Our Youth

(SLIGHT/Vague spoilers ahead)

I’ve read so many manhwas/mangas in the past few years, but I don’t think anything would ever come close to Our Youth (an exaggeration but you get the point) Don’t get me wrong my favourites are ALL amazing. A Home Far Away, Spinach Bouquet, Reunion (okay maybe Reunion is close), but Our Youth has something so special to it, and I can confidently say this after re-reading it again over half a year later.

The characters, the settings, the dialogue, the overall plot and mood all throughout, it is so consistently 'beautiful' or delicate that nothing ever feels out of place. Everything is earned and has a purpose and the story has such a clear beginning, rise, climax, and a more dragged out end (IN A GOOD WAY!). And though I wish I could’ve seen more near the end, I still think it served its purpose well and was able to leave me relatively satisfied.

For me, the most important aspect of any story are the characters. I truly believe in the fact that, no matter how simple a plot is, as long as the characters are interesting, fleshed out, and not out right horrible, it can make anything a worth while read. And y'know not only is Our Youth interesting in plot, the two main characters are just SO lovable...

I'll address Heechan's character first. From what I've seen, in the earlier chapters many saw Heechan as the big guy, as the one who was orchestrating the bullying and the one most responsible. And of course as someone who has already read it once, I knew that wasn't true. But still, when you really look at it even in the earlier chapters, he didn’t do anything. Yes, he spoke bluntly and rudely, and yes, he never did anything to stop the ones being bullied, but weren’t everyone else the exact same? From the teachers to his classmates, including Jihyuk himself, not one of them tried to do anything. I’d go so far as to say they were all hypocrites who just wanted a scapegoat so they wouldn’t feel as bad about themselves, because at the end of the day, Heechan never did anything physical, or even verbal, he was simply the closest bystander out of everyone, and that made him the worse of them all. Isn’t that so tragic though? Whether or not this was intentional by the author, and whether or not readers understood this aspect of his character, the fact that from every single angle, Heechan was abused physically by his father, and verbally by others. Of course, that does not justify his crudeness or his insolence, nor does it justify him being a bystander. But this part of him, the fact that no one understood how hypocritical it was to blame Heechan for everything, and how at the end of the day, no one truly knew the truth other than Jihyuk, it really feels tragic. Though on the other hand, perhaps this was the price he needed to pay, and the agony Jihyuk went through, being the only one who knew the 'truth' (which in of itself was shaky and lacked solidity), I suppose that was also his price to pay.

Jihyuk really left an impression on me when I first read this. I think its because with so many of the manhwa's I've read, rarely do you encounter such a simple, indifferent, almost morally grey main character. In almost every sense Jihyuk really is just some guy, but he stood out to me as special immediately in the opening chapter as he completely ignores, but still criticises the bullying going on, admitting to being a 'bystander', which he is happy with. Of course, that doesn't make him evil per say, but like everyone else in his class, he is just the same as them, scared and helpless, it's really just a game of who is MORE helpless. I think the author showcased such a serious topic in an in depth and somber way through highlighting how much everyone, including the main characters ignored the constant bullying, a reality I fear is quite common. Because at the end of the day (especially in the climax), you understand why they never said anything, why they couldn't do anything, and it just sucks for everyone y'know? That's why when Jihyuk finally opened up to Heechan and started to defend him, even in face of other people, I felt so proud of him...

I don't think weighing their trauma is right since they both lived hard lives respectively... but like Jihyuk DID have it cushy and comfortable but you can still see how much their childhood and parental relationships had affected them and their way of thinking as teens, no matter who had it harder.

On a lighter note, Jihyuk and Heechan are both quiet but lovely people, they enjoy the silence and peace they get from each other so I think they match well and I can 100% imagine them growing old together happily. (I also really the little comments here and there in the side stories. You don’t actually see them do it but you KNOW they still do it and I guess according to Jihyuk they do it a lot LMAO, and yknow I really appreciate that bc even if they don’t explicitly show it, they aren’t trying to avoid the topic or sugarcoat it altogether).

I’ve noticed, so many of the settings throughout were set in dusk or dawn, it makes everything feel so quiet and tranquil, highlighting the nature of the characters and the essence of their relationship. It’s peaceful and calming, but there’s this empty, lonely ambiance to the story, especially in the early chapters. I think part of it is due to the art style, but most of the time, the characters all seem so lifeless. I personally really like it because it leaves such an impact depending on the context of the scene. For example in the karaoke scene, nothing significant happens, but that emptiness turns into something ordinary and inconspicuous that feeds into the idea that Heechan, much like everyone else, is just some guy… AND it makes every scene uneasy. I think there’s something so unique about Our youth that makes it stand out amongst such a saturated market… It’s awkward not in a funny way but in a way where the characters inherently are just uncomfortable with themselves and with others, and I think it’s such a good setup because then you REALLY see and notice the moments where they’re happy, or shy, or flustered, or scared, and all of those emotions just become all the more heightened and expressive…

I had forgotten how amazing those last few chapters were, because that's when you really get an idea of how the characters changed and felt after that one year the little time that they did spend together, and how much it impacted them as a result. Because of how little Jihyuk had expressed himself in the past, it really hits harder than ever when he shows any emotions, happy and especially sad ones, and it made me tear up several times within those few chapters near the end.

Overall, Our Youth gave us one of the most beautiful pairing out there. So tender, delicate, and stable it just makes your heart throb in such a good way… It has such a special place in my heart, and I just hope that it can continue to do the same for others.

Of course, I wouldn't want this review to lead to TOO high of expectations, because I have seen some really valid critiques from other readers (points that I may have disagreed on or didn't mind). But personally, I think it deserves at least a 90 just for how complete it felt in so many aspects. :)