What a crazy coincidence! After watching the last ep of The Smile Has Left Your Eyes, I came to DB to write about the similarities between how I felt the day I watched the last episode of Sorry, I Love You and today and I saw this post!
MiSa, such a magnificent drama. When I was watching it, it was the new year holiday in my country and everyone was happy but I was sobbing all the damn time. I remember how many boxes of tissues I used during those days. After that I never watched sth from So Ji sub cuz I couldn’t forget the sadness in his eyes in MiSa. I still listen to the OSTs.

Thanks for this review @missvictrix. I feel that it gives me 'comfort' in some strange way, because when I watched/skip-watched enough episodes of ISILY and realised how the end was going to go (years ago), I chickened out of the angst. I didn't even have to watch every scene or episode, but I already felt devastated. I just could not bring myself to watch anymore when I realised that Moo Hyuk would not get the typical happy ending, but in fact that it was going to be even more painful than simply not getting it.

If I'd been able, then, to have been comforted by the love, hope and meaning in his actions, I'd have felt less let down than I was. I guess I found it too unfair, that all that pain had to be borne, and by one and the same person, who was the most validly needy in my eyes.

They certainly knew how to do tragedy with this show. Another one that hurt so good, but it hurt too much for me!!! 😔 😢 😃 Thanks for the reminder of how it was not only slow and sad, but also great.

While Moo-hyuk's death drives home the unfairness of of his life, it's Eun-chae's death that devastated me. She felt like the collateral damage of all the tragedies that's going on. But at the same time, I also get the feeling that Eun-chae is someone who is simply too good and pure for this world that it's better for her to leave early than facing a whole lot of uglines this world has to offer.

Oh gosh... old school drama~
This is when I'm too eager to watch all dramas and suffered greatly from this melo. It was a crying fest from start to finish. Honestly, I don't remember much of the plot other than the ending, SJB hair and the weirdly, the ramyeon scene..

Thank you for writing about this drama - for some reason it's been on my mind lately, maybe because I saw HMSFTS just last night and the lead male has qualities that reminded me of post-injury Moo-Hyuk.

I'm really fascinated with head injuries in dramas. I had one myself years ago, and I still have side effects, although they're minor compared to the stories I've heard from other sufferers. I find the struggle (and sometimes even the lack of awareness that there IS a struggle) something interesting and close to home.

I saw the Japanese version of this drama first, and felt very disappointed that the lead male showed little sign of any physical effects of a brain injury (beyond his declining health, I mean). It seemed kind of ridiculous that he wouldn't show some sign of changed behaviour, little mannerisms etc.

MiSa has that. So Ji Sub portrayed someone who had always been grey and hot-headed, but there was a new level to him after the injury. A moment that sticks with me is his blank stare when he breaks his disguise in the elevator, or when he chews gum during his moment to talk on the television show. He shows behaviour that goes beyond cultural clashing, he's showing the disconnect that can happen with TBI.

So Moo-Hyuk was so interesting to me. He not only had the struggles with his heritage and his love triangle, he also had the very real suffering of impending death, AND the side-effects of a brain injury. That brain injury helped to get in the way of his communication, helping to oil the plot all the way to the revelation that there are no villains, and by that point it was tragically too late for Moo-Hyuk to do anything but try to save others from what he knew and experienced.

I much preferred his relationship with his mother to the plot with Eun-Chae. I found his mother to be awful for a long while, because the plot masterfully had her so rude and ignorant around him, trampling over his feelings. It's easy to forget how strange he must seem to someone outside of his narrative: this brain-damaged man who is quick to violent anger and who gives off the vibes of a slippery snake (with good reason, since he was there for revenge).

The scene that really got me was when he requested a meal from her. She makes it with bad grace and is impatient with him. He cries over the meal and leaves prematurely. His mother starts doing the dishes and can't understand why she's suddenly overwhelmed with tears.

For a long while I'd hoped she'd find out who Moo-Hyuk was so that she'd be forced to feel regret for her attitude. After seeing the way Moo-Hyuk paved the way to his last moments, I felt guilty for that. In the end he had a far bigger heart than me.

I've recently been dipping into the "classics" including this one and really love watching baby-versions of k-drama stars. Honestly, though, your review had me at "organ failure." ;D

The first time I watched this I didn't understand the hype. The second time I watched this I was hooked. Somehow I really liked its atmosphere (among other things). Afterwards, Im Soo-jung officially became one of my most favorite Korean actresses of all time. I've watched almost all of her movies. Now I feel like watching this drama again...

what a wonderful write up! this drama is where i fell hard for so ji seob and have never looked back! it is tragic layered and wonderful. i never cried so good and it takes me a lot to let the tears fall. think i must rewatch. it just might be the beginning of loving jung kyung ho also.

One of my fav Lee Kyung Hee drama to date. I'm cryinng for days after the show end, and mourn both of the leads char. What hit me the most is the way Eun Chae mourning her Ajusshi and she can't forget him. Cries.. I don't know, it hits me the most. One of my memorable ending on Korean drama.

Watched this years ago and refuse to watch the last two episodes...

I’ve been looking at this drama but I’m afraid to start it. Early this year I watched What Happened in Bali. I was stunned.

This is one of my favorite kdramas of all time. I remember literally bawling my eyes out because of the scenes where MH pines for his mother. All those scenes were like hurt so much. It still remains as the top kdrama in my heart. While I did like MH and EC's love story, it was MH's longing stares at his mom and brother that got me. This is also the drama that introduced me to So Ji Sub. Those damn eyes got me bawling in a second. The angst, the bitterness and the longing....AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH I want to rewatch it right now.

I don't remember all the details but I remembered crying really really hard watching this drama. It was such a cry fest, especially the last few episodes. When he asked the mother to cook him ramyeon, I was bawling my eyes out. I still listen to its OST till this day, one of my most favourite kdrama OST of all time. My top 3 favourites are > Perhaps love (howl & j) - Goong, just like the first day (park yong ha) - All in, and Snow Flower (park hyo shin) - ISILY.

Thanks for allowing me to revisit a classic.

BTW, although I love SJS and find him incredibly handsome and sexy in some inexplicable way, this crazy hair works best on him (imo) as seen here and in the movie Always. His hairline just doesn't work when his hair is tamed. The wild hair seems to look past his subdued exterior and reveal that brooding inside is a lion. (Yes, he's one of my few biases.)

I'm late to this party, so not sure if anyone will actually see my comments. No matter I need to comment. I've been a huge kdrama fan for the past 3 years so catching up with the classics. I "met" So Ji Sub thru Oh My Venus. And then went looking for other dramas with him. OMG, he suffers so well! And he's so young and pretty here. Are there any dramas that do not involve him suffering from love and/or severe pain? I also had a hard time seeing Audrey as non-villlainous largely because every time I saw.her face I saw Jun Pyo's very villainous mother....very deserving.of hate, that one.
I usually dont care for shows that are tragic throughout, but ISILY was so well acted and crafted that it pulled me in, and I sisnt have the urge to run away even though I know the sadness would escalate theu the final couple of episodes. His last motorcycle.nosebleed had me sobbing out loud. *need to add tissues to my shopping list*