Had I Not Seen the Sun S2 Review: Killer Romance Gone Wild

TL;DR

A serial killer drama so melodramatic it could teach telenovelas shame, and yet you’ll watch the whole thing like a raccoon digging through psychological trash.

A beautifully shot, emotionally chaotic crime drama that’s part thriller, part fever dream, and part romantic ASMR with a murderer. You’ll laugh, you’ll groan, you’ll question your taste, but you won’t stop watching.

Criminal? Yes. Messy? Absolutely. Entertaining? Against all odds… also yes.

Criminal Fantasy Fulfillment - “Yes, I’m Rooting for the Murderer, Leave Me Alone”

The show expects you, invites you, really, to sympathize with a man who has definitely sent people to the afterlife with less effort than it takes to microwave noodles. And here’s the scary part: it sometimes works. You start thinking, “Aw, he’s traumatised,” before remembering, “Hang on, he’s also a serial killer.”

Netflix loves this moral grey area because it means they don’t have to write clear heroes. And honestly? Watching sanctimonious characters get emotionally outgunned by the murderer is deeply satisfying. CRIMENET-approved.

Plot & Pacing - A Thriller Wrapped in a Therapy Blanket

The narrative moves at the speed of wet cardboard drying in the sun. It wants to be a psychological thriller, but often wanders off into dream sequences, flashbacks, and emotional monologues so long you forget who’s dead and who’s traumatised.

Season 2 tries to fix the pacing by adding urgency, but not enough to stop you shouting “GET TO THE POINT” at your TV like a pensioner yelling at pigeons.

Characters & Performances - The Killer Slaps, Everyone Else Naps

Tseng Jing-hua carries this show so hard he should invoice the cast for back surgery. He plays Li Jen-yao with that perfect “haunted but handsome” energy that makes half the internet want to fix him and the other half want to run.

Dialogue & Writing - Poetry, Occasionally; Beige, Frequently

Every so often, the show delivers a line so sharp you sit up and go: “Ooh, we’re cooking now.”Five minutes later, you’re drowning in conversations that feel like deleted scenes from a student film titled Sadness & Windows.

There’s a difference between atmospheric and repetitive. Season 2 tap-dances on that line like it’s doing community theatre.

World & Atmosphere - Gorgeous Gloom With Occasional Genre Confusion

Taiwan looks fantastic here; all rain, neon shadows, and ominous corridors where you absolutely should not trust anyone named after weather patterns.

The only problem? Every so often, the series slips in supernatural imagery like it’s auditioning for The Haunting of Serial Killer High. Pick a lane, Netflix. Preferably one with bloodstains.

Direction & Style - Half Masterclass, Half Midlife Crisis

Sometimes it’s brilliant: tight shots, oppressive mood, visuals that scream “this director definitely owns a turtleneck.”Other times, it feels like the camera operator left the tripod to make noodles and prayed the scene would sort itself out.

Soundtrack & Mood - Moody, Broody, Slightly Sleepy

The score is atmospheric, melancholic, and occasionally so repetitive you start humming it against your will. It doesn’t offend. It doesn’t shock. It just exists, like a polite ghost.

Morality & Madness - Deep or Just Dizzy?

The show thinks it’s saying something profound about trauma, guilt, and society’s failures. Sometimes it does. Sometimes it feels like your philosophy major friend cornered you at a party.

But hey, at least it’s never preachy. CRIMENET supports this fully.

Rewatchability/Bingeworthiness -Addictive Like a Mildly Illegal Snack

You won’t binge it because it’s perfect; you’ll binge it because it’s hypnotic. Season 2 improves the stakes, but you’ll still be pausing to ask, “Wait… what timeline are we in?” before immediately pressing play again.

Series Longevity - Cult Classic or Netflix Shelf Filler?

If it leans into the psychological weirdness, this thing could develop a cult following bigger than some religions. If it leans into the melodrama? It’ll fade into that vast Netflix wasteland of “shows people swear they’ll finish but never do.”

FAQ

Is Had I Not Seen the Sun Season 2 worth watching in 2025? Yes , if you enjoy watching criminals get more character development than the living.

Is it too slow? It’s slow enough to cook pasta between scenes, but at least the pasta will be al dente.

Is the serial killer hot? According to half the internet: inconveniently, yes.

Is it scary? Not “scream” scary, more “oh god, therapy is expensive” scary.

Is it confusing? Only if you have a functioning brain.

Is this better than other Netflix crime series? It tries harder, swings wilder, and occasionally lands like a drunken acrobat. We respect the chaos.