Good show about friendships and fencing, go watch!
This is a true coming-of-age story with a large lovable cast. 25-21 is a drama about the dreams and friendships of a group of young students who thrive together despite their struggles. As the story spans from Na Hee Do's teenage years until she's a mom of Kim Min Jae, it shows how the time we enjoy with our friends and families changes our lives to an extent. Time might fly by but still brings success and all of the consequences of our choices.The enemies-to-friendships between Na Hee Do and Ko Yu Rim are my favorite part. Oh my god, I just love how pure the camaraderie between them is. Not only them, there's not a single cast member that I dislike, they're all just so beautifully written as real people. The ones you don't like at first, you learn more about them or the characters themselves interact more and form understandings of each other. I really commend all of the actors and actresses involved.
! Spoiler section: don't read unless you want to be spoiled :)
Regarding the ending, As I wasn't invested in the romance plot much, nothing hurts me in the end. It's lovely to see the slow-burn romance between Na Hee Do and Baek Yi Jin evolves from meaningful friendship to pure love, so to me there's no surprise whatever happens in the end. Overall, I enjoyed their conversations and interactions together.
So, why my rating is 8/10? Because I have frustrations and questions about the whole news anchor plot. This conflict of interest issue, everyone clearly sees is a problem from afar. So then why Baek Yi Jin is not being clear to Na Hee Do and just say it from the beginning that they are not meant to be? Just be friends from the beginning. Also, some scenes on the present-day Na Hee Do as a mom I feel they're a bit unnecessary. Her husband is not introduced at all in the story, so why bother breaking up with Baek Yi Jin, if the future husband is not living together with Na Hee Do?
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Trying to understand the message
The rumours are true: this show is excellent until it takes a major swerve towards the end. And a lot of people (myself included) didn’t enjoy that swerve (although it was extremely effective as a gut punch). In my case, it’s not because I didn’t like the choice (although I didn’t), but rather that they didn’t explain it well enough. This leaves me trying to decide if this is a writing/direction fumble, or if their message is ultimately intended to be “realistically random”—the problem is, it’s not real life, it is a structured, fictional creation. I know someone chose this, which leaves me asking “why?”.SPOILERS
I’m working this out as I go, so please bear with me.
TL; DR: it’s not their story, it’s HER story.
NHD’s fencing journey is great; I didn’t even mind that they “spoiled” her success and hand-waved her later accomplishments. The show was really only interested in her life until 21/22; everything after that (including the modern framing device) was only there to support that story.
The development of NHD’s relationship with BYJ was also great. It was playful and joyful and painful. And I think this is mostly thanks to her. She’s a poster child for the exuberance of youth. But where did it go?
The show decided to make NHD inadvertently replicate with BYJ the dysfunctional relationship she had with her mother. She ends up with someone distant, who hides/doesn’t share pain, is unreliable and self-centred (in that they are clinging to their career and prioritizing it to an insane degree and/or unable to integrate it with their life or loved ones), and shows love “in the background” with unrevealed actions (that hotel room!).
He is an intense first love and a lousy partner. She needs to get away from him.
NHD is herself the opposite of BYJ: (over)sharing, demonstrative, brave, confrontational, tenacious, reliable. Her “weaknesses” are mostly structural—getting the fencing/coaching opportunities she needs and also the “youth” opportunities that fencing largely precludes; avoiding victimization in unfamiliar settings (as with the documentary and the Internet hate). Rather than self-centred, she is focused. Rather than knuckling under to authority to get along or curry favour, she goes at the problem. Rather than withdrawing, she seeks out. Fencing is a fine metaphor for this—you face your problems and do battle with them.
BYJ tells NHD at one point that one of her best advantages is her mental fortitude (and, when she is younger, the “right to ask for help”). She is resilient. She has enough support when it counts, which allows her to stand on her own two feet when necessary.
He is not mentally strong. He runs away. He retreats into alcoholism. He loses himself in his work by overempathizing. I think he feels inferior.
Because BYJ is ultimately a failure—or perhaps succeeds at the only goal he actually set for himself, which was reuniting his family (but isn’t his dad still a fugitive?). Perhaps he is a victim of “the times” (the IMF crisis and 9/11). He is browbeaten by his father’s creditors until he gives up even the concept of happiness. His home is not so much broken as annihilated.
Yes, he’s handsome. He has the residual breeding of his upbringing and high school glory. But he’s not strong. He even wavers with NHD when he should have been more in control of his emotions.
His only real advantage is being four years older--and as time goes on and NHD matures, this advantage dwindles to essentially nothing.
He loses sight of his relationship with NHD once he’s in it. He detaches and still takes it for granted. NHD cannot escape her mother (or at least it would be more difficult). But she can escape him.
Is this the lesson the show wants to impart?
