The Light in Your Eyes (2019) User Reviews

Can't recover from this drama

[rompppuu · 9/10 · 12 August 2023]

Ohmy... this drama doesn't leave my head. I was kinda bored at first, but kept going cuz I heard there were gonna be a big plot twist, and ohmy, I'm glad I watched till the end. Everything made sense, every boring and kinda bizarre moments made so so much sense, and now I'm crying.

!! SPOILERS COMING!!

I can't get over how she wanted to save her husband, how she was living in a dream where she could save her beloved. The first time when Lee Joon Ha was in the police station and Hye Ja, while in big shock, asked if the police is hitting him, it makes so much sense now.

And when Joon Ha was brutally beat up and Hye Ja got to save him.... I think it was her regret, something she wished she could have done.

Oh, and the wristwatch.. it was not some magic that made it rewind the time, but the memories attached to it, so to be precise the wristwatch really did rewind the time.

This drama is gonna live in my head for a long time, so well done.

Surprisingly good and stunning

[marionphilipponmp · 8/10 · 19 February 2020]

I have been watching dramas for many years and I haven't been that moved since...I don't even recall. At the beginning it just looks like your typical funny/romantic/fantasy drama but, and this is a "BUT", it has so much more to offer. The topics that are covered are deeper than thought and anyone can relate to them, in the sense that it is a society issue. The outcome is just "dazzling", and could leave anyone speechless. To finish, the 3 main actors are also great and especially Kim Hye Ja, she completely deserved her award. Recommended 100%

More than awesome

[spiderdib · 8/10 · 28 June 2020]

I think it is too philosophical a drama for the intended audience and slow in the process but nothing is what it seems in at least the first 10 chapters, it has a plot twist from another world and it is not radiant, it is nostalgic but wonderful.

Be ready to cry yours hearts out!!!

[viggyjiggy · 10/10 · 16 August 2020]

One of best TV series I've ever watched... truly an emotional rollercoaster of how life can be surprising. I'm not going give any synopsis of this series and ruin the surprise your truly inn for.

If you're a Drama lover, this is the show for you. It takes you through the series of life's ups and downs. It's heartbreaking, you might bleed in tears but it sort of makes you realise many things about your loved ones done for you. And life is so fragile and passing so fast, we don't even realise it.

So take it easy, live your everyday to the fullest. Tomorrow can wait, past is gone, live your present completely devoted to happiness and things that matter

One of the best Kdramas I have ever watched.

[ayamodiab · 10/10 · 21 February 2021]

If you want typical romantic kdramas or that kind of fantasy ones, this drama is not for you. It has such a deep meanings and wonderful acting. The surprising ending is the best and you feel that the whole experience has been changed for awhile. I just love it. Watch it if you feel that something doesn't make sense, wait for the end.

Unpacking a Time Capsule

[newkrejados · 10/10 · 3 May 2021]

The curfews and police brutality were real. The fashions and hairstyles were real. It was almost shocking to see the gender roles so accurately portrayed - not according to today's stereotype but how they were in reality, back then.

I think I just marked myself as a bit older than the average KDrama viewer.

That puts me in a position to confirm the depicted ageism and snide comments as real and ongoing. The need for elders to be seen as still valuable and wanted. The callousness of grown children who, for decades, nurse their grievances and stubbornly refuse to see their parents as people, not just as their mommies and daddies - all of it, so true.

From a technical perspective, this was spot-on. The writing, the acting - OMG! The acting!, the camera angles and cinematography: all excellent.

The story: mind blowing. Stunning. Jaw-dropping. A must-see.

P. S.: bring lots of tissues.

A heartfelt, beautiful drama series, deserving of praise

[soonwon-61110 · 10/10 · 27 January 2021]

This drama series is not a typical romance / fantasy series... it's one that explores our lives and deeper experiences we take from them. One of the reviews mentioned that the comedy was 'odd', but I believe that these lighthearted moments were meant to be there... Despite challenges, the comedic aspects helped highlight that the lives of these characters wasn't all pain, but that they also had their moments of fun. In my opinion, the drama showed us how we wish it was either all dark or all comedy, but it isn't..because that's reality. In fact, it's what makes life so meaningful, so beautiful, and worth holding onto. It shows just how easy it is to dismiss our brighter moments. Beautifully written. I saw it a second time, knowing what to expect, which made me appreciate all the little scenes that was included in the drama. You can not call this drama 'slow', especially when it is only 12 episodes...it was all exquisitely made.

