Nine Puzzles

They should rename the 5 puzzles instead

I would like to write a prolonged review of this show but I couldn’t care much for this Disney production…the script is lagging and lacking depth specially in character development. Though I like the flat affect of the male lead, the female lead was so irritating to watch. I liked her in the Witch series but being a narcissistic neurotic character is not her cup of tea. Maybe it’s her acting of poor direction but how can a police department tolerate an individual to just insert herself when she wants to. Rich girl bratty behavior driving. Lamborghini in a PD reminds me of another show, “Bad Boys” with Will smith and his Ferrari. And please enough of the slight of hand magic trick redirection in scriptwriting. That is so….80’s? My wife truly enjoyed it as she felt entertained but my mind was constantly finding flaws….i just struggle to watch this.

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SUSPENSE THAT HOOKS YOU

This drama kept me hooked. The chemistry between the female lead and male lead is one of the highlights. Their scenes together feel natural and make the story more engaging.

What I enjoyed most was the female lead’s character. She’s unpredictable in a way that makes you curious about her next move. Her presence adds a layer of excitement and keeps you watching closely.

The suspects and villains are also good written. Each one brings tension to the story, and I found myself guessing and doubting almost everyone at some point. However, the mastermind behind it all felt a little underwhelming. Her backstory and motives weren’t explored enough and some parts of her arc had plot holes. It left me thinking the show could have gone deeper into her story, especially in showing how she carried out her revenge.

On the other hand, the drama shines in its cinematography and acting. Every scene looks polished, and the performances are convincing across the board. Each episode builds suspense bit by bit, and the slow reveal of the bigger picture made want for more.

This drama overall is an entertaining watch with good acting, a strong lead duo, and suspense that carries through each episode. While the main villain could have been written with more depth, the drama still delivers enough twists and mood to keep you invested until the end.

Plot 8/10
Acting and Characters 9/10
Cinematography 9.5/10
Writing 7.5/10
Pacing 9/10
OST/Score 8/10

Overall 8.5/10

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A mysterious ride, with anticlimactic ending.

I liked a lot about the drama, the fact that the villain was a female, the fact that it shed light on how capitalism kills. But it was seriously unsatisfactory, disappointing and anticlimactic that we weren't shown how she kills and how she executed all of that, the part I was look forward to the most... Too many plotholes coz a single person, all alone could'nt have executed all that. How did she even get Kang Chimok's wife to kill him... she certainly wasn't mind controlling her.
How she did the last killing, how she even got in Do Yoonsu's office, how she got into hospital room, why how Ina's parents were killed, wanted to see the other pov of the killer finding Ina, what actually happened when her uncle died, who was that guy classmate of her and why was she so shocked when yacht owner mentioned him, his son? too many unanswered threads.

The cast was phenomenal, the direction good, the scene of The One City unbuilding was so well executed, I just wish they had wrapped up the story better.

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Loved it!

October 2025
This drama was SO good! KDM is fab in it, as is SSK, and I actually loved their chemistry, which surprised me for some reason.

The character of Yu I-na, is both strong, and yet fragile, at the same time. She is unique, clever, infuriating, troubled and utterly likeable. I thought KDM captured her perfectly.

Kim Han-saem is a traditional, dedicated, tenacious, and principled detective. He has always believed that Yu I-na was responsible for the death of her ex-cop Uncle.... so when, as a profiler, she ends up working with him, he isn't impressed, to say the least.
Thankfully, she is very single-minded in that respect, and disarmingly frank, so he slowly gets beaten down.

Together they begin to unearth truths that lead to some shocking discoveries.

I was totally grabbed by this. I loved the acting, characters, writing, pace and plot. The episodes flew by and there's a lot of story, which didn't feel compromised by the relatively few episodes.

Any shortcomings, I honestly didn't care about.

I kept changing my mind about who the baddie was, too... it never felt obvious!

I SO hope there will be a S2.
A favourite of this year, for sure.

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Flawed but Fascinating

I just finished Nine Puzzles, and honestly, I really enjoyed it despite its flaws. The story kept me hooked from start to finish, even if some parts didn’t make total sense (seriously, how did the killer pull off those murders?). The mystery was engaging, and I loved the tension between the leads, Kim Da-mi was fantastic, and Park Kyu-young’s acting added a nice contrast. The last few episodes lost a bit of focus, shifting away from the main duo’s dynamic, but the ending was haunting and beautiful enough to leave a strong impression. It’s not perfect, but it’s stylish, emotional, and memorable. I’d give it a solid 7/10 definitely worth watching if you like dark, character-driven thrillers.

