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The Review Geek
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
Spring of Youth Season 1 Review – A messy K-drama that is all too forgettable
Season 1 Episode Guide Episode 1 -| Review Score – 2.5/5 Episode 2 -| Review Score – 3/5 Episode 3 -| Review Score – 3/5 Episode 4 -| Review Score – 2.5/5 Episode 5 -| Review Score – 2.5/5 Episode 6 -| Review Score – 3/5 Episode 7 -| Review Score – 3/5 Episode 8 -| Review Score – 3/5 Episode 9 -| Review Score – 3/5 Episode 10 -| Review Score – 3/5 Spring of Youth is one of those K-dramas that is nice enough but doesn't really leave an impression. The series follows a K-pop idol named Sa Gye who loses everything after a video of him attacking his manager, Jo Sang-heon goes viral. But things aren't quite that simple. Six years ago, an accident led to Sa Gye getting a cornea transplant. Ever since then, he's been plagued by mysterious dreams and visions, and it was one of these that triggered his attack on Jo Sang-heon. Sang-heon, it seems, has plenty to hide and therefore kicks Sa Gye out of the famous pop band known as The Crown. Sa Gye is then relegated to attending university like regular people his age, which is where he comes across Kim Bom, a young student pursuing music. What's more, her music box necklace sings the same tune that has been running through Sa Gye's mind for the past six years. Coincidence? Unlikely. Over time, the two get to know each other and even start a band along with Bom's other friends — Jin-gu, Gyu-ri, and her childhood friend Tae-yang who is clearly in love with her. As the group continues to make new music, Sa Gye simultaneously looks into Jo Sang-heon and his weird dreams, trying to piece together his old manager's secret. What follows is plenty of college shenanigans, politics, cover-ups, and melodrama. It's a solid setup for a story about bandmates coming together against the backdrop of a larger conspiracy. However, right off the bat, Spring of Youth Season 1 is riddled with flaws. There are issues with the pace, editing, writing, and even the acting. And while the K-drama features pleasant, warm visuals and a melodious soundtrack, it's not quite enough to make up for it. The earlier episodes dive into the story at a fast pace, rollercoastering through various events. The editing is incredibly choppy and distracting, making the story jump from one scene to another with zero thought given to transitions. It's a jerky ride and that reflects in the storytelling as well — Sa Gye and Bom's relationship is rushed and established before you even know it's happening. The performances aren't of special note either. Ha Yoo-joon does a good job of portraying Sa Gye's ever-cheerful, go-get-it attitude, but he doesn't have much range and his performance wavers during more emotional scenes. Park Ji-hu, who's done a captivating job in earlier shows like All Of Us Are Dead and Little Women, doesn't show the same range here. In fact, from the main trio, Lee Seung-hyub shows the most acting prowess. However, this is quite undercut by the fact that he very much looks like a grown man mingling with young 20-year-olds. It doesn't help that the story is fairly predictable. In just a few episodes, you can easily put the dots together and figure out what's going on. By showing their hand too early, Spring of Youth Season 1 is unable to develop a sense of mystery or suspense. It's not bad per se, there's a decent small-fry-versus-big-fish energy throughout the series that works quite well. And if you suspend your disbelief, you might just enjoy the dramatic shenanigans and exaggerated villains. The one thing the drama gets right is the camaraderie between the bandmates. The group of five students share a lighthearted, fun dynamic that is a delight to watch. Their scenes together, particularly during their happier times, have a lot of heart and humour in them. It's an enjoyable slice-of-life vibe akin to K-drama friendships from series like Reply 1988 or Twenty-Five Twenty-One. Unfortunately, it's not quite enough to save Spring of Youth. In the end, the technical flaws and the shoddy writing overshadow most of the K-drama, making it seem like the series was hurriedly put together during post-production. It's a perfectly average K-drama but when there are well-made rom-coms like Lovely Runner and Pump Up the Healthy Love out there, this one is an easy miss.
