My Youth finale wraps up a journey filled with seasons of love and growth. It feels like a farewell letter—tender, bittersweet, and full of meaning. Every smile, every tear, and every flower in bloom feels like the show’s way of saying that even when goodbyes come, love doesn’t truly end; it simply changes form.
In My Youth finale, Chan and Pil-doo rush to the hospital, where they meet Je-yeon. The doctor explains Hae’s condition, and soon after, Nu-ri arrives with Seok-joo. Upon learning the truth, Nu-ri breaks down. Geon-no comes by, offering both comfort and food.
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My Youth Finale Recap: Living and Loving
Hae wakes with Seok-joo and Nu-ri in his room. Nu-ri tearfully asks why he kept it from them; Seok-joo joins her in tears. Nu-ri tells Hae that he can lean on them because they’re family. But Hae, ever the gentle brother, sends them off.
Before leaving, Seok-joo thanks Je-yeon for letting them see Hae first. As she enters Hae’s room, she overhears the doctor discussing the clinical trial. Hae apologizes for ruining their supposed first Christmas date, but Je-yeon assures him it’s fine, as her family is Buddhist anyway.
When Hae asks why she called everyone, Je-yeon admits she’s worried. They discuss the clinical trial; Hae hesitates, saying that if he passes away, he hopes he’s with his loved ones. Je-yeon encourages him to go abroad for the treatment, even without her.
She confides that she once imagined them leaving together. Two people in a foreign country, content at first, but eventually wearing each other down out of love and sacrifice.
Later, she asks Geon-no if she can care for the flower shop while Hae is away. She calls Tae-rin, who visits the shop unaware of Hae’s hospitalization. Je-yeon shares her worries, and Tae-rin comforts her.
Once Hae’s out of the hospital, he meets Han-na and entrusts her with the rights to his works because he needs the money. On his way out, he chances upon Tae-rin, and they reminisce about childhood filming days. At home, Nu-ri gifts luggage to Hae as he packs. He then asks her to take his photo for his book.
At the flower shop, Hae and Je-yeon decide on a sign to hang while he’s away. Je-yeon asks him to write a love story, and Hae replies that he wants to do everything he can for her. He hands her the shop key, and they settle on a simple message: On Vacation.
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A Letter to the Start of Spring
Snow begins to melt. Seok-joo notices a fallen leaf in his car. Just like in the first episode, Je-yeon packs her bag and goes to work.
At Nu-ri’s graduation, Geon-no gives her a bouquet Hae designed, saying the blooms will never wilt. Sa-rang hugs Nu-ri, followed by his brother Gi-ppeum, who proudly announces he’s finally gotten his driver’s license. Seok-joo also drives now, albeit clumsily.
At a food stall, Seok-joo and Tae-rin encounter Seok-joo’s mother, Pil-doo. Pil-doo jokingly asks if they’re dating; Tae-rin denies it, calling him her accountant. When Tae-rin steps away, Seok-joo admits their feelings are mutual.
Hae’s books are reprinted. Geon-no buys several copies, sending one to the former bookstore owner now living in Australia. Han-na also receives a surprise from Pil-doo: a nameplate marking her new position.
During a video call, Sa-rang reads an excerpt from Hae’s book. It’s the same one Seok-joo recited in the first episode. Nu-ri complains that his writing always makes her sleepy.
At the flower shop, Je-yeon lovingly tends to Hae’s creations: his books and his preserved flowers. The four leads reunite in what seems to be a dream. Then Je-yeon wakes. A letter addressed to Start of Spring arrives. She reads:
“The first season I ever experienced that year. I wonder if anyone else remembers that first snow. The me in the photograph, frozen shortly, sometimes looks like a stranger. I was so innocent. I had dreams. I loved…
As the letter closes and weeks pass by, Je-yeon goes to the shop and sees the CLOSED sign. She still walks in and sees Hae. Unsure if she’s dreaming, she calls his name. They embrace, with the wish bracelet still on her wrist.
“Hoping that somewhere, we’ll meet again with a happy hello, again and again.”
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My Youth Finale Reaction
While My Youth ends on a satisfying note, the drama still falls short in certain areas, like its musical score and character development. There are a few out-of-character turns, but the characters pretty much remain the same. Hae does take a chance on romance, yet it’s hardly his first time opening his heart despite losing his mother and getting abandoned by his father. His bonds with Geon-no, Nu-ri, and Seok-joo already show how capable he’s been of giving and receiving love.
All in all, it’s not a stressful drama, and that’s something to appreciate, but it’s not entirely a healing one either. It lingers somewhere in between: gentle enough to comfort, but never quite deep enough to move.
What do you think of My Youth finale?
Also Read: Pop Corner: My Youth Episode 1 Recap: Fame, Flowers and First Love
Source: JTBC
