Netflix’s Ultimate Youth Tragedy Aesthetic!He died in “the year he loved her the most.”What seemed like a cliché teen romance turned out to be a tearjerker that left me crying with swollen eyes!
20th Century Girl Starring: Kim Yoo-jung, Byeon Woo-seok Platform: Netflix Douban Rating: 8.3
Plot Summary: Set in 1999, 20th Century Girl follows 17-year-old Na Bo-ra (played by Kim Yoo-jung), a loyal, outspoken high school girl. When her best friend Yeon-du goes to the U.S. for heart surgery, Bo-ra promises to secretly observe Yeon-du’s crush, Baek Hyun-jin, and send regular updates.
Bo-ra begins her “mission” with full effort—but in the process of watching Hyun-jin, she mistakenly gets close to Poong Woon-ho instead… and that mistake sparks the beginning of her own unforgettable first love.
What Makes It Special: At first, it looks like just another nostalgic coming-of-age story—school crushes, friendship, first love. But as the story unfolds, its emotional impact sneaks up on you. The pain comes not from drama, but from quiet, ordinary heartbreak. Before you even realize it, your tears start falling like summer rain.
Most Heartbreaking Moment: That final letter. That quiet revelation. That line—
“He died in the year he loved her the most.” It’s not just a love story; it’s a eulogy for a first love that never had a future.
Why You Should Watch: If you loved Our Beloved Summer or Twenty-Five Twenty-One, this is your next must-watch. Just don’t forget the tissues.
