This review may contain spoilers
Mid drama review
I am writing this review just to keep mind clear and I have to wait for 25 days for next episode so let's start thisKim nam Gil my very first drama of his ,am impressed by the way of his acting in this drama like he is definitely an introvert, intuitive and closed
As a person who feel too much I can relate to him upto certain extent if I was in a police force i think i would've quitted that way before i expected.there were certain aspects of his acting i like very much his subtle acting doesn't talk too much but shows in action,his chemistry between the FL and other male lead was impeccable.
Jin seon kyu - at some point of this drama i thought he is gonna die but he didn't am glad.
His acting is actually good and his chemistry with detective song is so good
Coming to his role in this drama,this drama has a dynamic of one person talks more and one person talks less but his idea of behavioral analysis in this drama made me think of how psychological aspects effect in finding a suspect and have a common point .
Am very thankful he was their to add some comedic view into this drama , so I am expecting they won't kill him off at some point ofthis drama of they kill him i think am coming after this writer
Kim so jin
Am happy that am liking her because i hated her at first but when I got to know her background story it felt it's all justified by the way she is acting u see if a woman becoming a head of special crime division in 2000s is hard,and I like how song nam Gil is the only one who corrects when someone says hey lady or young lady
I think song ha young and her have very similar personality when it comes to case solving but song ha young feels it in a different level when it comes to his feelings where as her has a very good logic which helps them to maintain a dynamic and space for debate I loved it
Where as rest of the team
I like they added young blood like ryeoun am impressed i was kinda waiting for him to be in a good role and he got it here am so happy for him .
Story i felt they're actually happened in Korea and some of them seemed very similar to a recent case of how a culprit got out because he was drunk at that time (am not going to details)
And love the way they showed how profiling got importance
All in all am very excited for the next episodes as well as sad I have to wait for 25 days
I recommend this drama to everyone just watch it u will love it if u like crime dramas it's very rare to find a criminal profiling dramas these days
Overall loved it especially song ha young charecter I will watch this just to know what gonna happen to him .
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This review may contain spoilers
ONE OF THE BEST CRIME DRAMA I'VE EVER SEEN
Before I start my review, I would like to clarify a few things.1. This crime focuses on Behavioral Crime Unit that focuses on perpertrators' mind and psychology. So it does not focus on finding physical proofs like most crime dramas, nor does it depicts much on how they catch the perpertrators.
2. This drama has a lot of talk than actions, in my opinion. So if you are the type of a person who likes action i.e running and fighting from the main characters' part, this is not for you.
3. This drama is based from the non fiction book by South Korea's first profiler, Kwon Il-yong. Therefore, the cases are based on real cases (for example, Yoo Yoon Chul) and the main character is loosely based from Kwon Il-yong himself. He also acted as this drama's advisor to make sure the details are correct.
4. I suggest you watch the Raincoat Killer documentary on Netflix to have a better understanding and appreciation of this drama. I helped me tremendously.
5. Trigger warning to those who can't watch crime against little children, violent killings and psychopaths who have no remorse in whatever heinous crime they commit. There're mentions about children raping and abuse too. just fyi.
Alright. Now that we have cleared all those things up, I would have to say, as a person who once taken psychology as one of my subject in uni, a diehard fan of Criminal Minds (US tv series) and the likes, I would have to say this drama is GOLD. These are my reasons:
PLOT
The fact that the cases are taken from real cases is just a plus point for me. The cases are gruesome that makes you wonder if the world is about to end because these psychopaths exist. I even cried because one of the cases that involved a little girl. Damn. That got me deep.
ACTING
The cast lineups are chef's kiss. We have Kim Nam Gil, Jin Seon Kyu and Kim So Jin. These are spectacular actors. The brought the character to life. Nam Gil for me shoud reveive an award for his acting here. His tortured facial expression when he interviewed the criminals was just.... I'm speechless. Then there were the actors who acted as the criminals. Oh. MY. GOD. Standing ovasion from me. If I were the wife of one of them, I may want to sleep seperately for a week because their acting were damn real it gave me chills.
You know what, I'm just gonna stop here. Just watch because of these two reasons. It's enough for you to be glued for the whole 12 episodes. Kudos to them team who made this masterpiece.
For others who like this type of drama, I suggest you watch Criminal Minds (US version. Korean version sucks. Don't get me start on that), Mindhunter (tho it's a bit slow and has faaarrrr more talks than action) and Criminal series on Netflix (UK version. The other version were just okay. UK version is best among all).
Aite. That's all. Hope this review is helpful. ✌?
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This review may contain spoilers
If you're a fan of the US shows: Criminal Minds and Mindhunter, then this will be a favorite for you. As for any crime show there's a ton of TW's and can be a bit more gruesome due to it being about the killers being interviewed. If you're okay with heavy material, then proceed! What initially kept my interest in the show is how well the two ML's mesh together. Their friendship and bond and overall chemistry together really helped keep light when needed after the heavy subject matter. It adds even more of a great mix when you add the Seoul Police Department team into it too. I also loved the psychology aspect of the show and seeing the team delving deep into the minds of criminals.
