The Smile Has Left Your Eyes (2018)

Even though it's rare sometimes you know you'll love a drama even before watching it. I read the drama description before it started airing and from the very first moment I was excited and I already couldn't wait anymore. Back then when the Drama just had started airing I remember reading some comments about Seo In Guk and that someone else should play his character. I think he later showed everyone that he was in case the most perfect actor for this role. Moo Young's trauma, his pain and his growing love for Jin Kang - he let us feel what he felt. I think Jin Kang could feel it too because from the very first moment she was drawn to him. Jung So Min told us Jin Kang's story perfectly. Even her body language showed the viewer how her opinion of Moo Young went from "danger" to "I want to be your safe place". Both of them did an amazing job and their chemistry was overwhelming good. It may be obvious but to me the plot was perfect as well. I haven't watched such an entertaining drama since some time. I was never bored not even for a single second and I was really happy that they changed the original plot to their own version. Till the end this Drama was amazing written and played. The ending couldn't have been better. Bittersweet but also full of love that can't ever be destroyed. I'm so going to miss this Drama and it's characters. May the future bring us more dramas like TSHLYE.

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Heartbreaking

In the beginning, I enjoyed this drama because of how unusual it is. For me, the unsettling nature of how events unfolded left me constantly reassessing how I felt about characters. Nearly every interaction could easily change a dynamic, so I found it impossible to predict would happen next a few times. I had a couple of early guesses that were correct but they were not actually providing the impetus for the behavior as i thought - watching the story progress means feelings about nearly everyone and everything changes at some point.The end result is that as a viewer I felt the same uncertainty that Jin Kang had to be feeling the entire time as events happened to and around while well-meaning but misguided people hid the truth from her to protect her.

There were a few things to the plot that didn’t make sense, for example, Jin Gook’s visceral reaction to Moo Young from the very beginning. At a couple of points the plot’s misdirection provided a plausible reason, but those were continually shot down.There were a couple of other points I hit on, but that was the biggest.

Acting was exceptional. Seo In Guk’s phenomenal agonized reaction to the misinformation he was given about Jin Kang will be seared in my memory forever. Jung So Min’s frustration and confusion by everyone around her acting irrationally was masterful. And Go Min Si completely nailed the part of a troubled young person. The rest of the cast also gave stellar performances.

The ending broke my heart. Long after the closing credits I was still sobbing uncontrollably.

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Great melodrama

I've been planning to watch this drama for 4 years and somehow couldn't get around to it. Recently I was looking for something to make me sad and I found it. Great acting, full of drama, mysteries, death, murders, crime story and Seo In Guk in the main role. In my opinion he played the role very well. There were some things that I didn't understand too much, especially that they completely forgot about the first murder. After all, the main character was also involved in that murder, so why didn't they do anything about it. I also don't understand why Jin Gook stabbed Moo Young back then if he felt so sorry for him. Perhaps he was afraid that Jin Kang would find out about her past? I don't know because it wasn't explained.I fell pain when because of a stupid joke about Jin Kang being Moo Young's sister, it ruined everything. But on the other hand, I really like it because I like to feel that way while watching tv shows. I'm very happy with the ending, it made me sad and cry, which is what I was looking for. It's just a pity that I watched it after such a long time and missed a really good drama.

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Worth my time

I always feel sad and after seeing any death in drama. But this drama show death of people like its very common. I think writer loves deaths too much.
Apart from deaths, everything was perfect. It's just that so many people died without any special meaning or effort or anything. While whole story revolve around Moo Young father's death. But they didn't give any attention to other deaths.
Me who love happy endings so much, I feel last two episodes were not needed, we can call it a happy ending just after episode 14.
Character Development
There is very little progress in characters.
Kim Moo young who is portrayed as bad but good person, who still becomes bad person at end who can be overtaken by his anger. Jang family both children were dead but still Moo young doesn't feel any remorse or anything.
Yoo Jin Gook is same throughout the drama, a very good person with a bad past. but still some points which did not even matched with his character like he stabbing Moo Young.
Yoo Jin Kang is the character I love the most, there is progress in her character
Tak is also a very good character which make this drama so lovely.
But still no explanation between Jin Gook and Tak has been provided like why they are not married when she is also good to Jin Kang.

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Less secrets are healthier

Although the plot interest solely relies on keeping secrets and never telling important and at times crucial facts to the main leads I think it went too far for melodrama's sake.

