mnga-49345

Our Blooming Youth is a story of two individuals - a Crown Prince and a noblewoman who are thrown together when calamity befells them, who grow with each other, as they protect each other from forces that want them dead. Their romance is not run of the mill boy meets girls and falls in love for no reason kind. There is practically no skinship but their bond and chemistry is so powerful that even them standing close to each other is fraught with sensual tension and has you rooting for them. It's based on trust, respect, and true need for each other. They express their love in so many ways that it's beautiful to behold,"actions more than words' being the theme. In fact, it stays true to the eastern culture of personal space between a man and a woman who definitely would not have touched each other in the Josean period unless strictly platonic. This means that one hug can be more powerful than thousand other meaningless kisses. It stays true in many parts of the world today. The side characters of Myung Jin and Ga Ram are equally fun who bring in a lot of livety. The development of the bond between the four of them, and even between Min Jay Yi the the royal guard is given a lot of thought. Li Hwan and Jay Yi are goal driven individuals who single mindedly persue larger objectives, keeping aside their personal feelings, yet their need for each other only grows. The underlying social theme that is responsible for their plight is depicted beautifully. The story starts as a murder and a curse mystery but the actual plot is way bigger, and very complex, the root cause being what makes the world a dangerous place even today - greed for power and authority. It might take a couple of rewatches to connect all the dots, but every dot is well connected.

The story does suffer from a bit lack of direction in a couple of episodes in the middle where reveals could have been faster and more effiecient, but it's something that can be easily overlooked as the last episodes not only get your adranalin pumping, but the sheer brilliance of the Li Hwan's character, and Jay Yi's perseverence bowls you over. You would be reaching out for tissues in many places. The costumes are spectacular, there are many many genuine laugh out loud moments as it's peppered with humor which is thankfully neither slapstick or bufoony. A terrific series, a must watch for those who are a fan of period dramas.

The show starts with two young twins (a very young Park Hyung Sik in a powerful capture of two completely different characters with the same face) getting into a situation where the tougher teen ends up accidentaly murdering his twin's bully. (Park Hyung Sik successfully switches between the two characters - one timid and the other tough, just with the way he uses his eyes and voice - already showing the promise as the great actor he is on his way to become)

I almost feel sad when the Hyung Sik's charcter grows up and becomes So Jun Young but the narrative is lovely and you soon grow used to the new face. If done today, Hyung Sik would chew these two characters and then some, but oh well.... I digress. So Jun Young is strictly OK as the grown up twins, no where near as impressive as his younger counterpart, but the story is told very well.

Watch out for Hyung Sik's outburst as the timid teen in the beginning of the final episode - it's brilliant, makes you tear up effortlessly, and it's even more amazing because as an audience you marvel at the fact that he can actually better it today. The pathos of an unwanted child beutifully potrayed. Hyung Sik does more for this character in these few minutes than Jun Young does in the entire series).

Give it watch, especially for Park Hyung Sik and the overall story arc.