Twenty-Five Twenty-One

Sad Ending

Just finished the series. I don’t like romantic series but this one absolutely loved it.

I have a bitter sweet feeling now. I didn’t like the ending. So sad! I hoped that, under of the circumstances, at the end they would be together. I wish to be together. They loved each other, they respected each other and they supported each other. Anyway… not every big love has happy ending, right?

Also I didn’t like the last episode, not because of the ending but because I think from the half of episode and afterwards was like fast-forward, like they rushed to finish the series.

And now after this I feel my heart empty…

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my favorite kdrama so long.

CONTAINS SPOILER!!
I really enjoyed the story, the way the intro was basically about Hee-do’s daughter and then completely immersed in Hee-do’s teenage years.
The story of a young girl who wants to follow her dreams, have fun and find love is my favorite concept of series.
I’m a fan of romance dramas and i really recommend it!!
Although the final made me cry so much because IT WAS SO UNFAIR like, they belonged to each other and they had to break up because they had no more time for each other, i cried for A WEEK.
But the story made me fall in love with the drama, and i could rewatch it for a 100 times and never get bored!!

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What I Connected With

I'm really not the type to take away too many learnings from a drama. Why? Because like everyone I watch them to pass time and enjoy and find a little bit of entertainment in my alone time. But this drama just left me with so much to process which I dont know if everyone who watched felt that way.

This is a drama which tries to define so much of the youth which genuinely touched me especially because Im just about to pass out of junior college. It depicts the challenges of the youth be it at home, while following there passion, in friendships, in love, etc but at the same time its binded together by so much love, fun and an amazing storyline.

I loathe watching dramas which have a sad ending (technically not a spoiler) cuz it always shatters my heart. But for some reason despite knowing this i kept on watching, i had to find out not just out of curiosity but because by my whole heart i was hooked from the very first episode and the story felt too good. I know multiple people have mixed opinions about the ending but I think that it was great. Definately not the best obviously we all wanted them together but with all the circumstances present they both deserved happiness and they still got it just not together. This just shows pure appreciation towards all that they had and it amazes me.

THIS IS A MUST WATCH. A ROLLER COASTER OF A RIDE BUT A BEAUTIFUL STORY. You're allowed to have mixed opinions but atleast give it a shot never know if you love it or not.

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A perfect Romantic coming of age story

Let me just start by saying that what pushed me to write a review is the fact that I found a couple of reviews here who stated some very strange and unbelievable nonsense regarding the concept behind the story here as being a mystery of who will become the father!!!!! What?! I will not say haven't you been paying attention through out the show for hints or whatever, rather Haven't you watched the first episode for heaven's sake? Very early on the viewer is outright shown that the outcome of the romance that is about to unfold is unfortunately doomed, that the grown up FL's daughter's father is someone else other than the ML.
The fact that some people failed to grasp that, most propably I would guess out of sheer unwillingness to accept the fact that a KDrama can willingly choose to do that, and they kept watching with the hope that a twist will come along that will explain how the ML for some freak reason changed his name and had plastic surgery making him unrecognizable both in physical appearnce and identity to his own 14 year old daughter. Come on guys!!! If the girl was mearly reading written diaries written in codes, I would understand the mix up, but she was shown albums of old pictures by her grand-ma and she was inquiring who was the ML in the pics?! Her mom was mentioning her dad as being very much alive and working overseas! HELLO!!!!

now that I have vented out my anger at those delusional viewers who unfortunately end up giving lower ratings to the show because of their unfounded disappointment at the ending, let me very briefly state my humble review of this show.
I need not say just how much I enjoyed it, since my above rates just show, but let me state that I totally LOVED the idea of a show about falling in love AND breaking up, and not in the common fashion of heartbreak and angst, but rather the characters and their lives progressing in a way that shows them maturing by the passing of time and accumulation of experiences, and how their budding romance was a very important part of this process, how they both paved their own paths to a successful future with support from the other, and how those paths started to deviate from the other naturally. Because honestly, to me this rings more truth more than all the happily-ever-afters that we constantly get shown on TV and in movies.
Also,, let me put it out there, I would understand if people are disappointed with La la land for example, but this one is just totally different in that we knew the fact beforehand....way before the actual ending, actually I was thinking to myself while watching how I appreciated how the writers didn't play the boring game of "who's the father" that the reply series is famous for. As a viewer I find this to not be my cup of tea.

