Twenty-Five Twenty-One

What's with the ending??

Like I said what's with the ending ??! I was expecting a relatively good ending since they both suffered especially Back YiJin But why does it end like that.
I liked the story how they met, they changed each other's lives and was courage for each other. The way they still think and remember each other even tho they broke up long ago. Na HeeDo still loves YiJin that's what it looks like, I feel bad for her current husband. YiJin remembers HeeDo when he sees the rainbow that melts my heart I really wished they end up together.
About the rewatch value I will for sure rewatch this because it's unique and unforgottable for me. I would've been happier if I watched it for the first time again and again - yes, that's how much I loved it. The cast being Kim TaeRi and Nam JooHyuk, her being older than him and playing a teen girl role is okay with me since she played it well.

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"Watch the fireworks. Life is long and fireworks are short."

This particular line got me the first time I watched 2521 and, after a rewatch, it made me believe that it's intentionally put there as a summary of the drama's message.

The drama is a glimpse into Na Hee-do's and Baek Yi-jin's lives in a time they were forced to grow up in order to survive . When the IMF crisis hit up, they were victims in their own ways. Fencing was the one thing Hee-do loved the most, but she was going through a slump and her mom didn't support her dream of becoming an athlete. After Hee-do's fencing team got called off for lack of funds, she had to put all of her determination in action to find a way to keep pursuing her dreams. Yi-jin's family's business went bankrupt and his family had to scatter away. All of a sudden, he had to leave college, was all by himself without any money and having to be an adult for his younger brother - it didn't help that creditors were going after him after his dad had to disappear for a while. He rented a room around Hee-do's neighborhood and got himself some part-time jobs, and that's when they met.

Hee-do's courage and impulsiveness amazes the filled with despair Yi-jin, while Yi-jin is a source of comfort for Hee-do when she doesn't find anyone to support her in her endeavors. Because they were together helping and encouraging each other, dark times became lighter and full of friendship and joy. Taking part on that joy are the friends they make along the way and who brought even more light into Hee-do's and Yi-jin's lives, and it was a delight to see them growing up together and overcoming their fears and obstacles. The world isn't nice to them, but they learn how to take beauty even from the hardships.

2521 is a beautiful drama that highlights how magnificent being young can be, how we feel infinite and invincible and see everything with the brightest hope; how some moments can be filled with the most absolute bliss and others with heart wrenching pain, but have equally important roles in our process of growing up. And most importantly, that because nothing is eternal, we should enjoy each moment to its fullest, specially the happiest ones - they are like fireworks: pretty and loud, but nonetheless short.

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In My Opinion It’s A Perfect Show

Right I don’t know what to say, I just finished the last episode and I’m still crying. That was such a beautiful show and it has completely wrecked me.

It was so funny my favourite moment was the way Back Yi-jin dodged the kiss in episode thirteen but honestly every episode had me laughing out loud at one point.

And then at the end of episode thirteen when Back Yi-jin said “Congratulations on your marriage.” or words to that effect, that’s when I knew that this show was going to break me and it has.

All the characters felt so alive and real and I think that’s why it’s gotten to me. In the last episode when they were are the bus stop and the cherry blossoms were out, that was one of the prettiest shots I’ve ever seen and the whole show is just so pretty.

And then in that post-credit scene right at the end, you don’t see his face but you can see the salt and pepper hair of Back Yi-jin and when the website is like “What is the name of your first love?” and he put “Na Hee-do” that just set me off crying again right after I thought I ok.

Basically, I know I’ve missed out big chunks of stuff and characters that I want to talk about but I’m sad please cut me some slack. It’s a perfect show I love it and everyone should watch it.


I’ve just read some reviews and I’ve seen loads of people complaining about the ending. Honestly, I liked the ending even if it made me cry (like a lot) yes it may have been nice to find out who Min-chae’s father was but then it may felt a bit shoehorned and I would rather have ambiguity than a cheap surprise.

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A very beautiful story AND an ending as well.

I hope I got your attention with my title. Contrary to many people who had breakdowns after watching the climax, I felt relieved. I felt the ending was not only realistic but also very beautiful. I have watched this series over the span of two months, so there is a possibility of me missing details with respect to the story and stuff, but I am going to write this review with all the emotions the series has put me through. This review might get long and will have spoilers.

As the plot summary says, it is a story of 2 friends, Na Hee-Do and Baek Yi-Jin with an age gap of 4 years growing closer and closer and finally starting a relationship when they turn ~21 and 25. Hee-Do is a fencer and Yi-Jin is a news reporter.