Undercutting the Twist

[AJ_McAninch · 7/10 · 3 July 2020]

I am a fan, so I was looking forward to this K-Drama when I read the description. But the actual series is not as described. That would be okay if the twist worked fully, but for me it does not. The series does have its moments, but I see too many plot holes, including the way a major character (her son) is treated that is reprehensible and never really atoned for except in hindsight. He ended up living the same life as his beautiful dad, and it's too late for him; no snow sweeping can make up for that. It was naive of the writer to suggest it could. For me, if a narrative surprise doesn't fully account for everything the story raises, then it is undercut. On the other hand, I do appreciate the respect for seniors and the gentle depiction of Alzheimer's. And I love the performances of talented Nam Joo Hyuk and the beautiful Kim Hye Ja who gives an acting class in every scene. She is breathtaking.

Good Enough

[PennyReviews · 8/10 · 20 March 2019]

The light in your eyes is an odd, surprising drama. It is not what is seemed to be. The story started as a comedy, then it turned into a fantasy drama, and, eventually, it all made sense. The dramatic, melodrama element was really good and the family dynamics touching and strong. The comedy element, however, could have been a bit less, as the story was very dark and sometimes it didn't blend well with it. I also enjoyed the slice of life concept. But the highlight of the drama was the performances that were really good by everyone in the cast, though the younger version of the leading lady kind of didn't match with her older version. Finally, the twist in the ending was probably one of the best twists I've ever watched. So, 8 out of 10.

Another drama struggle to be better.

[mailtaskservice · 7/10 · 1 April 2021]

The drama tried to catch emotion but only resulted average performance compared to many good dramas. The characters scene and story of the noodle shop lady with the brother were disasters and total failure nonsenses that wasted viewers precious time and wasted film. What on earth did the writer and the fool director were thinking?

The first episode was a good pickup but as you watch further, every episode deteriorated further. Episodes 10/12 and 11/12 were the worse that totally wasted viewers time. They tried to major catch sentiments in the last episode but still only average, nothing big deal. The last episode ahs some minor nonsenses but still able to swallow but episodes 10 and 11 were unable to swallow at all.

Overall this drama can be watched if no other dramas to watch because 12 episodes is a fast drama to finish. If this drama was above 20 episodes, I will not watch it.

The best drama I've ever watched.

[kermustang · 10/10 · 22 May 2023]

This story had me crying my own trauma away. It is so beautiful, deep and it makes you think twice about how you address things, your family and the meaning and purpose of life in general. I wish I could hug everyone in the staff and cast. I am so grateful to them. The acting is just perfect, I don't know much about Korean history but it seems that the 70s were accurately portrayed, also the gender roles and the deep sense of responsibility wives have towards their husband's affairs and family. Even so, this is such a universal story. This is definitely not a typical drama but watch it and enjoy it at heart.

How depressing...

[fpkvbcjmj · 6/10 · 27 February 2022]

Acting was excellent, emotional drama with tiny touches of wits and laughs.

I didnt like the story overall. It was confusing and was hoping for a more interesting story since it started with something like that. Each episode along the way started going down and boring. I was hoping the last 3 episodes would make more sense but I was wrong and the real story got more depressing. This is not a happy story at all. Watch it if you feel like being sad. Rated 6 because I continued watching (some fast forwards) until the end.

Not what you expect, and depending, maybe not in a good way...

[davidvincentwolf · 5/10 · 3 October 2019]

I've actually become a huge fan of K-dramas, and have watched maybe 25-30 over the last year or so. So far, this is the only one that I have given below a 8/10 rating. Now, even though many of the stories can vary greatly, they usually share similar basic plot points; however this one is something completely different than usual, or than you're lead to expect. I won't give any spoilers, but I freely admit that overall, this wasn't my cup of tea, I'm sure many will enjoy the different approach and time jumps back & forth, and the plot twists as well. What you will find here is some touching & realistic portrayals of some of the difficulties & hardships around aging, family issues, as well as some abusive situations. The acting throughout is very good, and the chemistry between the two main leads is good, and actually made me want to see them together in a more conventional romantic drama. So, let me conclude with this; if you are drawn to this movie because of an expectation of a romantic film about time travel involving the two leads, you may be disappointed. If you want to see a movie about aging, family relations, regrets, & insights into perceptions of the elderly about how they view their past, present and future, this might be for you.

A beautiful story of the spirit and soul of another human being.