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Star power, low ratings: K-dramas that flopped or split audiences in first half of 2025
In the glitzy world of K-dramas, star-studded casts and big budgets often promise blockbuster success - but 2025 had other plans. Despite high expectations, several dramas stumbled out of the gate, leaving audiences divided and ratings in freefall. Here's a look at the shows that shone on paper but faltered on screen in the first half of the year. Spring of Youth Cast: Ha Yoo-joon, Park Ji-hu, and Lee Seung-hyub Plot: After an accident derails his career, The Crown's lead vocalist Sa Gye is forced to enroll at Hanju University, where he meets Kim Bom - a gifted keyboardist who gave up Ivy League dreams after her mother's death. As they grow closer, Sa Gye rekindles his passion for music and quietly forms a new band. But tensions rise with Seo Tae Yang, a brilliant guitarist and med student, sparking a rivalry in both music and love. Despite its compelling premise, the K-drama struggled in South Korea, with ratings dropping below 1% after just three episodes. However, it did find a strong international following, especially on streaming platforms in North America and Southeast Asia. Dear Hongrang Cast: Lee Jae Wook, Jo Bo Ah, Jung Ga Ram, Uhm Ji Won, Park Byung Eun & Kim Jae Wook Plot: Set in the late Joseon Dynasty, the drama follows Hong Rang, who returns home after a 10-year disappearance with no memory of his past. His half-sister Jae I, once close to him, is determined to uncover the truth behind his vanishing. Raised in privilege, Hong Rang now searches for his true identity, while Jae I battles a difficult home life with an abusive stepmother and distant father. The drama drew mixed reactions from viewers. While its stunning visuals, strong performances, and evocative soundtrack earned praise, many criticized the rushed storytelling, underdeveloped characters, and problematic romantic arc. The short 11-episode format, along with controversial themes - particularly the implied 'incest' storyline - fueled further debate and divided opinions. Tastefully Yours Cast: Kang Ha Neul, Go Min Si, Kim Shin Rok and Yoo Soo Bin Plot: Han Beom U, the heir to a major food conglomerate, runs Seoul's top fine dining restaurant - but ironically, he has no real appreciation for taste. Meanwhile, Mo Yeon Ju, a chef driven by her obsession with flavour, operates a hidden one-table restaurant in a remote countryside village. When their paths cross, the two opposites come together to open a small restaurant in the city of Miraek, Jeonju. As they navigate the challenges of running it, they grow closer, learn from each other, and slowly fall in love. The series, struggled with low ratings in South Korea but found global success on Netflix, topping charts in several countries. Its popularity abroad highlights a clear divide between domestic and international audience appeal. Our Movie Cast: Namkoong Min, Jeon Yeo Been, Lee Seol and Seo Hyeon Woo Plot: Lee Je Ha, once hailed a genius for his debut film, went on a 5-year hiatus, haunted by fears of a sophomore slump. Ready to return, he begins working on a romance about someone with a limited time to live. During research, he meets Lee Da Eum, an aspiring actress battling a rare, incurable disease. Drawn to the script, she helps shape the story and sees it as a turning point in her dream to act. As they collaborate, the two - each grappling with their own struggles - slowly fall in love. The drama failed to generate the same buzz or positive word-of-mouth as other popular K-dramas, falling short of expectations. Overall, it didn't achieve the level of success that was anticipated. Divorce Insurance Cast: Lee Dong Wook, Lee Joo Bin, Lee Kwang Soo and Lee Da Hee Plot: No Gi Jun, a product developer at an insurance company, has been divorced three times. He decides to create a divorce insurance policy, viewing divorce as an unexpected life disaster. He forms a special team that includes Kang Han Deul, an underwriter who changed her outlook after her own divorce; An Jeon Man, a cautious risk surveyor stepping out of his comfort zone; and Jeon Na Rae, a financial mathematician who has no regrets about her short-lived marriage. Together, they tackle rising divorce rates with a bold new insurance idea. Despite a strong cast and high expectations, the drama