Simplicity of a complex topic
There are a lot of shows on criminal profilers who try to understand the psyche of a criminal and their brutal acts. Through The Darkness has a very diffrent approach to crime solving without making the crime or criminal a point of entertainment.
The show is a journey of two of Korea's first ever criminal profilers and how over time through different cases they refine their profiling techniques.
It also does a great job showing two different point of views of crime solving, one being that of a profiler which goes beyond the crime scene while other of on ground detectives which reel in all the available evidence to solve a crime, both very different but important nevertheless.
The cases dealt are horrific to say the least but as it goes with any crime profiling drama you do not talk with a criminal to 'humanise' them but rather understand the demon within, to avoid similar crimes happening in future.
The show does a good job instead of humanising the detectives that work on these cases . Their stressors, the contast exposure to these twisted criminals, the guilt that they carry everytime they fail to catch someone.
Kim NamGil, the main lead is a superbly versitle actor to think that the last show I saw of his was the dumbest action comedy and here he is the most stoic criminal profiler whi smiles probably 3 times in 20 episodes and spends his free time trying to comfort the surviving family members of the victims.
The only thing that bothered me were how it seemed almost rushed towards the end. I wish there was one or two more eps just to close a few open ends.
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Criminal Minds
Likes1. I love Kim Nam Gil as the first criminal profiler. I was starting to get scared that this drama will turn into 'Mouse'. Esp in ep 10 when he couldn't contain his emotions any longer. He was absorbing all of the criminals' feelings and in his line of job, he needs to be strong enough to separate work and personal life.
2. Shocked that the cases are based on actual murders in Korea. That period must have been terrifying with several serial killers running loose.
3. Was personally scared of the balding serial killer with the creepy smile. I had to double check my door locks before going to sleep everyday after watching the episodes.
4. I also loved the teams. They first didnt believe in what they're doing but when their analyses were always correct, the rest of the squad started consulting with them.
Dislikes
Not much except the drama was missing an extra oomph to make it memorable
If you want to know more of the Daesung serial killer, try to watch Netflix's Raincoat killer.
Rating: 9/10
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Do you think monsters are born or made?
"The world that created the monster, must take responsibility too" - Song Ha YoungI don't know why, but I aside from Mafias, the other thing I am fascinated with is and will always be are about Serial Killers and how they will be caught with their crimes. As what Ha Young always mentioned in the drama, "there's no such thing as a perfect crime".
This drama is such a gem, with the 12 episodes which is for me is not enough and I want a season 2 for more cases to be tackled by the team.
It shows that being a profiler is not an easy profession, it's not for the weak mind and heart, what you'll be facing are to things that too inhumane for our taste. How this drama showed that not all monsters are born to be that way, but rather they're end products of things done to a person. Like how a parent affect their child's life for their actions or decisions.
Kim Nam Gil is one of my favourite actors in SoKor dramaland, as he knows his craft well. He may be lowkey, but God! he delivers perfectly. Add Jin Seon Kyu and Kim Won Hae (who's one of my fave ahjussi) and other casts and boom! we have a great casting for the characters in the drama. Their acting is superb! What more with the actors who played the roles of serial killers! Jeez! they're too convincing and too real!
I think, the drama's trying to tell us that we always have a choice, whether we choose to be a monster or not is up to us, unless we're defected by birth which we would feel helpless to control it, then we should always choose to be a good person, inspite and despite of any circumstances that we face in our daily life. It may be easy to say, but life is always a struggle and unfair. It's just how we handle things that may or may not make a difference towards it.
Overall, it's worth to watch the drama, so if you haven't watched it, you should start it. But be prepared, as some things there are too disturbing and violent. The things that serial killers described their crimes are too much for a person if they're not used to these types of dramas.
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Gripping
Incredibly intense at times, very human and believable, plus moving.A fascinating insight into the very humble beginnings of criminal profiling in S.Korea.
The dreadful way many colleagues and 'higher ups' treated the 3-man team of the profile unit, was disgraceful. From where they were located to how they had to fight every step of the way, until their methods showed results, time after time.
Kim Nam-gil and Jin Seon-kyu were excellent in their character portrayals, worked so well together and their character's totally different personalities complimented each other perfectly.
KNG's character's change through the episodes was a hard watch at times and I really wanted to climb into my TV and give him a hug.
Another character that matured through the series and quietly added so much to their small team dynamic, was Analyst, Jung Woo-joo (Ryeoun), who was a delight.
