A 16-episode South Korean television series broadcast by tVN, The Smile Has Left Your Eyes is an adaptation of the 2002 hit Japanese drama entitled Hundred Million Stars From The Sky (Sora Kara Furu Ichioku no Hoshi). It features the story of a craft brewery assistant named Kim Moo Young, a man of complex and grey nature who has forgotten everything about his past. Later on he meets and falls in love with advertising designer Yoo Jin Kang, and together, they embark on a journey to finding his memory and the meaning there is to his life.
❀ RAVES ❀»•»
1) Character Portrayal. The leads and other characters of The Smile Has Left Your Eyes were absolutely impressive. Jung So Min's performance, for one, came as a surprise; as the only drama I've seen her from was Playful Kiss added by very few glimpses of her from Because This Is My First Life (I didn't watch that). It also didn't help that I wasn't feeling her that much for being cast alongside Seo In Guk prior to the start of the show, which was why I was sooo glad to see her in a different light for playing Jin Kang and stretching her acting chops with such command and grace.
My favorite performance of Jung So Min was when Jin Kang was banging at Moo Young's door while wailing inconsolably outside his house in Episode 15. She knew Moo Young didn't really intend to break up with her. She knew that there was something strange, and that the cold facade Moo Young was showing her was just a mask he'd worn to hide his pain away. Jin Kang was the only person who could see right through Moo Young, and her desperation to reach out to him at that moment added by her exasperation of not knowing what was wrong when she knows there is something wrong was perfectly portrayed by Jung So Min that it was reallyyyyy painful to watch.
And Kim Ji Hyun... This girl played Jang Se Ran convincingly good, too. She was disturbing for the most part, but that's a good thing acting-wise because it just shows that Kim Ji Hyun is connecting to the audience by delivering Jang Se Ran's psychopathic characteristics relatively well.
Even though I wished Moo Young didn't really pull that trigger on Jang Se Ran in Episode 15, that was such a satisfying scene to watch, most especially since it was like seeing two psychotic characters finally come at each other face to face. It was wicked, and Kim Moo Young was like a ticking time bomb in that scene. It was as if he'd blow off anytime he hears something from Se Ran that didn't sit well with him. This was why the witch's constant yapping, added by her fake conversation with Jin Kang and her amusement at the whole ordeal was annoying yet chilling to watch. While it was just wrong of Moo Young to shoot her thrice let alone pull that trigger, I was still silently rooting for him to punch her or something. Yes, Kim Ji Hyun's acting was that effective.
2) Seo In Guk as an Anti-Hero. Seo In Guk's acting was definitely gold in this drama. The smile has literally left Kim Moo Young's eyes in most part of the show, all thanks to Seo In Guk's powerfully evocative portrayal of Kim Moo Young.
This scene from Episode 15 was among my favorite deliveries from the show and from Seo In Guk because even if it wasn't a full blown meltdown, Seo In Guk embodied Moo Young's repulsive pain, anger and heartbreak so poignantly raw and real that it heart wrenchingly hurt. My heart ached so much for him that that meltdown made me cry along with him, too. His mind's conclusion plus Se Ran's confirmation that Jin Kang was indeed his sister wasn't easy for him to fathom, and that drunk-like, nauseous state he has shown added by a couple of restrained sobs made me gleam at Seo In Guk for being such a great actor.
That being said, it was such a good move for In Guk to take this role after being on hiatus for soooo long, and I just can't thank him enough for gifting us fans with this new side of him before the year ended. Kim Moo Young adds variation to an already vast range of characters that In Guk has played, especially since portraying an anti-hero, for me, required a lot of depth, effort and emotional build-up in order to make the character come across as multi-dimensional rather than just evil. From Kim Moo Young's erratic, multifaceted behavior down to his smirks, deadpan gaze and body language, Seo In Guk has owned the conflictingly dark and complex Moo Young as his own, so much so that I sometimes forget this is the same bubbly man who played the goofy chaebol shopper in Shopping King Louis. His ability to switch from being emotionless to being warm and being emotionless again in just a snap was a feat deserving of praise. Indeed, the transition in his acting was swift and smooth, because yep, Seo In Guk is that good of an actor.
