junebug

Maybe you will find my perspective on it helpful, or at least interesting even if you disagree 😋 I don't believe the whole point of the drama is letting go of the past but of embracing the present with all its goods and bads. That is why the drama is from Min Chae's point of view reading the diaries. Hee Do says the reason she let Min Chae continue reading the diaries is because she wanted her daughter to see how important it is to have a youth full of all kinds of experiences...the good, the bad, the successes, the failures. That is why Min Chae changes her mind about ballet, as she says she learned from her mother's diaries that she wants to embrace all life has to offer, even if it means some failure too. Hee Do doesn't need to let go of the past completely but let go of some regret she had concerning how she handled certain moments (like most adults, even the happiest) which she comes to terms with. But the drama is ultimately about embracing life's current moment for all it has to offer, with a highlight on a specific period in Hee Do's life because that is the one that is relevant to Min Chae's youth, and was an important time of change.

I really love how the episode focusing on Seung Wan that was about how quitting something can be the best choice for yourself in that time set up the ending of the drama. Seung Wan left school because of her principles, Ye Ji quit fencing because it no longer made her happy. This was presented as a positive thing and celebrated as a chance for a new beginning. Some people keep saying "Hee Do and Yi Jin could have worked harder to make it work, why didn't they try harder"...well you can say the same about Seung Wan and Ye Ji, and even about Yu Rim deciding to leave for Russia. Sometimes sticking with something and suffering through the bad parts isn't the best for you, whether that's a hobby, career, relationship, whatever. But it doesn't mean you failed or doomed yourself...it means you get to go toward a new beginning that is better for you. For anyone who has decided to make a change in their life or decided something hasn't worked for them, that is so comforting! I love it ❤️

Yep I've seen people saying those points again and again, I just don't agree with any of them!

This drama had such a great view on growing up/adulting. Not everything lasts forever but your past helps shape you in a positive way and even though "the times" are hard you can still become someone you want to be with the help of good people. Appreciate the past and look forward to the future ☺️

Thank you for articulating this so well! I agree completely!

Don't get me wrong I think everyone can have their criticisms (I even have some myself) and their experience of the episode is valid. If it comforts anyone though I would just like to say it was a really emotional episode with a lot of heartbreak in it, and because of the high emotions I think some people walked away feeling the ending was more miserable than it really was. I do think looking at it again once some time has passed people may feel a little better about it ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I understand your view/why you'd think that. I didn't take it that way though! Not as things Hee Do is clinging to (out of regret or bad emotions) but a way for the drama to honor the past they have just shown us. It is like saying "this isn't my world anymore but it still mattered" rather than "I am still stuck in the past."

Where are people getting the idea that Hee Do and Yi Jin (present) still have regrets and feelings for each other? I didn't get that at all. Hee Do doesn't regret the breakup even right after it happens but has held onto regret because she felt she didn't articulate her feelings well enough in the moment. But once that is put to rest she is at peace with it. The "2521" shop name, red car, all that people are pointing to in order to say she's miserable and hasn't moved on are just fun little remnants of the past for her and the viewers. The after credits scene with Yi Jin is meant to be a kind of funny little scene showing how something that seemed so big to you when you were younger affected you but also in present is faded enough to be a little answer to a question...the way all our pasts become something like that ("Who was your first best friend?" "Your first dog?" all that.) 😅 Yi Jin wasn't crying at his desk...he was doing just fine. They both are.

I think some things could have been executed better but yep, this was the finale I have been anticipating this whole time, totally in line with what I felt the writer was trying to do with this show from the start. The things people are criticizing as "unanswered questions" are things I knew would not be answered (and would be pointless to answer, because they add no meaning to the story being told). I definitely need to think on some things but overall this ending was pretty fitting to me. All our characters relatively happy and healthy with people they love, moments to look forward to ahead, and a past they can appreciate but not be held back by, having been inspired by the people in their lives to "go toward a good future." Satisfying without being too sweet, a little heartache but lots of gratefulness and hope.

Maybe I can see into the future, because everything went almost exactly as I thought it would, right down to the audience reaction 😅

I had been wondering if they completely dropped his dream of going to the U.S. so maybe that's why it didn't shock me that he'd go now 🤔 But yep we know that he didn't stay. (Though it's possible he travels). I see what you mean though. This drama really feels different in many ways!

It would have been weird to me if it were a small neighborhood-type drama but 2521 has been interested in world events and international matters before. Plus the fact that Yi Jin previously said he wanted to work for NASA....maybe there's the U.S. tie-in. I can see it throwing people off a bit, but since they really showed off "we are in 2001 now" and Yi Jin being a reporter...I can see why they included it.

😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

Well we can't say for sure how the ending will be. But from this episode it wasn't only about the physical distance but about how Yi Jin is changing as a person and his perspective on the world, and how that changes their relationship. That's why Hee Do said "my support doesn't reach you anymore." It isn't just the long distance but how they are handling it and the emotional distance between them. Also dealing with something at 41 when you are married isn't the same as dealing with it in early 20s in your first relationship. But we will see if that is addressed!

Everything about the Hee do and Yu Rim storyline has been so amazing. I love that they brought back the conflict with reporters exploiting their rivalry like in the earlier episode and how it still hurt both of them but this time they managed to stand together now. When they each pulled off their masks and were crying I was seriously a mess. I hate when dramas forget about friendships once a romantic relationship comes into the picture. Thank you writers for doing justice to their amazing relationship ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

I agree with you. I think people are not seeing where he is coming from. Yes it is taking a toll on him but he considers the work he's doing to be important. Just like fencing takes a toll on Hee Do sometimes, but nobody would tell her "just quit." It is difficult to see but it is part of his journey........whether you are a reporter or not becoming an adult and having that viewpoint on the world can be heartbreaking.

Wow, that episode. It has been true the whole time but especially after that episode......if you are looking for romantic comedy escapism this is probably not the show for you. But if you want something deeper and your heart can take some pain, don't miss this show. Writing continues to be amazing.

I will be watching daily. I wouldn't be able to focus on anything else if I tried to wait 😅

They couldn't wait a little longer to make us cry with all these BTS group pictures 😭 How is this drama ending already? It feels like it just started.

I love that!!!! That makes me really happy to hear. Exactly, it is very true to life, and not in a depressing way at all, but a nice way :"")