Great actors but a declining storyline
The plot delves into the psychology of a murderer, understanding their intentions, and using the data to categorize murderers into some sort of personality types. I found the idea to be rather interesting as I personally like psychological thrillers. However, this series failed to hold my interest till the end.One would expect thrillers to be 'gripping' and you would want to hold your breath as they challenge the murderers and uncover details of the case. This was only largely seen in the first story in the series. Honestly, Part 1 of this series was captivating. The first few episodes were great, and shows promise to this series, however as the series progressed, I found myself skipping through the scenes. The acting was amazing, especially some of the prisoners they interviewed. However the series failed to explore more details in the psychology of a murderer, and somehow the crimes get more easy to solve. It seemed like a disappointment from the first few episodes and furthermore, there wasn't much character development. It was just a monotonous solving of crime after crime.
Overall, a mediocre thriller, not as dark as I would like, but it's an interesting watch for sure.
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This review may contain spoilers
Watch a documentary instead
I've tried my hardest to complete this show... but damn. I really couldn't. The trailer and synopsis hooked me in and I went in knowing it was based on a non-fiction book but what I really did not expect was how slow it was. It was advertised as a thriller but its most definitely not. Instead, it's an extremely slow burn with no end in sight.The story is told in almost like a documentary-like fashion. The main character (Kim Nam Gil) is portrayed as eccentric, aloof yet empathetic and "special" in a way only main characters are. This "special" quality is what landed him the newly created role of a profiler. Predictably, no one appreciates the profilers from the start and look down on them, scorn them, and they are allocated the worst office in the building. Of course, the profilers are full of tenacity and overcome these various challenges to finally attain the recognition they deserve. It's a tale as old as time, and anyone can see through the plot of this show right from the first episode. Nothing groundbreaking at all, and nothing to keep viewers watching through the end. In addition, the culprit for each case is revealed right off the bat so there is even less payoff to watch and try to figure out who the murderer is. What we do get are long drawn out interview sessions with serial killers showing off how crazy they are. After a while it just got ... boring. I'm not sure why either. I've watched the Criminal series on Netflix where it's set 100% in the interrogation room yet it was a million times more exciting that this show. Which is disappointing. The characters also don't experience any growth at all; the profilers still treat each other like strangers despite working together for YEARS. Main character retains his "specialness" all the way and his only fault is being too empathetic. Meh. Oh, and there was also this strange subplot about this reporter girl which added 0 things to the plot and only served to show how "special" and "empathetic" that reporter girl is. I thought the show wanted to force a romance between her and the main character but seeing as how nothing happened even at the 11th episode, I guess not.
The acting is fairly good, if you don't mind watching people behave like they're in a constant state of depression (which I guess is true considering the heavy stuff they deal with constantly). The show is the epitome of the saying "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" because literally all characters are raging workaholics who do not seem to have hobbies outside of work. Which makes it hard to see the range these actors can show.
Conclusion: watch only if you can stomach extremely slow paced dramas with no payoff at all. This is not a thriller - though there are some "thrilling" fight scenes. If you prefer more traditional police procedural shows, this is not the one for you. I honestly feel that juvenile justice, a show supposed to be about judges, has more thrilling police investigation scenes than this show LOL, so make of this what you will.
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Kim Nam Gil shines in lacking profiler drama
I wanted to love this drama but came out thinking it could be so much better. My criticism might seem harsh but since people usually rave about this drama I will focus on the negative aspects. That doesn't mean I didn't highly enjoy watching it and still gave it a 4/5 rating.The argument 'Through The Darkness is a lesser Mindhunter' has been made so often and it might be true, but that is no valid criticism of the former so I won't hold that against it. In general I'm tired of the automatic reflex to compare every Asian drama or film to Western media and will judge it on its own terms.
Through The Darkness tries too many things at once. There are dozens of crime shows or dramas that focus on the police procedural aspect of crimes. We don't need one more.
The theme of building a new organizational structure and developing a new angle in police work is vital and is well told.
The actual profiling, the interviewing, analyzing clues, hypothesizing, coming to conclusions is not given enough room and breathing space. They seem to gloss over or misunderstand basics of profiling, starting with body language they exhibit to what they discuss before, during or after interviews. At one point we are told that they have done hundreds of interviews. This is an informed attribute since the understanding and knowledge base that should come with this amount of experience simply isn't there. Through The Darkness takes a very long time for the profiling to get off the ground and for the profilers or interviewers to actually understand their job.
