This review may contain spoilers
I was really hoping that I would love Koi Wa Yami.. But now that I finished it, I feel disappointed.. It’s riveting at times but structurally it doesn’t work for me.. The mystery is intriguing at first but they try so hard to make us believe the ML is the culprit that the story just falls apart..I liked the ML’s nonchalant attitude in the beginning.. But I couldn’t tell if I should root for him or be worried about how much of a psychopath he might be.. Even though the first few episodes piled up proof pointing to him as the killer, I just didn't think he is.. There’s obviously something else going on.. They tried so hard to make him look guilty right from the first episode, it just felt off.. It was too forced.. If he is the killer, then the why needs to be really solid.. But the way the story unfolded in the first half, I didn’t think it would make for a satisfying thriller.. It was actually frustrating how they were twisting the dialogues to keep that suspicion alive.. It works for a while.. But after that, it just becomes tiring..
His relationship with the FL was charming.. Their feelings developed a bit too quickly but it didn’t feel out of place.. I think their chemistry was really solid.. It was actually the highlight of the drama for me.. And that’s why I really detest the ending.. He was punished and that was obvious.. And she said she would wait for him.. For 15 years.. That's not an easy thing to say.. Now that she said it, they should’ve given us that reunion.. A scene 15 years later or whenever they meet again.. That should have been the ending..
Now, the real killer.. It was obviously the nice guy everyone adored.. That wasn’t a surprise to me.. What did surprise me was the reason the ML was a part of his crimes.. The ML was shown as a smart, cunning man.. So it’s a bit hard to believe that someone like him would let it go on for so long..
Koi wa Yami is a decent thriller no doubt.. I may not love it as much as I wanted to, sadly.. Maybe others will appreciate it more.. I just wish they had ended it differently.. If there was no plan to give the main leads a reunion then the ML should have died from that stab in the final ep.. That might have left a stronger impression..
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Thrilling and Kept me Thinking! A good mix of Romance and Mystery
“Koi wa Yami” aka “Love is Darkness” is quite a thrilling crime mystery drama for me. This is not usually my go-to genre as I am more of a romance person, but I was captivated and engaged throughout these 10 episodes. I can only write and review based on my very novice perspectives.I find “Love is Darkness” did a really good job incorporating romance into the serial killer murder mystery. I had a minor issue about the start of the romance. In true J-drama fashion, the romance happened really quickly and the FL fell hard. I was hoping for a more mature push-and-pull kind of romance with a little angst.
But as the story goes, I see that maturity in how they handle the mystery. The couple’s relationship ties into the slow reveal of the serial killer. Is it the male lead? All evidence and suspicions seem to point to him? But he IS the male lead, it can’t be him right? For most of the drama, I went back-and-forth as new evidence surfaced. I was not expecting the plot twist and what FL discovered when she finally visited ML’s apartment. I was quite surprised. But afterwards, I started to be able to guess how the story might go. There are still twists and turns all the way until the last episode, but I was not as confused! This drama also doesn’t shy away from showing graphic violence, blood and gore. Watch out!
This drama also dives into how news reporters chase after this serial killer story. It was interesting to see each reporter’s approach and style, but there are also things that I shook my head and wondered what the heck FL was doing. When did a news reporter become a police investigator? Where is that sense of danger when you know a serial killer is appearing soon? There are minor plot holes but it didn’t distract me from enjoying the drama.
The acting of the cast is pretty good. Shison Jun is so handsome that my heart melts when he smiles adorably and charismatically. However, if I am being strict about his acting, I’ve seen more experienced actors who can pivot from a smiley face to ‘that’ look in a more dramatic way. He’s still really good. But I think Kishii Yukino is fabulous. I might not like how she becomes a little lovesick girl (that’s the writing not the acting’s fault) in the early episode, but she has quite a wide range in showing different emotions. Her acting is distinct enough to show when she’s with her boyfriend, when she’s being a news reporter and when she’s going through a really hard time. 2ML and 2FL also did a good job. They are lovely characters that you really want to root for their happiness. Most of the characters are lovely, a few more eccentric than others. None annoys the heck out of me.
Overall, I had a good time watching “Love is Darkness” and would recommend this to romance lovers who don’t like pure crime thrillers. There is a good mix of romance, crime investigation, mystery, family and good friendships in just 10 episodes. If you are an experienced watcher of this genre, you might be pickier and rate this lower than me. I am happy to give this a solid 8.5 for my personal enjoyment.
