Memories are not puzzle pieces,they are a feeling
Life unexpectedly creeps up on you without realization.It shapes your perception quietly and slowly,making you think you`re one in charge.This drama weaves a story of longing and necessity so well,you might not even realize what type of message it actually had in store.Like a good tale should,it leaves breadcrumbs with each new episode,and you become Hansel or Gretel,following pieces of tasty treat in order to get to a fervent goal.And it`s a tearjerking one at that.To start off this review,I`d like to that the actors,writers,producers and the rest of the staff involved with this show,as I`m well aware of the risks and hoops one has to forego in order to create a drama.
To be completely honest,I still don`t know which direction this review will take.Because during my time with this drama,I kept lowering then changing my score.Other than one specific episode(or rather fifty minutes of it),it was a smooth ride.The pacing is probably one of the best I`ve seen when we`re talking about slower,more deliberate approaches.And,with the exception of one or two larger than life characters,everyone seems...grounded in reality.Which is kind of purposefully juxtaposed with time traveling MacGuffin because...everything in this drama is a stand in for something else.Even if you are of the twist this one goes for,you won`t be able to guess how they`ll go about it until it happens.The writing is actually clever.The writer(who I can delightfully report also wrote "Beyond Evil",a great crime thriller)really thrives in surroundings that seem fake.And she really got better at it with time.
And this is not the case with the writer either.The director did a wonderful job of setting up scenes and angles,that at times I was really wondering if what I was watching wasn`t a western show,rather than a Korean drama.And some answers were carefully tucked away in the background,thus,if you weren`t paying attention,this twist might seem to come out of left field.But it is not the case.
As this is a spoiler free review(since I don`t want to spoil an actual worthy twist,something that comes once in a blue moon),I`ll have to keep all points of interest at bay.But I still wanted to shed light on it by saying that you know something has a good twist when stories(both pre twist and post twist) could work on their own.So many dramas like to put in any twist just for pure shock value and because it`s simply popular.So what ends up happening is in worst case scenario it can ruin a perfectly good story,or in best case scenario earn a small chuckle out of you.As my headline suggests,it is rather hard to describe what makes this drama fun(albeit painfully) because it is entirely based on a feeling.You feel happy,sad,enraged,melancholic...all at once.The ending to this drama and the last episode in general is one of the most beautifully complex,yet maniacally emotional episodes I`ve seen of anything really.It`s partially why my rating shot up so high.It comes bearing so many lessons and experiences from young and old people alike.Everything that happens in this drama(bar fantastical elements) happened to multitude of persons,but it`s rarely talked about.That`s one more thing in favor of this show.It makes some excellent points on how young oriented society treats people who are deemed as unserviceable because they are elderly.And that sometimes happens in front of your very eyes.Some scenes reminded me of my childhood even and resentment accumulated in these characters is more than understandable when one gets the full picture.The acting is great across the board but Nam Joo Hyuk and Han Ji Min have really outdone themselves.I`ve yet to see a bad Han Ji Min project.And Nam Joo Hyuk FINALLY has something to work with,as his character is one full of moral faults,regrets and duality.This is his best role to date point blank,PERIOD.I honestly don`t think there`s one bad performance here and that speaks volumes.
Now,for drawbacks.Well,as I mentioned,fifty minutes of Episode 10 are incredibly weak,clunky and equipped with some clumsy introduction to a great twist.For a moment,I felt like I was watching a subpar drama and feared what was to come if they`re taking things in this direction.Thankfully,my fears were put to rest very quickly with exceptional episodes that followed.Another issue I`ve had though,is that some actions characters take can and are sometimes overly slapsticky and cartoony.Other than these though,it`s a drama I`m glad I gave a chance to.
It exceeded my expectations and if you need a takeaway from this,remember:Happiness is not shaped by events you go through,but by feelings you had whilst facing them.Thank You.
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Unexpectedly great
I only watched this show because I happened to spot Nam Joo Hyuk in it. I had no idea what to expect, but from the description I thought it would be a comedy like the movie Big. This show certainly did have funny moments, funny enough to make me laugh out loud. However, this show is definitely an intensely emotional rollercoaster and not a comedy.The acting was amazing. Nam Joo Hyuk especially stood out to me because while I enjoyed him in the Bride of Habaek, he was completely different here, and I was unfamiliar with the other actors. This show goes to pretty dark places emotionally, and really takes viewers on a journey that will change their mindset.
To me this doesn’t feel like a normal show. It feels like a long film that should be nominated for an Oscar or something. I’m not saying it’s flawless, but I’m not the type to dissect every little imperfection. The ending of this show will be hated by some, but I think it’s very fitting. I can’t remember the last time a show made me tear up so much, or haunted me for so long after watching it. This show is an experience that will stay with the viewers for a long time.
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The plot is what attracted me to this drama. I love a good time travel story. I actually rarely read reviews before watching a drama unless the rating is mediocre because I am afraid I will accidentally come across some spoilers. So, I went into this drama without knowing much aside from the plot summary. I'm glad I didn't read anything on it beforehand as it would have ruined the story for me. Just know that this is the kind of story that will make your heart hurt and wonder what you would change if you could time travel. This drama is now one of my favourites and I would recommend it to everyone. If you love watching dramas where you will root for the characters and bawl your eyes out, then this is the drama for you.
