A nobleman's daughter played by Jeon So-nee is framed for murdering her entire family and she escapes with her handmaiden played by Pyo Ye-jin. They end up in the capital where they disguise themselves as men and So-nee ends up in the palace as a eunuch serving the Crown Prince played by Park Hyun-Sik and Ye-Jin work serves a nobleman who spends his time investigating crimes using a scientific approach. There is of course the usual palace intrigue with various factions competing to get the upper hand to appoint their candidate as the Crown Prince. The storyline has been done before but the cast do a great job and it is still entertaining and the relationship between the leads is a believable romance.
14 Reviews
Blooming Romance!
anaaannya7 June 2023
"Our Blooming Youth" is the story of two lost and wronged souls who find redemption in each other. The underlying themes are friendship and trust with very subtle meaningful romance throughout. The male lead has major trust issues and doubts everything to survive and protect everybody around him. The female lead is a smart detective but also impulsive, acting first and thinking later. Despite this chaos, their chemistry is beautiful, deep, and palpable. Such an intriguing plot!
Park HyungSik as Lee Hwan hits it out with this one. Not only he looks every part like a Prince (he is gorgeous in this role), but his dreamy, deep eyes are pools of despair, mischief, brilliance, haughtiness, wisdom, and rage in turns and they cloud with confused desire for a girl who is betrothed to his best friend (in a social contract of arranged marriage) and out of his bounds for all means. He tells her at one point, 'You must never know,' knowing he will lose her if he makes one mistake. Nonetheless, he would go to any length to keep her by his side. Also, in a very competent performance, Jeon SoNee as Min JayeYi only has eyes for her Crown Prince. She has no idea she is begun to exist for him and will do anything to be by his side at all times, even if it means living her entire life disguised as a Eunuch. Their relationship is a difficult one, fraught with danger and distance that's far more than physical.
Overall, the show deals with science, superstition, psychological warfare, social injustice, greed, and revenge. The crime and mystery elements are very well placed, the usual political intrigue is present (the Josean court was known for this, so it would be surprising not to have it) and the Crown Prince's losses and victories are told innovatively. It's a lot going for all against the backdrop of a very cute romance. Most importantly, keep an eye out for a feminist male lead who breaks down barriers for the badass woman in his life during a suffocating era when women were merely objects raised to serve social contracts between families. He has complete faith in her mental and physical abilities and treats her as an equal outside of their strict social hierarchy (watch them switch from best of friends to being master servant in some truly hilarious scenes). It's just fantastic!
In short, "Our Blooming Youth" is worth watching if you're looking for an engaging & mixed-genre series.
Park HyungSik as Lee Hwan hits it out with this one. Not only he looks every part like a Prince (he is gorgeous in this role), but his dreamy, deep eyes are pools of despair, mischief, brilliance, haughtiness, wisdom, and rage in turns and they cloud with confused desire for a girl who is betrothed to his best friend (in a social contract of arranged marriage) and out of his bounds for all means. He tells her at one point, 'You must never know,' knowing he will lose her if he makes one mistake. Nonetheless, he would go to any length to keep her by his side. Also, in a very competent performance, Jeon SoNee as Min JayeYi only has eyes for her Crown Prince. She has no idea she is begun to exist for him and will do anything to be by his side at all times, even if it means living her entire life disguised as a Eunuch. Their relationship is a difficult one, fraught with danger and distance that's far more than physical.
Overall, the show deals with science, superstition, psychological warfare, social injustice, greed, and revenge. The crime and mystery elements are very well placed, the usual political intrigue is present (the Josean court was known for this, so it would be surprising not to have it) and the Crown Prince's losses and victories are told innovatively. It's a lot going for all against the backdrop of a very cute romance. Most importantly, keep an eye out for a feminist male lead who breaks down barriers for the badass woman in his life during a suffocating era when women were merely objects raised to serve social contracts between families. He has complete faith in her mental and physical abilities and treats her as an equal outside of their strict social hierarchy (watch them switch from best of friends to being master servant in some truly hilarious scenes). It's just fantastic!
In short, "Our Blooming Youth" is worth watching if you're looking for an engaging & mixed-genre series.
