Twenty-Five Twenty-One

its just so beautiful

Im not going to lie i felt exhausted after watching 4 episodes because of how much i hated a character (still did) but i continued anyway.. That explains why i need a month just for 16 episodes. Many people complained about the ending but yeah realistically not every plan can goes according to how you wished it would go. The ending is beautiful enough if u think about it. Everyone is succesful in their own career and are able to chase their dreams (except for yijin, but at least he has a stable job now). Yes they loved each other, and yes they didnt end up together but what about it…

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A MUST WATCH DESPITE THE ENDING

Given all the moments that made me irritated, which also shows how much I truly LOVE this show to be so involved in their characters and their lives, shows what a STELLAR show this was. I do think the ending could've been better though.

PROS:

1. I still keep thinking about the intimacy of the scene when they had a match together in episode 4. When he first saw her in her gear, his appreciative gaze and respectful attitude was so sexy, and when he got curious enough she made him wear some man's gear, which of course looked like it was made for him. But when she helped him put it on, that quietness felt SO natural and sexy and organic. And the way he was looking at her then...GOSH.
Their match was as expected, and then when she looked at him afterwards, that realisation was amazing.
2. Another scene I cannot forget, after the intimate and sexy match in episode 4, is the beautiful snowflake scene in episode 5.
Each second the scene got better and better, first they transitioned so beautifully, and that MUSIC WOW, and THEN looked at each other, THEN they both reacted to that man calling her out, AND THEN he pulled her to him AND THEN THEY LISTENED TO EACH OTHERS MESSAGES.
I love this supportive and soulful relationship.
3. I also can't help but swoon over when they walked under the rain with an umbrella and reached her hotel, I couldn't help but swoon over how NJH conveyed his feelings with his eyes, the way his eyes shone when she was doing what she was doing. He stood perfectly still even as she turned around, because he knew she would climb back down the stairs! He knew she wanted to spend more time with him, and he was allowing it, he allowed her to lead their relationship pretty much, because he probably realised then he couldn't help but return her feelings as they were too strong. His conversation with her 'ex-boyfriend' was telling, he wanted what was best for her, and finally he believed that he could be the best for her!
4. Then their kiss, the anticipation, the tension, that moment was amazing, and the way she clarified her feelings right afterwards, because she knows him and probably spent ages thinking of possible reasons why he wouldn't return her feelings, and came to the (right) conclusion that he was simply doing it to protect her.
5. And then when he sent the patrolman on the road just because he knew she was going to go home alone at night, my heart melted.
6. Also how he keeps protecting her in a non-oppressive way, simply to protect her from the harm that she may not be able to see, not because she's incapable but because she may be blindsided, was so sexy of him, even when they were breaking up.

CONS:
1. That ending was sloppy and rushed and inconsistent with each character of the show, it really feels like they changed the writer after episode 13, to the point that the actions of each of the characters didn't necessarily make much sense.
Until then the theme of the show was that everyone choses a different path in life and sometimes life chooses a path for you and that's okay.
2. But there are many odd things I noticed about their behaviour after the random accident in ep 13, how NHD was insistent on getting into a relationship initially yet somehow regretted it as she noticed the similarities in him to her mother (that's because of his job which you already knew which everyone told you to be careful of!), and then when she was shown to be tenacious and optimistic, but somehow turned their relationship into wanting someone to be there for her, even though she herself keeps travelling and doesn't really stay in a place for too long?
He was in a very dark place mentally and she wasn't really there for him as even a silent support, he was covering a tragedy and she wasn't patient enough to see through it and maybe give him one chance to get therapy and work on himself (and that airport scene when she just left his bag carelessly? No.) before breaking up with him.
3. The reason for their breakup makes sense, but it was a surprise to me that she saw it happening very early on, that means she was expecting to be separated from him anyway, and that the tragedy and his lack of attention simply fast forwarded things. Also from his behaviour maybe he had already given up on her but then he was wanting for her to get back together with him? Idk that just confused me.
4. That breakup scene was emotionally charged and very well acted, but the actions afterwards, with somehow fate bringing her diary back to her, and then him actually remembering her as his first love, also the whole interview with the lack of personal questions which he insisted on, and her left side being better which she insisted on, just SCREAMED to be explored and expanded and explained and continued. It made no sense otherwise tbh.

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Beautiful plot, cast, and OSTs - but a very questionable and painful ending...

If you don't count the ending, this is one of my favorite dramas of all time. It's such a well-rounded show that covers topics from all different aspects of life - personal growth, friendship, rivalry love, youth, family, and more. I found myself relating to a lot of the characters in many ways and felt motivated and inspired about my own dreams and life after finishing this drama. Every episode left me with a tear-stained face, whether it was from happiness, sadness, or anything in between.

OVERALL PLOT:
The plot was set up for every character to shine, fail, and grow. There were so many challenges that each character - even side or supporting roles - struggled with and overcame that only made them an even better character by the end of the drama (minus the last 2 episodes lol). Not every character gets their chance to go through that kind of progression all within 16 episodes, but the fact that 2521 made it possible is one of the reasons why I loved the show so much.

