Twenty Five Twenty One (2022)

Better Than Expected

Every so often I get this urge to binge-watch recent k-dramas and this happened to be included this time. Tbh, I'd scrolled past it for a few weeks before finally giving it a chance. Honestly I'm glad I did. The characters and chemistry was so good! I loved how everyone evolved over time and the character development. Also, let's not forget about the music. I actually first heard about this drama when it was announced that DK was doing an OST for it. It's such a good song; along with literally every other song on the sound track. This is one of those come of age, feel good type dramas. I highly recommend it.

Lire davantage

realistic, overall the drama is unique and different from your average clingy romance plot

[please don't read this unless you've finished the drama!]

this is my first time writing a review and i'd like to keep this as short as possible haha, overall this was one of best kdrama i've watched. amazing plotline and again it was realistic. of course, the ending wasn't something that'd make you smile, but nevertheless it was still beautiful. it portrayed how your first love or your greatest love wouldn't always be there with you forever and how you should move on with life regardless of what happened in the past; a lesson on life. on a side note, i've also seen people being confused on who heedo married and in my opinion, i don't think the identify of him matters at all. i believe the writers just wanted to show how heedo had moved on from yijin and was able to live her life and finding a new partner.

aside from the ending, the overall plot is still very refreshing and is something that you'd enjoy, this drama clearly showed youth in the 1990s, as a teenager myself, this drama reminded me that i should be spending my teenage life on something fun instead of wasting time staring at a screen. moreover, the drama itself is actually pretty healing for me, (not included the ending ofc, i cried for 2 days straight for that.). the most beautiful thing in this drama is how the main leads starts from supporting eachother, being there for eachother into falling inlove. it was a natural process and not rushed at all. out of all the kdramas i've watched, i was most jealous of their relationship. even if the ending wasn't what you'd expect, they still loved eachother with their whole heart and did not regret falling inlove. meeting eachother made their lives and youth shine brighter than before, a fateful encounter.

i don't think heedo left yijin, nor did yijin left heedo. it was fate who left them.

some reviews have mentioned this before and i'd like to mention it again. the ending is what make 2521 unique from any kdramas. the writers did not attempt to force the main leads together and i appreciate them for that. the ending was probably the most realistic one. watching 2521 was a refreshing and nice journey for me. i enjoyed it very much and to the person reading this, i hope you've had a great ride in 2521 too! <3

alright, time to study for my exams now haha, again i hoped you enjoyed 2521 and have a nice day!

Lire davantage

It just felt incomplete but yet loved it

I loved this drama with all my heart and everything from the very begining. I loved how it explored friendship, goals and might I dare say love. It had everything. This series gave me butterflies and made me cry at some points. How I kept on silently rooting for both Na Hee-Do and Baek Yi-Jin. How I cried every time Hee-do won and celebrated with her friends. This series really showed how friends grow apart but still play a great role in Every step of your life. Reminded me of my college buddies and how we all went different ways and still are there for eachother always to support each other. The cast was just amazing and acting was perfect except the middle aged Na Hee-Do. She kinda ruined the character's vibe tbh. The tracks were great too. The story was so nice to watch and of course I desperately wanted a happy ending but didn't get one which was okay too. The drama really taught us that not every fluffy love story has a happy ending. I was not dissapointed at the fact that they didn't end up together but I was more dissapointed at how they ended the series without proper explanations. At some point of the drama it was indicated that Na Hee-Do didn't have much connection with her friends anymore. The show never really told anything about that later. They never showed us if they actually got apart or just weren't friends anymore. They never finished Ko Yu-Rim's story. And the worst was they never showed Na Hee-Do's husband. I really was hoping to see her husband or at least their family photo to know who she actually ended up with. And what happened to Baek Yi-Jin.. Was he married too? Ughhh so many questions and not a single answer and yet THIS is one of my favourite dramas. Netflix you owe us some answers baby. Give us a season 2 or at least a special episode or something. We really need some closures.
So to summarize It felt incomplete but yet I loved it

Lire davantage

A very bittersweet story about love, hard work, friendships, fate and facing the inevitable. I very much enjoyed the story as it was so much different from your regular Korean dramas. The plot was very refreshing, and even the side characters had an interesting character development overall.

While most topics about the ending and relationships were discussed in many of the existing reviews, I just wanted to say personally, the ending didn't work for me. Maybe it's because I had too many unanswered questions about Na Hee Do's year's leading up to her marriage and then having a daughter. Hence, I wasn't that satisfied with how the show was executed towards the final episodes.

I'd say a very good watch because of the rather interesting story and the visuals, worth the hype that it gets.

