Can ‘Nine Puzzles’ rescue Disney+ from slump?
The poster for the Disney+ series "Nine Puzzles," starring Son Suk-ku and Kim Da-mi / Courtesy of Disney+
New crime thriller picks up buzz days after release
Disney+ is pinning its hopes on the crime thriller “Nine Puzzles” as its recent slate of original content struggles to gain momentum.
The show, directed by renowned filmmaker Yoon Jong-bin, has begun to generate word-of-mouth buzz following a slow start, potentially offering a much-needed bright spot for the streaming platform after the shelving of “Knock Off,” a high-profile project starring Kim Soo-hyun.
Released May 21, “Nine Puzzles” follows profiler Ena (played by Kim Da-mi), the sole witness to an unsolved murder a decade ago, and detective Hansaem (Son Suk-ku), who remains suspicious of her.
Together, they investigate a new string of serial killings in this tightly constructed and immersive mystery thriller.
Yoon, best known for directing films such as “Nameless Gangster: Rules of Time” and “Narco-Saints,” blends heightened realism with stylized characters and a distinctly graphic-novel-like world.
In “Nine Puzzles,” he leans into a surreal tone while emphasizing unique character traits to create a layered and emotional narrative.
Much of the drama unfolds through the clashing perspectives of profiler Ena and detective Hansaem, each unraveling clues and confronting personal demons.
Kim Da-mi’s portrayal of the unpredictable yet brilliant Yoon stands out as her fast-thinking character solves crimes with striking clarity while remaining haunted by her own lost memories. Her oversized glasses and bold outfits amplify the manga-like personality crafted for the role.
Ena's repressed memories lie at the heart of the story, with viewers encouraged to piece together the puzzle through her fragmented past.
While Son Suk-ku’s character may feel familiar to fans of his earlier role in “A Killer Paradox,” his chemistry with Kim Da-mi adds necessary tension and depth.
Kim Da-mi as Ena in "Nine Puzzles" / Courtesy of Disney+
Strong international reception
Despite a slow start, the series began to climb in viewership rankings five days after its release. According to FlixPatrol, “Nine Puzzles” entered the global top 10 in Disney+ TV shows as of Saturday, topping charts in Korea and Japan.
International reviews have been favorable. U.S. entertainment outlet Decider described the show as “a curiosity-provoking thriller,” while The Review Geek praised its “bizarre and quirky tone” that brings new energy to the murder-mystery genre. On IMDb, the series holds an impressive average rating of 9.4 per episode.
Still, Disney+ continues to lag in the Korean streaming market. Following the success of “Moving” and “Lighting Store,” its subsequent originals like “Trigger,” “Gang Mae-gang” and “Hyperknife” failed to resonate.
The platform’s decision to shelve “Knock Off” amid controversy surrounding its lead, Kim Soo-hyun, only added to its woes.
As of April, Disney+ had about 2.32 million monthly active users in Korea, far behind Netflix’s 14.06 million, Coupang Play’s 6.82 million and Tving’s 6.5 million, according to analytics platform Mobile Index.
In a bid to turn things around, Disney+ will implement a policy restricting account sharing outside households starting June 24. Although “Nine Puzzles” is gaining traction, industry watchers say it has yet to reach the level of a breakout hit.
“Nine Puzzles” is set to release its final episodes, episodes 10 and 11, on June 4.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.