Twenty Five Twenty One (2022)

Twenty-Five, Twenty One’; A Bumpy Trip Down Memory Lane…

Anyone who is aware or familiar with the  modern-classic, the ‘Reply’ series, will appreciate that the concept of nostalgia, mysterious flashbacks and trying to piece together events between the past and future ( especially with regards to romantic relationships) are not ground-breaking writing setups.

Nevertheless while ‘ Twenty Five, Twenty One’ does not play around with a new or an original  idea, the narrative did offer viewers with a heartfelt coming-of-age story. In addition to this, ‘ Twenty-Five, Twenty-One’ presented an unravelling mystery. Although the drama could often be captivating, it is important to acknowledge that ‘Twenty-Five, Twenty One’ still suffered at times from inconsistent pacing and execution.

The main narrative and timeline of ‘Twenty Five, Twenty One’ is predominantly set in the late 1990s and focuses upon its two main leads; aspiring athletic fencer, 18 year-old Na Hee Do ( Kim Tae Ri- ‘ Mr .Sunshine’, ‘ The Handmaiden’ and ‘Space Sweepers’ ) and her hardworking ‘’sunbae’’ and potential love interest, college-student Baek Yi Jin ( Nam Joo Hyuk- ‘Who Are You: School 2015’, ‘ Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo’ and ‘ The Light in Your Eyes’).

The second timeline of the series is set in the near-present day. Instead of focusing solely on an adult Hee Do, the subplot instead focuses on Hee Do’s young daughter Kim Min Chae ( Choi Myung Bin- ‘ The King’s Affection’, ‘ Dramaworld2’). Within these future events of the main narrative, adult Hee-Do ( played by Kim So Hyun- ‘The King and I’) is revealed to have been shaped greatly by the unfolding  events of her past.  She is no longer an optimistic dreamer, and instead has turned into a prudent helicopter parent; attempting to mould Min Chae into becoming a prodigal ballerina through a regimented routine and regime, but without always acknowledging her daughter’s personal feelings and dreams.

Annoyed and fed up by her mother’s micromanaging, Min Chae is shocked when she stumbles upon her mother’s old diaries, photos and journals. Intrigued, she begins to digress through her mother’s personal coming-of-age accounts during the aftermath of the 1997 IMF crisis. Min Chae is astounded to follow her mother’s journey and slowly begins to understand more about her mother’s past  and circumstances, especially with regards to her complicated feelings for Baek Yi-Jin.

Screenwriter Kwon Do Eun is most likely known by viewers for her critically-successful screenplay ‘Search: WWW’. Similar to her previous work, Kwon Do Eun added a similar stylistic approach of heart-warming angst and multi-layered characters throughout the screenplay for ‘Twenty-Five, Twenty-One’.
 
However despite several tonal similarities between Do Eun’s screenplays, it is important to note that ‘Twenty-Five, Twenty-One’ takes a different approach with its storytelling, particularly by using a non-linear narrative.  Non-linear narratives can allow for some brilliant opportunities in order for screenwriters to explore character-depth, intensify climatic build-ups through flashbacks and flashforwards, as well as helping to entice the audience.
 
This was particularly apparent in ‘Twenty-Five, Twenty-One’ via the main storyline by focusing  upon the potential romantic relationship between Hee Do and Yi Jin, as well as the complicated  mother-daughter bond between Hee Do and Min Chae during certain scenes in the subplot surrounding events in the present-day.
 
With regards to the latter mentioned plot point, the potential onscreen chemistry between Hee Do and Yi-Jin was quintessential towards impacting events in the narrative. Admittedly and refreshingly rather than allowing the storyline to be entirely focused upon the romantic elements of Hee Do and Yi-Jin’s relationship, the series offered opportunities also for viewers to divulge deeper into the aspirations and sentience of the characters at times.
 
In particular, this was shown through the difficult journey taken at times by the female lead and male lead through different complicated situations and interactions. For the female lead, this was apparent throughher prickly relationship with her mother and news anchor Shin Jae Kyung ( Seo Jae Hee- ‘Run On’, ‘ Artificial City; and ‘The Youngest Son Of A Conglomerate’) as well as her rivalry with with Go Yoo-rim ( Bona ‘ Hit The Top’, ‘ Girls’ Generation 1979’ and ‘ Your House Helper’).
 
