Age of Youth (2016)

Some love for a wonderful drama!

When I first started watching kdramas my first recommendation was Hello my Twenties (Age of Youth). For some reason I didn't start it until recently. I actually love it, all the characters are great and I love all of the side stories for each character as well as their growing relationships. Of course there are two kpop idols in there as well which is a bonus, Ryo Hwayoung from T-ara who I loved but was super disappointed she only cameos in part 2 (more on that when I do my final thoughts for part 2) and Han Seongyeon from Kara who took a while to grow on me but I love her in part 2. My favorite character of course is Park Eunbin's character. She is super funny, creative, eccentric and someone I would have a blast with. I just can't get enough of her. I've started the second season and I actually may like it better than the first so far, we shall see.

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Looking for a refreshing drama that is not too long and doesn't have a complicated story and you can relate to it? Then this is perfect for you.

The story revolves around five roommates with different personalities in their twenties and thirties. There's the beauty queen, the talkative one, the introvert, the hardworking and the obsessed one. Each episode tries to follow the story of one girl in particular so that you can get a glimpse of her personality and her insecurities. You can relate a lot to all of them, because they were realistic characters who lead a common life that was interesting. It could be a slice of life drama, with every story trying to tell something to the viewer and explore an issue. The writer tried to get deeper into social issues and it was very profound I actually got very emotional at times. And it had a little bit of mystery and suspanse as well, so it wasn't just an analytic piece.

The acting was very good. The actresses and actors in this drama had different ages and some of the couples that were pictured on screen had a big age gap between each other, but it wasn't evident at all because they luckily had a nice chemistry. The five girls actually looked like real roommates, they were very credible in their roles despite they are usually casted as minor characters on dramas of non-cable networks.

The music was nice. There were songs in english as well, and every character or situation seemed to have the right background music. In perfect "Belle Epoque" style, the drama opened with "Rien, je ne regrette rien", which is also the feel of the drama, the age where you should do what you like because these moments won't come back anymore.

If you look for a short drama with simple storyline but unpredictable and deep meaning, start watching this now. It is a rare drama where there is drama but not the over the top type, as it looks very realistic and tries to indulge into hot and sensible themes of the society of today and young people.

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I feel like everyone embodies one of the five girls in this show. There is a character for anyone to relate to in some way. That being said this show is entertaining, funny, wholesome, and so much fun. I love the characters the sisterhood they build and the plot along with the characters was perfect for me. This is my perfect k-drama, friendship, youth, great plot, comedic and fun as well as tackling other issues.
I've rewatched this show twice now and it has so much rewatch value. The characters snag a piece of your heart. This show is just completely wholesome and if your thinking about watching it just do it already

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This drama is made in a completely different style and vibe. It's so relatable if you're a college student living in a shared house. But even if you're not, this one manages to keep you engaged.
You get to experience and feel the lives of these girls as if you're the one living it. The problems, the happy times, the struggles. It's so precious. Yet there's a constant reminder that all of them have a backstory ready to be unraveled.
Through this you can understand that each person has a reason as to why they behave in a certain way, what made them live their lives the way they're living it. Even if we have different personalities and problems, we are all just trying to live our lives and move forward. We should just live and try harder at life.

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Hello My Twenties is the second drama I'd recommend for anyone to watch.
This drama has so many wonderful plots, scenarios, and amazing actors.
I love their emotions, their characters and I love the bond they had with one another.

This drama is definitely an eye opener for anyone who's going to college, or who plans to go to college.
This drama reveals if you really know your true friends, and what to look for when you live in this world.
This drama is like a step by step guide on how to act like an adult. This teaches you about responsibility, friendship, and relationships.
Oh yeah... the relationship department. That part of this drama really amazed me. And it shows how wonderful these actors are.
This is the second drama that I love so much.

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Amazing and Beautiful drama<3!