The different cases they became involved in were very gritty and quite distressing on occasion, ranging from rapists to child abduction and murder. It wasn't quite as gory as some series I've watched, but very unpleasant at times, adding to the reality of just how sick the serial killers they profiled, were. This eventually took a toll on some.
I hated the police's Commissioner General; even though the series spans a number of years starting in the 1990s, his out-of-date behaviour (even for the time) and attitude was shameful. From regularly using physical abuse of his subordinates (who were not low down the pecking order themselves), to demanding results as though evidence and perpetrators could be magically created, he was an embarrassing portrayal of a senior figure in S.Korean law enforcement. He even demanded unsolved murders be blamed on an existing criminal they'd caught, who had nothing to do with them!
Luckily, 2 senior colleagues (Baek Joon-shik and Heo Gil-pyo) were supportive and ensured the profile team were utilised and respected.
The length of this drama was shorter than the norm, but it never felt rushed and the story was almost perfectly told in those episodes.
There was one scene where an alluded murder victim was disposed of, but not covered when the killer confessed and I didn't get that. It was never mentioned.
Likewise, exactly what happened to the people replaced when changes were made in the police hierarchy, once the profile team had their first major success, wasn't made clear.
There was also no follow-up, or any insight into what became of the convicted killers; their sentences weren't even given.
Had those things been clearer, I would have given this series a 10.
The fact this is based on reality and a book written by one of the profilers, makes it all the more compelling.
Recommended!
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Criminal minds mixed with Mindhunter
If you like show such as Criminal minds or mind hunter, you will most likely like this show. However, this show is slow in terms of getting the criminals caught. Which is more realistic anyway. I skip some parts that I don't care about such as the politics in the office,I understand they need to show the huddle they go through to actually get this department accepted and taken serious to begin with but I feel it's taking away from some parts of the criminal mindsUnlike Criminal minds (The .US version) where they will actually show you what trigger these people to commit the act .these show until last episode never explorers that element.
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Gripping and terrorizing
Through the Darkness pitches a riveting story that centers on how the minds of criminals work, how they plot their crimes and how oddly their behaviors are, and leading the formation of Behaviour Analysis Team.Through The Darkness delineates the hard work done by every department in catching the psychopaths and examining the behaviour and minds of these killers. Kim Nam Gil as Inspector Son Ha Young was an effective casting who delivered a good acting on his part.
Overall, this drama depicts the terror of numerous psychopaths during the late 90s and early 2000s, and study of these criminal minds.
My Rating : 8/10
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Truly dark
Through the Darkness is a crime drama that is particularly unique for being adapted from the book of Korea’s first profiler. In this sense, it isn’t only focused on the crimes, but more so on the work that goes into solving them. It managed to capture the struggles of, at the time, still developing field of crime profiling.Not every aspect of this show is actually based on real happenings, but the characters and their stories make the viewer feel more included. It doesn't strack you as fiction or merely distant reality, it rather showcases itself as the everyday reality we face.
As for the acting, there isn’t anything I can criticise. Kim Nam Gil did an extraordinary job and his acting performance is memorable. This can be said about all the other characters, too. It isn’t quite common to see actors portray serial murders this well.
This drama was not the fastest watch (though it was rather intense), but it would feel wrong if such stories were easy to watch. That’s, of course, something one has to account for. On that note, I would argue that the rewatch value may not be the highest, which in this case is not a drawback.
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An underrated masterpiece
The word "masterpiece" can be thrown around a lot when it comes to kdramas. But Through The Darkness is a series that deserves this title because its genuinely one of the most phenomenal series I've watched so far.
Ever since I was a child (say 11-12 years old), I have been fascinated by the psychology of criminals. I have been reading and watching psychological thrillers for years and each time, I feel more and more eager to crack the personality and motives of these people. Why did they commit these crimes? What was their life like? What choices or circumstances led them to this? Why did they choose these people as their victims? These are some of the questions I ask myself.
As the years went by, I started doing more research to actual real cases. I have read cases where the rapists were rape victims or how killers imitated the abuse they experienced when they were younger. Learning more about the psychology of these people made me even more interested in the major I chose to study (psychology). This was my first year as a psychology student and I couldn't have chosen a better kdrama to watch.
When I stepped upon Through The Darkness, I was immediately pulled by its premise. I like watching series or movies based on real events and the plot was already very eye-catching: set during the early days of implementation of criminal behavior analysis in the South Korean law enforcement, the series is about a very first criminal profiler who struggles to determine the behavioural patterns of serial killers while trying to prove to society that criminal behavior analysis is the future of criminal investigation. Count me in!