Completed: 6/25/2025 - Review #595
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This review may contain spoilers
Koi wa Yami: Every character shines, every moment thrills
"What a journey 'Koi wa Yami' was! 👏🏻An absolute rollercoaster ride that kept me hooked from start to finish. It's rare to see a drama where every character is so meticulously well-written, and every actor truly delivered, doing incredible justice to their roles.
This drama was a perfect combination of intricate plot, love, romance, thriller, mystery, and suspense. I was constantly guessing the culprit, doubting every character after each episode and it kept me glued until the very end. Especially loved the chemistry between the leads; the love between them felt unforced and genuine.
Honestly, I badly wanted to see Hiroki and Makoto get their happily ever after in Makoto's hometown, opening their restaurant, watching the sakura blooming, and finally living in peace as they said in episode 8. 😭
The best drama of the season so far ❤️
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Previsível
Tão previsível que chega a ser chato.Eu já não tinha grandes expectativas em relação a esse drama, a apresentação dele é bem feia, mas ainda assim ele conseguiu me frustrar.
Desde o primeiro episódio fica óbvio quem é o culpado e quem é inocente, o que destrói completamente o mistério. É tudo tão clichê que é impossível se enganar, e a tentativa do diretor de iludir o telespectador é tão batida e transparente que não dá nem para cair. Foram literalmente dez episódios só para revelar o que já estava escancarado desde o início.
A trama dos assassinatos é sem graça, não gera tensão nem curiosidade. Eu não fiquei minimamente empolgada porque nada acontece de forma envolvente. O romance dos protagonistas também não funcionou pra mim, não senti química nenhuma e a narrativa é repetitiva e cansativa. Todo episódio termina do mesmo jeito, com ele fazendo aquela reflexão sobre comi ele é culpado, o que fica exaustivo muito rápido.
O drama perde tempo demais com câmera lenta e narração em monólogo, recursos que além de repetitivos não são nem um pouco atraentes.
Faltou desenvolver melhor os personagens. O único que tentaram trabalhar, e ainda assim de forma superficial, foi o protagonista. Nem a protagonista teve um arco de desenvolvimento minimamente relevante. O casal secundário então nem se fala, parece que só jogaram ali para preencher espaço. Se tivessem explorado, por exemplo, o trauma da melhor amiga da protagonista, isso poderia ter dado alguma profundidade a ela, mas nem isso. No fim, os personagens secundários mais parecem figurantes de luxo.
E o episódio final que deveria ser o grande clímax com a descoberta (óbvia), foi um verdadeiro show de horrores, uma sucessão de cenas convenientes. Tudo acontece da forma mais forçada e conveniente possível.
Enfim, é um drama bem fraquinho. Só não dou a nota mínima porque o protagonista tem um certo carisma, o personagem tem alguns bons diálogos, e o Jun fez um bom trabalho na interpretação. A atriz da mocinha é mediana, mas me convenceu dentro do que o roteiro permitia. De resto, nada a destacar. A fotografia é ok, a trilha sonora teve mais erros do que acertos, no geral é isso, um drama fraco e esquecível.
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The best in the genre.
I will preface this review with this: I am a sucker for crime, mystery, psychological, and thriller elements all mixed in with a sprinkling of romance. However, it is incredibly rare to find a show that can successfully juggle all these elements, while staying well-written, plausible, and detailed. Koi wa Yami succeeded.The tone is wonderfully consistent throughout the show, and not a single scene is wasted or without purpose. I love that as a show, Koi wa Yami had me wondering why characters behaved or reacted in the ways they did, as it felt intentional, and that was most certainly delivered. There were no weaknesses to be found in the acting whatsoever, so every little mannerism was well and truly relevant, and that is a feat. The level of detail was perfection as far as I’m concerned - in that they trickle just enough information for the viewer to be puzzling and suspicious, but never quite enough to reach a solid conclusion.
There was not a single point in the show where I felt there was a stumbling block, in fact, to the extent I found it really difficult to take breaks while watching. The colour grading, while a little strange with Makoto’s hair in the penultimate episode, generally served the tone of the show well, as a more subdued, realistic, and dark mystery.