Lire davantage

Suggestion to watch

“Learn to let go sometimes.” both Hee Do and Yi Jin grew up, their relationship failed to grow. They expected it to stay the same when they weren't the same people anymore. Yi Jin understood this fact more than Hee Do, but miscommunication, misunderstanding, and impatience took the best of their relationship. This drama was really enjoyable and i loved it. However, in context of the story, and as substantiated by the Hwa&Dam production company, the first love of Heedo and YiJin was each other. YiJin corroborates it in the final minute of the drama: Who is your first love? Na Hee Do.

Lire davantage

Can I ever move on from this? Maybe, maybe not.

Finally gathered the courage to write a review about this. It wasn't easy going back to this drama and collecting my thoughts because it caused me a great amount of pain, and pain, and pain. No other television show has made me cry like this drama did and it was literally ugly crying and catching my breath at 3AM. I physically felt the ache in my chest as if it personally happened to me. Even until now, weeks after I originally finished watching this, the wound is still fresh and it's a constant sting that will forever haunt me. Can I ever move on from this? Maybe, maybe not. Seeing the actors' photos unrelated to this drama tears me up, even.

Let me reminisce the good things first. This drama has shown me beautiful representations of friendship, love, life, family, passion, dreams, and youth. The characters feel so close to my heart. Each and everyone of them has given me good memories and lessons that I will treasure and cherish forever. The character development is topnotch for everyone. The buildup is so strong with just the right pacing which delivered so much impact. Each character felt like a portrayal of each and everyone of us and our struggles. Witnessing how the they have spent their youth and waved goodbye to it sends a feeling of nostalgia, bliss, and sorrow all at the same time and it made me realize and think about how I'm spending my own youth and my life, what I'm doing for the things I love, and how I'm valuing my personal relationships.

I watched this drama completely aware of the nature of the ending but I am in the dark on the specifics of how things will go down. That's actually why I put off watching this drama for so long to the point that I even said I will never watch this so it was surprising, especially to me, when I finally did. As much as I have no regrets and I will forever carry the memories this drama gave me, this hurts like hell, partly because it depicts the reality we all go through. I fully understand why things happened. Sometimes life just ambushes us and punches us in the gut and we won't be able to do anything about it. It is what it is. That's just life and I've had my fair share of life surprises that I am able to always expect for the best, while preparing for the worst. However, I do think that there were some important events that felt so out of character and it's so hard to accept. Up until now, it doesn't feel natural as much as I try to make myself come to terms with it. I'm out of my denial phase but some things just doesn't feel right. To me, it just wasn't possible given the history. Though it wasn't perfect as all things are, but this easily found its way to a spot in my all time favorites.

Lastly, Kim Tae Ri is a revelation to me. She left me in awe of such powerful performance and from the bottom of my heart, I am sending her my sincerest love as sign of my gratitude for bringing Na Hee Do's character to life. Nam Joo Hyuk is my absolute favorite actor and just when I thought it wouldn't be possible to fall in love with him even more, I did.

This may be inconsequential but I think they could've casted a better actor for the role of Adult Hee Do. I swear she feels so awkward, I was so distracted.

P.S. THE SOUNDTRACKS ARE PERFECT AND I'M EVEN PLANNING TO PURCHASE THE OST ALBUM 🥺

Lire davantage

i love this show sm

everything from the acting, soundtrack, production was perfect. the emotions i felt watching this, crying multiple times each episode is what made this drama stand out to me. what seems like a normal coming of age show is actually a rollercoaster of feelings, filled with lighthearted romance, comedy and heartache.

i really enjoyed this show; the friendships and family hardships were so wonderfully depicted. i know nothing about fencing and yet i found myself so immersed. whether the characters were competing or just hanging out with their friends, every scene was meaningful beyond words.

however, the ending (last 2 episodes ish) really broke my heart. i still cherish this drama but i wish it couldve ended well. or at least better. the show made the main couple out to be ill fated, or right person wrong time. it was disappointing to see 2 characters who seemed more than perfect together have to be pulled apart. they were more than lovers, more than friends. their connection ran deeper than labels and they deserved a happy ending with each other. but this show invalidated whatever bond they had at the end. it didnt ruin the show; its still amazing if i disregard the ending and just focus on the times they had as young people. this is just one of those shows where its because they loved each other so much they had to let each other go, i guess. if the point was that they found happiness, just not with each other then yes this drama showed that really well even if it was painful and bittersweet as a viewer to watch. ahhh i really wanted them to end up together but it is what it is lol still one of the best dramas i've ever seen tho

Lire davantage

the cast was perfect. the pacing was perfect until the end. the plot.... good enough, but not great. it started out wonderful; they tried to deliver a message. they failed in the last few eps. the build-up of showing the present-time characters amounted to nothing. we don't get an explanation as to what heedo is feeling. how she ended up getting married to someone else?? i can see that they tried to leave it mysterious alluding to the concept "not everyone is meant for each other. life moves on and so should you.". in reality it feels like lazy writing. heedo's present-time character does not connect to her past at all. as a representation they show yijin and heedo having an imaginary conversation through the diary, yet it is just a repeat of everything throughout the show. this led to heedo not feeling like heedo anymore with no explanation.

