It’s easy to get lost in our own lives—to become so consumed by what’s happening to us that we feel like we’re drowning. And the people beyond the waves? They become distant, even frightening, especially when one of them shines like a beacon of light, someone we’re afraid to approach for fear of extinguishing their brilliance.

This feeling of being lost, afraid, and yet yearning for something outside our own experience is precisely what the Japanese BL Our Youth captures so powerfully.

Adapted from the webtoon by Hi Nun, Our Youth follows model student Minase Jin (Motojima Junsei) and delinquent Hirukawa Haruki (Kamimura Kenshin) as they navigate a turbulent youth defined by violence and loneliness. Their lives are like a choppy sea where no one expects them to cross paths—let alone to become each other’s anchor in the storm.

As Minase says early on: “There are three types of people in this world: the perpetrators, the victims, and the bystanders.”

And yet, what makes Our Youth so captivating is how safe Minase and Haruki become for each other. Despite the chaos of their lives and the tempest of emotions surrounding them, their connection remains a sanctuary.

I’ve tried to write this review so many times, struggling to articulate the feelings this drama stirred in me. But every time, I come back to one undeniable truth that defines this story:

They never let go.

No matter what Minase and Haruki endured—no matter the distance Haruki created to find his footing or Minase’s fear of their relationship being too exposed—they held on to each other. They clung to their bond, never allowing anyone else into the lifeboat that saved them. Their love became their refuge, freeing them from the violence and loneliness that had once defined their lives.

All the complex thoughts and emotions this drama evoked boil down to one thing: how profoundly safe their connection made me feel.

Which brings me to the performances. Motojima Junsei and Kamimura Kenshin delivered an extraordinary portrayal of these two characters. Their chemistry and clear passion for the story elevated it beyond the screen, making it feel achingly real. Watching them felt like standing in the same room, like I was walking around them, just breaths away, as their story unfolded. I held my breath when their eyes met and kept holding it when they touched.

The entire production team created a world so immersive that it was easy to lose myself in it week after week—and nearly impossible to leave. Minase and Haruki stayed with me long after the episodes ended, coloring my days in ways I hadn’t expected. And I don’t think I’ll ever fully let go of them, which speaks volumes about the storytelling.

Our Youth is both symbolic and raw, philosophical yet deeply real. It explores the complexities of love—how it isn’t easy, and how it becomes even harder when you fall for someone you think you shouldn’t. Yet it shows that sometimes, that person is the only thing keeping you from drowning.

From the beginning, I felt like I was eavesdropping on a secret—on moments I wasn’t supposed to witness, on emotions I didn’t expect to resonate with so deeply. And I loved every second of being in on that secret.

For a series that pulls you under and never lets you go, watch Our Youth now on Gagaoolala.

It’s no exaggeration to say this drama topped my 2024 list of favorite Japanese series.

Rating- 5 out of 5