S1E10); 2019, Eva's World (S3E1, S3E6)
  • Magnus Nielsen
    About
    Eldest Nielsen child and Franziska's boyfriend. His older self is a member of Sic Mundus in 1921. Stranded in 1888 with Jonas, Bartosz and Franziska.
    Parents
    Ulrich Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World), Katharina Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Partners
    Franziska Doppler (dating, Adam's World)
    Siblings
    Mikkel Nielsen, Martha Nielsen
    Versions
    teen, played by Moritz Jahn (S1, S2, S3); adult, played by Wolfram Koch (S2 recurring, S3)
    Born
    2001, Adam's World; 2001, Eva's World
    Seen in
    1888, Adam's World (S3E2); 1921, Adam's World (S2E8, S3E6); 1987, Adam's World (S2E7); 2019, Adam's World (S1E1, S1E4); 2019, Eva's World (S3E1, S3E6); 2020, Adam's World (S2E7, S2E8, S3E2); 2053, Adam's World (S3E6)
  • Martha Nielsen
    Also
    the other Martha (from another world); "Female Stranger" (her adult self in the other world, per Wikipedia's credit); Eva (her elderly self in the other world)
    About
    Middle Nielsen child and Bartosz's girlfriend; Jonas has a crush on her. Jonas learns that Mikkel is his father, which makes Martha his aunt. Shot by Adam in 2020; another Martha then appears, who says she comes from another world. The other Martha comes from another world, where she is dating Kilian Obendorf. The other world's Martha has a child with Jonas, the Unknown.
    Parents
    Ulrich Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World), Katharina Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Partners
    Jonas Kahnwald (romance, Adam's World; Eva's World), Bartosz Tiedemann (dating, Adam's World), Kilian Obendorf (dating, Eva's World)
    Children
    the Unknown (Eva's World)
    Siblings
    Mikkel Nielsen, Magnus Nielsen
    Versions
    child, played by Luna Arwen Krüger (S3 guest), season-level; teen, played by Lisa Vicari (S1, S2, S3); adult, played by Nina Kronjäger (S3); elder (as Eva), played by Barbara Nüsse (S3)
    Born
    2003, Adam's World; 2003, Eva's World
    Seen in
    1888, Adam's World (S3E3, S3E4, S3E6); 1971, The Original World (S3E8); 1986, Adam's World (S3E8); 1987, Adam's World (S2E5); 2019, Adam's World (S1E1, S1E9, S2E6); 2019, Eva's World (S3E1, S3E2, S3E3, S3E4, S3E5, S3E6, S3E7, S3E8); 2019, Eva's World (S3E1, S3E2, S3E3); 2020, Adam's World (S2E1, S2E5, S2E7, S2E8, S3E1, S3E7, S3E8); 2052, Eva's World (S3E4, S3E6, S3E7, S3E8); 2052, Eva's World (S3E6); 2053, Adam's World (S3E4, S3E7)
  • Mikkel Nielsen
    Also
    Michael Kahnwald
    About
    Youngest Nielsen child; vanishes near the caves in November 2019. Wakes up in the cave and finds himself in 1986. He grows up in 1986 as Michael Kahnwald, Jonas's father. In the other world he never travels back in time.
    Parents
    Ines Kahnwald (adoptive, Adam's World), Ulrich Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World), Katharina Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Partners
    Hannah Kahnwald (married, Adam's World)
    Children
    Jonas Kahnwald (Adam's World)
    Siblings
    Martha Nielsen, Magnus Nielsen
    Causal link
    Jonas Kahnwald (Adam's World)
    Versions
    child, played by Daan Lennard Liebrenz (S1, S2, S3); adult (as Michael Kahnwald), played by Sebastian Rudolph (S1, S2 guest, S3 guest)
    Born
    2008, Adam's World; 2008, Eva's World
    Seen in
    1986, Adam's World (S1E3, S1E5, S1E10, S2E6); 1987, Adam's World (S2E5, S3E2); 2019, Adam's World (S1E1, S1E3, S2E6); 2019, Adam's World (S1E1); 2019, Eva's World (S3E1, S3E6)
    Note
    Netflix merges his timeline with Mikkel Nielsen's; his life as Michael from 1986 on is listed under Mikkel Nielsen.
  • the Unknown
    Also
    the Origin (Wikipedia: "believed to be the origin of the Knot") (season-level)
    About
    A time traveller seen at three ages at once (boy, adult, old man), with a cleft lip. Son of Jonas and the other world's Martha, and Tronte's father.
    Parents
    Jonas Kahnwald (Eva's World), Martha Nielsen (Eva's World)
    Partners
    Agnes Nielsen (Adam's World)
    Children
    Tronte Nielsen (Adam's World)
    Versions
    child, played by Claude Heinrich (S3); adult, played by Jakob Diehl (S3); elder, played by Hans Diehl (S3)
    Seen in
    1888, Adam's World (S3E3); 1954, Adam's World (S3E4); 1986, Adam's World (S3E6); 1986, Eva's World (S3E6); 1987, Adam's World (S3E1, S3E2); 2019, Eva's World (S3E3, S3E4); 2052, Eva's World (S3E8)
    Note
    Not the Stranger: two different characters. The Stranger (S1) is the adult Jonas; the Unknown (S3) is Jonas and Martha's son. No surname in any source. Grouped with the Nielsens because he is Tronte's father (S3E4); he is the son of Jonas Kahnwald and Martha Nielsen.
  • Tronte Nielsen
    About
    Ulrich's father and Mikkel's grandfather; lives with his wife Jana. Arrived in Winden in 1953 with his mother Agnes. His father is the Unknown.
    Parents
    Agnes Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World), the Unknown (Adam's World)
    Partners
    Jana Nielsen (married, Adam's World, Eva's World), Claudia Tiedemann (affair, Adam's World)
    Children
    Ulrich Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World), Mads Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World), Regina Tiedemann (Adam's World (unconfirmed))
    Versions
    teen, played by Joshio Marlon (S1 recurring, S2 guest, S3 guest); adult, played by Felix Kramer (S1, S3 guest), season-level; elder, played by Walter Kreye (S1, S2 guest, S3 recurring)
    Born
    1941, Adam's World
    Seen in
    1953, Adam's World (S1E8); 1954, Adam's World (S3E4); 1986, Adam's World (S1E3); 1987, Adam's World (S3E2); 2019, Adam's World (S1E10); 2020, Adam's World (S2E1, S3E2, S3E8); 2053, Adam's World (S3E8)
  • Ulrich Nielsen
    About
    Police officer; Katharina's husband and father of Magnus, Martha and Mikkel; having an affair with Hannah. Son of Tronte and Jana; his younger brother Mads vanished in 1986. Arrested in 1953; by 1987 he has spent 34 years locked up in a psychiatric facility. In the other world he is divorced from Katharina and married to Hannah.
    Parents
    Tronte Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World), Jana Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Partners