[gholdaway · 10/10 · 15 April 2023]

What an extraordinary telling of how someone's life can be told by so many different perceptions. I absolutely loved this story line. It was filled with so many emotions, from the stories being told of each character and than woven into a tapestry of a love story on so many different levels. I love the actors and actresses that used their talent to bring across to the audience the essence of what the writers wanted us to feel and understand regarding the central topic and how they wanted it portrayed and felt by those who watched this show. Tissues are needed especially for the last 2 episodes. One of my favorite shows.

Gayle Holdaway - Canada.

Lovely but unconventional story with a big twist

[Hwangkidong · 9/10 · 31 May 2020]

Do not watch this series if you are looking for a typical romance/fantasy kdrama for light entertainment. Coming into the show I knew there would be something unexpected and unconventional but it still took me by surprise.

I agree with another reviewer who said the comedy and much heavier and darker portions do not always blend well. Following the plot and time jumps is also not easy, resulting in frequent confusion in the storyline. However, the one constant throughout the entire show is the amazingly lovable character of the old lady and the fantastic performance of the actress Kim Hye-ja. If it were not for her, I probably would have dropped the show in the middle. I hanged on through the disappointments and sadness because I believe there must be light at the end of the tunnel and I desperately wanted to see her happy.

Without spoiling anything, the 'big twist' comes towards the last few episodes but not at the very end, so it has plenty of time to properly develop its storyline till the ending. In this sense, after going through all the misfortune of our heroine and her family, and having many questions with the plot line unanswered, everything suddenly came together in a natural and believable way. Not bad for a fantasy drama!

I'll conclude by saying it is not easy to rate this show. It is not light entertainment by any means so your level of enjoyment will greatly depend on your ability to appreciate a good story told in a very unconventional way, despite its flaws.

Beautiful

[vishalatc · 10/10 · 16 June 2020]

Beautiful, must watch drama!!! Its one of the best that I have watched till date. Amazing storyline, loved the twist and the actors stayed true to their role.

To all the viewers who want to watch this, make sure to not skip anything of this series from ep 1-10. The end of episode 10 will blow your mind. The 11th and 12th episodes shows the life of Hye-ja.

--SPOILERS---

"It feels like I woke up from a long dream, but I'm not sure if it was the younger me dreaming of when I was old, or the older me dreaming of when I was young"

This line at the end of episode 10 blew up my mind and finally all the broken pieces fit perfectly. I thought this might be a typical time travel story and was curious on how a time travel watch would resolve the situation that Hye-Ja was in. But turns out it's not needed. There was no time travel to begin with. It was a situation entirely made up by old Hye-Ja who is suffering from Alzheimer. This twist made the whole drama very interesting. The finale was heart wrenching were her son was finally able to understand his mother. I could not think any better ending in the finale.

An acting tour de force

[sonia-95111 · 8/10 · 27 June 2021]

I found this drama surprising and it was worth watching just for the amazing performances that the entire cast delivered. Truly exquisite. I could not score it 10/10 because I think it's not flawless plot wise but it's most certainly worth the 12 plus hours I spent watching it. Some really beautiful moments that will remain with me, and performances I won't forget. Beautiful.

Comme ci, Comme ça

[westsideschl · 7/10 · 17 August 2019]

Negatives: Tended to drag on & on (four long DVDs). Confusing at times w/flashbacks. Difficult to follow who's who while also watching subtitling. Then there's going back in time - not possible at all, sorry, future yes. Although a watch as time travel tool is an easily understandable visual it just makes zero sense - but who cares. Positives: Good acting. Very philosophical about relations & aging. Death is quite real & personable.

Spectacular Show

[loubackbeatrizhyou · 10/10 · 22 February 2024]

If you're coming in thinking you'll see a lighthearted comedy kdrama you better go back to the catalog.

Here you'll find discussions of ageism, police corruption, ableism, class, depression, conflict of generations, and also a lot of pain and suffering.

The main character is really strong willed, which you won't see in a lot in other dramas, she says what she thinks, she stands up for herself.

The performances were so good, everyone put their soul on this project, I cried so much the episode we see her dad's prosthetics, the last two episodes I just cried the whole time, the first ten episodes are "Okay" but they're building it up to throw you off in the last 2 ones, that are a masterpiece.

You won't see many Korean dramas being this political, the class part really really gets me, cause this people are killing theirselves working and still can't afford to have any kind of meat. The parallel from the son complaining they can't buy pork in the fake memories to the real son back then saying the same things but this time it's ways deeper had me really flabbergasted.

It's a really long show, my only critic would be that sometimes the episodes feel tiring because of that, the scene when she rides the bike to try to save her dad goes on for way too long and doesn't look that good.

