‘Spring of Youth’ First Impression: Glossy looks, nostalgic tropes—But no spark

The K-drama Spring of Youth tries to bottle nostalgia, star power, and idol-fantasy magic—but fizzles out before it can shine. Starring Han You Joon, Park Ji Hu, and Lee Seung Hyub, the series opens with all the markers of a classic rom-com: a dreamy K-pop star, a devoted fan, and a promise of slow-burn romance. But despite its glittery visuals and promising faces, it fails to stand out in a crowded K-content landscape.

The show leans heavily into familiar territory: old-school tropes, fanfiction-style idol romance, and a storyline that feels two decades too late. Two episodes in, Spring of Youth is already struggling, pulling in poor ratings and lukewarm reviews. May is usually prime time for K-dramas—remember Youth of May and the emotional wreckage it left behind? But this year, with shows like Resident Playbook and Spring of Youth, the magic just isn’t clicking.

If your ideal watch involves a campus romance with 12 episodes of build-up for a single hand-hold, this one’s your lane. But for fans of darker, high-stakes dramas like Squid Game or The Glory, this is a hard pass.

A Weak Echo of ‘Lovely Runner’

Clearly aiming to tap into the Lovely Runner formula—an idol fantasy drama that skyrocketed Byeon Woo Seok to fame—Spring of Youth tries to ride the same wave. But what made Lovely Runner soar (a tight script, nuanced characters, and actual emotional stakes) is sorely missing here.

Directed by Kim Sung Yong (The Veil, Band Powerhouse), the drama follows Sa Gye, a global K-pop sensation and member of the fictional boy band The Crown. In the first episode alone, the show fast-forwards from peak stardom to scandal, as a video leaks showing Sa Gye punching his CEO. Cue the predictable fall-from-grace arc.

Veteran actor Jo Han Chul appears once again in a suspicious corporate role, and while his performance adds some weight, even he can’t save this sinking ship.

If Netflix were to pick this up and polish the pacing, dialogue, and depth, there might be some hope for the show’s photogenic cast and nostalgic charm. But as it stands now, Spring of Youth is little more than a glossy daydream that fades fast.