    Hannah Kahnwald (affair, Adam's World; married, Eva's World), Katharina Nielsen (married, Adam's World, Eva's World), Charlotte Doppler (affair, Eva's World)
    Children
    Mikkel Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World), Martha Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World), Magnus Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Siblings
    Mads Nielsen
    Versions
    teen, played by Ludger Bökelmann (S1, S3 guest); adult, played by Oliver Masucci (S1, S2, S3); elder, played by Winfried Glatzeder (S2, S3 recurring)
    Born
    1971, Adam's World; 1971, Eva's World
    Seen in
    1953, Adam's World (S1E8, S1E9); 1954, Adam's World (S2E7); 1986, Adam's World (S1E3, S1E5); 1986, Eva's World (S3E8); 1987, Adam's World (S2E5, S3E5); 2019, Adam's World (S1E1, S1E7, S1E8, S2E6); 2019, Eva's World (S3E1, S3E6, S3E8)
Doppler
  • Anatol Veliev (unconfirmed person)
    About
    Named only in Netflix's family tree, as Helge's father with Greta.
    Partners
    Greta Doppler (Adam's World, Eva's World, The Original World (unconfirmed))
    Children
    Helge Doppler (Adam's World, Eva's World, The Original World (disputed))
    Note
    UNVERIFIED: single source (Netflix family-tree drawing; relationship read from the drawing's layout). Netflix's text never names him; the tree also lists his card in S1E9 data as an unlinked id. Grouped with Doppler only through Netflix's tree drawing (unverified).
  • Bernd Doppler
    About
    Former director of the Winden nuclear power plant, whose construction he drove; Helge's father. Killed by the Unknown in 1987. In the original world he is Regina's father.
    Partners
    Greta Doppler (married, Adam's World, Eva's World), Claudia Tiedemann (married, The Original World; Adam's World, Eva's World (unconfirmed), season-level)
    Children
    Helge Doppler (Adam's World, Eva's World (disputed)), Regina Tiedemann (The Original World; Adam's World, Eva's World (disputed), season-level)
    Versions
    adult, played by Anatole Taubman (S1, S3 guest), season-level; elder, played by Michael Mendl (S1 recurring, S2 guest, S3 guest)
    Born
    1913, Adam's World
    Seen in
    1953, Adam's World (S1E8); 1954, Adam's World (S2E3, S3E4); 1986, Adam's World (S1E3); 1987, Adam's World (S2E5, S3E1)
  • Charlotte Doppler
    Also
    Charlotte Tannhaus (her name while raised by H. G. Tannhaus)
    About
    Winden's chief of police, married to Peter, mother of Franziska. Also mother of Elisabeth. Raised by H. G. Tannhaus, she starts to question her origins. Tannhaus is not her real grandfather; Noah reveals that he is her father. Adam says Elisabeth will become her mother. Born in 2041 and brought as a baby to Tannhaus in 1971.
    Parents
    Noah (Adam's World, Eva's World), Elisabeth Doppler (Adam's World, Eva's World), H. G. Tannhaus (guardian, Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Partners
    Peter Doppler (married, Adam's World, Eva's World), Ulrich Nielsen (affair, Eva's World)
    Children
    Franziska Doppler (Adam's World, Eva's World), Elisabeth Doppler (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Versions
    teen, played by Stephanie Amarell (S1, S3 guest), season-level; adult, played by Karoline Eichhorn (S1, S2, S3)
    Born
    2041, Adam's World; 1971, Eva's World
    Seen in
    1971, Adam's World (S3E7); 1987, Adam's World (S1E3); 2019, Adam's World (S1E4, S1E10); 2019, Eva's World (S3E3, S3E6); 2020, Adam's World (S2E4, S2E5, S2E8, S3E2); 2041, Adam's World (S3E7); 2053, Adam's World (S3E2, S3E7)
  • Elisabeth Doppler
    About
    Younger Doppler daughter, who is deaf. Leads a group of survivors in 2053. Adam says she will become Noah's wife and Charlotte's mother. Charlotte is born to her and Noah by 2041.
    Parents
    Peter Doppler (Adam's World, Eva's World), Charlotte Doppler (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Partners
    Noah (married, Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Children
    Charlotte Doppler (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Siblings
    Franziska Doppler
    Versions
    child, played by Carlotta von Falkenhayn (S1, S2, S3); adult, played by Sandra Borgmann (S2, S3)
    Born
    2011, Adam's World; 2011, Eva's World
    Seen in
    1971, Adam's World (S3E7); 1987, Adam's World (S2E5); 2019, Adam's World (S1E4); 2019, Eva's World (S3E6); 2020, Adam's World (S2E5, S2E8, S3E2, S3E5); 2021, Adam's World (S3E7); 2041, Adam's World (S3E7); 2052, Adam's World (S2E4); 2053, Adam's World (S2E8, S3E2, S3E7)
  • Franziska Doppler
    About
    Elder Doppler daughter and Magnus's girlfriend. Her older self is a member of Sic Mundus. In the other world she, not Elisabeth, is deaf.
    Parents
    Peter Doppler (Adam's World, Eva's World), Charlotte Doppler (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Partners
    Magnus Nielsen (dating, Adam's World)
    Siblings
    Elisabeth Doppler
    Versions
    teen, played by Gina Alice Stiebitz (S1, S2, S3); adult, played by Carina Wiese (S2, S3)
    Born
    2003, Adam's World; 2003, Eva's World
    Seen in
    1888, Adam's World (S3E2); 1921, Adam's World (S3E4, S3E6); 1987, Adam's World (S2E5); 2019, Adam's World (S1E4); 2019, Eva's World (S3E1, S3E6); 2020, Adam's World (S2E2, S2E5, S2E8, S3E2); 2053, Adam's World (S3E6)
  • Greta Doppler
    About
    Helge's strict, deeply religious mother and Bernd's wife. Tells the pastor she prayed for Helge to be taken, unsure he was her husband's child.
    Partners
    Anatol Veliev (Adam's World, Eva's World, The Original World (unconfirmed)), Bernd Doppler (married, Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Children
    Helge Doppler (Adam's World, Eva's World, The Original World)
    Versions
    adult, played by Cordelia Wege (S1, S2 recurring, S3 guest)
    Born
    1917, Adam's World
    Seen in
    1953, Adam's World (S1E8, S1E9); 1954, Adam's World (S2E3, S3E4)
  • Helge Doppler
    About
    Peter's elderly father. Suffers from dementia; found in the forest saying he "must stop Noah". In 1953, as a boy, he is struck on the head by Ulrich. Works with Noah. Netflix's family tree names Anatol Veliev as his father.
