Premiere Watch: Our Blooming Youth
by missvictrix
Time slot: Monday-Tuesday
Broadcaster: tvN
Genre: Sageuk, romance, mystery
Episode count: 20
Reasons to watch: Park Hyung-shik is back as an accursed crown prince, and he’s joined by Jeon So-ni, who plays a noblewoman on the run for murder she didn’t commit. Being a fan of both actors after Happiness and When My Love Blooms, I’ll be very interested to see them together in this sageuk that’s also billed as a romance that’s also billed as a mystery-thriller. That’s a lot, but I somehow can see them pulling it all off? Though some of the drama’s promotional materials have been soft and sweet (~romance~ anyone?), the majority were more along the lines of: mysterious curses, life-threatening attacks (and escapes), blood, sword fights, and a little desperation for good measure.
TL;DR: Sageuk, romance, mystery, thriller + haunted Park Hyung-shik
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Tags: Our Blooming Youth, Premiere Watch
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1 Koalatown
February 5, 2023 at 5:53 PM
Excited and looking forward to this. I am hoping they will be able to blend the mystery, youth redemption, romance and hints of comedy together well. At least I know the visuals are good so far!
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2 Gikata
February 5, 2023 at 8:58 PM
I know that keeping expectations low is the key to trauma-free kdrama watching... But! I! Just! Can't! Wait! It's been 3 years, you know. And even more if I count the time I waited for PHS to lead a (better) sageuk after disaster that was Hwarang. Honestly, at this point I don't even care about romance subplot or how interesting the core mystery is (I already have my guesses after spoiling myself heavily with all the promos), I just want drama overall and Hyungsik in particular to do well. No, scratch that - I want greatness! All the time and work (a whole year of filming! *shudders*) poured into this must handsomely pay drama's creators, right? Right?!
My heavy emotions aside, it's really interesting (and somewhat worrying) how drama tries to present itself as multi-genred fresh spin of everything sageuk ever - out of 5 leads 3 are kdrama geeeniuses, for example. That's definitely more that usual lol)))
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3 loveblossom🌸
February 5, 2023 at 10:33 PM
Been ready for this drama and Park Hyung Shik, but I'm also excited to see Yoon Jong Seok!
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4 Kurama
February 6, 2023 at 12:21 AM
A new sageuk! With Park Hyung-Shik! It will help me to forget Soundtrack#1 :p
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KAddicted
February 6, 2023 at 6:27 PM
I'm pretty sure Soundtrack #1 is the roaming ghost of a drama we are yet to see (Soundtrack - The Original) which has 16 episodes and a script with more than just a trace of dialogue and no borrowed characters and stories from other dramas.
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Gikata
February 7, 2023 at 4:53 AM
Soundtrack should've been a Christmas movie for couples. Such format not only makes much more sense given the simple premise and setting, but also could've potentially save the story from uncalled full-length drama tropes bloatedness. Plus I suspect that it was originally supposed to have higher rating before Disney+'s involvement, because end result was WAY too sterile for a cohabitation romcom, even if you compare it to older and prudish dramas. Whoever approved a short story about two gorgeous adults living together and developing hots for each other to be made kid-friendly desperately needs to have their head checked. Or smacked. Or both.
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Minnie🫘👩🏻🚀Pioneer and Teacher 👩🏻🏫🌱🏹
April 5, 2023 at 12:27 PM
Put that way...LOL!
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5 Linarrick
February 6, 2023 at 3:54 AM
I’m super super excited for this! Waiting for the midnight premiere! Only a few hours left!
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6 Unaspirated
February 6, 2023 at 5:07 AM
Ugh, I have to get through so many hours of work before I can watch this! Counting down.
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7 LaurenSophie
February 6, 2023 at 8:24 AM
"Mr. Queen" is the last 20 episode sageuk I watched, and I loved it, so I'm hopeful for this one as well. I don't need it to break new ground; I just don't want to be bored. There should also be longing, and lots and lots of swordplay.
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8 bong-soo
February 6, 2023 at 1:41 PM
It’s a miracle! Episode one of tvN’s OUR BLOOMING YOUTH has aired and as I write is 99% subbed at Viki US.
( I was also pleased to see that episode one came in at 59:16 rather than the 1 hr 15 min that tvN’s CCIR episodes are coming in.)
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Gikata
February 6, 2023 at 5:33 PM
It's sageuk, so later episodes can easily get longer. Then again, there are 20 of them, so maybe drama will stick to current length.
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LaurenSophie
February 6, 2023 at 7:35 PM
I watched the first 15 minutes and am into it so far. It's obviously early, but I like the mood and atmosphere, and it seems well put together.
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9 rochinipark
February 7, 2023 at 5:09 AM
For anyone interested this is available on Amazon Prime Video in the maybe Asia region but definitely likely South East Asia region.
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10 Diana Hansen
February 7, 2023 at 7:19 AM
Finally, it's here!