Lire davantage

It's a beautiful story, with such amazing acting. The actors truly brought their characters to life. This is a show that captivates you, makes you so emotionally invested that you aren't even aware until the tears fall. I cried, laughed, and sat in shock. Words aren't enough to describe the feelings I felt, and continue to linger on. Amidst this immense heartbreak I can't help but still recommend this show and give it high praise for the stunning 15 episodes it gave us.

After watching the 16th episode, I find myself heartbroken, confused, frustrated... a cluster of emotions and no way to make sense of them. One of the things that left me unsatisfied at the end of this series was a lack of closure. The questions I had at the beginning, the questions I imagined answers to as the characters grew up, these questions... never really got answered.

The ending is a heated debate. But I don't want it to discredit the journey. Heedo, Yijin, Yurim, Jiwoong, and Seungwan's struggles navigating their youth deserves more than that. Episodes 1-13 were absolutely gorgeous. From the cinematography, to the outstanding acting, to the build up we were all waiting for between Heedo and Yijin. There is incredible attention to detail anyone can appreciate. Everything, every scene, has significance. It matters, so watch closely. 2521 represents youth in a very relatable way, yet also makes you long and pine for those special, one of a kind experiences.

The escapist part of myself wants to believe it ended there, that day in the snow.

But reality isn't like that (unfortunately, haha...)

(ending spoilers ahead!)

For me, this is the reason why the ending is so unsettling. Heedo and Yijin had such a magical, fantastical relationship that was built up so well. They leaned on each other during the darkest time of their lives, but their romance ended because of mere growing apart? And they reunite on live television, years later? Never to speak again? After something that was founded on strong friendship, unconditional support, "love in all ways," it bothers me that they aren't even friends in the future. And their personalities were shown to be so strong-willed and passionate in their own ways. Heedo giving up on Yijin was never what I would've expected. Yijin not discussing anything with her is also something I didn't expect. It 100% feels out of character. So, that's why their breakup is so painful... it's not really them. That's what made their separation so difficult. They never saw it coming, after the five years they spent by each other's side, feeling on top of the world and invincible. Those feelings are momentary. To put it simply, things change, whether it's over time or in the blink of an eye. Sometimes you can't put a stop to it. It's such a bleak and hopeless realization in spite of the optimism that pushed them through their youth.

I could write so much more about this and imagine what if situations. Yes, there is indeed a world in which their relationship would have most definitely survived. But their downfall wasn't because of their love for each other fading, it was more because of the situation they were in. Their dreams brought them together, allowed them to stick together--temporarily. This is what hurts the most.

Lire davantage

Good show about friendships and fencing, go watch!

This is a true coming-of-age story with a large lovable cast. 25-21 is a drama about the dreams and friendships of a group of young students who thrive together despite their struggles. As the story spans from Na Hee Do's teenage years until she's a mom of Kim Min Jae, it shows how the time we enjoy with our friends and families changes our lives to an extent. Time might fly by but still brings success and all of the consequences of our choices.

The enemies-to-friendships between Na Hee Do and Ko Yu Rim are my favorite part. Oh my god, I just love how pure the camaraderie between them is. Not only them, there's not a single cast member that I dislike, they're all just so beautifully written as real people. The ones you don't like at first, you learn more about them or the characters themselves interact more and form understandings of each other. I really commend all of the actors and actresses involved.


! Spoiler section: don't read unless you want to be spoiled :)




Regarding the ending, As I wasn't invested in the romance plot much, nothing hurts me in the end. It's lovely to see the slow-burn romance between Na Hee Do and Baek Yi Jin evolves from meaningful friendship to pure love, so to me there's no surprise whatever happens in the end. Overall, I enjoyed their conversations and interactions together.

So, why my rating is 8/10? Because I have frustrations and questions about the whole news anchor plot. This conflict of interest issue, everyone clearly sees is a problem from afar. So then why Baek Yi Jin is not being clear to Na Hee Do and just say it from the beginning that they are not meant to be? Just be friends from the beginning. Also, some scenes on the present-day Na Hee Do as a mom I feel they're a bit unnecessary. Her husband is not introduced at all in the story, so why bother breaking up with Baek Yi Jin, if the future husband is not living together with Na Hee Do?

