Hope there is more.
I've read other reviews and understand the disappointment. However, there were more positives than negatives. Even though I wanted a specific ending, I appreciate the space that I can imagine the possibility of an alternate ending. Or I hope there is more to the story that has my specific ending =).Was this review helpful to you?
My drama of the Year
╭⸻⸻╮Last time in the K-drama study, I talked about Joy's decent drama Once Upon a Small Town. Today I'll be telling you my drama of the year, which took over my whole year. I'll also be talking about my drama journey of 2022 and what I'll be checking out next year. I'm excited to announce the drama that took over my year since it took me a while to pick it up. Now let's jump into the post.
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Drama Journey 2022:
January started the year with me finishing up the drama Snowdrop which was still airing since it came out last year in December. By February, I started watching Twenty-five Twenty-one and Business Proposal, the first new drama of 2022 for me to watch. Of the two, Twenty-five Twenty-one was more attractive with its story. May was the first month I took a break from watching dramas while waiting for Café Minamdang to start airing, but I will say I didn't enjoy watching it much. July picked things back with Today's webtoon began airing as Café Minamdang was still airing. I fell in love with Today's Webtoon as Sejeong played her character wonderfully. Now with Café Minamdang ending, September came around with Today's Webtoon coming to a close and Once Upon a Small Town which aired three episodes a week until it ended at the end of September.
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Drama of the Year:
Todays, Webtoon and Twenty-Five Twenty-One both battled it out for Drama of the year. After listening to OSTS, watching clips, and reading the two blogs I created. It was challenging picking the year's drama since both dramas were enjoyable. So now, after thinking about it for a while, the show that took over my 2022 was Twenty-Five Twenty-One. Twenty-Five Twenty-One took over my year because of the story and characters. I loved the female lead Na Hee-do who made me continue watching the show. The characters in this show kept making this show even better. One moment I enjoyed was watching the Fencing moments, which kept things interesting. This coming-of-age story was a fun one to watch as we got to see the characters grow up. The OSTs helped bring the show to life, as I always listened to them. I'm glad Twenty-Five Twenty-One took over my year, as it was one of my favorite shows this year.
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Shows I'm checking out next year:
A Time Called You (Thriller, Mystery, Romance, Fantasy drama is supposed to air next year, but there is no release date for the show, so I have to keep my eye out for it. However, the story made me want to check it out, so when it drops, I'll be checking it out and reviewing it for you guys.)
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Ask The Start (Comedy, Romance, Sci-Fi) doesn't have a release date yet, so I need to keep an eye out for that, but Lee Min Ho and the Story made me want t check this show out. I'm hoping this rom-com is enjoyable since there are supposed to be sci-fi elements thrown into the drama. So once this show comes out, I['ll start taking notes so I can review it once it ends.)
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Joseon Lawyer (Historical, Law, Romance, Drama is coming out on March 17th of next year and will be the next show for me t write a review. After enjoying Bona in Twenty-Five Twenty-One, I'd like to see how she will do in a Historical drama. I'm a big fan of Historical dramas, but I'm giving this one a try to see if that genre will grow on me.)
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Uncanny Counter season 2 (The sequel to the popular drama Uncanny Counter might be dropping next year, so I have to keep my eye out for it since I'm excited to see what they will do with the Sequal. I enjoyed the original drama as it had a few moments that could've improved. I'm hoping it improves the show a little bit, but I'll have to see whenever it comes out)
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Thanks, everyone, for reading my drama reviews for 2022. I'm excited to deliver some new ones for you in 2023. I can't wait to hear all the beautiful OSTs that dramas will bring to the table. I'd like to see which drama takes of my 2023 as I'll be doing this end-of-the-year drama blog again. If no new drama drops in January or February that I want to watch, I'll see you all. After watching Joseon Lawyer, which starts Bona. Have a great rest of your day; this has been the K-drama Study for 2022. See you all next year.
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This review may contain spoilers
Read this review if you are thinking of watching this (ending spoilers)
In the beginning, of this drama i was in loved. I really liked the storyline from the beginning. But the ending wasn’t for me. I hate hate sad endings. In my opinion, this drama had the chance to have good happy ending. But i lowkey saw it coming but still, it totally hurt my feelings. The actors really killed these roles. Besides from the romance, the friendships between the characters were so interesting to watch. Even though, the ending is terrible, i think you should still watch it. (beware, ur gonna be crying)Was this review helpful to you?
