Like many great murder mysteries, Disney+’s K-drama thriller Nine Puzzles opens on a stormy night. Returning from school, Yoon Ena (Kim Dami) ambles into the inky darkness of her uncle’s house, where she now resides following the untimely demise of her parents. But it seems like death isn’t quite done with the teenager. In a pitch-black room lit only by the occasional flash of lightning, Ena quickly stumbles upon her uncle’s bloodied corpse, and is left alone in the world once more.

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And thus begins the decade-long mystery that underpins the narrative of the 11-episode thriller. With no clues beyond a reticent Ena and a strange puzzle piece, obsessive detective Kim Hansaem (Son Sukku) becomes convinced that the high schooler is responsible for her own uncle’s death. Only, he has no way to prove it. Ten years later, Ena becomes a gifted criminal profiler—though her past continues to haunt her and Hansaem, whom she now works with. But when another puzzle piece is uncovered, the unlikely pair are forced into a tense partnership where they seek to finally put the mystery to rest.

Like many viewers, the intriguing premise of Nine Puzzles is what drew actress Kim Dami to the series. Having made her breakthrough in the horror film series The Witch, Kim is no stranger to a dark mystery. But of the many scripts that have found their way into the actress’ hands, this was one she simply could not put down: “Once I started, I couldn’t stop. I kept thinking: ‘I want to find out what happens next.’”

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Having witnessed her uncle’s death, Kim described Ena as a rather “childlike” character—despite her happy-go-lucky demeanour, it’s clear that mentally, she’s become frozen in time after that traumatic moment. “She’s very intelligent and sharp, but at the same time, she also has a vulnerable side,” Kim explained. “Ena comes across as someone who always does things her own way and acts on impulse based on her feelings, but she does have deeper intentions beneath that facade.”

While Kim was enamoured with the complexities of her character, Son had different motivations for joining the series. A self-proclaimed fan of series director Yoon Jongbin—a multi-hyphenate who has written and directed blockbusters like Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time and Kundo: Age of the Rampant—he jumped at the opportunity to work together. “I felt incredibly honoured when I heard that he wanted to cast me for the role. I couldn’t believe someone like him would be interested in working with me,” said Son, adding that his admiration for Yoon was the main reason he decided to take on the role.

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When it came to fleshing out the lead characters, Kim and Son share that their frequent conversations with each other and their director helped them approach their roles with confidence. “Director Yoon is incredibly clear and concise when giving his direction,” Kim explained. “His confidence was so clear during the shoot and it helped quash any doubts I had about my performance.”

“In my previous projects, I was more vocal about sharing my ideas,” Son continued. “But for [Nine Puzzles], I focused more on listening to everyone, from costuming and production design to different department heads, and drew inspiration from the input that I felt viewers would find new and fascinating.”

Although suspense and mystery drive the plot of Nine Puzzles, it’s the unique relationship between Ena and Hansaem that form its backbone. “They’re suspicious of each other, but also end up cooperating with each other. As the cases unfold, they begin to influence each other, and it’s enjoyable to watch how their relationship evolves,” Kim explained. 

As the suspicion that underpins their dynamic finally begins to fade, it’s replaced by trust—one that mirrors Kim and Son’s own relationship as co-stars. While Nine Puzzles marks the pair’s first project together, Kim shares that they wasted no time getting comfortable through conversations about the series and their characters, and often helped each other through difficult scenes. “I was able to rely on him, and he supported me a lot, so I was grateful to be able to work with him,” she said.

While murder mysteries are plenty, both in and out of the K-drama world, it’s clear to see how the two actors’ care and dedication towards their roles—as well as Director Yoon’s clear vision—has resulted in a worthwhile addition to the tried-and-true genre in the form of Nine Puzzles.

All 11 episodes of “Nine Puzzles” are now streaming on Disney+.