AnicsiRoscoe

I just finished episode 8 and I am in love with this drama. I know there'll probably be heartbreak at the end of this, but it doesn't change the fact that the first 8 hours of this gave me a sense of purpose. The title 'Record of Youth' is befitting of this show, that gives us a glimpse into the lives of people at the steps of adulthood. I am just past 30 now, but this drama made me remember so clearly what I felt when I was chasing my dream in my twenties, balancing between recklessness and the fear of failure, hoping for a stable future, yet wanting to be free and not tied down. I can relate to every single of the thematics here, I can feel each character's struggle to make the right choices, to be responsible yet not to give up on our hopes. I understand why this drama is not for everyone, though. It's way too 'real' for some, especially the scenes that involve family who are nearly smothering by way of 'protection'. And then there's the romance, which to me, feels very natural, but some might argue they're lacking chemistry because it's not the typical romcom romance. They support each other without being overbearing, at times they're overly cheesy and sweet (because as Jeong Ha put it, she has 'had to face reality too early on in life'), while sometimes they hide their pain from each other or are out of touch because work and other responsibilities get in the way. Typical romcoms paint our partners as heroes who drop everything at once and answer all our calls and come to rescue whenever we need them, all the while sparks fly around until you can see nothing but them. But that's not reality. No matter how amazing someone makes you feel, there might be times when our significant other cannot be there for us when we most need them. It's okay for us to want them to be there, but it's important to understand that one day they might not be, and to stand on our own two feet and not forget who we are. This is such a lengthy comment, but I truly think this is a gem and I hope the ending won't disappoint, even if it turns out to be sad. So far, it's a 9/10 for me.

I haven't seen the original, so I won't be comparing. I can just say that besides the first episode, I find it extremely boring (and even the first episode was a bit: huh?). The SFL and her mother are just batshit crazy, Kang Jae is kind but a snooze fest and Raphael... well I'm still undecided, but so far he is my favorite character. FL's facial expressions convey nothing to me, although she did gain some bonus points in how she stood up to her father in the latest episode. In any case, I'll put it on hold for a while, cannot seem to get through another ep for now. It's a 6.0 at this moment for me.

Starts with a bang, goes out with a fizzle. The beginning of this drama really was hilarious. Clichéd but with a twist, so somehow done right, it hit the right buttons. But then in the middle it became somewhat ridiculous, and I started to lose interest. In the end I didn't even want to finish it because it had become predictable and boring, the clichés suddenly back to being real instead of witty plot devices (fast forwarded through the last episode, which I never ever do with dramas. Either drop them or give them my full attention.) I give it 7/10, but only for the fab start.

Most of my female friends are like that, and they always say the Korean actresses look like they're 15 lol Hm, have you tried Oh My Venus? So Ji Sub is pretty dandy, not too feminine (in the first ep you see him all muscular working out, too hahah). Terius behind me with So ji Sub is great, as well!

Oh, and for gamers, I recommend 'Memories of the Alhambra'! The beginning being set in Spain and with all the gaming content, it's a great start, fantastic music, too.

I think it's important for the first episode to be really gripping. Most western series/Netflix watchers find K-Drama romcoms too cheesy, so I try to go for something more action packed. I've had decent success with 'Tunnel', 'Yong Pal', 'City Hunter', 'Descendants of the Sun', 'Romantic Doctor, Teacher Kim'...

Ah yeah, I see. We have a couple of Korean restaurants in my city, but it's quite populated. I hope something will open where you live so you get to have a taste :)

I think that one of the main points in this drama concerning the Chinese cuisine is tradition vs. innovation. Chef Wang wanted to keep things traditional and didn't dare to try new and modern fusion foods, but It was exactly what made Poong's dishes stand out from the rest and why Chef Wang was jealous of Poong's popularity. He just couldn't reach Poong's skill level, which eventually lead to their falling out. And the 'Korean' Chinese dishes they sort of focused on was another point where they disagreed: Chef Wang only wanted to serve 'classy' food, while Poong believed that even street food (and the Korean Chinese dishes originated from street food) could be sophisticated as well if served with a twist.

Sad the ratings are dropping. I've been loving this drama since it came out and watched it like 5 times. The chemistry is off the charts, the bromance is so touching and the comedy never gets old. Only character that really got on my nerves was the mother, but other than that, all the characters were sorta amazing, even the 'villains'. Objectively speaking Chil Song is the most amazing and lovable character, but I didn't get SLS, because how can you not fall in love with Seo Poong? In any case, gonna watch it many more times, such a fun romcom!

Let's say she's a very broken character, and her actions are a consequence of that. You will keep hitting your head because of her defiance, but at some point it will become clear why she did it. She's not one of my favorite female leads, but I see myself in her imperfections somehow, so I can relate to her struggles. Not sure if that makes sense, but she's definitely not the playgirl she appears to be in the beginning. :)

I cannot believe I nearly gave this a pass because of the dumb title. It has easily become one of my favorite realistic romance dramas. The first episode was somewhat strange with the interview style, but you get used to it, and they tone it down a notch in the later episodes. What made me love this drama more than I thought I would (besides the sizzling chemistry of our main leads), was the unusual format, that we knew what Eun Oh/Sun Ah knew, but everyone else was left in the dark and those little snippets of suspense really elevated the drama for me. Secondly, it's incredibly realistic, to the point where while I want to hit my head against the wall for why she acted the way she did, I can understand her to an extend. The characters here are all flawed and imperfect, just like you and me, and the mistakes they make, make this drama so human. More than anything, the wish to reinvent ourselves at one point in our lives, is very interesting and true, but we are immediately faced with the consequences of such action. To everyone looking for a realistic romance, that gives you flutters just as much as heartbreak, I recommend this drama. I'm already looking forward to rewatching it one day. 9/10 for now.