    Parents
    Greta Doppler (Adam's World, Eva's World, The Original World), Bernd Doppler (Adam's World, Eva's World (disputed)), Anatol Veliev (Adam's World, Eva's World, The Original World (disputed))
    Partners
    Ulla Schmidt (Adam's World, Eva's World, The Original World (unconfirmed))
    Children
    Peter Doppler (Adam's World, Eva's World, The Original World)
    Versions
    child, played by Tom Philipp (S1, S2 recurring, S3 recurring); adult, played by Peter Schneider (S1, S2 recurring, S3 guest), season-level; elder, played by Hermann Beyer (S1, S3)
    Born
    1944, Adam's World; 1944, Eva's World
    Seen in
    1953, Adam's World (S1E8, S1E9, S1E10); 1954, Adam's World (S2E3); 1986, Adam's World (S1E2, S1E4, S1E7, S1E9, S1E10); 1986, Eva's World (S3E8); 1987, Adam's World (S2E3); 2019, Adam's World (S1E1, S1E2, S1E4, S1E7, S1E10); 2019, Eva's World (S3E3, S3E6, S3E8)
  • Peter Doppler
    About
    Psychotherapist; Charlotte's husband, father of Franziska, caring for his elderly father Helge. Also father of Elisabeth. Discovered to be having an affair with Bernadette. Grew up outside Winden with his mother. In the original world he is Bernadette's partner.
    Parents
    Helge Doppler (Adam's World, Eva's World, The Original World), Ulla Schmidt (Adam's World, Eva's World, The Original World (unconfirmed))
    Partners
    Charlotte Doppler (married, Adam's World, Eva's World), Bernadette Wöller (affair, Adam's World, Eva's World; The Original World)
    Children
    Franziska Doppler (Adam's World, Eva's World), Elisabeth Doppler (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Versions
    teen, played by Pablo Striebeck (S3 guest); adult, played by Stephan Kampwirth (S1, S2, S3)
    Born
    1970, Adam's World; 1970, Eva's World; 1970, The Original World
    Seen in
    1987, Adam's World (S3E5); 2019, Adam's World (S1E4); 2019, Eva's World (S3E3, S3E5); 2020, Adam's World (S1E10, S2E4, S2E8, S3E2, S3E5)
  • Ulla Schmidt (unconfirmed person)
    About
    Named only in Netflix's family tree, as Peter's mother with Helge.
    Partners
    Helge Doppler (Adam's World, Eva's World, The Original World (unconfirmed))
    Children
    Peter Doppler (Adam's World, Eva's World, The Original World (unconfirmed))
    Note
    UNVERIFIED: single source (Netflix family tree). Do not merge with Ulla Obendorf (Erik's mother in Wikipedia's recurring cast): no source links them. Grouped with Doppler only through Netflix's tree drawing (unverified).
Tiedemann
  • Aleksander Tiedemann
    Also
    Aleksander Köhler (the name he uses on arriving in Winden in 1986); Boris Niewald (his real name) (season-level)
    About
    Director of the nuclear power plant, Regina's husband and Bartosz's father, with dark secrets. In 1986 a young man calling himself Aleksander Köhler arrives in Winden. Tells Clausen his original surname was Köhler.
    Partners
    Regina Tiedemann (married, Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Children
    Bartosz Tiedemann (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Versions
    teen, played by Béla Gabor Lenz (S1 guest, S2 guest, S3 guest); adult, played by Peter Benedict (S1, S2, S3)
    Born
    1966, Adam's World; 1966, Eva's World
    Seen in
    1986, Adam's World (S1E9); 1986, Eva's World (S3E3); 2019, Adam's World (S1E2); 2019, Eva's World (S3E1, S3E3, S3E6); 2020, Adam's World (S2E7, S2E8)
  • Bartosz Tiedemann
    About
    Jonas's best friend, son of Regina and Aleksander, and Martha's boyfriend. Agrees to join Noah. Stranded in 1888. With Silja he fathers Hanno (Noah) and Agnes.
    Parents
    Regina Tiedemann (Adam's World, Eva's World), Aleksander Tiedemann (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Partners
    Martha Nielsen (dating, Adam's World), Silja Tiedemann (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Children
    Noah (Adam's World), Agnes Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Versions
    teen, played by Paul Lux (S1, S2, S3); adult, played by Roman Knižka (S2 guest, S3 recurring), season-level
    Born
    2003, Adam's World; 2003, Eva's World
    Seen in
    1888, Adam's World (S3E2); 1890, Adam's World (S3E7); 1904, Adam's World (S3E7); 1910, Adam's World (S3E7); 1921, Adam's World (S2E1); 1987, Adam's World (S2E7); 2019, Adam's World (S1E1, S1E10, S3E7); 2019, Eva's World (S3E1, S3E6, S3E7); 2020, Adam's World (S2E1, S2E7, S2E8, S3E2); 2052, Eva's World (S3E6)
  • Claudia Tiedemann
    Also
    the White Devil (what her dying father calls her); Claudia Doppler (married name in the original world)
    About
    Egon's daughter and Regina's mother; newly elected director of the power plant in 1986. Her elderly self approaches Bartosz in 2019. Opposes Adam; her dying father calls her "the White Devil". Kills her counterpart from the other world and poses as her. In the original world she is Claudia Doppler, Bernd's wife.
    Parents
    Egon Tiedemann (Adam's World, Eva's World, The Original World), Doris Tiedemann (Adam's World, Eva's World, The Original World)
    Partners
    Tronte Nielsen (affair, Adam's World), Bernd Doppler (married, The Original World; Adam's World, Eva's World (unconfirmed), season-level)
    Children
    Regina Tiedemann (Adam's World, Eva's World, The Original World)
    Siblings
    Silja Tiedemann
    Versions
    child, played by Gwendolyn Göbel (S1, S2 guest, S3 guest); adult, played by Julika Jenkins (S1, S2, S3); elder, played by Lisa Kreuzer (S1 recurring, S2, S3 recurring)
    Born
    1942, Adam's World; 1942, Eva's World
    Seen in
    1953, Adam's World (S1E8, S1E9, S3E8); 1954, Adam's World (S2E3); 1986, Adam's World (S1E3, S1E6, S1E9); 1987, Adam's World (S2E2, S2E3, S2E4, S2E5, S2E7, S2E8); 2019, Adam's World (S1E9, S1E10, S2E6); 2020, Adam's World (S2E4, S2E8, S3E2, S3E5, S3E6); 2020, Eva's World (S3E5); 2040, Adam's World (S3E7, S3E8); 2040, Eva's World (S3E7); 2052, Adam's World (S2E6, S3E7); 2053, Adam's World (S2E2, S3E8)
  • Doris Tiedemann
    About
    Egon's wife. Has an affair with Agnes.
    Partners
    Egon Tiedemann (married, Adam's World, Eva's World, The Original World), Agnes Nielsen (affair, Adam's World)
    Children
    Claudia Tiedemann (Adam's World, Eva's World, The Original World)
