Spring of Youth Season 1 Review – A messy K-drama that is all too forgettable
Episode Guide
Episode 1 -| Review Score – 2.5/5
Episode 2 -| Review Score – 3/5
Episode 3 -| Review Score – 3/5
Episode 4 -| Review Score – 2.5/5
Episode 5 -| Review Score – 2.5/5
Episode 6 -| Review Score – 3/5
Episode 7 -| Review Score – 3/5
Episode 8 -| Review Score – 3/5
Episode 9 -| Review Score – 3/5
Episode 10 -| Review Score – 3/5
Spring of Youth is one of those K-dramas that is nice enough but doesn't really leave an impression. The series follows a K-pop idol named Sa Gye who loses everything after a video of him attacking his manager, Jo Sang-heon goes viral. But things aren't quite that simple. Six years ago, an accident led to Sa Gye getting a cornea transplant. Ever since then, he's been plagued by mysterious dreams and visions, and it was one of these that triggered his attack on Jo Sang-heon.
Sang-heon, it seems, has plenty to hide and therefore kicks Sa Gye out of the famous pop band known as The Crown. Sa Gye is then relegated to attending university like regular people his age, which is where he comes across Kim Bom, a young student pursuing music. What's more, her music box necklace sings the same tune that has been running through Sa Gye's mind for the past six years. Coincidence? Unlikely.
Over time, the two get to know each other and even start a band along with Bom's other friends — Jin-gu, Gyu-ri, and her childhood friend Tae-yang who is clearly in love with her. As the group continues to make new music, Sa Gye simultaneously looks into Jo Sang-heon and his weird dreams, trying to piece together his old manager's secret. What follows is plenty of college shenanigans, politics, cover-ups, and melodrama.
It's a solid setup for a story about bandmates coming together against the backdrop of a larger conspiracy. However, right off the bat, Spring of Youth Season 1 is riddled with flaws. There are issues with the pace, editing, writing, and even the acting. And while the K-drama features pleasant, warm visuals and a melodious soundtrack, it's not quite enough to make up for it.
The earlier episodes dive into the story at a fast pace, rollercoastering through various events. The editing is incredibly choppy and distracting, making the story jump from one scene to another with zero thought given to transitions. It's a jerky ride and that reflects in the storytelling as well — Sa Gye and Bom's relationship is rushed and established before you even know it's happening.
The performances aren't of special note either. Ha Yoo-joon does a good job of portraying Sa Gye's ever-cheerful, go-get-it attitude, but he doesn't have much range and his performance wavers during more emotional scenes. Park Ji-hu, who's done a captivating job in earlier shows like All Of Us Are Dead and Little Women, doesn't show the same range here. In fact, from the main trio, Lee Seung-hyub shows the most acting prowess. However, this is quite undercut by the fact that he very much looks like a grown man mingling with young 20-year-olds.
It doesn't help that the story is fairly predictable. In just a few episodes, you can easily put the dots together and figure out what's going on. By showing their hand too early, Spring of Youth Season 1 is unable to develop a sense of mystery or suspense. It's not bad per se, there's a decent small-fry-versus-big-fish energy throughout the series that works quite well. And if you suspend your disbelief, you might just enjoy the dramatic shenanigans and exaggerated villains.
The one thing the drama gets right is the camaraderie between the bandmates. The group of five students share a lighthearted, fun dynamic that is a delight to watch. Their scenes together, particularly during their happier times, have a lot of heart and humour in them. It's an enjoyable slice-of-life vibe akin to K-drama friendships from series like Reply 1988 or Twenty-Five Twenty-One.
Unfortunately, it's not quite enough to save Spring of Youth. In the end, the technical flaws and the shoddy writing overshadow most of the K-drama, making it seem like the series was hurriedly put together during post-production. It's a perfectly average K-drama but when there are well-made rom-coms like Lovely Runner and Pump Up the Healthy Love out there, this one is an easy miss.
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