Ok ok, so what I get from this is that Dongjun has some of his memories back but not all of them. He knows who tried to kil him, at least that look between Dongjun and IlDo is very telling to me, he knows YJS is trying to kill him, and he knows who killed his sister, but I think he doesn't remember why. The whole Swiss account thing is still a forgotten memory. Which is why I think he left the ring when he went to visit YJS, otherwise this was a very dumb move from a supposedly clever character, and it matches with the fact he is trying to question YJS what money he is talking about.
I think the other interesting plot point here is Dongjun's origins, obviously they have something to do with the Cha family; Chairman Cha remembers Eunnam's dad bringing a young boy (pretty as a girl, which is why we've seen flashbacks of someone with a cute ponytail in Episode 5 and 6, that's actually Dongjun himself), to the houre. And secretary Kong knows about him and his past name. And why she muttered Eunnam's mom name when during episode 6 she was confronted by Dongjun about his forgotten past.
I am betting is either he is connected to the family, or he is another illegitimate son of president Cha or has something to do with Eunnam's dad past. My first guess was that he was the son of Eunnam's mom from before her marriage and that's why Secretary Kong helped her sending the boy away to Madame Pin. But that would make Eunnam and Dongjun half brothers and I really think they are end game. Second bet is illegitimate son of the president. But that also doesn't work.
Personally I love PHS, he is acting his ass off in this drama, probably prompted by all the good actor surrounding him, but damn he is so attractive in this one.
Also, I wish the script would remember Eunnam's motivation for marrying the man her family choose for her. She wanted to have her way in the family to investigate who killed her father, and also get more power in the company in order to inherit it. Why is she suddenly only standing around, crying over Dongjun? Give me back episode 1 and 2 Eunnam. I wanted them to be a hot couple fighting a corrupted family.
Oh god, time for Kim Su Hyeon. I’m already exhausted lol Let’s start with his background, since just like…
This is the perfect character analysis on Su Hyeon. Absolutely on point. Yeah his character is well explained, and his motivations and why he acts the way he does, for such a short drama (8 episodes of barely half an hour) are clear and developed. And while understandable, what he does is wrong, the way he expresses everything will accomplish nothing but fear from others and hate, not love .
I know in the manhwa they do sleep together but damn I am hoping that blanket on the couch means Suhyeon is an asshole, but not asshole enough to kind of coerce Daon into having sex with him when you can tell the boy is half pushing him away during the kiss and keeps staring at the door worried as hell.
Yes to Seong hyeon being the better man and not giving in to Suhyeon's teasing him in the elevator, and during the meeting. Would I have wanted him to punch him in the face? Absolutely. But he is a better person than I am.
Daon looks incredibly torn in between his feelings to Seonghyeon and the fact he is trying to protect him from Suhyeon, given that the man can be violent enough to smash a bottle on someone's face. Junseo has really perfect his longing lingering looks this episode. And that perfect moment at the sunset, when the sun just seems to hit Seonghyeon right and it does really feel we are seeing everything from Daon's POV and how he is falling in love with Seonghyeon, which I guess is why later on he makes up his mind and is about to call him to confess.
But then of course the two red flags couldn't let this happen, Suhyeon like maybe you should have started with the ring?! But tbh, this is a thing, this whole pattern of "abusive behavior - feeling sorry about it until the next outburst happens" feels very toxic, and I feel this man needs therapy, and not Daon.
And then we have Jaemin which I mean...just call the police on him Daon, this man needs serious help. Possibly away from him because I am sure after trying to hurt himself if Daon is unresponsive the next part will be hurting him.
In the past the old me would have helped Jaemin in an instance but the new me, the me who got out of just as toxic…
Sorry to walk in uninvited but this comment pretty much summed up my feelings about this episode and series.
Yes Jaemin is a manipulative bastard, and just when he is plan is out in the open the next step is possible sexual assault and then hurting himself so Daon doesn't leave him alone?! And I would love for Da On to just call the police and leave but I am with you, he will help him because afterall I still fear he thinks he owns him so much (his uni studies IIRC and the many times he has "helped" his family, which he hasn't but that's how he probably depicts it in his mind).
I am a bit surprised about people feeling sympathy towards Su Hyeon. Yes he was probably very sweet in college, and he genuinely liked Da On, but this new Su Hyeon is not a nice person, and in his own way, he is also an abuser. A violent person that throws stuff at Da On, humiliates him at his work (I was so uncomfortable during their team meetings), pushes him around, hurts him, and then almost sexually abused him (And I hope it was almost because after that kiss, and how Da On is trying to push him away and how he keeps staring at the door and the fact that next morning he seems to have slept on the sofa, I hope nothing else happened). Did he had it rough with his family? Probably. Is his father crazy enough to point a gun at him? yes. But that doesn't justify the way he behaves to Daon. Nor does it make me want they end up together, at all.