    Versions
    adult, played by Luise Heyer (S1, S2 guest, S3 guest)
    Born
    1922, Adam's World
    Seen in
    1953, Adam's World (S1E8); 1954, Adam's World (S3E4)
  • Egon Tiedemann
    About
    Police chief investigator in 1986; Claudia's father. A police officer in 1953, married to Doris. Fathers Silja with Hannah during an affair in 1954.
    Partners
    Doris Tiedemann (married, Adam's World, Eva's World, The Original World), Hannah Kahnwald (affair, Adam's World)
    Children
    Claudia Tiedemann (Adam's World, Eva's World, The Original World), Silja Tiedemann (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Versions
    adult, played by Sebastian Hülk (S1, S2 recurring, S3 recurring); elder, played by Christian Pätzold (S1, S2, S3 recurring)
    Born
    1922, Adam's World; 1922, Eva's World
    Seen in
    1953, Adam's World (S1E8, S1E9); 1954, Adam's World (S3E4, S3E7); 1986, Adam's World (S1E3, S1E9); 1987, Adam's World (S2E3, S2E7)
  • Noah
    Also
    Hanno Tauber (the name he uses as Winden's pastor in the 1950s); Hanno (birth name; son of Bartosz and Silja)
    About
    A mysterious man who gives Elisabeth a watch; Helge says he "must stop Noah". A priest who looks the same in 1953, 1986 and 2019; in the 1950s he is pastor Hanno Tauber. A member of Sic Mundus who reveals that he is Charlotte's father. Shot dead by Agnes in 1921. Born Hanno, son of Bartosz and Silja.
    Parents
    Bartosz Tiedemann (Adam's World), Silja Tiedemann (Adam's World)
    Partners
    Elisabeth Doppler (married, Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Children
    Charlotte Doppler (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Siblings
    Agnes Nielsen
    Versions
    child, played by Till Patz (S3 guest), season-level; teen, played by Max Schimmelpfennig (S2, S3); adult, played by Mark Waschke (S1, S2, S3)
    Born
    1904, Adam's World; 1904, Eva's World
    Seen in
    1910, Adam's World (S3E7); 1920, Adam's World (S3E7); 1921, Adam's World (S2E1, S2E4, S2E8); 1953, Adam's World (S1E9); 1954, Adam's World (S2E3); 1986, Adam's World (S1E9, S1E10); 2019, Adam's World (S1E4, S1E10, S2E5); 2019, Eva's World (S3E6); 2020, Adam's World (S2E5, S2E8); 2021, Adam's World (S3E7); 2023, Adam's World (S3E7); 2040, Adam's World (S3E7); 2041, Adam's World (S3E7); 2052, Eva's World (S3E6)
    Note
    "Tauber" is not a family: Hanno Tauber is the name Noah uses as Winden's pastor in the 1950s [24:C32E2]; Wikipedia's tree labels him "Hanno Tauber a.k.a. Noah" [23:family tree]. By birth he is Hanno, son of Bartosz Tiedemann and Silja [23:S3E7].
  • Regina Tiedemann
    Also
    Regina Doppler (her name in the original world)
    About
    Wife of Aleksander and mother of Bartosz. Claudia's daughter; bullied at school as a teenager in 1986. Dies three months after the apocalypse. In the original world she lives, cancer-free, with her parents Bernd and Claudia Doppler.
    Parents
    Claudia Tiedemann (Adam's World, Eva's World, The Original World), Bernd Doppler (The Original World; Adam's World, Eva's World (disputed), season-level), Tronte Nielsen (Adam's World (unconfirmed))
    Partners
    Aleksander Tiedemann (married, Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Children
    Bartosz Tiedemann (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Versions
    teen, played by Lydia Maria Makrides (S1, S2, S3 guest); adult, played by Deborah Kaufmann (S1, S2, S3)
    Born
    1971, Adam's World; 1971, Eva's World; 1971, The Original World
    Seen in
    1986, Adam's World (S1E9); 2019, Adam's World (S1E6); 2020, Adam's World (S2E8, S3E2)
  • Silja Tiedemann
    Also
    Silja Krüger (birth name per Wikipedia's family tree) (season-level)
    About
    A teenager among the survivors in post-apocalyptic Winden, sign-language interpreter for their leader Elisabeth. Frees Jonas and helps him reach the God Particle. Daughter of Hannah and Egon, born 1988; with Bartosz the mother of Noah and Agnes; dies giving birth to Agnes.
    Parents
    Egon Tiedemann (Adam's World, Eva's World), Hannah Kahnwald (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Partners
    Bartosz Tiedemann (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Children
    Noah (Adam's World), Agnes Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World)
    Siblings
    Jonas Kahnwald, Claudia Tiedemann
    Versions
    child, played by Aurora Dervisi (S3 guest); teen, played by Lea van Acken (S2, S3); adult, played by Lissy Pernthaler (S3 guest)
    Born
    1988, Adam's World
    Seen in
    1890, Adam's World (S3E7); 1904, Adam's World (S3E7); 1910, Adam's World (S3E7); 1911, Adam's World (S3E7); 1993, Adam's World (S3E7); 2041, Adam's World (S3E7); 2052, Adam's World (S2E1); 2053, Adam's World (S2E2, S3E6, S3E7)
    Note
    Wikipedia's cast table credits teen Silja (Lea van Acken) as a season 1 guest, but no season 1 episode summary or Netflix entry identifies her; that season 1 appearance is UNVERIFIED and not used.
Tannhaus
  • Charlotte Tannhaus
    About
    Baby daughter of Marek and Sonja Tannhaus, granddaughter of the clockmaker; a different person from Charlotte Doppler.
    Parents
    Marek Tannhaus (The Original World), Sonja Tannhaus (The Original World)
    Born
    1971, The Original World
    Seen in
    1971, The Original World (S3E8)
  • Gustav Tannhaus
    About
    Blind factory owner in 1888, early Sic Mundus member and H. G. Tannhaus's grandfather.
    Parents
    Heinrich Tannhaus (Adam's World, Eva's World, The Original World)
    Children
    Leopold Tannhaus (Adam's World, Eva's World, The Original World (unconfirmed))
    Seen in
    1822, Adam's World (S3E3); 1888, Adam's World (S3E2, S3E3)
  • H. G. Tannhaus
    Also
    the clockmaker
    About
    Winden's clockmaker, who has written a book about the theory of time travel. Completes the brass time machine from the broken version brought by the adult Jonas. Raised Charlotte. Was given baby Charlotte shortly after his son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter died in a car accident. In the original world his time machine destroys his world and splits it into two.
    Parents