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Overall, super fun.

So let’s start this off, I will list down the things I liked and the things I didn’t like in this.
- Plot overall, I enjoyed it. I’m quite a fan of mystery and triller novels so I found this fun to pursue, I started suspecting both of the Drs around mid drama but I felt like there wasn’t enough conclusive evidence. I never truly suspected that Yang Jungho was the killer but I was sure he was either an accomplice or knew the killer. And that led me to « oh so he must be protecting an orphan from the orphanage he lived in » but the question was who? Considering that we didn’t know enough about the Drs and everybody else, it was a bit tough to navigate but that made it all the more fun.
- I think a vital part of mystery and triller series or novels, is actually explaining how the murders were done, so I’m relatively sad that didn’t happen here, I’m glad we got a small clue as to why lee miyoung’s death was prolonged compared to the others (the music) but it didn’t feel satisfactory in a way not showing the murders, even though Ena in her analysis did predict pretty accurately how they did happen.
- I think that showcasing Ena as a bit emotionaless is supposed to be « oh she has a higher IQ and less EQ than the average person » so it’s more than her being quirky or weird, it’s that she genuinely has less EQ which crumbles a bit at the end when we see her talk with Lee Seujong and trying to convince her to not kill herself. There were definitely other scenes where you see her emotions seep up a bit, but that one was the only one in which we see her vulnerable in a way.
I think that’s overall it, I don’t have a lot of complaints because I genuinely felt excited watching this, it gave me that thrill of « oh let’s actually try to find the killer before Ena does » which was fun.

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Stunning show that was let down by pacing and writing

The show looks gorgeous, the production value overall was amazing, the acting was good for the most part. But still, I considered dnf-ing after episode 4. The mostly strong performances kept me watching.

The first episode really hooked me. The setup is great and I loved that we had an ambiguous main character. In the beginning, I found Kim Han Saem a bit too grumpy and distrustful, but he really grew on me and was my favourite character by the end. Son Suk Ku gave such a strong performance and played the character with a lot of nuance. Kim Da Mi is a solid actor as well, she was believable as this quirky but traumatised young woman. However, she went overboard on the quirky mannerisms and expressions a few times. She also really cannot pull off smiling / laughing in a moment of confrontation or tension, it just looks like someone's trying to act and doesn't succeed at making it look natural or fitting in the scene. She unfortunately ventured into annoying territory too often to still make her a good lead that you feel for (which is not Kim Da Mi's fault, it's writing and directing, I think). The rest of the cast was really amazing, no notes.

Now comes the biggest issue: the pacing and writing. The show is just too long for the story they had. 2 or 3 episodes less would have made it much tighter. Unfortunately a lot of the conclusion is quite predictable. If you look at the reddit discussion, most people clocked the therapist as at least very suspicious very early on. Her storyline is ridiculously badly written. You mean to tell me a 7 year old can't give enough information to find her mother at an amusement park? Her mother doesn't go back to look for her there? No one in the orphanage could put 2 and 2 together for a child that was on the missing list and this child? And she stopped killing for 10 years because no one recognised the puzzle pieces? Come on. She could've send the puzzle pieces to anyone in the police force or to the press, as she later does. And when she puts her hand in her pocket at the end, the cop doesn't shoot her hand? They just let her burn herself and watch her die in agony, Jesus Christ.
The characters were mostly consistently written, but Jung-Ho really irked me. He just let her continue her killing spree and wanted to take the fall. As soon as he realised it was her and that she wouldn't stop (which she told him flat out when he went to give back her handkerchief) he should've arrested her. I understand his guilt, but I don't understand his motivation for letting her keep going. Also, I-Na was always so perceptive (almost ventures into the knowing by magic trope) and then she goes to Dr. Hwang's house and it is very clear from the pictures that he's gay, but she still thinks he has a crush on Lee Seong Ju. Doesn't make sense. I also don't like the messaging about mental health and mental health professionals. There are already too many shows and movies out there that demonise mental illnesses or make therapists manipulative evil people you cannot trust.

I wouldn't really recommend this show, nor would I watch a second season. It is really strong in some parts, but lacks depth and a true vision or story that needed to be told. Maybe that's the point, though, since they constantly reference movies and detective novels that shaped the genre. Unfortunately, this show went with the cookie cutter formula that was new and fresh in the referenced works, but feels old and boring now.

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A mind bending and engaging psychological thriller!

"Nine Puzzles" is a psychological thriller series that will have you playing detective as well. The story follows a girl who receives a puzzle piece after her uncle's murder and years later, as a criminal profiler, she's still trying to solve the mystery. Each new murder brings a new puzzle piece, and she teams up with a detective who was once suspicious of her.

