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| Youthful Glory’s Final Episodes: The Drama, The Sacrifice, and That Bittersweet Goodbye |
"Youthful Glory" (2025) is your classic sweet costume drama with a cheeky wink—until it isn’t. Between gorgeous leads, chaotic fight scenes, love triangles that end in flames (literally and emotionally), and a couple of brave second-lead ships that steal the spotlight, this drama had viewers hooked... even if not everyone was totally sold on the main couple.
Let’s unpack the highs, the lows, and what the heck happened in that wild finale.
🎭 What’s the Vibe?
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"Youthful Glory" starts off deceptively light and fun. Think: daily hijinks, palace politics lite, and leads that bicker their way through budding romance. It rides that fluffy vibe for the first two-thirds—until ep 29 yanks the rug out and screams "plot twist!" like it’s been bottling that angst for months.
And honestly? It worked. Kinda.
👑 Plot in a Nutshell
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Set in a fictional dynasty, we follow a bold yet slightly awkward female lead (FL) navigating palace life with our stunningly handsome, sharp-tongued male lead (ML), played by Song Weilong, who's as much a sword-wielding heartthrob as he is a walking meme when he's trying to flirt.
It’s sweet, it’s fast-paced, and the everyday moments—sharing food, petty arguments, playing spy in the palace—are what keep this show moving.
Until things escalate. And boy, do they escalate.
🫠 Episode 29: When Everything Went Absolutely Bonkers
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Without warning, the show dips into heavy melodrama:
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The unexpected third wheel (and former villain) confesses his love to FL… then kills his own henchman to save her, knowing full well he’s lost everything.
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Unable to bear the rejection, he tragically takes his own life in front of her.
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Meanwhile, the supposed evil sister doesn’t even get a proper redemption arc. Viewers were not having it.
Netizens? Gobsmacked. Some were screaming “WTF” into the void. Others were quietly impressed the show had the guts to go there. Either way, ep 29 will be remembered.
💥 ML on Paternity Leave, FL on a Mission
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The ML hilariously (and lovingly) announces he’s going on paternity leave… before the baby’s even fully formed. The man’s ready to commit to both parenthood and retirement.
Meanwhile, Shu No. 2 (supporting male character) absolutely shines in his arc—sacrificing everything for love, and winning over the crowd. Many fans were chanting “give him the lead role next time!”
The actual emperor also earns brownie points by fighting his own battles for once, which, let’s be honest, is a rare sight in these dramas.
🎉 The Ending: Surprisingly Happy... With Some Loose Ends
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Yes, it’s a happy ending—but not in the cookie-cutter way you’d expect.
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The main couple finally gets their peaceful life, surrounded by friends and baby plans.
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Supporting couples get satisfying closures. Dai Lu Wa, in particular, absolutely slays her second-lead role and ends up being the emotional core of the last few episodes.
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Shu No. 2? Heroic till the end.
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Villains? Either dead, exiled, or awkwardly forgotten.
We get weddings, laughter, and emotional hugs in sunset lighting. It’s giving bittersweet warmth, without dragging the finale out for unnecessary palace drama.
TL;DR: You’ll cry, then laugh, then maybe squeal a bit when the end credits roll.
🧐 Ending Explained (Based on Everything)
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At the heart of Youthful Glory is a message about loyalty, small joys, and unexpected growth. While the throne politics feel undercooked, the emotional beats land hard:
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The third-wheel villain’s tragic end isn’t for shock—it highlights how obsession without real connection leads nowhere.
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The ML stepping back from power to embrace family signals a new kind of "hero": one who’s not hungry for war or control, but for peace.
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Dai Lu Wa’s character quietly becoming the heart of the group? A beautiful example of second leads getting the spotlight they deserve.
Everyone finds closure. Not everything's perfect, but it feels right.
🌟 What Worked
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✔️ Entertaining & Fast-Paced: No draggy episodes, no filler arcs. It moves, and it’s fun.
✔️ The Cast Has Chemistry... Mostly: While the main pair caused division, the support cast had fans living.
✔️ Fight Choreography & Production: Great action scenes, solid camera work, and surprisingly slick visuals for a mid-budget drama.
✔️ Dai Lu Wa & Bai Shu = Star Couple Material
✔️ Sweet Slices of Life: The little moments—stealing snacks, teasing one another, chatting under the stars—really worked.
ABRJEJEJ THIS POEM!!! 😭😭 he also thinks about their first meeting in Hanyan temple, JUST LIKE HER TOO!!! 😭😭😭🤧🤧 damn this couple is eating the romance up AHAJJDJ#YouthfulGlory #韶华若锦pic.twitter.com/JI22TCwReC
— ੈ✩‧₊˚ 𝓻𝓪𝓺𝓾𝓮𝓵𝓵𝓮 ༘ *࿐ྂ (@yamfticd) June 3, 2025
😬 What Didn’t Work
❌ Main Couple Chemistry? Mid at Best. Fans were divided. Some thought the leads felt mismatched; others felt they grew into it.
❌ Third-Act Tone Shift: Episode 29 was brilliant—but felt like a different show. Not everyone was prepared for that kind of emotional swing.
❌ Throne Drama? Meh. Simplified to the point of background noise.
❌ Stylist Hates Dai Lu Wa’s Wig: Free her.
💬 What Netizens Are Saying
“One of the best this year. Pure serotonin!”
“Dai Lu Wa carried the whole thing, not sorry.”
“I wanted to love the leads, but I just couldn’t.”
“7/10. Not the best, not the worst. I’d still watch S2.”
“Please let Bai Shu lead a drama next!!”
🧠 Final Verdict
‘Youthful Glory’ may not win awards for originality, but it's a lovable, binge-worthy ride that had just enough chaos and sweetness to keep things interesting. While the leads might not work for everyone, the supporting cast, pacing, and surprise emotional depth make it worth the watch.
If you're after something warm, funny, and a bit dramatic (without needing to think too hard), this might be your next weekend binge.
Rating: 7.5/10
Would we watch Season 2? Yep—especially if Dai Lu Wa’s the lead.
And this time, she offered prayers and sought blessings for her health during her pregnancy and for the baby she was expecting! 🤗 #YouthfulGlory #YouthfulGloryEp29 #SongWeiLong #BaoShangEn https://t.co/DCFduMvTFx pic.twitter.com/AldTUxeAyc
— мιѕѕвℓєgн (@Missblegh) June 4, 2025