Twenty-Five Twenty-One

A story of a youthful journey that was truly perfect

Wow. I'm writing this review just moments after finishing this series and I am still in shock about how much of an emotional rollercoaster this drama was. I started this drama when it was airing but had stopped and set to catch up later which is what I've done as of the date I'm writing this and honestly, starting this drama and watching this whole drama is an unforgettable experience that I know i will remember, It was truly a breath of fresh air and it had it all, there were scenes where I was laughing so hard and other scenes where I was sobbing so hard I can barely read the subtitles due to the tears in my eyes, It was so perfect from start to finish with a lovable cast. I was able to form a connection with every character and truly fell in love, the cinematography was absolutely perfect and honestly as many people on here would like to debate, the ending was perfect in my opinion. It was a slice of life show that was able to give me a different perspective on sports and honestly I've seen a lot fo sports-based shows but this show showed sports in a whole different perspective, coming from someone who doesn't have a drop of being 'sporty' and has always had a dislike towards sports, I was able to enjoy and love this. I can often grow hesitant with sports-based shows due to the fact I can't fully relate and feel as though it is outside my interest and that there's a possibility I wouldn't be able to relate however, I was able to relate with each characters which is why I was able to form connections, It was a slice of life show that was able to be a true youthful adventure that I felt like I was apart of, even though I'm a viewer of this fictional story that is unfolding I was so engaged that I felt apart of it and that's how I know this show was perfect. Honestly, it has probably become one of my top dramas I've seen this year, if anyone is reading this review debating whether to watch this or not, give it a try. It's truly an unforgettable experience.

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An important phase of life portrayed beautifully

So, I kept away seeing this series thinking it might be overhyped and because reviews kind of told this drama is traumatic. But I am glad, I decided to watch the trailer and give it a chance. And all it took was the trailer to convince me watch 2125.
And if you are reading this review with a dilemma to watch this series or not, trust me, and watch the series right away. (And come back later to this review so that you feel connected.)

I felt a lot of emotions while watching this series, be it inspiration, the will to work hard, motivation, happiness, pain and love.
There's nothing I can point out as a flaw in this drama. The story, the way it is told through this series, the actors and the acting, the ost, the emotions it conveyed, I couldn't ask anything better than this.
So what I liked about this series :
~ Both the main characters, Na Hee Do and Back Yi Jin
Tbh, Hee Do inspired me to live life and work hard no matter what, the sparkle in her eyes conveyed hw she dared to hope (the way she tells in the last episode .
I could relate to both the characters personally and feel every emotion the went through.
Yi Jin, I couldn't take my eyes off his eyes, his eyes conveyed a million emotions. The way he gracefully accepted his hardship and navigated through adulthood, the way he tried to manage both his personal and professional life, the way he could see the happier things of life (through Hee Do), as a teenager I hope I will be a little of him in this aspect.
~ the friendship and fencing
The other main characters, Ko Yu Rim, Moon Ji Woong, Ji Sweung Wan, the way rivalry turned into friendship and and how a girl and a boy can be just friends and how strong and supporting love can be (in case of Yu Rim and Ji Woong )
~The realistic portrayal of a mother-daughter relationship
~ the mature take on love ( You Jin and Hee Do)

I learnt so much watching this series and got to see a different dimension of youth and 2125 taught me to see my life in a brighter shade. I looked forward to see each episode, 2125 made me reflect on my own self. And about the ending, I personally believe that all love stories don't get a happy ending. So I believe the ending was realised ad just perfect.
My favourite dialogues were :
" I don't regret meeting you or loving you. Wanting to falter and letting myself falter is my mistake. A mistake that is clearly not minor."
"Life is long and fireworks are short."
" I don't think not living your dream means you have failed at life. And I don't think living your dream means you have succeeded either."
"It isn't a rainbow, it's love."
"My result was amazing and the process was beautiful."
My favourite ost is Very slowly and Go! (I am hooked on them).
I will definitely re-watch 2125 because I went through a lot of emotions while watching and I will definitely love to go through these emotions again.

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The one that got away...

Not every lovestory make it to the end, but that doesn't mean what you had in between was not good enough.

This series is a rollercoaster of emotions. You will love it , you will crave for it and you will be disappointed with it too at places . Unlike the happy endings in kdrama world , this series truly shows how sometimes just life doesn't work out the way you had hoped and it's alright!

The execution of the story is super fun. Actors have done there job perfectly. Yes, I wish I could rewrite the ending , but that's the truth in life.. not everything is meant to be..

