Record of Youth (2020)

As bland as plain rice

I’m going to be completely honest with you… this drama isn't the best but it isn't terrible.

I started Record of Youth solely for the cast because the plot didn’t interest me all that much. I loved the main leads in their previous roles but sadly these ones just didn’t touch my heart as much. I couldn’t connect or get attached to any of the characters :(

I jumped in without any expectations and came out feeling disappointed… There is no chemistry, no character development, the plot is loose and there's literally nothing to hold on to. I wanted to love this drama, I really did, but the story was bland and the characters were boring. This could have been interesting, talking about the struggles of the modelling and acting industry and how difficult it is to rise up, gaining fame and attention, especially when you’re not originally from a wealthy family.

I forced myself to continue watching ROY. It got really boring, it felt like nothing was ever happening. I was constantly using the skip button on my keyboard, because some scenes were unnecessary and repetitive - the family ones in particular. I LOVED the ost though.

The acting? Not much to say really, they were good but nothing incredible or mind-blowing. However, I can’t help but notice how unrealistic the dialogue is for each character, it’s just that everyone quickly knows what to respond and say as if they’re reading not acting - it seems unnatural. I wish they had focussed on the friendship between the male leads more, bromance would’ve probably made Record of Youth a bit better. The relationship between Hyejoon and his grandfather is the highlight for me.

This series isn’t that bad, it’s just boring without much depth. Ah well, at least I got to see a bit of Park Bogum’s adorable cheeky smile! I hate dropping dramas but I just couldn't get into this one and I felt like I was wasting my time. Who knows, maybe I'll try re-watching it again some time in the future.

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The shows getting worse and worse

At this point, the show is getting worse and worse. A lot of the characters are getting very unlikeable now. The story gives off this unnecessary feel to it, and I guess it's getting repetitive. The saviour now would be for it to have a good ending.

However, I think no matter what happens, the doesn't make it into my top 10. Still, not a bad show, but gets worse, but usually shows like this a satisfying ending. My version of a good ending would probably not come true, as it involves Park Bogum moving on from Park Sodam, and that is unlikely since dramas always find a way for the main leads to end up together

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a lot of wasted potential.

[[Overall opinion]]

This is a coming of age drama with a great cast, promising plot and nice aesthetic. It portrays the lives of people in their 20s as they navigate through love, success, failure and family. The drama really touches important and moving topics, I found the romance cute and adorable and we get to see an emotional, thoughtful and mature male lead which is sadly rare. Nevertheless in the second half things started getting too complicated for the sake of pulling clichés and tropes, plots were dragged for too long, some characters lacked depth and the female lead was treat poorly. I still liked this drama a lot but I was hoping so much more of it especially for the female lead.

{{SPOILERS}}

Jinu and heena’s relationship and the way it ended was also a yes for me: just like jinu said they didn’t have enough power to go against their realities, both of them were just starting their own paths and the distance between their realities was too wide, and just like jinu said again, they could meet again in the future which I truly hope so.

I love the contrast between hye joon’s and hae hyo’s parents and how they supported (or not) each their child’s dreams. Hye joon’s dad development was great: I could totally see where he was coming from basically reflecting how he felt towards his dad onto his son, which is not okay but I can understand, at the end he comes around and is kind of awkward but he was trying and when you’re an adult your relationship with your parents is also weird at times. I loved the grandpa and the manager they were really cute and supportive.
My main problem was Jeong Ha, not her character itself but the way she was “developed” She was supposed to have this complicated relationship with her parents but we don’t see much of that or how she comes around it, we only see Jeongha’s dad when she needs the money for the salon and even when the scene where he kneels was touching it wasn’t enough. Jeong Ha’s mom is the reason she doesn’t want to depend on anyone and we kind of see why on the 2 times the mom came on screen but that’s it. They left her life to the side and revolve her mostly around the two male leads, when there so much we could see of her fighting to get a name in the industry and healing her own wounds not using her salon as a prop to meet with hye joon and hae hyo.
Sad.
At the end we see her having a career and all, but on the contrast to hyee joon who the entire drama focused on giving us his story they could at least give her an episode centered on her. AT LEAST.
I agree with the breakup, I wasn’t even sad, jeongha did the right thing her career was just starting and if they went public everyone would be after her, even her mom as we could see, people would call her a gold digger, they would demised her work, celebrities might not want to work with her to not be involve in scandals and she would most likely be harassed, just look and how bad she had it at the salon, their relationship was not in good shape either: they kept apologizing, hiding their feelings to protect the other and that led into feeling guilty and lonely.
Now hae hyo , my boy you were so plain: he had so much potential to be so much more but again it was wasted, the only moments where he shined the most were when he stood for his mom but that was what? 2 scenes? The rest it felt like he was just a backup dancer on hyee joon’s musical.
the Charlie jung plot lasted way too long for my taste. I have read some people asking for a season 2, honestly I don’t see it necessary I feel the way they ended was enough and I doubt they can fix what I don’t like in a season 2.