    Leopold Tannhaus (Adam's World, Eva's World, The Original World (unconfirmed))
    Children
    Charlotte Doppler (guardian, Adam's World, Eva's World), Marek Tannhaus (The Original World)
    Versions
    adult, played by Arnd Klawitter (S1, S2 guest, S3 recurring); elder, played by Christian Steyer (S1, S2 guest, S3)
    Born
    1913, Adam's World; 1913, The Original World
    Seen in
    1953, Adam's World (S1E8, S1E9); 1954, Adam's World (S2E3); 1971, Adam's World (S3E5); 1971, The Original World (S3E7, S3E8); 1974, The Original World (S3E7); 1986, Adam's World (S1E10); 1986, The Original World (S3E8); 1987, Adam's World (S2E3)
  • Heinrich Tannhaus
    About
    Founder of Sic Mundus and Gustav's father; tried to bring his dead wife back.
    Children
    Gustav Tannhaus (Adam's World, Eva's World, The Original World)
  • Leopold Tannhaus (unconfirmed person)
    About
    Named only in Netflix's family tree, between Gustav and H. G. Tannhaus.
    Parents
    Gustav Tannhaus (Adam's World, Eva's World, The Original World (unconfirmed))
    Children
    H. G. Tannhaus (Adam's World, Eva's World, The Original World (unconfirmed))
    Note
    UNVERIFIED name/position: Netflix family tree only. Consistent with Wikipedia ("Gustav Tannhaus, H. G. Tannhaus' grandfather") [23].
  • Marek Tannhaus
    About
    H. G. Tannhaus's son; with his wife Sonja the father of a daughter, Charlotte; in the finale he turns the car around.
    Parents
    H. G. Tannhaus (The Original World)
    Partners
    Sonja Tannhaus (married, The Original World)
    Children
    Charlotte Tannhaus (The Original World)
    Born
    1947, The Original World
    Seen in
    1971, The Original World (S3E8)
  • Sonja Tannhaus
    About
    Marek's wife and mother of Charlotte Tannhaus.
    Partners
    Marek Tannhaus (married, The Original World)
    Children
    Charlotte Tannhaus (The Original World)
    Born
    1949, The Original World
    Seen in
    1971, The Original World (S3E8)
Albers
  • Helene Albers
    Also
    Helene Wolf (birth name, per Wikipedia's family tree) (season-level)
    About
    Katharina's mother, very strict with her daughter. Seen pregnant as a young girl in 1954. Works at the psychiatric facility; kills Katharina in 1987.
    Partners
    Hermann Albers (Adam's World, Eva's World, The Original World (unconfirmed))
    Children
    Katharina Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World, The Original World)
    Versions
    child, played by Mariella Aumann (S3 guest); adult, played by Katharina Spiering (S3)
    Born
    1942, Adam's World
    Seen in
    1954, Adam's World (S3E4); 1987, Adam's World (S3E2, S3E5)
    Note
    Wikipedia's cast table and character list credit adult Helene (Katharina Spiering) as a season 2 guest [23][36], but no season 2 episode summary mentions her and Netflix introduces her at S3E2; the season 2 appearance and how she is identified there are UNVERIFIED and not used. Netflix introduces her in its guide at S3E2 [37]; Wikipedia's cast table lists her (adult) as a season 2 guest [23].
  • Hermann Albers
    About
    Sheep farmer; Katharina's father.
    Partners
    Helene Albers (Adam's World, Eva's World, The Original World (unconfirmed))
    Children
    Katharina Nielsen (Adam's World, Eva's World, The Original World)
    Seen in
    1986, Adam's World (S1E3)
Wöller
  • Bernadette Wöller
    Also
    Benni (season-level); Benjamin Wöller (name in the other world)
    About
    A transgender sex worker with whom Peter has had an affair. Torben Wöller's sister. In the original world, Peter's partner.
    Partners
    Peter Doppler (affair, Adam's World, Eva's World; The Original World)
    Siblings
    Torben Wöller (Adam's World, Eva's World, The Original World)
    Born
    1987, Adam's World; 1987, Eva's World; 1987, The Original World
    Seen in
    2019, Adam's World (S1E10); 2020, Adam's World (S2E1, S2E2, S3E2)
  • Torben Wöller
    About
    Police detective with an injury to his right eye; most people just call him Wöller. Bernadette's brother. In the original world he is married to Hannah; they are expecting a child.
    Partners
    Hannah Kahnwald (married, The Original World)
    Siblings
    Bernadette Wöller (Adam's World, Eva's World, The Original World)
    Born
    1981, Adam's World; 1981, Eva's World; 1981, The Original World
    Seen in
    2019, Adam's World (S2E1); 2020, Adam's World (S2E1, S2E7, S2E8)
Obendorf
  • Erik Obendorf
    About
    Local teenage drug dealer, missing for two weeks when the series begins. His body is found at the power-plant construction site in 1953.
    Parents
    Jürgen Obendorf (Adam's World, Eva's World), Ulla Obendorf (Adam's World, season-level)
    Siblings
    Kilian Obendorf
    Born
    2004, Eva's World
    Seen in
    2019, Adam's World (S1E1)
  • Jürgen Obendorf
    About
    A junk dealer who sometimes works shifts at the power plant. Erik Obendorf's father. In the other world he has two sons, Kilian and Erik.
    Children
    Erik Obendorf (Adam's World, Eva's World), Kilian Obendorf (Eva's World)
    Born
    1971, Adam's World; 1971, Eva's World
    Seen in
    2019, Adam's World (S1E1, S1E2); 2019, Eva's World (S3E1); 2020, Adam's World (S2E1, S3E2)
  • Kilian Obendorf
    About
    Erik's older brother in the other world; Martha's boyfriend and co-star in the school play.
    Parents
    Jürgen Obendorf (Eva's World)
    Partners
    Martha Nielsen (dating, Eva's World)
    Siblings
    Erik Obendorf
    Born
    2003, Eva's World
    Seen in
    2019, Eva's World (S3E1, S3E3)
    Note
    Wikipedia's recurring cast lists Kilian in seasons 1 and 3 [23:recurring cast]; no season 1 episode is sourced, so the season 1 appearance is UNVERIFIED and not used. Wikipedia lists him in seasons 1 and 3 [23]; Netflix has him only in the other world [24:C59E0].
  • Ulla Obendorf (season-level: first appearance dated to the season, not the episode)
    About
    Erik Obendorf's mother in 2019 (season 1).
    Children
    Erik Obendorf (Adam's World, season-level)
    Seen in
    2019, Adam's World (season-level, episode not sourced)
    Note
    Season-level source only (Wikipedia: season 1); episode UNVERIFIED, so the conservative season-end value is used.
Loops and paradoxes

