The Nineteenth Year (2024)

Amazing Chemistry With Character & Relationship Growth

Grabbed and held my attention. The acting by the leads is very good and the sexual tension is electric. There are many moments of tension and intimacy, and multiple passionate kisses throughout the story (there is both consentual and dubious-consent intimacy). Fyi, the lead characters are non-blood related step siblings. The FL is 24 and the ML is a little older.

This is a vertically filmed mini series, which usually have small budgets, so I grade these on a sliding scale within their category.

General spoilers below.
A rare story where the meek FL becomes stronger by the end (and is pushed/encouraged to be so by the ML). The ML seems really callous but there is obviously great internal conflict. He could have chosen to tell the FL more and sooner of course, but there are reasons for his actions revealed near the end and his character IS redeemable. The dynamic between the leads is quite unhealthy for most of the show, but there is obvious love and yearning there from both characters (obvious to the viewer anyway). There is a nice extended happy ending that shows the lead couple with a healthy relationship dynamic once they are free of the external circumstances affecting them, which I loved.

Other things I liked: The SML is an admirable friend to the FL, all the antagonists get their justice (and the police are actually utilized! So rare, lol), and there are 3rd wheels but they are only one part of the plot and not the main focus. Also rare is that filial respect and obedience is not blind and morals are ultimately given more importance by the main characters.

A few more general spoilers on possible trigger warnings (beyond the common non-consentual kisses, dubious-consent kisses and intimacy, and characters getting drugged):
- Multiple women get slapped in the face, hard!, by both men and other women. (I don't think the ML ever slapped the FL though, just grabbed her chin/neck).
- A spot of blood on the sheets from sex (twice; one from the hymen the other not).
- Abortion is discussed.
- Self inflicted razor cuts on an arm (Not in a suicidal way though, and not that bloody).
- A character, that we never meet alive, falls to their death (brief, non-graphic, and not that realistic).

The video on YouTube, with all the episodes together as a "movie", with the best of the mediocre English subtitles that I was able to find:
https://youtu.be/xaG9d124yw0?si=eH3GeuDpXyD1uWtW

The second best:
https://youtu.be/xaG9d124yw0?si=fuWIbUu42LpsQmMy

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