Literal Title: Those Who Can Read Hearts Of Evil. Can you, though?
The main character Song Ha Young is all over the place. He is at times overwhelmed with anger and repulsion, is highly judgmental, empathic, analytical, sensitive, righteous, obsessive, stoic, starting to become evil, understanding and volatile. Of course he can be all those things but I fail to see a natural progression of those psychological states.
The drama feels both rushed and drawn out. They could've easily made it into a 16-episode drama, expand on cases, show more interviews and allow scenes to linger for a little bit more for impact.
This is mostly a quiet job in a dark room and Through The Darkness focuses very much on the thrill of the crime instead of the thrill of the crime analysis.
The music adds to that as many scenes have underlying music made to heighten the tension and thrill. Since the music competes with the dialog it takes away from an already tightly scripted scene which isn't allowed to shine on its own.
It seems the creators didn't really trust their material.
All the involved actors are great and Kim Nam Gil does an outstanding job with a very difficult, not very flashy, very introverted and highly sensitive character. As far as I know he has never played anything like that before (Lovers Vanished and One Day come close) but he is made for it.
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Not Good Enough
Korean Drama " Through The Darkness " is a chronicle of criminal cases through the lenses of a homicide team.The drama has some interesting aspects, like the first few criminal cases. But, quickly, it became predictable and messy. Especially messy due to the time jumps that got confusing and tiring. The entertaining factor got less and less with the episode as well.
The performances, on the other hand, were all pretty great and aided the drama a lot, mainly since the main characters were dominating the scenes.
The cinematography, on the other hand, was messing the timeline.
So, overall, 4 out of 10.
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Kim Nam Gil undeniably deserved an award for his performance here. The degree to which you believe that this is a man who has seen the worst of human depravity is remarkable, and you can see this heaviness weigh on him and how it increases throughout the show. It is also intriguing to learn about the inception of criminal profiling, although to be honest I have my doubts. Occasionally in the show there were times when I thought it actually didn’t help catch criminals all that much. It’s not that their assessments weren’t accurate, but it sometimes only helped affirm a suspect was guilty when they had already been caught. I also thought it was kind of weird that being trained in psychology or psychiatry wasn’t required, although I’m sure that’s a thing nowadays. Another thing that bugged me a bit was how Kim Nam Gil’s character was a little too perfect. He was not only empathetic and smart, he also happened to be a good fighter. The fact this is adapted from an autobiography probably helps explain the extreme positive light. Speaking of fighting, I don’t love how they handled the one female detective. The kind of weird power dynamic between her and Kim Nam Gil’s character was uncomfortable and I don’t like how they undermined her competency. The autobiography origin of this story also probably explains the overall structure of the story. It has multiple serial killers, so there are basically story arcs with each killer. Since this is a 16 episode show and not a monster of the week type show, I found the pacing a little off. And to be honest, it was a bit repetitive at times. Towards the end I wasn’t motivated to finish because there wasn’t a bit culmination of things to look forward to, just another serial killer among the list of ones we have already seen. Ultimately what I think makes this show great are the amazing acting performances, and the interview scenes with the serial killers were fantastic. I don’t think this show is bad, it’s fairly good, but I’ve seen enough thriller/mystery serial killer type stuff that this didn’t do anything new for me (despite the show trying to do the profiling angle).
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Very early, the drama establishes a strange, even cruel dissonance between its characters and its direction: while the former cares first and foremost about the victims and their families, the latter constantly interjects with scenes of criminals preparing, accomplishing and rejoicing about their murderous deeds. Those segments prove both lengthy and recurring: from the beginning to the end, never are we spared from their night prowling, their chilling excitement, their violence. Although the gore is blurred and the killings themselves omitted - stopping short of the blow -, I found that fascination with the acts jarring… and quite reminiscent of the media-induced voyeurism denounced by the characters.
In a telling moment, a reporter is praised for her refusal to seek gruesome details, replacing them with a tribute towards the victims, identifying them as individuals with families, professions and hobbies and not simply abused, dead bodies. Yet that instant is but fleeting: soon the killers grace our screens again, gleeful, while the victims remain footnotes, worthy of our time only as prey for those men.
