The first part of the Taiwanese original Had I Not Seen The Sun on Netflix was extremely intriguing and set the stage up for something riveting to follow. However, after having seen the whole show, I must admit it was only the first part that was genuinely compelling. While the show appears to be a dark and gritty story about the mindset of a serial killer angered by the pain his first love went through, the whole thing is more focused on the relationship between Tien-Ching and Jen-Yao than anything real about the murders. It’s true we already knew the motive, and we already knew that he did deserve to be in prison, because this is a revenge story after all. But 10 more episodes of a messed-up plot is a bit too much when you already have enough of a premise to get by.
Part 2 opens just where the previous part left off, with Jen-Yao meeting Tien-Ching, a blind woman who reminds him of Hsiao-Tung. Now, it seems like a good idea for Jen-Yao to move on and live a regular life, but obviously that’s not what happens. The show definitely goes into the romance between these two characters, but it’s obviously more focused on other parts of their lives. And of course, this is a twisted story, but you’ll get the answers you’re looking for within the first 5 episodes of part 2, which is why I wonder if the show would’ve benefited from a 6-episode part 2. It definitely feels like it’s been dragged on after episode 5, and the introduction of new characters for added shock value simply feels forced on.
To be honest, the thing that really got me excited to watch the show was to understand why Jen-Yao agreed to talk to Pin-Yu, and if you don’t pay enough attention, you might not catch an important detail that could either give you your answer or confuse you further. This was the most interesting part of the show, but part 2 takes way too long to give us the answer, making it not worth the wait. Still, despite all of this, I can’t say I didn’t enjoy the show. Despite the messy pacing, some things not making sense, and the dark and gloomy lighting, the show still sets itself apart. The plot is unique, but the execution is certainly a bit underwhelming. Additionally, I don’t think today’s audience has the patience to sit through 20 episodes, even if they’re split into two parts, because it has to be really attention-holding to feel like it’s worth your time.
But the trouble is, if you’ve seen part 1, you have to watch part 2 to know what’s happened, and you have to sit through all 10 episodes to get all your answers. I think the first 5 episodes are definitely exciting, and if the show had incorporated the second half of part 2 into those 5 episodes, then it might’ve been a really good show. Also, some things don’t get explained really well, like why Jen-Yao calls himself a monster; it doesn’t necessarily make sense, and that entire bit doesn’t sit well with the character we know him to be, either. The actors all do a great job, and they were good in the first part 2. The villains are just as pathetic, and despite “Clair De Lune” being everyone’s favorite out-of-context background score, for this show, it works.
I think, in particular, this show is trying really hard to be different by incorporating a cascade of twists throughout the run time. However, if there had been more time spent on the plot instead, it would’ve definitely been as intriguing as it was hoping to be. Ultimately, by the end of 10 episodes, whatever you felt was compelling also loses its holding power because so much else is happening. However, I mentioned this in the first part as well, but I appreciate that this show does a good job in showcasing the assault respectfully. The show gives us two sides of the coin, because some of the people involved definitely regretted what they did, while the ringleader, of course, continued to remain a monster. This is interesting because it’s a reminder that not everything is black and white; there are a lot of grey areas.
I think the whole plot with the director of the documentary was unnecessary, though, and it comes across as a forceful twist that is completely unnecessary. He can be interested in Jen-Yao without context, too, because he is, after all, a filmmaker, and there didn’t need to be any explanation there. I think instead of focusing so much on the things that happened between 2014 and 2023, which we already got the context for in part 1, the show should’ve gone back to the interview format and given us more interactions between Jen-Yao and Pin-Yu, ultimately making its big reveal there.
So, at the end of the day, is it worth your time? I’m not entirely sure. I can’t say I didn’t enjoy Had I Not Seen The Sun, but having seen both parts, I think the second part doesn’t live up to the first one, making the whole thing a somewhat wasted opportunity. I definitely don’t think it’s a bingeable story, but at the same time, if you take too much of a break, because of the sheer number of characters, you might end up losing track of what’s happening and who’s who. Additionally, given this is a thriller show, the thriller part takes the back seat while it’s more about drama this time around, so tread cautiously. I’d give Had I Not Seen The Sun part two 2.5 out of 5 stars as opposed to the 3.5 of part 1. Make of that what you will. But if you’ve seen both parts, do let us know your thoughts in the comments.