For male lead Yi-Jin, his personal conflicts came early on in the series. After his father’s affluent business went bankrupt nearly overnight during the economic crisis, Yi-Jin was forced to take on several part-time jobs in order to make ends meet. However, Yi-Jin feels as though he has struck gold after landing a position at a broadcasting company. Yet similar to the female lead’s personal struggles in order to attain her dreams, Yi-Jin soon acknowledges that his journey into the television industry isn’t as straightforward as it seems.
 
Nevertheless although the narrative helped to offer moments for characters to feel dynamic, it is hard to ignore that  Hee Do and Yi-Jin were still shoehorned  at times into specific roles and scenarios in order to drag-out misunderstandings and angst. In particular this was often prominent through Yi-Jin’s age difference and dating experience in comparison to Hee Do, who was sometimes subjugated during some of these moments as a victim of her own inexperience.
 
This wasn’t entirely a bad writing decision per say. Although age difference relationships can often be the subject of debate in narratives, when approached tactfully, they can allow for some intriguing explorations into setups, character archetypes and sociological barriers between love interests. Nevertheless although some praise should be given to Do Eun’s overtness with the setup and subject matter tackled, it is still notable that, Yi-Jin and Hee Do’s dilemmas could often feel somewhat cliché and enforced. Perhaps this was also due to the fact that of these misunderstandings and climatic scenarios ( particularly incidents where Hee Do would jump to conclusions or misconceptions about Yi-Jin) did become more repetitive as episodes progressed.
 
Kim Tae Ri and Nam Joo Hyuk starred as main leads and potential lovers. Kim Tae Ri added a likeable charm to her onscreen persona, Hee Do. It is a difficult feat at times for an actor playing the role of a younger character to adopt specific mannerisms or characteristics in order to make their performance feel authentic. Nevertheless although there were some moments of overblown dialogue, Kim Tae Ri brilliantly helped to bring young Hee Do to life through her bubbly character and personality. In addition to Tae Ri, A-lister actor Nam Joo Hyuk co-starred alongside the actress as main male lead Baek Yi-Jin. Although there were moments initially where Joo Hyuk’s performance could feel somewhat stilted by his limited screen time and interactions with the female lead, Joo Hyuk was gradually allowed more opportunities in order to add an emotive edge to his onscreen character.
 
It is important to point out that the main leads’ onscreen chemistry was decent enough. Kim Tae Ri and Nam Joo Hyuk’s initial chemistry felt somewhat stagnant in parts, but certainly did improve as episodes progressed.

In addition to the romantic relationship explored between the main leads in the series, there is also another important bond covered in the subplot; the relationship between Hee Do and her daughter. Kim So Hyun takes on the role as the adult-version of Hee Do. It seemed surprising considering the respectful age of Kim Tae Ri, that another actress was cast to play an older version of her character. Nevertheless, So Hyun helped to embody a certain believability with her onscreen performance. Alongside actress Kim So Hyun, co-star and child actress Choi Myung Bin delivered a brilliant performance as Hee Do’s daughter Kim Min Chae.
 
The maternal bond explored in ‘Twenty-Five, Twenty One’ between the main female lead’s adult-self and her daughter is arguably one of the most intriguing as well as shoehorned subplots in the drama’s narrative. Of course, screenwriter Kwon Do Eun added a certain level of depth to the onscreen relationship. Hee Do’s reasons for becoming a “controlling figure” within her daughter’s life are more complex than merely out of spite or jealousy. ( Her relationship with her own mother playing a big part with wanting to give opportunities to Min Chae.) Similarly while it would be easy to portray Min Chae as the “ fractious” daughter, Min Chae’s frustration seemed to reflect a lot of convoluted feelings.

Nevertheless despite Do Eun’s presentation of the relationship, it is hard to ignore that while this was still only a subplot, the storyline revolving around Min Chae and Hee Do was often shoehorned into a limited time frame, with inconsistent time-skips and flittering in between rarely helping to smooth out this counterplot by the ending of the series.

Sadly this was a slight problem with ‘ Twenty Five, Twenty One’. Although the narrative was heavily focused upon the events of the main leads and their complex potential onscreen chemistry, subplots and side characters could often be left out of the equation. This was mainly due to the fact that in a time space of sixteen episodes, the narrative had to be compact and focusing upon the main narrative rather than homing in on side plots did become necessary as episodes progressed.

