Crime Puzzle (2021)

Great start, then downhill for me

I was so excited when the subs were finally out and quickly started binging. I honestly enjoyed the fast-paced plot development and amazing acting and OST, but around episodes 7-8, I started to get frustrated and annoyed with how the writer took the story.

With an intriguing plot taking place in a prison and with a criminal profiler, I was pulled into this 10-episode drama. They began it quickly and introduced important characters well. I was held in suspense as I learned more about the secrets of Professor Han as the puzzle pieces were revealed. As it is rated R, there was a lot, A LOT, of blood and violence- even more than what you'd see in OCN dark dramas so you've been warned. I wondered at times if that was really necessary, if it was a tad overboard. That wasn't the killing point for me though. It was the plot development.

While it continued to be fast-paced, the bad guys kept winning. I prefer my crime suspense dramas to be more of a win-lose-win formula but this one was just lose-lose-lose-partial win. When the bad guys keep winning, as a viewer, I got upset and frustrated. Witnesses would get killed over and over again. Close loved ones would die. Practically nothing was in Professor Han's favor, up until the finale. The Violent Crimes team with Yu Hee was essentially useless to Professor Han. They were just plot devices to reveal more about the full puzzle. Despite suspecting a mole in the team, Yu Hee continued to disclose confidential info to them, causing witnesses to be killed. And every time, they got away with it. The logic just didn't really make sense halfway through.

As for characters, Yoon Gye Sang did phenomally as Professor Han. I have no complaints. He's the only reason I pushed through these 10 hours. He showed the anger, grief, sadness, helplessness, so on... perfectly on point. My heart ached for him when his loved ones were killed. This man went through so much and had to seek revenge himself too. His two sidekicks and Doctor Min Jae in prison were more helpful than everyone else outside. Speaking of them, these actors were amazing and I loved seeing their scenes. I loved it when Min Jae would call Professor Han "Hyung-nim." The acting of Go Ah Sung was alright, though her crying scenes were a bit stiff. As Yu Hee, she seemed to either be shocked or crying- not much else.

I would not recommend this unless you want to feel frustrated until the very end.

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