I still give it a 9 because the main couple does really well, but personally, I would have preferred a more positive last 4 episodes if, at least, the most crucial fact had been known to the ML. This could have been easily achieved by the writers and I believe it would have made more sense, helping to balance all the previous sorrows that are pretty heavy all throughout the drama. I thought it was really a shame to harness till the very end on an overdramatic plot.

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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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One of best melodramas

You are hooked In first episodes with the enigmatic storyline. You fell in love with Kim Moo Young but also feels wary towards him.
All the twists and mystery around the 2 main characters keep you in suspense. The passion and the complicated character of the male lead is the most interesting one. It feels real, well written and the scenarists actually did an amazing job to depict such complicated emotions.

Two things made me tick though! When Yoo Jin Gook stabbed Kim Moo Young. When you finally understand how they’re related and what Yoo Jin Gook did to his father, the way he treated him didn’t make sense, and to want to kill him was way out of the picture and didn’t fit the regrets and guilt that he felt.
And then it is how Yoo Jink Kang reacted to that vs how she felt completely desperate when she learned her brother killed Kim Moo Young’s father. It felt strange and also out of place.

We will learn only in the last episode who she really is and how the 2 main characters are intertwined.
Regardless, these flaws, the drama worked for me as the psychology of the characters is really well written and makes you question how you would react in these scenarios. Human beings are indeed complicated animals.

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WARNING
If you are the kind of those people who like happy and comic dramas
Definitely you should avoid this one

I've phobia from tragic ends, Although I am one of this kind, I took the risk inspite of knowing that they will die together
And sure I hated the end

The writer was masterful in torturing the ML in every way sometimes with no need

The plot was good
The romance was nice
The Story was solid
But.... over dose sulk and depression
Specially the end
As if the writer hated the idea that the ML wanted to be good person, so he punished him for this idea

As if the message behind this drama was
No place for those who want to be good


What I disliked about this drama
1. The ML face expression was extremely dead
He is not a good actor for me

2. What sung woong did at episode 11 when he stabbed the ML was extremely annoying and with no reason except the writer want more sadness and torturing the ML in every way

3. Definitely the end,
This is just a drama so why should I watch such a toxic end like this, he made their relationship impossible to be continued in every way,
So the only logical end was to make them die together

4. Jang se ran .. that B**** should definitely die ??
But why the ML should be the one who killed her
These kinds should be exterminated not the ML
I was so happy for the first time when someone got killed

5. The twist at the end
that the FL was his sister was the beginning that the end was going to be catastrophic

for me it was good till the last 2 episodes
So if I'm going to rewatch it I'll stop till the scene when she hugged him and said I accept you the way you are
You are who you are
End of drama for me ?

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The Title should have been:The heart haas left your body

I have another review to write but let me get this one out of the way while my pulse is still high cos thats what this drama will give you.An emotional rollercoaster and a high blood pressure.
I dont care what anyone say, if you want to see how the past traumas can ruin innocent people's lives.
I dont have much to say about the story cos you have to watch to make your own judgement but it will leave you with anger and bitterness towards adults and their decisions at a split of a second and lives are ruined forever.
Seo In Guk has officially entered in the my guiness book of record as an actor whi shoulders strong enough to carry a character that is demonised and hated by everyone..A devil they say but what kind of devil is he?Is He really?
THis is the first drama where i watched the ending before starting it so i knew it was going to wreck me but decided to watch it like a book.I enjoyed the journey and burried the end at the back of my head and assume it wont happen.Call it voluntery amnesia.
I was scared to watch this project but am glad I did because out of it i learnt life lessons that i will pass on to my off-springs;Cure past traumas before they kill you,and tell everything no matter how painfull it is

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A sad but value lesson

I don't know yet how to describe my feelings about this drama, but I'll start by saying that this was the saddest drama that I watched until now. I already know about the ending (no spoilers here), but I'm talking about the entire process and plot.

Starting with the performance of Seo In Guk, this is my second place in my top five of his dramas. His performance as Kim Moo Young/Kang Seon Ho is totally heartbreaking and I felt like crying every time that I saw him on the screen. The character was incredibly deep and make us think about how life can be tough to some people and how trauma could change everything in your life for good if you don't find out some kind of fortune in your path. With Yoo Jin Kang, the story goes the other way. I caught myself thinking many times who was the pitful one, and in which position I should prefer being if was me, but I really couldn't decide. Yoo Jin Kang had scars as Moo Young did (literally), and she was repressed by the wall that she built around her emotions as the same as him. Jung So Min is amazing, and I already say here that I love her. I really hope that she can shine in dramaland beautifully. The ahjussi Yoo Jin Gook was the most difficult part to process in this show. I begin loving him, and then I started to hate him, but at the end of it all, I finally comprehend him. He is the third traumatized in the main plot, and he let his trauma overcome the sense, confounding his fear with his love for Jin Kang. Park Sung Woong did an incredible job being cute and terrifying at the same time.