Riveting mystery with a dash of romance
magnoliacream13 April 2023
The story, especially the mystery aspect and how the protagonists figure it out and set things right, is compelling. The acting is remarkable, particularly those of the lead characters, Park Hyung Sik as the crown prince and Jeon So Nee as Min Jae Yi / Go Soon Dol.
Though it features gender-switching, a trope I'm not too crazy about, I don't mind it that much here as the characters who matter know about the subterfuge early on. And when you're wrongfully accused of murder, what could be a better way to hide while you try to find the real culprit?
The dedication of the crown prince to do what is right for his people is awe-inspiring. That scene where he is struggling between duty and love, between marrying the chosen crown princess or following his heart is so powerful I cried, though it is depicted so subtly with no tears shed, just his face showing his heartbreak. I also love how he chooses peace and forgiveness at the end instead of going all out shedding more blood to avenge every single wrong committed by the enemies.
The ending is lovely. I wish all dramas have endings as heartwarming as this.
Though it features gender-switching, a trope I'm not too crazy about, I don't mind it that much here as the characters who matter know about the subterfuge early on. And when you're wrongfully accused of murder, what could be a better way to hide while you try to find the real culprit?
The dedication of the crown prince to do what is right for his people is awe-inspiring. That scene where he is struggling between duty and love, between marrying the chosen crown princess or following his heart is so powerful I cried, though it is depicted so subtly with no tears shed, just his face showing his heartbreak. I also love how he chooses peace and forgiveness at the end instead of going all out shedding more blood to avenge every single wrong committed by the enemies.
The ending is lovely. I wish all dramas have endings as heartwarming as this.
A splendid series that banks on top notch acting and a gripping story
mnga-4934524 April 2023
Our Blooming Youth is a story of two individuals - a Crown Prince and a noblewoman who are thrown together when calamity befells them, who grow with each other, as they protect each other from forces that want them dead. Their romance is not run of the mill boy meets girls and falls in love for no reason kind. There is practically no skinship but their bond and chemistry is so powerful that even them standing close to each other is fraught with sensual tension and has you rooting for them. It's based on trust, respect, and true need for each other. They express their love in so many ways that it's beautiful to behold,"actions more than words' being the theme. In fact, it stays true to the eastern culture of personal space between a man and a woman who definitely would not have touched each other in the Josean period unless strictly platonic. This means that one hug can be more powerful than thousand other meaningless kisses. It stays true in many parts of the world today. The side characters of Myung Jin and Ga Ram are equally fun who bring in a lot of livety. The development of the bond between the four of them, and even between Min Jay Yi the the royal guard is given a lot of thought. Li Hwan and Jay Yi are goal driven individuals who single mindedly persue larger objectives, keeping aside their personal feelings, yet their need for each other only grows. The underlying social theme that is responsible for their plight is depicted beautifully. The story starts as a murder and a curse mystery but the actual plot is way bigger, and very complex, the root cause being what makes the world a dangerous place even today - greed for power and authority. It might take a couple of rewatches to connect all the dots, but every dot is well connected.
The story does suffer from a bit lack of direction in a couple of episodes in the middle where reveals could have been faster and more effiecient, but it's something that can be easily overlooked as the last episodes not only get your adranalin pumping, but the sheer brilliance of the Li Hwan's character, and Jay Yi's perseverence bowls you over. You would be reaching out for tissues in many places. The costumes are spectacular, there are many many genuine laugh out loud moments as it's peppered with humor which is thankfully neither slapstick or bufoony. A terrific series, a must watch for those who are a fan of period dramas.
The story does suffer from a bit lack of direction in a couple of episodes in the middle where reveals could have been faster and more effiecient, but it's something that can be easily overlooked as the last episodes not only get your adranalin pumping, but the sheer brilliance of the Li Hwan's character, and Jay Yi's perseverence bowls you over. You would be reaching out for tissues in many places. The costumes are spectacular, there are many many genuine laugh out loud moments as it's peppered with humor which is thankfully neither slapstick or bufoony. A terrific series, a must watch for those who are a fan of period dramas.
Amazing
ruchirapishe6 February 2023
Enjoying the first episode... Park hyunsik never disappoints. He is an amazing amazing actor and the story line is great... The episode is so scenic and colourful. Awaiting for the second episode. Please do watch.. it is a good show
Hyunsik is so damn handsome... After military service, he has become very hot. And the way he talks and smiles , he surely know how to melt hearts.