The series isn't a blockbuster, but a calm yet intense psychological thriller. Events unfold slowly, keeping you on the edge of your seat. It's a thought-provoking series that you must watch with your mind as well as your eyes.

The series features a smart, witty, and slightly eccentric criminal profiler as the female lead. The show cleverly simulates her thought process during each murder investigation, allowing viewers to see how she analyzes the crime scenes. Paired with her is a detective, a fact-checker who is determined to solve the case. This unlikely duo creates a captivating dynamic.

The performances were stellar across the board. Kim Dami, Son Sukku, and even Park Gyuyoung, who had a guest role, delivered exceptional performances.

I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. I love murder mysteries that lean into laid-back yet intense psychological thriller vibes. It's not necessarily a blockbuster, but I was still at the edge of my seat, and yeah, it made my murder board look like a joke because I was so off! I had a feeling I might actually feel for the perpetrator, but I didn't expect it to be as much as I did...The directing, acting, cinematography, and pacing were all on point

The show keeps you guessing with its unpredictable plot, provoking you to think beyond the surface. Despite its laid-back atmosphere, "Nine Puzzles" maintains suspense. If you enjoyed shows like "The Doubt," "Black Out," "Through the Darkness," and "Beyond Evil," you'll love this series.

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Wasted Potential

As someone who's watched various thrillers, I already predicted who the culprit was given the hints provided in the early episodes, but the reason/motivation for the crimes did come out as a surprise. However, just as what the other reviews state, this show had such a great potential but it lacked on various areas in terms of execution. It failed to deliver the "thriller" part and focused more on the mystery genre. There were also some scenes that lacked depth or emotion, making them somehow boring. Despite this, I was able to enjoy it due to the great acting. I would recommend others to watch it but do not place too much expectations.

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Sensational Masterpiece - Hard to Put Down!

If you're looking for a gripping, edge-of-your-seat mystery that will keep you guessing at every turn, *Nine Puzzles* is exactly the drama for you. With a carefully crafted narrative that makes you get involved in the story and hard to stop. This is binge-worthy drama and trust me—it is a must watch!

➥ Storytelling & Pace:
From the start, *Nine Puzzles* pulls you into a gripping murder mystery where everyone seems suspicious. As the story unfolds, you become part of the deduction team, analyzing clues and second-guessing every character. Like a puzzle, each episode introduces a crucial piece—character/murder—gradually coming together like a completed puzzle. I love stories like these where every episode is a different story but it all ends up being part of a larger story that threads across all episodes. It is intelligent storytelling with immersive tension, so every scene makes you take note and revel as the pieces start making sense!

➥ Execution: Acting, Direction, BGM
The acting is top-notch, with the cast delivering performances that bring depth to their roles. Direction, cinematography, background score - enhance the suspense, heightens every moment, pulling you deeper into its world. The dynamic between the two leads is another highlight. Their camaraderie and witty exchanges add layers to the story, making their journey even more compelling.

➥ Overall:
Absolute Must Watch - this is exactly how you a great suspense/crime drama. It is a masterpiece!
There is literally no gap or negative about this drama. Even the ending resonates—it’s not just another case of senseless killing but rather a thought-provoking reflection on who was really wrong?

♥ Note:
In my decade of drama-watching, only a rare few have earned a perfect 10 across all parameters. Given how discerning I am with ratings, given only the most deserving should get it, this score speaks volumes about Nine Puzzles. Thoroughly enjoyed this drama ride and I hope others do too!

♥ Bonus: This story is complete but there is a hint at a possible sequel, another adventure perhaps for our detective/profiler duo. Given the high bar they have set, I'll be sure to watch it whenever it is made - without any doubt.

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A Slow-Burn Mystery with Deep Emotions and Symbolism

Nine Puzzles is a psychological thriller that immediately draws you in with its eerie atmosphere, slow-burning tension, and intricate mystery. From the beginning, the story revolves around a series of murders, each accompanied by a small jigsaw puzzle piece – a symbolic clue that sets the tone for the entire drama. While it initially seems like a straightforward crime investigation led by a skilled profiler, the deeper layers reveal emotional wounds, hidden connections, and complex motives.

The pacing of the drama is deliberately slow, allowing the viewer to absorb subtle details and gradually piece together the bigger picture. Every episode adds a layer to the narrative, challenging the viewer to think beyond the obvious and consider the emotional undercurrents driving the characters. The writing is clever and restrained, leaving breadcrumbs that only make sense in retrospect.