But basically you can only appreciate this one if you've seen bad kdramas before, here you won't find a character having lunch at Subway just because of the sponsorship, wearing a technological face mask and have the other characters say "omg that's such a good device", in "business proposal" I lost count of how many times the characters had McDonald's coffee, so sometimes you feel like you're watching a huge ad instead of a series, but here there is basically no product placement or ads at all, don't know how they managed.

In the wonderful Mind's Eye

[refordgarry · 7/10 · 10 September 2022]

If you're looking for a sci-fi drama & romance - this one's for you, but be careful, it's not all it seems. Director Suk Yoon Kim also directed "My liberation Diary", which accounts for the truly excellent, sometimes astounding screenplay, particularly pertaining to Hye Ja-Kim the old lady, played brilliantly by Kim Hye Ja. This really is a quality production, and the first couple of episodes are guaranteed to have you hooked. The only possible bone of contention (hence the 7) is the plot, that eventually...... produces glaring story contradictions, that, at first appear unresolvable. A more skillful or apt script would have inserted some well placed "Easter Eggs" to avoid such confusion, e.g.... as in the movie The Prisoner of Azkerban, with details ingenuously and seamlessly sewn into the story. With the absence of "big" clues in this drama's early episodes there's a tendency for the viewers to feel a little bit led up the garden path by the final episodes in the separation of fantasy from reality.

Fantastic!!

[ruredaisy · 10/10 · 19 January 2021]

A very good show with wonderful story. Acting of all 3 lead actors is amazing. It tells u about life and old age. It should be a highly watched show as its truly lovely Ps U will cry in last 2 episodes

Doesn't work for me

[vjspyjwpr · 5/10 · 18 February 2023]

This one doesn't work for me, most of the series is focused on the middle segment where she has aged after overusing time travel. I am on the cusp of 70 myself but I could not identify with the old age issues highlighted in this segment. I am from a different culture (USA) and maybe 70 isn't old enough and I'm not a female but for whatever reason I couldn't get myself deeply involved with this show. Maybe it's because I couldn't identify but I found this segment of the series to be quite boring and pointless, I couldn't see where it was going and, frankly, I didn't care - I hit the FF button a lot during this segment. The final segment is an overview of her life as opposed to being part of her delusion, this segment is fine and it does tie up a lot of loose ends but it's not intuitively clear what this final segment actually is, suddenly the middle segment ends confusingly and she is back in the 1970s with no explanation but as you watch it slowly starts to make some sense.

So, if you like shows that start somewhere is the middle or the end and use flashbacks to slowly tell the story, you may like this show. I personally do not enjoy being confused when I watch a show, I don't mind solving mysteries like a crime thriller but shows like this that purposely confuse you by not supplying context are not my cup to tea. Overall 5 of 10 for a confusing plot line, the actors are good and the production values are good so all the elements are there, it's just the plot line.

Dear Reader

[robertcairnduff-56748 · 10/10 · 9 February 2023]

Dear Reader, Like me you are a fan of Korean dramedies, and this seems like another delightfully frothy piece of silliness to pass the time away.

You have been deceived.

Many beautifully crafted series have unnecessarily happy endings shoe-horned in at the end. Most are light, with occasional moments of breathtaking beauty, in words or cinematography. Some plots are Shakespearean, others have more than a touch of Greek tragedy ... but, as I said, sweetened at the end with a sometimes contrived 'and they lived happily ever after' conclusion.

But not The Light in Her Eyes.

This 12 part series fools us all till the body blow at the end of Part 10. Thereafter, dear reader, you are taken on an entirely different path.

So beware, if (like me) you were looking forward to another light and sweet show, then look elsewhere.

Unique original touching and sad

[phd_travel · 8/10 · 8 June 2022]

The story is totally different from other dramas. I wasn't bored at all because it's so unpredictable. If you feel confused don't worry, things come together in a well constructed and well written way. The much praised ending episodes are sad but complete and ties up things sufficiently to leave the viewer satisfied.

There are many unique things about this show. Firstly unlike the usual age swap shows instead of getting young the character gets old. So we see things from an older person's perspective. Also the love is so unique coming from an old woman towards a young man. The humor is unexpected with the brother quite amusing. This show keeps you watching till the end because it's so strange. Makes one think about life.

The cast is superb. Kim Hye Ja the veteran actress has a tough role and she does a great job. Han Ji Min is quite sweet and feisty here. Nam Joo Hyuk displays impressive range from romantic to depressed and tragic. Not a fluffy role at all.

Unforgettable series.

Literally beautiful

[parmissadeghi-11826 · 10/10 · 31 December 2019]

I literally cried with it. it was really beautiful and heartwarming