Nostalgia, youth and love
Note: this made me ugly cry. What can I say, I love me a sad ending.Favourite quotes:
In 1998, the year when the whole world was shaken, twenty-two and eighteen met. The two called each other by their first names.
They became twenty-three and nineteen, and the two depended on them.
It became twenty-four and twenty, and both
of them were hurt.
When they were twenty-five and twenty-one,
they fell in love.
You always lead me to do what’s right and to a good place. That’s my definition of our relationship. Also known as a rainbow.
… love. It’s love. I love you, Na Hee-Do. I don’t need a rainbow.
Rowdy friendship and passionate love are brief moments that make your long life shine.
Whether it was because he was running or because he was excited, he was out of breath. The wind blew and the green leaves rubbed against the body. It was the middle of summer.
Everyone has a first time. Since today is the first time, I will be clumsy until today.
From now on, when you hang out with me, you can become happy and keep it a secret. When it’s just us two, let’s be happy when we’re together.
Our friendships are always excessive, we’re helpless in the face of love, and our failures are passionate. Anxiety, grief, jokes, and smiles come together to form a strange and irregular shape. Perhaps we’re currently standing at the center of our youths.
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This review may contain spoilers
one of the best ever dramas made
ep16:no tears were left at the end of ep16. incredibly talented the writer to have us smiling for the future them after having us bawling in the beginning, the end and everywhere in between with their past goodbyes.
well, that was indeed a journey. the friendship is literally the best part of it. hee do's friendship with yijin , with yurim and the rest. each different, each special.
although a part of me wanted to know what the rest of them where doing in the present day, and maybe see a glimpse of minchae's father - but really, that's a different story to tell. a different chapter in life. 2521 was their best of youth.
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This review may contain spoilers
A beautiful love story destined to end before it even began.
Twenty Five Twenty One” is not just another school romance — it’s a delicate portrait of young love painted with nostalgia, longing, and the quiet ache of knowing it was never meant to last.At first glance, the story might seem familiar. But the way it unfolds — so gentle, so intimate — feels like slipping through time itself. That’s why I call it a time travel story. Not because anyone jumps through years, but because we do. We’re pulled back to a moment that once was, a love that bloomed between twenty-five and twenty-one — not to witness its beginning, but to mourn its end.
Even from the title, we were warned. This wasn’t a story of “happily ever after,” but a memory preserved in amber — beautiful, untouchable, and gone. And still, knowing the ending didn’t stop my tears. Because it wasn’t the farewell that shattered me. It was the quiet cruelty of one word: Destiny.
In other stories, destiny means soulmates. It means fate pulling two hearts together. But here, destiny is what brings them close only to pull them apart. Every moment — every smile, every heartbreak, every choice — was guided by something greater than them. And though they couldn’t change the course they were given, they chose to love anyway.
They turned a doomed love into a cherished memory — one that would hurt, but also heal. Because some love stories don’t need a future to be unforgettable. They just need to have been real.
And this one was. So heartbreakingly, breathtakingly real.
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You can't watch this drama without tears)))
Twenty-Five Twenty-One is an unforgettable drama that beautifully captures the struggles and dreams of youth. It tells the story of passionate characters who are chasing their goals while learning about love, friendship, and themselves. The drama mixes lighthearted, funny moments with deep and emotional scenes, making it feel very real and relatable.One of its strongest points is the amazing cast. Every actor gives life to their role, and the chemistry between the characters feels natural. The cinematography and soundtrack also add to the emotional atmosphere, making each scene more powerful.
What makes this drama so special is how it speaks to the viewer’s heart—it’s not just about romance, but also about growing up, facing challenges, and remembering the precious moments of youth. It leaves you with both warmth and a little sadness, but most of all, with inspiration.
I would recommend Twenty-Five Twenty-One to anyone who enjoys heartfelt stories with strong characters and meaningful life lessons.