From the very first episode, I was in awe by the cinematography and directing. The series has a bold and serious style. The color palette could be described as bleak and yet there are moments when you can feel hope and certainty. The camera work is exceptional and the locations of the crime scenes, the police station and other places were chosen very carefully. There wasn't a single moment when I felt that the production was "sloppy", everything was so professionally done and it's clear how much effort was put to bring the right emotions and create the perfect atmospheric setting. I especially liked the way the scenes with the criminals and their interrogations were filmed, I was always at the edge of my seat and I could feel chills throughout my spine.
The acting was top-notch. Not a single actor felt bad and there wasn't a single character who brought down the story. I especially liked Kim Nam-gil's performance as Song Ha-young, oh my God, the way he conveyed his emotions was so captivating, I feel like I wanna cry just by talking about it. Ha-Young has earned a spot in the pantheon of my most favourite kdrama characters. What can I say, characters who appear as cold and yet are so tender on the inside always get me. Ha-Young was just so complex and oh so beautifully written. He was always determined to solve a case and study the culprit. And yet he always, ALWAYS thought about the people left behind: the victims' relatives. There were moments when Nam-Gil's performance brought me to tears. As the series went on, we see how Ha-Young's job got the best of him. And how couldn't it? Interrogating all of these criminals, listening to their stories and excuses, seeing that they feel no remorse about their crimes made ME feel exhausted and angry. I can hardly imagine how difficult this must be for real profilers. And his relationship with his mom was so tender and moving! We didn't get many scenes between them but even the few we got showed how much they cared for each other and they revealed a more domestic side of Na-Young.
Jin Seon-kyu also delivered an equally great performance as Gook Young-soo, the leader of the Criminal Behavior Analysis team and Ha-Young's closest friend. Compared to Ha-Young, Young-soo was much more extroverted (I'll always fall for the extroverted-introverted duo propaganda), outspoken and bold and yet despite their differences, they worked perfectly together as a team. Their bromance was one of the best dynamics in the drama. Young-soo's concern about Ha-Young's well-being was so sweet and it was so nice to see that he was the only one who could crack his walls. Their chemistry was phenomenal, it was as if they fit together like puzzle pieces and they complimented each other with their different personalities and methods.
Another character whom I came to liked a lot was Yoon Tae-goo, portrayed by Kim So-jin. I was already familiar with Kim So-jin after having watched "Vigilante" and let me tell you that after Through The Darkness I'll make sure to check the rest of her filmography because she knows how to portray a strong woman. It was very interesting to see a woman in a powerful position at the police and I liked how the series subtly tackled the sexism and misogyny in this field, without reducing Tae-goo's character to just this aspect. Tae-goo was an equally complex character. I found her initial distrust towards the Criminal Behavior Analysis team very believable and her short conflict with Ha-Young didn't bother me at all. I love how her development was handled and how she warmed up to the team. I also liked that she always stood her ground and contributed to the investigations and arrest of the criminals instead of remaining at the background.
The rest of the characters were, as I already mentioned, engaging. I especially liked the dynamic between Ha-Young, Young-soo and the rest of the police officers at their unit. Their dynamic with Jung Woo-joo, the young member of their team felt like the one of a found family, my heart melted when these three expressed their concerns and care about each other. And I really liked the more casual scenes between the team and the heads of the police's units. Of course there were moments when the series addressed the corruption of power in the field but it also portrayed the relationship between the characters in a positive tone, instead of falling into stereotypes of the big mean bosses or corrupted leaders. As for the criminals, each one of them was appealing and thrilling to observe. Kudos to all actors who portrayed them because they managed to make my blood boil in anger and freeze in fear.
When it came to the analysis of the criminals' behavior, the drama never attempted to make the audience sympathize with them. Instead of giving a sob story, it provided all the information we needed to know in order to understand their motives and to understand what led them to act like they did. I've always been sceptical about this matter: to what extent can we excuse or at least attempt to explain someone's crimes? Let's say that someone had been raped at a young age and in the future they commit the same crime. How can we approach this? Will it make me a bad person to try and understand the rapist's feelings and trauma?
Through TheDarkness shows that while we must analyse criminals' psychology, we shouldn't lose our focus and paint them in a positive light. Such action would be utterly disrespectful to their victims. We cannot excuse their actions nor accept that they were not at fault. There are many people who were brought up under difficult circumstances. People who have endured mistreatment, trauma and abuse. And yet not everyone becomes a criminal. While it's fundamental to analyze the motives behind a crime and the events that led to it, we shouldn't use it as an excuse but as an explanation and a way to prevent future similar actions.
