Synopsis. The Smile Has Left Your Eyes (aka Hundred Million Stars From the Sky) is a 16-episode 2018 kdrama about a man who uses others without consideration until he gets involved with a woman who challenges him to be a good person. They both have mysterious pasts. Once revealed, will his past or her past help or hurt their future?
What I liked.
Writing (to a point). Writer Song Hye Jin was an unknown to me. I was hooked by crucial question – what is our leads’ connection? That HAD to be resolved. Writer Song divided this story into two halves. In the first half, our leading man was not a character to admire. In the second half, our leading man became involved with the leading lady and strove to become a better person. It was in the second half our leads’ past affected their relationship. I hoped that Writer Song would tie up all the lose ends in the final episode. That was done. However the overall pace of the series left something to be desired. The drama is a remake of the 2002 Japanese drama of the name Hundred Million Stars From the Sky, something I didn’t realize until mid-way in the series.
Core Characters.
Leading man Kim Moo Young (Seo In Guk). I watched this series for Seo In Guk. He has an appeal that is casual but intense. Moo Young was not a stellar guy in the first half, but he couldn’t avoid love and that changed his perspective. In the end I rooted for this character. He became someone that deserved to happiness, quite a turnaround from the man he was in the first half of the series.
Leading lady Yoo Jin Kan (Jung So Min). Jin Kan was the moral compass of the series. She was a good friend, sister, coworker, and girlfriend. She expected and believed her man could be worthy of her love. It was her faith that allowed Moo Young to explore his feelings and feel safe enough to step into uncharted areas such as love, kindness, responsibility, and forgiveness. This quiet character was the catalyst of the show.
Messages. This drama theme of evolution and change worked for me. People can always grow, if they are willing to work for it. That was clearly shown in this series.
What I didn’t like.
One character and certain writing choices. Yoo Jin Kook (Park Sung Woong) was Jin Kan’s brother. He had a past with both lead characters. But the reveal on what this connection was was too long in coming. Why didn’t Jin Kook connect the dots for his sister earlier? Why did he hate Moo Young so much? He made a violent move against Moo Young that surprised me and lessened my esteem for this character. His refusal to be honest about the past was a mistake and frustrated me. Jin Kook’s refusal to be honest, and other choices by Writer Song created gaps in the reveals in the second half of the show. Writer Song eventually got there, but it took a while.
Would I recommend The Smile Has Left Your Eyes? Yes, the mystery caught me and wouldn’t let me go until I knew the truth. Writer Song’s choices resolved the mystery, using plot choices that sometimes surprised. The reason I watched the drama, Seo In Guk’s acting, didn’t disappoint. He transformed his character from a user into a person I rooted for.
Asian drama fan. I watch and blog dramas on https://kjtamusings.wordpress.com/.
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KJT, my thoughts on “The Smile Has Left Your Eyes” echo yours. From the evolution of Moo Young’s 👼🤔👿 character under Jin Kang’s 👧🎁 tutelage and faith. I was also annoyed at how Jin Gook 👮♂️ was written to be so stubborn and violent against Moo Young 👼🤔👿, it was NOT consistent with his character (i.e. forgiving Yoo Ri ⚜️, who chose as an adult to try to run over Jin Kang 👧🎁 with her car and then turn violent on a troubled young man,Moo Young 👼🤔👿 for dating his sister (whose troubles were exacerbated by Jin Gook 👮♂️, while in the line of duty, left a young Moo Young 👼🤔👿 an orphan.) If anything, Jin Gook 👮 should have had MORE COMPASSION on him.
“The Smile Has Left Your Eyes” was worth watching, Seo In Guk did an excellent job, it was overall well written, but be advised you will not find a happy ending. The title gives you a clue.
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I was also annoyed at how Jin Gook 👮♂️ was written to be so stubborn and violent against Moo Young 👼🤔👿, it was NOT consistent with his character (i.e. forgiving Yoo Ri ⚜️, who chose as an adult to try to run over Jin Kang 👧🎁 with her car and then turn violent on a troubled young man,Moo Young 👼🤔👿 for dating his sister (whose troubles were exacerbated by Jin Gook 👮♂️, while in the line of duty, left a young Moo Young 👼🤔👿 an orphan.) If anything, Jin Gook 👮 should have had MORE COMPASSION on him
Well stated JT, well stated. Writer Song Hye Jin had gaps and inconsistencies. Jin Gook is evidence of that.
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