Secret Investigation Record (2010)

I honestly cannot praise this show enough. It's intelligent, creative, emotionally resonant, and beautiful to watch. With each episode clocking in at around 45 minutes, the writers did not waste a line or a scene. Each episode, with the exception of a few two-parters, is a stand alone story, and every detail, even a throw-away comment about an unsalted meal being bland, provides crucial clues in solving the mystery of the day. For that reason, the rewatch value of this series is high---there were many episodes I watched again immediately after finishing, simply so that I could retrace my steps for what I had previously missed. I'm reviewing this after my second run-through of the entire series, and I am impressed by how masterful the directing is and how nuanced the acting is. This is the first time I took notice of the editing in a drama, because here it truly adds to the depth of the show, heightening the tension and infusing moments with unexpected wit. Musically, the show presented an interesting fusion between the expected sageuk theme and electronic elements. However, what is even more admirable is the shows use of silence---it does not fear silence, and it's in the silent moments that the show really sings.



All of these elements come together in each episode to present excellent paranormal mysteries, whose threads are neatly tied up by the end of the 45 minutes while simultaneously unraveling the knit of a much larger mystery. However, to this larger mystery, the show does not offer an easy or concrete answer. Ultimately, this show is about moving away from the comfort of the known into the unknown where answers are rare and difficult to find. In the end, Secret Investigation Record leaves it to the viewer to interpret the events of the show, to find their own truth in the investigation of Inspector Kim Hyeung Do, Magistrate Jang, and Assistant Heo. It's a challenging watch, but the questions raised and the conversations sparked are well worth it.

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