I just finished watching all eleven episodes of "Nine Puzzles" and I am still thinking about it!! Created by Lee Eun Mi and directed by Yoon Jong Bin, this series gives you everything you want in a psychological thriller: complicated characters, smart plotting, and an ending that makes you question everything you thought you knew.
The show starts with a brutal murder witnessed by Yi-Na, our main character played by Kim Da Mi. What begins as one terrible event slowly turns into a story spanning ten years, involving serial killings, corrupt powerful people, and psychological games that go much deeper than you'd expect.
The visual style is incredible. Every shot looks purposeful, mixing old-school noir with modern thriller elements. The color red shows up everywhere, connecting characters and crime scenes in ways that only make sense as the story unfolds. It's the kind of show where you notice new details every time you watch.
Kim Da Mi plays criminal profiler Yoon Yi-Na in a way that's both fascinating and unsettling. Her childlike behavior and strange way of speaking seemed weird at first, but I realized these aren't just quirks - they're signs of deep trauma. Her memory problems and sudden mood changes suggest something much more serious than regular PTSD, and Da Mi handles these complex layers really well.
Son Suk Ku is amazing as Detective Kim Han-Saem. His careful, methodical approach to solving cases balances perfectly with Yi-Na's intuitive way of understanding criminals. The tension between his suspicion of Yi-Na and his growing trust in her creates some of the show's best moments.
The big reveal of Dr. Lee Seung-Joo as the killer genuinely shocked me, even though looking back, the clues were there all along. Park Gyu Young's performance in the final episodes is terrifying - she goes from a calm psychiatrist to someone whose careful madness comes from being abandoned as a child.
What makes "Nine Puzzles" better than typical serial killer shows is how each murder serves a bigger purpose. The victims aren't random - they're all connected to a horrible conspiracy involving child trafficking and abuse centered around an amusement park called Dreamland. Each puzzle piece left at crime scenes isn't just a signature; it's a symbol of justice for crimes that were never properly punished.
The show explores how trauma can turn victims into killers, and how systems that should protect innocent people, can create monsters instead. It's dark stuff, but handled well.
The direction and camera work deserve praise too. The opening sequence works like a puzzle itself, hiding clues that only make sense when you watch again. The difference between Dr. Lee's perfect clinic and her messy home shows her broken mental state.
The show isn't perfect though. The ending, while emotionally satisfying, leaves some logical holes. We never actually see how Dr. Lee carried out her murders, which feels like a missed chance to understand her psychology better. Yi-Na showing up at multiple crime scenes stretches believability, even for a show like this.
Some people might find Yi-Na's childlike behavior annoying rather than sympathetic, but the kdramas she's been in, I personally felt she is always in unconventional characters, and the show's slow pace in early episodes could test your patience. But if you're willing to stick with the slow build, the payoff is worth it.
The final episodes change how you see everything that came before. Yi-Na's visual change - finally wearing grown-up clothes instead of childlike outfits - perfectly shows her healing process. The emotional confrontation between Yi-Na and Dr. Lee explores ideas about justice, revenge, and whether people who do terrible things can be redeemed.
The unclear ending, with a new puzzle appearing in the final moments, suggests either a copycat killer or a cycle that can't be easily broken. It's the kind of ending that will have me thinking about every detail until a possible second season comes out.
"Nine Puzzles" works because it respects its audience's intelligence. It doesn't explain everything, trusting viewers to put together clues and understand why characters act the way they do. The series manages to be both a compelling mystery and a deep look at trauma, justice, and healing.
Watch on Hulu