NHD does the right thing by breaking up/giving up. “You need therapy” was 100% accurate. “I can’t comfort you” was 100% accurate. “You are only with me in the good times; you withdraw in the bad times” (in other words, we aren’t really a couple) was 100% accurate.
He doesn’t appear in the modern framework. He is alluded to. He is present only in “historical” documents (her diary, old video clips). So in the end, this is really NHD’s story. How he developed later (family, whatever) is irrelevant. The show is her reminiscing through the mechanism of her daughter’s “rebellion”.
And I guess that’s okay. But if so, the Kdrama conventions didn’t really work for me. The “couple” structure obscured her story too much.
Still, this drama is well made and well worth a watch.
And NHD burns so bright in youth that we (like BYJ) can still warm our hands and take inspiration from her.
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*sobbing in silence*
ok... i always knew the ending, i started watching the drama KNOWING the ending... but it hurt 😭. i really enjoyed this drama, it's really beautiful. to be honest, i had a little conflict bc of the age gap between heedo and yijin, and also seungwan and yihyun when he was 16 like ??? but well whatever. i really really LOVED the story. for me yurim and heedo's friendship means it all. i wish this was a wlw bc it would've ATE. overall, this was sooo great !!! i liked the fact that the message is to let go 😭 it hurt but it's fine. that's life igWas this review helpful to you?
VIBE OVER SUBSTANCE
The plot was interesting enough for me to try it out but ultimately, despite the hype, this show didn’t really do anything for me. I think for me the first 7 episodes were superior to the other half of the drama, from the vibe to the story building. The cinematography and the beautiful OSTs couldn’t save this or make it a favorite that I will revisit. It’s not the breakup that made this dull(I’ll get to that later). I think it has more so to do with me just losing interest. I really did try to get into this but I just couldn’t. I was engaged within the first few eps but after a while I found myself checking my phone and multitasking while watching.The characters were ok. I did like Yijin and Heedo’s story, and their interactions were very natural. They were very charming and relatable to the youth of today. Personally I felt their chemistry was good enough to be believable and some of the moments they shared together were heart fluttering. Their characters were well written, but I can’t exactly say the same for Yurim and Jiwoong. Yurim just frustrated me a lot and I found it hard to care about her struggles. She improved in the end. Jiwoong was cute but nothing too special.
Ok so the BREAK-UP. For me I didn’t really think Yijin and Heedo would be the end goal from the way things were headed. Actually I thought it was kinda obvious after a certain point. However I get it when people are mad that they didn’t get that happy ending, but I don’t think the story would have been as authentic if that had happened. Sometimes people just come into your life for a season, whether it be for support, comfort, encouragement, or other things. Those things can’t always last because that’s just how it’s meant to be. Life might take you in a direction that other person can’t follow, and that’s ok. It’s ok to let go of people. Natural even. It’s especially necessary if you and that person don’t serve each other at that point in your life or you’re not maturing/growing. I feel like some viewers needa hear that.
Saying that, I think the strongest attribute of this drama is the vibe. It’s centered around teens but there is this nostalgic undertone in the early episodes that I really liked. The double feeling of possibility and uncertainty young people know so well is really well done. I think what I enjoyed most was the vibe this show exuberated. In the end this wasn’t my cup of tea but the writer really nailed that universal feeling of being young, struggling, and pursuing your dreams despite the difficulties of life.
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It's one of the best story out there side by side with the solid acting
It's full of 4 years bright, beautiful and painful story of teen and young adult in their youth.I root for Hee Do really much, her character really bring what grit means to never give up on something you passion and love to do
Its also the time when the beautiful friendship form between these taeyang highschool kids and Yijin, a young adult who get a strength to rebound from Hee Do
Its really beautiful friendship and love story that's really reflect the style during the era .. its not showing passionate kinda love but more to kinda love that thrills you even with the simple act
No matter how beautiful a moment, it won't last forever
Its one of the best story out there with solid acting
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my favourite k-trauma ?
despite the open ending the drama managed to portray how precious youth actually is. youth will be the only time where passion and friendships are the only things that matter. you have to treasure it because nothing lasts forever. the ending sure left me emotionally damaged lol but definitely a new favourite of mine… (fuck the writer for not letting them have a HAPPY ENDING 🖕🏼) what is also good about this drama is there wasnt one boring episode or any parts that dragged on, the acting was great the story everything etc. the friendships and stuff and like everything before shit happened was so cute and just amazing to watch!Was this review helpful to you?
I like it until the end
I liked this drama until the end. It kept me entertained and I truly thought it was going to go another direction. I highly anticipated them coming of age, only to be slightly disappointed when they actually became 25 & 21. I was more impressed with the co-stars’ conclusions, than the leading couple. Don’t get me wrong. They should still win couple of the year. I mean every single character has a better ending than the main characters. Come on?! Who does that this day in age?! It’s just I did not like the ending.Was this review helpful to you?
