jTBC Romance and Healing K-drama My Youth with Song Joong Ki and Chun Woo Hee is a Disappointment in Ratings and Reviews
I don’t think viewers would have expected jTBC drama My Youth to do well in ratings by the genre or storyboard but for the fact that it starred Song Joong Ki who has had a string of hit K-dramas in the last few years with Vincenzo and Reborn Rich. But not everything he touches is a guaranteed hit and My Youth is turning out to be like his disappointing K-drama Arthdal Chronicles. The reviews have been mid to poor and the ratings are quite low even for the cable network, starting at the highest 2.915% in episode one and dropping to a low 1.539% in the recent episode 7. The complaints are lack of chemistry between the leads which I’ve always had an issue with Chun Woo Hee for that reason even in her other dramas, and for the story being so contrived in the old school tropes including first love misunderstanding and now terminal illness on the horizon. I had planned to watch once more episodes were aired and may still check it out, TBH sometimes a low rated and poorly reviewed drama can resonate with me for other reasons. If anyone is watching My Youth, do share your thoughts as well.
Dammit. Was hoping this would give Seo Ji Hoon another big break…
It’s odd both are good actors but they indeed lack chemistry. Nonetheless, I always felt that way about SJK and his costars after he married SHK and then divorced. The plot isn’t interesting anyway. I watched a few eps but could never wrap up ep 6 LOL. It’s very possible I won’t pick up the drama again.
….. the intrigues drive both Vincenzo and Reborn Rich.
……Arthdal chronicles lacking in terms of set production, compare that to Chinese ancient dramas which cost RMB200 million…
I agree with @somebody.
Song Joong Ki can’t rely on feel-good romantic dramas … things are different after he divorced and remarried. Morever he is now a dad so some vieweres may not be very excited about him playing romantic lead in a slice of life or melodrama genre…..While married or divorced parent have been successfully playing singles in dramas, but maybe for this show, it lacks that “soecial something” to attract viewers.
He had great chemistry with Kim Jiwon in Arthdal Chronicles but only when he was playing the evil twin. Good chemistry with Jeon Yeobeen in Vincenzo too, but the romance was not a central focus of the drama and the appeal was more about the plot/action.
I don’t think married or not makes that much of a difference, Jun Jihyun is married with children and still has incredible chemistry with Kang Dongwon in Tempest.
Reborn Rich, no chemistry with his FL there either but it was irrelevant since that drama wasn’t a romance either. Now he’s still got no chemistry with his FL but that’s a fatal flaw in this drama because it’s actually a romance, the one thing that should be there, just isn’t.
He is not a popular actor he once was… I stopped enjoying his acting for a while already..
a bit sad that this drama is not getting enough love – it’s filled with talented actors who are good at what they do, but indeed the story is a bit standard – you don’t even get what the main point is. staying oly for the fun chemistry between Chun Woo Hee and Lee Joo Myoung, plus the Lee Joo Myoung- Seo Ji Hoon romance. Chun Woo Hee seems to be more suited towards serious stories with little romance – indeed most of her resume has been on cinematic films, and her most interesting drama has been Argon and Delightfully Deceitful
Chun Woo Hee is a good actress but yeah, not really suited to being this kind of romantic lead, looks like.
I remember, years ago, she was in talks to do Fight My Way but that fell through and the drama went to Kim Jiwon who slayed the role and the romance parts – back then everyone talked like CWH was done dirty but it might just have been as simple as lacking chemistry with the prospective co-lead in a romcom.
“both good actors but they have no chemistry” is an occurrence that’s happened before, look at Jun Jihyun and Joo Jihoon in Jirisan (which also had average writing just like this drama). This doesn’t mean they can’t pull it ofc in other dramas though because Jun Jihyun has had amazing chemistry with other male leads even after she got married and after she had kids too, most recent being Kang Dongwon in Tempest (ep 3 and that scene on the train …..oooof).