If you are ever thinking about watching the drama, do it. Words can’t describe how much I love this drama, Its so beautiful and heart warming. Not only does this drama is beautiful, it shows every girls life and how they are struggling. It shows the reality of everyone. The music is always so beautiful too. Though, Season 2 was a 7.5/10 for me unlike season 1 that was a 10/10 for me. The cast is great! Love the girls so much! Also I wished that Ji won and Sung min ended up together:( They had such cute and funny chemistry. They were two people that had such low screen time sadly:(. Anyways to end this review, Loved this drama. Always never failed me to make me cry ugly and happy cry💕This drama holds a special place in my heart

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although kdramas have a reputation for being more "realistic" than western shown i found myself deeply being able to each of the characters in one way or another... perhaps it was because it was my first slice of life drama but even after watching other dramas from that genre i haven't been able to connect with them like i was able to with this show!
right from the start of episode one, the inner monologue of eunjae captivated me and throughout the show i could really see myself in her with the shyness and awkwardness she displays in her interactions.. personally i found something to relate to in each character and i'm sure it will be the same for you!
the best part about this show is that you'd expect the topics of working and school life mundane and not entertaining enough to keep you watching the drama but despite that this show finds a way to be really unique and refreshing and interesting at all time!
i hope to one day find friendships similar to the ones of the belle epoque girls ????

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This show wow, this show has special place in my heart. I love the actors & i really hope they release a season 3 soon! To this day still i cry about this show. It’s really really warming & the actors did an amazing job. The show will bring a lot a tears, i mean a lotttt. The story is pretty relatable & the the music is soo catchy. The roommates have a really adorable relationship & i love how they all have their own story, it makes the show more interesting every episode. Season 2 was okay, but i didn’t really enjoy it because my favorite actor was gone, but overall i still give the whole series a 10/10 :).

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From now on, Age of Youth will take a special place in my heart. Coincidentally, I have 4 best friends just like in the drama, so while watching it, I could relate on a whole other level.

This drama revolves around 5 flatmates, their struggles, love stories and every day life living together. The story is a refreshing slice of life and super realistic, not to mention the ever changing relationships between those girls. I guess that's what we, females, are: feisty, sisterly, weak, independent and courageous. Personally, I could relate to all of the characters, even though they are completely different and unique. In addition, I couldn't pick a favorite female lead because they had so much to offer personality wise. The other actors in this drama were so talented and they acted everything out so naturally too.

I kept on putting off this drama because I'm a huge sucker for anything romance and overly fluffy scenes, and I kind of knew that this drama wouldn't offer a lot of that. Surprisingly enough, the friendship theme won me over. Romance is still on of the main genres in the series and I had my favorite couples here and there, but believe me when I say that the comedy was top notch. Personally, I shed a lot of tears as well. When you live through so many emotions, then you know that the drama series was worth your time!

Another element that I just have to mention is the musical track of Age of Youth. From the very beginning, you can sense that the drama will have some sort of a French theme, with the apartment's name "Belle Epoque" and from the first sight of the landlady who is such a Parisienne. The OST includes not only Korean, but many English and French songs too. The music creates such a melancholic vibe and fits the storyline with the characters so well!

Overall, Age of Youth will now be on my top drama list for many reasons mentioned above! It makes you treasure your girl friends even more after the amazing end. Now, I'll be heading to watch the season 2 because I still can't get over it!

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It took me quite a while for me to finally decide to watch Age of Youth and I do not regret watching it. Age of Youth is Korean coming-of-age and slice-of-life drama about five girls in their twenties living together in a house. The reason why I took so long into deciding if whether I wanted to watch it is because this is not the usual type of drama that I usually like to watch (even though I am a 20-something year old girl). As I watched this drama, I have come to love it. The characters are not perfect but that is what makes them so relateable. They are also different from each other; have different stories, skills, personalities and interests. The cast was perfect and the music was great. It also has a high re-watch value because it is interesting enough for me to want to watch it again and it's not too long.