And omg you just put into words why I love Seong Hyeon so much, he never ever gets violent even if he could very much do so, and probably wants to, but the way he firmly stands his own ground against Su Hyeon when the man just wants to rile him up (and probably have an excuse to fire him) is exquisite, the elevator scene was good and the meeting scene was even better . Yes he is abrasive at times, but he is such a kind-hearted person that loves and respects Daon, all the best to this boy.
I am laughing my ass off with this drama and it's absolute absurdity. It's unapologetic and totally ridiculous. I have to say Jaeyun and Yeongju love story at the beginning was really cute, too.
I really wished the ending had been more logical with the story progression. I don't mind knowing if Jinwoo made it or not as a singer but I really wanted a logical close up for the characters. I don't know I feel the two years gap was a bit abrupt. nonetheless this is probably one of my favourite idol - music industry related drama. is a bit innocent and it could have delved deeper but it's fine. I wonder if one day we will get a proper drama for a group showing their struggles
Kudos to the excellent choreographed fight scene between Gamin and Han Ul, this is what a boss fight should feel like, just two people who match each other ridiculous level. I was completely mesmerized by Woomin's acting here, so different from his other thug characters. And damn I was waiting when he looks at Gamin in the car, before being taken away by the police, for Gamin to say the iconic "His eyes say he wants to study". I fear a lot of topics weren't closed properly, but I am hopeful there would be a season 2 in the future. Kudos to Hwan Min Hyun's acting skills, he has evolved a lot, I think this is the best I've seen him act and I can't wait for him to finish his enlistment and be back in the drama scene. And will definitely check Woomin's acting projects.
Extremely sad that it ended if a series could benefit for even a 40 minutes run time it was this one. I enjoyed it a lot, it probably has one of the best story progressions until you reach the end. The rape scene in episode 6 was hard to watch, but it was even harder to watch how it was treated in episode 7. Sorry but to me the long conversation between Fujisawa and Sei was not needed, I really wanted Sei to walk out of that abusive relationship stronger and confident that his relationship with Hagiwara is what he wanted, and how he wanted to be treated. And even if that conversation solved part of the problem between Fujisawa and Sei, I feel them not touching what happened in episode 6 made it meaningless to me. Don't redeem Fujisawa, it was not needed. Have Sei leave and become stronger. Apart from that part, the rest of the episode was pretty OK, and the final scene was beautifully filmed, and it made me smile a lot. I have to say up to episode 6 this drama was becoming one of my favourite dramas this 2025. And episode 5 contains one of the hotter episodes filmed in JPBL. I will keep an eye on Jun Muto projects, that boy can act his ass out.
Begins =/= Youth Episode 6, really mad that this drama is not in an accessible platform. Do us a favor and put it on Netflix. It's a must-watch. But it's a miserable kind of watching because for every hope they give you, they hit you really hard after.
Why does this feel like the beginning of the end? I feel they are very casually showing us what ends up causing their relationship to break.
Haru is obviously at the beginning of something very bad happening to him. Jeha will start feeling the others are leaving him behind. Jooan will start to go out with the "bad kids" since he is probably feeling left out by his big parenting figures which, funnily enough, are Dogeon and Hosu. Dogeon will start distrusting Hosu. Hwan I do think him and Cein are related, or Cein will learn he is the son of Hwan's dad, and that Hwan's dad brought her mom to the depression that killed her.
In terms of acting, Jung Woojin is the revelation to me (Jooan). I love this guy so much.
Very amazed by Kim Minkyu carrying this episode on his shoulders. Dosung's sacrifice, the way he is ready to execute his plan in order to help his brother even if it means not getting the throne and the girl he is infatuated by, amazing. Hong Yeji was better in the comedic scenes, as brief as they were, but the dramatic ones she just looks frozen to me.
I guess Lee Gon's plan is taking longer to unravel, and that's why it seems he isn't doing much. But I do feel that in trying to create the perfect character they have missed creating a sympathetic character with its own shadows like Dosung . I expect more from him in the next episodes.
Do I think the palace did Sang Rok and the Queen Dowager wrong? I do. Do I also think they are too blinded by the wrong they've been done, they are not realizing they are the very same type of villains that hurt them? I also do.
