Seo In Guk do a great job show the darkness of the character as well as the sad love in his soul make you move from
hate to compassion. Jung So Min was not bad to express the credulity. Park Sung Woong in every part of his act.
the biggest wrong was not give Park Sung Woong character "Yoo Jin Gook" enough part of play, also not emphasize enough on him, he is a great actor and his character must play a biggest part in the story ass well as show enough of his feelings.
The story was great, may it is too soon to clear the darkness of Seo In Guk. the ending could be better, it is good.
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Great start, but a not-so-great execution
Only God knows how I wanted to like this drama. I even gave it a second chance after putting it on-hold for almost two years, but unfortunately it fell flat to me.Since this drama was focused more on the plot and the thriller instead of romance, I'll be more strict judging the story than I usually am cause I had very high expectations for this.
This is not the type of show that'll keep you at the edge of your seat, as it's slow paced and the story takes its time to develop. The first two or three episodes are amazing, all very engaging and efficient at establishing the mystery and the main characters personalities and connections without giving too much away. But after that the drama shifts its focus from the murder mystery and the story looses traction really fast. There were also some dumb plotholes here and there. Jin Gook is constantly withholding important information from his sister just for the sake of creating misunderstanding and keeping the plot going. He also does some poor detective job sometimes, like why would you just leave an important clue you found behind when it's highly likely the suspect will have easy access to it and obviously try to get rid of it? Or how people see someone who clearly attempted suicide and do nothing about it. Also the fact that Jin Kang and Cho Rong dated is completely irrelevant, they don't even act like a couple afterwards (at least not until the point I watched) so why even bother with it?
What bothered me the most, though, was the romance between Jin Kang and Moo Young. I wasn't aware there would be romance in this drama when I first started it and honestly I hated every second of it. I'm sorry but they don't share anything in commom besides their tragic past, every time they meet they fight so how am I supposed to believe they could actually fall for each other? I just wanted the plot to reverse back to the murder mystery and stay away from that relationship cause it was, at least to me, extremely uninteresting to see. I love Moo Young, he's a very unique male lead, cunning, stoic and whose motivations are hard to grasp at first which makes him very engaging to watch, but he is not good as a love interest. Realistically nobody would want to be in a relationship with someone so annoying and hard to figure out with that devil-may-care attitude of his, specially not someone who's initially so level-headed and mature like Jin Kang so that's why I couldn't immerse myself in the story anymore.
The acting is top-notch, though. After seeing So In Guk in Shopping King Louis I was extremely surprised by his portrayal of a polar opposite character here, it was astounding. Jung So Min does a very good job as well and I think all the cast is pretty good with their acting. The soundtrack is also great, it helps to create a very eerie and enigmatic atmosphere throughout the narrative.
All in all it's definitely not terrible, but it was a great disappointment to me. I unfortunately read a spoiler about the Japanese drama and I thought it was a really unexpected revelation, which would've potentially made this drama worth watching, but I just couldn't keep myself interested enough to get to the end. Even so, I'd still recommend it for people who wish to see some drama with a different atmosphere from your typical Korean romance.
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This review may contain spoilers
How can I find and put together the suitable words and write a review about one of the most iconic creations in the Drama world??Its tells a haunting tale of love and tragedy. they are destined to be together , this is tale of revenge, but in the most subtle of ways, I love the ending just like Romeo and Juliet.
The "Drama" aspect of the drama however, is outstanding: direction are all top notch, Seo In Guk and Jung So Min chemistry is on fire !!! to me they are the best on screen couple so far :) but please dont pair them again in next dram or whatever because that would killed the flavour.
I love the part when Kim Moo-young finds out about the father and he said" I want to born again" that look , I'll never forget that look !!
Seo In Guk is my new obesession, he is a class act, :))), Had there also been an Oscar for best smouldering Seo In Guk would have walked it .
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Can't help but clap and tip my hat off to his superb, convincing performance here. Jung So-min did pretty good as well, plus the sweet chemistry between the two was undeniable.
It was a drama about different facets of personal relationships, it's value, what one is willing to give in the name of love and friendships. The closeness of peers Park Sung-woong and Young-nam Jang was a proof that two people can still develop a deep relationship without malice.
I still can't get over this highly-recommended drama. Well done!!!
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Serious melodrama
This review is based upon my reaction ONLY to the show. I'm a romance/happy ending kind of girl, and this was WAAAYYY on the other end of the spectrum. This is a serious melodrama.If you want to see some awesome acting by Seo In Guk, watch this. He was amazing. Here he plays completely opposite to anything we've seen him in to date. I had a hard time seeing him as anything other than the hero of a show, but he was chillingly believable.
I felt that the female lead's character was severely lacking in self esteem and came across as needy. This was a woman that should not be let to make her own choices, because she chooses wrong every time.
The music was perfect and carried the mood well.
I have to say that I was depressed after watching this show. Too much angst, too much deception, too much melodrama.
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This review may contain spoilers
I watched this in 2018, but it seems like a pity not leaving a review.