In fact, the series' highlight lies with the various interviews of the killers. From them, it derives the most impressive performances. This bothers me greatly. That those sequences would turn out memorable and compelling was a given; that they would be unmatched by the last episode questions me. Despite the characters' convictions, the drama failed to offer us an overall story meaningful enough, captivating enough to trump voyeurism. There is nothing in the narration sound enough to offset its rotten pull; everything else pales or buckles in comparison.
As much as the actors beautifully portray their roles, the substance behind them is missing. We have intriguing sketches of characters, of relationships… but more? The investigations - the killers, in liberty or in interviews! - monopolise so much screen time, what is left doesn't allow to truly delve into the personalities of the people we supposedly follow. All we get is shallow, underbaked, at times even trite, such as the Nietzsche conversation. In a show concerned with psychology, it should have been the starting point to a greater, more profound depiction of the toll criminal cases take on investigators, as well as the unhealthy interest medias and audiences sustain with depravity. At it stands, a worrying number of characters enter the picture then vanish without holding much narrative weight.
I look back at the time spent with the execution of the murders and wonder what could have been, had it been extended to Song Ha Young instead? If those segments had been less accurate recreations and more him envisioning how it could have unfolded, trying to better understand the minds of the culprits… thus tying the investigation with interrogating how far - how low? - must he go to help catching them. In other words: illustrating intimately the characters' turmoil in place of this disconnected, distant stance where their conflicts unfold in brief, offhanded conversations, each months apart.
To me, the suspense was misattributed to the fact of catching the culprits where it could have reposed on Song Ha Young's profiling reports and comprehension of the killers' psyche. Hence, countless scenes of women being stalked and murdered, of their assassins maniacally smiling; hence, out of place, pompous music to accompany tense sequences; hence, the glossing over of the characters' thoughts beyond the surface. Those elements can be found in many other thrillers and often, better done; furthermore, the use and reflection of real events made such attempts at tension wasteful.
This flaw frustrates me the most: not seizing what would have elevated it among myriads of other crime series, that is, heartfeltness and a cast to be commended. Though the writing felt underdeveloped, though the framing felt too remote, the actors still brought to life their characters in a credible manner. Perhaps overly so and the quality of their performances misled in expecting more… regardless, it is what kept me engaged. In particular, Kim Nam Gil's remarkable portrayal of Song Ha Young. If I were to single out one reason to recommend or remember the drama, it would be him, and him alone. What a refreshing and endearing male character! In a sea of male arrogance, egocentrism, loudness and violence, what a relief! I wish more fictional men resembled him.
(Sidenote: what a bunch of unsubtle, distasteful product placements…)
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Not a mysterious drama
To the one who all watching this drama just because of the thriller tag please keep this in mind that this drama contain not 1% thriller the drama is totaly based on criminal profiling so if you not aware of the profiling you might find this drama Boring for me the drama was good but as i am more thriller sucker i didn't enjoy it that much.The story was fresh and new to kdrama for a person like me who don't anything about the profiling the drama did good in at that aspect all the criminal did reveal at the starting of the case so you don't have to use of criminal brain just focus on the profiling.the cases was good not on the top
The cast is good the acting of the main actor was good and the music is not so memorable...
For me i wouldn't probably watch this drama again..
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2"Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that."
"Through The Darkness (악의 마음을 읽는 자들); literally, "Those Who Read Hearts of Evil" is a live-action adaptation of the nonfiction novel of the same title, written by Kwon Il-Yong, Republic of Korea's first profiler and co-authored by writer Go Na-Moo, published in the year 2018.Created by Studio S and Wavve, "Through The Darkness" is directed by Park Bo Ram while Seol Yi Na took the charge of screenwriting, which is a debut for both of them. Master composer Gaemi leads the music production while the show was broadcasted on SBS. It had a mid-season break of 3 weeks due to Winter Olympics but I guess it proved rewarding.
To be clear, this is not the depiction of the real life events of the profiler but the sequence of events are reflected from reality to a certain extent; that's why the novel is nonfiction. The drama is setup in late 1990s and shows the process and struggles of establishing the "Behavioural Analysis Unit" in South Korean Police Force as well as making "Criminal Profiling" an important factor of investigation, through succeeding years. I think this is enough for a gist given the theme and premise of the show.