underperformed in Korea. While it did well on Amazon Prime Video, notably in Asia, domestic viewing in South Korea dropped dramatically, with the final episode receiving a relatively low 0.9% rating. Potato Lab Cast: Lee Sun Bin, Kang Tae Oh and Lee Hak Joo Plot: Set in a mountain valley potato research center, the story follows Kim Mi Gyeong, a quirky scientist obsessed with developing a new potato variety named 'Mi Gyeong.' Her routine is disrupted by So Baek Ho, the handsome but aloof new director. Though they start off clashing, an unexpected office romance blooms between these two flawed yet endearing adults. The drama elicited varied responses. While some viewers praised the unusual premise and chemistry between the protagonists, others found the plot unclear and the finale unsatisfying. Some felt that the drama concentrated too heavily on the potato lab, while others thought the main couple's reconciliation was hasty and implausible. Kick Kick Kick Kick Cast: Ji Jin Hee, Lee Kyu Hyung, Baek Ji Won and Lee Min Jae Plot: Ji Jin Hui, a former star actor, teams up with ex-top PD Cho Yeong Sik - despite their rocky past - to start a production company called Kick Kick Kick Kick Company. Together, they run the company with a small team, including therapist Baek Ji Won and ambitious workaholic Lee Min Jae. The drama failed in every manner, with many viewers not even noticing its release. Ratings hovered well at 2%, but by episode 10, had dropped to 0.3%. Many stated it lacked the personality and warmth of classic programs like High Kick, and that it exemplified why a genre should not be recreated. Crushology 101 Cast: Roh Jeong Eui, Lee Chae Min, Cho Jun Young, Hong Min Ki and Kim Hyun Jin Plot: Bunny, a top sculpture student at Yein University, once believed personality outweighed appearance - until a painful breakup shattered her confidence and left her questioning her worth. Now openly drawn to handsome men but still battling self-esteem issues, her world shifts when two captivating figures enter her life: Hwang Jae Yul, a warm and driven visual design student, and Cha Ji Won, a seemingly perfect chaebol heir. Despite its global success, the drama is usually seen as a flop, especially in South Korea. It debuted with tremendous hopes and even topped global charts, but received extremely low viewership figures in Korea. According to some accounts, the ratings were as low as 0.8% and 0.9%, making it one of MBC's lowest-rated dramas ever. When the Stars Gossip Cast: Lee Min Ho, Gong Hyo Jin, Oh Jung Se and Han Ji Eun Plot: The story follows an astronaut and a tourist who fall in love at a space station. Kong Ryong, an OB-GYN and future son-in-law of Korea's richest conglomerate, visits the station as a space tourist with a hidden agenda. Commander Eve Kim, a strict perfectionist, is on her first mission as commander. Also aboard is Kang Gang Su, a carefree heir-turned-scientist studying fruit flies. Back on Earth is Choi Go Eun, Kong Ryong's brilliant and beautiful fiancée, and the sole heir to the powerful MZ Group. Despite its expensive budget and star-studded cast, this drama received low viewership and scathing reviews. It was criticized for its narrative, notably the space idea, and the chemistry between the two actors, Lee Min-ho and Gong Hyo-jin. Motel California Cast: Lee Se Young, Na In Woo, Choi Min Soo, Kim Tae Hyeong and Choi Hee Jin Plot: Ji Gang Hui grew up at Motel California, run by her father in a rural village, and faced gossip due to her mixed heritage and unusual family background. Her first love was childhood friend Cheon Yeon Su, but at 20, she left for Seoul. Now a successful interior designer, she unexpectedly returns home after 12 years and reunites with Yeon Su. Cheon Yeon Su, now a village veterinarian, has only ever loved Gang Hui. Though pursued by locals hoping to match him with their daughters, he avoids confrontation by letting a rumour about marrying a fellow vet linger. Her sudden return reignites old feelings and unresolved emotions. While not deemed a flop, the reviews were varied. While some viewers found it tiresome and monotonous, others praised the performances and character development, and some thought the cinematography was stunning. However, the drama acquired popularity on social media, mainly due to Lee Se-young's performance. For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.