3) Psychological Touch. The Smile Has Left Your Eyes isn't just a tearjerking melodrama nor a bittersweet romance. For me, it was more psychological which not only focuses on a scarred Kim Moo Young, but also touches various difficult themes such as trauma and mental illness. It was like seeing I Remember You again in glimpses (hello, Min and Hyun), with a darker and deeper approach at that, and I love that through its entire run, it kept me intellectually engaged.
Kim Moo Young was such a conflictingly dark and complex character. He was manipulative, apathetic, impulsive and at the same time, erratic. Sometimes he looked bad, other times, he didn't. There were instances where he seemed a little bit kind too, probably even capable of sincere concern provided he's with the right people... which then boils down to the question: Was Moo Young really that bad, or was he just misunderstood? This resonates all the more when he asked Jin Kang to "teach him" how to be a good person in Episode 9. He knows he's sort of sociopathic and he wanted to change, but he needed someone's help to be able to get to that. Dang, that was intricately beautiful.
4) Life Lessons. For the most part, The Smile Has Left Your Eyes is also a very insightful watch. There's a vast array of messages you'd come across by watching this drama, such as the cliche honesty is the best policy, for one.
A lot of the dramas' tragedy and unnecessary complications could have been avoided if only the characters had been honest and communicated with each other. Say for instance, the tragic fate of Moo Young and Jin Kang could have been avoided had Jin Gook been honest about their connection straight from the get-go. Communication is the key to get rid of misunderstandings, just as it is the key to lasting relationships.
I also love how the show tended to emphasize that the past, however it is painted, does not define who you are as a person.
Dr. Yang: "That's just your father's business. It's just something that was buried deep in your memories and had nothing to do with you. The past doesn't explain who you've become. What you are now is a testimony to who you are."
And that no matter what you did, there's always a fresh start waiting ahead for you.
Jin Gook: "A person can always start over. Although it's a given, it's true."
5) Romance that Heals. Jin Kang and Moo Young were two characters at the opposite ends of a pole, as while Jin Kang was lovely and full of warmth, Moo Young was downright cold and calculating. Yet their romance works. It works, and at the same time, it heals. Jin Kang was the solace that Moo Young had always needed. She was the only person who could see right through him—she could see right through his lies and cold demeanor, and knows that all of these were just masks that he'd put to hide his pains away. And I love that through all of this, Jin Kang stayed loyal and patient with Moo Young, because someone like her was what he really needed, especially when the times are hard. Moo Young needed someone who was willing to listen and understand him without judgement. In that sense, Jin Kang complements Moo Young, the same way he complements her by being her protector. They were each other's saving grace.
6) Chemistry. Seo In Guk and Jung So Min absolutely sizzle together. As mentioned, I never really expected their chemistry to be as outstanding as this as I wasn't really getting the vibe from So Min during the early promotion of the show. But dang, they do deliver. The sincerity and pureness of Moo Young and Jin Kang's love is evident in In Guk and So Min's interactions. The way they gaze at each other, the conversations, the cuddles... it all felt so vividly real. Their extremely complicated relationship isn't something that can be easily portrayed, and I appreciate that up until the last episode, both Seo In Guk and Jung So Min were able to sustain the roller coaster of emotions that they had built from the start of the show.
7) OST. The sound track for this drama was hands down amazing. It was beautifully made, and definitely fits the show perfectly. It wasn't the widely diverse kind of OST as compared to other dramas, but nevertheless, it delivers K-Drama feels effectively that the memories of the show begin to resonate whenever you hear its songs play. One of my favorites were Someday by Yi Sung Yol. It was beautiful and nostalgic and had this Japanese vibe that sounded like a tribute to the source material. And of course, Seo In Guk and Jung So Min's Star. In Guk has been very cautious in singing an OST for a drama where he also appears, and the last he sang for his own drama was way back 2014 for High School King of Savvy. That being said, I was very delighted when I found out that he'd be singing for The Smile Has Left Your Eyes with So Min, and that they both had written the lyrics for the song themselves.
❀ RANTS ❀»•»
1) Ending. I get that the show was aiming for a tragic ending given its type as a melodrama. It was poignantly beautiful to say the least, and I think the twist in the end was quite well played too. However, I'm still not entirely sure about completely buying that ending.