The only things I would have preferred had been done different in this show regarding writing, is how starting a certain point in the drama the ML's intial drive force to work hard ie his family got entirely pushed out of the picture, to the point than when they suddenly reappeared in the final episode, I was like yeah right....his family I totally forgot about. I would have appreciated if they were depicted just a wee little bit more in between especially when he was making life changing choices in his profession.
As for changes to the production, what was the need for a different actress to portray Na Hee Do as a grown up. Kim Tae Ri could have totally pulled of a 40-something mom thank you very much. I have nothing against the actress that played her (though tbh I was always annoyed by her voice) but what was the need to use a different actress for this character and this character only (other than the ML's younger brother which would totally wouldn't have worked with the same actor and appeared for a couple of seconds as a grown up). If Kim Tae Ri had played the older version as well, we viewers would certainly have felt more connection to the character, and the final scenes would have felt more seamless. Also, i honestly think that if KTR played both young and older versions, people would not have had such empty hopes that the ML was the father whol will show up eventually played by a different actor or something. Just guessing, cause I honestly can'twrap my head around viewers who were watching with hope of happily ever after. But still all those minor grievances did not really alter my opinion of the show as a whole.

If by some miracle, someone who hasn't yet watched the show and is checking out reviews to decide, is still reading this let me put it this way .....The story here is no mind boggling mystery with a title that is the only hint given (duh)...it just isn't! Rather, what this show is, is a coming of age story with a truely beatiful cute romance that will constantly make you swoon and blush and wish to fall in love the way they did, there is no love at first sight, no stupid initial denials, no love triangles, no needless push and pull, no acts of noble idiocy, none of these so well trodden tropes here, rather what you get are a bunch of strong and motivated characters with unique backgrounds and different upbringing settings, that bond during a critical part of their lives, whose existence in each others' lives was a driving force to push forward, grow up, persevere, excel, and become successful each in his own path. Their emotional connections transcends time and distance and even with no direct communications.
The pacing was great never felt any lags or rushed parts, and although the more we drew nearer to the final episode I was worried the last couple of episodes would not be able to wrap everything up and satisfy us as to what lead up to the current day time, I genuinely enjoyed the last episodes more than anything and thought they were the perfect closure to a perfect relationship, down to the last scene after the finale's credits. I just love how such simple scenes can speak loads and loads about people, their history. Just perfect writing period.

The acting was beyond amazing. I am growing more and more a fan of Nam Joo Hyuk, his acting here was simply put just perfect. Kim Tae Ri is also such a great actress and although I intially worried she would not be believable as a high school student younger than the ML, she proved me wrong. They were both able to portray great emotional chemistry. All the side characters were given enough balance of story development and screen time in a way that gave each of them a space to shine. The directing was wonderful, my only gripe would be how I sometimes felt the camera made people look like they had bloodshot eyes and extra red palms LOL

All in all, this was a great show, great writing with a good story pacing, awesome characters and magnificent performance, good direction and cinematography. Do not pay attention to the odd reviews here who say they were disappointed by the ending, it's a great show and with a fitting believable heartfelt ending. You will certainly enjoy each momente of this ride.

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Wow, just wow

The rollercoaster of emotions are so worth the watch. Although ut was a bit lengthy I was really pleased in the this coming of age k-drama. I had rrally high expectatioks from the start and when I tell you this show ABSOLUTELY DELIVERED.