Wow, I was today years old when I learnt CWH was in talks for ‘Fight My Way’, one of my absolute faves. Their sizzling chemistry is everything. No way could CWH have nailed it the same way, it wouldn’t have ended up the hit it was.
CWH had the best chemistry in Melodramatic Love and that was pretty quirky at that. I couldn’t get past the first half of the 1st episode of this show, My Yputh. Funnily enough woth the vadt announcement i already wrote it off, it was such a mosmatch.
I think I’m one of rhe few who dropped DotS.
Acting wise, these two are charismatic but they don’t pair well in the chemistry dept. Begs the question, who cast them together in a romance?
SJK had incredible ON FIRE chemistry with Moon Chae Won in Nice Guy. His bad guy characters suit him oh so well. Notable mention: Sungkyunkwan Scandal, bromance.
Wow, I was today years old when I earnt CWH was in talks for ‘Fight My Way’, one of my absolute faves. Their sizzling chemistry is everything. No way could CWH have nailed it the same way, it wouldn’t have ended up the hit it was.
CWH had the best chemistry in Melodramatic Love and that was pretty quirky at that. I couldn’t get past the first half of the 1st episode of this show, My Youth. Fair to say after the cast announcement i already wrote it
off, it was such a mismatch.
I think I’m one of rhe few who dropped DotS.
Acting wise, these two are charismatic but they don’t pair well in the chemistry dept. Begs the question, who
cast them together in a romance?
SJK had incredible ON FIRE chemistry with Moon Chae Won in Nice Guy. His bad guy characters suit him oh so well.
How I wish he would reunite with his costar from innocent man. To me they had the best chemistry couple wise but man I have a feeling he won’t be in many romances like this for awhile. I also liked his slight comedy in sungkyunkwan scandal. Everything else he has done just was not my cup of tea. Even his most recent claimed famous dramas had me uninterested.
@rero
Got to agree with you. Song Joong Ki can’t seem to generate chemistry with his recent three leading actresses. Maybe it’s the characters: they are either neurotic or bland.
The only good FL he has amazing chemistry is Jeon Yeo Been.
The plot sounds boring
There’s not much buzz or excitement from this drama at all.
If social media is anything to go by, he did not make himself popular by saying men have it harder in the industry after getting married (!). Plus SHK fans hating him. Followed by his Bogota film tanking at the Box office.
He should maybe opt for more darker dramas like JCW is doing for Disney.
Very boring with hardly any plot. This kind of ordinary story needs good chemistry to carry it.
I share your views on CWH. Her acting and tone of dialogue delivery are always the same. I don’t find her acting attractive at all. No charm.
I enjoy watching SJK (loved Nice Guy) and agree with the above poster that he should switch to genre dramas like JCW.
CWH is not romantic drama lead and SJK lost his charm and he needs stronger actress like Moon Chae Won or someone he really can have vibe with. Seo Ji Hoon looks dreamy.
Je vous trouve un peu sévère avec ce drama. Pas de bonnes audiences en Corée mais 1er sur Viki en France et aux USA pendant 4 semaines (entre autres) … Au contraire de vous, je trouve l’alchimie bonne entre les 2 acteurs. Chunwoohee a un un petit talent comique qui me fait souvent sourire. Quand à la qualité du jeu d’acteur de SJK, c’est bien quelque chose qui lui est reconnu. Je me moque de ses histoires personnelles et du buzz. C’est comme si on disait qu’il faut être gay pour jouer un personnage gay… J’ai regardé un peu de drama jusqu’ici donc je n’ai pas la sensation de déjà vu. J’aime l’intrigue et le déroulement de l’histoire tout en douceur et en subtilité.
Honestly, the plot is good but the characters are the problem, particularly the female lead,Chun woo Hee.
She is not the romantic type,she doesn’t know how to play those roles, same thing she did in a Typical Family.
Song Joong Ki tried his best to match her energy, he’s a very skilled actor, please director’s you guys should carefully look at roles before giving them out.
Has anyone seen Ominiscient reader?
Am I the only one that thinks something is wrong with the plot?