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Amazing Writing and Amazing Cast

As soon as I finished episode 1, I knew this drama was going to be amazing. The writing is touching and mature and the cinematography is stunning. I know Kim Taeri is talented and yet she still surprised me. Nam Joohyuk did too and I could tell how he has grown as an actor. This role was perfect for him and the chemistry with Taeri was amazing. This whole drama captured the softness and hardness of coming of age. One of my favorite things is that neither romantic love or friendship got privatized and they were equally important; This idea resonates a lot with who am I as a person. For the bad things, the only thing I have to point out is the last 3 to 4 episodes. This is subjective because I am a big fan of slow burn stories and usually when the characters get together I get less invested. However, I am of angst and I love how they wrote the fall out of Heedo and Yijin. Even thought I'm not the biggest fan of the ending, this still was an amazing and beautiful drama/

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Fun adventure

This is a great coming of age story about a female fencing student who aims for Olympic glory while navigating peer pressure amidst the backdrop of a society dealing with financial and political upheaval. This well written and acted TV show was cruising for gold, but blew the dismount in spectacular fashion. Still, for Kdrama fans, this is must-see TV. To paraphrase TS Eliot, sometimes it's the journey, not the destination, that matters most.

Spoiler alert

Problems. The main characters, fencer Na Hee-do and Baek Yi-jin (rich boy/poor boy/ then rich boy again) have great chemistry and their characters are well-developed. But both turned dull and listless when the story line moved to the 9/11 terrorist attack and beyond. Further, the concluding story arcs of the delightful secondary characters were trite to the point of embarrassment. For instance, in the last few minutes of the show we learn that Yin jin's brother becomes his chauffeur. Really? What's worse, it's implied that assertive female class president Ji Seung-wan might hit on him? What's that about? The show just rushed the ending, diminishing its characters.

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Imperfect Romances; Single Pringles Beware

So many people are disappointed with the ending... I can't say that I'm not either but it was meant to happen from the beginning.

TLDR: Very well written plot. The ending was justified. The characters were fleshed out and the acting was amazing. If you're looking for romance, it depends on what flavor you're looking for. This one is sweet, then sour, then sweet, then bittersweet. It's refreshing but probably will hurt those looking to live vicariously through the MCs. Probably NOT FOR SINGLE PRINGLES looking for a fairytale romance.

Formula: Reply series + sports anime feel + the tears of everyone who watched this
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Twenty-five twenty-one is written in a similar manner to the Reply series with someone from present day, looking back at the past but darker and heavier because it talks about the effects of the IMF crisis. It is nostalgic, comical, and very real.

It is a coming of age story aimed at a certain demographic because it doesn't just talk about the shallower aspects of growing up but also brings in larger crises that ended up affecting people's choices. Especially in these times, many people will relate to the MCs: young adults struggling to get their foot in society but keep getting bogged down by circumstances that are out of their control. Twenty-five twenty-one draws parallels between the IMF crisis and the pandemic in a way that is very poignant.

The main message was one of hope; that at the end of the tunnel, there is light. Both MCs (as well as the rest of the cast) were faced with obstacles that kept them from living how they want and from being happy. None of these obstacles were their fault and out of their control which makes them feel helpless. Regardless, our characters are able to find solace and comfort in one another and hope in their darkest time.

Caution, contents contain:
- crack-head energy
- friendship
- sport anime arc for FL and 2nd FL
- two people who fell in love, and grew apart despite still loving each other

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Interesting story but bad ending

The drama is very enjoyable, but when in episode 16 everything is very messy, the consistency of the character that was built from episodes 1 to 15 is broken. I suggest if you want to watch this drama, stop at episode 15.

I personally still don't like the character of Na Hee Do's mother, even though that have been told the reason for her mother's behavior like that. But I never saw her mother regret all the things she did to Hee Do. All that her mother asks is always Hee Do to understand her position. Very selfish in my opinion.

Actually i really love Hee Do character when she was eighteen. Very bright and optimist. I know became adult is hard, but actually it doesn't change people so much like Hee Do, maybe it does change, but it doesn't show the change as clearly as Hee Do. Adult Hee Do it's really dark and like have no soul in her body. I don't know, I'm just like, after she got adult, she never been happy again in her life.

People always say this drama is very realistic, but actually I didn't find that in this drama. The adults I know, they can act like they forgot the past and move on with their lives. while Hee Do is like an adult who is still stuck at the age of twenty-one. And it feels like the younger Hee Do is dead from it.

