The you-and-me-against-my-evil-father love story of Youth of May intensified tension as the lead pairing were forced to break up when their romance is just blooming.
Lee Do Hyun and Go Min Si are really doing a great job in their portrayals of star-crossed lovers. While the melodrama is in full swing, the series has kept its core romance value and affecting conflict. Thus, it’s hard not to root for a happy ending between the love pairing.
abbyinhallyuland watches Youth of May on Viu
Episode Recaps: 01 & 02 | 03 & 04 | 05 & 06 | 07 & 08 | 09 & 10 | Finale Week + Review |
Youth Of May Episodes 7 & 8 Key Moments
Myeong-hee’s Abduction
Deducing who brought her to a room full of objects for torture, Myeong-hee faces the father of the man she loves. Hwang Gi-nam (Oh Man Suk) displays photos of her involvement with protesters hinting her plan to go overseas might not push through because of the VISA screening process. She confirms with Soo-chan through his friend that the processing of her passport was even put on hold.
Hee-tae figures something strange about Myeong-hee’s disappearance and goes the extra mile of locating her home address. While finding the address, he bumps on Myeong-hee’s grandmother and was inadvertently led to his destination. On his way out, he sees Myeong-hee who refuses to talk to him. Learning she won’t be able to leave the country because of her father’s law violation, she confronts her father who confirmed it with silence.
Myeong-hee’s outburst startles her grandmother who rushes to protect her son and asks if she was sent by Hwang Gi-nam. A flashback reveals how Myeong-hee’s father was forced to confess and lost his leg because of Gi-nam’s evil ploy.
Soo-ryeon Owns Up To Her Mistake
Unable to bear the stress of her arranged marriage, Soo-ryeon confesses to her brother the problem she caused. Resigned to help the person who should have not gotten in their family mess, Soo-chan discusses it with their father Chang-geun. However, he refuses to correct the mistake fearing Hwang Gi-nam. He loses consciousness and was rushed to the hospital.
Confronting Myeong-hee of her sudden cold treatment, she tells how she’s scared of him. Thinking his father has a hand in Myeong-hee’s actions, Hee-tae tries to bargain with his father. He agrees to move back to Seoul with Soo-ryeon. The latter also acquiesces to leave Gwangju with Hee-tae.
Hee-tae Returns To Gwangju
Weighing the risk of her action, Soo-ryeon decides to follow her heart as the student protests surge high. She also tells Hee-tae that both he and Myeong-hee are foolish for having the same sacrificial thoughts to protect each other.
He goes back to Gwangju defying his father’s order and also brings with him the patient he has been looking after. Myeong-hee seeks comfort with a church priest to what’s troubling her heart. The very same heartache appears before her. Pouring his heart out, Hee-tae tells her that he just can’t let her go.
“I know I shouldn’t have come. Whenever I think of you, I know I’ll eventually cause you pain. But I want to be with you and stay by your side. Can I come closer, Myeong-hee?”
Myeong-hee runs to his arms and they reconcile. At night, while the two make up for the lost times, the country has declared an emergency martial law to round up the persistent protesters.
Youth Of May Episodes 7 & 8 Musings
Any romance story in the backdrop of war is already tragic on paper, so you can only imagine how it can get even more heartbreaking with the male lead’s father’s meddling in Youth of May. The series is a classic example of a harrowing love story with conflict that viewers might take in real life. Notably, while it capitalizes on the deplorable situations, the essence of the story is not disregarded.
The efficient portrayals of the main cast greatly help in setting a gravitating mood for the series. Another amazing note is how viewers can’t still predict the exact trajectory, but we know that we have to prepare a lot for the last four episodes. Including the love fulfillment for the main leads, I need the rightful punishment for Hwang Gi-nam. Hopefully, it will be served despite the general knowledge of Gwangju Uprising which the series follows as its setting.
Inescapably, the narrative of Youth of May will tie up to that historical event as the characters drawn in the series are already set in that premise. And I appreciate that it has painted an engrossing tale despite the depressing mood.
Youth of May airs every Monday and Tuesday on KBS 2TV.
Photos: KBS2 | Screencap from Viu
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