Begins Youth

I absolutely loved this show. The characters, the plot, the acting, it was all incredible, so engaging and intriguing.

I really do hope we get a second season and a release of season 1 in a well known streaming platform because this show deserves to have more viewers and be more accesible to the public.

If you're a BTS fan (ARMY) you're guaranteed to enjoy it more since you'll find a lot of little things that the regular viewer might miss but even if you're not familiar with the BTS Universe I still think this is an impressive series that anyone can enjoy.

The plot does deal with quite heavy subjects though so it might not be for everyone. Do not watch this expecting it to be lighthearted or romantic because it is not that kind of k-drama.

I am not always into K-Dramas, and having heard about the messy production behind this one (and 2 years of delays before its release) I had very little hope that this would be very good, and that hope went down the drain when I heard the way it was being released - surely, they must not have much faith in it if they're going to sell it as a glorified NFT in 2024? But it was shocking how well-executed this was all things considered.

The production issues are obvious - there are some glaring scene-level continuity errors and of course a whole host of loose ends left untied, but its all still presented in a way that worked as a really good season of TV. The script and much of the plotting is great, much better than I had thought it would be, and the direction and cinematography is excellent, but the show is absolutely CARRIED by the cast. They really got seven young powerhouse actors for this, each a perfect fit for their role. It blows my mind that almost half of them have hardly if ever had a main role in a drama before. Standouts for me are Kim Yoonwoo as Haru and Jung Woojin as Jooan, with honorable mentions to Noh Jonghyun as Cein and Jeon Jinseo as Jeha but there really isn't a weak link among the seven main actors. If you're a BTS fan, they do a really good job of being reminiscient of the members and the way they played their HYYH characters without ever feeling like they're just doing impressions. And you do 100% care about the characters for themselves, not just as extensions of the BTS members or something.

The show really focuses in on the characters and their relationships with one another and I think that saves it from its sometimes messy plot progression. Left me secretly wishing for a season 2, although a part of me almost feels like it's even better with its ambiguous, almost Christopher Nolan-esque ending.

Really, guys, I can't believe what I've seen now. I mean, I think I'm the only one who didn't find anything logical in the drama. I also think I'm the only one who desperately needs s2 because there's a lot that we didn't understand in the series and they didn't tell us. I'm really confused.

When Hwan came to cein and they tried to gather their friends again, I was very happy and I put all my hopes in that they will return to their old friendship, but I don't understand why the director decided to kill them all. Why?

Aren't we supposed to know and see the end of the solution to cein's mother's case? I was really depressed at the end.im crying now.

First of all its unfortunate the drama is released on such an obscure platform.

The writing and plot are engaging and the characters are so lovable. The characters are well written and distinct.

I watched this being already familiar with the original webtoon and music videos. The drama is a prequel to the webtoon Save Me.

The drama's editing does a great job capturing your full attention by making you keep guessing what is going to happen to the characters. The plot does not fall heavily on cliches to carry the plot. Its a very original coming of age drama.

The pacing is very deliberately slow and heavy. It has a good balance of humour and tragedy and heartfelt moments.

At certain parts the dramas pace gets slower by shifting the focus away from the 7 main cast and that might disengage the viewers but with each episode it kept picking it up.

Episodes 4, 8, 9 and 12 are highlights for being the best paced and engaging.

Episodes 6 and 7 were a little too slow.

One of the best parts about the drama is the sound design. It's well done and at times it carries a certain horror element.

There are a few continuity mistakes with scenes that have all 7 of the main cast but it's not that noticible and it doesn't take away your attention.

Overall I am happy with this adaptation of the HYYH album story. I don't know if a viewer who is unfamiliar with the original story will have a hard time watching this drama. There are 7 main characters afterall. It may not be for everyone.

If you love coming of age stories with detailed character studies and elements of tragedy and some comedy you.

When the news first came out that they'd be making a drama based on BTS's The Most Beautiful Moment In Life (which if you are unaware is an album with a fictional storyline) I wasn't expecting much.

Youth Begins, however, has stunned me wrong with how well made it is. Down to the perfect casting and portrayal of each character, this drama is definitely one to watch. Not only have they done justice to the storyline but have given it a true 'drama-like' feel, without quite overdoing it.

Each character has been given equal attention and importance, which I love and appreciate immensely. Each of them with their own stories and troubles but together they create a synergy I came to love throughout the watch.

I am very excited to look forward to a second season. Kudos to all the actors and team for doing such a great job.

I sincerely hope this drama gets aired and also made available on bigger and more popular platforms because it certainly deserves much more love and exposure.