Nope, I am not sour-graping because I wanted to have a happy ending for Moo Young because of Seo In Guk. He's better off dead. Narratively speaking, that's the most plausible ending especially if the show wanted to stay true to the source material somehow, and at the same time, keep the tragedy burning. However, I think there were some instances that just didn't work in one way or another. For one, I didn't like why Moo Young and Jin Kang both had to die in the Jang family's secretary's hands. Sure he might have been ordered by the dad to do the hit, I mean, the Dad lost not just one but two of his children, and all because of having been involved with Moo Young at that. However, even if it was beautiful to see Jin Kang take the first bullet for Moo Young in parallel to how he took most of the burn from the scalding hot water for her when they were kids, and that Moo Young's first and last declaration of love as they die by each other's arms was so harrowingly poetic, the secretary being the agent of their death still felt like too convenient a trope to serve the purpose of the leads dying. I think I might have preferred if the drama took a different route instead. Again, I'm not saying Moo Young should have lived (although that could have also worked given a different circumstance, since Moo Young was such a poor, troubled soul and he deserves a second chance). That being said, how about going along Moo Young's initial plan of taking his own life but letting Jin Kang live, for example? You know, something like letting her live and relive the memories of Moo Young for the rest of her life? I think that'd be painful yet beautiful at the same time. Plus, I think it'd strengthen the show's message regarding the effects of trauma and psychological pain, being judged, or being lied to, for the record.
2) Pushed-aside Plotlines. Sometimes, the show has this tendency to create a plotline and then hastily drop it off in favor of another plotline, such as this:
I get that Jin Kang was inexplicably drawn to Moo Young, but her attraction and their love line initially didn't feel organic because of Seung Ah's pushed-aside plotline. I mean, Jin Kang and Seung Ah were supposed to be friends, right? But what's up with her and Moo Young jumping into a relationship not long after Seung Ah's death? I might have understood Moo Young doing this (although him not being the least bit remorseful about Seung Ah's death when he was somehow involved in it was just meh), but Jin Kang? Don't get me wrong, I have no issues with her and Moo Young dating, they were amazing together and of course, they were this drama's OTP. It just felt a little bit rushed, given Jin Kang's character. Like... instead of dating right away, Jin Kang should have at least mourned for her friend first, especially since Moo Young was her friend's ex-boyfriend. That aching sobs she let out during her friend's funeral didn't seem enough of a mourning for me, mostly because she seemed to have moved on quite fast not long after that.
Here's another one:
There was this scene in Episode 9 where Moo Young got cross-examined for the murder of the female college student Song Mi Yeon. With a lot of evidences found in his possession pointing against him plus a previous confession coming from him, I'm not entirely sure how he could walk away as easy as that even if Yoo Ri already confessed that she did the murder. What about the time he spent sitting there at the convenience store while waiting for Yoo Ri to murder Mi Yeon? What about all those snow balls and the cleaning and arranging done at the victim's apartment? Shouldn't Moo Young be thoroughly investigated as an accomplice, like, for tampering evidence or misleading the investigation? It felt as if this plotline had been swept under the rug so that we could all quickly move on to Moo Young and Jin Kang's love line in the succeeding episodes.
3) Inconsistent Reasonings. There were also a few instances in the drama that didn't add up, mostly about Jin Gook. Here's one for example.
You throw us a Jin Gook that's soooo eager to pull Moo Young and Jin Kang apart, only to tell us in the end that they weren't real siblings after all? And that Jin Gook knew all of this somehow? Like... WTF? Of course I was glad that our leads didn't end up as real siblings because that's incest and would be too taboo especially in South Korea. However, if Moo Young and Jin Kang weren't actually real siblings and Jin Gook knew this all too well, what's his reason for trying so hard to tear them apart, then? Is Moo Young's sociopathic tendencies enough reason to drive him as strong as that, going as far as stabbing Moo Young which was so wrong and so cliche by the way? I don't know where to put Jin Gook at that, given how he's treated Yoo Ri differently when she's a real murderer. Was he really doing all of this in order to protect Jin Kang? Or was he actually doing this in order to protect himself?
And Tak... Don't even get me started with Tak.
