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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.