Inspector Song Ha Young (Kim Na Gil) is reserved and somewhat introverted with abilities of reading through emotions and is highly piercing. Having a traumatic experience in early childhood, he has grown up into a person who seeks a simple life and want to persue his job with honesty and discipline. Detective Kook Young Soo (Jin Seon Kyu) is the chief of Forensic Analysis unit yet has aspirations to create a Behavioural Analysis team after being inspired from "criminal profiling" done by American FBI. Detective Yoon Tae Goo (Kim So Jin) is the leader of Special Crime Squad 2 at Seoul RIU who always strives to bring justice. Jung Woo Ju (Ryeoun) is a Statistical Analyst in the Behavioural Analysis Team, who is young yet determined and hardworking.
Other actors in major roles are: Baek Joon Sik (Lee Dae Yeon) as RIU Superintendent, Heo Gil Pyo (Kim Won Hae) as Special Crime Squad Chief, Detective Nam Il Young (Jung Soon Won) as Yoo Tae Goo's partner and Oh In Tak (Hong Woo Jin) as the current chief of Forensics. The performance by each and every major characters as well as supporting plus temporary roles was simple amazing, I must mention. Special credits to Kim Nam Gil and Jin Seon Kyu, who obviously were expected to carry the show on their back. Also, the performance from the actors playing serial killers is hugely commendable.
Plot development was stupendous. Let me inform you that it's neither a steady nor a plot, neither a staircase development and doesn't have any connecting plot elements either. Rather it's more of a biographical documentary of a profiler and him solving cases one after another, obviously along with people around him through a passage of time of about half a decade. The pilot episodes were impressive and able to make the audience look forward to further; might feel a little slow but it's a matter of time, you realize that the entire show was intended to be like that. The show greatly emphasizes on the methods of intensive profiling through which the male leads not only try to spread out the importance of criminal behavioral analysis, but also put efforts into learning themselves.
There is the least amount of suspense, I must mention. It's bcs the writer has opted to reveal the culprits at the beginning of the cases itself. On that note, it's not a psychopath crime thriller or any sort lf murder mystery, rather the weightage is on profiling, i. e. how the cops exercise their brains to get to the criminal. There are about 5 major culprits throughout and each case starts while the previous is about to end. Song Ha Young's growth as a rookie profiler to an expert is worth investing your time into.
I feel the most amount of credit should go to the screenwriter. Although the drama is a novel adaptation but turning books into live-action isn't as easy since the latter is more of a play script. Haven't read the original work but from what I saw on sns, they have retained originality for most of the parts, which should be commended. The premises wete aptly setup and the sequence of events were perfectly arranged plus organized. The momentary monologues and self-notes picked my attention as well. Even though the focus is hugely concentrated on the 2 MLs, others received a good amount of exposure as well, and on that note, the character arcs were drawn with great efforts and the growth in them was clearly conspicuous, again, especially for the 2 MLs.
I'm sure the directorial debut for Park Bo Ram PDnim has been a fruitful experience; directing the screenplay for such a fantastic script indeed would have brought joy. To me, the show didn't feel like being directed by a rookie at all, in fact, after watching 3 episodes, when I rushed to check out which amazing person has taken the charge, it turned out to be someone I never knew of. The pacing was perfect; the seeming slow paced development made the entire thing more meaningful, I felt. The cinematography with unlit & dim pallettes and dark hue was able to provide pertinent moods and gives, given the catastrophic theme of the story. The screen-editing was good for me, with less sound effects and being greatly focused on intense scenarios; the criminal chasing and fighting scenes were in fact enjoyable.
There are 4 soundtracks in total, composed by Gaemi nim and to the best of the show's vibes. I think it would have been still okay with no OSTs and this number was okay given the least utilization. "Lullaby" by Nerd Connection is a harmonious depiction of dark conflicts between emotions within your heart. "Can't Run Away" by Isaac Hong is a caliginous urge to give up on everything. Leopard of Mt. Kilimanjaro by 4Men was the last track.
What I liked...
ML doesn't shadows others...
# Seemingly nonexistent bromance... I couldn't concluded whether it was bromance bcs there was no eye-catching portrayal but the things between Ha Young & Young Soo was full of care, affection and mutual respect is all I can say. I loved their chemistry as partners who gave their best with the preeminent determination to get to the roots of all the cases, as well as to save and develope their team. "Bloom and Fall Alone" is a gloomy call from heart's core about the hostilities one goes through, with intriguing vocals of Kim So Yeon.