I've been wanting to do a rewatch for a couple of yrs now, but haven't got the chance.I will not compare this remake to the original Japanese one.
Seo In Guk has been one of my favourite Korean actors since the beginning of his career, and I think he showed many different characters in his show.
In this one, he seems even younger than he was at the time (his undereye mole always get me) and in some scenes he seemed also vulnerable, if possible, nonetheless he managed to scare me and gave me chills from the very first episode.
I didn't like the female protagonist at first, but then I fell in love with the chemistry between her (Jin Kang) and Moo Young.
I clearly remember Yellow from Coldplay being in one of the episodes, and this already gave the OST a good vote from me :)
The story was not as linear (especially if I think about Jin Gook's choices and the police actions), but it was a good one.
I especially enjoyed the mistery around the main couple and the sad truth(s) revealed during the series.
Regarding the ending, I loved how the production decided to dress Jin Kang in white, pure from the beginning to the end, and Moo Young in black, almost indicating their "side" but also their bond, like the Yin & Yang.
Also, when Jin Kang comforts Moo Young at the end, it seems like she's giving him forgiveness and peace.
Highly recommend, I hope I can do a rewatch soon!
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Awakening to love
This guy was safe before he had any emotions. The way to love is the way to sacrifice. It's like love and death are inextricably connected.I didn't like the styling at all. Hair and clothes of all the actors were horrible! Beyond dated! As if they were in the 80s.
I started watching the Japanese original and I got hooked! I prefer it in many respects.
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This review may contain spoilers
This drama can be described in only one word: unbelievable. Protectiveness is surprisingly the fatal flaw in this series that leads to the characters demise. Seo In Guk and Jung So Min had a satisfying amount of chemistry but nothing too spectacular. Seo In Guk outdid himself with this drama, being able to display a cold, calculating, and mysterious character who you just are drawn towards and want to figure out. Jung So Min's acting was good, but her expressions were too stoic in this drama. I found it hard to believe the FL had the type of unconditional love for a manipulator. She literally went to bed with the ML right after the ML indirectly murdered his girlfriend/her best friend. Secrets were kept far too long right until the very end, but by then, it was too late. Tragic love with unexpected twists and reveals. Everything could have been done better but still worthwhile watch. Was this review helpful to you?
Dark but beautiful
Dark, haunting, emotionally devastating, and one of the most psychologically complex dramas ever created.The Smile Has Left Your Eyes is not an easy watch, but that’s exactly what makes it unforgettable. Rather than presenting clear heroes and villains, it challenges viewers to confront the complexities of trauma, morality, loneliness, and the desperate human desire to be loved. Every episode leaves you questioning what you think you know, slowly peeling back layer after layer until the full emotional weight becomes almost unbearable.
Seo In-guk gives what I consider one of the greatest performances in Korean television. Kim Moo-young is an incredibly difficult character to portray
simultaneously mysterious, emotionally detached, vulnerable, dangerous, and deeply broken. Seo In-guk never overplays the role, allowing subtle expressions and quiet moments to reveal more than words ever could.
Jung So-min is equally remarkable. Her performance brings warmth and hope into an otherwise dark world, creating a romance that feels both healing and tragically fragile. Their chemistry isn’t built on lighthearted romance but on two lonely souls slowly recognizing pieces of themselves in one another.
The writing is phenomenal. Every revelation feels carefully planned from the very beginning, with no wasted scenes or unnecessary plotlines. The suspense builds gradually rather than relying on constant shock value, making every emotional payoff incredibly satisfying.
Visually, the drama perfectly captures its melancholic atmosphere through muted colors, beautiful cinematography, and a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack that lingers long after each episode ends.
What makes this drama unforgettable isn’t simply its mystery it’s the heartbreaking humanity underneath it. It asks difficult questions about whether people can truly escape their past and whether love alone is enough to heal profound emotional wounds.
Heartbreaking, thought-provoking, beautifully acted, and emotionally unforgettable. A masterpiece that stayed with me long after the final episode. An easy 10/10.
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This review may contain spoilers
Poignant and Haunting!!!
I've re-watched this drama so many times that i've lost count, seriously. If i can find the kind of love that the two leads found with each other - despite the tragic ending - i can live/die a happy person! The plot is gripping and I was thoroughly drawn to the romantic development and progression of the main leads when they met each other as adults, but didn't have a clue that they were connected to each other from way back in the past. Another drama that comes closest to this in terms of the melo-romance and nature vs. nurture theme is The Flower of Evil (2020), which is another must must watch!!!Was this review helpful to you?
It was mind blowing
Thanks to the story and the acting especially seo In-guk act, after a long time I watched something unique and different, Different good.The character of Kim mu yoong was so remarkable and beyond my expectation. He has a dark character a boy who has some issues which is a good thing since I get tired of watching cute and funny main character in dramas. Although I see this drama as a first rate one but of course it has some problem some of its episode get boring and it was like the story lost its direction. Any way literally I love it and I'm going to watch it again
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