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Age of Youth would bring you an enormous nostalgia if you happened to stay in a dormitory/apartment with people who were first stranger to you (or even when you are currently living together with roommates with different stories and personalities.)

The drama has 12 episodes (one hour each). One might think it would not be possible to fit in five stories in twelve episodes, but watch it first before doubting. I found it amazing as to how the team was able show everyone's stories without shaking off the scenes' transitions. And that the story's direction was clear enough to be followed by the audience.

Age of Youth was able to depict the realness and pureness of a person. Everyone has their own struggles in life. They have their own ways to overcome those. Others may need someone to lean on, someone whom they can easily share their thoughts with, someone who would understand them. While on the other hand, there are those who would rather keep everything to themselves and try to solve it on their own for they have built a wall separating them from the outside world. It may seem pathetic and frustrating but baby, it happens and there are people living this way.

Throughout this whole process, the five leads were able to slowly open themselves up to each others and from being mere strangers, they have grown to appreciate one another that eventually leading to them treating them as sisters.

It was a story of what life is when you are young. You feel lost. You feel like you are not enough and the world does not deserve you so you better perish as you think you are doing a favor for everyone's sake. But no, youth is when you gain experiences that would be your foundation for the next decades of your life. Here's to when you would gain and lose friends. You would would experience love and heartbreak. Youth is nothing but a series of events which requires you to surpass in order to live your life to its extent. Youth is where you must enjoy your life the most.

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At first I was extremely hesitant to start this drama, because I wasn't sure it would keep my attention for long - I was extremely mistaken. This drama and its characters will always hold a special place in my heart. Up until I watched this drama, I never really connected with any characters in a drama, but these 5 girls and their stories drew me in by the end of the first episode and kept me enthralled for all 12.

In terms of the acting, I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of pretty much every performance. What originally piqued my interest in the drama was Park Hye Soo's portrayal of Eun Jae. Most times I find that actors playing socially awkward characters always fall short for me, as in I can just tell they're trying to act awkward. Hye Soo, however, had me convinced by the first 20 minutes that she was legitimately the shyest, awkwardest person on the planet and I fell in love with her character. The way she interacts with her fellow housemates and classmates is just so adorably bumbling and so believable. The performances by Han Ye Ri, Ryu Hwa Young, and Han Seung Yeon were equally as impressive. Who really impressed me though, was Park Eun Bin. This drama begun my love affair with Park Eun Bin and all of her work. Just the pure confidence that she brought to Ji Won made her my favorite character throughout the entire series.

In terms of the story, there were strong and weak points. I loved each and every one of the romance lines. I thought every couple had an unreal amount of chemistry, especially Jae Wan and Jin Myung. The crazy situations and quarrels that all the roommates find themselves involved in just creates the most fun, lovable atmosphere that anyone who has or had roommates can relate too, and there were often points where I found myself legitimately laughing out loud. I will say however, that parts of the plot did seem a little disorganized. I feel like the supernatural element, as well as Eun Jae's backstory were either not explained well enough or just didn't fit in to the story as well as other storylines. I also felt like it was wrapped up quite quickly in the last two episodes and a lot of loose ends were left open for interpretation. I'm assuming this might be due to the second season, so it doesn't bother me as much.

Whatever Age of Youth lacks in story, it makes up for in music. I don't usually cry watching kdramas, but there were quite a few scenes that made me shed a few tears because of the beautiful music choices. Every song was so beautifully matched to scenes and just elevated the storytelling. The soundtrack itself is beautiful and I highly recommend listening to the entire OST on its own, but it really did complement the tone and the feeling of the drama. Even now that i've watched however many more dramas, I still haven't found a show that quite matches the effect music has in this one.

I haven't re-watched the show yet, but as soon as I finish season 2 and have some time I am definitely planning to. I truly feel that this is a drama everyone should watch at least one. The heart warming friendship, laugh-out-loud comedy, and wonderful soundtrack just can't be missed. I would highly recommend this drama.

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