Reviews

I'm surprised I haven't written a review for this by now considering I was so entranced by this drama from start to finish. It's very unusual to find dramas about real people and real stories told through such unartificial means. Most of the time, we're given a set of stock characters and stock situations that may or may not deliver on their promises. Age of Youth aspired to do something different. I won't say that it exceeded in every respect. There are too many loose ends once the story wraps, and sometimes the pacing is weird. One plot line comes completely out of left field and still frustrates me even though I will concede that they found a way to make it work. But what Age of Youth brought to the drama table is something we don't see in other dramas.



They brought real people.



And I love this drama for that.

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"The one who secures the people will acquire the world and rule the ages" is a big quote and theme of the show.

Queen Seondeok is mainly a historical/political melodrama depicting the struggle of opposing (good vs. evil) factions. The evil faction is led by a ruthless leader (Mishil) representing government control both of government officials and citizens, based on manipulating them with fear. The good faction has a good leader who wants power and freedom to shift from government to the people (control by their choice instead of governmental dictates, ownership of land by farmers instead of tenant farmers working for the rich), and who appeals to the hope and good nature of others.

Despite displaying inaccurate portrayal of the actual historical figures. Nonetheless, it did do an excellent job introducing the viewer to Korean, specifically, Sillan, history at a critical time. Whatever the artistic license taken, the fact is that this period in Silla saw first a major change in succession rules, and second the period of unification that would occupy the reigns of Sillan monarchs for a space of decades, and which Queen Seondeok started. In addition the story is so engagingly written that you really don't care if it's what "really happened" or not.

Another core theme is women's rights in a male dominated world, which I find the most appealing theme of this show. The power play between two very intelligent women (Deokman and Misil). Their chemistry was very much electrifying as many of the greatest hero/villain rivalries of literature and TV. The concept of the shadow self that makes for such a dynamic, two sides of the same coin, but rarely has it been done with both the characters being women. Misil and Deokman do have moments that prove they can fight; but it's really intelligence that marks these women as strong females.The conflict between duty and love is one Deokman has to tread throughout the show.

The marvelous thing about many characters in this show is the depth they all have. Bad guys have sympathetic moments. Characters you think are good doing something that suddenly makes you hate them, or vice versa. Every character, good or bad, has motives you can understand. The complexity of characters and the realism with which they are portrayed that gives the show it's nuances. It's really the quality of acting that also keeps things realistic that with actors of lesser experience could easily turn into melodrama. Equally nuanced is the writing. This show is great in what it chooses to reveal to the audience at certain points and what it doesn't allow the audience to know. My personal favorite of Deokman's boys though is Alchun (Lee Seung Hyo). There's something I love about his deep loyalty uncomplicated by romance, especially since he doesn't start off as one of Deokman's supporters. She has to earn his trust, but once she does, she has it for life.

Acting:
Deokman/ Queen Seondeok – Lee Yo Won: Amazing how well Lee Yo Won was able to portray this character. LYW’s performance as Princess Deokman, who later became the great Queen, was really stellar. The way she portrayed herself as a nangdo (a soldier trainee), to princess, to ruler was a compelling/convincing act. Her expressions were so clear, that I find myself “congratulating” her for overcoming every impossible feat that stood her way.

Mishil- Go Hyun Jung: GHJ is a brilliant actress who made the Mishil character stands out in this drama. She had the most audience attention actually in QSD. She played the controlling, power-hungry Mishil perfectly. She was as beautiful as she was terrifying in her quest to sit on the throne. Most times the ‘bad guy’ of the drama is detestable, in Mishil’s case I couldn’t detest her, in the end I understood her.

Bidam- Kim Nam Gil: FAWLESS! I was waiting for Kim Nam Gil to appear from the opening credits but I had to wait about 21 episodes for it to happen. But boy-o-boy when you came, he came with the thunder. Just as I was getting a little bored, Bidam came into the picture adding a whole new dynamic to the show. KNG really played the role of Bidam perfectly. I couldn’t imagine another actor playing his part very effectively. As Bidam, KNG was able to portray different emotions one after another that you would find him the charming, egoistic, and suddenly frightening individual. His character is a thin line between evil and good.

