I’m looking for how to properly articulate my feelings towards ‘Record of Youth’ but I just can’t pin point it. I’m 3 episodes in and it’s pretty and I somewhat enjoy it but there’s this feeling I get that I can’t explain. It’s like I’m trying to grasp it but it keeps slipping away. I don’t know what it is but I keep thinking ‘fake’. I’m not sure if that’s the right word. I’m not even sure what’s ‘fake’ about it. They’re all good actors but is it the lines? The delivery? Is the tone? Or the story itself? I’ve enjoyed youth-themed slice-of-life/romance dramas before so I know it’s not that. Natural…? It doesn’t feel…. natural? I don’t know but whatever it is, it’s keeping me from loving it. Childish…? No, not childish. I’m not sure. Does anyone else think/feel the same?

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    I zoomed through the episode during my lunch break. I honestly think “fake”, “childish”, and “unnatural” are all suitable words for this show. It feels a lot like wish fulfillment — like watching a drama that started out as some teenager’s dream (@panshel aptly describes the feel of this drama as something out of a fanfiction). Although the show wants to be relatable, I can’t help but scratch my head and wonder whether there are real people like this. Into the Ring, which recently finished, is a nice contrast here, because ITR was really good at creating relatable characters and relationships, even though the plot itself was a bit far-fetched.

    I hate being so unrelentingly negative, but the show is also sort of boring? Like it feels very bland to me. Hye-jun and Jeong-ha have zero chemistry and it’s a complete mystery to me how they’ve become so friendly so fast.

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    I agree. It just doesn’t feel genuine to me. Everything seems staged.

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    I am thinking one of the reason for this is , it is set in entertainment-modelling industry which takes out the reliability factor. I can not believe that a former super model will face difficulty in making it in entertainment industry.

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      I can’t believe he’s supposed to be a former supermodel.

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    Would it have been better if it’s Jang Kiyong instead of Bogum? Would it add realism?
    I can’t muster a will to watch it. 😥

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      Probably not. The show itself is poorly written IMO. Park Bogum is putting in a heroic effort to save this show (I think most of the cast is, tbh), but it’s the writing and the concept that are difficult to stomach imo.

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      To be frank, I think the only reason I’m still watching is Bogum. He’s definitely hard carrying for me.

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    I spent a lot of time wondering why I cannot connect with this drama at all. (Maybe too much time). All I can come up with is the structure of the story.

    For example with the first 2 episodes, why would they show the audition (pretty much the opening scene of ep 1) and the director’s response (liked him but he’s not well-known enough) before we knew what was at stake (if he doesn’t get the gig he’ll have to go to the army)? It took away all the potential suspense and therefore the emotion.

    Anyway, I can’t seem to care about any of them

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      I totally agree that structure is an issue. The episodes don’t flow well and it feels more like we’re watching someone stage a play rather than watching the unfolding of the characters’ lives.

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    I haven’t watched RoY but it has the same writer as doctor and those were my sentiments on that show.

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    It feels like trying to fit a square key into a round hole imo. It’s all a bit forced. The scenes don’t flow well and the lines are a bit clunky and unnatural. I know what the writer is going for but the execution doesn’t make much sense.

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    Ugh this is exactly what I feel. I can’t place it at all. I’m gonna keep watching tho–it’s a little addicting. But something about it is not selling it to me. It’s just not coming together

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