This is definitely not a drama that will make you happy and light, but will push you through a deep analysis of life and about stereotypes. The saddest thing to me was to think that this is real life in most part of cases. People who are hunted by its ghosts and aren't able to deal with it without struggling like crazy. It's a big lesson and a big warning.

This is a drama with many triggers, so certify to watch if you are feeling good with yourself and in a good moment. For me, definitely a chosen one (★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★) and definitely a drama that will be printed in my mind for a long time.

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Kim Moo Yeong!

18/01/2024

Not a typical rom com cliched hashed out drama and am so thankful for that!

Kim Moo Yeong:

I really like the character of Kim Moo Yeong regardless of how flawed he is - maybe not his thrill of danger and living on the edge, but because he doesn't care about anything or anyone and calls a spade a spade. He also sees things that others don't and can sum a person up in a matter of moments, but in seeing what he sees he tends to use it as a part of his game playing and pranks to humour his dark sociopathic side. He is intriguing. However, he would have been much better had he been able to fight, do martial arts - something to fit the bad side of his character.

I think everyone should be more like him - as in not caring or getting so emotionally connected to people or situations because that in itself is pure freedom with no guilt to be had whatsoever.

It is a good series so far (on episode 10), but I really don't see the build up or development between the ML and FL - not really. Am also still guessing what happened in the past that connects them in some way or what really happened as to why he is the way he is - I think I've guessed, but am not going to give any spoilers.

I am aware that this has a really sad ending which is why I have put it off for well over a year

Yoo Jin Kang:

I really like Jung So Min in Alchemy of Souls and she is fine in this except her character is far too hot and cold. For example, moping and upset when she doesn't know where KMY is and then when he appears gives him the cold shoulder and tells him they should never see each other again. She does this more often than not

I don't know what he sees in her!!!

He is so simple and straight forward yet she is not easy to please and continuosly over complicates things.

For me a realistic rapport isn't really there so far as nothing about her is so extraordinary that it would blind sight a person like him - especially as he is supposed to be emotionally detached, lacking remorse with no feelings and is unhinged in some ways. It seems somewhat "forced" .... so what if she has a scar, was in a house fire and is an orphan like him, well - there are 5 million of her out there somewhere.

The writers could have done a better job to make me believe that something about her really caught his attention - her character and scar just aren't enough.

It might have been better had she given him an ultimatum and played mind games so as to teach him a lesson or two. Something more creative than a burn scar and few interactive glances to set the tone of a strong bonded connection with no development.

Just adding:

I watched a few more episodes and feel it is wrong for Yoo Jin Kang to be interested in her best friend's "so called love interest" especially after what Kim Moo Yeong put in to action just to teach the CEO a lesson - not to mention the CEO's sister who matches KMJ to a tee except she comes from money and he doesn't.

Between the brother of YJK and the sister of the CEO the future is looking rather bleak for KMJ.

Some lessons can never be undone!

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Surprisingly good drama!

The male lead looks like the anime character Gaara from Naruto. Oddly, there is something that I find attractive about his appearance in this drama. I don't know if I find the male lead character or the actor attractive; I am hoping it's the actor, as the character is a sociopath! To be transparent when I saw the second female lead actress (not the character) in the first episode, I was hesitant to continue to watch this drama because I wasn't fond of her performance in another drama (My Golden Life) that I watched with her in it. However, she did a much better job in this drama than the other drama. This drama is really good, and I get excited after watching each episode. This drama is totally binge-watch-worthy! The only con is the pace of episode 15, I feel like 3 major things happened within one episode and it felt rushed. This drama should have been 17 or 18 episodes, instead of 16. The last episode was fantastic. I don't think a drama has to have a happy ending in order for it to be good. I believe the ending should make sense (realism), and the ending to this drama made 100% sense. The male lead actor did a fantastic job acting in this drama. I actually think he's the best male actor in South Korea.

I found out about this drama via the recommendation list for the drama Nevertheless.

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