I just hope that Na Hee Do grows up to be brighter than that, because that's what life is for. People come and go. That way we can take lessons in life that not everything we want will go according to plan. And we know that we must always be ready to overcome it all.

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really nice storyline, except for the ending

I actually loved it, the storyline was so friendly and everything was so soft and funny too, though it made me cry a lot when they had to be separated because of Yijin's work 🥲 and I think that moment was kinda disappointing cause I thought they were going to make it work, especially when they both went throught a lot while figuring out their feelings for each other. I feel like it was my least favorite part of the drama, not because I wanted them to end as a couple, but because they really deserved better than that after all. 😞

On the other hand, I really loved the friendship they all had, my favorite one was Heedo's and Yurim's, it was soooo unexpected the way they became friends, and it was super genuine, you can see that when Heedo is one of the first people and almost the only one who supports Yurim unconditionally when she has to leave the country, I guess is there when you realize that even after all the fights they had at the beggining, they forgived each other and became the bestest friends. 💗

Anyway, I guess it was one of my favorites k-dramas, except for the ending 🥲 I didn't like the way it was developed, it could have been better, but skipping that part, it was a really beautiful and emotional storyline.

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EVERYTHING WAS GREAT UNTIL THE FINALE HAPPENED

I was really ready to give this series a rating of perfect 10 because it gave me that fuzzy REPLY 1988 feels, but then the finale happened. I know not all real-life stories have happy endings, and I wasn’t expecting one, tbh. I am disappointed with the execution. And the fact that many loose ends were left dangling. The biggest one of which is the identity of the father of HEEDO’s daughter. The viewers were expecting a twist or a big reveal in the finale – but that didn’t happen. You get the feeling of having been taken for a ride – because ALL the previous episodes were really, really good and were like teasing us to guess who the father is. It’s like they’ve made you invest in the characters and their stories, but shortchanged you in the end.

The cause of the breakup of the main couple was also not well established. So, male lead went to the US to cover victims of the Twin Towers attack. What was not made clear was why he decided to accept the job as a correspondent – and therefore live in the USA – without consulting or at least telling the female lead about it (she had to learn this from other people). And in their breakup scene, HE accused HER of thinking on her own! Really doesn’t make sense at all. Made me want to bonk him on the head. Big minus points for his character.

We were given updates on the other major characters – but up to 2009 only. What happened to them in the present – during the pandemic where the series took off? Would’ve been nice to know.

OVERALL

Despite that disappointing finale though, this is still an impressive series – great mixture of drama and comedy, one that we can easily relate to. The lines are good, very well written. It’s still a delightful experience, all in all. It leaves a special warmth in your heart; the way RELY 1988 did.

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Twenty Five Twenty One is my first true experience in the realm of K-Dramas and I could not have asked for a better start. This show has delivered in many more aspects than I could have ever dreamed. The simpleness of the story, but the rawness of the actors brings together a spectacular slice of life series.

At first I did not like the main lead Na Hee-Do as I felt she was a bit too over the top, but as time went on slowly but surely I started to relate with her and see my own self in her character. Her experience with being an individual with great potential but not acting on it slowly turned into just another talented person that could have been something special. She never backed down from anyone and always stood her ground believing in what she thought was correct so no matter if you like her or not, you would always respect Na Hee-Do.

The maturity shown in this series was refreshing. Even though most of the cast was teenage to twenty years old, they really behaved in such a sophisticated manner. Never taking anything personally no matter how harsh they must have felt it to be, they always thought that there must have been a reason behind it. This speaks volumes to real life in the sense that if you love someone but do not agree with their decisions do you really love that person whole? People do things in life that will benefit them as we are all selfish beings, so why is it that we are always so surprised when it happens directly to us? We think we are special and therefore we should not be betrayed to an extent, but in the other person's brain, it is not betrayal, it is simply making the best decision for themselves.

A compact 16 episodes really tells this story in full. I do not feel like it dragged, or even went on longer than it should have. It was enough… just like friendship and relationships are. Though it might not be as long as you might have hoped, without that person or persons, could you really say you would be the person you are today? So in that sense, was it not worth it?

I feel as though Na Hee-Do’s mothers character is one that can garner some intense views, but personally as harsh as she was I do agree with her. I believe Na Hee-Do would not be the champion she became without the strong womanly presence her mother brought to her. Tough love is not always agreed upon, but it is how I was raised and I thank my mother as well for that. It brings true strength. This one line from her mother encapsulates her character in a whole “ It is not my job to congratulate you, it is to make you worthy of congratulations``. She loves her daughter as most mothers do, but feels that praising her daughter will make her be content with her standing so she does the opposite and never praises her. Forever leaving Na Hee-Do to be in a constant state of trying to win her mothers approval while at the same time bettering herself in the process.

