It got out of hand in the last two episodes, but I saw this show as simply a criticism of SK society's focus on beauty standards within someone's life, although it wasn't realistic at times.
I believe this wasn't the drama for you, seeing your list. I didn't watch it live, but I had the entire experience…
I respectfully disagree with that point. Just because you thought the first half was superior doesn't mean there were filler episodes. This is a slice-of-life show that focuses on friendship, fencing and romance, with the theme of the transient nature of youth. The first half leans more toward introducing the characters and NHD's fencing journey. The second half feels repetitive to you because it focuses more on the friendships and romance, but it's not. That is the true, objective nature of the show, regardless of your enjoyment.
I really donβt get the hype of this drama, nor the rating. First half was really good, Iβll give you that.…
I believe this wasn't the drama for you, seeing your list. I didn't watch it live, but I had the entire experience without seeing anything of it online, and I remember almost every scene by heart. The show continues to captivate many people, and for me, very few dramas stand out to this one because of the magnificent and heartfelt storytelling that is on a different level. 2521 is about stepping into adulthood; that's why the pacing seems off to you, because the tone changes throughout the story, and I think you wouldn't have been ready for that. The second half doesn't have the same youthful vibe as the first, and that's not because of the romance you find "unnecessary", but because the characters have different difficulties and hardships. I wonder what you would have wanted to see in the second half, because there was nothing that felt repeated. I thought that the romance was enjoyable to watch and that it doesn't take over the entire story until the end .... This is a more personal opinion but it doesn't really ring true to the nature of this show.
Unnecessary romance. Hello, the age gap? Yi-seo should've had the desire to just help because she found his story interesting, nothing more. Romance does not deserve to be here π’