More than saying they were in a relationship at their 21 and 25, we can say, they faced very big twists, learned lessons, and matured emotionally during their 21 and 25. So yes, unlike many people saying they got together at their 21 and 25, I'd say they experienced love as well as heartbreaks at 21 and 25, and this my friend brings even more beauty to the title of the series.

This series is more than just 'romance'. This series speaks about rivalry, admiration towards colleagues, friendship, sportsmanship, unsaid apologies, AND LOVE. The series starts off from Min-chae's (Hee-do's daughter) POV and pretty much continues the same till the end. She is a ballet dancer who wants to give it up as she is in a slump/ lost interest. And in a break she took off from the ballet, she visits her grandmother and ends up finding and reading her mother's diaries. The story is in those dairies;

1. The story of how 'Na Hee-Do, a very outgoing high schooler and a fencer in a slump, does everything to practice fencing in the same school as her fencing idol Ko Yu-Rim and ends up becoming her RIVAL and thereby a very dear FRIEND'. ---> This talks admiration to rivalry to friendship.

2. The story of how 'Ko Yu-Rim, a very kind-hearted, family-oriented, gold medalist fencer, who was finding ways to project all her insecurities and hate towards her co-fencer Na Hee-Do but ends up finding solace in that same person'. ---> Sportsmanship and empathy.

3. The story of how 'Moon Ji-Woong, a guy interested in anything but education finds his passion, love and does everything to make a life out of those and to keep them sustained'. ---> Passion.

4. The story of how 'Ji Seung-Wan, a topper and a private talk show host, despite having everything still feels how empty and boring her life is and how she holds on to all the principles she believes in.' ---> Determination.

5. The story of how 'Baek Yi-Jin, the first son of a bankrupted once-rich family, struggles hard to make ends meet and bring his dispersed family together by starting off with small jobs and rising till a news anchor position'. ---> IDK man, he is everything. He is a RAINBOW!

All the other characters, Hee-Do's mother, Yu-Rim's parents, Seung-Wan's mother, and Yi-Jin's brother, all of them added to the story very much and brought so much life.

Story: I will give it a 10/10. The writers did a terrific job. If this sort of story isn't real I don't know what is? It is time we accept not every love story ends in marriage even in the K-Drama world. This story covers so many emotions that many of us experience on a very regular basis.

Screenplay and Direction: I will give this a 10/10 too. Not a single unnecessary filler scene, no unnecessary character, everything is in the right amount.

Action: 10/10. Am I giving too many 10s? Nam Joo-Hyuk did a wonderful job. His tears feel very personal. He is the right choice for the character Yi-Jin. Another actor might have done a nice job too, but now I can't imagine someone else doing this role. Kim Tae-Ri, Bona, Choi Hyun-Wook, Lee Ju-Myung all have shined very well in their high school roles and uniforms as well. Totally loved everyone's acting, especially the main 5 actors'.

OST: This series despite having many BOMB OSTs, I personally loved 'Your existence' by Wonstein. And towards the end, in ep 16 we hear 'Your world' by Seol Hoseung. This song hits rightly. I might have misheard, but this song has got some mix of 'Coldplay - Fix you' in its instrumentals. And if that's the case I would be even happier cause then the song adds more depth to the scene.

Ending: This is where many people called out the writers for their 'poor writing'. But if you ask me, the series stands out because of its ending. Hee-Do and Yi-Jin broke up cause they can no longer make it work. It was in 2002 that they broke up. There was no video calling, no WhatsApp or Instagram to stay in touch 24*7. In a timeline as such, when each other's love is not providing the same support anymore, the breakup is the right decision. It is better to cut on it rather than endure it till they both break. Some say that Yi-Jin had a chance to make it 'right(?)' when he read Hee-Do's dairy. Yes, he did, but after reading how the words went from 'we bought couple of suitcases' to 'goodbye' he chose not to chase her anymore BUT accepted that their relationship fell apart. None of them are to be held responsible for the breakup. In the 20s even we lose our friends and many relations and they are portrayed the same in the series. I personally think not making them get back together is a nice and mature move. One more thing many people were upset about was not showing Hee-Do's husband. Does she have one or not? But hey! isn't the series about the 5 friends? They have shown how those 5 have grown up and that is enough. Hee-Do's husband is never important in this story, TBH Min-Chae too. But she is the reason this whole story started (via diaries) so it is OK to have scenes around her. But it is fair to never show Hee-Do's husband if she has one.

