7 Moments That Made Our Skin Crawl From The Premiere of "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes"

You know you’re watching something good when Seo In Guk’s haunting eyes and sneer give you the chills within 30 minutes.

In the new tvN drama “The Smile Has Left Your Eyes,” when a seemingly simple craft brewery assistant named Kim Moo Young (Seo In Guk) meets Yoo Jin Kang (Jung So Min) and her best friend Baek Seung Ah (Seo Eun Soo), sparks fly. Jin Kang’s brother, Detective Yoo Jin Kook (Park Sung Woong), begins to suspect that Moo Young is not who he seems, and as Jin Kook works on a homicide case, Moo Young toys with Jin Kang and Seung Ah, revealing nothing and everything at once. Here are seven moments that made our skin crawl from the first two episodes.

Warning: minor spoilers below!

1. The creepy doctor who followed an 8-year-old boy around

Nothing sets the tone for a mystery melodrama like a creepy doctor who was obsessed with an 8-year-old boy. He followed the boy around and we don’t get to find out who the boy is or why the doctor stalked him.

We also don’t know much about this doctor, but this brief opening scene is a clear exit sign for fluffy rom-com lovers and a haunting welcome for fans of “I Remember You.”

2. Moo Young seduces Baek Seung Ah (Jin Kang’s best friend).

Everything is staged. It’s plain as day. He stalks his prey, convinces her that he understands her better than anyone else in the world, and steals her heart while pretending to be the misunderstood bad boy.

And then he walks away from the party.

Well played, Moo Young. It couldn’t get any more textbook than that.

Poor rich girl Baek Seung Ah had plenty of chances to return to her birthday party, but instead, she follows Moo Young into the night. We get the usual romantic stuff in this scene — the twinkling lights, pretty fireworks, and soothing romantic music — yet, despite being so right, everything feels wrong.

3. Kim Moo Young gives Baek Seung Ah a charm bracelet.

He stares into her eyes and slips his bracelet onto her wrist. We’ve seen this scenario play out in dozens of dramas, yet nothing about this feels sweet or natural, especially the wrist grab. In fact, we can’t help but pity her. A bracelet is never just a bracelet (at least in K-dramas). It puts us on edge to see him stake his claim on her only for his eyes to turn cold as he walks away.

4. The strangest car ride ever

“Have you ever actually shot anyone?”

Yoo Jin Kook gives Kim Moo Young and his kitten a ride home, but Kim Moo Young — a master at reeling in pretty rich girls — drops this one-liner on Jin Kook and ruins the mood. Even though Moo Young could’ve easily hooked Jin Kook in with his charisma and false innocence, he makes Jin Kook feel uncomfortable and suspicious. How does Moo Young even know about Jin Kook’s past? Is he out for revenge?

Jin Kook tries to joke around and make light of the situation, but Moo Young is relentless, refusing to change the topic or get out of the car. Although we’re on the other side of the screen, it feels stifling and unnerving all the same. How will their relationship evolve?

5. When Moo Young fails to seduce Jin Kang and she tells him she couldn’t care less about him

Jin Kang is spunky, bright, likable, and one of two people who can see through Moo Young’s character. This scene reveals how strong and observant Jin Kang is, and it bubbles with tension as Moo Young becomes disappointed and frustrated that she doesn’t care about what he thinks of her. Is this the end of his power trip or the beginning of his cat-and-mouse game with Jin Kang? Either way, we can’t wait to see what’s in store for this couple.

6. Whenever Kim Moo Young is observing everyone

This happens in every other scene that he’s in. It’s hard to believe that it’s a coincidence that Kim Moo Young is always in the right place at the right time. Unlike the usual stalker or suspect in most horror or mystery dramas, Moo Young lurks and lets people know that he’s watching them. It’s almost as if he relishes the fear and power he has over people, especially young, naive women. We can’t help but wonder about all the times he doesn’t let people know that he’s there.

7. Moo Young casually walks into the police station to check out the evidence board.

Yes, you read that correctly. Only in K-Dramaland! We can go on and on about how most detectives and police officers in K-Dramaland aren’t that bright and how anyone can just check up on police investigations by simply walking into police stations, but the real kicker is how calm and slow Moo Young is. He stands in front of the photo evidence board while chatting on the phone until Jin Kook catches him. Moo Young pretends to be innocent and thoughtless instead of leaving before he gets caught. Now, why is that?

By the end of the second episode, we know that Moo Young is a lot more manipulative and smarter than he lets on. His “mistakes” and flirting are as meticulously executed as his craft beers. Since this drama is full of twists and turns, it’s difficult and addicting to guess what’s going to happen next to our favorite characters and predict the real murder suspect.

We never said this was a top seven creepy moments list. For even darker, twisted scenes, watch “The Smile Has Left Your Eyes” and see how Seo In Guk brings this “monster” to life.

Catch the first episode:

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What were your first impressions of “The Smile Has Left Your Eyes”? Which scenes scared you the most? Let us know in the comments below! 

EvaCh10 recommends watching “The Smile Has Left Your Eyes” late at night for maximum effect. She is always on the lookout for BTS fan art, K-dramas with complex plots or mysteries, and videos and gifs of Lee Kwang Soo on “Running Man.” Say hi to Eva on Instagram or Twitter.  

All-time favorites: “Healer,” “W,” “Fight My Way,” “Go Back Couple,” “Chief Kim”
Currently watching: “Running Man,” “The Player,” “The Smile Has Left Your Eyes”
Looking forward to: “Four Sons,” “Today’s Detective”