Erika Song

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!

Thanks also for your comment, I haven't watch "Live" yet but now I'm considering it!

If you want to watch rounded characters with realistically painful dialogues you should watch writer Noh's dramas. She knows how to write great characters with proper development and do not just abandon their arcs at some point only to create painful suffering caused through backwards development and plot devices to her characters. She's a great scriptwriter.

Many viewers these days seem to drop the word "realism" on other dramas that apparently destroy character integrity just to fit their motives, but Our Blues is a drama with a true touch of a realism and layered emotions.

I love how poignant this drama was and how simple it is with their flow of conversations especially on the last episode. This feels being hug by a blanket with a hot cocoa in hand during a cold rainy weather.

Wait, so this is a melodrama haha based on the next ep preview. There are many things that will be happening in the next episode

Okay, that scene in episode 2 where Hansu's younger and present (older) self at the beach floating around is heartbreaking and a very good scene, I'm in on this drama!

this drama seems my vibes, also, since When The Camellia Blooms is at the recommendations, just dropping by that it was my comfort drama and may become yours as well

anyway the first two episodes seem good to me~

Hi, I loved the drama a lot, but I have particular disappointment with the ending, especially with their use of plot devices such as 9/11 just to illicit the breakup, out of character choices, forceful narrative in the end, etc...so my suggestion is to watch up to the half-time of episode 15.