This review may contain spoilers
outstanding acting, classic drama story
I can imagine this drama is not to everyones liking as , for a K-drama, it is rather dark and at some points uncomfortable.Although it has some very minor flaws I find it rather outstanding all in all
+ Seo In-Guk is simply fantastic in this role. I didn't know him before and after having watched some dramas for the past two years I think this was the first male lead who completely convinced me to be that person he portrays. When I was watching this I really believed this very person would exist like this, and I could not imagine him to be any way different. There are other actors I like and they are good, but in their roles I always see the real person they are, when you watch interviews with them.
Here it was very authentic. The fact his character was difficult and at times mean and cold made it even more realistic for me, as in general, people tend to be like this. They have their personal troubles and deficites, they can be mean and sometimes, not always, they might have a good side too. But in the end, they are caught in their own ways and can't get out of their own skin and troubles. And that often leads into disaster, for themselves and if one gets close to them, for others too. That is what is shown here for me and that makes it believable. Uncomfortable, dark, but believable.
+Jung So-Min was also convincing in her role. She portrayed very well the inner struggles you might have in such situation, the insecurities you might have from hard times in your childhood, the way things went ok for her with being adopted by her 'brother', but how her past still creeps back into her life and drwas her to Kim Moo-young. This drams is also good at showing certain rules of behaviour and manners that one has to know about concerning Korea. Some criticised that Yoo Jin-Kang 'betrayed' her 'best friend' Baek Seung-Ah, but was Seung-Ah really her best friend? I don't think so. It is not explained fully how long these two women have known each other but it is clear that Jin-Kang is older than Seoung-Ah, yet, probably because of her considered poor and bad family background Jin-Kang is almost submissive in her behaviour towards Seoung-Ah - which is quite exceptional given an obvious age difference between the two. If Seoung-Ah wasn't filthy rich and Jin-Kang had a better background, it would normally be the other way around. And Seoung-Ah is using this fact in a gullibly naive way all the time. Kim Moo-young even points it out (and rightly so) when he tells Jin-Kang that not even after Seoung-Ahs mother hit Jin-Kang in public and offended her deeply (and referrs to exactly that poor seen background of hers), Seoung-Ah doesn't even apologise in her next text message but just once again wants to use Jin-Kang as her servant and messenger. Is that Jin-Kangs best friend? I wouldn't think so. It's more a realtionship of power and inferiority as a given by the strong Korean conventions. Was Seoung-Ah a victim? Yes, certainly, a victim of her greedy mother and to some extent of Moo-Young, but she was not a victim of Jin-Kang in my opinion.
I found the almost creepy but strong attraction between Jin-Kang and Moo-Young very understandable, and I could relate to it personally having had such relatioinship myself too in the past. I fully understood for many reasons why those two couldn't get away from each other and also why it was in some way doomed.
+ I think this is still the only drama where the communication between the leads is realistic, as in how it really happens between people who are attracted to each other but come from difficult backgrounds. There is not love at first sight but a strong attraction. There is lots of banter and even anger and frustration - but always still strong attraction that is even growing despite the anger. The conversations these two have in the restaurant scenes and particularly at the end of episode 6 in front of Moo-Young's house? That was a scene so realistic I even held my breath the whole time, eyes wide open because I have been in such situation myself, pretty much exactly like shown here, with even a at least similar talk that left me both attracted and angry and confused and frustrated. Most K-drama couple conversations are dreamy and cute and how everyone would love them to happen but they never really do. This here, that felt real to me many times during many episodes.
+I loved the mood and the small things in the drama. The way Kim Moo-Youngs place looked, the light, the mood. His feelings of desperation, resignation, anger and still the need to somehow connect and try to understand at least some other person. That does not justify all his behaviours of course, but I found it credible. And again, when I was younger I would have fallen exactly for this type too, I would probably even have stood in front of that door of his like Jin-Kang in the end, crying in desperation and beg him to open that door, because I didn't understand his Jekyll & Hyde actions after a steady emotional up and down. But it is exactly like certain real relationships are, and how they end unhappy in one or the other way. And how they are filling you up with an almost hysterical happiness and emotions you wouldn't have considered possible for you, and at the same time they are like energetic black holes exhausting you to an incredible level.
- if I would want to criticise anything then it would firstly be that some circumstances are rather unlikely. The idea that these two kids where from Haesan, one of them got lost somewhere and all of them live almost aroud the corner in a megacity like Seoul more than 20 years later and meet like that - it is very unlikely.
- the scene with the origin of the burn marks wasn't done in a good way. The kids were fully clothed and if that water would have hit them, they would have had some minor burns, but never such large scars for the rest of their lives.
