Really, I should leave reviewing this drama until my heart-thrills have stopped, so I can be unbiased and objective and...but who am I kidding? That is not the stuff k-dramas are made of. It's all about what makes your heart thud, unreasonably or otherwise. And for this drama, that's especially true--it's all about that raw teenage angst comprised of self-discovery, fear, loss, and friendship...with a hearty dose of rock to complete the mix.
In case you can't tell, I adored this drama.
So, as Eye Candy might say...Shut up and let's go (with this review)!!
This is the story of Eye Candy, a teenage rock band, made up of six best friends struggling to find their place in a world that doesn't seem overly friendly. They're rebellious, creative troublemakers, with a bond best described by the picture above the cut. When they get transferred to a rich, snobby school, you'd think you have all the ingredients for a story about overcoming their classmates low expectations and triumphing over their new arch-nemesis, rival band Strawberry Fields.
That's not what this story is about. Well, it is, to a certain extent, but it evolves into something much bigger than that. When tragedy strikes Eye Candy (real tragedy, of the heart-destroying, empathy-inducing kind), their struggles to find solid footing again are some of the most powerful conveyors of what being a teenager is like I've ever seen. And then as this plot-line in turn becomes about something even larger--about identity, friendship, independence, about holding tight and letting go--the viewer (i.e. a breathless and schoolwork-neglectful I) gets so sucked in that to finally say good-bye is almost physically painful.
There's a love story (in fact, there are several), and as excellently as that is handled, it is never more than a part of the well-rounded exploration of this group's story. Because being a teen--and becoming an adult--is about more than just romantic love. And I think this drama nailed that idea with an exquisite precision. Too many dramas make the love-story the end-all be-all of characters. But we are the sum of our choices in the face of our conflicts, and every choice these characters make is meaningful, and leads to a character development that is as satisfying as it is ultimately bittersweet. Because no matter how much the new, hard-won maturity is something to be admired, who can fail to find some regret in their hearts for childhood, simplicity, and innocence? 
End verdict: I loved this drama. I love this drama. I will love this drama. In fact, I will love this drama in every possible verb tense under the sun. That's how amazing it is.
(all screencaps from Dramabeans)
PS. Join me later this week as I begin a new and probably sanity-endangering project!
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