Beautiful and emotional
ok, it took me 3 years to finish this one, not because it was boring, but cuz I couldn’t handle all the emotions. I had to gather courage and ask my mom to rewatch it with me as emotional support, because I had the hunch it would have a bitter sweet ending. And once again I was right, so I put it on halt on episode 12, and since all the spoilers that confirmed my suspicions I couldn’t dare to continue, and whenever I tried I started crying.it’s not only the lovely characters and the heart warming story thy show you how the perks of growing old, that nothing is forever.
But also the music, i can’t listen to the songs without my eyes bursting into tears, and don’t forget Nam JooHyuk’s sad expressions (he can really destroy my heart every time).
I think all the emotions i had watching this come along my personal experiences, I was living abroad on my own on that time, and had some friendships that are gone now, so I guess I’m crying because all the memories i connected to this beautiful story.
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1The adventure of five friends
It's the end of my spring vacation, almost the end of the week, and also the end of the beautiful k-drama Twenty-Five Twenty-One.I will be honest - I cried about 6 or 7 times through the final episode xd
2521 brought me some of my memories with my classmates, fun, happiness, and sadness, it healed my 40°C fever xd, gave me a good time, a lot of life lessons, and many more things - it's still so many that if I could write it here it would be probably like a minimal 500 pages of word document with text size 12 xddd
Also, I'm glad I had the best childhood I ever could have, all thanks to my loving parents ^^♥
https://kisskh.at/profile/Lamaclon_CZ/feeds/WVNWzi3
As I mentioned in the post of episode 3 on my feed before, it has a superpower, can transfer me to "another dimension", and it's definitely something I would (will? • ᵕ •) watch after a crappy or tiring day. And now I'm going to the main point I said there - If it ends well it will be in my favs.....
..... AND IT WILL!
It didn't end How I thought it will end but that's good I think. Well my ending is still there a few episodes back haha xd
But let's get back to the real ending - I really like how it ended, it's probably better than the one I thought about so here's a big thanks to Kwon Do Eun, Jung Ji Hyun, Kim Seung Ho, and the rest of the staff for creating this beautiful story ^^
And of course, I need to write something about the actors - without them, it wouldn't even be possible xd
I really liked the main gang - Kim Tae Ri, Nam Joo Hyuk, Bona, Choi Hyun Wook, and Lee Joo Myung ♥
I liked all of them and I also discovered them thanks to this drama.
It will be a little tough I think but I'm already planning to watch every drama or movie they were in xdd
I think I will suffer a little but why not set a little challenge right?
Oh I almost forget about the OST xdd
The OST doesn't have as many songs as others but I think it's still enough. I don't know if it's possible to add a link or something to this post, so I will do it in the next one.
That's probably also the end of my little review/thoughts ^^
And because I don't want to end it, here are some final sentences:
• If you will ever write a message, warning or something don't forget to reread it once again - you never know if there isn't a misspelling like do not distrub xdd
• Treasure the moments you experience with your friends and colleagues.
• If you will have a hard time, be tired, bored, or overworked take a pause for a few minutes or an hour, or even a few days off if it's possible, to heal, chill or have a fun time with friends or family ^^
• Even if sometimes it doesn't look like it, your family still loves you no matter what
• If you have a dream go for it, you never know, it might come true
OK, that's it for real now xd
If someone is still reading this then I thank you a lot for reading this ^^
I had a really good time with this :)
Well I know I said this is THE END but let me write a few quotes please :)
• “In some moments, we’re doing our best but all of that is just a practice.”
• “Doing your best is a given. Don’t just do your best. You have to do well.”
• “Your skills don’t improve consistently but in steps.”
• “Improve your perspective. That will help you to see yourself objectively.”
• “Back then, I believed I could have everything. There were so many things I wanted to have. I had thought love and friendship were mine to have for a brief moment.”
• “Feeling pressure is also an experience.”
• “Life is long and fireworks are short.”
• “The summer belongs to us!”
• “Running away isn’t the solution.”
• “You have no idea how much your love has brightened up my life.”
• “Let’s suffer together when we’re in pain. It’s 100 times better than being lonely alone.”
• “You always lead me to do what is right and to a good place.”
• “It’s not a rainbow. It’s love.”
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holy rollercoaster..
i just finished watching this show not even 10 minutes ago and there are still tears coming out of my eyes. i decided i wanted to watch a kdrama bc maybe they would be as good as cdramas? (i now regret starting with this show) i have no idea why this would be my first ever kdrama but yk its fine.. anyway the story is overall really good although they made me hate my girl yi rim.. i was really worried about that age gap between heedo and yijin but it was good while it lasted. i love how heedo was able to mature by being out of high school and stuff (idk). as much as i wanted heedo and yijin to be end game, i think that they wouldn't have worked out because of what she had mentioned in their break up, "i've already gone through this before with my mom." (it was along the lines of that but wtv) my point is they would've ended what they had going on. i loved yirim and her man tgggg omg they were so cute!! the other girl (i forgot her name) was also such a mood bro omg.. like i loved how she got yijins little brother's number even though it had been years and she was at her dad's funeral. (im telling yall i woulda prolly done the same thing) overall, it was such a beautiful drama and i will never be watching it again due to heartbreak! (i don't need to end up in therapy)Was this review helpful to you?
