Story:
When I saw the teasers and read the summary, I was both intrigued and skeptical. The amnesia aspect had me worried right off the bat, I was especially worried about how they would give Yook Dong Shik his memories back (if he was to get them back at all). Luckily, I didn't mind too much how he got his memories back, I was a bit frustrated but the show managed to ease my frustrations pretty well with the execution of the plot. The premise of the show had me very intrigued as I saw many potential plots that could arise from it, some darker than what we got, but essentially I was pleased with the final outcome.
I enjoyed the comedic aspects, I felt there was a relatively good balance between the comedy and the overall seriousness of the plot. The story does drag a bit around the middle but otherwise, I think it's pretty well-paced. The ending was what I expected but I felt the last episode was both well done and a bit lackluster but still an enjoyable last episode and conclusion to the story.
Cast and Characters:
The actors did a good job. My favourite performances came from Yoon Shi Yoon and Park Sung Hoon. Yoon Shi Yoon did an amazing job portraying his character. The only other drama of his that I've watched was Flower Boy Next Door and I enjoyed his performance there so when I saw he was cast for Psychopath Diary, I got even more intrigued and wondered how he would portray the character and I was not disappointed. I enjoyed Yook Dong Shik and Seo In Woo as characters, they had pretty good character arcs that had satisfying conclusions.
Shim Bo Kyung, played by Jung In Sun, was a kind of a 'there' character. There were moments she has amazing detective/deductive skills and others where she suddenly can't connect basic dots because the plot required it, but luckily, I enjoyed her character. I know most people found her either annoying or frustrating but I found her enjoyable as the more grounded-in-reality character amidst Dong Shik, an amnesiac who thinks he's a serial killer, and Director Seo, a serial killer. Jung In Sun works well with what she has and she also does a good job.
The rest of the cast did pretty well, I have a special place in my heart for Heo Sung Tae's portrayal of Chil Sung.
Music:
I liked the music a lot because it fit the show and its themes well. The Rose's 'Wanna Be Bad' is a gem and the song that played at the end of majority of the episodes was my favourite as I felt it really captured the vibe of the show.
Rewatch value:
The show has good rewatch value, especially for the comedic scenes and hijinks the characters go through. I'll probably rewatch this months from now when I'm in the mood for some dark comedy.
Overall:
The show works well, the cast is phenomenal, the pacing is alright and the conclusion is satisfying. There's no romance and I was fine with that because I personally thought that a romance arc may derail from the main story. That being said, I know guys had different expectations for how the plot would develop (I was one of those people for a while) and yes, the show could have gone in a more deeper and/or darker route but if it did the genre and tone of the show would have shifted greatly which was not the intention of the show from the beginning judging from how comedy sets in right at the beginning.
All in all, this was a great show and I had a fun time watching it and I recommend it to those who want to watch a dark comedy crime thriller.
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This show is a gem.
Story:Age of Youth took me by surprise. I came to find out about the show through recommendations that summarised the show in a way that led me to believe that it would be a simple slice of life show following the lives of 5 people in their twenties. This is true but I didn't expect it to go in the direction it did. I expected relatable but more light-hearted and even surface-level situations and instead I got in-depth storylines that made me take a step back and evaluate some aspects of my own life and ideologies.
The storylines for each character felt real and relatable. My favourite plotline is Yoon sunbae's because of how at first I didn't expect much from it but by the end of it, I felt so invested in not only her plotline but also her character and the burdens she bears. Seeing her being able to be willing to try something out freely by the end of the show warmed my heart.
The show managed to balance both light-hearted/humourous moments with more serious and darker ones. I cried and laughed in so many moments and it didn't feel forced.
Acting/Cast:
The cast is simply amazing. Each character felt fleshed out to certain degrees and that's something I truly appreciate. Their struggles and how they coped with them in their own unique ways made this even more enjoyable to watch. Yoon sunbae is my favourite character for the development she shows by the end of the show and Ji Won a close second because her personality just made me happy.
The cast's acting was phenomenal. They brought their characters to life and made me actually want to be friends with the characters if it was possible.
Park Hye Soo's portrayal of Eun Jae is my favourite. The way she portrayed Eun Jae's introverted-ness and shyness is something to be treasured. She doesn't make the character come off as unbearable or annoying. I remember thinking I wouldn't like her character but to my shock by episode 3 I realized I quite like her character and seeing her slowly get more comfortable with the other girls was a treat.
Han Ye Ri also did a stellar job with her portrayal of Yoon sunbae. I felt the character's pain, burdens, loss, relief and hope throughout the show.
They all did an amazing job, even the supporting cast did well and I commend the entire cast.
Music:
The OST for this show is probably my favourite and I'm going to look for the OST album and play it on repeat for a couple of days. I barely pay attention to drama OSTs because sometimes I find them either too distracting as they don't blend with the show or I find them dull and forgettable. So, the way the music of Age of Youth encapsulates the themes of the show while not being too distracting is something I'm grateful for.
Rewatch Value:
I'd say the rewatch value is pretty high for this show. The friendship between the five is something I could watch over and over again.
Overall:
Age of Youth, a story about women in their twenties trying to navigate life while forming bonds, is a true gem of a show.
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