Now this, I watched because of the high ratings on MyDramaList. I’m not new to Park Hyung-sik. I watched Strong Woman Do Bong-soon (2017) and Happiness (2021), both of which I absolutely loved. I’m also not really into palace politics. Historical dramas have never been my first choice. What always pulls me in are stories where a group of people work together, build genuine friendships, and where the Crown Prince isn’t just royalty but someone clever enough to stay ten steps ahead of everyone else. With the promise of teamwork, friendships, and a cunning Crown Prince, Blossom of Youth (2023) delivered exactly what it promised.
The Story – Solid, but Not Stretched Enough and The Masterclass of Crown Prince Lee Hwan. The storyline was fine – just okay in my book. What I absolutely loved was how the crown prince was written. He’s now sitting pretty at the top of my favourite on‑screen crown princes list. And I’m talking strictly about his journey as a prince – he felt human, riddled with insecurities and doubts, especially when it came to his best friend. That vulnerability was gold. Those little moments made him feel real rather than another untouchable royal lead.
A Mountain of Underutilized Potential. Aside from his stellar arc, the drama left a lot of potential completely underused. This was glaringly obvious in the romantic storyline between the Prince, his best friend Han Seong-on (played by Yoon Jong-seok), and the Female Lead, Min Jae-yi (played by Jeon So-nee). I expected mountains of guilt. You’re falling for your best friend’s woman, the very woman he’s still searching for. Where was that inner turmoil? And the FL – she was happily about to marry one man, yet she moved on without a flicker of remorse. I kept waiting for at least a few conscious, guilt‑ridden moments when she talked to the SML, a hint that her new feelings were costing her something. There just wasn’t enough yearning. I expected guilt. I expected more tension. And maybe that’s because I’ve watched Park Hyung-sik before. One thing he’s incredibly good at is portraying longing. He can make you feel every glance and every silent moment. Here, I just didn’t feel that same emotional weight. I’m not sure whether it was the writing or simply the chemistry, but the yearning never matched what the storyline deserved. Writer Jung Hyun-jung seriously had a lot to work with.
Then there’s the prince‑best‑friend bond. I kept hoping to see them actually be childhood friends. I wanted to see them share those occasional meals they used to have, but instead I kept noticing Seong-on’s constant absence. There was so much emotional potential there, but the writing forced the best friend to end up acting merely as a loyal subject to his royal highness, rather than his true friend. Their bond was constantly talked about more than it was shown, which was disappointing because it could have been one of the strongest relationships in the drama.
Even Min Jae-yi’s action scenes felt cut short. She was exceptionally good at fighting, and her action sequences looked incredibly believable. I truly wish the writer had handed her more combat scenes to let her shine. Because the writer had an abundance of rich material to work with but failed to utilize everything available, you end up bored in between major events. The series frequently feels like it slows down to a crawl.
The Characters – Three Scene‑Stealers Who Saved the Day. Every actor slipped into their role convincingly; kudos to the Director, Lee Jong-jae, for the job well done, but three people stole every scene they were in:
- The Best Friend (Han Seong-on played by Yoon Jong-seok): I always wanted to know what his character was up to, and whenever he showed up, he completely stole the spotlight. His emotional scenes were beautifully executed. In one specific scene where he thought the Crown Prince was going to doubt him, you could literally read the fear in his eyes—and that massive sigh of relief when the Prince sided with him was acting perfection. He has major male lead energy; someone needs to hand him his own script immediately!
- The Eccentric Nobleman/Doctor (Kim Myeong-jin played by Lee Tae-sun): The doctor was another surprise.His comedic timing felt completely natural and genuinely funny. I absolutely loved his signature laugh and found myself smiling automatically whenever he popped up on screen. It really makes me wonder what he is like in real life!
- The Intimidating Villain (Right State Councillor Cho Won-bo played by Jung Woong-in):I love how this antagonist was written. The script actually gave him valid, layered reasons for turning out the way he did. But what I loved most was how veteran actor Jung Woong-in brought him to life. The scariest villains are always the soft-spoken, calm ones—the type of man who can casually drop terrifying threats to the King while bowing down politely to show respect.Absolute chills. Jung Woong-in understood that perfectly and brought the character to life in a way that stayed with me long after the drama ended.
Final Verdict: Is It Worth a Watch? Would I recommend it? Absolutely. It’s a nice, easy watch for drama lovers, especially if you’re a fan of the male lead Park Hyung-sik. he does the crown prince justice. And I guarantee you’ll fall for at least one of my scene‑stealers – you might even find your new favourite Korean actor to follow. And honestly, that’s one of my favorite things about watching dramas—sometimes you don’t just find a good story, you discover your next favorite actor. If you’re looking for a historical drama with palace politics, mystery, teamwork, and a Crown Prince who actually earns your respect, Blossom of Youth is an easy recommendation.
Oh, and Fun Fact: The series was actually adapted from a famous Chinese web novel titled “The Golden Hairpin” by author Ce Ce Qing Han)
