By Jae-Ha Kim
jaehakim.com
November 26, 2018
☆☆☆☆
Kim Moo-Young (played by Seo In-Guk)
Yoo Jin-Kang (played by Jung So-Min)
Yoo Jin-Gook (played by Park Sung-Woong)
↑Note: Korean names denote the surname followed by the given name.
A remake of the 2002 Japanese TV series, “Sora Kara Furu Ichioku no Hoshi,” “The Smile Has Left Your Eyes” wasn’t nearly as subversive as the original, which had almost no moral compass (incest, murder, underage sex).
A Korean film could’ve tackled those topics. But I knew there was no way a primetime Korean drama would delve too much into the seamier aspects of society.
Taboo subjects were alluded to and the writers did a sly job of playing up the ick factor, leaving viewers wondering just what kind of history these supposed strangers had.
Moo-Young is a broken man who toys with women and anyone who gets in his way. Traumatically orphaned at a young age and raised in an orphanage, he bears a huge scar on his shoulder from a childhood accident.
Jin-Kang knows she is adopted, but since no one around her will talk about it, she keeps the secret to herself. She feels she has to be grateful to her older brother (police officer Jin-Gook), who has taken care of her ever since their parents died. And though she appreciates everything he has done to give her the life she has, she also feels suffocated by having to keep her own history a secret.
Coincidentally, she has almost the same scar on her arm that Moo-Young does.
Hmmmm.
The lead actors are superb in their roles. Seo In-Guk looks and moves like a sexy cat. And no one is better than Jung So-Min — who was so wonderful in “Because This is My First Life” — at conveying heartbreak with a simple glance.
Many fans weren’t happy with how the series ended, but it rang true. Given the circumstances, I don’t think there was any other way it could’ve concluded without seeming contrived.
Airdates: Sixteen hour-long episodes aired on tvN from October 3 to November 22, 2018.
Spoiler Alert:
Jin-Kang’s parents were friends with Moo-Young’s parents. A devotee of a cult, Jin-Kang’s mother enlisted her friends to join them. Moo-Young’s father was furious with her, because his wife left him and brought their son with her to live at the cult.
Childhood best friends, Moo-Young looked after Jin-Kang in the cult. When a pot of boiling water was about to fall on her, he covered her to protect her, which is how they both ended up with a similar scar.
Later, Moo-Young’s father would slaughter Jin-Kang’s parents and his wife. Jin-Gook — who was then a rookie police officer — shot him in what he thought was self defense. But he became riddled with guilt after he realized that Moo-Young’s father was trying to hide his weapon from his child, who had entered the room.
The series ends with Jin-Kang and Moo-Young being murdered by a chaebol’s hitman. The reason? Moo-Young had killed his daughter, after she manipulated him into thinking he and Jin-Kang were biologically related. Moo-Young was also semi-responsible for the death of the chaebol’s son.
Though it was heartbreaking, there was really no way to make a happily-ever-after ending here. Moo-Young was headed for prison for murder. The chaebol would’ve used all his resources to ensure that Moo-Young spent all his life imprisoned … or would’ve had him murdered in jail. Jin-Kang would’ve died emotionally without him. And if he ever was released from prison, he would’ve been a very old man.
© 2018 JAE-HA KIM | All Rights Reserved
As much as I love these two actors I’m glad I read the spoiler. Too much ugly in the world already. I’d rather be entertained by foolish fantasy happy endings.
Yeah, I really enjoyed the drama. But the ending was tough and emotionally draining.
Yes to everything, but I LOVE that you have a KDrama buddy to discuss shows with!
And while a part of me was wishing for a happily-ever-after ending, the storyline was dark from the beginning. There was so much sadness that the ending was really the only appropriate one.
I was on the edge of my seat throughout each and every episode. One of my favourite dramas of the year. I started recommending it from the first episode!
I was left devastated by that ending, but it was such a perfectly tragic ending for these characters would never have been able to live happily.
My favourite line from your review: “Seo In-Guk looks and moves like a sexy cat”…. because how on point is that description?
Thank you! The ending was intense, but it really was the only way it could’ve ended.
And…meowwwwww! 😸