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Boring…
Hear me out, the first few episode were great, they had me hooked, but the episode more towards the middle of the show really bored me. The couple has an age gap so they can’t even get together until towards the end. Also the age gap makes me feel a tad bit uncomfortable since the fl was still a high schooler when the show started. The sports aspect of the show was interesting, but also felt like it was lacking and it too bored me. It was hard for me to watch those episodes. The ending though :( It’s bittersweet and did make me cry a pool of tears. Although, the cast and music are top tier. Love Your Existence by Wonstein. Overall, not a bad show, just not one for me.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
is it only me
I've seen 6 episodes so far... I loathe Ko Yu Rim so much. Like I don't really get why exactly she hates Na Hee Do. It is so ughhhhhh. Like I don't really get why exactly is she so against Na Hee Do and What it has to do with Na Hee Do. Like she is Na Hee Do's Online friend but she acts like the bitchest Bitch in real life with her it gets on my nerves so much that's all*ahahwiwlbskxndkxnbwhwjeheiwowundnfjfjfnfhfjfjfieowjehbdmdkwowueurhtbgngkjvjfjfjdieowowiehfbfnfnnfvnnvnvnvmvmvkvkvooriwhwhsbdbfbfnfnvnnvngngjgjfjeoowiwurhfbvjfmfmcmnfjfjfjfjfjfjrjqopwuwuehrhfjdshekwjwimwndbfiepqhebdkd*
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This review may contain spoilers
Regardless of the ending, it's still worth a watch
Though I marked it as 'contains spoilers' here is a relatively spoiler free review for people that wanted to watch the show when it finished airing but are now hesitant after seeing the reactions to episode 16. I used the word 'relatively' because even though I'm not saying what happened, the words I use make it easy to figure out the ending.This show is beautiful, it really is. The way they portrayed sportsmanship, relationships and friendships were everything. I found myself crying to scenes that weren't necessarily sad because the actors did a really good job at making me feel a million different emotions. Let's not forget the fact that there are so many hilarious scenes and great character development.
If you want your heart to not feel like a hollow shell, it's best you stop watching by episode 14. It's really not about a sad or happy ending but rather a really rushed one. They could've cut out some scenes and explained a bit more on why things turned out the way they did but unfortunately they didn't. It definitely is worth a watch but if an ending makes or breaks a show for you, it's best to pretend the show ends in episode 14. I'm sure you saw the word realistic being thrown around whenever anyone mentioned the ending and I love realistic shows...just not when it's done like this.
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This review may contain spoilers
This is the story of people who love career more than relationship
Life is making choices. And the ML chose to love his career more than his relationship, leaving behind his lover. I’m rating this story as an 8 because the story can be real and the actors are amazing but yes, I’m absolutely disappointed by the ending. The FL doesn’t deserve this after all the loneliness caused by her mother work. It is too cruel to make the boy who loves her choose the same path. It is too unfair. There were other way to work and being together, but he was so selfish for going to America and not sharing his feelings that relationship broke. I’m disappointed because in the first 10 episodes it seems that the boy is really mature and knows what love is, but at the end he was childish and selfish. At the end he cries because he doesnt want to leave her… Really?? YOU LEAVE HER. You want career and lovers, but this can’t be possibile.To love deeply you have to sacrifice something important, you have to pay the price to have a true relationship. He didnt do it because he was immature and preferred career. And the thing that I can’t accept is that this drama seems to support the choose to put career at the first place. No, love is not this. Love is another story. This is not a Romantic drama, but a drama that shows a real possibility to mature in friendship, relationship and work with the help of people that doesnt love you deeply. It is a sad story, but not beatiful in my opinion, but a sad depressing story that teach that people cant be trustfull.
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This review may contain spoilers
why this drama is different from others ?
All dramas around us shows a happy ending with the togetherness of couples .But this drama shows us that not every couple has happy ending and they not always end up together . This dramas literally , teaches us that we should always be happy in the happiness of our love and be happy with the memories that we spend together . This drama by name tells the age of both Na Hee-do and Beak Ye-jin 's age when they had the best moments of their life . It just not only shows the relationship of lovers but also best friends , the friendship of Heedo and Yurim was a very diffrent case from others at first when they were kids they were enemies Heedo become fan of yurim , then after they endup becoming enemies again but after all of that at the last they became the best friends forever . It also shows the real life and efforts of a athelit .Was this review helpful to you?