-the whole stabbing scene and the follow-up was a little unbelievable . So Yoo Jin-Kook loses his police cool and while he later says he felt sorry for Moo-Young, he suddenly decided to stab him on a public road. Jin-Kook confesses to his boss who...does nothing actually, doesn't accept his resignation. Then his little sister just acts rather normal after shortly screaming at her brother? Not believable. Her reaction at the first moment was right, she said he must be crazy, and she was scared then and angry especially because she is very much in love with Moo-Young. The next thing would certainly have been that Jin-Kang leaves that house. Jin-Kang would have been afraid of her own brother after his rather surprising and totally crazy actions. I would have wished that whole part would have been done differently or they would have left it out. It would have made much more sense to me if Jin-Kook would have gotten into a rage and then into a fight with Moo-Young, if he had beaten him up maybe. But that stabbing with murder intentions was an unfitting twist here.
Summary: despite these flaws this drama touched me deeply, maybe really because I could relate to the main characters and this kind of relationship so personally.
I will certainly rewatch it at later as this kind of human darkness draws me in sometimes.
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I don't know why, but I fell in love with this show right in the first 5min. I loved the idea of a guy who has always been cold due to an incident and just uses everyone developing into someone with feelings who has the desire to protect what he cares for. The story overall was beautiful as it was slow-paced but not slow enough where you would drop it as it provoked thought and you felt the emotion alongside the characters.
The cast was a good decision as Seo Kang Joon played the role perfectly as the anti-hero in the story as it is always nice to take a break from the nice heroic ML. Jung So Min also did good job alongside him as she played her role well but Seo Kang Joon still overall stood out to me even though the rest of the cast was good.
The music was a nice touch to it as it made you feel in the moment with perfect timing. The music was a positive aspect in the plot as I can't help but cry when I hear the music sometimes.
I rewatched this show twice and every time it was good still filling you with emotion and the story as you never get bored watching this show.
The ending of the show was beautiful in my opinion as I love the type of endings that are associated with these shows and this will always be one of my top shows.
Overall: 9.5/10
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But I follow dramas of Seo In Guk and Jung So Min, and have been waiting for a good kdrama to be released. It was hard to resist watching this, although the plot seemed heavy and the Japanese version was quite popular as well.
The plot in itself is intriguing at best, and paired with fittingly cast actors, their expressions of mixed emotions that need to be delivered as per the storyline, kept me waiting for the episode each week!
I never watched mysteries that haven't released fully yet, (because, annoying right!), However its hard not to look forward to what happens each day in Jin Kang's (female lead) and Moo Young's ( male lead) lives.
You end up getting so hooked to their lives and roles, you end up wondering what Moo Young's pace is, why he does what he does. It keeps you guessing and the chemistry between the two is unmistakably electric. But it's kindof push/pull and makes you want to punch the rest that comes in their ways, but what stands between the two is more than just people ; it's unforgotten lives and a misguided fate. Paths of some shouldnot have crossed; unfortunately cursed destinies.
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Could have been great, turned out annoying as hell
The male lead does great portraying the troubled, dangerous and mysterious ladykiller who may or may not have actually murdered someone. He is not a good person and is somewhat void of empathy or real emotions. He really brought the character to life, well done! The FL did alright in the beginning but as in a lot of K-dramas, the ladies turn into brainless idiots when it comes to romance. The constant back and forth between saying “I will never like you” and immediately showing up at his rooftop to confirm he’s not a terrible person is annoying to the point that I’m just skipping half the episode. What woman would date the guy that played her best friend and eventually caused her death? After the best friends passing I tried to finish one more episode, but unfortunately it all just got way too cringe.Redeeming point, the actor that plays the FLs brother is (as always) amazing! Most rounded character with actual range of emotions, brings some much needed lightness with the banter he has with his coworkers (the 2 that don’t hate him).
TL;DR: could have been great if the wildly unrealistic romance was just left out and this had focused more on the background mystery, psychological aspects of the trauma and consequences for their development in each character, and potential current murders
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Probably i have to rewatch it in the future without thinkg too much of the main lead acting.
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The Smile Has Left My Eyes
Sigh.I'm dropping this to protect my impression and reception of Jung So Min & Seo In Guk; two actors who I really like(d).
I was hesitant to start this drama as I thought it would be depressing. After eight episodes, I regret starting it because it is indeed depressing. I'm sure it's not fair of me to feel this way but I like the main actors less now than when I started the series. Not because their acting is bad but I just don't like the character's personality or arc, nor the relationships between the characters. It really strikes me as some kind of toxic cult vibe, which they try to romanticize but I just don't buy it. Perhaps the second half has some sort of redemption arc with a happy ending but I'm not prepared to stick around and find out.
