Record of Youth (Netflix, 2020)
9/10
**Warning this review contains spoilers**

There have been a lot of mixed reviews about this drama, not about the story, but about the ending. This drama is a VERY realistic look at the sacrifices, and tough choices one has to make when pursuing their dreams. This drama is not for those looking for a cliché, predictable ending. Writing this right now I’m about a week removed from watching the finale, and I still don’t know how I feel about it.

Sa Hye Jun (Park Bo Gum) comes from a lower middle-class family, he works multiple part-time jobs, while he tries to pursue his dream of becoming an actor. He is naïve and his current agency takes advantage of him and withholds his pay, “for the good of the agency”. With his military enlistment looming over him his family pressuring, him to give up, he meets Ahn Jeong- Ha (Park So Dam) an aspiring makeup artist with a dream of having her own studio and own brand. She is also struggling while pursuing her dreams. Being socially exiled from her current makeup studio where she is an apprentice, by her boss who fears her talent. Jeong Ha and Hye jun become fast friends as they find comfort in each other.

Won Hae- Hyo ( Byeon Woo- Seok) is Hye Jun’s best friend from childhood, he is also trying to make it big as an actor, appearing as minor characters, but never making it big. The big difference between these two, is that while Hye Jun is trying to make it on his own effort, Hae Hyo comes from a rich family, and without him knowing, has been supported by his mother, who does whatever she can, pulls what ever strings she has to see her son succeed.

What happens when Hye Jun finally gets his break? Will he be able to keep Jeong ha by his side as he rises to stardom? Will he be able to fight the pressures of the entertainment industry, or will it suffocate him? What will happen when Hae Hyo, finds out his mom has been pulling the strings? What will happen to their friendship as Hae Hyo slowly starts to fall for Jeong Ha? How will these three survive the obstacles before him?

I thoroughly enjoyed this series, I enjoyed the realistic look at the journey to become successful in the entertainment industry. Park Bo Gum is a very captivating actor, this role suited him perfectly. He has the ability to capture such emotions with his eyes. Whenever he cried, I started to cry. The script was so realistic and heartbreaking at times, you couldn’t help to compare it to the ACTUAL industry. I am almost certain this is how the Korean industry operates and these are the pressures those sucked in go through. The price of fame is great and Park Bo gum was an accurate portrayal. I felt like we were watching his story, even though it was fictional.

You felt for every character in this series and their struggles. Rookie actor Byeon Woo-Seok, really left an impression on me. He portrayed the best friend feeling various range of emotions perfectly. I was pleased that through all the obstacles they remained friends, he was jealous with his friend’s success but he was honest with himself, and turned that jealously into something else. He didn’t take the KDrama cliché path and become vengeful or try to bring his best friend down. I really appreciated how the writer developed his character.

As far as the ending. Sigh, I’m still not sure how I feel about it. I feel like I’m going through the 5 Stages of Grief. I couldn’t believe they could end a series that way, I was hoping there was an ending credit sequence, an extra scene, a time jump, something! Why would they do that to them and to the viewers! Sure, it’s a realistic ending, it made sense. Maybe, just maybe I was thinking “Ok, I guess their story will continue off screen and maybe there will be a season 2? It made complete sense very realistic. In life you are faced with difficult choices and not matter how hard you fight your decision will hurt the other person. I still am undecided