I know Tak was infatuated with Jin Gook, but I just don't get how she could blindly follow and cheer him on like that just because she's infatuated. I mean, in Episode 14, there was this instance where Moo Young broke out of Jin Kang's house (with a gun in tow) so that he could confront her brother regarding the stabbing, his father's death, and all of this mess. Tak's visit that night halted this confrontation from blowing into unimaginable proportions, and even though Moo Young was able to safely sneak out of the house, the smell of gunpowder didn't leave Tak unnoticed. This prompted her to bark at Jin Gook to stop allowing Moo Young to control him like that. Ha. Really now, Tak? How was Moo Young's breaking out a lot worse than Jin Gook's stabbing? I'm not saying what Moo Young did was right, of course it was wrong in all of its sense. However, Jin Gook was also wrong for stabbing someone, especially since he easily got away with it. Justifying Jin Gook's actions by telling Jin Kang that her brother wouldn't really be stabbing people if she only did as told was already wrong in so many levels, and now this?
❀ RULING ❀»•»
The Smile Has Left Your Eyes is a masterpiece in every sense of the word. It wasn't flawless, and wasn't as thorough as Moo Young's craft beer was either. Nevertheless, it was beautiful. It was a tragic and jarringly beautiful tale of love, something I know will haunt me for the rest of my viewing life. Yep, more than Scarlet Heart Ryeo ever did.
A homeless amnesiac chaebol. A prudent country bumpkin. Throw them together in a world full of trends and consumerism, what we get is a drama with a hilarious yet heartwarming take on life, love, and the lessons that go in between.
A 16-episode South Korean Drama starring Seo In Guk for the titular role, Shopping King Louis is a light hearted romantic comedy about a rich heir fond of shopping who loses his memory and a country bumpkin who helps him regain his memory while teaching him about prudence and navigating life in the city... which eventually leads them into falling in love.
With Seo In Guk already in his 30s this year, I find Shopping King Louis as a drama intended to market himself towards a wider audience (i.e. the female and teenage groups) as a follow-up for his return from the military service should he push through with enlisting anytime soon, especially since he has filmed this right after Squad 38 which I assume was somehow targeted at males. This is a smart move on his end, even more so because Shopping King Louie had been a fun and entertaining drama during its run.
❀ RAVES ❀»•»
1) Comedy. Seo In Guk's comedic timing is impeccable as always, yet apart from him, the rest of the cast's take on a humorous portrayal wasn't anything short of decent either. Comedy was among the greatest strengths that Shopping King Louis has, and I love how the show has made me laugh and grin like a fool in almost every episode. Here's one hilarious scene, for example:
Episode 2 was definitely one funny episode. Apart from the hilarious sauna scene, I also loved this part where Louis followed Bok Shil around, whining like a baby that he be fed. The gestures and expressions that he had as he shoved a toast on his mouth while Bok Shil scolded him for taking food when he doesn't even have money to begin with was... Ha. I can't even.
Here's another one:
Seo In Guk is known to be scared of ghosts and bugs, which makes these scenes in Episode 3 and Episode 10 all the more funny! His terrified reaction upon seeing a centipede and a spider had me like a goner! It was akin to what he was like when he saw a moth during an episode of Law of the Jungle I just couldn't stop laughing . He's just so adorable
2) Seo In Guk as Louis. I may sound bias by praising Seo In Guk a lot for his acting in various shows, but man, this guy sure deserves to be praised. No matter the role, he always makes sure to own a character to a T, and I love how he has owned Louis in this show from the voice to the expressions down to the body language. Seo In Guk played Louis as someone endearingly nuanced, and I can't thank him enough for always surprising me with something new whenever he takes on a project. Here's one scene that I loved:
Seo In Guk was marvelous in this scene in Episode 10. How Louis broke down crying after regaining some of his memories and realizing that Bok Nam was the one who had died in that plotted car accident was moving in so many levels. The emotions and guilt that Seo In Guk has shown in this scene spoke volumes of his commendable acting skills, because even through all this, Louis' characterization never got brushed to the side. The tears he shed were so real and raw but at the same time still so uniquely Louis in fashion. Kudos to Seo In Guk for delivering such scene brilliantly.
And this:
My heart ached for Louis when he wailed inconsolably under the rain for not being able to be with Bok Shil in Episode 11. The same goes for Episode 12. Even if Louis was just faking his amnesia, he couldn't contain his feelings upon seeing Bok Shil again. Seo In Guk was evidently so full of emotion in this scene that my heart ached for Louis even more.
