First Impressions: “Spring Of Youth” Is A Youthful Tale of Music, Friendship, And Romance
Summers feel incomplete without a refreshing youth romance right? So “Spring of Youth” has come to the rescue. With a cast that includes Ha Yoo Joon from the upcoming idol band AxMxP, beloved actress Park Ji Hu from “All of Us Are Dead,” and “Lovely Runner” standouts Lee Seung Hyub and Seo Hye Won, “Spring of Youth” is all set to make you laugh, cry, kick your feet, and even play detective every Wednesday until the summer ends. Here’s what you can expect from the first episodes!
Warning: spoilers for episodes 1-2 ahead!
The very first scene of “Spring of Youth” introduces us to the main character and male lead, Sa Gye (Ha Yoo Joon), a teenage trainee who is set to debut as part of the final lineup of an upcoming K-pop group. However, while practicing with a fellow member, Sa Gye suffers an accident that damages his retina and causes him to lose his vision. Just when his world turns dark and every possibility of becoming a performing artist seems out of reach, he receives a retinal transplant.
The story jumps ahead in time, showing Sa Gye as a successful artist. His group The Crown is not only famous in Korea but has also topped global music charts, becoming the most popular band in the world. To celebrate, the band hosts an after-party where Sa Gye invites anyone willing to try and out-drink him. One by one, his challengers drop out as he keeps drinking without pause. However, the next morning, he wakes up with a headache strong enough to crush a stone, and to his horror, he learns that while drunk, he punched his CEO and father figure in the face. The CEO is now hospitalized.
As if that weren’t enough, a video of the drunken incident has gone viral online. To let the public cool down, Sa Gye is instructed to step out of the spotlight and finally attend the university he had enrolled in but never gone to. And that’s exactly where our story begins.
Considering that “Spring of Youth” is a music-themed drama, it would have been a shame not to include musical performances. And thankfully, it delivers!
From the first episode, there are multiple musical numbers, each one more engaging than the last. There’s even a scene where the male lead and the second male lead Seo Tae Yang (Lee Seung Hyub) engage in a one-on-one music battle that builds in intensity with every note and ends on a thrilling high.
Now, youth music K-dramas are rarely just about youth and music. Much like “Twinkling Watermelon,” “Namib,” and to some extent “Lovely Runner,” “Spring of Youth” includes an intriguing overarching mystery: a melody Sa Gye keeps hearing in his dreams.
Since the accident, Sa Gye has experienced dreams so vivid they feel like real life, and in every dream, he hears a mysterious melody he can never put a name on. This beautiful tune lingers in his mind for years. On his first day at university, he meets the female lead Kim Bom (Park Ji Hu), and her music box-style necklace plays that same melody. At first, she doesn’t explain but later reveals it to be her first-ever composed song. Though the connection between Kim Bom’s first melody and Sa Gye is intriguing enough, an even bigger mystery looms: Why did Sa Gye punch his CEO?
From Sa Gye’s perspective, his CEO is the person who made his dreams come true. Though they aren’t related by blood, he respects him like a father, or at least a beloved uncle. So why would he assault him while shouting, “I saw it”? The audience isn’t told what “it” refers to, but the CEO claims Sa Gye couldn’t have seen it because he wasn’t there when it happened years ago. While the show keeps the details hidden for now, it’s strongly implied that the CEO committed a terrible act that he’s kept secret for years. The question is: What exactly did he do, and how could Sa Gye have seen it?
Judging by the first two episodes, even though the story touches on mysterious and darker themes, the overall tone remains youthful and light, making it an easy and enjoyable watch. A love triangle is also brewing, featuring a brooding yet sensitive second male lead who’s bound to win hearts by the end of the show.
The only criticism so far has been the pacing, which suffers due to choppy editing. Some key scenes like Sa Gye’s eye surgery are skipped entirely, and the timeline can feel disorienting. It’s sometimes hard to tell whether a day, a week, or a month has passed. Despite this, “Spring of Youth” has a promising plot and a charismatic cast, making it a strong companion for the summer season.
To no one’s surprise, episode 2 ended with yet another mysterious scene, once again hinting at a past connection between Kim Bom and Sa Gye. Not only does he keep hearing her first-ever composed melody in his dreams, but he also calls her by her childhood nickname after getting drunk. Hopefully episode 3 will show us their history.
Watch “Spring of Youth”:
Hello Soompiers! Did you enjoy the premier week of “Spring of Youth”? Let us know in the comments section below!
Javeria is a binge-watching specialist who loves devouring entire K-dramas in one sitting. Good screenwriting, beautiful cinematography, and a lack of cliches are the way to her heart. As a music fanatic, she listens to multiple artists across different genres and stans the self-producing idol group SEVENTEEN. You can talk to her on Instagram @javeriayousufs.
Currently watching: “Spring of Youth” and “Second Shot at Love”
Looking forward to: “Squid Game Season 3”
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