Charlotte and Elisabeth: each is the other's mother. Charlotte is Elisabeth's mother, and Elisabeth (with Noah) is Charlotte's mother. Netflix calls it "a so-called bootstrap paradox" [24:C19E10].

  1. Charlotte Doppler is a parent of Elisabeth Doppler.
  2. Elisabeth Doppler is a parent of Charlotte Doppler.

The Unknown is his own great-grandfather. The Unknown fathers Tronte; Tronte fathers Ulrich; Ulrich fathers Martha; Martha (of Eva's world) is the Unknown's mother. Vulture: "He is Jonas's great-great-grandfather and Martha's great-grandfather" [29].

  1. The Unknown is a parent of Tronte Nielsen.
  2. Tronte Nielsen is a parent of Ulrich Nielsen.
  3. Ulrich Nielsen is a parent of Martha Nielsen.
  4. Martha Nielsen is a parent of the Unknown.

Jonas is an ancestor of himself through the Unknown. Jonas fathers the Unknown, who fathers Tronte, grandfather of Mikkel, who grows up as Michael and fathers Jonas. Netflix: Jonas is Agnes's "great-great-grandson" [24:C17E2].

  1. Jonas Kahnwald is a parent of the Unknown.
  2. The Unknown is a parent of Tronte Nielsen.
  3. Tronte Nielsen is a parent of Ulrich Nielsen.
  4. Ulrich Nielsen is a parent of Mikkel Nielsen.
  5. Mikkel Nielsen (as Michael Kahnwald) is a parent of Jonas Kahnwald.

Jonas makes his own conception possible. Jonas leads young Mikkel through the passage to 1986; Mikkel grows up as Michael Kahnwald and fathers Jonas. Old Claudia: Mikkel must travel to the past "so Jonas can be conceived" [23:S2E6].

  1. Jonas leads Mikkel through the passage to 1986, which makes his own conception possible.
  2. Mikkel Nielsen (as Michael Kahnwald) is a parent of Jonas Kahnwald.

Agnes is both the Unknown's partner and his ancestor. Agnes has Tronte with the Unknown, and the Unknown descends from Agnes through Tronte, Ulrich and Martha.

  1. Agnes Nielsen and the Unknown are partners.
  2. Martha Nielsen is a parent of the Unknown.
  3. Ulrich Nielsen is a parent of Martha Nielsen.
  4. Tronte Nielsen is a parent of Ulrich Nielsen.
  5. Agnes Nielsen is a parent of Tronte Nielsen.

Hannah is Jonas's mother and also his distant ancestor. Hannah's daughter Silja is Agnes's mother; Agnes is Tronte's mother, Ulrich's grandmother and Mikkel/Michael's great-grandmother. So Hannah is Jonas's mother and his great-great-great-grandmother.

  1. Hannah Kahnwald is a parent of Silja Tiedemann.
  2. Silja Tiedemann is a parent of Agnes Nielsen.
  3. Agnes Nielsen is a parent of Tronte Nielsen.
  4. Tronte Nielsen is a parent of Ulrich Nielsen.
  5. Ulrich Nielsen is a parent of Mikkel Nielsen.
  6. Mikkel Nielsen (as Michael Kahnwald) is a parent of Jonas Kahnwald.
  7. Hannah Kahnwald is a parent of Jonas Kahnwald.

Egon is ancestor of Noah and Agnes on both sides. Noah's mother Silja is Egon's daughter, and Noah's father Bartosz is Egon's great-grandson (via Claudia and Regina).

  1. Egon Tiedemann is a parent of Silja Tiedemann.
  2. Silja Tiedemann is a parent of Noah.
  3. Bartosz Tiedemann is a parent of Noah.
  4. Regina Tiedemann is a parent of Bartosz Tiedemann.
  5. Claudia Tiedemann is a parent of Regina Tiedemann.
  6. Egon Tiedemann is a parent of Claudia Tiedemann.

