Brandishing the characters to move in the narrative, Our Blooming Youth presents a promising story for its 20-episode run.
On different intentions but the same mission, Crown Prince Lee Hwan and Min Jae-yi are set to embark on unearthing the cryptic curse and murder that entwined them.
abbyinhallyuland watched Our Blooming Youth on Prime Video
Episode Recaps: 01 & 02 | 03 | 04| 05 & 06| 07 & 08 | 09 & 10 | 11 & 12 | 13 & 14 | 15 & 16 | 17 & 18 | 19 | Finale + Series Review |
Opening Week Rating:
Our Blooming Youth Opening Week Highlights
Crown Prince Lee Hwan (Park Hyung Sik) is equipped to be the next king owing to his intellect, sound judgment and physical strength. However, he assumed the role of Joseon’s next king through the unfortunate death of his brother who is rumored to have been poisoned by him.
On the night he became the Crown Prince, he received a mysterious letter bearing a curse. That he won’t be able to use his hand, nor move his feet, will be betrayed by his best friend and people will die because of him. The cryptic curse declared he can only be liberated if he dies.
“Is there any other way to protect my place?”
As a constant subject of gossip and a target of detractors; he is forced to prove his right arm is working fine when Chief State Councilor Jo Won-bo (Jung Woong In) proposes to have him join the General Hunting Ceremony.
His hidden agenda is of course proving that he is crippled. Councilor Jo aims to put his adopted daughter’s son Prince Myung-an to be the next Crown Prince.
Meeting his son, the King (Lee Jong Hyuk) checks if Lee Hwan is up for the challenge and reminds him that it is a crucial time for him and his position as a prince.
Assisted by his best friend Han Sung-on (Yoon Jong Seok) and personal bodyguard Tae-gang (Heo Won Seo); they set forth to the hunting ceremony.
Unfortunately, before the event Sung-on confronts a problem with his upcoming marriage as the woman he was about to marry, Min Jae-yi, the daughter of Lee Hwan’s teacher was reported to be on the run for poisoning her family.
“There are no such things as ghosts. But there are deceitful actions of humans which are scarier than ghosts.”
Bright and valiant Min Jae-yi almost died when she was cornered by men wanting to capture her. But she was saved by her family waking her up after the fall. Through the help of her friend Ga-ram (Pyo ye Jin), she sneaks out of the province disguised as an officer.
Later, Ga-ram who worries about her friend agrees to become an apprentice of Kim Myung-jin (Lee Tae Sun) who is Joseon’s popular geek who knows everything. He is also smitten by Jae-yi’s intellect and investigative skills. Thus, he believes that she is not a murderer.
Deciding she can only prove her innocence through Lee Hwan, Jae-yi proceeded to take the opportunity of the hunting ceremony to talk to him.
She relays knowing about letters sent to her father but it baffled Lee Hwan since he never sent such letters.
To prove her innocence, she also deduced the reason why blood appeared when he was asked to write a prayer at the ceremony.
Still, Lee Hwan gives her a temporary pass to leave the palace. Desperate, Jae-yi declares she’d rather die beside him and moves to shout about her presence with the Crown Prince. Thus, he has left no choice but to stop her from her dejected action.
Our Blooming Youth Opening Week Musings
Strongly presenting the direction of the conflict, Our Blooming Youth neatly acquainted viewers with its big cast by delineating the good and the bad people right away.
We feel some Joseon-Nancy-Drew-Meets-Cold-Crown-Prince in the preliminary chapters of the series. It’s quite intense as well so another anticipating point is whether the tone will be on the serious side all throughout or whether comic relief intersperses along the way.
Considering Myung-jin’s self-proclaimed Joseon’s best geek character introduction and hints of bromance involving Lee Hwan, Sung-on and Tae-gang; hopefully, the story will not be too heavy to watch.
As expected for historical productions, there are immutable characters that would hold the balance along with volatile figures that would add the thrill to the narrative.
Outwitting games, betrayal and blooming romance are the initial drawing pitches of this series. Correspondingly, the series incorporated it right off the bat.
Seeing the commitment of Park Hyung Sik, Jeon So Nee and the rest of the cast early on would enthuse K-Drama fans who have a specific liking for period dramas.
Onto the journey of decrypting the sender of the mysterious cursed letter sent to Lee Hwan, Jae-yi’s mettle will be tested; and she would act on it diligently for her personal goal of giving justice to her family’s death.
Will Lee Hwan listen to Jae-yi’s desperate plea?
Witness how Lee Hwan and Jae-yi uncover the secrets and fight against their enemies in Our Blooming Youth every Monday and Tuesday on tvN.
Photos: tvN Drama
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