Na Heedo's storyline was interesting and it didn't feel boring at any point, I think only towards the end when she was talking about retiring but I liked how it was only summarized instead of showing us another fight scene. I really enjoyed that throughout the show you can sense her maturity developing over time and many may say that Heedo was very childish at the start but I think it was overall necessary so that we could understand what things made her mature and realise reality.

Going towards Ko Yurim, I LOVED HER STORY SO MUCH. I feel that the parallels that were made between her and Heedo were absolutely fantastic and showed us thr bond that these two shared, even at the start when they were enemies. ALSO CAN WE TALK ABOUT JIWOONG AMD YURIM BECAUSE THEY WERE SO DAMN CUTE. I loved there light-hearted relationship and OH MY GOSH THE ENDING FOR THEM SPECTACULAR.

Also I also wanted to mention Seungwan's arc because it was small and less detailed yet ut really solidified her place in the friend group and I think she may even be one of my favourite chracters ngl.

Also Heedo and Baek Yijin's relationship was amazing, it had the right amount of events to kepp us interested throughout the show and I really loked that they used the historical event that havppened in the early 2000s to make thus seem more real and immerse us more into the plot. Baek Yijin's arc was so well written, especially his time in New York where we could evidently see him disconnected but can also feel sympathetic to his place in the relationship (I still 100% agree with Heedo's reasoning though don't even).

Overall for those you want a light hearted, melancholic (only towards the end) K-drama I would 100% recommend this and to those who have already watched, Twinkling Watermelon is immaculate and is also set in the 90s. It also has Choi Hyun-Wook (Moon Jwoong) and Seol In-ah from Business Proposal.

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Probably my favourite k drama

I don't understand how come people seem to hate the ending saying it was rushed. It was pretty much clear Hye Jin wasn't going to end up with Heedo. (Whose daughter wouldn't be able to recognize her own father while seeing his photos from past).
Also the seeds of growing differences could be seen from the start. Hye Jin don't have a graduation degree and he must give his 100% in his job to provide for himself and his family while Heedo already has PTSD from neglectance from his mother choosing her career over her family. Their decision to split was justified. You can see their relationship in contrast with Yu rim and Moon ji yung who were in worst situation than them (literally miles apart for years) but were still able to pull through. Their problems weren't in the way of their compatibility with each other.
Again another complain about people is why wasn't the dad shown. But this story is not about Hee do's husband. This story is about Ye jin and Heedo when they were 25 and 21.
Personally for me the ending is the best thing about the whole show that sets it apart for every other k drama. I was hoping for a 'How I met your mother' kind of ending, that Ye jin and Heedo would end up together after they got old. But again this story is about a distant summer they shared together. You are not the same person you were 20 years ago.

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Overall a Good Show.

Twenty five Twenty One

Kim Tae Ri as Na Hee Do

I have not been exposed to this side of Kim Tae Ri's acting. I especially stayed away from this show because I thought Kime Tae Ti would have a role which was consistent of her past role. Calm, thoughtful, Pleasant and somewhat dormant. Mr. Sunshine, Forest comes to my mind. I liked both the shows. Man O Man was I wrong! Her role and her acting completely different from the other two. I was pleasantly surprised. What a performance! I would say Career Best. I loved each and every scene she was in. I wish i could just make a compilation of just her scenes and rewatch it.


Bona as Go Yu Rim:

I am not familiar with this actress, this is the first I have watched her performance. She was fantastic. Very Talented. She fit the role perfectly. Loved the way she acted throughout the show.


Choi Hyun Wook as Moon Ji Woong

He was great. Very Funny guy. Every Scene he was on was top notch.


Lee Joo Myung as Ji Seung Wan

She was fantastic, I wanted more screen time for her. Whenever she was on screen, things are always interesting. Every scene she was on was rewatchable. I enjoyed her performance very much.