The show never once slows down, but I left the rewatch at 9 since you already know all the twists. Although, I could see this becoming a favorite or a show I would be down to rewatch in a year or 2.
This contains a potential spoiler!
The one problem I did have is I felt that the BAU team didn't actually really catch some of the criminals. They helped put together a profile for them, but some just fell into their lap or had a really easy solution to finding them.
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One of the finest Psychological dramas
I have no idea why the reviews are so bad but, Through the darkness is one of the best psychological thrillers I have ever seen. The show is about criminal profiling first being introduced into South Korea to help discover 'what makes a serial killer?', 'what attributes does a person have that makes them commit a crime?' and to be able to link crimes thus making catching a killer a lot easier.The drama centres around Hayoung and Youngsoo who decide to take up the difficult task of creating their own behavioural analysis unit to aid investigators catching serial killers. Of course in the beginning of the show there is plenty of ignorant characters who do not take them seriously but as the show progresses we see how helpful criminal profiling has become and the difference it has made to the justice system. Hayoung is a passionate character who will literally do anything in his power to show how reliable criminal profiling is and to prevent serial killings. The shows has different storylines with a new serial killer for each story set over a time period. Each story is completely different and shows the growth of criminal profiling as well as how detrimental to your health working in this field can be. Through the darkness is different to other kdramas in the same genre as it is realistic and based off of real events and research from a South Korean criminal profiler. Therefore it isn't overly dramatic or has any unrealistic plots.
The acting? Perfect!
If you enjoyed the American drama 'Criminal minds', then this drama is 100% for you. This is a realistic portrayal of serial killers so please keep that in mind.
(bare in mind some scenes can be upsetting and overwhelming)
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If you like criminal minds, watch it
Almost like a docu- crime drama portraying the story of the first criminal behavioral analysts in Korea.Kim Nam Gil plays such a soft spoken/discerning character. Which is astounding given how opposite it is of his personality. I assumed he would be a goofy detective but I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed the relationship between he and his partner along with Tae Goo. It reminded me of the dynamic of a trio who starts off untrusting and become close friends like in The Guest -of course not AS close as them but close enough to feel a lighthearted appreciation for them all.
Through the darkness Gave a different perspective of some other crime shows, due to the character being an intricate/small detail kind of detective. His findings had me on edge. I love everyone’s faces when he discovers something crazy.
So If you’re into crime series, this is one you kind of HAVE to watch. Especially to understand the history and timeline of South Korea’s law enforcement/ crime division. It’s a good watch and only 12 eps
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Simplicity of a complex topic
There are a lot of shows on criminal profilers who try to understand the psyche of a criminal and their brutal acts. Through The Darkness has a very diffrent approach to crime solving without making the crime or criminal a point of entertainment.
The show is a journey of two of Korea's first ever criminal profilers and how over time through different cases they refine their profiling techniques.
It also does a great job showing two different point of views of crime solving, one being that of a profiler which goes beyond the crime scene while other of on ground detectives which reel in all the available evidence to solve a crime, both very different but important nevertheless.
The cases dealt are horrific to say the least but as it goes with any crime profiling drama you do not talk with a criminal to 'humanise' them but rather understand the demon within, to avoid similar crimes happening in future.
The show does a good job instead of humanising the detectives that work on these cases . Their stressors, the contast exposure to these twisted criminals, the guilt that they carry everytime they fail to catch someone.
Kim NamGil, the main lead is a superbly versitle actor to think that the last show I saw of his was the dumbest action comedy and here he is the most stoic criminal profiler whi smiles probably 3 times in 20 episodes and spends his free time trying to comfort the surviving family members of the victims.
The only thing that bothered me were how it seemed almost rushed towards the end. I wish there was one or two more eps just to close a few open ends.
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Criminal Minds
Likes1. I love Kim Nam Gil as the first criminal profiler. I was starting to get scared that this drama will turn into 'Mouse'. Esp in ep 10 when he couldn't contain his emotions any longer. He was absorbing all of the criminals' feelings and in his line of job, he needs to be strong enough to separate work and personal life.
2. Shocked that the cases are based on actual murders in Korea. That period must have been terrifying with several serial killers running loose.
3. Was personally scared of the balding serial killer with the creepy smile. I had to double check my door locks before going to sleep everyday after watching the episodes.
4. I also loved the teams. They first didnt believe in what they're doing but when their analyses were always correct, the rest of the squad started consulting with them.
Dislikes
Not much except the drama was missing an extra oomph to make it memorable
If you want to know more of the Daesung serial killer, try to watch Netflix's Raincoat killer.
Rating: 9/10
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Do you think monsters are born or made?
"The world that created the monster, must take responsibility too" - Song Ha YoungI don't know why, but I aside from Mafias, the other thing I am fascinated with is and will always be are about Serial Killers and how they will be caught with their crimes. As what Ha Young always mentioned in the drama, "there's no such thing as a perfect crime".
This drama is such a gem, with the 12 episodes which is for me is not enough and I want a season 2 for more cases to be tackled by the team.
It shows that being a profiler is not an easy profession, it's not for the weak mind and heart, what you'll be facing are to things that too inhumane for our taste. How this drama showed that not all monsters are born to be that way, but rather they're end products of things done to a person. Like how a parent affect their child's life for their actions or decisions.