# Extensive emphasis on profiling...
Oh! I guess I'd have mentioned this point first. This is the thing that makes the drama one of the best. For 5 years, I have been waiting for something to come and level up itself with "Signal (2017)" and may be it wasn't able to reach that, but well, it is the one that went the closest, which makes me happy.
# No dramatic peak elevation... It's expected of a story of any form to have peaks; it's one of the essential factors that we all love about. But, the storytelling method for this drama didn't intend to have clear-cut elements of such. I've explained the reason above, and, in fact, this fact makes the show more of a realistic piece.
# Simple yet powerful and impressive... Again, it isn't a brainy drama with intriguing plot or astonishing revelations. Everything has been made crystal clear for you from the beginning so what's left for you to see? It's the way the detectives analyse and profile an event and personalities of criminals to get through the cause and the culprit. Indeed, the way everything has been executed, makes it highly impressive, entertaining and worthy of investing your time into.
# Apt exposure to side characters... I loved how the side characters and their parts were not exaggerated as fillers and were properly used, especially for Kim So Jin, Ryeoun, Jung Soon Won and Gong Sung Ha.
What I didn't like... There's only one thing I didn't like about this drama, i. e. in the screenplay, things that could have been explained by the speaker by simply telling the scenarios, was shown via quick flashbacks of the event. I guess it was a screenplay strategy by the writer and director but it could have been excluded in my opinion. Nevertheless, it didn't ruin the quality of the overall content, for me.
Final Remarks... I didn't have much expectations before starting this, ngl, and all I relied on was the cast which I admire and also the fact that the drama was on profiling. But, to my surprise, the drama left with no option but to applaud and eulogize everywhere. The overall execution of this drama including direction, writing, performance is definitely to the level of excellency and I would obviously recommend y'all to watch this. MUST WATCH!
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Thoroughly dissapointing
Hear me out.If I watched this show 4 or 5 years ago I would be impressed and would've probably given it a 9 or something. After all, "serious" shows with a dark undertone are somewhat rare in the kdrama landscape yet they're my absolute favorite thing to watch. Shows like Stranger and Signal tick all my boxes: Serious, investigative, no random forced love tropes, some subtle humor between the characters at times without ruining the seriousness, etc etc. Through the Darkness follows this pattern, so I should adore this show right? Right?
Well, here's where my problems with it come in. This show is essentially a way, way worse Mindhunter. Where Mindhunter is one of the best shows ever made, masterfully painting real world killers on your screen, showing how the earliest forms of profiling took form, how the agents came to certain conclusion, Through the Darkness also attempts to do this exact formula, and misses the mark on literally all of these points.
The killers are just your typical edgy skinny dudes who are angry and evil, the start of profiling in Korea apparently boils down to "I know you're smart, here's an American book, let's catch baddies", and the way the "genius" profiler comes to conclusions during cases in this show is just straight up laughable cause he always just magically solves the case cause he's just so smart.
I tried loving this, I really did. The first couple episodes I thought this was on track to be my next big kdrama love, but it then rapidly dawned on me that this was just laughable. I know comparing it to a show like Mindhunter which has a budget so big that even Netflix didn't wanna invest in it anymore, and a genius director like Fincher is maybe a bit harsh, but while watching this show it's clear how much inspiration they took from it, yet executed things you don't even need a huge budget for so annoyingly bad, that I just can't recommend this show.
If you like darker kdramas I guess you could give it a shot and see for yourself, the vast majority of other reviewers did seem to like it, but I will take the liberty to say that the average reviewer on this website, me 3+ years ago included, rates mediocre shows way too high compared to other websites.
5/10, dropped after 7 and a half episodes cause I just can't be bothered spending my free time on this any longer.
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This is typical mystery drama with good acting
Well if you are looking for a good investigation drama with nice acting and happy ending then this drama is for you.Good sides : Good acting, Good investigation, Good story telling (only criminals),
Happy ending,
Bad sides : No romance, Too much happy starting and ending, Less criminals story,
Less thrilling. No mystery at all.
In the end, I suggest if you are looking for a good (not best) detective drama for time passing then you can watch. But this drama isn't mystery or thrilling, just a good investigation.