3) Nam Ji-hyun. I have never seen or heard about Nam Ji-hyun prior to Shopping King Louis, and it was just so welcoming to see her act all sweet and charming in this drama. I love how she was able to play Go Bok Shil's multifaceted character compellingly well. She has this ability to make you laugh, cry, and fall in love with her in just a heart beat. It didn't help that she was so dang pretty too!
4) Heart. Aside from comedy, another strength of Shopping King Louis for me was its heartwarming take on life and love. It never attempted to have an overarching plot, but instead basked in it's simplicity, which was hands down beautiful. Most of the heart of the drama stems from Louis and Bok Shil's interactions. I love how the story revolved on these two navigating life in the city, and I will never get tired of how charming it was to see Louis and Bok Shil support each other during the entire show. How they always got each other's backs through the ups and downs of their crazy journey will always be one of the fondest memories I have for Shopping King Louis. I specifically love how Louis taught Bok Shil to relax and loosen up a bit, but I loved more how Bok Shil taught Louis to be a little more mature and responsible, such as being wise in spending money. I also love Louis' little realizations about the world around him, and though he's like a naive kid all throughout, his innocence and kindness never failed to get me and warm my heart.
5) Animation. Seeing those cute animations in various scenes not only upped the comedy for Shopping King Louis, but also added an artistic effect you never knew you needed in this show. Those animations were refreshing to see, and I love how it made the show look a little more creative and cheeky at the same time.
❀ RANTS ❀»•»
1) Bok Shil's Hair. I don't really have anything to rant much about Shopping King Louis, except that the abrupt change in Bok Shil's hair was sort of distracting to look at at first. I mean, up until Episode 4, Bok Shil had this cute curly hairstyle to match her country bumpkin look, but then in Episode 5 she suddenly began sporting a straight hairstyle when she didn't even go anywhere near a salon during the previous episode. Plus, nobody in the office even seemed to notice the change! What, did all the sweat from being sick miraculously changed her hair like that? Not that I don't like it, she was definitely prettier with that straight hair... But, even if it was something very very minor, it sure was distracting the first time I've seen it.
❀ RULING ❀»•»
Shopping King Louis was a great watch from start to finish. Yes it was cliche, but in an entertaining kind of way. It's such a funny and feel good drama I'd gladly pick up whenever, wherever; a ray of sunshine in a world (and the world of K-Dramaland) that is sometimes grey.
Scams and slick conmans — this is what makes up Squad 38, a 16-episode television series about swindling big time tax offenders into paying the backtaxes they owe and keep trying to run away from. It ran for 16-episodes in a Friday-Saturday 23:00 KST time slot, broadcast by cable channel OCN.
In my years of Korean drama viewing, Squad 38 is definitely one of the rare, most intelligent dramas I have ever (as in ever) seen. Suffice it to say that I only see compellingly intelligent ones once in a blue moon, that’s saying something.
❀ RAVES ❀»•»
1) Plot Twists and Brain. Oooohhh. I seriously love it when my mind gets blown by a drama in one way or another, because this just goes to show how intelligent and carefully thought of it actually is. Throughout the course of Squad 38, I can no longer remember how many times have I screamed WHAT?! either because of utter confusion or disbelief or both. Yes, I came to a point where I don’t know what’s real and what’s not anymore. I get conned the same time the characters get conned by our beloved Squad, and no, it wasn’t a bad thing. In fact, that’s the greatest thing I love about Squad 38: its plot twists and brain. Like this:
I was so, so ready to bark profanities at Mi Joo on Episode 10 when I thought she really did side with Bang Pil Gyu and ditched her teammates because of unrequited love with Jung Do. Watching dramas for nearly two decades now has taught me how dangerous unrequited love can be for a character, and much as I thought that move wasn’t really Mi Joo’s style (I was like: no you aren’t like that. You’re way cooler than that, right, Mi Joo? the whole time), I still frustratingly fell for it. So when the whole con got laid out right before my very eyes, I rejoiced in a corner like some crazy fangirl all while saying, “ang taba ng utak ng gumawa nito!!!!” (the person who wrote this is really really smart!!!!) Lol.