Kim Nam Gil is one of my favourite actors in SoKor dramaland, as he knows his craft well. He may be lowkey, but God! he delivers perfectly. Add Jin Seon Kyu and Kim Won Hae (who's one of my fave ahjussi) and other casts and boom! we have a great casting for the characters in the drama. Their acting is superb! What more with the actors who played the roles of serial killers! Jeez! they're too convincing and too real!
I think, the drama's trying to tell us that we always have a choice, whether we choose to be a monster or not is up to us, unless we're defected by birth which we would feel helpless to control it, then we should always choose to be a good person, inspite and despite of any circumstances that we face in our daily life. It may be easy to say, but life is always a struggle and unfair. It's just how we handle things that may or may not make a difference towards it.
Overall, it's worth to watch the drama, so if you haven't watched it, you should start it. But be prepared, as some things there are too disturbing and violent. The things that serial killers described their crimes are too much for a person if they're not used to these types of dramas.
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Gripping
Incredibly intense at times, very human and believable, plus moving.A fascinating insight into the very humble beginnings of criminal profiling in S.Korea.
The dreadful way many colleagues and 'higher ups' treated the 3-man team of the profile unit, was disgraceful. From where they were located to how they had to fight every step of the way, until their methods showed results, time after time.
Kim Nam-gil and Jin Seon-kyu were excellent in their character portrayals, worked so well together and their character's totally different personalities complimented each other perfectly.
KNG's character's change through the episodes was a hard watch at times and I really wanted to climb into my TV and give him a hug.
Another character that matured through the series and quietly added so much to their small team dynamic, was Analyst, Jung Woo-joo (Ryeoun), who was a delight.
The different cases they became involved in were very gritty and quite distressing on occasion, ranging from rapists to child abduction and murder. It wasn't quite as gory as some series I've watched, but very unpleasant at times, adding to the reality of just how sick the serial killers they profiled, were. This eventually took a toll on some.
I hated the police's Commissioner General; even though the series spans a number of years starting in the 1990s, his out-of-date behaviour (even for the time) and attitude was shameful. From regularly using physical abuse of his subordinates (who were not low down the pecking order themselves), to demanding results as though evidence and perpetrators could be magically created, he was an embarrassing portrayal of a senior figure in S.Korean law enforcement. He even demanded unsolved murders be blamed on an existing criminal they'd caught, who had nothing to do with them!
Luckily, 2 senior colleagues (Baek Joon-shik and Heo Gil-pyo) were supportive and ensured the profile team were utilised and respected.
The length of this drama was shorter than the norm, but it never felt rushed and the story was almost perfectly told in those episodes.
There was one scene where an alluded murder victim was disposed of, but not covered when the killer confessed and I didn't get that. It was never mentioned.
Likewise, exactly what happened to the people replaced when changes were made in the police hierarchy, once the profile team had their first major success, wasn't made clear.
There was also no follow-up, or any insight into what became of the convicted killers; their sentences weren't even given.
Had those things been clearer, I would have given this series a 10.
The fact this is based on reality and a book written by one of the profilers, makes it all the more compelling.
Recommended!
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Criminal minds mixed with Mindhunter
If you like show such as Criminal minds or mind hunter, you will most likely like this show. However, this show is slow in terms of getting the criminals caught. Which is more realistic anyway. I skip some parts that I don't care about such as the politics in the office,I understand they need to show the huddle they go through to actually get this department accepted and taken serious to begin with but I feel it's taking away from some parts of the criminal mindsUnlike Criminal minds (The .US version) where they will actually show you what trigger these people to commit the act .these show until last episode never explorers that element.
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Gripping and terrorizing
Through the Darkness pitches a riveting story that centers on how the minds of criminals work, how they plot their crimes and how oddly their behaviors are, and leading the formation of Behaviour Analysis Team.Through The Darkness delineates the hard work done by every department in catching the psychopaths and examining the behaviour and minds of these killers. Kim Nam Gil as Inspector Son Ha Young was an effective casting who delivered a good acting on his part.
Overall, this drama depicts the terror of numerous psychopaths during the late 90s and early 2000s, and study of these criminal minds.
My Rating : 8/10
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Truly dark
Through the Darkness is a crime drama that is particularly unique for being adapted from the book of Korea’s first profiler. In this sense, it isn’t only focused on the crimes, but more so on the work that goes into solving them. It managed to capture the struggles of, at the time, still developing field of crime profiling.Not every aspect of this show is actually based on real happenings, but the characters and their stories make the viewer feel more included. It doesn't strack you as fiction or merely distant reality, it rather showcases itself as the everyday reality we face.
As for the acting, there isn’t anything I can criticise. Kim Nam Gil did an extraordinary job and his acting performance is memorable. This can be said about all the other characters, too. It isn’t quite common to see actors portray serial murders this well.
This drama was not the fastest watch (though it was rather intense), but it would feel wrong if such stories were easy to watch. That’s, of course, something one has to account for. On that note, I would argue that the rewatch value may not be the highest, which in this case is not a drawback.
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