Yushin-Uhm Tae Woong He played the upright Yushin very well. Always steady and honest. That was the energy that he brought to this role. I was like with all the chaos, he was the one constant, the pillar for not only Deokman but for us viewers as well.

I should also mention the music of the show which has a great mix of character themes, sung love themes (both romantic and parental), and suspenseful background music.

Finally, the reason I could not give this drama any less than a perfect 10 despite its flaws is because at times the story offered some of brilliant psychological insights, such as Mishil saying "Humans can not live without believing in fantasy", as in liberal idealism (world peace, income equality without degrading the economy, big government that works efficiently, etc.) that can never be achieved. I am weak when it comes to brilliant/breathtaking psychological insights especially if portrayed so raw and wonderful as it is the case in QSD.

Some of my favorite quotes:
“Do not even think of possessing me, nobody can ever possess me as long as this crown adorns my pate”–Queen Seon Duk

“Why did you change?”-Bidam
“Because I have no name, crown prince crown princess and even the scoundrels parading in the market have a name but a ruler does not… All I am is Her Majesty”, “Because the moment I lost my name, you became nothing more but an influential subject of mine” –Queen Seon Duk

“I love you for loving me as woman”–Queen Seon Duk

“Earning people’s trust is hard, however what is even harder than that is abandoning them” – Queen Seon Duk

“I shall neither give up, nor abandon my people, not a thing not anyone” –Queen Seon Duk

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It's been Ages since I watched this, all the way back to when I first started watching dramas. I've tried, to no avail, to find the whole thing with subs somewhere, but my search has always been fruitless. Or I would find it but no way to download it. It's one of those drama's where either you like it, or you don't. It requires some buy-ins that not everyone is going to be on board with. The idea that someone could have a sense of smell as strong as a dog's. The idea that someone who wears a frilly, Japanese street fashion would become a police officer. The idea that they would wear said fashion while on the clock. The idea that all of this happens at the same time. If you can't buy into all of that, then this drama is very much not for you.

Luckily for me, I have no problem buying into all of that, so this drama is very much for me, lol.

I fully admit that it's goofy and over the top and unbelievable in every aspect. And I that's why I bloody love it. I love that she has a sense of smell as strong as a dog's. I love that she wears Lolita, and to crime scenes, no less. I love the potential (but never actually fulfilled) romance. I am an unabashed fan of this drama, and I will be forever.

I JusT nEed to GEt thE WhOle thINg dOwnLoAdeD tO My LapToP So i CaN wAtch It oN rePEAT foR tHe REST Of MY LIFE!!!

I'm a little intense about this drama, lol.

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I walked into this show expecting a comedy that would keep me laughing throughout. Instead I got a show full of heartwarming moments and laughs and I never wanted it to end.

I randomly picked this show up on New Year's eve and was immediately hooked. For two days this was the only thing I watched and I still can't believe its over.

This show is way more that "four guys going to the country to make money". It's about following your dreams, growing up, falling in love for the first time and realizing that there are always supportive people around you.

Tons of kudos to the cast. Every single character was casted perfectly and I can't imagine anyone else playing their parts. My favorite part of the show was the villagers. They are what made the show the most memorable. Everyone one of them had a dream and a story that made me feel like I know them personally.

The show resonated with me particularly because I was fed up with my city life and I ran away to a third world country and realized there so much more to the world than just staying on a straight path.

If you're hoping for romance, there's a bit of that but not much for the central couple.If the pairing I wanted had ended up together of if the romance had been presented better I would have given this show a solid 10. The comedy on the other hand is magnificent and sometimes a bit gross. But, after episode 4 on wards it tons down a bit and gets very real.