Lire davantage

Eu fui feliz enquanto estava com vocês. Mesmo que nada dure para sempre, mas isso aqui vai.

Eu não achei que twenty five twenty one iria se tornar tão importante pra mim? No começo que eu disse que amei, achei que seria mais um drama que iria me fazer feliz, eu ia amar e pronto. Mas ele tomou proporções inexplicáveis. Eu me apaixonei por tudo (calma que eu voltei a chorar de novo e não tô enxergando nada). Eu me apaixonei pelo joo hyuk e queria que o baek yi Jin fosse meu primeiro amor e acabei escolhendo ele pra ser no meu coração. A hee do me fazia ter fé e otimismo, me fazia querer ser feliz e aproveitar os momentos. A Yu rim me fez querer ir atrás dos sonhos e ajudar minha família e suportar o que vinher. O ji woong me fez enxergar com a visão da juventude e como se tudo fosse fácil de lidar (espero que mesmo aos 29 como ele estava eu continue enxergando assim). A seung Wan me fez me ver nela, o quão é difícil ter que lidar com tudo e ainda assim ter tantas responsabilidades depois. Ela não gostava e enfrentava mesmo assim, uma personagem que amei. E uma das coisas mais linda é a química, amor e o brilho nos olhos da hee do e baek yi Jin. E vai ficar pra sempre guardado na minha memória.
Tem um momento na vida da gente que vai ser 100% perfeito e depois tudo vai desmoronar e a gente não vai saber como lidar, com o que vai ficar e o que vai embora. Eu fui muito feliz durante um tempo e pra mim hoje em dia não sou mais, acho que o tempo de crescer e saber que nada dura pra sempre chegou muito cedo, a 4 anos atrás. E hoje com meus quase 20 eu não consigo aceitar isso sabe? Eu quero continuar jovem e com a energia que eu sempre tive. Mas eu tanto me recuso que provavelmente eu não consigo me sentir feliz de novo.
Twenty five twenty one eu fui tão feliz com vocês por esse período. Eu ria, me emocionava e aprendi tanto! Obrigada por tudo. Obrigada por me fazer amarem vocês.
Eu espero que eu possar fazer desse meu tempo jovem um momento para não esquecer e que eu faça querer que dure para sempre.
Eu não tenho nenhum defeito para falar do drama (talvez), a história, todo o enredo, os personagens, a OST, a cenografia, tudo que aconteceu naquela mesma época. Foi tudo tão impecável e lindo, a maneira como eles cresceram e se tornaram essas pessoas maravilhosas. A maneira que vimos a história na medida que a min chae filha da hee do também via era tão lindo, pra ela entender que desistir de uma coisa que gostava sabe? Que poderia continuar persistindo e quantas lições isso iria trazer pra ela. A atriz arrasou, foi maravilhosa. E no final mais emocionante ainda ela dizendo que ia escrever a própria história agora. (poderiam fazer a história dela mais pra frente tipo um spin off mas não quero sofrer mais não e dorama é diferente dessas séries americanas, se fosse um livro até que seria bom...)
Eu só tô tão triste, porque queria eles juntos numa última cena final, eu queria TANTO o baek yi Jin e a hee do juntos, acho que isso é minha maior tristeza.
Mas eles foram o primeiro amor um do outro e talvez isso tenha sido suficiente (não pra mim). Eu queria tanto eles juntos. Eu só queria isso. Mas eu amei passar cada momento feliz com vocês. Eu amei tudo isso. E na minha cabeça vou fazer uma fic que vocês estão juntos sim como eu tanto tinha dito na minha teoria.
Obrigada por fazer meus últimos meses com 19 serem tão felizes (e um tiquinho triste) É isso o que tenho a dizer pra vocês.
Adeus, baek yi Jin, na hee do, seung Wan, ko yu rim, ji woong. 💛

ps.: Eu esqueci de falar que eu quero fazer Jornalismo e eu sei que nessa área você pode fazer várias coisas mas e se eu seguir pra Repórter? Eu fiquei com receio de realmente não ter tempo pras pessoas que amo (e eu nem entrei no curso ainda e nem deveria estar pensando nisso) mas também vendo o baek yi Jin me deu a certeza de que é uma coisa que eu quero fazer sabe?
Eu esqueci do óbvio, o amor da Hee do e do baek yi Jin é uma das coisas mais linda que já vi e experimentei, eles crescendo juntos foi tão lindo, eu ficava tão extasiada. E de uma coisa um comentário que vi tá certo, o amor mais lindo e profundo que era o deles não deu certo mas o da yu rim na Rússia e do ji woong na Coreia deu? O irmão dele voltou e disse que tava esperando pela seung Wan? Enfim a tristeza
E o fato da gente não saber quem é o pai da min chae que era tão importante!
E que era sim pra ele aparecer no presente pelo menos? E todo o resto sabe? que tristeza
e não me saí da cabeça a mãe dela perguntando se ela tem visto ele! Só me deu esperança do reencontro. Acabou que eu gostei mais ou menos do final, ele foi decepcionante, tem a questão das expectativas também.