On the other hand this is admittedly where ‘ Twenty Five, Twenty One’ could sometimes hit a slight rut; the side characters and subplots were often somewhat inconsistent and rushed. Even in a non-linear narrative, the series would often leave certain side characters’ intriguing backstories and character-arcs on the sideline, briefly explored in order to fill in screen time though rarely given a concise conclusion by the series finale. ( This was apparent for side characters such as Go Yoo-rim, Hee Do’s rival, played by idol-actress Bona [ Hit The Top’, ‘ Girls’ Generation 1979’ and ‘ Your House Helper’], Choi Hyun-Wook’s [ Real:Time:Love ’, ‘ Racket Boys] role as Hee Do’s popular classmate Moon Ji-woong, Lee-Joo Myung’s [ My Fellow Citizens!’, ‘Missing: The Other Side’ and ‘ Kairos’ ] role as Ji-woong’s childhood friend, Ji Seung-wan and of course Hee Do’s daughter played by Choi Myung Bin, Min Chae.)

Nevertheless it is hard to ignore that while there were some evident inconsistencies with pacing, ‘ Twenty Five, Twenty One’ was able to encapsulate a certain nostalgic and retro tone through the visionary eye of director Jung Ji Hyun ( ‘ You Are My Spring’, ‘ Search: WWW’). The opening of the series brings forth a stylistic approach of fuzzy gradients and vivid title sequences, akin to the opening credits of a TV show from a VHS tape.

There is also a subtle difference placed between the present day scenes and the past ; drab and mundane shots are suddenly animated to life in flashbacks through an explosion of vivid palettes and warm tones, helping to capture the buzzing warmth and joie de vivre of Hee Do’s youth. ( One of the most memorable and striking parallel scenes drawn between the past and present day being through the bubblegum blue diner that Min Chae is shown to visit with her mother in the present day. The bright blues are strikingly odd against the mundane attire of the characters. In the same episode, a parallel scene is shown through Yi-Jin’s visit to a similar diner; instead strikingly bright and warm through the bubbly and rose-tinted perspective of the past.)

As for the comprised soundtrack of the series, ‘ Twenty Five, Twenty One’ is admittedly less ambitious than it should’ve been. For a series set against the backdrop of the late 90s where music (especially in South-Korea ) was being explored and pushed beyond conventional tastes, it felt odd that ‘ Twenty Five, Twenty One’ was somewhat limited to an array of somewhat generic upbeat love ballads and schmaltzy pop singles. Nevertheless it is important to acknowledge that there are some catchy songs within the OST , in particular TAEIL’s “Starlight (스타라이트)" remaining one of the most memorable tracks throughout the series .

Overall ‘ Twenty Five, Twenty One’ is a coming of age tale which offered a nostalgic and poignant reflection for viewers upon youth and childhood. The issues of chasing dreams, the difficulties of being at the passing boundaries between childhood and adulthood as well as struggling with friendships and young love, were central and universal messages within the drama’s narrative. However despite the bubbling sweetness of ‘ Twenty Five, Twenty One’, the series wasn’t without its more apparent faults of inconsistent pacing either. Nevertheless viewers will likely be captivated by the narrative’s refreshing and lighthearted nostalgia ride, niche in parts, but surprisingly offering several shocking twists and turns by the finale. Overall a very good watch.

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Who are they kidding?

The clues were there early on that maybe this series won't end the way I anticipated. But I have to say I held on in hope. Partly because this is Kdrama and partly because the acting was so darn good.
I rooted for these guys, because a relationship likes theirs is super hard to find. The chemistry, commitment, companionship, was flawless. And that, for me, was the main problem with this show. Yes, the characters made flawed decisions, but don't we all? This show promised so much but it seemed to end on some strange premise that the leads learnt something and that 'something' enabled them to make their next choice. I don't care for ambiguous endings and this series did the ultimate faux pas of being ambiguous and rushed.
Maybe it's just me, but finding love such as the one described in this show, is rare. It isn't a stepping stone to something else. Leaves me to wonder what on earth the writers really intended for us as viewers. Because first love is one thing, but true love is another.

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Age of Youth

Juggling life as a teenager growing up in the 1990s while carrying the nation’s hopes for sporting glory? That’s what this drama is entirely about as it revolves around Na Hee Do’s coming of age as a young woman and as the rising star of South Korean fencing.

25-21 is presented in a non-linear storytelling approach from the perspective of Na Hee Do’s daughter in the present day, who comes across her mother’s diary which provides an account of her life during her younger days. Viewers are then taken back in time to the 1990s, the main setting of the narrative, through a prolonged series of flashbacks. We get to observe Na Hee Do navigating her way through countless challenges that life throws at her while also developing close friendships with the people that she encounters and, of course, experiencing her first love. Simply put, this drama is about slice-of-life, youth themes, friendship, sports and, yes, romance too.

