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Had I Not Seen the Sun is a Taiwanese series from 2025 that is currently generating a lot of buzz for its psychological tension, crime drama genre, and narration style. But hold on, is it worth your while to watch it?
If you are a fan of slow-burning mystery series that come with intricate plots and emotional detective stories, then Had I Not Seen the Sun is the best one for you, a must-see series for sure.
The plot of the series is contemporary and deals with themes like trauma, memory, and ethics. It does not contain any elements of action or typical horror-story features that contribute to suspense or interest. It builds suspense and interest through the characters' psychology and ethics, which unfold slowly. The series contains secrets that are disclosed every episode, which forces the viewer to participate in the plot rather than the story being passively conveyed to the viewer.
Plot summary of Had I Not Seen the Sun
The main upshot of Had I Not Seen the Sun is a confession made by Li Jen-yao, who is a 25-year-old boy and killer of several high school friends, getting him the notoriety of ‘Rainstorm Killer’ in the media. This confession triggers a complex investigation that is carried out both in the present and through flashbacks, uncovering Jen-yao's school life, his friends, enemies, and secrets.
A documentary research assistant, Chou Pin-yu, investigating the Jen-yao case, becomes the key figure in uncovering important clues. Through the assistance of interviewees, dream images, and distortions of memory, she relates the dots between past and present events.
Conversely, a mysterious character, Chiang Hsiao-tung, emerges as a link between the traumatic incident that occurred during Jen-yao’s high school days and his current investigation, adding an element of suspense to his story as well.
The action in the narrative to be told now alternates between the current imprisonment of Jen-yao, Pin-yu's search for information, and the nostalgic theme of high school, in terms of themes of trauma, guilt, and moral obligation.
The narrative invites the audience to think about the ways in which past events that have not been settled still influence human actions.
Release structure
Had I Not Seen the Sun was released in two installments by Netflix:
Part 1: November 13, 2025
Part 2: December 11, 2025
The staggered release allows the audience to gradually digest the complexity of the plot and the tension.
Genre and narrative style
The saga is officially categorized as a crime drama and thriller. What makes Had I Not Seen the Sun different from the rest of thrillers that rely on action or sudden shocks is:
Multilayer storytelling: It is the rotation of the past and present happenings.
Character-driven suspense: The extent to which there is psychological suspense increases with the development of the characters and the psychology that drives their behavior.
Moral-ethical conflicts experienced by the characters: In this series, the emergence of new information drags the characters into wrestling with the decisions they have made in the past.
This enhances the show's reflective nature and allure, thereby demanding full concentration and contemplation from the audience.
Themes and psychological depth
Had I Not Seen the Sun reveals numerous themes:
Trauma and memory: Gradually exposing emotional wounds through flashbacks and unresolved conflicts originating from high school.
Identity and guilt: Jen-yao's confessions are paths to morality, accountability, and self-awareness.
Love and loss: The fine impact of people's relationships on motivations and choices.
The blurring of morals: The characters are left to grapple with the moral issues they are embroiled in, even as they also pay the price for their past deeds.
Visual and tonal style
The visuals characterize the series through dark moods and atmospheric cinematography, with the psychological and moral aspects represented through color choices and extremely soft sound design.
The show does not depend on visual grandeur for its storytelling. It builds suspense and brings out the characters' feelings, thus matching the story's slow-burning plot.
Who should watch
Ideal audience:
Enthusiasts of psychological crime dramas and slow-burning thrillers.
Those who like intricate plots and morally complex characters.
People who are attracted to narratives about trauma, guilt, and connections from the past.
Less suitable audiences:
Those looking for fast-paced, action-packed thrillers.
The viewers who expect only light or escapist content.
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Also read: When will Had I Not Seen the Sun Part 2 premiere? Details explored
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