Record of Youth – episodes 13 & 14

I’m finally on board with the Show. It just took 14 episodes. HAHA!

I came in with the wrong expectations. Most Korean Dramas tend to follow certain formulaic plot or character developments, and how the audience judges the execution of the drama is how well it manages to make the tropes new, fresh, subversive, or thought-provoking. In particular, the leads must vanquish the insurmountable challenges, whether it is different social statuses, character flaws, time warps, etc.

But, in Record of Youth’s case, I feel like our leads, whilst still imperfect, are the only sane people in an insane world.

The subtle and nuanced story the drama seems to be telling is how hard life is no matter what.

Whether it is the struggle uphill or the struggle to STAY on top, it’s always a fight and never easy. There will always be people who exploit you when you’re starting out, with little clout or backing to protect you. Once famous there will always be people who either want to capitalize on it, or try to tear you down. If anything, this Show tells us that fame and professional success isn’t a guarantee of a happy life, or that everything is “sorted” afterwards. The problems don’t just go away, you get new ones. In a world like this, who could possible survive with his/her integrity in tact?

Hae-Joon is about as perfect (professionally) as one can envision. He has integrity, honesty, and a strong work ethic. He never exploits. He never takes revenge. He values both family and friends. Fame and money didn’t change the core of his character. He remained level-headed and clear-eyed on his goals and his decorum. He never took the easy way out, even when it costs him. Professionally, you don’t get more perfect than that. Maybe this is why it felt as if the episodes were stagnant before. I expected him to be growing and changing, when actually, he’s this normal (but upright guy) working in a corrupt and capricious industry. He doesn’t need to change. He just needs to remain standing. And that’s quite hard!

Remember when his first drama was a success and his manager wanted him to take a romantic comedy next, but he wanted to do a sageuk? I understood where that manger was coming from. Fame is so fickle and frail, you need to keep the momentum going, and odds are that people tend to like romantic comedies, and sageuks do not tend to do well in the ratings. But, Hae-Joon stuck to his instincts and his desire for a good story. How gutsy and rare!

For all of Jeong-Ha’s flaws, she also is fairly irreproachable. She’s fiscally responsible. She prevents herself from relying too heavily on others, she works to be independent. She has vision for her life, and takes steps to realize it. She’s sensible. She’s classy, and professional with that terribly colleague of hers from episodes 1-8. She recognizes the stresses that Hae-Joon is under, and so whilst we would all prefer her to share her struggles and lonelines with him as he gets famous, she’s actually wise in recognizing that he also has tremendous pressure on him, and does her best to be accommodating and considerate to his emotional needs. Again, not perfect, but if you think about it, most girlfriends would be like Do-Ha’s girlfriend from episode 1 – neediness, demanding, and tacky; or like Ji-A, manipulative.

This is not to say that their relationship is perfect. I’m still not entirely sold on why Hae-Joon fell in love with her in the first place, nor what keeps the flame going. I would agree with all the other commentators that their communication still needs a lot of work. But, I don’t think we’re meant to find something wrong with them that they need to fix. I think the Show reveals to us that even with the most sensible and loving couple, the struggles of youth can tear them apart.

It is really rewarding, though, to see the family’s divisions and tensions start to melt away, apologies expressed or implicitly spoken, and breaches healed between the different members. I like that Hae-Joon’s fame didn’t make things better with the family. They had to come to a decision to bring about the healing themselves. Grandpa giving his son an allowance in episode 13, it was so touching to see Dad’s face light up – not because he’s materialistic but because he’s had to bear the brunt of fiscal responsibility most of his life and at the cost of his health, but finally he got “taken care of”. Even in the earlier episodes, we could start to see Gyeong- jun’s implicit affection and loyalty towards his brother by taunting the mean commentator. Then, in episode 14, the Sa brothers working together to write that apology letter was just adorable. I almost cried.

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    But don’t Hye Joon and Jeong Ha seem too idealistic and perfect then? I mean obviously characters can be perfect but I didn’t watch the show after a few episodes but I thought it would inevitably go that route where fame changed atleast his personality.