Moreover, there are many better dramas than this. Like : Mouse, Love me if you dare, Vincenzo, Vagabond, Signal, Flower of evil, Healer etc. (All I watched)
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1Transcending Darkness
“Battle not with monsters, lest ye become a monster, and if you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.”~ Friedrich Nietzsche
Through the Darkness is a South Korean crime noir, detective investigation and psychological thriller which ranks amongst the best in the genre. The production is perhaps the most authentic in terms of story content, execution and depiction that I have seen in a K-drama. This is due primarily to the fact that it is based on the 2018 non-fiction book that deals extensively on the subject matter, Those Who Read the Minds of Evil.
Co-written by South Korea’s first criminal profiler Kwon Il Yong and journalist-turned-author Ko Na Mu, the true crimes detailed in the book provide the basis for the events depicted, bringing to life the notoriety of real-life serial killers that terrorised South Korea in the early 2000s. The serial killers presumably dramatised as fictional characters in the drama include Choi In Gu (child kidnapper and murderer), Kim Hae Sun (the Gochang serial killer), Yoo Young Chul (the infamous Raincoat Killer), Jeong Nam Gyu (the Seoul serial killer), and Kang Ho Sun (the luxury sedan serial rapist and murderer).
Spanning over a decade from 1998 through 2007 and revolving around Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Criminal Behaviour Analysis Team Officer, Inspector Song Ha Young, the narrative focuses on five major aspects of his role as a criminal profiler:
1. The backstory that shapes his calling as a police detective, in which he first encounters a dead body as a child in 1975 and the subsequent discovery of his “empathetic traits”, which are manifested throughout.
2. The establishment of the Behaviour Analysis Team (BAT) as pioneers of criminal profiling in South Korea that results in the initial prejudice and ignorance that the team encounters in the police force.
3. The interviews with incarcerated serial killers in a bid to gain further insights into their state of mind and understanding of their modus operandi.
4. Leading the investigations and manhunt for the elusive serial killers, including interrogations of suspected perpetrators.
5. The evolution of the BAT’s perceived functionality and effectiveness within the police force, culminating in the coming of a full circle where Song Ha Young’s methodology of criminal profiling is finally acknowledged by his peers.
Directed by Park Bo Ram in what is his first show as production director (PD) where previously he was the assistant director for The Fiery Priest and Avengers Social Club. This is the first screenplay ever written by Seol Yi Na while the production design comes courtesy of art director Noh Sang Soon. The prolific Kang Dong Yoon aka Gaemi serves as composer. Kwon Il Yong was consulted as an advisor during filming.
The character of Song Ha Young reportedly drew inspiration from Kwon Il Yong himself, while Kook Young Soo is based on Yoon Oe Chul, the current head of the Gyeongnam Police Agency's investigation department, who created the first criminal behaviour analysis team in South Korea.
What I Generally Liked
The multifaceted character-driven story that not only encompasses the various phases of development of the BAT and the chase for the infamous serial killers, but also the insights gleaned through the in-depth study of these utterly evil and twisted minds, from the perspective of Inspector Song Ha Young. At times depicted in the style of a docudrama biopic, Through the Darkness is very much reminiscent of the Netflix production, Mindhunter. In fact, both productions share a very similar DNA, in terms of the non-fiction source materials and the inception of the criminal profiling standard.
Where they both differ is in the tone of the storytelling - the K-drama is much more visceral and gritty, especially during some of the most intense interrogation scenes ever seen, with little to no focus on any form of levity. In addition to the perpetrators and the crimes committed, the drama shines the spotlight on the victims and the suffering endured by their families that provides profound emotional depth to the overarching storyline.
The characterization of Song Ha Young is one of the most fascinating yet unusual in this genre. This character comes across as extremely pleasant, affable, and compassionate, none of which are traits typical of a South Korean police detective in the 1990s that we’ve ever come across in K-dramas, much less appear as such.
He’s a very nice guy who happens to be way ahead of his time and unfortunately finds himself surrounded mostly by old-school neanderthals in the police department. But it is this quality that endears him to most viewers and also adds conviction to how a profiler should be; broad-minded, erudite, perceptive, sensible, professional and rational. There is ample room for growth which is beautifully imbued into his trajectory as he demonstrates all the suppressed human emotions while struggling to contain the abyss that had consumed him for far too long in his role as a criminal profiler.