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11 Bosuji
February 7, 2023 at 2:19 PM
Whooey!!!!!! :D After a LOOOONG wait finally a kick ass FL.
LOVED how role has been written and the actress fits to a T.
And of course Park Hyung Sik amongst the MOST talented actors who can hold his act taut and without missing a beat.
He shone in HAPPINESS, Bong Soon, Heirs, and YES got second lead syndrome in Hwarang, stole the show inspite of being the second couple.
He's right up there in acting chops (and yumminess) with Kim Woo Bin / Park Bo Gum / Park Seo Jun / Lee Jun Ho / Nam Joo Hyuk.
And FL we can expect her to make her mark with this show.
Something about her is almost Kim Tae Ri.
How I wish I could have binged on this (all 20 episodes).
The fact that the writer of this show also wrote Romance is a Bonus Book / Discovery of Romance / Because its the First Time each with STRONG WOMEN roles I think this will end up with VERY HIGH ratings. Predicting a mydramalist rating of 8.5/9.0 at the least.
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Bosuji
February 7, 2023 at 2:22 PM
I meant PHS stole the show in High Society inspite of being the second couple
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Gikata
February 7, 2023 at 5:26 PM
Sadly, MDL crowd is too busy whining over lack of romance, Hyungsik's weight and how all the obligatory sageuk tropes presented remind them of the latest drama they watched, so I doubt the initial rating will be this high. Noticeable jump up is expected once OTP will start kissing (if they ever do), but until then it's better to not expect much.
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Koalatown
February 7, 2023 at 8:16 PM
Annoying about all the whining on mydramalist. So happy Vicki subbers are so fast for US at least so it was ready by the time work was over. Story jumped right in with the mysteries and it’s nice that the FL is strong, smart and not willing to be just eye candy/damsel in distress. Right now the OTP seem to rather dislike/distrust each other but need each other so expecting a slow burn romance. Also enjoyed the side characters which bring a bit of levity to an otherwise pretty serious feeling show.
I thought 1st episode was a good start and 2nd episode continued the fast pace and more interesting since the 2 leads finally met. Was surprised at the rather low ratings and slight dip. Same genre, same channel and same director as 100 Day my Prince which started off similarly but got above 10%. Crossing fingers for a similar thing but somehow many Koreans just aren’t into it.
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mmsik16
February 7, 2023 at 9:41 PM
I actually just read from a Korean site that tracks various Korean OTT rankings. OBY ranked 1st on TVING and noted:
‘ Although TV ratings fell from 4.2% in the first episode to 3.6% in the second episode, OTT's ranking is drawing attention by jumping three ranks from the previous day. It is analyzed that those who delayed watching the drama live for a while to watch trot entertainment, which airs at the same time on Tuesday, visited OTT and led the ranking to rise. As the rest of the story is far away, we look forward to a steady rise.’
Hopefully we see ratings rise as the story develops.
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Gikata
February 8, 2023 at 4:14 AM
I was kinda worried before seeing this, so that's a relief. Competing with trot shows is a tough call for ANY drama, so small dip is fine. Ep2 was noticeably better than 1st so, hopefully, we'll see a rise next week.
Tving data is expected though - Happiness was MASSIVE hit there. It's also 4th on Prime which streams drama in SEA region. I also get now why it wasn't picked by Netflix - too dark and all business-like for a romance show yet not dark enough for their edgy content category)))
Gikata
February 8, 2023 at 4:35 AM
MDL, sadly, isn't the only place where people made a mess about the drama. It seems like OBY was unlucky to stuck in a weird position - it attracted lots of people expecting flashy costume romance with hot cast only to disappoint them terribly once they realize it's something entirely different by tone and substance. This led all those genre-misplaced folks to target their frustration at the story and actors, which is totally unfair. Korean articles about the drama are mostly positive, esp those about Hyungsik's performance, and Ep2 got a better reception overall.
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bong-soo
February 8, 2023 at 7:26 AM
@gikata, You and me are familiar with the background ‘drama’ affecting the production of OBY. Not surprisingly most fans are not. Why fans don’t know the gist of what OBY is about after all the promos, who knows? I have had no doubt since reading the original Chinese historical mystery novel which was supposed to be the basis for OBY (but now supposedly is not, maybe only a vague idea for OBY) that Park Hyung-sik was perfect casting for the prince.
I will be watching episodes one and two tonight. (I got behind and needed to catch up with CCIR and STRANGERS AGAIN after going down the cdrama THREE-BODY rabbit hole.
It seems to me that some fans of PHS want to set the clock back before he started his military commitment. Ain’t gonna happen. So what you see now of Park Hyung-sik is what you get. Imho that ain’t bad.
HappyOkayTales
February 9, 2023 at 12:31 PM
Where is this whining, and is it mostly about PHS’s weight or specific complaints about the drama? What are they saying?
