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This review may contain spoilers
Hui Su, Eun Su and us
Before I'll start this review, I'd like to present some facts regarding violence against women in South Korea, in order to understand how important it is to have a drama that addresses this topic.According to this article (https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-04-24/national/socialAffairs/1-in-3-women-a-victim-of-relationship-abuse-Gender-Ministry-survey-finds/2293311) , more than one in three Korean women has experienced violence at least once in their lifetime at the hands of a current or former ppartner. The types of abuse are various and the most common ones are physical and emotional violence. Violence rates in South Korea have surged up, making society dangerous for women. When asked about whether they believed if korean society was safe or not, a total of 51,6% answered that Korean society is not safe from violence - a clear indicator of how common violence against women is in South Korea.
While most people watch kdramas in order to relax and ease up their mind, it's not possible to escape the hard cold reality. Many kdramas tend to glamorize korean society and sugar coat the hardships women have to endure. While it's by no means bad to present something light to your audience, we cannot (and we mustn't) hide behind our fingers. No matter how triggering the topic of domestic abuse might be, more people need to be aware of this problem in order to take more measures.
As You Stood By is a drama that deals with the ongoing issue of domestic violence against women. Through Eun Su and Hui Su's story, we observe the horrors that take place behind the closed doors and the trauma that's caused to the victims. The powerful message is presented on the first episodes and the writer's intention to illustrate the cruel reality are crystal clear.
On an interview the director, Lee Jung Min, stated how disturbing it would be to visually depict violent scenes and thus, the team decided to focus on the before and after rather the physical contact. Having watched the series, I could tell how much care and caution had been put in the making of these scenes. I dislike media which exploit violent scenes for shock value, especially if the victims are females. It gets to a point where the emotional impact is lost. When creators overuse violent scenes or present them too graphically, the message is not delivered efficiently.
That wasn't the case with As You Stood By. Obviously there were scenes that portrayed violence. But they were handled very well and instead of relying on the on-screen abuse, they highlighted the psychological distress of thewomen. Instead of showing the beating itself, we see Hui Su's face before and after the damage. Instead of showing Eun Su's father beating their mom, we see a montage of her and her brother hiding in the closet. The editing and sound design during these scenes was phenomenal, it added more tension and made the story even more impactful.
A particular scene that has stayed with me, days after finishing the drama, is the one from the second episode when Jin Pyo beats Hui Su with his shoe. While he kept hitting her on her head, we never see the beating but as he continues, the surrounding noises started to fade. It was as if we, the viewers, were the ones who were getting beaten. The scene felt so realistic and raw, I almost held my breath in fear while I was watching it.
When women like Eun Su and Hui Su are abused by men, what can they do? When society keeps protecting men with power in order not to tarnish their reputation, how can the victims find the courage to expose the truth? When the law fails to do its job and deliver justice, how can women trust it? The repeated cycle of abuse drives the victims to great lengths. In Eun Su and Hui Su's case, the solution is one: murder. Although murder itself is a crime, the drama makes us question the choice of the two women, raising interesting questions regarding morality.
The drama doesn't necessarily try to frame the murder of Jin Pyo as entirely good or bad. What it tries to do instead is showcase that when everyone fail to protect abused women, they will take matters into their own hands. Hui Su did everything in her power to put an end to her torture. She tried to be an obedient wife. She tried to report her husband to the police. She tried to leave. But nothing was achieved. So who are we to moralize her decision?
As You Stood By does an excellent job portraying ignorance towards violence as a serious crime itself. Knowing that a woman is getting abused and doing nothing about it makes us accomplices to the violence. Turning a blind eye only enables the abusers to keep doing what they do. When they are aware of the fact that no one is going to report them and that they cannot be punished, they feel more powerful and confident. This is why bystanders must take actions into their own hands and help the victims however they can. Otherwise, they contribute to the cycle of abuse.
All the actors did an excellent job portraying their characters and their emotions. Jeon So Nee was great as Eun Su. I could see how conflicted she was and how guilty she felt over the fact she hadn't had the courage to report her father or the abusive husband of her client. Eun Su was a very complex character, whose motives were shaped by her abusive household. As a kid, she saw her father hitting her mother and she take it upon herself to become her younger brother's guardian by keeping him oblivious to the violence that surrounded her. As an adult, she learned martial arts in order to find some type of protection against men. She tried to ignore the violence around her and she pretended that her father didn't hit her mom but deep down, she knew that she just wanted to find a way to escape.
Eun Su's fear is not portrayed in a bad light. The drama doesn't try to accuse Eun Su nor put the blame on herself. But Eun Su herself comes to the realization that ignorance is equally lethal. She refuses to remain a bystander who does nothing and the moment she realises that Hui Su is in great danger, she immediately takes action. Her development was powerful and it reminded us that we can always find the strength to help the victims.
Lee Yu Mi delivered an award worthy performance. Hui Su's fear became my own. Her expressions, her body language, the wavering in her voice when she faced her husband. Her portrayal was painfully realistic and it pained me to watch her. I couldn't fathom how many women like Hui Su have to endure this kind of treatment every day, in all places of the world. Hui Su was a prisoner in her own marriage. She wasn't able to meet her friends or perform any activities that brought her joy. She wasn't able to wear different clothes, in fear of exposing her bruises. She was belittled and she was physically, mentally and sexually abused on a daily basis. Just by watching the fear in her eyes every time her behavior wasn't appropriate, according to Jin Pyo, I feared for her life. Lee Yu Mi was spectacular in this role and her performance was extremely powerful and moving.