As far as the technical execution is concerned, I have nothing but praises for the production qualities in showcasing the art direction and designs of the era, the stylistic visuals befitting of a crime noir, and the music score that heightens the intensity and suspense, in addition to creating the perfect atmospherics for the emotive moments. The songs composed for this drama are contemplative and equally exceptional in expressing the emotions experienced by the major characters throughout:
Lullaby by Nerd Collection
Can't Run Away by Isaac Hong
A Flower That Blooms Alone by Kim So Yeon
Leopard of Mt. Kilimanjaro by 4Men
In terms of the cast performances, there are a number that catches the eye. None more so than the lead actor himself, Kim Nam Gil. This man never ceases to amaze for he possesses the ability to convincingly portray a multitude of characterizations to perfection over the years and his performance here as Inspector Song Ha Young is no different. Without him, this drama wouldn’t have worked as well as it has. The understated subtlety through his articulation of the role to convey the necessary nuances that connects viewers ever so intimately to Song Ha Young’s personal struggles and emotional state as he battles not only evil on the loose but his inner demons as well. Kim Nam Gil is deserving of at least a nomination, if not an award, for this year’s Baeksang in recognition of his efforts in this drama.
The supporting cast is generally quite decent which manages to sustain the overall acting quality of the drama. Special mention goes to Jin Seon Kyu for his lively depiction of BAT chief Kook Young Soo. The friendship that he shares with Song Ha Young is quite heartwarming to observe where they both collaborate as a sort of dynamic duo. Kim So Jin as the level-headed Captain Yoon Tae Go is one of the better written and portrayed female characters that I've seen. I was also most impressed with Kim Jung Hee who portrays the serial killer Nam Ki Tae. His remarkable portrayal, from the appearance to the mannerism, is downright chilling to the core. Amongst all the serial killers shown, his version is the most compelling and disturbing.
Final Thoughts
Although I haven’t read the source material, the fact that Kwon Il Yong, co-author and the original criminal profiler, gave his seal of approval for this drama provides credibility to the narrative and depiction of key events. Perhaps the manner of the storytelling might seem slow-burn but such is the nature of criminal profiling that it is heavily reliant on much needed patience to collate the necessary data leading to an accurate inference that ultimately determines the profile of the killer.
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This review may contain spoilers
Facing the dark side of humanity. Slow Food for Thought. Intense. Powerful.
"Through the Darkness" takes an experimental approach within the crime genre. It is the serial adaptation of the autobiography of the first South Korean specialist in criminal psychology case analysis, Kwon Il-yong - about his pioneering work in the profiling of serial killers. His extensive research work was inspired by the methods of his American role model Robert Ressler of the FBI's Behavior Analysis Team, who also contributed to the introduction of the term 'serial killer'. The original title is "Those who read in the hearts of evil". Accordingly, the story essentially revolves around the approach of the young investigator to a 'new' form of criminalistic work: tracking down serial killers and their motives, backgrounds and intentions differs from the police work that was common up until then (1990s), since the selection of their victims appears at first glance to be arbitrary, motives are not immediately apparent and their 'gain' in the act is mainly of a psychologically peculiar nature. In order to be able to understand these psychological processes, a database of known psychological offender profiles first had to be created on the basis of comprehensive behavioral analyses. There is a lot of hard work behind it. It took a good decade before a separate unit for operative case analysis based on the American model could be created in South Korea, too - despite a great deal of opposition."Through the Darkness" is about approaching the darkest, most abysmal world of feelings and thoughts of the most brutal serial killers. While the story is also experimental in terms of pioneering the profiling itself, as far as KDrama goes, I mean mostly the way the real cases are processed and presented. There is no superficial plot about the story of the protagonists (let alone a romance). Nevertheless, relationships among colleagues develop over time. It is not 'suspenseful' in the sense of a thriller, because the perpetrators are always known in advance, at least to the viewers. Together with the investigative team, however, we set out to learn to understand the behavior in order to get a 'grab' for the investigation and arrest. This is quite fascinating and captivating. Inevitably, the viewers also enter the psychic worlds, which seem to be devoid of any humanity, and learn to grasp the pattern of loose threads.
In the beginning, the perpetrators were also just people (and not monsters). Not any longer though? When did something decisive change and why? The existential questions and the confrontation with his own darkness, which the protagonist is forced to face during his field research, do not go unnoticed by the viewers either. Kim Nam-gil embodies the lonely path of the profiler in a minimalist, haunting, and compelling way. Thrilling! But not exciting in the classic sense. Powerful. Deep. Slow Food for Thought. Highly valuable. But to be enjoyed in moderation (risks and side effects for the minds of those who 'read the hearts of evil' cannot be ruled out...).
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