The king opening his eyes and looking terrified at Sang Rok was great. There goes a good villain.
Begins Youth Episode 5 All the actors in this drama are doing an amazing job. This episode Cein and Haru's actors take the 10 for me, with Hwan a close second.
And also the cinematography IMO has improved 100% more, there was scenes here (Jeha and his brother, the Haru hospital moment, Hosu and Dogeon watching how the city is little by little eating their little microcosmos) that were breathtaking.
That moment with Haru and his parents, that was so hard to watch. Imagine the other person. Imagine Haru having to lie in order to make his parents proud of him when they will never be.
All the Hwan-and his dad moments were tension packed to the point I was fully expecting his dad to slap him.
True, but the hook for Dosung was Myung Yoon. Not so much protecting his family. You could see that from nearly…
I would agree with this in the early episodes, but starting episode 8 I feel his priorities switched. Or he has multiple priorities. I also thought in the last two episodes he was becoming more of a villain but episode 9 made him more of a dramatic figure.
This could be bad writing but I think it's they are just unsure where he is going to fit.
I keep feeling they are leaving Lee Gon too outside of the drama.
The whole dramatic weight is carried between the Queen Dowager and Sang Rok.
On the other hand I feel the most dramatic character is Dosung. He doesn't want to become a king, but has to in order to save his father and family, which is his priority. He doesn't have the Royal Seal so him becoming the king will be disputed by his brother Lee Gon, and it will leading to a final war between the two brothers when all Dosung wanted to do was protect his father and family. Very Shakespearean but at the same time I feel Lee Gon is a bit of a 2-dimensional character and his brother is better fleshed out as a dramatic figure.
The scene between a young Sang Rok and young Queen Dowager was terrifying, like we are dealing with rape here. I think we have to take out the comedy tag.
The fact that she asks Sang Rok if she is still the same person, and even if she is not he reassures her she is, so she is OK and herself.
I don't understand Do Sung, at the beginning I thought the went through all that to not be crowned king. To give a chance to his brother to come back, and in a way have his family reunited. But towards the end he seems to be slowly letting his ambition win.
In a way I can see story repeating itself, Lee Gon and Myung Yoong falling in love, and Do Sung, crowned king, taking Lee Gon's love
I've only known Joo An for an hour and 10 minutes but if anything happened to him I will kill everyone in this room and then myself. (Just on episode 1)
I think the comedy in this episode got a bit lost in translation. But apart from that this episode was so good I barely realized an hour had happened. Our queen finally deciding to step up. The lake scene with the whole family also made me terribly sad. They were happy once and I don't think they will ever be, not matter what Lee Gon plan is. Lee Gon and Myung Yoon are adorable and I am so happy for once they both seem to be falling for each other at the same time so we can skip multiple tropes of when one of them falls first for the other.
I got really emotional during the two brothers last meeting. When Lee Gon told his brother the next time they meet they will be enemies, that hurt.
Again none of the characters here feel very one-dimensional; the queen dowager is more than a mere power-hungry villain, almost becoming a tragic figure. While her lover seems a very gentle and loving man and yet he is moved by ambition. The prince Do Sung seems to love his brother and family but is also very ambitious . Our queen that always seems like the usual villain, is a caring and loving queen that loves her husband.
That leave us Prince Lee gon and Myung Yoon and you know what? I do feel the chemistry between them, to the point I really want their romance to evolve. I do think it will end tragically though.
Episode 6 has picked up, and while I still think 20 episodes is too much I am hopeful to see the direction this is going.
Ah MNET never change, never change... Here we go with the usual villain that will get unjustified hate, even if she is just being human, the ace that will also get unjustified hate, even if it's not her fault, the usual "omg you all suck" first rehearsal to "omg you all are amazing pros" real performance... I complain and yet I get addicted to each survival they put out.
I think the other interesting plot point here is Dongjun's origins, obviously they have something to do with the Cha family; Chairman Cha remembers Eunnam's dad bringing a young boy (pretty as a girl, which is why we've seen flashbacks of someone with a cute ponytail in Episode 5 and 6, that's actually Dongjun himself), to the houre. And secretary Kong knows about him and his past name. And why she muttered Eunnam's mom name when during episode 6 she was confronted by Dongjun about his forgotten past.
I am betting is either he is connected to the family, or he is another illegitimate son of president Cha or has something to do with Eunnam's dad past. My first guess was that he was the son of Eunnam's mom from before her marriage and that's why Secretary Kong helped her sending the boy away to Madame Pin. But that would make Eunnam and Dongjun half brothers and I really think they are end game. Second bet is illegitimate son of the president. But that also doesn't work.