The Review Geek
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
Spring of Youth – K-drama Episode 10 Recap, Review & Ending Explained
Episode 10 Episode 10 of Spring of Youth begins with Tae-yang rushing towards Sa Gye and stopping him from touching the mic while singing. However, Tae-yang touches the mic himself in the process and passes out. He is rushed to the hospital as Sa Gye realises he knew the truth about his father. Secretary Kang runs up and tells Sang-heon and Min-cheol what happened. Min-cheol arrives at the hospital in a panic but the doctor tells him that Tae-yang will recover. Bom realises Sa Gye knows something about Min-cheol but he doesn't tell her the truth. Instead, he runs out and calls Detective Min, the detective he's been talking to. He asks him to come to the broadcast station and find proof that this wasn't an accident. As the detective searches the site, he finds that the electricity went out for a few minutes. Sa Gye tells him that the mics must have been switched at that time. Meanwhile, Seung-su stops Secretary Kang from leaving and calls the police as well. Sa Gye even speaks to Reporter Han, who confesses that he's been working on a secret piece on Seo Min-cheol. It details how Min-cheol let an old woman die at the hospital in order to favour a politician's surgery. At the hospital, Tae-yang's vitals are good but he doesn't wake up. Sang-heon visits Min-cheol and when Min-cheol returns to the hospital room, he finds the bed empty. At home, Ja-young tells Bom and the others about a security guard who made her delete the photos in her camera when he caught her taking pictures. The man was none other than Secretary Kang. Luckily, she later took a video of him going into the security office. The next thing we know, Kang is arrested and the police arrive at Jo & Jo to arrest Sang-heon as well. Min-cheol realises Tae-yang is going to his mother's grave and heads over there. He finds Tae-yang standing at the edge of a cliff. Tae-yang calls his father cruel and says he's ashamed of his life. Min-cheol begs him not to and Tae-yang says he'll step down if Min-cheol confesses the truth. Bom goes to the police station with the video Ja-young recorded. She and Sa Gye go inside, where Sang-heon and Secretary Kang are being interrogated. The accident comes up as well but suddenly, Ji-na and Secretary Kang turn things around and blame Sa Gye and Bom of having a grudge against Sang-heon. However, Min-cheol arrives and offers a full confession. Now, Bom learns the truth about her mother's murder. The whole thing comes out and Min-cheol even has a recording of Sang-heon that implicates him. Bom is naturally distraught. She's even angry at Sa Gye for not telling her the truth sooner and tells him she doesn't want to see him. Sa Gye also realises he should have told her the truth sooner. The public learns about it as well but Bom spends her days shut up in her room. One day, Sa Gye suddenly finds her room empty. A letter from Bom says she will be gone for a while to look for what makes her happy. Soon after that, we learn that Sa Gye disappeared as well. The scene shifts to two years later. We see Bom arrive in South Korea and leave the airport. Tae-yang comes out as well and we learn he's been volunteering to help sick people. Bom gets a warm welcome at home from Ja-young, Gyu-ri and Jin-gu. Bom thanks Gyu-ri for sending her food in the US but Gyu-ri claims it wasn't her. Ja-young brings up Sa Gye and says she hasn't heard from him since he got discharged from the military. Gyu-ri quickly changes the topic and talks about how Bom has sold her songs to top artists. Meanwhile, Sa Gye is with his mother at her old salon. Although she's quite bad at haircuts and has resorted to selling side dishes instead. Bom and Sa Gye both keep thinking about each other. Sa Gye buys a bagel from the shop they had gone to but ends up giving it to a girl instead. She recognises him and posts a picture on social media, which finds its way to Bom. Bom then brings out the fox toy she won at his concert and remembers that he had promised the winner a date. That night, Bom, Gyu-ri, and Jin-gu head out for dinner and come across Tae-yang. Bom goes after him and tells him to be at peace, since none of it was his fault. She even thanks him for being there for her and promises to see him again. Sometime later, Tae-yang finds Sa Gye outside his house. Sa Gye knows he's been working with a non-profit and tells him to pursue his talents instead. He then gives Tae-yang an envelope that contains a flash drive. It's got a video of the group's early days as a band, which makes Tae-yang tear up. Sa Gye then meets with Seung-su, who has started his own entertainment company and brought The Crown back. But Sunder (the lead singer) is unwell and Seung-su wants Sa Gye to fill in for him. Sa Gye sings and plays the guitar from behind a curtain. Meanwhile, Jin-gu calls his father and begs him to meet his girlfriend. He then texts Sa Gye through his anonymous account Game Money and tells him to get the guitar to Hanju University (because he knows Bom is going there). Gyu-ri enters his room and the two are messing around when they fall over each other. Bom officially drops out of the university to focus on her songwriting career. She comes across Sa Gye at the same place they'd first met on campus. He returns her necklace and admits he's been a mess. Bom admits she was waiting for him and asks why he never called. She knows he was the one sending her food. She then reminds him of all the promises he made, pulling out the fox toy as well, to which Sa Gye finally relents and embraces her. He promises to never leave again. Spring of Youth Episode 10 ends with Two Sa Gye back together, playing Bom's song. The Episode Review Episode 10 brings Spring of Youth to a close and the finale is a mixed bag. It wraps up the Sang-heon and Min-cheol case quite quickly in the first half. Tae-yang uses his life to bargain with his father and it works; his confession brings everything down. The second half then dawdles, stretching out Bom's grieving process while not actually letting us in on it. While I understand her need to get away and process everything, the story might have had more impact had she found out the truth earlier. That way, we could have seen her grieve and also watch her relationship with Sa Gye grow. But, as per what seems to be a tradition in K-dramas, the main couple is forced apart into a long, drawn-out separation. A quick time jump later, their wounds have healed and they reunite. But the audience misses out on the road that got them there. It's still a happy ending in the end, though and as the final scenes suggest, Tae-yang gets back with the gang. A few minor things but it would have been nice for everyone to find out about Jin-gu's background and some closure on his relationship with Gyu-ri would have rounded everything off. Still, these characters are endearing enough that leaving them feels bittersweet. Previous Episode Expect A Full Season Write-Up When This Season Concludes!