Lire davantage

Trying to understand the message

The rumours are true: this show is excellent until it takes a major swerve towards the end. And a lot of people (myself included) didn’t enjoy that swerve (although it was extremely effective as a gut punch). In my case, it’s not because I didn’t like the choice (although I didn’t), but rather that they didn’t explain it well enough. This leaves me trying to decide if this is a writing/direction fumble, or if their message is ultimately intended to be “realistically random”—the problem is, it’s not real life, it is a structured, fictional creation. I know someone chose this, which leaves me asking “why?”.

SPOILERS

I’m working this out as I go, so please bear with me.

TL; DR: it’s not their story, it’s HER story.

NHD’s fencing journey is great; I didn’t even mind that they “spoiled” her success and hand-waved her later accomplishments. The show was really only interested in her life until 21/22; everything after that (including the modern framing device) was only there to support that story.

The development of NHD’s relationship with BYJ was also great. It was playful and joyful and painful. And I think this is mostly thanks to her. She’s a poster child for the exuberance of youth. But where did it go?

The show decided to make NHD inadvertently replicate with BYJ the dysfunctional relationship she had with her mother. She ends up with someone distant, who hides/doesn’t share pain, is unreliable and self-centred (in that they are clinging to their career and prioritizing it to an insane degree and/or unable to integrate it with their life or loved ones), and shows love “in the background” with unrevealed actions (that hotel room!).

He is an intense first love and a lousy partner. She needs to get away from him.

NHD is herself the opposite of BYJ: (over)sharing, demonstrative, brave, confrontational, tenacious, reliable. Her “weaknesses” are mostly structural—getting the fencing/coaching opportunities she needs and also the “youth” opportunities that fencing largely precludes; avoiding victimization in unfamiliar settings (as with the documentary and the Internet hate). Rather than self-centred, she is focused. Rather than knuckling under to authority to get along or curry favour, she goes at the problem. Rather than withdrawing, she seeks out. Fencing is a fine metaphor for this—you face your problems and do battle with them.

BYJ tells NHD at one point that one of her best advantages is her mental fortitude (and, when she is younger, the “right to ask for help”). She is resilient. She has enough support when it counts, which allows her to stand on her own two feet when necessary.

He is not mentally strong. He runs away. He retreats into alcoholism. He loses himself in his work by overempathizing. I think he feels inferior.

Because BYJ is ultimately a failure—or perhaps succeeds at the only goal he actually set for himself, which was reuniting his family (but isn’t his dad still a fugitive?). Perhaps he is a victim of “the times” (the IMF crisis and 9/11). He is browbeaten by his father’s creditors until he gives up even the concept of happiness. His home is not so much broken as annihilated.

Yes, he’s handsome. He has the residual breeding of his upbringing and high school glory. But he’s not strong. He even wavers with NHD when he should have been more in control of his emotions.

His only real advantage is being four years older--and as time goes on and NHD matures, this advantage dwindles to essentially nothing.

He loses sight of his relationship with NHD once he’s in it. He detaches and still takes it for granted. NHD cannot escape her mother (or at least it would be more difficult). But she can escape him.

Is this the lesson the show wants to impart?

NHD does the right thing by breaking up/giving up. “You need therapy” was 100% accurate. “I can’t comfort you” was 100% accurate. “You are only with me in the good times; you withdraw in the bad times” (in other words, we aren’t really a couple) was 100% accurate.

He doesn’t appear in the modern framework. He is alluded to. He is present only in “historical” documents (her diary, old video clips). So in the end, this is really NHD’s story. How he developed later (family, whatever) is irrelevant. The show is her reminiscing through the mechanism of her daughter’s “rebellion”.

And I guess that’s okay. But if so, the Kdrama conventions didn’t really work for me. The “couple” structure obscured her story too much.

Still, this drama is well made and well worth a watch.

And NHD burns so bright in youth that we (like BYJ) can still warm our hands and take inspiration from her.

Lire davantage