Nine Puzzles

Considering all the TV Korean shows and movies I've watched giving a review will be kind of odd considering this is not a super amazing show, but it's still pretty good with A-list actors coming throughout the episodes and the show does get better. But the one thing that sticks out because the co protagonist has her nails painted the timeline doesn't match up... they must've shot certain scenes on certain weeks with different fingernail color and it's stuck out to me considering the show for the most part is shot chronologically in order.... If this was Christopher Nolan, maybe you would've not been noticed... overall decent show.

A slow paced murder mystery thriller, Nine Puzzles is a smart concept with a very good execution, even though the pacing might be inconsistent for many.

The drama balances multiple layers of mystery, from cryptic puzzle pieces and reflection clues to complex interpersonal relationships that intertwines with the serial murders. The setting is tense, with every character under radar and suspicion falling all over everyone.

What begins as a whodunnit quickly evolves into something more thematic. The show explores the consequences of institutional failure and what happens when someone decides to punish those systems in the most literal way. But what keeps the show human is how it focuses on the fallout: guilt, loyalty, memory, and how trauma shapes who we become.

The cast, whether it be leads or the supporting, every character was portrayed as they should be. The fascinating aspect of the drama is it plays with the memory, like you will connect the dots towards the final episodes from your recollection of the initial episodes. Overall, the emotional layers to this murder mystery is well written, although the pacing was too sluggish and draggy. But nonetheless, it will keep you hooked until you know the perpetrator behind all of these.

My Rating : 3.5/5.

A very entertaining story told over 11 episodes, one that keeps you guessing as its intricacies are slowly unraveled. Kim Da-mi's characterization of the police profiler who was traumatized in her childhood is a real highlight, and I loved her mannerisms which varied between childlike and insightful. It's fiction but I also liked how it referenced the extensive growth of Seoul in the 1980's, one that resulted in many improvements but which sometimes was a little ruthless, coming at the expense of existing communities. That gives an already great story extra weight, and that more than one set of demons are being exorcised.

Nine Puzzles had a solid concept and a decent storyline, but it was painfully slow, uneventful, and dragged way too much. The only reason I stuck around was to confirm the killer who was already obvious and uncover the backstory.

Each episode felt like a chore, leaving me with a tight, uneasy feeling, but I powered through (and no, it's not about my taste I've watched Doubt and other thrillers). The FL didn't click, and as for the ML, my first drama of his, and I'm still not sold.

For a psychological investigative thriller, it lacked any real thrill. A drama stuffed with A-list actors doesn't automatically make it good. And can they stop making the killer the most obvious choice by giving them barely any screen time or storyline?

The one scene that stood out? The ending her choice with the fire was bold! The leads? Completely forgettable. If there's a S2, they need a major revamp or just scrap it altogether.

A 7/10 for me, but definitely a one time watch.

2 cases in and both the killers are intentionally and flabbergastedly similar to our very detective protagonist, gagged me so bad how bold and provoking this series is.

This show's whole thing is that it wants us to think our protagonist is the culprit AND is not the culprit at the same time in order to distract and confuse us, and it's working, such an obnoxious narrative and I absolutely enjoy this leading.

Now, about the characters. Yes, I enjoy our protagonist very much. With the heavy environment where everyone is either serious or keeps their things low, our playful and creepy protagonist becomes the emotion driven, which is a perfect set up to move the show forward without any tiresome. Not even that, even her team and the fact that they get to be so compelling in order to contrast the average police teams helps a lot too. I can see that the writers know how to play with characters.

My only problem is that I can't figure out why should we care about that deuteragonist man personal life, is it to make our team more connected? Is it because he also involves to our big culprit? But it feels random tho. Meticulous man and annoying brat is indeed a interesting duo dynamic, but man, I hope his relevance could make sense soon.