A big metric for me as to whether or not I like a drama of whatever genre is simply whether I actually enjoy watching it or not. If a drama is emotionally punishing to the point I'd rather just watch a repeat of something else; it doesn't matter how deep or clever it is. I'm always very happy to just watch Alchemy of Souls for the 10th time instead.
I did not enjoy the process of watching this drama and I'm not investing any more of my time in it. Thumbs down Netflix (Sorry Jung So Min.)
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Beautiful, Dark and Absolutely Heartbreaking
This drama destroyed me. I knew it wasn't going to be a light romance, but I still wasn't prepared for how emotionally attached I would become to these characters. The atmosphere is dark and uncomfortable at times, and the story constantly makes you question what you think you know about the characters. Seo In Guk was absolutely incredible. I've watched him in several dramas, but for me this is still one of his best performances. Kim Moo Young could have been impossible to understand or even like, yet somehow Seo In Guk made me care deeply about him. The chemistry and emotional connection between the leads made everything hurt even more. I cried so much after finishing this that this is definitely not a drama I'll ever forget.Was this review helpful to you?
The more I watched the show, the more emotional I became and the ending broke me.
The Smile Has Left Your Eyes is one of the few shows where I couldn't predicate what was going to happen. Usually it's pretty easy to know what's going to happen next but this show did a great job keeping me on my toes.
The cast was amazing! They have to show so much emotion and they all did a great job in doing so. Seo In Guk was something else. He was emotionless yet gentle and Jung So Min complimented him perfectly with being emotional but strong.
The ending was so upsetting to me and probably many others but it was very fitting to the story.
I think everything happened as it should have. It was very well written and overall I'm very happy with The Smile Has Left Your Eyes.
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This review may contain spoilers
Not my usual watch.
This is not what i usually watch but i did so because i like to two lead actors. The story is a little confusing and the early episodes set the tone of the ML character and later the FL character. The story revolves around what happened many years ago and tells a tale of the failure of adults to protect the children. The lack of honesty and selfishness of the brother and his female friend left me feeling very angry with those characters. Also the doctors character is somewhat questionable.In the end of course through many twists and turns it is the children/now adults who pay the price for all the deception.
The ML and FL portrayed their characters in a stunning performance from start to finish. I will look for more from these two actors. they were the shining light that carried the story through to the end.
It is a story that you need to be strong to watch.
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This review may contain spoilers
Well, this drama have some positive and some negative things. The story is very addictive and you find yourself increasingly anxious to know what happened in the past of the main characters. Seo In Guk's acting is so good, he was certainly the best thing in this drama. But unfortunately there are some disappointing things, at least for me. The last episodes was really.. nosense? When they explained the main characters past I thought that was a very random explanation. It seemed a lit bit forced.Jin Kang is a very annoying character. I couldn't shipp her and Moo Young because they sound so forced. Out of nowhere she starts liking him, even when SHE KNEW IT that he was bad to his girlfriend (that was actually Jin Kang's very close friend). Moo Young is actually a bad person but she was always protecting him and defending him. I know, sometimes he deserved it but most of the time, no. And oh my god, when she breaks up with him... what a drama. She kept saying she couldn't live without him when in fact, she could. Why wouldn't she live? She have a "brother", friends, people who really cares about her. Moo Young on the other hand, doesn't have anyone, so it makes much more sense for him to say that he didn't want to live. So yeah, I didn't like this couple at all.
Jin Kang's brother was very annoying too. All the time he was blaming Moo Young and calling him a monster, a murderer, when in fact he isn't a good person either. He hid Jin Kang's past and ignored all the bad things that this secret could cause. I hated him so much ugh.
Seriously, Moo Young was the best character. He's actually a bad person but I found him interesting. And sometimes I understood him. I liked how intelligent he was, well, at least in the beggining. He's going to trust a woman that HE KNOWS that isn't trustful and he knows she's a bad person too. And all this trust, fucks him later. As a character who was so smart and who calculated all his steps all the time, why he was so stupid? Didn't make any sense for me.
That's it. I liked the mystery in this drama but for me Moo Young was the best thing. But well, if you like a suspense and a mystery drama, this may please you because it really makes you think in a lot of theories. And who knows, you might even like the main couple.
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A proper drama that makes you think and weep
This is probably not for everyone but I'm really glad I finished this finely observed drama about humankind. It provokes big questions like what makes someone good or bad and examines the consequences of decisions and actions. Apart from the FL who is just genuinely a really good person, you need to watch to the end to be able to make your mind up about 2 of the other key characters.It's beautifully shot with a slightly washed out colouration which really suits the serious/dramatic mood. Strong performances from the fine cast. The tempo slows down (but doesn't drag) and then speeds up to some exciting action. Overall very well balanced.
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