Pink Villa
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Park Ji Hu's Spring of Youth Ending Explained: Was Sa Gye able to seek justice for Kim Bom? Find it all
Teen romance drama Spring of Youth just dropped its final episodes on July 2. Starring Park Ji Hu, Ha Yoo Joon and Lee Seung Hyub in lead roles, the series follows university students with an interlinked past. Read to know what all went down in the last week of the series, including whether the leads were able to move past their respective issues and reunite with each other. How did Seo Tae Yang protect Sa Gye from his father's evil schemes? Seo Tae Yang (Lee Seung Hyub) came to know about his father's involvement in Kim Bom's (Park Ji Hu) mother's death after overbearing his conversation with Cho Sang Hun (Jo Han Chul), the CEO of The Crown's agency. The next day, his boy band's special episode filming was set to feature Hanju band, however, it was replaced by TWO SAGYE. Sensing danger for Sa Gye, Tae Yang checked for potential life-threatening glitches on stage and found one. He pushed him aside, saving his life. However, both fainted and were hospitalized. Did Park Bom receive justice for her mother's unnatural death? After Tae Yang regained consciousness, he attempted to take his life due to guilty regarding his father's behaviour towards Park Bom. Seeing his son on the brink of death, he accepted his wishes and admitted to his crime, and was punished accordingly. Park Bom received justice, but couldn't accept the fact that Sa Gye kept the truth from her. She then left for abroad, citing the need for change of air to recover from the hard time she went through. Did Sa Gye and Kim Bom reunite? Is there a happy ending? Yes, they did. Kim Bom returned to South Korea after two years and made up with Sa Gye with a warm hug and a kiss. The series ended on a happy note with Tae Yang doing away with his jealousy and reuniting with TWO SAGYE band for an on-campus live performance. Bandmate Kong Jin Gu (Kim Sun Min) and Kim Bom's cousin Bae Gyu Ri (Seo Hye Won) also ended up dating. Thus, with all issues getting resolved, there is almost no possibility for Spring of Youth getting renewed for a second season.
The Review Geek
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
Spring of Youth Episode 9 Preview: Release Date, Time & Where To Watch
Spring of Youth Spring of Youth centers on a charismatic vocalist and guitarist of top K-pop group 'The Crown' called Sa Gye. When she's unexpectedly forced to enroll at Hanju University—a campus he's never even set foot on, he's thrown into an unfamiliar world. There he meets Kim Bom, a gifted vocalist and keyboardist from the band 'Tusagye', who once dreamed of the Ivy League but turned to music after her mother's passing six years ago. As they grow closer, Sa Gye's passion for music reignites and he forms a mysterious band to start music again. If you've been following this one, you may be curious about when the next episode will be released. Well, wonder no more! Here is everything you need to know about episode 9 of Spring of Youth, including its release date, time, and where to watch it. Where Can I Watch Spring of Youth? Spring of Youth is an SBS Original which means that for Koreans, this will be on the SBS channel. For those watching internationally, this K-drama is available to watch on Viki and Wavve. Spring of Youth Episode 9 Release Date Episode 9 of Spring of Youth will be released on Wednesday 25th June at 4pm (KST) / 8am (GMT) / 3am (ET). Expect episode 9 to be roughly 1 hour and 12 minutes long, which is consistent with the timeframe for the rest of the show. How Many Episodes Will Spring of Youth Have? Spring of Youth season 1 is expected to have 10 episodes, with one episode releasing each week. With Viki, expect there to be a slight delay with subtitles, which can usually take around 24 hours to show up. With that in mind, there will be 1 more episode to go after this one. Is There A Trailer For Spring of Youth? Yes, there is. You can check out the trailer below: What do you hope to see as the series progresses? Are you excited to watch Spring of Youth? Let us know in the comments below!