This TVN production which is streamed on Netflix is helmed by Jung Ji Hyun, the director of notable productions such as The King: Eternal Monarch and Search: WWW, the screenwriter of which also wrote the screenplay for this drama, Kwon Do Eun. Kim So Yeon (not to be confused with the actress; who had also directed Kim Tae Ri in the 2017 film, Moon Young) provides the artistic direction while Im Ha Young (Hometown ChaChaCha) serves as music director.

Since broadcast began, 25-21 has maintained the top spot in the South Korean popularity rankings for 7 consecutive weeks, placing first in viewership ratings for 12 consecutive times (in both the Metropolitan Area and nationally). At the time of writing, it has been featured in Netflix's "Global Top 10" (non-English edition), a weekly list of the most-watched international Netflix series, for five weeks in a row.

The story is set primarily in Ahyeon-dong, in the Mapo District of Seoul. The principal photography, which is based on a live-shoot system, took place across a variety of exciting and gorgeous filming locations including Jeonju, Seohak-dong, Jeonju Hanok Village, Jeonju National University of Education's dormitory alley, and the National Heritage Center.

Sharing a bit of trivia concerning the drama. Both main leads, Kim Tae Ri and Nam Joo Hyuk, had tested positive for Covid on separate occasions during filming which had halted productions momentarily but fortunately the broadcast scheduling was not affected. In terms of the historical accuracy of the competitions depicted (Singapore 1997, Madrid 2001) and Asian Games (Gyeongju 1999), the Olympics and Asian Games are never held in odd-years while the editions referenced had actually taken place in different host countries. Additionally the women’s fencing saber event, which Na Hee Do and Go Yu Rim specialise in, was only adopted as an official Olympic event for Athens 2004. Obviously the drama is fictional and events are dramatised for the benefit of viewers so historical accuracy really has no major impact on the plot at all.

What I Generally Liked

As far as this drama is concerned, personally I have absolutely no complaints over the production values and technical execution, which are amongst the best that I’ve seen in recent memory. Top notch cinematography and special effects rendering, quality production designs and obviously the numerous filming locations add to the beauty of the visuals. The sporting aspect comprising the fencing choreography and stunts is quite impressive, as is the post-production editing. Even the title sequence is nicely put together. This is an extremely well produced drama indeed.

There isn’t much to criticise in terms of the casting and the all-round performances of the leads as well as major supporting characters either. Kim Tae Ri is 31 years old but manages to pull off the depiction of an 18-year old Na Hee Do. She not only looks the part physically but behaves very much like one as well, which is quite amazing in and of itself. I’ve been a huge fan since her Mr Sunshine days and she doesn’t let me down here with a near flawless and absolutely endearing performance that made her my favourite character in the show.

I’ve seen Nam Joo Hyuk around but most notably in The School nurse Files. Playing the ML Baek Yi Jin here, he has won the hearts of many viewers and unsurprisingly so as he demonstrates an impressive range while exuding much charm, tenderness and fragility to his portrayal. Amongst the supporting cast deserving of mention include the likes of Bona as Go Yu Rim, Seo Jae Hee as Hee Do’s mum, and Kim Hye Eun as the fencing coach. Look out as well for memorable appearances made by Choi Myung Bin (The King’s Affection) as Hee Do’s daughter, and Kim So Hyun, a renowned South Korean musical singer, as the present day Hee Do.

Music plays a big part in this drama not only by evoking the emotional connection and ambience but also in drawing the 90s vibes. Featuring a total of 9 tracks that range from the upbeat and inspiring to the deeply touching. My personal favourites are the retro beats of the opening theme, Starlight by Taeil, and I’ll Shine on You by Bae Ki Sung.

What Ultimately Proved Contentious

The only aspect that ultimately proved controversial, certainly to the many viewers and myself included, which provoked profoundly passionate debates as well as creative postulating of theories not only here in MDL but also around the world (judging from the internet) is the plot itself.

For the record, I truly enjoyed most of the drama, especially up to around say episode 14. After that, the plot trajectory sort of went sideways for me, in particular the out-of-character final episode which was rather surprising considering how consistent the screenplay had been in general.

I don’t speak for others but there are two key issues for me…

1. From a subjective point of view, which relates more to personal preferences rather than any fault of the script, I would have preferred a more positive and feel-good outcome. Regardless of whether any ship sailed or what became of the endgame, and the age-old argument about “realism through tragedy” to reflect real life instead of an unrealistic or impractical “Walt Disney happy ending”, I honestly do wish that the screenwriter could have dispensed with the overdramatics, the at times overwhelming air of negativity and pain in the final arc of the drama.