Or this:
That final con at Episode 16 was something I’ve never really seen coming. Truth be told, I did not have the slightest idea regarding how writer-nim will wrap the story out, provided that Jung Do has been ditched by his powerful backers as what we have been led to believe. But voila! In the end, it did turn out the other way around, and I was impressed. Though I’ve seen the flaw in Jung Do’s plan as he was explaining it to the team (who in their right mind would agree to be a broker and rot in jail along with the baddies unless you have been framed), I never really expected the second broker to be him. My mind rejoiced for Jung Do for being such a clever man, but at the same time, my heart ached for him in that sense, more so because it was way beyond question for his character to assume the sacrifice. He made me feel all sort of feels I don’t know what I actually was supposed to feel in the end. Ha. I think I’m going nuts.
2) Cast Ensemble. Putting all of these people together is definitely another strong point for Squad 38. Why? Because they felt like family. They felt like real squad goals.
I specifically love how Jung Do and Sung-il became sort of like brothers and the best of friends throughout the course of show. Among all the people in their team they seemed to be the ones who complement each other the most. They made me feel all sorts of emotions just by being with each other, e.g. joy and amusement when they fought at the playground and made up over jajangmyun and blankets, or heartbreak… when Jung Do got jailed for being the second broker in their final con and him calling Sung-il his hyung for the first and the last time. That line delivery… That acting… Oh my heart. Oh my aching heart.
3) Epilogue. The last scenes had me like a goner!
I never really thought that a Squad 38 and a Bad Guys crossover would make up for a good drama material until OCN shoved it right in front of my nose. Make it happen, please? Pretty, pretty please? I think I’d absolutely love to see both Seo In Guk and Park Hae Jin in a drama together. Weeee!
4) Parallelism. I love the analogy that was put regarding Chun Gap Soo being the mayor of Seowon and him being Sung-hee’s dad. Despite his intentions to be good, he was a failure in both aspects... and I love how Seung-hee pointed that out to him matter-of-factly, saying that even if his intentions were good natured, the fact that he was never really there for his family nor his people doesn’t make him a good father nor a good mayor. Clever, show.
5) Spot-on Seo In Guk. My namja knows exactly which buttons to push! He maneuvers his way to own a character effectively well, and that is very much evident in his acting especially in portraying the conflictingly complex Yang Jung Do. I love how he always manages to pick the smart dramas (hi, I Remember You) and nail it like its nothing, thus making it look like acting is such an effortless job for him. I know I’ve said this for over a hundred times already, but honey, I just couldn’t be any more proud.
❀ RANTS ❀»•»
1) Pacing. To cover ground that leads to the team’s next big con, Squad 38 tends to be painfully slow at times, such as the glaring five-episode build-up that was spent in conning Ma Jin-seok during the first arc of the show. I know the things they did were needed to be able to advance to the next level, but would it have been too much to cut the chase a little bit shorter? Ma Jin-seok’s arc took away five hours of the show, and focusing on a single target for almost five long hours surely doesn't guarantee a show wouldn't get boring to an extent.
2) Sung-hee. When the city tax team decided to go after Ma Jin-seok, I believe I’ve seen Sung-hee as someone who’s spunky; but throughout the course of the show, she eventually lost that spunk I think she became nothing but a wallflower (for me, at least until the last few eps). There was so much potential right there but that potential soon faded in the background when she became a supporting character instead of the main character she was supposedly marketed to be.
3) Ahn Tae Wok Untied. A disturbing loose thread, this man is a bomb — a sly, power-hungry and even more lethal antagonist than those previously dealt with by the squad. His continued existence is like a hole to the almost tightly wrapped plot of Squad 38. But then again, it could be the other way around, no? Like… him being the door to the next big thing? That being said... Season 2, please!
4) Missing People. Ugh, can anybody tell me where Dokbae went?
❀ RULING ❀»•»
Despite the rants, Squad 38 is all in all perfection at its finest.
A well-written mind puzzle. A cleverly executed show. Squad 38 is a rare gem, a stand out to be remembered for a long, long time in the vast history of K-Dramaland. And yes people, this is the way a drama ought to be done.
I was so happy When you smiled at me With a smile that melts away everything Spring is yet far away And the earth is still cold Was waiting for the first sprout to come Although today is hard to bear Even when yesterday's scars remain If I work it out with a heart that wants to trust I can't be born again But I can change as I go on Let's stay together... Always.