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The Record is only for PBG's character

If you started watching this thinking that there will be equal opportunity for all the so-called lead, pls runaway because you will be very disappointed. This drama is mainly focused on PBG character and PSD only got about 2hrs of exposure for the total 17hrs (approx.) that you'll probably invest in this. You will also get more story (record) on the mothers, fathers, grandpa, brother, managers, reporter, neighbour, father's shoulder... That is how much subplot this story has that they totally forgot about PSD's character. If you are a big PBG fan then this is definitely the show for you.

A lot has already been said, like some here I did like the 1st half but even then the screen time between HJ and JH is already very little. Then we get to the 2nd half and everything just got dropped!

Nevertheless this is the drama that actually made me like PBG. I hope he gets to be ugly in his next drama (perhaps play a character like that guy in I'm Thinking of Ending Things) . He is so beautiful (and righteous) on this drama I can't help but be bored with his character at times. As much as they made PBG beautiful they just dyed PSD's hair orange (the Fak!) and some of her outfits made her look so ordinary next to PBG! I think this is deliberate on the part of the production team to make her look ordinary but man the hair! PSD is so much prettier than her actual character.... So frustrating that she chose this project!

I will still rewatch this just to see some nice moments of HJ and JH time together but I will skip a lot of the scenes that I have no interest to see again. I will miss this couple specially their late night walks paired with authentic neighbourhood and parks.

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It could’ve been much much better

I took some time today to reflect on my feelings towards Record of Youth. Often times I’ll finish a drama and have it all figured out and my opinions will be easily formed. With ROY however I felt like the aspects I disliked the most weren’t necessarily a bad writing choice and this is what I’ll say: the plot is not for everybody, the story is not exactly likable as a whole and it’ll be challenging to watch by the end, but it is realistic.
We have very interesting complex characters since episode one, unfortunately I felt like the plot focused a lot in conflicts and problems of the main (male) characters when it could’ve easily developed the amazing cast acting skills and their roles. It was specially disappointing to see how little we had from Park So Dam’s character when her part had so much to offer, in this case the writer is to blame.
Many situations could’ve been solved quickly and were dragged for an unnecessary amount of time, such a valuable time that could’ve made this reach a better overall result.
I won’t drag this review much longer. As pros we have many interesting subjects approached in the drama, a steady first half, an amazing cast, all love goes to Park Bo Gum as Sa Hye Jun and his grandpa, all love really. As a con we get many choices from characters that will feel awful, unnecessary and even annoying (which can be seen as a realistic point from the plot in a different perspective), we get much less character development than we needed and the final half of the drama is not the best.
Where you go from here is up to you.

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So much lost potencial and a lot of frustration

It started off so strong, with so much potencial, and I guess that's what frustrated me the most.

The main characters are the least interesting characters on the show (at some point I was almost sure they forgot to write the character of Jeong-Ha and she was just serving as a plot point for others) and you see yourself waiting and cheering on for secondary plots and arcs.

Speaking of plots... there are so many of them that start out of nowhere and end - or better said, vanish! - even more out of the blue. It's palpable that they're only there to move the story somewhere and they barely serve their purpose.

Because of all the frustration of undeveloped characters, meaningless plots and overall frustration, I procrastinated watching the episodes as the series went on and only kept going because I thought there would be more to the story. But it goes nowhere and then it ends kind of abruptly on the 15th episode, which is why I didn't even want to watch the finale.

A few weeks later I decided to give it a go and I'm actually happy I did. Although very cliché, it ends nicely, with heart warming scenes and characters finding themselves. I could say my goodbyes to the show on a nicer note, which I liked... But would I go through everything again or even recommend that someone start this show? Absolutely not.

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PLAIN AND BLUNT

i started watching this because it was on Netflix and one of my MDL friends said she was watching it... i didnt had anything else to watch at that time... even though i am familiar with park bo gum and park so dam, i am not into them enough to check out their projects because of them...
the drama started off relatively good but the problem is, from the first 2-3 episode itself we are obvious about the struggles and conflicts thats gonna happen and those struggle and conflicts is all that is there in this show... since its a slice of life drama, slow phase wasn't a problem with me but towards the 2nd half this turned plain and blunt... even if you skip 2-3 episodes you wont miss anything... thats how slow and plain the drama is... the drama is completely centred around the male lead and everyone else are just part of his life... at the start we might think the female lead will have her own struggle and story but she just ends up being just a part of his life... by the end she is just a non-celeb girl, the male lead who becomes a star had sincere relationship with... the romance is soo less that when they are together it will be difficult for a 3rd person to say these two dated for more than a year... the break-up of the secondary couple was more impactful and logical that the male leads... the second lead becomes quite irrelevant by the end of it... he dont even feel like the 2nd lead anymore...
the male lead is high on morals and principles and dont take a shortcut no matter what may come.... he is so straight and upright to the level that we can simply predict how he is gonna react and what he is gonna do... in the last 2 episodes the makers tried so hard to create tension b/w the ML and his manager that they wanted to create suspense whether he will renew his contract or not but just knowing the ML for 3-4 episodes is more than enough for us to understand that he is gonna renew the contract... they just simply wasted time on creating friction b/w the manager and the ML...