2. From an objective perspective, something which contradicts the intended realism that the writer is trying to infuse in the story, is that viewers (or maybe just me) have no inclination as to who Na Hee Do’s actual husband is. Not with absolute certainty anyway. This begs the question of why? Whoever he is does not appear at all in that capacity either in the past or present.

I strongly suspect that because this is a live-shoot drama, perhaps the screenwriter was strongly influenced by the initial ratings success and rave reviews garnered during airing that she must have felt compelled to “sensationalise or tease” the rapidly growing number of viewers and fandom to such extent that certain characterizations regressed while the eventual closure raised more questions than provided much needed answers instead.

Final Thoughts

TLDR - the first 14 episodes were great and I truly enjoyed them. The last 2 were disappointing, in addition to a few other turns of events along the way. Is this worth watching? I would still recommend it but be prepared for the dissatisfying ending.

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Fuck you...... but I love you 25/21!

I'm absolutely livid at that last bit they showed at that ep finale!!! Why the fuck would you rub salt on my wound??? I'm never recovering from this betrayal ever. All that fan theories I read and held on to with the biggest hopes have been dashed.. ARGHHHHHHH I'm so miserable...

DEEP BREATHSSS

There was a big moment that stood out to me from ep 16 (apart from that nasty bit at the very end)...The scene in between the episode in the tunnel where they thrash out their issues. It felt so real and emotional I almost forgot I was watching a show. I've never ever felt that the stuff I was watching was actually being played out in real life. It was really a strange feeling to lose it for a few seconds. I truly believed in that moment where they were breaking up and then Heedo asks Yijin if he ever loved her and he is incredulous and angry at the question. Then as she leaves, he calls out to her twice. That entire scene was brilliant.

I don't want to make this all about the fucking finale but I do want to say that despite my deep anger and desire to curse the writer/director this very moment, I think they are amazing and I loved this show with all my heart. After a slew of uninspiring, boring shows that I have been watching recently, this one was excellent and jam packed with all that makes a drama beautiful, loved and enduring.

Kim Taeri, I have loved you ever since I watched Little Forest and The Handmaiden. Nam Joohyuk, I thought you were just eye-candy and I'm sorry I didn't respect your talent apart from enjoying your work in Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Soo.

Now I think you both are the greatest thing since sliced bread. The characters of Na Heedo and Baek Yijin are tailor made for you.

I love all the other characters - Go Yurim, Moon Jiwoong, Ji Seungwan. I love the fan/rival/friend relationship between Heedo and Yurim. I love the friendship of Jiwoong and Seungwan. I loved how Heedo's mother was such a career woman. I loved Yijin's mom being so openly and deeply in love with her husband.

The writer/s did an amazing job taking us back to the time of the South Korean financial crisis and showing us how it impacted the people there.

I can't write anymore because my heart hurts and I'm angry about the ending. But let me put on my mature and subjective hat on for this sentence and admit that the story did not NOT make sense. Not every love story gets a happy ending and that's okay. I just have never wished so hard for a Korean drama to be cliche. I will never ever take that for granted now.

Let me go back to crying and mending my broken heart,

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"Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time." -Marthe Troly-Curtin

To be honest, I enjoyed the entire series. I'm not sure why people are so offended by the ending. Why can't people cherish and appreciate both happy and sad endings? Life is always bittersweet. So don't expect this drama to be all epic and happy.

Twenty-five Twenty-one is a coming-of-age drama that follows the journey of the female lead, Na Hee Do, from a regular fencing athlete to South Korea's "Fencing Queen." This drama began the story of Na Hee Do from a unique perspective: that of her daughter, Kim Min Chae, in the present day, who begins reading her mother's diary, which He Doo wrote when she was younger.

Though romance is one of the drama's genres, it is absolutely not the main theme. It's about friendship, youth, and passion. This drama explains why these are significant and why we should treasure them. The five member squard of Na He Do (Kim Tae Ri), Baek Ye Jin (Nam Joo Hyuk), Go Yu Rim (Bona), Moon Ji Woong (Choi Hyun Wook), and Ji Seung Wan (Lee Joo Myung) was phenomenal, and I enjoyed each of their personalities in their own way.

