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A Gentle Story of LOVE LOSS HEALING _ CONTEMPORARY DRAMAS ARE BEST
This is SONG JOONG-KI's drama after his last drama in 2023 (Reborn Rich), which was a good hit both globally and domestically, and CHUN WOO-HEE from her last hit drama. These two are paired for a slice-of-life melodrama along with LEE JOO-MYUNG and SEO JI HOON.
By announcing the cast, it’s natural that KDrama fans have expectations for the drama. Let’s see how the drama performs with this impressive cast with the contemporary storyline.
STORY and WRITING 8/10
We have seen many dramas with this type of storyline, so MY YOUTH story gives similar vibes, but it also gives warm vibes with a fresh tone of contemporary stories. The main leads fell in love in the college days but went separate ways for some major reasons, but with an unexpected push by fate, they reunited again after becoming adults and searched for the second chance in love. The reason why I gave an 8/10 rating to this story is— 1) Relatable main characters 2) The flow of the main story with limited sub-stories 3) For not designing love triangle stories.
While the story gives warm vibes, some aspects feel lacking at the back end. I can’t say this story is well crafted in both slice-of-life and melodrama. What is important in these genres is designing emotionally strong characters not only for main leads but also for supporting characters. The main leads got that emotional weight, but the supporting characters felt rawness.
Another important aspect is that most of the watchers have questions on the second leads’ story (TAE RIN &)—their characters didn’t get enough part in the story, like from the love track to the breakup part or the friendship track. I think the writer focused on the main leads' story POV because the core story is driven by SUNWOO & JE YEON. But to me, the writer has given a simple and sweet love track to them that every watcher enjoys.
ACTING 9/10
SUNWOO, JE YEON, TAE RIN These characters are designed with both humor and angst elements. Also, other supporting characters have both elements, but these three characters have more weight with emotional touch. SONG JOONG-KI, CHUN WOO-HEE, and LEE JOO-MYUNG, as well as NAM DAE-REUM and JEON SO-SONG (younger versions), perfectly adopted those elements to their characters and delivered excellent acting performances. Especially SONG JOONG-KI & CHUN WOO-HEE’s characters make you laugh and make you cry in the second half, along with LEE JOO-MYUNG and SEO JI HOON’s characters. In this drama, SONG JOONG-KI's role resembles his role in THE INNOCENT MAN.
TECHNICAL ASPECTS – 9/10
Cinematography is good; the color tone is what made the drama more beautiful. In contemporary dramas the locations and scene settings are major elements for the storytelling, and MY YOUTH had some beautiful locations and great scene settings. I loved DOP and how beautifully and colorfully those scenes are shown in the drama. The costume designs of the actors are also cool and perfectly match the drama vibes. Another great thing is the drama’s OST; the instrumental tracks are melodious.
Final Talk -
Overall, My Youth is a warm, emotional drama carried by heartfelt performances and beautiful visuals. While it doesn't reinvent the genre, it delivers a sincere story about love, regret, and second chances.
This is the kind of kdrama that is watchable for the plot (story) and connects to the vibes of warm and cozy and feels comfortable. But expecting something very different in healing dramas only shows disappointment.
By announcing the cast, it’s natural that KDrama fans have expectations for the drama. Let’s see how the drama performs with this impressive cast with the contemporary storyline.
STORY and WRITING 8/10
We have seen many dramas with this type of storyline, so MY YOUTH story gives similar vibes, but it also gives warm vibes with a fresh tone of contemporary stories. The main leads fell in love in the college days but went separate ways for some major reasons, but with an unexpected push by fate, they reunited again after becoming adults and searched for the second chance in love. The reason why I gave an 8/10 rating to this story is— 1) Relatable main characters 2) The flow of the main story with limited sub-stories 3) For not designing love triangle stories.
While the story gives warm vibes, some aspects feel lacking at the back end. I can’t say this story is well crafted in both slice-of-life and melodrama. What is important in these genres is designing emotionally strong characters not only for main leads but also for supporting characters. The main leads got that emotional weight, but the supporting characters felt rawness.
Another important aspect is that most of the watchers have questions on the second leads’ story (TAE RIN &)—their characters didn’t get enough part in the story, like from the love track to the breakup part or the friendship track. I think the writer focused on the main leads' story POV because the core story is driven by SUNWOO & JE YEON. But to me, the writer has given a simple and sweet love track to them that every watcher enjoys.
ACTING 9/10
SUNWOO, JE YEON, TAE RIN These characters are designed with both humor and angst elements. Also, other supporting characters have both elements, but these three characters have more weight with emotional touch. SONG JOONG-KI, CHUN WOO-HEE, and LEE JOO-MYUNG, as well as NAM DAE-REUM and JEON SO-SONG (younger versions), perfectly adopted those elements to their characters and delivered excellent acting performances. Especially SONG JOONG-KI & CHUN WOO-HEE’s characters make you laugh and make you cry in the second half, along with LEE JOO-MYUNG and SEO JI HOON’s characters. In this drama, SONG JOONG-KI's role resembles his role in THE INNOCENT MAN.
TECHNICAL ASPECTS – 9/10
Cinematography is good; the color tone is what made the drama more beautiful. In contemporary dramas the locations and scene settings are major elements for the storytelling, and MY YOUTH had some beautiful locations and great scene settings. I loved DOP and how beautifully and colorfully those scenes are shown in the drama. The costume designs of the actors are also cool and perfectly match the drama vibes. Another great thing is the drama’s OST; the instrumental tracks are melodious.
Final Talk -
Overall, My Youth is a warm, emotional drama carried by heartfelt performances and beautiful visuals. While it doesn't reinvent the genre, it delivers a sincere story about love, regret, and second chances.
This is the kind of kdrama that is watchable for the plot (story) and connects to the vibes of warm and cozy and feels comfortable. But expecting something very different in healing dramas only shows disappointment.
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