I hope this drama consists of enough mystery and romance so that fans would enjoy it... I have been waiting for the drama for a long time and now the wait is over.
Love you hyunsik please keep us blessing us eith your beautiful acting.
Hyunsik is so damn handsome... After military service, he has become very hot. And the way he talks and smiles , he surely know how to melt hearts.
I hope this drama consists of enough mystery and romance so that fans would enjoy it... I have been waiting for the drama for a long time and now the wait is over.
Love you hyunsik please keep us blessing us eith your beautiful acting.
A Blooming Actor
nick_ynnnz7 April 2023
'Our Blooming Youth' drama has a catching story. The inclusion of politics, romance, internal court affairs, fights, etc are in a tolerable circle, and the plot is not dragging. As for 2023 drama, the production is somewhat behind but it's not bad. The OST is not disturbing to the historical nature of the drama which is a plus.
The cast is good. The actor Jong-Seok Yun who plays the Sergeant Han Sung-on has so much potential. His features, expressions, acting, and even the action scenes are surprisingly good. He only gets better as the story progresses.
Can recommend anyone who prefers a drama like 'Love in the Moonlight.'
The cast is good. The actor Jong-Seok Yun who plays the Sergeant Han Sung-on has so much potential. His features, expressions, acting, and even the action scenes are surprisingly good. He only gets better as the story progresses.
Can recommend anyone who prefers a drama like 'Love in the Moonlight.'
Outstanding
mahmudaafrinsamanta1 March 2023
The first 8 episode just kept me hooked up. I can't even move my eyes off the screen. Each and every scene was played so well. Applause for all the actors and actresses and the satffs.
Park Hyung Sik, this man has never disappointed me and i hope will never too. His acting skills is so good from top to bottom. Love him and his character. He surprised everyone thru Happiness drama and this one is just another masterpiece of his. I still hope the ending won't be sad but a happy one. Others are also very cool. The mystery part is amazing and keeps me guessing and wondering. Hyung Sik oppa's this character reminds me of hwarang. Really missed his prince look and now its back....
Happy watching.. 💗💗
Park Hyung Sik, this man has never disappointed me and i hope will never too. His acting skills is so good from top to bottom. Love him and his character. He surprised everyone thru Happiness drama and this one is just another masterpiece of his. I still hope the ending won't be sad but a happy one. Others are also very cool. The mystery part is amazing and keeps me guessing and wondering. Hyung Sik oppa's this character reminds me of hwarang. Really missed his prince look and now its back....
Happy watching.. 💗💗
Best drama of 2023 and one of the best of all time!
minjennie-2123817 April 2023
Everything about this drama, from the intricate storyline to the eye-catching and beautiful aesthetics and incredibly talented cast, everything about this drama was impeccable!
I had been waiting for this drama for over a year now and I can say with full confidence that every second of the wait was worth it. I rushed here to write this review after finishing the last episode because this drama truly deserves it. This drama really managed to tug my heartstrings haha.
I was also really glad to see how the ending allowed the characters to have their deserved closure. If you're thinking about giving this a watch, please don't waste another thought and watch it right away, you won't regret it!!
I had been waiting for this drama for over a year now and I can say with full confidence that every second of the wait was worth it. I rushed here to write this review after finishing the last episode because this drama truly deserves it. This drama really managed to tug my heartstrings haha.
I was also really glad to see how the ending allowed the characters to have their deserved closure. If you're thinking about giving this a watch, please don't waste another thought and watch it right away, you won't regret it!!
One of the best!
wberns63317 April 2023
I have watched hundreds of K drama's and this is by far one of the best! Incredible storyline and lovable characters. Plenty of action and connections between the characters. The acting skills were most impressive and believable. The cinematography was top drawer. I immediately fell in love with Crown Prince Lee Hwan, his love interest Min Jae-Yi, her fiancé Han Seong-On, Owner of Manyeondang / The Prime Minister's youngest son Kim Myung-Jin, and the Crown Prince's bodyguard, Tae Gang. Though I am only on episode 15, I can tell you that 20 episodes will not be nearly enough! There better be a season 2!