If you just don't like her because she's a 'playgirl', you should keep watching. There's a very interesting explanation to her character. The first couple of episodes are somewhat confusing, but it becomes much more heartfelt and understandable later on. I loved the show, personally.

Watch 'Work Later, Drink now', if you haven't yet. I liked it more than Melodramatic. The first episode is like 'wtf', but it really gets so good!

My favorite shows hands down are 'Age of Youth', 'Because this is your first Life' and 'Work Later, Drink Now'. Although 'Weightlifting Fairy 'is also high on the list. I watched most of the ones you mentioned and they were all decent, though. Only just started 39, so far I love it.

Rewatching it for the 4th time. I watch it once a year. It's a beautiful depiction of life, beautifully interwoven stories of youth, old age, marriage and new love. In the beginning it seems somewhat like mindless comedy and annoying characters, but if you stick around, you'll be touched by each individual story. It has a more European vibe than most K-dramas, but it's refreshing in the same-old cliché that dramas have become. So so so recommended, I hope everyone gives this a chance! One of my absolute favorite dramas.

I nearly dropped it after episode 1 because I thought it was boring and sort of weird, not funny at all. I'm glad I stuck with it, though, because episode 2 is already so much better and I am now at ep 4 and hooked! The ending of ep 4 is amazing I didn't expect that twist. Cannot wait to continue this and hoping for a happy ending!

Yes, absolutely. There's many dramas like this, where a guy is basically stalking the FL (not that he's stalking here, but he's definitely too involved for my taste), but it's supposed to be romantic or something. I would rather choose someone who makes me feel things I've never felt before, someone I may fight and bicker with, but who gets me and supports me, over someone who worships the ground upon which I walk but who'll tie me down and not see and know the 'real' me.

Well, yes, I am still wondering myself why he didn't tell her it was not true. Maybe he wanted to save Seol Ah's dignity. After all, she's still a good friend. Maybe, he didn't think at that point it was important enough. Maybe, he knew that it was clear he was not involved with Seol Ah, and Na Bi was going to realize it eventually. He's a character of little words, at least in the beginning. I can see them talking about it in the future maybe, when they are more comfortable and honest with each other. I can see how it's frustrating to someone who's forthcoming and honest, though, so I understand your disappointment. However, I think the disappointment should be aimed at the characters, not the writing. I've seen some BTS where the director tells the cast why they act a certain why in some scenes, so I am sure there's a reason somewhere.

You may have forgotten, but he did try to reach her, but her phone was turned off. He was worried about her but didn't know where she went. So when he met her again in her hometown, he saw her laughing with and getting bike rides from another guy. He'd feel jealous. He would want to know her real feelings. He's also a bit annoyed because she told Seol Ah about their sex life. Why, out of spite? He doesn't know. He wants to get to know her better, and to know if she still wants him. But when they're playing games in a group and he shows interest in her, she doesn't fall for it. Instead she keeps laughing with that other guy. Why? Is it because she thinks he's taken? Is she just not interested anymore? You see, those kind of questions in our heads make us go crazy. The what ifs and whys and he's never had to deal with those kind of things, because he always kept a comfortable distance with girls, and he never fell for any of them. It's the first time and he doesn't know how to act. So he does what he feels most comfortable with, he chases her, seduces her, but refuses to show vulnerability. Their relationship is not toxic, it's immature, he's human, she's human, and they're not brave enough to face their feelings honestly. I am 31. I have seen plenty of their relationships with couples close to me, and have my fair share of heartbreak due to lack of communication and wanting different things. I don't want to get too personal here, all I am saying is, this story isn't fluffy and it's not meant to be. It's not meant to be about beautiful youthful love. It's about realizing when you meet someone so special that you're willing to change for them, even though it may take time and little steps, and possibly inflicting yet another wound while growing together. I think had I watched it in my early 20s, or even before that, I may have not seen the depth in this drama. I respect your opinion of not liking it, I just wanted to set straight the 'cheating' thing, because that's not what happened. And I nearly watched missing the show because of that.

It had too many plotholes, f.e. they never mentioned the photoshoot and modeling again, or why on earth he'd have a photo studio at home when it's obvious they wouldn't film there in the first place. It seems to be a pretty big company as they have their own cafeteria and a lot of employees, why on earth would the CEO bring underwear home and display it there? How he recognized his sunglasses from 10 feet away, 7 years later with no clue whatsoever, and also his FRIEND sees it right away too (if they're so special and expensive, would he really randomly give them away to a stranger? Does he come from a rich family then? Why didn't he ever date so far despite looking hot af?) I'm just a bit disappointed because I liked the premise but there were too many empty spaces in the world building...