Probably the title of Our Blooming Youth says it all. That it won’t focus on budding romance but on braving choices and claiming personal worth.
Throughout its intriguing narrative, the series proved that faint romance and problem-driven narrative can also work fine in historical dramas.
- Main Leads: Park Hyung Sik | Jeon So Nee | Pyo Ye Jin | Yoon Jong Seok | Lee Tae Sun | Heo Won Seo |
- Overall Rating:
- Addicting/Romance/Thrill Meter:
- Rewatch Value:
- Dramas of Similar Vibe: Love in the Moonlight | Sungkyunkwan Scandal |
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 |
Our Blooming Youth Final Episode Highlights
Lee Hwan’s sincere promise to Byeokcheon people win their hearts, and they accept the help he was extending.
In the capital city, Lord Cho is gathering his troop to go to the village. Arriving at Naehwang village, Lee Hwan’s reinforcement Lord Han and his troop battle Lord Cho’s men.
Lee Hwan almost got fatally attacked by Lord Cho, but Tae-san shielded his body redeeming himself for the sins he committed.
Back at the palace, the Queen asked Princess Hayeon to give evidence to the King. She drinks the same craze-inducing poison to punish herself.
After a year, Sung-on efficiently leads the town of Byeokcheon. Myung-jin and Ga-ram also happily do their usual business.
Lee Hwan who ascended to the throne also decides to give his answer to Jae-yi’s confession despite being late. He proposes bringing her to the palace to stay by his side forever.
Our Blooming Youth Quick Plot Recap
Receiving a letter full of curses that keep coming true one by one, Lee Hwan (Park Hyung Sik) agrees to work with Min Jae-yi (Jeon So Nee) who was framed for her family’s murder.
As they uncover the mysteries surrounding the attack on Lee Hwan, they are helped by Joseon geek Myung-jin who also commissioned Jae-yi’s friend Ga-ram as his apprentice.
Lee Hwan’s best friend Sung-on and bodyguard Tae-gang also contribute to bringing to light an injustice manipulated by greedy government officials who want to assert their power in the kingdom.
Our Blooming Youth Series Highlights
Stellar Cast Portrayal
For a historical series that did not capitalize on romance buildup, Our Blooming Youth still amazes with faint and heartfelt love situations that can put a smile on viewers who crave romantic moments.
Truly showing their talent and immersion, Park Hyung Sik and Jeon So Nee owned their characters with utmost commitment. Consequently, gravitating to their painstaking goal of liberating themselves from the wicked schemes of their foes felt equally stunning as typical romance-layered historical series.
Special mention to Park Hyung Sik whose nuanced portrayal consistently carried the emotions of the narrative. His growth in the story was pragmatic and it was a breather that his consistent rational thinking ultimately defeats the ill intentions of his enemies.
Likewise, Jeon So Nee captured the essence of her character. Her tenacity in exhausting all possible options to prove her innocence speaks of the blessings of being self-reliant.
More so, Jae-yi valuing her worth as a woman does not come from the validation of other people. Her right choices impelled her resolute attitude towards overcoming seemingly hard-to-solve problems.
For giving furtive and blatant attacks sparingly, we also need to acknowledge the villains in the series. Likewise, the supporting cast made sure they shone together and carved individual moments as well.
A Strangely Hooking Simple Narrative
Up until the last episode, Our Blooming Youth did not tone down its energy as well as its problem-laden plot. That’s the reason why despite its nondescript romance, the desire to root for the characters entwined in the crown prince’s fate of living through the events declared by a cursed letter, which is actually manipulated by the Queen and her hometown allies.
Normally for historical series, political struggles and palace drama are normal elements to expect. Impressively, the series made use of the quasi-fantasy element.
Then later, it asserts the reality that humans are most capable of bringing nightmares. Just like how the Queen used the “cursed letter” and made a perfect plan to execute the words from there for it to come true.
On a lighter note, the efficient movement of the characters in the story adds perceptible flavor. If Lee Hwan and Jae-yi are bent on figuring out the similarities in the circumstances of their problems, the master-apprentice duo of Myung-jin and Ga-ram are doing a great job in executing the comic scenes. The same goes for the bickering exchange among Hwan, Tae-gang, and Jae-yi.
For historical newbie K-Drama watchers, the flow of the story might look baffling. Joseon has high regard for superstition and shamanism.
Taking that as a premise, Lee Hwan’s fear and journey underline that a man who is aware that something bad can happen to him can still feel vulnerable. But just like what Lee Hwan did, when faced with looming problems, proper thinking of solutions and putting them into action always works.
Our Blooming Youth Series Musings
A clever delving of reality versus perception, Our Blooming Youth imparts a political message that no matter how great a supreme leader is, if corrupt officials surround him dismal downsides would always arise.
The series also emphasizes that trust goes side by side with love in bolstering the depth of any relationship. Admirably, a lesson on aspiring personal goals as a woman was highlighted by Jae-yi in the series. Her progressive thinking easily convinces us that we can just forego the romance intended for her in the series since she has noble goals to achieve.
On that note, we earnestly hoped for romance to form firmly in the story until we sort of realized we were not going to get any and that’s okay.
Intimate conversations between Jae-yi and Lee Hwan had been remarkably one of the charming points in Our Blooming Youth. For that reason, albeit the subdued romance, viewers can’t help but root for them.
At the very least, we love how the love pairing can wrap their words with so much love when they converse even without saying the exact loving words.
Friendship stories forged by time and loyalty also bring a lesson that trying times would always emerge to test any kind of friendship we have.
Strangely hooking albeit its trouble-plagued plot, an evident drawback for the series is the long route it took for the complete revelation to settle in. Honestly, the series easily becomes the cause and cure of worries for viewers avidly watching.
Interestingly, it has a distinct charm that viewers give them free passes to take their time in explaining the whole picture. It took full 20 episodes to do so, nevertheless, the happy ending to the labyrinthine journey sufficed.
Our Blooming Youth Takeaway Quotes
“There are no such things as ghosts. But there are deceitful actions of humans which are scarier than ghosts.”
“I don’t miss a single opportunity to boast, but I also don’t miss an opportunity to compliment or an opportunity to give an award.”
“To friendship, family and love. Cheers!”
“If I didn’t want to lose you, I had to trust you. Will you be my friend again?”
“If you are going to be the king, make a law that people getting married should meet first.”
“Anyone can have compassion, but not the courage to act on it.”
“I will protect you and you will protect me.”
“She’s my best friend, Your Highness. I was able to go through everything because of her. Can’t you protect her too?”
“What good are feelings if you can’t express them? What good is a gift if you can’t give it? It’s over now.”
“Have you ever seen her with a man? I mean, have you ever seen her privately, consistently, confidentially and secretly meet with another man?”
“Have you forgotten? There wasn’t any single moment that I was your friend.”
Witness how Lee Hwan and Jae-yi uncover the secrets and fight against their enemies in Our Blooming Youth!
Photos/Videos: tvN Drama
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