Drama Review: Through the Darkness

12

Rating

★★★

Duration

1 Hrs 10 Mins

Episodes

12

Drama Digest

The television program depicts a string of murders that happened in Seoul in the 1990s. The residents of Seoul are terrified due to the countless attacks and horrible killings. A serial killer named “Red cap” randomly attacks women while walking around the streets of Seoul. Due to his erratic pattern of killings, it is almost impossible to apprehend him. The police are considering their options as the murders are committed. They are also considering what might have caused the murderer to kill others.

Gook Young Soo is aware of the American FBI and their successful identification of serial killers by using criminal profilers. Therefore, Song Ha Young, an empath and a quiet former detective, is hired by Gook Young Soo, the head of the criminal behavior analysis team, to work with him as a criminal profiler. Gook Young Soo thinks he can solve this problem using this strategy. Yoon Tae Goo, a homicide expert, and her fellow cops, on the other side, question him and his strategy. Therefore, he works hard with his team to convince everyone to adopt this approach. Will therefore be able to achieve that?

The Feel-Good Part

This drama has a feel-good factor throughout. The cop and the criminal are not racing one another like in a typical crime thriller. Instead of that, it takes a very different approach. It reveals the criminal psyche and what drives them to perform such heinous actions. What happens to the victims’ families is another concern. This play seems to be a means of therapy. The 1990s Seoul is depicted incredibly. All thanks to the wonderful cinematography. It also demonstrates how much effort and time are required to solve a case. Police officers, forensic psychologists, and other individuals put in a lot of effort to solve crimes and uphold the law. It offers a realistic story and doesn’t have cliché elements like a love triangle or political overtones. To keep you engaged in the series, a new serial killer is introduced every two episodes. It makes it more challenging to discover serial killers among regular people since they are depicted as typical guys rather than as amusing or scary characters.

The Disappointing Factor 

This drama has no disappointing aspects because everything is on point. Although some viewers may believe that it draws more heavily from the Netflix series Mind hunter, and some viewers may experience déjà vu, it’s alright because this kind of illegal activity is true and is considered by many filmmakers to show in a crime thriller. Although the theatre experience is exhilarating, patience is required. Additionally, some of the situations can be upsetting to some viewers.

In-Depth Analysis

Since he was a little child, Ha Young has been an empath; thus, even when he witnessed a dead woman in the river, he felt empathy for her rather than fear. Despite being quiet, and reticent, he became a detective, he always found time to express his sorrow to the victim’s family. Later, he was hired by Gook Young Soo as a criminal profiler to aid in the investigation of killings taking place in Seoul. It demonstrates how much he endured and how, at one point, he could not handle hearing about all the murders, as we all know it may be challenging to speak with a murderer. At that time, he was ready to stop, but he persisted. One thing unites all the murders: they all involved childhood trauma. It demonstrates how important childhood is to who we become in the future. Ha Young discovers the reasons behind their killings when interviewing them. Some murderers take delight in seeing the faces of their victims as they die, while others do it to achieve perfection, and some are simply psychopaths. It demonstrates the diligent work put in by forensic specialists and the entire team to solve any case. It displays truth. Each episode can be a little wordy, but it’s inspiring. The drama also focuses on expressing sympathy for the victim’s family since often, we become so preoccupied with the criminals that we overlook the suffering of those left behind. Amazingly, Yoon Tae Goo is the lone female investigator in a male-dominated field. She exudes her daring and fearless nature. We can observe how the other cops mistreat her, but she consistently demonstrates her value. This drama is an adaptation of the autobiography with the same title authored by Ko Na Mu, with the first criminal profiler in Korea, Kwon Il Yong.

Star Power

The actors performed a fantastic job conveying what the character demanded, which was the icing on top of this drama’s casting. Ha Young, played by Kim Nam Gil, has a remarkable ability to convey emotions. His persona comes across as quiet, reserved, astute, and perceptive. His character is an empath who interacts with serial killers while simultaneously expressing sorrow to Victim’s family. Additionally, Jin Seon Kyu’s portrayal of Young Soo makes him appear like an endearing and upbeat individual. He journeyed with Ha Young and assisted him throughout the drama. And Kim Soo Jin, who plays our female boss Tae Goo, the feisty lady, performed a fantastic job. Despite her challenges, she never gives up. She is also attempting to position herself in the male dominating field. 

Overall Opinion

I think this drama is my favorite right now, and I’d recommend watching it, but if you’re sensitive to murders and other crimes, you could find it upsetting. From the plot to the casting, there is nothing to criticize about this drama. Although it is stated as a crime thriller, it feels more like a drama about healing. It depicts not only the killings but also the criminals’ thoughts and motivations. How the family of the victim feels after the person has passed away. It doesn’t have a hero or anything; it merely depicts some perceptive, intellectual individuals who feel a sense of duty to their country. The drama is well worth watching, and the production is excellent.