the bad people were bad just for the sake of being bad... none of them had any solid reasons to be bad or bitter towards the male lead... even a random journalist out of nowhere comes in just to hate the male lead... a slice of life drama dont really need bad guys or evil characters like in hospital playlist or reply series... the situation and huddles in life were more than enough... here the bad guys were added solely to create random problems for the male lead... even the problems faced by the male lead were over-exaggerated...

it did have some heartfelt scenes b/w the family and friends but only some episodes had those scenes... at the start the male lead and his grandfather had some really adorable and cute scenes but from the 2nd half onwards they barely have any combination scenes... the scene b/w te grandpa and HJ's father and HJ and his father in the last episode was good... also the last scene b/w HH and his mother...

my most favourite characters will be the grandpa and the ML's brother... his brother is the only one that's gonna make everyone laugh...

the acting of everyone was just fine... nothing amazing but nothing bad either... the second male lead is relatively a newcomer so he needs polishing... even though i liked park bo gum's acting i wont say i was very impressed with his acting... something about him just dont click with me and i dont know what it is... i think park so dam is better for movies than dramas... cheesy stuffs dont suit her and kdrama is filled with cheesy things... i am still not into them enough to check out a project solely because of them... most of the times when i complete an ongoing drama i start liking the leads enough to check out there other projects or wait for their next projects...
the chemistry b/w the leads were very plain like the drama... its not like they didnt had chemistry at all or didnt look good together... may be its how their relationship was written, they had no passion in the relationship... they just looked like two friends and not even close friends...

i finished this drama solely because i only have to watch 2 episodes every weak else i would have dropped it around episode 7-8... none of the episode endings made me restless to watch the next episode... i guess this drama will belong to the category of kdramas i forgot as soon as i finished it and wont even remember it to rewatch it again... i necessarily didnt hate it but i didnt like it either... i just dont have any sort of feelings towards this drama... i dont regret watching it but i didn't exactly enjoy watching it either... my feelings are also very plain and blunt like the drama...

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the script wasted the talent

The cast will make you want to watch. Don't put yourself through it.
I intially was in love with this drama. An older than most main character, still chasing his dreams. His family and their lives. Best friend and the class differences between them. Love interest and her trying to also reach her dreams. And it's set in the fashion world. I was sold on this premise! And the first half delivered. I looked forward to the new episodes being posted on Netflix every week. Then somehow, towards the 7th episode or so, it was like I was watching a completely different show. The script and the dialogue became routine, stereotypical, see through. AND DONT GET ME STARTED ON HOW A SHOW CENTERED ON FASHION TREATED THE GAY STORYLINE IN SUCH A TYPICAL AND DISSAPOINTING WAY. In the end I didn't even have the drive to at least finish it to see the outcomes. Not even to see what happens with grandpa, the best character. I honestly was annoyed at it by episode 9 and by 13 I couldn't take any more. It didn't do anything new whatsoever. The cast deserved more honestly. I can't even rec it for something light or to binge when you can't find anything else because it gets so tediously boring and monotonous.
Just skip it, honestly.

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Record of Youth Flashback

The first 5 or 6 episodes were enjoyable and fun to watch. When they started getting into flashbacks, I got totally lost. In one episode that character would say something and you'd think it was said at that time, but then in the next episode the scene would be replayed but there would be more to it so I'd wonder didn't I just see this is the last episode. This wasn't done just once, but quite a few times that I'd wonder if they were just doing it to make 16 episodes or did they really want to lose me.
The chemistry between the actors seemed forced to me. The lead male seemed kinda stiff and I felt he wasn't the best actor for that part. The lead female was more relaxed, but I felt her character lacked true feeling and has this wall around her keeping everyone out, even those who she says she loves.
The supporting cast to me made the series, the manager was excellent as was the rich woman, mother to the co star.
Lastly, I have never seen a character become a star, then be trashed, then be revived, then be trashed, then be revived. It seemed like that last episodes were how many time can he be smeared and still survive.

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started off so good like so interesting and the whole concept is just GOOD. like yes give me struggling artists!!!! give me people trying to grow in the entertainment industry!!!!! give me best friends!!! give me the girl meeting the guy she's crazy about but NOT making it weird!!!! it felt really out of character that hyejun's bestie would just go for the girl he likes out of nowhere ???? KNOWING HE LIKES HER ???? like bffr it just feels stupid that they added a silly love triangle tere lol btw also the way they started drifting apart felt kinda stupid too???? love hyejun tho that's my best friend

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I am confused, I liked it and disliked at the same time

This is going to be a short review. This drama got me confused. It started really well, but lost it momentum half way through. It'll probably be a feast to Park Bo Gum's fans. I am not one, but he was pleasant enough to watch in this drama. My overall rating is as high as 8, because I like those down to earth dramas about people trying to live in the Korean society. I do realize the society is very judgmental, but this fact never ceases to annoy me.
Finally, can someone please explain to me why dating is considered a SCANDAL in Korea? What is so scandalous in the fact that an actor in his twenties is dating a perfectly normal girl his age? What's the controversy?

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