One of the drama’s strongest elements is its portrayal of trauma and how it shapes people over time. The characters are not one-dimensional heroes or villains – they are deeply human, shaped by loss, guilt, and memory. The emotional core of the story is tied to childhood events that echo into the present, and the drama handles these themes with care. You can feel the lingering pain and confusion, especially in how memory, regret, and longing influence behavior.

Visually, Nine Puzzles stands out with its muted color palette and symbolic imagery. The recurring motif of puzzles is not just a plot device, but also a metaphor for identity, understanding, and healing. The production design helps build a world that feels both realistic and haunting.

While I won’t go into spoiler territory, I will say that the reveal near the end is both surprising and emotionally resonant. It’s less about shock value and more about the realization of how everything connects. The final episodes are especially poignant, with moments that are heart-wrenching and thought-provoking.

The drama ends on an ambiguous note, suggesting that the story might continue. A new crime surfaces, with a puzzle piece hinting at a potential sequel or a broader mystery yet to unfold. This open-ended finish leaves room for speculation and invites viewers to keep thinking even after the credits roll.

In conclusion, Nine Puzzles is a haunting, intelligent drama that explores grief, memory, and the darker parts of human psychology. It’s ideal for viewers who enjoy mystery dramas that go beyond the usual detective tropes and dive into emotional and philosophical territory. I highly recommend it to anyone who appreciates slow-burn thrillers with depth, symbolism, and strong character development.

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An underrated mystery series with a dynamic duo

I decided to give Nine Puzzles a try because I was intrigued by the premise. A woman who was the suspect of her uncle's murder wants to solve the case while the detective who suspects her starts working with her. Welcome back Beyond Evil, Black Out and Justice in the Dark. After watching Nine Puzzles, it's safe to say that it is very underrated and deserves more recognition.

The drama made me hooked from the get-go. Ena's uncle's murder had taken place under strange circumstances and from the very first episode, I started making a list of the potential suspects. With every episode, the story began to unfold more and more and soon it was made clear that this case was not that simple. Every episode left me with questions that required answers and I was so excited to see what would happen next. I must also give credit to the usage of flashbacks. Instead of relying on telling and now showing, the drama utilized the flashbacks in a clever way and I never felt like they were disturbing the pacing or the actual story.

The pacing of the series was ideal and pretty much consistent. I wouldn't describe it as very slow, nor very fast - more like something in the middle. Most episodes took their time to build the mystery and the prosecution behind the investigations while some others had more fast-paced sequences and moments that flew by pretty quickly. I rarely felt my attention drifting away, my eyes were glued on the screen while trying to put the puzzle pieces (metaphorically and literally) together.

One of my favourite aspects in crime series in showing what is happening behind-the-scenes of a crime investigation. I enjoyed observing the work of the police and Ena and it really helped that the police officers were competent and not just dumsels in distress. Every case required different ways to be solved and each case contributed to the resolution of the whole mystery behind the nine puzzles.

I can't find enough words to express how much I loved the soundrack. The intro gave me chills every time and I loved how they incorporated classical pieces in some scenes. It was as if I was watching a classic crime series and gave a nice old-fashioned vibe, especially during Ena's scenes.

The main leads were by far my most favourite characters. I adored Yoon Ena from the very first episode and she has become one of my most favourite characters already. I understand those who complained about her behavior but I personally never found her annoying. She clearly showed signs of regression which is very common among people who experienced some sort of trauma at a young age, therefore her childish demeanor was understandable. Personally, I tend to become attached to quirky characters quite easily so it's no wonder I'd love someone like Ena. Kim Da Mi did a great job portraying her, her body language, her expressions, she captured Ena's outgoing character perfectly while giving her depth when it was required. I had a blast watching her helping the police to solve the murders and prove them wrong when they would doubt her. She always had the last word and I applaud her for that. Plus, her nails and outfits made her even more iconic.

Ena was much more than just a quirky profiler. On the outside, she appeared care-free, absent-minded, air-headed but that couldn't be further from the truth. It was highlighted quite often in the drama how much guilt she carried for her uncle's death and his murder continued to haunt her even after all of these years. Since she didn't have the chance to live a normal childhood due to the loss of her parents at a young age and the death of her uncle, she wasn't the best at socializing with other people. She treated her colleagues with sweets, presents etc but she still tried to figure out how to form proper human connections. I really liked how hesitant she was to comfort Han Saem after the death of Yang Jung-ho and yet she still did her best. These small glimpses of her behavior showed that deep down, she was a very troubled person who still tried to deal with the loss of her uncle and (later) the revelation about his potential crimes.