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      @wapzy: Yes, I agree with you that Hye-Joon and Jeong-Ha are idealistic, but I would think that makes them imperfect. Yet, aren’t all youths idealistic? It’s only once they enter the big bad world that they realize that life isn’t fair, goodness doesn’t always win, and innocence can be twisted to make someone appear guilty. The show is called “record of youth” and it’s supposed to be a coming-of-age story. So, I think it’s about growing up and growing into the harsh realities of life.

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        Oh I agree that youth is idealistic and so were the characters at the beginning but what I’m saying is that shouldn’t their idealistic beliefs and perfection be reduced by the end (again pointing out, I’m saying this just by reading your post not actually watching the show). If they essentially remined the same then where is the character growth? For the episodes I watched, both these characters seemed real, perfect and idealistic to begin with, the only thing they lacked was success and I thought that the idealistic beliefs would be shaken and the perfection would be altered as the episodes pass by.

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          @wapzy Ah, I see what you mean. My initial thought is that their idealistic beliefs may need to accommodate the harsher reality, but a reduction in perfection would turn things to tragedy rather than hard-won victory. I’m guessing that the ending will be bittersweet.

          I don’t think the Show will have character growth in quite the same way as, say, some cold-hearted chaebol learning to relax his defense mechanisms to love. The character growth will not be to jettison idealism, but operate it wisely within the framework of corrupt and corrupting reality.

          In terms of relative “perfection”, I wouldn’t necessarily want Hye-Joon or Jeong-Ha to become “less perfect”. That would be awful!! That would mean they deteriorate into all the other scum in the entertainment industry (Do-Ha, the rude and arrogant Hallyu actor; Jin-Ju, the senior make-up artist who bullies).

          The challenge will be to remain perfect when everything (and everyone else) around them are trying to taint and spoil them. I suppose this is where the drama ventures into “fantasy.” Most people cave, compromise and concede long before Hye-Joon and Jeong-Ha did/does.

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    I’m not following this so closely, but I do agree that the show becomes better/more manageable as it goes on. If I have one complaint, it’s that Hye-joon and Jeong-ha are too good? I don’t see myself in them — although I try every day to be the best person I can be, to be a person of integrity and honesty, I sometimes don’t do as well as I wish. So I don’t see myself in these characters, although I def wish I could be more like them.

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    I still really like this show and look forward to it every week. I didn’t expect a formula, but did expect an introspective look at what life has given these characters and how they navigate it. I really love the family dynamics that finally showed itself in episode 14, like this family has finally figured out how to support each other. And I totally get how difficult it is to have a relationship with someone at the beginning of your careers and how busy they are and you are. It’s sometimes like ships passing in the night. You never see them but have to have faith they still love you and care about you. I do like how Hye Joon is able to tell Jeong-ha in just a few words and looks that she’s adored by him. But she’s busy too. And less inclined to be swept up by romance. I feel like many people who don’t care for this show have a bias against girls who aren’t just head over heals in love. She’s so level-headed, but she has to be. She has been since supporting herself on her own. I like her. And as much as I hate to admit it, she’s very much like me. I’d totally break up with my boyfriend under the same circumstances. I would think I was running on borrowed time. I’m not emotional. Breaking up is easier the earlier you do it. The only boy that I never broke up with was my husband—I initiated all my previous break ups. You see where things are headed and that they aren’t working faster than the other person. She’s used the seeing several steps in front of her. I get her. She’s totally independent and definitely not anyone’s potted plant (although a prominent potted plant is noted these last few episodes). This show feels like real life and their decisions feel real.

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      @allyyymalditaa: Agree, I totally agree with you. She does think several steps ahead.

      I’m also rather level-headed, so I completely understand her position and her choices. They are sensible, frankly! Given the same circumstances, I would also feel we were on borrowed time. She may have a difficult start to her professional career, but I love that she’s no “candy.”

      Even Hye Joon might veer close to a male-version of a candy, but he isn’t. I like that.

      I like that none of our characters are genuine victims or needy. They are just normal people with flaws, dreams, fears, and aspirations. They are relatable.

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    Glad to find another fan of the show and I agree with all of what you said! I’m so glad that the drama really shows what happens behind the scene with the stars that we love (not really accurate but there’s some realness to it).

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