Erika Song

Alright, I love your comment. Thank you for commenting this lol. Some are just accepting the narrative that the writer wrote without fully analyzing why it destroyed character integrity and disregards character development of the characters.

I know both Yijin and Heedo would've talked early-on their setup, communicate their disappointments and uphold each other's good and bad.

Lmao, also both persons share the good and bad times, it's just that when they are together they were able to pull through and make happiness out of it -- they both met during bad times and persevere together during those bad times. All bad times when they are together became good times.

The 9/11 is really a bad time (ignoring how forced this plot is) but instead of taking their relationship into new heights, the writer used this for Heedo to think that both are growing apart. It didn't serve any purpose other than break-up.

Also, Yijin's decisions in the latter half of episode 15 were just too forced and deprived of agency and emotional intelligence, which I know he wouldn't do, nor realistically, people would do to someone they treasure, respect as a person and think of as a long time partner.

I've heard that it is sad but I'm okay with sad endings as long as properly developed ^_^

For me, instead of breaking-up, they should've shown how their relationship can receive new heights. It's too force in my opinion and the main writing reason that it was there is only because they needed to tick-off the "first love break-up" on the bucket list -- when what was shown was no longer a first love but rather a true and great love. This drama would be more magnificent and love from top to end if they gave the "happy" ending that the characters deserved, instead of pulling another narrative that doesn't give much significance or one that only ruins character integrity. Happy endings are not weak, it is worked for. Sad endings only work if it is properly developed, in this case, I don't think it is. The present timeline doesn't also mesh very well with the past and doesn't have balance screen time.

Apparently, the writer already had an idea that their relationship should only stay in 25 and 21 but the 13 episodes of the drama was the characters slowly falling in love. To me, her theme that "the light fades" is no longer applicable after their separation in episode 5 -- it already is too strong and the rest of the episodes were only headed on how they fall in love. I honestly believe from that point in time, the writer should've reevaluated her theme and if it still appropriate or if that was still the characters deserved. To me, the ending was not "tragic but beautiful", it was just plain tragically cruel to the characters no matter what other messages there are. The theme apparently looks good on paper, on reading it, but it only stayed there.

Wait...in the preview it seems like the teenagers' father are planning to abort the baby or something? I mean, how dare them after those two teenager went through and when they finally realized its worth. By the way, I love how the teenagers finally figured it out and owned up to it. It's very courageous of them and I love the rain scene! Another scene I love is the school scene because they literally are holding their head up high and they wouldn't live in somebody else definition of perfect life. I love those two teenagers for that and I root for their happiness, but seriously, their dads, please for the sake of your children, especially for Young Joo and her baby.

Nope.

fun fact: her daughter doesn't even know Ko Yu Rim in the present lol

Yes that 9/11 insertion they could not even get it right. Lol. The montage of their relationship in episode 15 only worked because the editing was smooth especially the last sequence (but writing wise, esp Yijin seems to have out-of-character choices).

Their relationship development has shown to have lesser depth compared to the bond they built. Suddenly, the characters can't communicate disappointments with one another, both have busy schedules yet it's only Yijin's scheduled that were grinded by the writer. Actually, most of Yijin's stood-up were too much of a coincidence, I just knew that they were planned and forced because they were insisting to break the leads. Lol. I think the reason why they showed 3 break-ups in the last episode just so it could be justified to be the good reason and probably in thinking that it could provide a satisfying resolution (but it isn't to most viewers, including me), otherwise, more people will be so underwhelmed with the break-up. Also, probably for emotional manipulation. It really such a shame. And all your points lol, the irony of "realism".

Plus, they actually used Yijin's career being similar to Heedo's mom when the whole drama showed how different he is from her mother, in fact, he's very much similar to Heedo's father.

One of my favorite commentator for 2521 and who creates many good analyses while these drama is airing, compiled all the crimes that the ending of 2521 committed (including the 2nd half of episode 15):

https://kestrel-of-herran.tumblr.com/post/682313749960523776/2521-ending-crimes

It's a very detailed criticism with regards to the writing of the last two episodes.

The romance is nicely well-done, it is mature and one of its core genre. It was a really good drama, the writing, directing and acting are all solid. It is breathtaking to watch, but be warned that this is not entirely thriller, the melodrama and suspense are combined to deliver a solid storyline.

I am glad you were comforted by those analyses! :) Our feelings and our pain over the ending are real and shouldn't be downplayed. We loved the characters so much and really ached for their happiness. I will always say this but no matter what post-analyses why the ending is good or makes sense, the writing and execution remains to be flawed and forced. It ignores character development and just detriments it for the sake of concluding with it their chosen narrative.

I think the reason why others cannot seem to fully immerse themselves with this drama because it's an omnibus-style drama. Every story of character pairing are focused individually, there are specific episodes given to every major stories. This is different from a normal drama style that has leads and supporting characters where their stories mixed with one another all through-out.