I enjoyed how romantic love was not an overly consuming theme in this drama. The main leads had a healthy, reciprocating relationship and aspirations in life that were equally as important. This made the plot more admirable and realistic in comparison to other dramas where couples would do literally anything for love. I found myself feeling inspired and motivated watching Hee Do and Yi Jin lift each other up during hard moments and wholly enjoy each other's presence during happy times; their love was so pure, selfless, and wholesome. Up until the last couple of episodes, I really believed that their relationship was what every couple should strive for. I also appreciated how the writers planted the couple's first kiss towards the end of the drama; it just further reinforced how pure their love was, and made the wait for watchers like me SO worth it. Man, that kiss had me shaking in my boots - the buildup to it was just *chef's kiss*.

The strong emphasis on friendship and fencing rivalry also presented more opportunities for character complexity and development. I loved watching Hee Do and Yu Rim go from enemies to the most supportive besties. Their Madrid fencing competition was one of my favorite scenes of the show.

Hee Do's relationship with her mom is one of the most realistic portrayals of what Asian families can be like. She wasn't just a naggy mom who would only lightly scold her child. She was straight up unsupportive, abusive, and unforgiving to her only child because she was struggling with her own trauma - and we saw how deeply it affected Hee Do. It's ugly, painful, but real.


ACTING:
I loved the cast's acting, but I especially want to express my love for Kim Tae Ri. This is my first time watching her acting and I was truly blown away. She embodied Hee Do's strong spirit, quirky and cute humor, and emotional outbursts so well. Because of her talent, Hee Do's character/personality was a shining point in this show. Young and naive, but full of life, strength, and grit to handle any challenges that come her way. This persona heavily contrasts the endless female leads in other shows who often start off strong and end up weak or dependent on a man again. This alone makes the drama quite rewatchable; I found myself rewinding to certain parts of the show during Hee Do's victories or happy moments because her smile and energy were really contagious! I can't think of any other actress who could've played this role as well as Kim Tae Ri.

OST:
I LOVED every single OST from this drama. Every song really embodied what the characters were feeling. I added all of them to my Spotify playlist. :')

ENDING:
I know a majority of watchers were accepting of the ending because it's "realistic." Not all couples make it, whether it be due to internal or external problems - I get that. But the entirety of the drama built up the characters to have fighting spirits, to never waver in support for one another, and to love each other through life's challenges.

I know the writers' wanted no one to be at fault for the breakup - but it still felt like it was Yi Jin's fault to me. He was stuck in a job that made him depressed and traumatized, and as a result, he started neglecting his relationship with Hee Do. Meanwhile, Hee Do was always so eager to see and talk to him and was always all ears to offer him support. Hee Do also kept pushing him to be honest with his feelings, but he chose not to be. So where's the character development here? Did he just stop growing after he became a reporter? Considering how caring and loving Yi Jin was throughout the entire drama, I felt like this was really out of character for him.

Their last argument really upset me. I felt like they gave up way too easily after yelling at each other, neither one of them wanting to have an open and honest discussion about their feelings. You'd expect that after 600+ days of being in a relationship with someone you claim to love so deeply, you'd have a good understanding of how to bring up problems and be candid with each other.

The ending really broke the characters' continuity and who they're supposed to be to the core. If the writers wanted to take a more "realistic" approach, perhaps just have Hee Do/Yi Jin go overseas like how Yu Rim did - but have them reconcile at the very last second for an open-ended ending. I'd much rather prefer that kind of wrap-up than whatever they decided on.

I don't think the ending completely ruined the drama for me because there were just too many good moments throughout the show that still made it worth watching - but I definitely feel like the writers could've made it the perfect drama had they taken a different approach.

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Sudden Adulthood

You'll eventually got hooked on the first episodes of this drama because it will give you two different scenarios, Yi-jin, a young man who needs to be a grown-up, and Hee-do, a dreamer who would not stop to achieve her fencing goal.

The series talks about the carefree teenage life while someone is not prepared to be an adult yet. A so-called prodigy fencer who cannot go away from the slump and the other is a star but her career costs a fortune for someone who is not wealthy.

It is a great mix of different challenges since the Taeyang squad has their own battles. Overall I'm contented how this series end because it is just realistic between two lover whose career and priorities clashes.

I really recommend you to watch it, it gives another throwback drama!!!

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Some loves aren't meant to be forever

This drama is definitely a mixed bag for me. For one, I loved the relationships between the characters, particularly the friendships, and I LOVED how they showed that this love is equally as important as romantic love. I'm a big friendship girlie, particularly female ones so this was such a treat. I won't be smack talking about the ending because I still don't know how I feel about it. On one hand, I definitely understand why they did it but I just felt like they shouldn't have left it for the last episodes and instead made it a bit more gradual. What I really didn't like was the dual timelines. Going from the 90s storyline to present time was jarring and I honestly felt that it took away from the "progress" we had in the 90s one, I honestly saw no need for it. Lastly, they introduced some ideas with Ji Seung Wan that weren't ever fully developed, which was a bit of a let down. Overall, I truly did enjoy the drama.