I loved the interrogation scenes between the Criminal Behavior Analysis team and the criminals. Each one was different and gripping. But the aspect that made me love the series even more was something else - it was how it depicted the grief of the victims' family. This is a pet peeve of mine when it comes to crimes media. Why ignore the reaction of the people who were close to the victims? What about their family? Friends? What will their life be like from now on? How can one move on after being deprived of a loved one? Through The Darkness handled this with care. There was even a while episode that addressed this matter: why do media choose to give so much exposure to the criminals themselves while overlooking the people that were left behind? I bawled my eyes out in many episodes and if you want to watch the drama, have tissues with you.
Through the Darkness might not be that famous but from now on, it holds a special place in my heart. I am so thankful for watching it and I strongly recommend it to those who are in need for a good thriller.
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a 11/10 crime show with really consistent and brilliant writing
literally one of the most interesting crime/thriller dramas I've seen. i always enjoy shows where they delve deep into the criminal psyche, being a huge fan of mindhunter, i already knew i was gonna love the drama for that aspect at least. and man, i was definitely not disappointed. this drama totally served more than my expectations. in fact, i actually wasn't expecting much bc it's usually hard to hold my attention for a slow paced k-drama but this one really took my brain by choke hold and had a steady hold on the interest button in my brain. a very pleasant surprise.
i think what really makes this drama is the fact that it is very consistent in terms of its theme. It's focused on the development of criminal profiling, delving deep into the criminal psyche but never losing the focus. grief and the bereaved takes the center stage in the play, not the monster. the writing is just straight up brilliant in terms of how it focuses on the criminal psyche without humanizing them or glorying or justifying their action bc of their past. the past exists, it impacts them but it does not justify their actions. the explicitness of this message is so very evident in the writing but it does so by shifting the focus on the victim not by putting down the monster's past. that's what i find most interesting. like i really like the writing god, it's written so well i dont have words to describe it.
kim nam gil has done such a phenomenal job with song ha young's character, the grief and empathy he carries for the victim is heart wrenching. the acting was simply amazing in this k-drama, i especially love the people who played the serial killers, their acting was top-tier and contributed such solidness to the characters. i've a lot of respect for the cast and the production team definitely. :)
like yeah solid this was definitely 11/10 writing + good characters + good acting. all of that really served it well and polished it into an underrated gem. i'm so very glad i gave it a chance before 2022 ended, this drama seriously gnaws its way into your heart with that writing. do give it a try, it really does not disappoint in serving!
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posible for s2 if they want
In these 12 episodes I think the first two cases are quite good and the details are also quite good And easy to understand but the essence of this drama is about Profiler and most of the Profiler is to identify serial murders but serial murder cases in this drama actually look very absurd serial killers don't caught by the police after being identified, but caught due to negligence during the act of murder, this serial murder case is what makes this drama destroyed even though the core of this drama is about serial murder I think in these twelve episodes I can see alot of unique cases but delayed due to serial murder cases, especially the very few episodes, making the rating not going to be high.And what makes me feel very absurd is that serial killers who only have photos of their backs,they make a list of wanted people, but serial killers who they have the drawing picture of the culprit's face they don't put them on the people's wanted list so that it makes alot of other victims fall ,, in my opinion very not makes sense
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Kim nam Gil does not dissapoint!
This drama actually keeps his promise, there were no subplots or whatever writers always use to drag the drama. And knowing that the drama was based on a true story it was really well executed, all the cast did a great job at portraying their characters.It's true that it was slow and somehow predictable, but since this is based on a true story, i kind of expected it. Because in real life it is not so easy to solve a crime case and to be a profiler at the time was not something common.
So i will give this drama an 8.5/10, and i totally recommend it, though it is not the kind of drama i would rewatch lol.
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A Great Cast With An Underwhelming Script
The story started well, but later, as more cases came up, it started to feel deliberate ignorance by the investigators to create difficulties. (Especially the arson case). They had found the face of the criminal long ago, but were deliberately letting him off by not arresting him. I found it to be a bit dramatic and illogical. I did not find it thrilling at all. The only thrilling case was probably the one where they desperately hunted for the face of the serial killer. The promise was good, but the story was lacking in my opinion. The casting was great, and they had delivered their best. Overall, even if I did not love the drama, it was a nice one-time watch.Was this review helpful to you?