The portrayal of first love in Our Blues hits the point that 2521 wasn't able to hit. Because, Heedo and Yijin's relationship is not first love, lol, anyone who've seen Our Blues, that's first love and not this one. Their ending hurts a lot because Heedo and Yijin have the strongest bond and their character choices starting latter half of episode 15 for me had been out of character and worse, their bond as bestfriends were just cut off like that. The execution of reminiscing over first love there in Our Blues was just good and right since we also have a fair amount of insight into their current lives, but, here, we rarely know about present Heedo.

Save yourself, do not watch the ending lol (it's definitely a mistake of mine T-T) and have your own head canon where they can have all the character and relationship development they need~ 🤗

Yijin going from planning anniversary surprise to not informing Heedo about NYC position, uhm, no one would actually do that in real life, especially not Yijin. Just out of character. Plus, I find their romantic relationship to have lesser depth than when they have before (?), the times I was only moved is when Heedo wiped tears of Yijin and their conversation while falling asleep, but other than those, it feels like their character depth have become lesser and and it shouldn't be the case considering their strong bond. They suddenly can't communicate, which is in contrast to what they are previously (esp with regards to Heedo's disappointments).

I'm also mad because the writer didn't even put Yijin's family into a picture to help him with his stay in NYC where there's a terrorist attack so he could have another mentor to guide him and to complete his arc that he can't always save people, sigh. It seems to me there were truly forcing for a break-up and it is very much evident in episode 16...

If you are probably wondering why many people didn't like the ending or if you just wanna be comforted with your disappointments as well, I compiled these tumblr posts:

1. Evolution of the characters and the forcing of initial theme in the ending: https://trashlie.tumblr.com/post/680900231003570176/2521-death-of-the-author

2. Respectful counter to realism and why the ending doesn't align to the drama's main theme: https://tatooine-rainstorm.tumblr.com/post/680741228967608320/a-respectful-counter-to-real-life-i-am

3. Criticisms in the ending plus important arcs that weren't wrapped beautifully in the ending: https://press-one-to-replay.tumblr.com/post/680581088095174656/hi-im-here-to-talk-about-my-criticism-for

4. 9/11 narrative, out of character choice and abandonment of Yijin's arc: https://underdevelopedbutterfly.tumblr.com/post/680904424139505664/just-looked-at-the-reddit-comments-and-some

5. My own commentary regarding the ending, mostly with regards to OOC choices, forceful narrative, superficial ending to other characters, realism and the bad, neutral and good things about it:
https://underdevelopedbutterfly.tumblr.com/post/680902988569755648/before-i-use-all-my-energy-to-write-everything-i (plus better narrative choices to highlight Heedo and Yijin relationship growth, instead of breaking up)

6. The lack of representation of adulthood (and middle-aged Heedo) that should've allowed the viewers to look on how adulthood that it can still be as passionate and better in contrast to Youth: https://thecoolestfreakyouknow.tumblr.com/post/680801207552458753/ive-seen-numerous-people-defend-the-2521-finale

7. Accepts the writing but not the motive: https://consigliere-vincenzo.tumblr.com/post/680658967927652352/i-feel-like-a-total-clown-believing-in-peoples

Of course, people can love the ending freely and if it resonated with you and you no longer have any criticisms to it, I'm definitely good with that. The drama has still been a good one and I especially love the ladder metaphor regarding dreams and perseverance.

If you value character development, right pacing and execution, I suggest, do not watch the last episode. The first 15 episodes was good up to its first half, the latter half was just the 9/11 conflict inserted to break the most special bond in the show, but other than that, it didn't serve any purpose and where characters chose decisions that weren't align with who they were for the rest of the episodes.

I'm actually very much curious with those teenager stories and I got a little uncomfortable with it tbh, but then again, writer noh has always been this unconventional. I hope it can be resolved neatly. It's also good that we can still see Eun Hui even though her major story already ended.

Kim Woo Bin and Han Ji Min has really nice chemistry! Truly enjoyed their scenes and how Captain Park is thinking if he can love a girl with many past experiences as well as their whole conversation inside his bus with him giving advice to Yeong-ok to try not to hurt him and asking why she's determined to hurt him. Such good lines! Yeong-ok is still a mysterious girl but I hope for a good turn around for them both.

"I openly say now, Our Blue has nothing extraordinary in it, it is just a plain drama with the effort of great cast in it."

I don't get the reason why there's need to compare? Moreover, both dramas here have low rating in MDL and I do find it odd, to be honest.

I have watched Our Blues up to the episode 3 and it is absolutely not a plain drama, it is like an ode to everyday's life or normal people, literally -- to our blues. Every character pairing has their own stories to tell and have burdens that the writer wants to explore and share in a painfully realistic way and that's what I loved about writer Noh's style. She's not shy to create human characters and to write realistically painful and emotionally charged dialogues.

I know the writer of My Liberation Notes is good as well and has her own writing style. I also have watched My Mister and I'm confident this drama will be really good as well so I'm thinking of watching this, but to openly belittle another drama is just disrespectful.

I'm so okay with that if that's the case! Thank you!