Nine Puzzles – K-drama Episode 8 Recap & Review
Episode 8 of Nine Puzzles begins with Cheol-jin heading out on his yacht in Jeju. It cuts to him dozing in the middle of the sea. Someone shows up and he freaks out.
At present, the Hangang cops are told about I-na's arrest. She refuses to say anything and is her nonchalant and playful self which frustrates Han-saem. Even Captain Yang and Chief Hyun show up and try to help her but she finds it odd that Yang is vouching for her innocence.
Surprisingly, Dr. Hwang and Dr. Lee are in Jeju for the former's seminar on darkness and retaliation. Han-saem reaches out to them and they show up as well in hopes that I-na will talk to them. I-na simply gives the latest puzzle piece to Lee to hand to Han-saem. The piece shows a man in a burger-eating competition.
Han-saem asks Yang again why he didn't mention the puzzle at Reporter Lee's crime scene. Yang claims he didn't trust Han-saem since he is close to I-na. And Yang still insists that she is hiding something.
At his wits' end, Han-saem begs I-na to help him understand her motives but she continues to goof around. However, she gives him a lead for her alibi – the taxi service.
The murder took place between 5 pm and 8 pm and I-na left the yacht at 5 pm. While at a red light, the puzzle piece was delivered.
Once I-na is cleared, she tells Han-saem her plan. The killer has been leading her and for once, she decided to call the shots. She framed herself for Cheol-jin's murder as she knows the killer wants her free and alive for his game. That means whoever tried to help her is the killer or the accomplice. The suspects include Chief Hyun, Captain Yang, Dr. Lee and Dr. Hwang. Han-saem comments that he also brought Choi San to Jeju with him.
Back in Seoul, I-na questions Dr. Lee about her presence in Jeju. Lee realises she is a suspect and plays along. I-na finds it odd that Lee stuck with a difficult case like hers for 10 years. Lee simply claims that she wanted to one-up I-na's previous therapist, Dr. Hwang who failed to help. Before I-na leaves, she snoops around Dr. Hwang's room.
Meanwhile, Han-saem starts looking into the suspects, the first one being Captain Yang. He speaks to Yang's former partner at Mapo precinct. Apparently, Yang was mysterious and unfriendly. The one time they had drinks, Yang ran out, claiming his sibling was in trouble. But he doesn't have a sibling as he comes from an orphanage. It was the night Dong-hoon died and when Yang returned, he was wet from the rain.
Matters worsen as the bar they were at is Jinhui Bar, the one at the crossroads to Dong-hoon's house. Han-saem realises Yang could have taken the shortcut and reached Dong-hoon's before I-na.
Officially, Chief Hyun puts up a task force for the puzzle killer case and has Dong-su lead it. I-na briefs them about the six puzzle pieces, how the murders are connected and that three more murders are left to complete the puzzle.
After work, Han-saem and I-na drink while discussing Yang and how he may be the puzzle killer. Han-saem cites LA Confidential, his favourite movie and banters with her as she has not seen it. And she tells him of her meeting with Cheol-jin.
A flashback shows I-na telling Cheol-jin about the puzzle killer. Since he oversaw The One City construction, he is sure he is the next victim. He mentions the Yoons and she is surprised that he was close to her parents. He also comments how she was supposed to be close to his son, Yeong-hun.
Before the next debrief, Han-saem tells Dong-su that he suspects Yang. During the meeting, the cops learn that Cheol-jin was choked to death. Yang notices that Han-saem is missing and Dong-su is vague.
Yang knows that Han-saem is looking into him courtesy of his Mapo contact. He is not deterred that Han-saem suspects him and declares he will find the killer.
He then meets I-na and asks what she saw from the rooftop when Reporter Lee was killed. She lies and he decides to wait till she comes clean.
It doesn't look good for him as flight records show him in Jeju a month ago and then on the day Cheol-jin died. Desperate, Han-saem has I-na's superior attempt hypnosis on Choi San. And as predicted, he recalls Yang pocketing the missing handkerchief from Yoon-su's crime scene.
At the end of Nine Puzzles Episode 8, Han-saem storms up to Yang who pulls out the handkerchief.
The Episode Review
Nine Puzzles Episode 8 proves that the show does its best work when focusing on the mystery rather than its characters' unique traits. I-na once again acts all quirky and different which frustrates the other characters till she comes clean that it is all an act. But it doesn't make sense for her to behave in such a manner even when she is alone with Han-saem who, by the way, she trusts wholly.
It adds to the argument that her neurodivergence is a plot device and aesthetic for that eccentric and quirky tone the director is going for. It ruins an otherwise completely solid murder mystery with its dark and sombre atmosphere, the emotional music and the actors' performances.
Despite not investing much in the dynamic between Yang and Han-saem, Son Suk-u gives viewers a believable and heartwrenching portrayal of Han-saem who is heartbroken by Yang's betrayal. It is just a shame that the show doesn't trust its story and its cast to give us a thrilling experience and keeps pushing for the quirky angle.
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