Han Saem was also a character whom I looked forward to see. Son Sukku was great in this role, he nailed Han Saem's grumpy character. I liked that even though he wasn't able to tone down his cop persona and his personal "instinct", he was still willing to listen to Ena, despite his initial reaction towards her. His character was handled really well and him and Ena worked perfectly as a duo. Watching them getting closer and help each other was so refreshing, the scenes in his home had a calm and domestic vibe, both of them could let their guard down and the other's presence gave them comfort. When Ena admitted to her therapist that she was able to get some sleep at Hansaem's home because she felt safe, my heart almost melted. Their chemistry (whether you want to interpret it platonically or not doesn't matter) was really good and I'm glad we didn't spend a big amount of episodes with them trying to gain each other's trust.

Regarding their characters, I like how they complimented each other, despite their differences. Ena is more outgoing and she is close to her team while treating police officers with coffees, hats etc. Hansaem is more professional and closeted but as he spend more time with Ena, he started to warm up more to her and other people. Hansaem is a fan of classic crime novels written by Agatha Cristie and Edgar Alan Poe while Ena didn't view them with much respect and she didn't rely on them to explain the cases like Hansaem. Their viewpoints and characters were different but they were willing to listen to each other, especially Hansaem who stopped having prejudices against Ena.

The rest of the characters were equally engaging and intriguing. I liked how the drama gave one hint or two about who could be the real culprit and I admit that my list of suspects didn't seem to be narrowed down that quickly. I wish I was more aware of the amount of cameos by popular actors in Nine Puzzles because based on the reactions I've seen, many avid kdrama watchers were surprised to see so many veterans make an appearance on the series. Although I must admit I didn't expect to see Park Mi-hyun (Squid Game, Black Out) and Jeong Man-Sik (Through The Darkness), these are two actors whom I was familiar with yet didn't expect to see in this drama.

Another character who caught my interest was Ena's therapist, Lee Seung-Joo. I know Park Gyu-young from Squid Game and I knew beforehand that she was an actress in this series too, alongside Roh Jae-won. Her character was suspicious to me but the reveal of her being the serial killer was still so interesting to see. I was genuinely impressed by Park Gyu-Young's acting. Going from a calm and professional therapist to a wronged woman who sought revenge in the amount of a few episodes seemed so natural thanks to her performance. Seung-Joo was not just a sadistic killer. She didn't kill for her own pleasure. She killed because she wanted justice for her mother's death and the corruption that was done by her "victims". She didn't want to continue living a normal life once she learned the truth and even though she knew that she could have avoided this path, she went on to kill.

Even though the mystery aspect is the core of the series, Nine Puzzles tackled other topics regarding trust, human connections, trauma and corruption. Learning about the real events that occurred behind One City's development and watching the victims work together in order to demolish Shindonga market made my blood boil from anger. All of these people were willing to go to great lengths just to increase their power, without feeling any remorse. Taking that into consideration really made me question Seung-Joo's actions and motives.

The drama put great emphasis on the importance of trust between people. Ena constantly asked Hansaem to trust her. She was a person who didn't seem to trust that easily and yet once she learned the truth, her world crumbled because she regarded Seung-Joo as someone who was close to her. Hansaem's trust in his chief and the rest of the members of the police was also questioned multiple times and of course we see how he learned to trust Ena.

That being said, as much as I liked this drama and as much as I loved the characters, there are some parts that prevented me from connecting more with it. As others have pointed out, it would have been nice to see how each murder took place. Yes, someone could argue that through Ena's reimaginations of the crimes we can get a sense of how the murder happened but I still wanted to see it from the killer's point of view. What were her thoughts? How did she escape each time without leaving a single trace? How was she able to constantly monitor Ena's steps? And as of Seung-Joo, couldn't a 7 years old remember the name of her mother or the name of her restaurant in order to tell it to the police? How did she end up on the orphanage and why didn't her mother look for her? I think that the story has some plot-holes here and there and although they do not ruin the series, the writers could have thought more to avoid them.

I also think that the structure of the episodes became too formulaic and predictable. A murder occurred, puzzle gets sent, Ena put the pieces together, case solved for now, moving on. While the murders themselves were different, the way they were presented was kinda monotonous. Thankfully that quickly changed but I still think the structure could have been a little bit better for some episodes.

All in all, I'm so happy for watching Nine Puzzles! I genuinely did not expect to like it as much as I did! I'll make sure to check out other projects with Kim Da Mi and Son Sokku. I would definitely recommend this one for crime enjoyers. It's not groundbreaking but it was pleasant to watch!

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