The relationship between the two women felt like a breath of fresh air. Many kdramas have pitied women against each other for the sake of a man but As You Stood By breaks the norms by having its female leads teaming up against the man. Eun Su and Hui Su's unconditional support and love towards each other was so heartwarming to see. Both of them felt responsible for each other, especially Eun Su who wanted to save her friend from her abusive husband. The scenes between them put a smile on my face, particularly the brief moments of peace. Albeit, short, the moments of happiness and bliss brought a smile to my face. Hui Su felt so secure and happy around Eun Su. She could leave her guard down and enjoy her time, indulging in activities like an excited child. The few flashbacks we got highlighted their bond and the actresses had great chemistry which added to the characters' friendship.
Of course I couldn't forget to praise Jang Seung Jo's double performance as Jin Pyo, Hui Su's husband and Jang Gang, his look-alike. He was terrifying in both roles and he knew how to switch his character. Jin Pyo ignited great fear in me with his sadistic and unpredictable behavior. During the first episodes, there were times when I flinched just from seeing him on the screen. I could feel my survival instincts wake up and I was constantly alert. Seung Jo transformed into the character, although the character was cruel and scary, his performance was so captivating to the point I couldn't take my eyes off the screen, despite my discomfort.
His portrayal of Jang Bang was equally engaging. The contrast between the two characters was so bizarre and yet he switched his roles effortlessly. When Jang Bang revealed his true colours, I was once again terrified by his psychotic actions and outbursts. It felt like I was watching two different actors.
Aside from Jin Pyo, the series presents two other major villains: his mother and his sister. Both of these characters worked as a sad reminder of how some people not only remain ignorant of the abuse on purpose but they side with the abusers too. Both women were aware of Jin Pyo's actions and Hui Su's mistreatment and yet, they did absolutely nothing. Not only did they not hold Jin Pyo accountable for his behavior, but they shifted the blame on Hui Su. "If only people avoided provoking violence and both sides did their part" was one of the things Jin Pyo's mother said to Hui Su and I was shocked when I heard it. What do you mean "provoking violence"? How could the victims provoke it? And how could they do " their part"? It was as if she was implying that the abuse was deserved and that victims asked to be abused. As for the sister, she was only worried about her reputation getting tarnished rather the fact her brother was an abuser. Jin Pyo was sick but his family's behavior was equally bad. All of them were egoistic people, who only cared about themselves and who treated Hui Su as something disposable. Not a moment passed when I didn't wish for their downfall and thankfully, I wasn't disappointed.
As much as I acknowledge the importance of adapting a story like this and even though I have already praises the drama, I must say that while the first episodes were near perfect, the story went downhill during the second half. The first half was focused more on Eun Su and Hui Su. We saw their backstory, the violence they were exposed to and the trauma they had to deal with. The first episodes were emotional depth while the story was very engaging. But once the plot twist with Jang Bang occurred, I found my interest decreasing. If the drama followed the novel's story by the book, I could excuse this shift. Still, the execution could have been better.
After the fifth episode, the message got kinda lost in translation. Instead of focusing on the women and their emotional journey, the focus was put on their attempt to stop Jang Bang. At the same time, Jin Pyo's sister got involved more but instead of feeling worried about our leads, I felt bored. There were times when I was tempted to skip some scenes that didn't involve Hui Su and Eun Su. I understand the purpose of the plot twist and the sister's involvement but it kinda ruined the story for me. I really wish the writers had explored the girls' feelings more or that we had seen more interactions with their families. It would have been nice if we had gotten more moments between Eun Su, her mother and her brother, especially once the brother acknowledged Eun Su's protection when he was little. It would have added more layers to their trauma and bond and it would have been a nice opportunity to showcase how domestic violence affects familial relationships.
Additionally, there weretimes when the script didn't feel that tight. I can still think of some plot holes that didn't get cleared away. How come neither JinPyo's mother nor the sister recognise Eun Su, since she was at Hui Su's wedding? I get that this implies how little they cared about Hui Su and the people she associated herself with but at the same time, I still cannot understand how come they didn't remember her. And what about Jang Bang's family? The CCTV showed him hugging his son once he landed at the airport but we never learned more of his background or if he faked it. Jang Bang's shift in general felt confusing since I really doubt that someone with psychotic tendencies like him would have been able to keep a modest facade for such a long time, let alone years. I really wish the writers had given answers to some of the questions instead of assuming the audience would just fill the gaps.
All in all, As You Stood By remains a vital kdrama. Its message is painfully relevant and it needs to be heard by more people. We cannot keep ignoring what is going on around us and we cannot keep turning a blind eye on those who need help. Let's not allow ourselves to be accomplices in violence. We can and we must put an end to it, if possible. This was not just Eun Su and Hui Su's story. It was about Eun Su, Hui Su and us.
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This review may contain spoilers
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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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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The characterisation is one of the best aspects and ultimately, the one that sold the series for me. I became attached to many people of Manyang (Jaeyi, Namsabae, Jiwa and Park Jeongje own my heart) but the ones whom I loved the most were Dongsik and Joowon. What more can I say about them? Their dynamic was one of the main reasons why (if not THE reason why) I loved this series. They didn't start in the best terms and yet as the story went on, they started to respect each other more and care about the other. Joowon's development was so well-written and I loved seeing him bickering with Dongsik. AND THEIR CHEMISTRY WAS SO STRONG, OH MY GOD, THEY REALLY MADE ME GIGGLE LIKE A TEENAGER (I mean, I am 18 years old BUT STILL).
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