One of the key plot points of The Light in Your Eyes is the stigma against elderly people and the loss of youth. This can be seen when Kim Hye Ja wakes up as an old woman and doesn't know how to change back. You are able to empathise with her and her family as they struggle with living with a daughter who could pass for her own grandmother. In this drama, you can also see the struggle that both Kim Hye Ja and the other elderly people have with the loss of their youth. I don't really want to give much away but this drama gives the audience an insight into how older people live their lives and the things that they have to give up. It is a very jarring realisation and helps you to appreciate the older people in your own life.
Aside from the plot, the other thing that made me initially watch this drama was Nam Joo Hyuk (Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo, The Bride of Habaek). I have seen some of his other dramas and I love watching a drama where I recognise at least one of the actors. I believe that The Light In Your Eyes was perfectly cast. Nam Joo Hyuk did an excellent job of portraying someone who is just coasting by in life and not actually enjoying it. Han Ji Min (Rooftop Prince; Hyde, Jekyll, Me) and Kim Hye Ja (Dear My Friends) both did a great job of portraying the light-hearted and sorrowful aspects of Kim Hye Ja's personality. For once, I don't think there was any character that I didn't like. Although some characters did not have the most loving personalities, it was easy to understand their pain and why they were that way.
The music is very mellow and calming. It suits the whole different era aspect of this drama. The music alongside the actors' performances, helps with the emotional aspect of this drama. As you progress through the episodes, you will actually find yourself tearing up when a specific song is played.
I would rewatch this drama again but since has a puzzle-like theme, I would wait a bit until watching it again. Aside from that, I would highly recommend watching The Light in Your Eyes.
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The light in your eyes- a game changer!
I love Nam Joo- hyuk and therefore wanted to give "The light in your eyes" a chance. I was not disappointed: the plot amazed me, the cast was brilliant, and I was rarely bored. The drama gave me a realistic representation of the life of the older generation. I learned to appreciate being able to walk up the stairs without having to sit down the rest of the day because of exhaustion. I learned that I should enjoy every single beautiful moment in life- you never know when it´s gonna turn. I learned to love every single character in the drama- I cried with them, I laughed with them, I was happy for them etc. Seriously if you want to watch something else- something far away from the stereotype- then "The light in your eyes" is for you! I never regretted watching it.Was this review helpful to you?
I like a good plot twist, but...
I like a good plot twist, but I felt like 'The Light in your Eyes' didn't need one, thus I felt wanting more than what I received. However, with that being said, the story was still enjoyable, especially in the first eight or nine episodes. My favourite thing about this drama were the stellar performances by the cast, alongside a sweet and subtle OST that I will most likely listen to for a while. The re-watch value is low only from the fact that I felt the last two or three episodes drag like hell - the overall rating would've been higher also.The plot twist wasn't terrible, don't get me wrong. I just would have preferred something different. Han Ji Min is now one of my favourite actresses and I was surprised that I enjoyed Nam Joo Hyuk in this role!
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It may start off as any other drama, but as it goes on the story gets deeper and just develops so well. It can feel/be slow at times, but I think that adds to the story. For those who may get bored but want to finish the show because of friends' suggestion, watch up to ep 10. That gives you the full experience and story of the series with a great ending. The two episodes that follow are just nice packaging of the drama and closes the drama in a nice way.
Acting/Cast:
Everyone did such a great job acting especially Kim Hyeja, she killed this role, I will definitely check out her other works.
Music/OST:
I don't remember the soundtrack, but I had to have been amazing because this drama was and forever be amazing
Overall:
watch this show!!
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i cried so much
i was expecting a really cute light warm kdrama and verh cheesy but i was wrong. there were so many plot twists and i didn’t cry just once. but like 10 times.!i have never cried this much to a kdrama. it had me crying from episode 8 & once i was on ep 10-12 i couldn’t stop crying. the theme of it was really hit home to me as i’ve never had the greasiest usage of my time but overall it’s one i would definitely watch again. nam joo hyuk is also one of my favorite actors and i was really excited to see him play in it as a typical lover boy but ?Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
I just finished watching this last night (binged it actually). It was possibly the best watch ff the year 2019 Q2. My only problem with this is that the synopsis was very misleading and the drama definitely ruined whatever expectations I had going into it. My expectations were to watch something light hearted because life was going to be really stressful for a period of time and I wanted something to cheer me through it. I was not expecting to be brutally sucker punched in my face by reality (especially with the topic that came about in the last two episodes. It brought back many sad feelings and memories). I wished there was a tragedy tag because the drama is something I wouldn’t recommend watching if you watch to escape reality like I did.
Putting aside the sucker punch plot twist into reality, the story was very true to itself. You can see a lot of thought and deliberation went into the episodes before the plot twist that made so much sense after the twist. But it wasn’t without any clues that we arrived at the plot twist either, perhaps having the notion that this was a fantasy drama that helped excuse those inexplainable moments which made the plot twist heart breakingly cruel.
