As we get older, we tend to think that our best day were when we were younger — specifically, when we were still in our college years. But, when we were at our “ideal” age, did we really felt like it was the best time of our lives?
“At A Distance, Spring Is Green” gives a closer look to what seems to be everyone’s ideal time: their youth. It shows how people sometimes overlook the difficulties that young people face on a daily basis, despite the fact that adults went through almost the same thing themselves. It also tries to convey how everyone may seem to be doing well, but, as humans, we’re all actually hiding a lot of hardships and insecurities — just like the lead characters in the series.
The series mainly zooms in the life of three students. First is Yeo Joon (portrayed by Park Ji Hoon) is a rich and popular freshman, but he only wants to have real friends. He’s also going through trauma due to an abusive past. He’s happy-go-lucky, but tends to hide his real self behind his smiles. Next is Nam Soo Hyun (portrayed by Bae In Hyuk) is a university scholar with various part-time jobs. He seems capable but he doesn’t have the luxury to have fun nor does he have free time to enjoy school life like others do due to his family’s financial situation. And, lastly, Kim So Bin (portrayed by Kang Min Ah) who is very hardworking when it comes to her studies, but she’s still an average student even when she’s always giving her best.
The three met and is seemingly creating a love triangle that goes three ways: Yeo Joon and Kim So Bin’s verbal contract-like relationship, Nam Soo Hyun and Kim So Bin’s guilty sunbae and intimidated hoobae tandem, and Yeo Joon and Nam Soo Hyun’s bromance — and it all works.
Moreover, the series is also easy to watch and has a lot of relatable scenes — whether you’re young or reminiscing your younger days. It’s a coming-of-age series that may seem to be a light drama as they pretty much just show the characters’ daily lives, but “At A Distance, Spring Is Green” is actually pushing to discuss serious topics while disguising it as normal everyday scenes. Hence, teaching us that there’s more to a person or a situation than what we see, and that one’s facade is not everything, what others show us is not all they are.
All in all, “At A Distance, Spring Is Green” is a fun yet eye-opening watch. It has some kilig scenes and its fair share of tension-inducing scenes. But, overall, it’s a nostalgic reflection of one’s early 20’s for those who have already gone through it, or a reflective series for the much younger generation. It advocates how the young may seem to be free to do absolutely anything… but it may only seem like everyone’s best days are when they were younger if we’re looking from afar. What we sometimes fail to see is how confusing, difficult, and full of uncertainty everyone’s early youth really is. Hence, maybe spring is only green when were at a distance.
“At A Distance, Spring Is Green” is available on iQIYI Philippines. Download the iQIYI app to get a 30-Day VIP pin for FREE until June 30!