Kim Da Mi and Son Suk Ku Deliver Outstanding Performances In New Crime/Thriller "Nine Puzzles"
- Jon Lui
- Jun 5
- 3 min read
Becoming Disney+'s most-watched Korean drama of 2025, Nine Puzzles delivers an epic nod to top criminal profiling shows that came before it, as Kim Da Mi and Son Suk Ku anchor a solid storyline. We give you five reasons why Nine Puzzles should be at the top of your summer K-drama watchlist!
Synopsis
Driven by a traumatic past, criminal profiler Yoon E Na (Kim Da Mi) excels in her job as a member of the Seoul Metropolitan Police's criminal analysis team. Working with Kim Han Saem (Son Suk Ku), a detective who suspects her of being her uncle's murderer 10 years ago, they work to uncover the truth of what happened that dreadful night. As they edge closer to the truth, each murder they solve reveals a piece of the puzzle. Could all the murders be connected? Check out the trailer!
Got your attention? Here are five reasons why Nine Puzzles is worth your time!
Kim Da Mi's "strange" character portrayal is actually on purpose
According to director Yoon Jong Bin, Kim Da Mi's character, Yoon E Na, was described as "'cartoonish' or 'comic book-like'" during a press conference for the series on May 14. Kim Da Mi added, "There was a distinctive and strange feeling, and acting within those spaces felt new and fun." Son Suk Ku described the series as "strange", and you can't define the series as a "mystery" as it "feels like there's more to it."
Yoon E Na and Son Suk Ku's character, Kim Han Saem gives out a "weird, but it works" kind of vibe as you watch the series. The two somehow "click" although often their interactions are awkward to the point that they seem to hate each other (while being on the same team).
The storyline had us hooked from the beginning
Right from the start of the series, we see Yoon E Na walking home from school and is faced with the bloody corpse of her late uncle lying face down on the living room floor. This scene becomes key in opening the trauma that she faces as the series progresses. As E Na dives deeper into her uncle's case, her traumatic past begins to unravel, and we get to see how she has coped with this issue throughout her life.
The gripping storytelling, along with superb camerawork, is easy to follow and makes it wonderful to watch!
Detective work hasn't been this entertaining!
As E Na and Han Saem continue to work together, solving a string of murders, the thought process and meticulous detective work are brilliant! If you love a good mystery series, Nine Puzzles brings out some fun police work reminiscent of the Nancy Drew mystery novels.
Park Gyu Young is smart and gorgeous!
Acting as Yoon E Na's anchor and psychiatrist, Park Gyu Young's role as Doctor Lee Seung Joo is the constant in Yoon E Na's life. Her sessions with E Na help E Na with dealing with her emotions as well as being the only person in her life willing to listen to her.
Once you start, you can't stop (well...sort of!)
Although slow at first, Nine Puzzles gains momentum towards the middle of the series! Once it hooks you in, you don't want to stop! (*Spoiler alert!) After episode 6, we start to learn how the first three murders are connected, and this is where the fun begins! E Na and Han Saem start to trust each other and work together. With their ambition and curiosity, these two make a formidable team.
Have we convinced you yet? Nine Puzzles is worth watching! With a slow beginning, the show picks up momentum and never lets up!
Nine Puzzles premiered on May 21, 2025, with the first six episodes, followed by three additional episodes on May 28, 2025. The final two episodes were released on June 4, 2025.
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