12 Gikata
February 8, 2023 at 8:02 AM
@marcusnyc20 ,even if potential viewers don't know all the background details, they surely can read synopsis and tags or - even better - watch some trailers, no? If you're picking a show to watch almost blindly by title/poster alone, be ready to get cat in the bag and don't cry over scratches)))
The funniest thing about all those "he looked better before" complaints is the fact that his current form is EXACTLY how he looked 10 years ago during his Real Men era (aside of a better skincare and styling now) - tall, muscular, BROAD and with a cute roundish face LOL. He didn't drastically became a totally different person overnight, he just returned to his natural physique after years of literal starvation to have the "super skinny sharp-jawed idol boy" look those people love so much. AND added some mature adult hotness while at it. Idk why they can't see it... teen lenses?
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Diana Hansen
February 8, 2023 at 10:33 AM
LOL teen lenses for sure! He looks great to me and he is an awesome actor whom I will watch!
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Gikata
February 8, 2023 at 11:25 AM
He kind of looks very different in most of his projects, whether it's due to styling, fluctuating weight, his performance or all the above combined (less so in his post-military works, but they were all made back-to-back). Don't think it's a bad thing for an actor))) For a trendy celeb it probably is though, because drastic visual changes do bother fans a lot usually. Still, as fans - even those nearing the "ex" label - couldn't they be a bit nicer about it? No need to actually insult the guy and passionately trash his ongoing drama just because he's not your style anymore.
All this stupid drama over shallow things while the important one - his acting - just keeps getting better and better. I was slightly worried how he'll do in this role after playing plenty of gentle and oh-so-nice characters... forget that, he's ROCKING it as a moody prince. I even started to wish for FL to punch him at the end of Ep2)))
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Koalatown
February 8, 2023 at 1:28 PM
@Gikata. Totally agree that he is coming across as very rude and arrogant. PHS is doing a good job as an actor at also portraying that it’s probably just a protective mechanism for all the paranoia, distrust and self protection he needs in the palace to survive in the position of Crown Prince that he never wanted. Nuanced performance.
Here’s to hoping those nearly ex fans just move on.
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Diana Hansen
February 8, 2023 at 4:36 PM
yes to all of your thoughts! He is rocking in this and I love it! He fits the role of a prince and I love his acting. Its only a big loss for those soothsayers and shallow eyes.
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mmsik16
February 9, 2023 at 11:16 AM
I wouldn’t consider those who complain about his looks as ‘fans’. Most of them just know him from one or two of his dramas, usually Hwarang or SWDBS and that’s what they compare him to. Sure, he was hot then (hotter now, imo) but definitely underweight due to being terribly overworked by his ex-agency. If they saw his works post-SWDBS, they would have seen him start getting back to his healthy physique. I see no big difference from his current look.
Also, this is why some people say kdrama fans are superficial if all they care about are visuals and not actual skills and talent.
Strangest complaint I’ve seen though is a couple people saying they can’t get into the show because they don’t know the other actors or that most of them are rookies. *facepalm*
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Gikata
February 9, 2023 at 12:02 PM
Korean fan culture is a real can of worms I'm not sure we're ready to discuss here, but agree with a statement that liking actor's face is not really equal to liking actor in question. Too bad many of such people can't comprehend the difference, which often leads to truly ridiculous leaps of logic.
Poor Hyungsik can't seem to catch a break nowadays - just now I've seen comments complaining about his EARS and how distracting they are on screen. This takes the crown away from skeleton lovers, I believe)))
13 Gikata
February 9, 2023 at 1:16 PM
@happyokaytales, mostly OBY's page on MyDramaList, but some local non english speaking forums also contributed to the overall madness. At this point I don't even know what exactly people want from this show... Surely not what it's shaping up to actually be. Their loss.
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Diana Hansen
February 9, 2023 at 1:26 PM
Our gain for seeing a very good actor! (who happens to be handsome) His acting skills are what matters.
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Gikata
February 9, 2023 at 1:50 PM
Meanwhile korean articles are busy waxing poetics about his "delicate emotional acting", "deep immersive eyes", "manly appearance" etc)))
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Minnie🫘👩🏻🚀Pioneer and Teacher 👩🏻🏫🌱🏹
April 5, 2023 at 12:41 PM
What's the status now? Since he has cleaned the field multiple times. This has to be his best work yet (right up there with Happiness, hard to believe done by the same actor). This guy runs deep, and looks million bucks while doing so.
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Gikata
April 5, 2023 at 6:25 PM
There was an
article yesterday praising him for being an all-rounder that slayed all the genres (title "genre predator" made me roll - k-media and their wording!) in OBY, and it gained quite a lot of likes/recommendations (much more than articles about the show itself usually do). I especially liked the bits about "powerful presence" and viewers "having their palms sweating in anticipation". Overall it's a pity that OBY airs on TVN - had it been on Big3 instead, he'd totally snatch some award for it at the end of the year (he always does lol), ratings notwithstanding. But for a cable show there aren't many options left and competition is just too strong there.