The cinematography was superb. The way the lights and the angles shot of from. Even the acting was amazing, no surprises there. The actresses playing Kim Hye Ja absolutely mind blowingly excellent in their portrayal that I was tear eyed a lot through out. Not only that but the actors who played Hye Ja’s parents were extremely good at portraying their emotions silently, it was both heart wrenching and heart warming feeling their emotions through a screen.
Overall I give a nine. Why the minus one star? For conning me with a misleading synopsis that brought back a lot of things I’d rather not remember or think about.
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Beautiful Heartbreaking Story.!
This is a story about humanity, its sorrowful and impactful.It makes me introspect my own life while thinking deeply about the meaning of aging.!!Nam Joo Hyuk (as Lee Joon Ha) is the reason why I started watching this drama. My one and only favorite K-actor. Haha❣️ His acting in this drama made me think how much he grew as an actor. He's good in this drama. He did it so beautifully and tastefully that my heart broke with his..:'(
The drama started as a fantasy, love, comedy and a bit weird but ended with a fascinating and heartwarming realistic story :'( Watching those grandpas and grandmas struggles and how people take advantage of them were heartbreaking :'( The writer cleverly hid the real plot and shocked us with a beautiful heartbreaking big twist that I'm sure no one expected it..!!
If you're looking for a adorable romantic drama, then this isn't for you^_^ There is no charming prince in this drama.! There are no rich big families fighting for a company, there are no typical Kdrama scenes, it really differs from the majority of Kdramas I've seen❤️
If you're looking for a short drama with life lessons, then this can be the perfect drama to watch on your spare time. Trust me, it's that good^o^
I'm still in the process of trying to accept the fact that I'm already done watching 'The Light In Your Eyes' :'( It truly touched my heart and I will remember it for a long time?
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A very heartwarming slow-paced drama.
One of the best melodrama! The story is very precious itself because it talks about a certain life of a person and how it deals to be a person living with both happy and sorrowful moments beautifully. A very slow-paced melodrama with a bit comedy and romance throughout the series, the plot is very relatable and interesting to fulfill. The whole cast did an exceptional job especially the main leads which are Kim Hye Ja's both the 75 year and 25 year old and also Lee Joon Ha and Kim Yeong Soo. Although the OST's are not memorable but it has its way to capture peoples hearts and soul. KUDOS TO "THE LIGHT IN YOUR EYES" TEAM.Was this review helpful to you?
It talks about the older generation of people, the" neglected" generation. This show has so many light moments but the heavy side of it really REALLY hits you. It talks about relationships between family,friends and people in general with special attention given to the older generation. It also touches on korea in 1970s.
What is so amazing about this show is that it perfectly disguises itself as a rom-com, with fantasy aspects but completely turns around and makes you view all the episodes differently.
I have to give special mention to nam joo hyuk who did a splendid job in portraying his character. Almost all the actors were really amazing to watch!
The only issue i have with this drama is that it is extremely confusing, like i needed a whole year to comeback and finish this drama, just the last 2 episodes. I think this maybe because it was nothing i have ever seen before, the unfamiliarity made me stop watching it. But after completing it i felt really warm and appriciated it more!
a story not for everyone, only the once who are looking for something heartwarming and are willing to spend time and watch patiently how this drama unfolds :)
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This review may contain spoilers
Messy writing meets worst direction
So draggy. 4 episodes stretched out to 12. Ratings on MDL are highly inflated. Most of the scenes are panned for too long as if the camera is mounted on an ant & they had to give each of that shot 30 seconds at least.Worst direction among all of the kdramas I have seen so far. Very weak script. Plot is just a pretty good premise expanded to poorly written 12 episodes.
ML seems to be only capable of looking mopey & pathetically sad - all the time. Guess that's the extent of his character and the range of his acting skills.
FL (younger one) did not get enough script time, but still managed to give quite a nice performance. FL (elder) was similarly good, but, after 4 or so episodes, her character was all about probably asking the viewers to feel pity for her every second of this show (understandably for first few episodes, but for the whole show? Way to make this one as a 1D character like the rest).
This show has an amazing combination of poor writing and worst direction for such an uncommon, but interesting plot line.
Only redeeming part in this sorry excuse for a show, were the actors playing FL (s), FL's friends, FL's mother and FL's brother bringing life to very limited poorly written characters.
This one is like a bait show, asking you to empathize and possibly cry for the sad lives of all the characters involved in a very dull worldview. What a waste of a good plot that could have been a mature outlook on the struggles of a unambitious girl & a helpless old lady, and support of those around her, also (ep 11 & 12) FL;s regretful despair; could have been a good slice of life and a melodrama.
Watch it only for FL (younger)'s friends, mom and trolling brother.
Also, bad execution of the twist in ep 11. Full of loop holes. Totally unnecessary.
This show is messy writing meets worst direction; giving a messed up and confusingly draggy experience. Inflated ratings on MDL. I watched it and this show helped me in a way of letting me know that the bar for worst shows can always be lowered.
3/10.
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