Unconfirmed: IF Tronte were Regina's father, Bartosz would be his own great-grandfather. Only if Tronte's belief were true: in S3E2 he visits Regina, who he believes is his daughter [23:S3E2]. No source confirms it, so this loop is not asserted.

  1. Bartosz Tiedemann is a parent of Agnes Nielsen.
  2. Agnes Nielsen is a parent of Tronte Nielsen.
  3. Tronte Nielsen is a parent of Regina Tiedemann. (unconfirmed)
  4. Regina Tiedemann is a parent of Bartosz Tiedemann.

Tannhaus's book A Journey Through Time (object). Old Claudia gives Tannhaus the book he will later write; Netflix: "the contents exist without an author. It's a so-called bootstrap paradox." [24:C37E6]

The brass time machine (object). Tannhaus completes the machine from the broken version brought by adult Jonas (S1E10) [23]; Odar: "it's only one machine, it just comes with different patina levels" [30].

Frequently asked questions

Is Dark confusing?

It can be. Many characters appear at two or three ages, often played by different actors, and Jack Seale of The Guardian wrote that "the narrative is forbiddingly elaborate on purpose." This review's advice: give it two or three episodes before judging it, keep a notepad nearby, and watch each season over a few weeks at most.

How does time travel work in Dark?

Through a wormhole in the caves beneath Winden's nuclear power plant, which moves people 33 years into the past or the future, so Season 1 shifts among 2019, 1986, and 1953. Wikipedia says the plot makes "prominent use of the bootstrap paradox": a trip to the past explains how things got the way they are instead of changing them.

How many seasons does Dark have?

Three, with 26 episodes in all: 10 in Season 1 (December 1, 2017), 8 in Season 2 (June 21, 2019), and 8 in Season 3 (June 27, 2020). Netflix released each season in full on one day, and the series ran three seasons as planned, with Season 3 billed as the final one.

Will there be a Season 4 of Dark?

No Season 4 of Dark (2017) has been announced as of October 8, 2026. The series ran three seasons as planned; Season 3, released on June 27, 2020, was billed as the final season. The show's creators, Jantje Friese and Baran bo Odar, are executive producers of a six-part HBO Max thriller inspired by Struwwelpeter, starring Dark's Lisa Vicari.

Is Dark worth watching?

Yes. It gets a 9/10 here, because few shows map out a time-travel story this far ahead: the later seasons keep paying off clues the first one left. A slow first season and a cast that takes real concentration to track keep it from a 10. Even so, this review calls it the reference time-travel series.

Does Dark have a good ending?

Critics largely thought so: Dark (2017) Season 3 scores 97 percent on Rotten Tomatoes (as of October 8, 2026), and Patrick Cremona of Radio Times gave it 5/5. This review gives the series 9/10 but finds one late paradox that strains its rules; the closed spoiler section explains it.

What is Dark Season 3 about, without spoilers?

Dark (2017) Season 3 is the final chapter, released on June 27, 2020. Rotten Tomatoes' consensus says it brings "viewers full circle without sacrificing any of the show's narrative complexities." Describing its plot gives away how Season 2 ends, so this page explains it only in the closed spoiler section, and the family tree hides Season 3 by default.

Is Dark in German?

Yes. It was Netflix's first German original series, and its original language is German. The US Netflix page also lists English audio and English subtitles; no source consulted says which track plays by default, and the language options in other countries weren't checked.

Is Dark like Stranger Things?

Critics made the comparison during Dark's first season, alongside Twin Peaks, and Refinery29 (via Wikipedia) called Dark the darker, more in-depth show. Steve Greene's IndieWire review headline called it a "Workmanlike Answer to 'The OA' and 'Stranger Things.'"

⚠ Spoilers: the timeline explainedShow spoilersHide spoilers

Season 1's biggest reveal is a family tree. The missing Mikkel Nielsen (Daan Lennard Liebrenz) wakes up in 1986 and grows up to be Michael Kahnwald (Sebastian Rudolph), Jonas's father, who killed himself on June 21, 2019, months before Mikkel vanished. The dead boy found in 2019 is Ulrich's brother Mads, who disappeared in 1986 and "whose body has not aged since 33 years ago," in Wikipedia's words. The Stranger (Andreas Pietschmann) who checks into Regina's hotel is the adult Jonas. He plans to destroy the wormhole with Tannhaus's machine but, per Wikipedia, "unwittingly, is about to create the wormhole." The season ends with teenage Jonas in a post-apocalyptic Winden in 2052.

In Season 2 the secret society Sic Mundus is led by Adam, the elder Jonas (Dietrich Hollinderbäumer), and the story counts down to the apocalypse of 2020. In the finale, Adam shoots Martha, the apocalypse razes Winden, and Jonas meets another Martha who says she is "not from another time, but from another world."

Season 3 explains that second world. Jonas was never born there, and its elderly Martha is Eva, Adam's counterpart and leader of Erit Lux. She says her connection with Jonas ties the two worlds in an inseparable "knot." Eva claims she wants to save both worlds while Adam wants to destroy them; IGN's Jesse Schedeen describes her as "devoted to perpetuating the endless time loop." The Unknown, a time traveler seen at three ages, is Jonas and Martha's son, "believed to be the origin of the Knot." Adam kills the pregnant Martha to destroy that origin, but his own existence survives.

The elderly Claudia (Lisa Kreuzer) supplies the answer. The knot began outside both worlds, in a third, "original world," where H. G. Tannhaus built a time machine to prevent the death of his son's family and "inadvertently" split his world into Adam's and Eva's. TheWrap quotes her key line: "You trying to destroy the origin, that has happened an infinite number of times. But this here, you and I, is happening for the first time."

The way out uses the apocalypse itself. As Radio Times explains, "during the apocalypse, time stands still and it is therefore briefly possible to change the chain of cause and effect." Adam sends young Jonas to fetch the other world's Martha, and Eva, realizing the cycle has been broken, embraces Adam. Jonas and Martha travel to the origin world and stop the car accident that killed Tannhaus's family, "thereby erasing both worlds from existence." Only characters "whose birth was not a result of time travel" remain. At a dinner party, a pregnant Hannah says she has always liked the name "Jonas."