A favourite part of Koi wa Yami for me is the way the characters explore the concept of ‘the truth’. In the sense that, even in the far depths of deception, there is still truth to be found an deciphered, even if it is a mere 1% amidst the sea of lies.
If you are a fan of any of the cast, or like me, the concoction of mystery, crime, thriller, psychological, and a bit of romance, this is absolutely the show for you, and I cannot recommend it enough. Shison Jun is actually how I found this drama, after seeing him in Glass Heart, and generally enjoying shows he has been in over the years.
The only thing I could dare attempt to compare Koi wa Yami to is Flower of Evil (Kdrama), which is another all-time favourite of mine on this site, although my personal preference having now seen both would be for Koi wa Yami. Nonetheless, both are solid dramas in a niche that is lacking in truly well-done entries.
If you’re thinking about watching, my answer would most certainly be to go for it!
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L'amour, une énigme pour le sphinx
Voilà un couple que je rêvais de voir réuni dans un drama.Shison Jun et Kishii Yukino étaient faits pour se rencontrer. Si Jun m’énerve passablement dans ses rôles d’Asian lover, force est de constater qu’il réussit toujours la bascule du côté obscur. Et si l’amour unit ce couple impossible, la noirceur de l’âme et des actes est au cœur de cet excellent thriller rempli de trauma et d'amour. Certainement le meilleur du printemps 2025.
Ma passion pour l’actrice Kishii Yukino m’aveugle probablement dans mon jugement. Tout comme elle qui est touchée par la gentillesse, l’humour et l’éternel sourire adolescent de Jun, je refuse peut-être de voir l’évidence, pendant presque toute la série. Tout accuse son boyfriend dès le premier épisode : les preuves sont là, sous nos yeux, les motokare l'avertit, toute la police de Tokyo a réuni les indices…, mais non, ils passent du temps ensemble, à l’aquarium, au parc d’attractions, comme deux adolescents découvrant leurs premiers émois. C’est ça que j’apprécie chez Yukino-chan : sa fraîcheur, parfois sa candeur, mais elle apporte souvent la dose de bonheur nécessaire dans ses rôles quand on lui en donne les moyens. Et son partenaire est un miroir grossissant parfait.
Mais comme tous ces miroirs, il déforme la réalité, et très vite, on est perdu dans les sentiments, comme l’ensemble des personnages. Si on ajoute aux scènes de crime, horribles et dérangeantes, une jalousie sans fin, portée par des triangles amoureux impliquant bien trop de protagonistes, la confusion règne quasiment jusqu’au dernier épisode. Une vraie série qu’on a envie de binge watcher tant les retournements et les contradictions sont omniprésents, mais toujours sans tomber dans l’outrance. Les sentiments paraissent réels, ainsi que les rictus, trop fréquemment surjoués ailleurs pour donner un côté inquiétant à un personnage qui ne l’est pas du tout. Et c'est pourtant juste un manque dans une histoire, parfois un peu longue à mener sur 10 épisodes. Je pense au récent Kujaku no Dansu, trop diluer pour le rendre passionnant.
Mais ici, bravo à la scénariste et à la réalisatrice, qui ont l’intelligence de mener de front l’enquête autour du tueur en série et la romance, en rendant les deux aussi intéressants que réalistes. Komuro Naoko a quand même été aux commandes d'Anata no ban desu ou du moins estimé Shinhanninflag. Des références dans les retournements de cerveaux. Si certain(e)s diront : « Non, moi, je le quitte tout de suite ce cinglé » face à une mise en scène mal menée, ici, on est vraiment au cœur des relations et des hésitations. Ne pas fuir devient une option envisageable pour beaucoup d’entre nous. Certains acteurs forcent un peu leur jeu, les rendant du coup inquiétant plutôt par leur manque de naturel : l’enquêtrice, l’infirmière, le livreur, j’en passe et des meilleurs. C’est la loi du genre, mais je trouve qu’ici ça passe mieux, avec en plus une Morita Misato touchante par son manque d’assurance et son côté coincé.
Vous l’avez compris, les acteurs transcendent une histoire qui aurait pu être banale. Une série de crimes dans Tokyo, la routine, quoi… Il faut en avoir vu des enquêtes pour comprendre la spécificité de cette production. Je peux vous dire, sans que je sois à la recherche d'un scoop, qu’on est ici dans ce qu'on fait de meilleur.
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