Syndicated returns with an episode of Nine Puzzles, the freshly released South Korean detective thriller about two criminal profilers, one of whom is a murder suspect herself, attempting to solve a series of serial killings in which mysterious puzzle pieces are being left behind at the scene of the crime.

We talk about atmospheric storytelling, international adaptions, how we depict memory as physical space in visual media and, obviously, the Kiefer Sutherland starring political thriller tv show: Designated Survivor.

We covered the first episode of Nine Puzzles, just entitled Episode 1. Yoon Dong-hoon, a superintendent police officer and artist is found dead on the floor of his home by his niece, Yoon E-na, with an awl jammed into the back of his neck. Police interrogate Yoon E-na, but due to a lack of evidence and Yoon’s disappearing memory, are unable to satisfactorily close the case. One clue is left fully unexplained, a singular black and white illustrated  puzzle piece found on the scene of the crime. 10 years in the future, Yoon, now a criminal profiler herself, solves a murder involving a similarly amnesiac child. Just as the case is cracked, Yoon receives an envelope containing a black and white puzzle piece. The episode ends with Yoon frantically reaching out to Kim by phone.