5 Reasons to Watch Age of Youth
In this edition, I’ll be focusing on the Korean drama version of this trope. With the caveat that these are my top 3 favorites so far, this list is always evolving and changing as I watch more. Anyone who has stopped by my blog knows that this trope is my absolute favorite. I’ve got an entire page on my blog dedicated to it!
When considering some of my dramaland and blogsphere friends, I am still very much a newbie in the world of Asian dramas. There are so many dramas that I haven’t watched yet, so many that I want to watch, and not nearly enough time to watch them in!
I’ve watched 17 dramas in total that have the Noona Romance, or age gap romance, at its core out of the 42 dramas that I have completed. I am sure there are some that I’ve missed that are exceptional! But for now, these are at the top of my list. Especially since I tend to go for Romantic Comedies that I can be pretty sure will have a happy ending.
As I have talked with other fans of this trope, I realize that we all look at different aspects of the story and have different reasons for liking or disliking a Noona Romance. When I am watching this trope I have six things that I look for, which to me are the core of an age gap romance in which the female lead is older.
1) Forbidden Love. How much emphasis is placed on the relationship being taboo?
2) Puppy Love. The younger man is head over heels in love with his Noona and isn’t afraid to show it.
3) Noona’s Resistance. Despite falling for the younger man, how strongly does the Noona oppose the relationship?
4) The Relationship Itself. When they do they finally get together and how is the chemistry? How lovey-dovey are they?
5) Importance of the Age Gap. How important is the age difference to the story? What obstacles does this place on their relationship?
6) Consistently Strong Noona. This is perhaps the most important one to me. As this trope places the power of the relationship in the Noona’s hands in my opinion, the Noona must be a strong and confident woman.
When I watch Noona Romances, I rate the drama on each of the above points, one being the worst example and ten being the best example of that part of the plot. The dramas that I will be sharing all scored an 8 or higher on my rating scale. I have given them a separate rating for the drama as a whole, but what I’ll include today are specifically the Noona Romance scores.
Number One: Baby-Faced Beauty
Country: South Korea, Year: 2011, Genre: Business, Comedy, Romance
This was my second introduction to Jang Na Ra and Choi Daniel. I first saw them together in School 2013. I loved their chemistry there, and was not disappointed at all with their chemistry in this show! I think that this one is my favorite because it offered a slight twist to the Noona Romance. So Young is mistaken for her much younger sister and hired at a clothing design firm; her dream is to be a designer, so she sticks it out. Choi Jin Wook works at the firm as well, managing products. With the misunderstanding of her age, the entire department treats her like the dongsaeng, the lowest person on the age totem pole. However, she’s actually older than all of them. To keep her job she endures.
What I loved was that Jin Wook starts out confident and arrogant, treating her like a little sister that he must scold and teach. When her true age is revealed, everyone, not just Jin Wook, must reevaluate how they interact with her. However, it is Jin Wook’s adjustment that is the most wonderful. When she was younger he was confident and showed his affection with ease. Then he becomes the dongsaeng and now has to come to terms with the fact he is falling in love with an older woman. And I loved watching every single minute of it!
Forbidden Love: 9
Puppy Love: 9
Resistance: 8
The Relationship: 10
Age Gap: 9
Strong Noona: 9
Overall Score: 9
Number Two: Flower Boy Ramen Shop
Country: South Korea, Year: 2011, Genre: Food, Comedy, Romance, School
This was one of the first ten dramas that I watched in the beginning part of my Asian drama journey. That may have something to do with my love for it. Those first dramas stick with us and are the reason why we’ve fallen so deeply in love with dramas.
On to the story itself. Yang Eun Bi is working hard to become a teacher and leaving her father’s ramyun shop far behind. A random encounter puts her face to face with Cha Chi Soo, the heir to a food conglomerate that owns many things, including the school Yang Eun Bi is going to work for. Before starting her new job she runs into and flirts with Chi Soo, but then discovers his true age. Also, it turns out that she’s his new homeroom teacher too! The school is close to her father’s ramyun shop and it turns out she has to work there with the man her father betrothed her too, Choi Kang Hyeok. What I love about this drama is the growth of Chi Soo. As he falls in love with Eun Bi, he matures and grows up and discovers lust and love.
Forbidden Love: 10
Puppy Love: 9
Resistance: 9
The Relationship: 6
Age Gap: 9
Strong Noona: 5
Overall Score: 8
Number Three: Witch’s Romance
Country: South Korea, Year: 2014, Genre: Comedy, Romance
This is actually a remake of the Taiwanese drama My Queen. Allow me to pause here and say that this is an all-time favorite Noona Romance of mine! I waited until just last month to watch Witch’s Romance. The reason I waited so long was to make sure that I had enough time between watching My Queen and Witch’s Romance. I needed it to stand on its own, so that I wouldn’t constantly compare the two. I’m very glad I waited; I was able to enjoy this drama as a standalone piece.
Ban Ji Yeon is a hard-nosed career woman who doesn’t let anyone get in the way of her next story. Because of her cold attitude and drive to succeed at all costs, she is labeled as a witch. In waltzes a pro part-timer, Yoon Dong Ha, who becomes the victim of the witch. To compensate for the damages caused to his part-time business, he’s hired to work as Ban Ji Yeon’s assistant. They bicker and fight constantly, driving eachother crazy. Which of course is the start of their attraction! Both of them carry a broken heart and together they work to heal and love again. What I loved about this one was the relationship between our leads. The chemistry here was one of the best! Not to mention the development of their love. I absolutely recommend this one!
Forbidden Love: 7
Puppy Love: 9
Resistance: 7
The Relationship: 9
Age Gap: 7
Strong Noona: 9
Overall Score: 8
What are some of your favorite Noona Romances? Do you have a particular set of story points that you look for when watching this trope?
Thanks for stopping by and sharing my love for the Noona Romance!