Not Good Enough
PennyReviews26 July 2023
Korean Drama " Our Blooming Youth " is a historical drama about a cursed prince and a wrongly accused lady.
The drama has a strong start and offers a few mystery cases that were interesting to follow. The main female lead was also a flesh note to the historical drama and she did a good job with her action scenes.
However, the drama got quickly boring and stuffy. Its length also didn't help with the enjoyment of the drama. The romance, in addition, was not smooth and was probably not that necessary for the main plot. The couple had few romantic moments and their falling in love was out of the blue. Not to mention that the love triangle was boring and eye-rolling worthy.
The performances, though, were nice by everyone in the cast.
So, overall, three out of ten.
The drama has a strong start and offers a few mystery cases that were interesting to follow. The main female lead was also a flesh note to the historical drama and she did a good job with her action scenes.
However, the drama got quickly boring and stuffy. Its length also didn't help with the enjoyment of the drama. The romance, in addition, was not smooth and was probably not that necessary for the main plot. The couple had few romantic moments and their falling in love was out of the blue. Not to mention that the love triangle was boring and eye-rolling worthy.
The performances, though, were nice by everyone in the cast.
So, overall, three out of ten.
Fine Series with a Great Cast
AJ_McAninch13 July 2023
The cast is superb: I love the characters and story lines. And I adore both leads: he is subtle and calm with a wry sense of humor; much of his acting is through his eyes alone. She is adorable and spunky, more than a match for his highness. Their scenes together are funny and touching; the growing affection and mutual protectiveness come through poignantly. Support cast is excellent, and I cared about their characters, especially the 2nd male lead who nearly steals the drama he's so good. My only complaint is the writing could have been tighter, and the plot strengthened. 16 eps might be better than 20 because the longer series too often flounder in repetitive plot re-enactments and filler scenes. Still, I recommend the series: though for me the series just misses being great, it's very good, and I'm glad I watched it.
I need a spin-off
guardianofthewhills24 January 2024
Incredible drama. I've found myself wanting a new and current drama, but they never seem to hit the same as the old ones. This one was the perfect combination of what's good about the new ones, but with the throwback quality of a classic. Absolutely loved it! Loved the lead actors, loved the entire cast of characters, loved their performances. I would be ecstatic for a spin-off because I love the mystery concept and characters so much!
To reiterate for needed review length, great concept that was well delivered, great cast of characters, the story had me hooked because I actually cared about what happened to them.
To reiterate for needed review length, great concept that was well delivered, great cast of characters, the story had me hooked because I actually cared about what happened to them.
Tae-sun Lee Steals the Show
darlingremy4 May 2023
I loved this show so much. The storyline, the twists, the chemistry between the characters -- everything was fabulous. The romance was there, the action was there, the drama was there, and it was beautifully done as a historic piece. However, the one person who stood out to me was Kim Myung-jin played by Tae-sun Lee. I genuinely loved it.
I was conflicted, moved, and whereas some are not a fan of the historic dramas having women dressing up as men, I am a fan. It negates the need for a heavy presence of romance while still having it for the protagonists who either knowingly or unknowingly find themselves attracted to a somewhat adrogynous character in men's clothing.
I will definitely rewatch it should the occasion arise in the future as it was worth watching once and will be worth watching in the future. :)
I was conflicted, moved, and whereas some are not a fan of the historic dramas having women dressing up as men, I am a fan. It negates the need for a heavy presence of romance while still having it for the protagonists who either knowingly or unknowingly find themselves attracted to a somewhat adrogynous character in men's clothing.
I will definitely rewatch it should the occasion arise in the future as it was worth watching once and will be worth watching in the future. :)
Our Gloomed Youth
Park_Min1 January 2024
The story kicked off with the female lead getting falsely accused of murder and the prince is connected to the incident. So how would they structure the drama around this narrative? They had the female lead spend most of the drama hanging around the prince waiting for something to pop up for the story to move again, which didn't happen until the last few episodes. Unbelievably long and draggy for little to no story or character development. Everything can be summed up with 6 episodes without compromising anything from the narrative. The romance and the secrets were too delayed to care about, instead of laying them out evenly. Which made romance redundant by the end. Aside from the initial few episodes, I don't see anything appealing in this drama.
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