In my opinion, Na Hee Do's character was the best of the five, and I believe most viewers of this drama will also agree with me. She rose from irrelevance to become one of the most recognisable names in the fencing industry thanks to her fighting spirit and perseverance. She is strong, brave, and full of energy and passion, which are all the qualities I like in a female lead. I like to see female leads who change their world rather than being changed by it and the circumstances that surroundes them. Hee Do is prepared to go to any length to ensure that she and those around her have a better future. She is not afraid to express herself, not even to confess her feelings to the one she loves, and she fights for what she believes in. He Doo's character is one of the best I've seen in a long time.

After that, there's Baek Ye Jin. During the IMF crisis, his family was forced to split up. He was in distress because of not finding any job and wanted to reuniting his family soon. He, too, was persistent, but in a different way that caused him to crumble easily. That is, until He Doo came into his life. Because of her liveliness, he learned to treasure and enjoy his life. He became more optimistic about life and more confident in dealing with any situation. Although he still had the fragile part of himself, He Doo made him a happier young man, and he eventually fell in love with He Doo.

Go Yu Rim was the most famous fencing athlete until He Doo appeared, and she was the one He Doo idolised. She came from a poor family and was also a friend of Ye Jin's. Although Hee Do and Yu Rim initially despised each other, they developed a rivalry that was stronger than any hatred because they loved and respected each other. She and He Doo have a love-hate relationship, but they also have one of the strongest friendships.

The characters of Moon Ji Woong and Ji Seung Wan felt like a breath of fresh air to me. They were incredible in their own way. Ji Woong was the most popular boy in the class, with a crush on Yu Rim, and Seung Wan was the class monitor, who was always at the top. They were childhood friends with a good reputation in their class. These characters' presence did not feel extraneous or unnecessary (which would have been if the storyline was not this beautiful).

What made all these characters more and more memorable were their choices. As the Harry Potter quote goes, "It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."

The actors did an excellent job of bringing the characters to life. Kim Tae Ri was fantastic. I couldn't believe she was over 30 years old. She was perfect in the role of He Doo. She not only looked like a teen, but she also acted like one. Nam Joo Hyuk's acting was incredible. Despite the fact that he was younger than Tae Ri, the two had great chemistry on screen. They won many people's hearts, including mine.

Bona, Choi Hyun Wook, and Lee Joo Myung were also outstanding. They were excellent in their roles, making us laugh as well as cry. Of course, Kim Hye Eun as Yang Chan Mi, the fencing coach, and Seo Jae Hee as Shin Jae Kyung, He Doo's mother, deserve special mention. Without them, the drama would have felt incomplete. They did an excellent job portraying their characters and fitting them into the story.

When it comes to the plot, I enjoyed the fencing theme as well as the story's pace. It wasn't too quick or too slow. It was perfect. The drama explored various emotions while maintaining the suspense for its climax. The drama really did have some problems when it neared the end, which was mostly because of the screenwriting, I guess.

The first issue was that the drama, which had been so upbeat and optimistic until the 14th episode, abruptly turned negative and hinted at ending on a sad note (and so did it). Some audiences found this difficult to accept, and as a result, they deducted points from their ratings. Also, in the last two episodes, the characters felt a little disconnected from themselves, as if they weren't their true selves.

The second was that by not introducing some characters, such as Kim Min Chae's father, and this made some characters, particularly the older Na He Doo and Kim Min Chae herself, feel out of place and unnecessary. Furthermore, they could have ended the drama on a happier note by showing that He Doo and Ye Jin were happy and had moved on from their breakup. Even if the leads did not end up together, there would have been no problem for the audience. Any way, let bygones are bygones. Personally, I liked the ending and appreciate the fact that it wasn't a fairy-tale ending.

This drama had really good OSTs that evoked the audience's emotions and brought a 90s vibe into the presence. There are nine tracks in total, and nearly all of them have a very passionate, nostalgic, yet profound feeling:
"Starlight" (스타라이트) by Taeil (NCT)
"I'll Shine on You to Dazzle" (눈이 부시도록 너를 비춰줄게) by Bae Ki-sung
"Very, Slowly" (아주, 천천히) by BIBI
"Your Existence" (존재만으로) by Wonstein
"Go!" by DK (Seventeen)
"Stardust Love Song" by Jihyo (Twice)
"With" by Kim Tae Ri, Nam Joo Hyuk, Bona, Choi Hyun Wook, Lee Joo Myung
"Free" (가보자) by Xydo
"Your World" (너의 세상) by Seol Hoseung (SURL)

"With" and "Starlight" are my personal favourites.

Finally, I would recommend this drama to anyone looking for a good youth rom-com with a strong FL and an excellent depiction of friendship. However, if you believe that the ending is the most important aspect of a drama or if you dislike sad or bittersweet endings, this drama is not for you. I thoroughly enjoyed this series and would gladly rewatch it at some point of time.

