In the 1990’s, as crime trends and investigative processes were shifting in the United States, a Korean detective advocates to follow their example by establishing a Criminal Behavior Analysis team in Korea.  With just 3 members on their team and no respect from fellow officers, they begin interviewing current prisoners and monitoring new crimes.  And when a new murder seems to fit the criteria they have gathered, their efforts begin to pay off.  But putting together procedures in such a new field isn’t easy. And the emotional stress of looking into the minds of cold and calculating murderers on a daily basis begins to take its toll.  

Jin Seon Kyu as Kook Young Soo

Kook Young Soo is a “goose dad” who sent his wife and children to the US to study.  With nothing but time on his hands, he has been following American crime and investigation trends.  Based on his research, he believes that it is inevitable that Korea will soon have it’s first serial killer.  He talks his superiors into letting him open a Criminal Behavior Analysis team, and recruits Ha Young to work with him.  Although, the other departments refuse to cooperate with him or take his methods seriously, Young Soo is determined to prove that criminal profiling is an effective and worthwhile style of investigation.  And as his predictions start to become reality, he slowly begins to win the respect of his superiors and co-workers.  

Kook Young Soo is passionate and intelligent.  As the supervisor of the Criminal Behavior Analysis team, he is dedicated, not only to developing the procedures for their unit, but also developing strong relationships with his two co-workers.  Jin Seon Kyu is so likeable as the caring and paternal team leader.  He is always professional and yet undoubtable warm.  My only complaint is that I sometimes felt like his character was completely overshadowed by Ha Young’s all-encompassing personality.  Young Soo himself didn’t get as much character development as I think he deserved.    

Ryeoun as Jung Woo Joo

Jung Woo Joo is the only other person assigned to work on the Criminal Behavior Analysis team.  He is young and enthusiastic and has an honest interest in criminal profiling.  For the most part, he is responsible for holding down the fort in the office while the others are out.  But his work behind the scenes is indispensible in making their team run smoothly.  

 ♥ True Story

I loved the fact that this drama was based on an actual autobiography.  To get to see through the eyes of someone who lived and worked during a pivotal time in law enforcement is fascinating.  I saw plenty of comments where people were talking about how elements of this series seemed so unrealistic.  Word to the wise, while you can complain about certain production choices, unless you are willing to call this intelligent man a liar, we can’t criticize the methods and cases this story relates.  For me, this knowledge added to the dark reality of these crimes.

 ♥ Unique Style

This kind of true crime style is unusual for a kdrama.  I was very impressed with the tone and direction of this series.  The dark scenes and slow moving action gave this story a very specific feel that matched the tone of the story perfectly.  It felt like we, the audience, were also treading through the murky minds of sinister villains.  While the vibe was undoubtably heavy, I think it was fitting for the difficult subject matter it tackled.  

Ha Young’s Mother

I wish we had seen more about Ha Young and his mother.  They included her character because obviously she was significant.  After the accident, we do see them spending more time together, so they  did experience some growth in their relationship.  But I would have liked to know more about their past.  Were they always distant or was there some turning point between them that made them keep their distance?  I felt like she could have given us more insight into his character.

 Lack of “Story”

At times, this drama felt more like a documentary than a series.  While I enjoyed the novelty of this approach, sometimes I missed having a bit more focus on the characters themselves, rather than the crimes and criminals.  It is a testament to the acting skills of this cast, rather than a criticism, that I was invested enough in the characters to want to know more about them. It seems like the stories of the characters themselves could be a whole other drama, but surely we could have had a few more peeks into the private lives of these fascinating personalities.  

“Through the Darkness” ends without any real conclusion, as true stories are prone to do.  Ha Young’s near-fatal accident finally brings him back from the precipice of darkness.  He takes time in the hospital to heal both physically and mentally, and comes back with a healthier perspective on work, life, and relationships.  The team solves another case and are finally receiving the credit they so deserve.  Their team and Yoon Tae Goo’s unit have finally struck a balance and found a way to build their teamwork together.  They celebrate the ending of their case by having a rooftop party at Tae Goo’s new apartment, with all of them laughing and drinking together.  After a time jump, we see the expansion of the Criminal Behavior Analysis team, with a whole group of new recruits.  The final scene shows Ha Young warning their current serial killer that they will eventually catch up to him.  We are reminded that for our heroes, life and work go on, but unfortunately so does the terror of senseless deaths.