Personally I love PHS, he is acting his ass off in this drama, probably prompted by all the good actor surrounding him, but damn he is so attractive in this one.
Also, I wish the script would remember Eunnam's motivation for marrying the man her family choose for her. She wanted to have her way in the family to investigate who killed her father, and also get more power in the company in order to inherit it. Why is she suddenly only standing around, crying over Dongjun? Give me back episode 1 and 2 Eunnam. I wanted them to be a hot couple fighting a corrupted family.
Yeah his character is well explained, and his motivations and why he acts the way he does, for such a short drama (8 episodes of barely half an hour) are clear and developed. And while understandable, what he does is wrong, the way he expresses everything will accomplish nothing but fear from others and hate, not love .
Yes to Seong hyeon being the better man and not giving in to Suhyeon's teasing him in the elevator, and during the meeting. Would I have wanted him to punch him in the face? Absolutely. But he is a better person than I am.
Daon looks incredibly torn in between his feelings to Seonghyeon and the fact he is trying to protect him from Suhyeon, given that the man can be violent enough to smash a bottle on someone's face. Junseo has really perfect his longing lingering looks this episode. And that perfect moment at the sunset, when the sun just seems to hit Seonghyeon right and it does really feel we are seeing everything from Daon's POV and how he is falling in love with Seonghyeon, which I guess is why later on he makes up his mind and is about to call him to confess.
But then of course the two red flags couldn't let this happen, Suhyeon like maybe you should have started with the ring?! But tbh, this is a thing, this whole pattern of "abusive behavior - feeling sorry about it until the next outburst happens" feels very toxic, and I feel this man needs therapy, and not Daon.
And then we have Jaemin which I mean...just call the police on him Daon, this man needs serious help. Possibly away from him because I am sure after trying to hurt himself if Daon is unresponsive the next part will be hurting him.
Yes Jaemin is a manipulative bastard, and just when he is plan is out in the open the next step is possible sexual assault and then hurting himself so Daon doesn't leave him alone?! And I would love for Da On to just call the police and leave but I am with you, he will help him because afterall I still fear he thinks he owns him so much (his uni studies IIRC and the many times he has "helped" his family, which he hasn't but that's how he probably depicts it in his mind).
I am a bit surprised about people feeling sympathy towards Su Hyeon. Yes he was probably very sweet in college, and he genuinely liked Da On, but this new Su Hyeon is not a nice person, and in his own way, he is also an abuser. A violent person that throws stuff at Da On, humiliates him at his work (I was so uncomfortable during their team meetings), pushes him around, hurts him, and then almost sexually abused him (And I hope it was almost because after that kiss, and how Da On is trying to push him away and how he keeps staring at the door and the fact that next morning he seems to have slept on the sofa, I hope nothing else happened). Did he had it rough with his family? Probably. Is his father crazy enough to point a gun at him? yes. But that doesn't justify the way he behaves to Daon. Nor does it make me want they end up together, at all.
And omg you just put into words why I love Seong Hyeon so much, he never ever gets violent even if he could very much do so, and probably wants to, but the way he firmly stands his own ground against Su Hyeon when the man just wants to rile him up (and probably have an excuse to fire him) is exquisite, the elevator scene was good and the meeting scene was even better . Yes he is abrasive at times, but he is such a kind-hearted person that loves and respects Daon, all the best to this boy.
I was completely mesmerized by Woomin's acting here, so different from his other thug characters. And damn I was waiting when he looks at Gamin in the car, before being taken away by the police, for Gamin to say the iconic "His eyes say he wants to study".
I fear a lot of topics weren't closed properly, but I am hopeful there would be a season 2 in the future.
Kudos to Hwan Min Hyun's acting skills, he has evolved a lot, I think this is the best I've seen him act and I can't wait for him to finish his enlistment and be back in the drama scene. And will definitely check Woomin's acting projects.
The rape scene in episode 6 was hard to watch, but it was even harder to watch how it was treated in episode 7. Sorry but to me the long conversation between Fujisawa and Sei was not needed, I really wanted Sei to walk out of that abusive relationship stronger and confident that his relationship with Hagiwara is what he wanted, and how he wanted to be treated. And even if that conversation solved part of the problem between Fujisawa and Sei, I feel them not touching what happened in episode 6 made it meaningless to me.
Don't redeem Fujisawa, it was not needed. Have Sei leave and become stronger.