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A Beautifully Cynical Portrayal of Youth and Emotions
An emotion, whether it be a sweet or sour one, eventually succumbs to the nature of time. A memory solidified in the past, that can no longer be tapped into, once a passionate emotion becomes a far-off glimpse into the past. The stance taken in 25-21 is that drunken youthfulness eventually sobbers up and becomes part of the ephemeral nature of life and that one must take the breakups and sadness in life and continue to move on.One of my favourite lines in the drama, and one that sums up both my love and quarrels with the drama is, "We only love each other during our good times, but we become a burden to each other in our low points". The relationship between Baek Yi-Jin and Na Hee-Do initially starts off as a promise to "only be happy together" however this exact promise and the inability to rise above this promise is what leads to the eventual breakup.
Throughout the drama we see Hee-do and Yi-Jin develop a relationship that is greatest than friendship, they fall in love and spend the beginning of their young adult lives together. The issue between the two is not their lack of opportunities in meeting with each other, but their lack of communication. Hee-Do despite being in pain at Yi-Jin's avoidance of her (by solely pursuing his career) keeps these conflicts to herself and never truly expresses her discontent towards Yi-Jin until their eventual breakup. Yi-jin suffers this lack of communication to a greater extent than Hee-do, where he rarely opens up to Hee-do and continues to keep his issues bottled up (tighter than the alcohol corks on the bottles he gobbles down), creating a rift between the two where they only ever show the good parts to each other, rather than sharing and growing together through their shared grievances.
I view this drama through a more cynical lens, where the ending is not one of happiness and moving past one's miseries, but rather one that demonstrates the results, for couples, when they lack proper communication. The way that Yi-Jin and Hee-do gaze at each other, and think about their past (in the 2009 interview) is not one that is of a couple who has moved on. Instead, our two protagonists look at each other with deep sadness behind their words. who were unable to work together to solve their issues together. I do not think Hee-do will truly be happy without someone like Yi-Jin in her life (and vice versa). I've seen the comment that the couple's relationship was 'realistic' however the extent that both Hee-Do & Ye-Jin go for each other was beyond realism from the get-go. Their "realistic" ending is not realistic, but rather tragic. Their breakup is a tragedy, one where the missing piece to their relationship was open communication about their grievances.
Hee-do, we see at the age of 41, has let go and forgotten most of her precious memories with her main friend group, as seen with her forgetting of the beach memory. This was a memory which not only was documented and aired on TV but was also a first for her--her first school trip. For hee-do to forget this moment leads to her tragic departure from Yi-Jin because had she truly gotten over Ye-Jin she would've been able to look back at that memory with a sense of bittersweetness, instead, she needs, to forget these moments to truly erase--not get over-- Yi-Jin. First and Last memories are not easily forgotten, for Hee-Do to forget her first school trip exhibits her mid-life sadness. Erasing someone and healing from someone are two different things and from the Hee-Do we see in 2020 we're given a woman who has completely let go of her past in an unhealthy manner. To convince herself that she is happier without Yi-Jin, she has to forget the precious moments she has with him.
In a 65-61 future I see both Hee-Do and Yi-Jin stuck in their denial, that they were not meant to be with each other, and that they made the right choice. They, in my opinion, made the wrong choice and must live with that choice for the rest of their lives.
It's the tragic and frustrating nature of this ending that also makes the series more memorable, we see a glimpse of a couple and what they could have had together.
Overall, despite my grievances with the ending, I truly loved this drama--especially the character development between the main friend group (the only expectation is the development of Yi-Jin to take on a job without discussing it with Hee-Do, which was just plain dumb). We grow with the characters and it shows, because it hurts just as much when we see them in pain and not together.
I would describe this drama as an extreme roller-coaster of emotions.
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A very good drama with disappointing ending
I loved 2521. Its easily in my top 3 dramas ever. I cried a lot and i laughed a lot. I even got jealous. The life of the characters seemed so light and free. Everything was perfect untill the last episodes.I love sad endings and i love happy endings. But this was neither. I didnt get the satisfaction of knowing Hee-Do's future and i also didnt get closure for her past. It felt so empty.This drama is definitely worth watching, but beware the ending is not that good. If youre a person capable of switching your opinions often, my advice is to not read the reviews. You will not be able to enjoy the drama fully.
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