Hi, fiction lovers! This year, I’ve been on the hunt for more riveting K-dramas. After falling in love with Weak Hero, I went down the rabbit hole of Park Jihoon’s dramas. Of course, I had to check out At a Distance, Spring Is Green. This contemporary college drama was everything I needed. It has the heartwarming scenes, a bit of romance, and an enemies-to-friends plot that had me almost in tears. Let’s dive right into this spoiler-free review!
What is At a Distance, Spring Is Green?
At a Distance, Spring Is Green follows three main characters. There’s Yeo Joon, a rich student who struggles with finding real friendship. Then there’s Nam Soohyun, a star student who’s hustling to make enough money for his family. Finally, we have Kim Sobin. She’s going through her own crisis in college, trying to find where she fits in and how to heal her past traumas.
At first, I thought that there would be an obvious love triangle between the two guys and one girl. Sorry for the small spoiler, but I’m glad to say that there’s no love triangle here! The drama follows Yeo Joon most closely, who is played by Park Jihoon. Joon is a complex character who will tug at your heartstrings. He has everything he needs with his credit card, yet he lacks love and people who’ll accept him.
The drama seems quiet at first, following these three characters through campus life and group projects. However, it unravels when Joon reveals some dark secrets related to his family. The three characters grow to love each other and protect each other, figuring out their youth while learning to have true friends for the very first time.
What Makes This Drama Special
Honestly, Joon is what makes this drama special. I love all three characters, but Joon really sells it for me. Don’t get me wrong—Soohyun and Sobin make my heart ache, and I relate to each character differently. But Joon makes me teary with his aching for a true friend and his loneliness that sings through the screen.
We have several key side characters, too. Youngran, Mijoo, and Chanki round out the cast and make some very interesting scenes with their variance in personalities. That’s what I love as well—all of these characters are so different, and their dynamics drive the scenes along. Seeing the different pairings, trios, and more made for a different dynamic each time.
In each episode, the theme of longing for better days and a “greener” spring (or youth) is clear. Joon makes the statement in the first episode that spring always looks green from a distance, but it’s much different in reality. It’s interesting to see Joon’s thinking as it changes and he discovers the true meaning of his youth.
Should You Watch It?
If you watch it, I’ll say to keep an eye out for the special relationship between Joon and Soohyun. They don’t have a romance (there’s a different key romance that I’ll let you guess), but they are each other’s soulmates for sure. The enemies-to-best-friends trope comes alive. They truly do hate each other in the first few episodes. There’s a lot of staring each other down and yelling at each other’s faces, especially when there is such a difference in their socioeconomic statuses. But they prove that unlikely friends can come together.
At a Distance, Spring Is Green is sure to draw out college memories. I highly recommend it if you have a fondness for this time. And even if you don’t go or have never gone to college, this offers a peek into the several years of life that can seem turbulent yet full of possibility.
Will you give it a try? Let me know what you think of At a Distance, Spring Is Green—whether you’ve watched it already or would like to add it to your list.
Thank you for joining me! Honestly, you guys might be tired of me talking about Park Jihoon. But if you’ve read this far, maybe you understand my tendencies as a fan. Who is your favorite actor or actress? Also, I’m interested to hear your favorite character in At a Distance, Spring Is Green. Follow me on my blog for more posts about fiction and fandom!