Apart from that part, the rest of the episode was pretty OK, and the final scene was beautifully filmed, and it made me smile a lot.
I have to say up to episode 6 this drama was becoming one of my favourite dramas this 2025. And episode 5 contains one of the hotter episodes filmed in JPBL.
I will keep an eye on Jun Muto projects, that boy can act his ass out.
Why does this feel like the beginning of the end? I feel they are very casually showing us what ends up causing their relationship to break.
Haru is obviously at the beginning of something very bad happening to him.
Jeha will start feeling the others are leaving him behind.
Jooan will start to go out with the "bad kids" since he is probably feeling left out by his big parenting figures which, funnily enough, are Dogeon and Hosu.
Dogeon will start distrusting Hosu.
Hwan I do think him and Cein are related, or Cein will learn he is the son of Hwan's dad, and that Hwan's dad brought her mom to the depression that killed her.
In terms of acting, Jung Woojin is the revelation to me (Jooan). I love this guy so much.
Hong Yeji was better in the comedic scenes, as brief as they were, but the dramatic ones she just looks frozen to me.
I guess Lee Gon's plan is taking longer to unravel, and that's why it seems he isn't doing much. But I do feel that in trying to create the perfect character they have missed creating a sympathetic character with its own shadows like Dosung . I expect more from him in the next episodes.
Do I think the palace did Sang Rok and the Queen Dowager wrong? I do. Do I also think they are too blinded by the wrong they've been done, they are not realizing they are the very same type of villains that hurt them? I also do.
The king opening his eyes and looking terrified at Sang Rok was great. There goes a good villain.
All the actors in this drama are doing an amazing job. This episode Cein and Haru's actors take the 10 for me, with Hwan a close second.
And also the cinematography IMO has improved 100% more, there was scenes here (Jeha and his brother, the Haru hospital moment, Hosu and Dogeon watching how the city is little by little eating their little microcosmos) that were breathtaking.
That moment with Haru and his parents, that was so hard to watch. Imagine the other person. Imagine Haru having to lie in order to make his parents proud of him when they will never be.
All the Hwan-and his dad moments were tension packed to the point I was fully expecting his dad to slap him.
I also thought in the last two episodes he was becoming more of a villain but episode 9 made him more of a dramatic figure.
This could be bad writing but I think it's they are just unsure where he is going to fit.
The whole dramatic weight is carried between the Queen Dowager and Sang Rok.
On the other hand I feel the most dramatic character is Dosung. He doesn't want to become a king, but has to in order to save his father and family, which is his priority. He doesn't have the Royal Seal so him becoming the king will be disputed by his brother Lee Gon, and it will leading to a final war between the two brothers when all Dosung wanted to do was protect his father and family. Very Shakespearean but at the same time I feel Lee Gon is a bit of a 2-dimensional character and his brother is better fleshed out as a dramatic figure.
The fact that she asks Sang Rok if she is still the same person, and even if she is not he reassures her she is, so she is OK and herself.
I don't understand Do Sung, at the beginning I thought the went through all that to not be crowned king. To give a chance to his brother to come back, and in a way have his family reunited. But towards the end he seems to be slowly letting his ambition win.
In a way I can see story repeating itself, Lee Gon and Myung Yoong falling in love, and Do Sung, crowned king, taking Lee Gon's love
But apart from that this episode was so good I barely realized an hour had happened.
Our queen finally deciding to step up.
The lake scene with the whole family also made me terribly sad. They were happy once and I don't think they will ever be, not matter what Lee Gon plan is.
Lee Gon and Myung Yoon are adorable and I am so happy for once they both seem to be falling for each other at the same time so we can skip multiple tropes of when one of them falls first for the other.
Again none of the characters here feel very one-dimensional; the queen dowager is more than a mere power-hungry villain, almost becoming a tragic figure. While her lover seems a very gentle and loving man and yet he is moved by ambition.
The prince Do Sung seems to love his brother and family but is also very ambitious .
Our queen that always seems like the usual villain, is a caring and loving queen that loves her husband.
That leave us Prince Lee gon and Myung Yoon and you know what? I do feel the chemistry between them, to the point I really want their romance to evolve. I do think it will end tragically though.
Episode 6 has picked up, and while I still think 20 episodes is too much I am hopeful to see the direction this is going.
Here we go with the usual villain that will get unjustified hate, even if she is just being human, the ace that will also get unjustified hate, even if it's not her fault, the usual "omg you all suck" first rehearsal to "omg you all are amazing pros" real performance...
I complain and yet I get addicted to each survival they put out.