I started off this drama with very limited expectations and after the first week was unsure if I would bother finishing (not that it is bad, but it is a very slow buildup).  But here we are three weeks later and this is my total addiction.  I would even put it up in the top 5 shows I am watching (and if you consider that I am watching around 25 dramas, that is not a bad place to be.)  So I wanted to do my part in sharing the girl love and try and convince you all to join me in watching Age of Youth.  You won’t be sorry you gave this quirky drama a chance.

SYNOPSIS: University students Yoon Jin Myung, Jung Ye Eun, Song Ji Won, Kang Yi Na and Yoo Eun Jae share a house. Jin Myung is busy supporting herself financially and studying. She suffers from a lack of sleep. Ye Eun is devoted to her boyfriend, she is clear about what she likes or not. Ji Won has a bright personality and likes to drink. Yi Na is popular due to her beautiful appearance. Eun Jae is timid, but she has a unique taste for men.

#1 Quirky Realistic Adult Characters

A lot of times when dramas try to make characters “realistic”….i.e. have sex lives, pro-feminism, fights with other girls….. they overdo it to the point where the characters end up feeling like a caricature of the point trying to be expressed.  Not so with these five leading ladies.  All five have flaws and positive personality quirks and have to go through the experience of living with each other.

I appreciated that none of them were besties from birth either.  How often do we get a drama where all of the characters meet each other and have to learn to live together?  Also, cohabitation is one of my favorite tropes, it just happens that this time it is 5 females cohabiting.

#2  The Sismance!

I love how quantity and quality of sismance (female equivalent of bromance) we get in this drama.  For you experienced kaddicts, you will know how rare this is.  It is almost unheard of that a writer will put in sismance without there being complications such as one-sided love or an all out love triangle being the focus.  Or sometimes it is in the form of a bestie giving the leading lady advice.  Something which can be entertaining, but is never the main focus.  For once we have a drama where the roommate relationship is the main story without it being centered around a man.  For that fact alone, I think we should all give this drama a watch to support those willing to break the drama trope mold.

#3 The Perfect Ratio of Boy Scenes to Roomie Scenes.

Talking about men, of course there are various romances (both good and bad) going on with the girls.  The drama makes a point of the girls having healthy dating and sex lives.  However they are small spots scattered throughout the girl’s narrative and not the main focus.

They also range from sweet first love, unrequited love, and relationships that can only be described as its complicated.  With all the variety it doesn’t feel like I am being overwhelmed with any one person’s storyline.   It is also a plus that, at least for this viewer, they all are interesting and I want to see how things turn out in the end.

#4 This Brings Back the College Student Feelz

I also had five roommates in college so I can totally relate.  The complications of roommate life such as one’s food being eaten, various levels of cleanliness, and just conflicting personalities is 100% on point.  It was nice feeling a sense of nostalgia as well as thankfulness that this period in my life is in the past.  They truly have created the perfect slice of life drama that describes the college experience of living with a bunch of girls.

#5 I Ship Them All

I totally want these five girls to get married, have kids, and end up like the Ahjummas in Answer Me 1988, living next door to each other.  I would be sad if any of them split up and left for their own lives.  Sure I know that is the reality, but I ship them all so much I want to create my own happy ending.

 

In conclusion, come join me and check out Age of Youth.  Sure it might not be the type of genre you are used to watching, but that doesn’t mean you won’t find something that touches your emotions by expanding your drama horizons.  Sometimes going outside of your comfort zone has some amazing results.

Til next time,

Kmuse

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