For most of the series, the logic is a closed circle; TheWrap's example is that "Charlotte could be her own grandmother." The finale is where the meter loses its point. Phil Owen of TheWrap calls it "one last bootstrap paradox on the way out the door," since saving the family depends on the machine the rescue itself prevents. I'll forgive it for that last scene at the dinner table, but it's still a cheat.

Spoiler questions

Who is the Stranger in Dark?

The adult Jonas Kahnwald (Andreas Pietschmann). He checks into Regina's hotel planning to destroy the wormhole with H. G. Tannhaus's machine, but, in Wikipedia's words, he "unwittingly, is about to create the wormhole." Season 1 ends with teenage Jonas in a post-apocalyptic Winden in 2052.

Who is Adam in Dark?

The elder Jonas (Dietrich Hollinderbäumer), leader of the secret society Sic Mundus. In Season 3 his counterpart is Eva, the elderly Martha of a second world in which Jonas was never born; her connection with Jonas ties the two worlds in an inseparable "knot." Eva claims she wants to save both worlds, while Adam wants to destroy them.

What happens in Dark Season 3?

Dark (2017) Season 3 explores the second world, hinted at in the Season 2 finale, where Mikkel never travels back in time, so Jonas is never born. Its elderly Martha is Eva. The Unknown, Jonas and Martha's son, is "believed to be the origin of the Knot"; Adam kills that world's pregnant Martha to destroy the origin but still exists.

What started everything in Dark?

In Dark (2017), everything starts in a third, "original world," where H. G. Tannhaus built a time machine to undo the 1971 crash that killed his son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter. Activated on June 21, 1986, the machine "inadvertently" split his world into Adam's and Eva's; Netflix says the cave passage opened simultaneously. The elderly Claudia explains it in the finale.

How does Dark end?

While time stands still during the apocalypse, Jonas and Martha reach a third, "original world," where H. G. Tannhaus "inadvertently" split his world in two, trying to undo the 1971 crash that killed his son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter. They prevent the crash, erasing both worlds. At a dinner party, a pregnant Hannah says she has always liked the name "Jonas."

What happens to the characters at the end of Dark?

Dark (2017) ends with Adam's and Eva's worlds erased along with everyone in them, Jonas and Martha included. Of the main characters, only those "whose birth was not a result of time travel" remain: Peter is with Bernadette, Regina is cancer-free, and Hannah is expecting a child with Torben Wöller. Radio Times notes that Ulrich and Charlotte Doppler are absent.

Does Dark have a happy ending?

Happy and sad at once, say the creators of Dark (2017). Baran bo Odar told The Hollywood Reporter, "It's a very happy ending, even though it feels very sad," and Jantje Friese called Hannah's fondness for the name Jonas "both hopeful and ominous." This review forgives the finale's last paradox for the dinner scene but still calls it a cheat.

Is Dark a time loop?

Only by some labels. Netflix tags the series "Time Loop," and IGN describes Eva as "devoted to perpetuating the endless time loop"; in Season 3, the elderly Claudia says trying to destroy the origin "has happened an infinite number of times." For most of its run, this review reads Dark as one closed chain of cause and effect.

Sources

Catalogue entry

Research dossier behind this review (22 sources)
  1. Wikipedia, "Dark (TV series)" (revision of 1 Oct 2026, 15:50 UTC, oldid 1377860429; retrieved 3 Oct 2026)
  2. Wikidata, Q28443710 "Dark" (last revision 2550194585, 27 Sep 2026 22:26 UTC; revision history checked; retrieved 3 Oct 2026)
  3. Netflix, "Dark" title page (fetched from a US connection, 3 Oct 2026)
  4. Netflix Media Center, "Dark, the first Netflix original series produced in Germany commences principal photography", 18 Oct 2016 (retrieved 3 Oct 2026)
  5. Toronto International Film Festival, press release "TIFF's Primetime lineup premieres provocative new series", 15 Aug 2017 (PDF; retrieved 3 Oct 2026)
  6. Rotten Tomatoes, "Dark" series page (retrieved 3 Oct 2026)
  7. Rotten Tomatoes, "Dark: Season 1" (retrieved 3 Oct 2026)
  8. Rotten Tomatoes, "Dark: Season 2" (retrieved 3 Oct 2026)
  9. Rotten Tomatoes, "Dark: Season 3" (retrieved 3 Oct 2026)
  10. Metacritic, "Dark" series page (retrieved 3 Oct 2026)
  11. Metacritic, "Dark: Season 1" (retrieved 3 Oct 2026)
  12. Metacritic, "Dark: Season 2" (retrieved 3 Oct 2026)
  13. Metacritic, "Dark: Season 3" (retrieved 3 Oct 2026)
  14. Lanre Bakare, "Dark review – a classy, knotty, time-travelling whodunnit for TV", The Guardian, 1 Dec 2017 (retrieved 3 Oct 2026)
  15. Phil Owen, "Everything You Need to Know About 'Dark' Season 3, Explained", TheWrap (page metadata: published 12 Nov 2020; retrieved 3 Oct 2026)
  16. Jesse Schedeen, "Netflix's Dark: Season 3 Ending Explained", IGN, 30 Jun 2020 (retrieved 3 Oct 2026)
  17. Patrick Cremona, "Dark season 3 ending explained", Radio Times (page metadata: published 12 Apr 2024, modified 3 Dec 2024; retrieved 3 Oct 2026)
  18. Jake Kleinman, "The creators of Dark have a new HBO Max thriller that sounds way better than 1899", Polygon, 6 Mar 2026 (retrieved 3 Oct 2026)
  19. Wikipedia (Italian), "Dark (serie televisiva)" (revision of 17 Sep 2026, 22:28 UTC, oldid 152509771; retrieved 3 Oct 2026)
  20. JustWatch US, "Dark" (fetched 3 Oct 2026, 06:58 CEST)
  21. JustWatch UK, "Dark" (fetched 3 Oct 2026, 06:58 CEST)
  22. JustWatch Italy, "I segreti di Winden" (fetched 3 Oct 2026, 06:58 CEST)

Poster and trailer

Review by Loop & Branch Editorial. Published . Scores explained in How we review.