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Full of vitality, vigor & inspiration. Love & passion apart from clichés - tender, true & touching

Wonderful. Just wonderful. A highlight among the KDramas of 2022.
I would rate it "particularly valuable". On all levels. Right down to the soundtrack.

The story has a stimulating, inspiring, at times downright thrilling effect, above all thanks to a brilliant Kim Tae-ri. She was 32 at the time of shooting, but effortlessly she plays a teenager with an ambitious dream of her own in times of adversity.

"Twenty-Five Twenty-One" is packaged as a teen story told in two timelines. Then and now. The protagonist from back then is today's mother. Today she is at odds with her daughter, who wants to give up her ballet career. In her grandmother's house, the rebellious teenager finds access to her mother's youthful past, who in turn also had difficulties with her mother at the time, yet courageously pursued her dream of becoming a fencer on the national team.

Romantic feelings are inevitable as the story progresses. Yet this storyline develops quite idiosyncratically beyond expectations, not least because of the two timelines told in parallel. Here, Love is shown more in the quality of an inspiring, encouraging, empowering 'rainbow', as the two protagonists so nicely state. It's a shame that you can't leave love like that, but sooner or later want to capture it, tie it down and pack it into a rather common concept of 'partnership' - with all the expectations and disappointments that come along with it...

"Twenty-Five Twenty-One" doesn't see itself as a Rom+/-Com fairy tale. From the start, it's not a fairy tale. Here the goal in life isn´t the happy-ever-after-family-life as such. It tells about what it means to have a dream and to follow it courageously, even if you wonder why at times. It talks about following your own precious heart, even if it might break the hearts of others in the process. It tells of passion. And of love in its very different shapes and sizes. "Twenty-Five Twenty-One" has its unique focus on love in a very tender, true and touching way - apart from clichés. It's about romance as a formative force in life, yet the story doesn't focus on glorifying romance.

In fact, the story is full of vitality, vigor, hope and joie de vivre in the face of one of the worst post-war economic crises South Korea has gone through.

In this respect, the KDrama also offers an explicit insight into the social and societal effects of the economic crisis of the 1990s.
(So here's a also side note on that context, if you are interested.)





-------------------- SIDE NOTE: ---The Asian crisis of the 1990s, the structural adjustment program of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the nationalist sentiment of the people that paved the way for South Korea's neoliberal globalization---

In the course of the Asian crisis, the IMF implemented its structural adjustment (SAP) in South Korea from December 1997 to December 2000, which is still considered a great success today. Others say the rise is due to the people's disciplined national consciousness. However, the massive economic slump that South Korea experienced in the vortex of the Asian crisis is undisputed. Neighter ist the impressively successful recovery since 1999.

After international investors withdrew their loans in the face of the uncertain crisis situation on the Asian continent, South Korea fell into a balance of payments crisis. This is where the IMF came into play, putting together its most comprehensive rescue package to date, with bailout loans totaling around USD 58 billion. The condition: the country was to fulfill an SAP program for three years: In addition to a consistent policy of high interest rates, government austerity measures, complex capital market liberalization and the restructuring of the financial system were required.

As a result of the balance of payments crisis, numerous banks had already filed for bankruptcy or had been nationalized. Due to the IMF's high-interest policy, countless corporate insolvencies followed in the first three months of the SAP, including some Jaebeol conglomerates. South Korea paid the price of its economic boom of the past decades, which was founded on high debt and growth rates. Unemployment tripled. Gross domestic product fell by 6.7 percent within a year.

The impressive recovery that has followed has been possible at the expense of the general population. South Korea's rapid return to the top positions in the world market is a special case worldwide, which was probably achieved less by the SAP of the IMF than by the nationalistically highly motivated South Koreans. They have written the possibly questionable, but at the same time fascinating economic success story on their backs.

First: People became victims of far-reaching processes of rationalization and concentration. On the one hand, this led to mass redundancies and, on the other hand, to a more flexible labor market. Many of the demoralized unemployed didn´t even try to find their way back into the world of work anymore. Others were employed as irregular temporary workers (e.g. with less pay, security and rights). After the crisis, these ´irregulars´ made up more than half of the workforce and their share still is far higher than in other OECD countries.