The story is of 5 friends, their ups, downs, love, laughter, and lives. We got it all in the right amount. I have no complaints about this story. I would definitely re-watch and re-watch it. I suggest you watch it at least once. I enjoyed watching Twenty five - Twenty one and I enjoyed writing this review too. I hope you do too, watching and reading my review.

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waiting for the day i ugly cry at the ending...

LOVE IT! friends to lovers has always been my favorite trope (and when said friends are played by kim tae ri and nam joo hyuk, you can't help but love it even more)! particularly, what this drama does SO well (that other youth dramas fail to do) is the gradual growth in maturity both characters experience coupled with its realism: from achieving ones dreams to struggling with hardship, i truly truly related with the raw sentiments expressed by the absolutely wonderful main cast. felt myself slogging through the first couple of episodes, but stuck with it and found myself watching one my favorite on screen couples of all time. but i've been putting off the heartbreak for a year now... one day i'll subject myself to the suffering that is the last two episodes...

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Grateful with this drama ❤️

I never wrote a review, but I feel like a have to this time.
This drama has blow my mind. I finished the chapter 14 two days ago and still I can't gebit off my mind. It can seem exagerated but I'm feeling too many things by watching this. This make me feel overwhelmed by feelings, and I don't know how to stop it. I was just bored when I decided to play this one, I didn't know it would impact me this much. I don't remember the last time I smiled and laughed that hard with a drama, I don't remember the last time I were so happy watching a drama.

Actors/ Characters.

I didn't know Kim Tae Ri, I never watched a drama of hers but the name seemed familiar. So, I really thought that the actress was a teenager girl. She played so well that it's not like "she's so good actress", it just seems like she's not acting at all. Nam Hee Do is so adorable yet so madure, and she makes me laugh the most omg.
Nam Joo Hyuk... I had a lot of

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Realistic for the most....

Although I'm also not a fan of the "not so happily ever ending", I think we all can relate to this story in one way or another. Everyone i know have had that one great love with that great group of best friends having the time of theyre lives that they can sit around & reminise & tell theyre children about..."the good ole days". It wouldve been amazing if Hee Do & Back Jin got together in the end but in reality, most "real-life" stories of growing up turn out more so like this. For that reason, Im not as disappointed over the ending.

Despite the ending, I really enjoyed this group of young actors and theyre chemistry together! They all were so excellent & have brilliant acting futures ahead of themselves. They had me engrossed in the story & I felt every last emotion as they portrayed. Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!

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Not a fan

I passed over this series several times before watching. After reading a few reviews and seeing that the ratings were decent, I figured that I would give it a try. It started off cute and then I just wanted to throw something at the screen. The FL character development was nearly non-existent. The chemistry between the ML and FL was a stretch which made the depth of the 'love factor' more trying than endearing. I have seen ML (Nam Joo Hyuk) in different series, and he really needs better scripts. The concept of the script was good. However, so much of character development was lacking. Also, the hole in the script still remains in the end about the child. The series was too tiring to have you still guessing in the end. All in all, once it ended, I was more relieved than fulfilled. I would not recommend nor rewatch.

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Falling action was very disappointing

To get this out of the way, I find it weird that people want to point out the age gap when the main couple were at the same emotional stage and was looking for platonic support-- as Yijin was separated from his family and Hee-do was always left alone since her mom was a famous anchorwoman. I think the love grew very platonically to what it is now and do not see it predatory at all.

Putting that aside, I loved every single aspect of the drama. However, the falling action was the most disappointing and unrealistic part of the drama. For everyone talking about how "realistic" this drama is, it is not even close to realistic at all. It made no sense why Yijin, a novice reporter, was sent to a foreign country to fend off alone. While at that, Yijin also applied to a position in New York despite how much "hell" it brought him-- is he a masochist? I'm sure that he did feel like it was his duty to bring these victims' stories to light, but there was so much potential for the couple to simply make up. Instead, they simply ended in one heartwrenching fight.

Seung-wan also got done dirty in the end, she went to college and still was bored with her current occupation? I was expecting her to get some sort of "revenge" on those teachers. Her hitting on Yijin's brother was really weird. This group went from being the closest knitted group to a group that only sees each other at funerals? Is this the "realistic" message that the drama wants to give at the end? There are so many unanswered questions such as: Why did present-day Hee Do forget about her trip to the beach with her friends? Why did she forget about her first love? Who did she end up with at the end?

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