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Life leaves us with unanswered questions but those either lead to reality or fiction

It was an excellent drama and some people will beg to differ because of the ending but I loved the drama including the ending. If you think of Na Hee Do and Baek Yi Jin as two lovers then this story's ending is not what you'd want but if you think of them as soulmates, the ending will hurt you but not as much because you'll know that no matter where they are, they'll always hold a place in each others' hearts.

The story/plot was well made. It all started with a simple fencer and a bankrupt boy and it went on to talk about life, dreams ,adults, burdens, importance and to portray a relationship where in both lift each other up. The writers sure created a good story with all the crisis, emotions. Na Hee Do isn't a perfect character, she's a great fencer, stands up for herself, optimistic, but at the same time is impulsive and wears her heart on her sleeve.
On the contrast there is Baek Yi Jin, a boy whose family is bankrupt,having a hard time and promises people to never be happy and suffer the consequences of his father's actions. When the 2 worlds collide they create a balance, they cancel out each others' worst traits and give each other what they need - reality checks,hope, courage.
A couple who shares similar dynamics are Ji Woong and Ko Yu Rim. Ko Yu Rim, a gold medal fencer who constantly puts herself down, poor, hardworking but succumbs to pressure and power. For her there's Ji Woong, smart, optimistic and someone who likes her whole heartedly.

If I were to sum up this drama then it's beautiful, simple yet elegant. It'll give you nostalgia of the 90s but also remind you of the problems. It'll teach you important lessons straightforwardly yet it'll give you a good dose of happiness. I've loved this drama and it's definitely worth a watch.

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A shitty ending

I don’t know why or how this drama got this much rating, after watching the last episode i thought may be the director gone mad in the last episodes. This drama gives a very bad message to the society that, the one who achieved something will forgets all the hardships and loved ones but expects only comfort in live even though it is immoral or unethical.
There is no proper closure for the characters at all, even though the episodes are very lengthy but simply wasted time on unnecessary things without giving any proper clarity to characters at all.
Especially I hate FL character, she asks the ML that did he really loved her or not, even though after he helped and sacrificed that much for her, it is really disappointing to hear. I don’t know why in Korean dramas they portray FL’s in such bad fashion(I have seen in so many dramas). After telling so many hurtful things to ML she cried secretly and writes in her dairy that she didn’t mean that. I don’t know really what is the necessary of writing in dairy like that instead of comforting the one who got hurt by her.
The main message in this drama is “ the one who love you more will hurt you more” and treat you like a use and throw napkins.

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Heart Warming, Unique and Refreshing

This is almost as full package of a drama you can ask for- from the cinematography, acting, ost, plot and everything in between can be described in one word EXCELLENT. It is light hearted but also while simultaneously highlighting several real life issues faced by the youth back in the 90s

Remarkable chemistry between the 5 main characters, special props go to Nam Joo-Hyuk and Kim Tae-Ri. Their relationships and interactions set up the relaxation mood for the drama throughout. The writing's given all 5 of them enough emotional depth that none of them would feel like an afterthought.

This is still an ongoing drama but it is well on it's way to my favs list. It's very soothing, must watch imo.

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„Let's suffer together when we're in pain. It's 100 times better than being lonely alone.“

Story of love and motivation.
The amount of love I have towards this drama is unspeakable. The way this drama depicts should we escape from our youth or face it bravely is so impressing.
Twenty Five, Twenty One has attracted the attention of many domestic and foreign audiences.
With it's visuals, cinematography, many meaningful messages along with talented actresses and actors, who wouldn't be attracted?
Ever since it aired, people got curious who did Hee Do marry? What happened to the friend group? Where did everyone go? Do we get a happy ending?
With many theories, that even actors of the drama reacted to, we finally came to an end to this beautiful drama.
The series portrayed beautifully how there are long gaps of no growth and how growth resembles a staircase instead of a hill.
The amount of character development we've seen through these 16 episodes was so well written and so well put (Yurim best girl<3).
I was so impressed by their passions and empathy they had towards eachother in the drama, whether that would be between the main leads, side leads or just in general- the whole cast.
Their chemistry is out of this world.
The FL has an unique style and personality. Extremely loud, holds her ground, quite extroverted and a little bit clumsy while the ML is quiet, a big observator and tries his best to stay honest.
In this drama exists a very special friendship/relationship between Yi Jin, who was the unconditional support and Hee Do who was the source of motivation for Yi Jin to find his dream again.
The way they supported eachother through hardships was such a heartmelting thing to see.
“Seeing you work hard makes me want to work hard too. If you can do it, I want to do it too. Besides yourself, you also make others want to do well.” Yi Jin was always on Hee Do‘s side, due to that she had faith and strength to pursue her dreams.
I'm not going to get into spoilers and big details because I know new viewers and fans will come in and watch it, so I hope everyone has lots of fun watching this drama and theorising just like we did.
I'm so glad it got the hype and attention it deserved along with Bona and her cute girl group.
Happy watching to others, so glad we had lots of fun with this drama and it showed an immense talent of the whole cast.

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