If you're thinking about starting the show just do it! You will not be disappointed.

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How the heck can this plot go from action-oriented to fluffy at the end, puzzles me. It almost became like another drama because everything seems to miraculously smooth out, after the all the crimes that happen. The plot just went downhill, the leading couple, acted like teenagers and it was just too fluffy for the age they are portraying. Cruel City was more realistic in portraying gang life, I don't know the whole thing just did not mesh right. It is still watchable but at the end, I felt like what the heck did I just watch? At least with other dramas like "You're Beautiful" you know from the get go, that it is a romcom but this one was just from thug life ------ romcom, it did not work for me.

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This drama was stunning - a complete breath of fresh air - and I just needed to write a review in the hopes that more people will watch it. I wish I could give it more than a perfect 10 because I really enjoyed it that much!

Right away, I’ll say that this is not the goofy romcom I was expecting it to be. Although there are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments and lighthearted comedic scenes, this drama gets heavy at some points and definitely moves into the melodrama category occasionally. But what made this drama so amazing is that it continually challenged my expectations of the comedy genre and the difficult emotions never felt unnatural. I laughed and I cried many times and found myself re-watching scenes again and again. The dialogue was fascinating, very quotable, and definitely gave me a new outlook on love and relationships.

It's the cast and characters that really make this drama special. Not only is the acting superb, but the individual characters are very complex and unique. Mikuri, the drama's heroine, overanalyzes and missteps often, can rarely reign in her colourful imagination, and is bold as brass, but that’s what makes her endearing and I loved watching her grow. Even the most minor characters shine in this drama! Each character is so well developed in their personalities and desires that you can’t help but root for everyone to find happiness!

Definitely don’t miss this beautiful drama!

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I have literally just finished this drama and am to emotionally unstable and attached to do an in depth analysis of this show (hopefully at some point I will).. But i've just come online to tell anybody who is contemplating watching this show STOP! You have stumbled upon something mind-blowing and you are in for a treat. Don't think any further just press play because you are in for an amazing 20 hours. It keeps you gripped every second, makes perfect sense at every step despite the complicated plot, doesn't give any uneccesary angst, has amazingly lovable characters that are going to stay with you forever along with being funny and having all the feels.

STOP READING.. START WATCHING. Lucky you.. I wish i could watch it for the first time again.

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"WOW"- That was me after watching the last two episodes. Literally, I started watching this drama because of Kimura Fumino. I was just searching on mydramalist when i was boring and ramdomly picked this.
- The story is interesting with a female villain who is a psycho killer seeking perfection as well as her true-self. I think the first episodes were a bit slow, you would find it boring at first, but Satomi is a charismatic character, you will love him definitely. The second half was extremely good, I expected there would be some twists and even prepared for it but when the story came to the turing point, i couldn't do nothing but WOW (completely surprised).
- Acting/cast: As i said, i watched this drama because of Kimura Fumino (litterally got my eye on her after watching Zeni no Senso). But i was disapointed, her casting terrible. However, Matsuzaka Tori (as Satomi the mc) and Nanao (as the main villian) were wonderfully good. Especially Nanao, Her expression was too good that made me amazed.
-Music: Nothing much to say. It was fine
Overall: Despite having some flaws,but i really enjoyed this drama. If you are looking for some soft romance, thriller, mystery, or some unpredictable plot twists.. I highly recommend this!
P/s: If you are looking for a serious detective stuff. This is not for you.

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The story is good. It portrays a family that is living in a new harsh environment and lifestyle. The family experiences the process of going through a divorce and living in the middle of nowhere, Hokkiado. With the help of the father's childhood family and friends the main characters overcome many obstacles.

What really stuck with me is how genuine all the characters are. As if you are really seeing real people. This is extremely rare with TV shows. It is beyond good acting its real.

I recommend this drama if what I wrote interests you. It is a drama worthy of high ratings.

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