Nam Joo Hyuk as Baek Yi Jin

I liked his name in this show, other than that nothing to write about. Same old same old ML.
His role was insignificant to the story. It looked like this role was forced in to this story.
His performance was just ok. Others regardless of the strength of their role, i felt they brought something to the table. Unfortunately in my opinion he did not. Which was sad. The show would have been much better without this role. Addition by Subtraction. ...Yi Jin role could have been a support role instead of ML.

Story and Screen Play: The story was good. In my opinion, it should have been just about the 4 characters, Kim Tae Ri as Na Hee Do, Lee Joo Myung as Ji Seung Wan, Bona as Go Yu Rim and Choi Hyun Wook as Moon Ji Woong. Although Nam Joo Hyuk as Baek Yi Jin was ok, but his role did not fit. It seemed forced. The story could have been more fun without this character. The show could have spent more time with the other 4 main characters. They were really missed in some parts of the show.

Romantic Story between Hee Do and Yi Jin was again forced, they did not have chemistry at all. The entertainment value of the scenes was lower whenever Kim Tae Ri and Nam Joo Hyuk was on the screen simultaneously. Usually it is other way around whenever the FL and ML is in the screen the value goes up. Choi Hyun Wook as Moon Ji Woong and Bona as Go Yu Rim romance was much more believable and entertaining. Even though they had their own ups and downs, it seemed real and watchable. Whenever they were together in a scene, you did not feel like you need skip those scenes.

Fencing, this part of the story was well written and well presented. It is not easy to direct a sports movie. I am not sure how much research and effort went in to tell this story. It looks like the director and the cast did their home work. Whether they used double or not, every scene looked real and entertaining. Kim Tae Ri and Bona might have gone through some real tough training to be casted in this role.

Friendship: Kim Tae Ri as Na Hee Do, Lee Joo Myung as Ji Seung Wan, Bona as Go Yu Rim and Choi Hyun Wook as Moon Ji Woong Friendship story was well presented to the audience. Their chemistry was awesome. It was very nostalgic whenever they got together and talked about their past experiences.

Overall a very good show. I would just watch this again just for Kim Tae Ri and Lee Joo Myung.

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Spoilers after few sentences(I have given warning when the spoiler starts)

It reminded me of Reply 1988 and Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo because of the nostalgic and sporty aspects. The visual aesthetics and ost were amazing.Its easily one of the best Kdramas of 2022.(Spoiler alert)Now for the ending alot of people are not satisfied with it but I personally liked it.It was bittersweet.We usually don't see such endings in Kdramas but the writers were very brave to choose it.It did not change my love for this series.I would have liked if they ended up together but it conveyed the message that sometimes things just don't workout and its no one's fault.That is what life is.It is not always going to be rainbows and sunshine.

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i now fully understand why this kdrama traumatized my friends…

I remember it was the summer of 2022 and this kdrama was gaining a bit of traction that time and my friend also made us recreate some scenes in our trip to Baguio since we had similar vibes and aesthetics. After all, this drama also centered around friendship. Fast forward to 2025, I was finally able to watch this since this was also recommended by my other friends who are avid fans of watching kdrama.

Where do I begin? I have so many thoughts about this kdrama since it’s so complex yet easy to digest and to understand. The acting, the flow of the story, the musical scoring, the setting, even the editing seemed so perfect. When I watched this, I felt a sudden wave of nostalgia. I felt so immersed in this kdrama as I found it completely relatable. The story explored themes of adolescence & captured it’s essence in the purest form possible. I really like our main characters, each of them had their own struggles and personalities that are realistic. I for once hated Bona since she was a total b to Na Hee Do but overtime she grew on me since she had development. I just know a kdrama is good when I feel angry at a certain character, it shows how good they act and send a clear message to the viewer.

The ending was a shocker of course but it was realistic. There are people in our lives who happen to just cross with our paths. I fully understand now why this kdrama traumatized my friends. It had layers to it and it was beautifully told.

Also somehow, the age gap of the ML and FL was kind of weird in the beginning.

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