This show is a constant tearjerker especially during the controversial final between the two main women. Seeing Na Hee-Do get comforted in the restaurant by those old men telling her that she truly did win was a fantastic portrayal of grief being overcome. Till then, no one has really congratulated her, not even her mother. Seeing the love she received in the most unlikely of places was beautiful. If that was not enough, we also see that the main male got in contact with the referee and convinced him to get a piece of his opinion on the action. This show is perfect as showing all sides, it brings up a problem and tackles it in such unique ways from all different angles. The relationship between pretty boy and Ko Yu-Rim is also moving extremely slowly but perfectly in the context of the story. Also one of the aspects I love about K-Dramas is how they portray love in such an innocent way. It all starts as friends first and slowly moves further and further as we see both characters are in love but too shy to express it in their own ways.

One of my favorite scenes in this drama is when Ko Yu-Rim is singing and later jumps into the pool. Na Hee-Do is there to watch all this and as much as she might believe she hates Ko Yu-Rim, you could see the worrisome nature in her face seeing the jump. She was genuinely fearful because as much as she might see her as a rival, she still respects her as an individual and a person. The music, the tense but relaxing atmosphere, the sight of Ko Yu-Rim being in her feelings and showing emotion made this scene absolutely unforgettable to me. Both these women are broken, yet found the solitude in fencing. As much as they compete, they do not yet know they are the exact same person. Twins born of different parents even. The next scene is the two women messaging on the chat board yet unknowing that they are speaking to each other. Truly a prophetic moment, two girls with everything in their hands and the world at their fingertips, yet at the end of each day, all they can do is go and message the one person that has been there throughout everything. The one person that they have not even seen in person yet trusts them with all their hard difficulties.

I also love the scene where Na Hee-Do hears two women in the washroom gossiping about Ko Yu-Rim and her family situation. It is at that moment where she takes charge and goes into the stall and attempts to beat up the two girls in protection of Ko Yu-Rim. This is one of the true moments we see Ko Yu-Rim and Na Hee-Do work together and it felt absolutely fantastic to see. Ko Yu-Rim had always disliked Na Hee-Do but after learning that she was the one Ko Yu-Rim was talking to, she does a complete 180 and realizes all of her past mistakes which takes a truly grown person to do. The actress that plays Ko Yu-Rim has great facial emotions. Whenever she is in a sad scene, it really makes the viewer feel exactly what it is that she is feeling. You just can't help but want to give her a hug and tell her everything will be alright.

Seeing the two embrace each other after Ko Yu-Rim confesses she is the online friend is so heartwarming. I just could not help but smile the entire time through. The two girls finally found their platonic soulmate and it is beautiful to see. All that hatred and all that anger at one another just vanishes and it turns to embrace and lovingness.

The second last episode was absolutely heart wrenching especially towards the end. Seeing the differing situations between Yi-Jin and Hee-Do was just setting this show up for a sad finale. Growing up is an occurrence that no one can ever help. You can not ever beat time. We should have known that this would eventually happen to the couple that fell in love so young, but we just never learn as humans. Relationships between humans are the most difficult thing to work out because of them having two fully functioning people. Two smart and in different mind stated individuals.

No one was simply to blame in this couple's ending, if anything it was simply the cards they were dealt. Having to be apart so early in the relationship, and on top of the already difficult long distance was the added agony of both and especially Yi-Jin’s day to day life. He wanted to succeed and in doing so he took all opportunities, but the cost was the life he imagined with Hee-Do. We see when they break up first, that Hee-Do does not even seem like the same person. She is so cold on the outside and has just fully checked out from an emotional standpoint. She thought of all different routes this relationship could go and came to the conclusion that it was a lost cause and there was no way to pick up the already broken pieces.

It gets to a point in some relationships where even if you are one of the people within, you look as a bystander. Some relationships are just not meant to last, and it gets to the point of simply watching either yourself or your partner lose the attachment once felt.

All in all, this show was a great entry and had magnificent points throughout its 16 episode run time. I do believe that it had a bit of a fall off later in the series, but the last 2 episodes were done greatly. Some questions such as how Yi-Jin and Yu-Rim know each other from their childhood, I feel could have been incorporated into the story a lot better. I definitely would not say this show has failed potential as it had a great ending and accomplished what it set out to, but I was not satisfied quite fully after the show ended.

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