Second: The benefit of a very unique South Korean nationalism motivated many people to be willing to make personal sacrifices: they consciously avoided consuming imported goods, while at the same time the export of their own goods increased significantly. The need for foreign capital for the upswing is actually estimated at only 5 percent. The share of exports in GDP increased from 25 percent in 1996 to 41 percent in 1998. 95 percent of the net inflow of foreign exchange during the lifetime of the SAP came from the current account surplus. This was made possible by a disciplined population, who did not try to storm banks in a mass panic, but were even willing to exchange their private currencies and savings themselves, including in large gold collection campaigns, in favor of the national reserves in the weak national currency.

The macroeconomic success that has grown out of this nationalist attitude at the expense of the population is enormous. Many lost their jobs and their fortunes. Nevertheless, the South Koreans mostly got involved in the Buy-Korean campaign and avoided imported consumer goods. I.E. incidentally, the market share of South Korean films in cinemas has increased in this context from 23 percent in 1996 to 50 percent in 2001. (An aspect that also gets its own space in this KDrama...)
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"Journey is more important than destination itself".... but is that true? Not always

"I hate her, she's unreasonable and annoying me to death, I don't care if the writer put any redemption arc, I'm sure I'm not gonna like her at all"

*few episodes later*

~I'm sobbing, bawling for the very same her.

Caution: My essay has unhealthy amount of length.

Friendly suggestion: You can assume it's ending is at 13th episode, for your own satisfaction.

Heck yes, this drama destroyed me... made me miserable, I loved every aspect of it... it was near perfection, I couldn't see any flaws (you see love is blind) and even if there are I'm happy to ignore them with my all heart (the whole 9/11 arc)... but then it messed up, hence my ratings came from 10 to 8.5. You know when creative writer try to be overcreative, and ends up creating mess. Ignoring that big mess (not exactly ignorable) everything is all mess.

Although I'm not fond of grown up's posing as teens much... I'm sold for 31 yrs KTR as 18 yrs NHD, she's the one, perfect match! the energy, confidence, optimism, and playfulness of NHD, a little immature yet very mature character... it's been ages I've seen such a wonderful, very well-written female character... who's the hero of her own story.. not only but she brings light to other people's lives too! the bright sun, ready to shine with her amazing light and infinite energy. The way she looks at the world, ready to face challenges with her capabilities, fight for her dreams with her full might.. her journey of becoming more wonderful from an already wonderful person is remarkable.

The casting is excellent, apart from the adult Hee Do, she just doesn't give the young Hee Do vibes... you know the energy, and enthusiasm, while other casting choices are remarkable she comes off comparing.

You see her as a little childish but cute person collecting stickers, in some of her silly deeds, then her being strong skating whatever she has to reach her goals, encouraging other people, being a healthy competitor, a loyal fan. I can write an essay about her character... this much sophistication her character offers. In short, she's the best, period.

I was a little worried about NJH.. see I like him but not his acting very much, then it blew me up. The way he portrayed BYJ I legit see him as a real person... BYJ's character is complex, layered, you see him going through a lot throughout the whole journey, very different phases of his life, career.. and the way NJH can make BYJ alive through his acting, you can feel when he's happy, he's being an adorable dork, when he's sad, depressed, going through something... confused, jealous, uncertain as well as determined, mature and confident. BYJ is not a perfect kdrama male lead... just an amazing real person who deserves the world.

What Hee Do and Yi Jin had together was the most beautiful, pure relationship I've seen ever... maybe acquaintances, friendship, more than friendship, rainbow, scissors, love. Nothing was forced, fast forward of a slow burn but with perfect pace, taking enough time.. the relationship that doesn't need to be intimate physically to prove it to be intimate, they were light to each other, who brought the best out of them, soulmates! I don't freaking care if NJH and KTR don't have off-screen chemistry but from what I see on screen.. fire! I mean me who loves realistic, sad, bitter-sweet endings.. never wished for a happy ending to this extent, whatever they have is the most precious thing.
But there's another me who thinks... is ending really everything? No. The journey that was filled with all emotions, heart touching, fluttering, breaking moments... the time they spent together, the encouragement they brought to each other is most important... that's why the journey is more important than the outcome.

KYR, here comes she... the one *I hated* have to admit, at some point, I was almost done with her, none of her excuses enough to endure her non-sense, her being double-faced, then she grew upon me.... well a lot, that I even forgot that I hated her that much. Now this is an advantage of watching when it's airing Viewers, can say the same thing for binge-watchers whether they would be able to digest sudden 180-degree change in dynamics between KYR and NHD relationship (sometimes almost absolute cringe)
But I love her family, it kinda shows when you lack something (money), you've given something more amazing... her family dynamics.

Just if... if Yu Rim was a boy she and Hee Do make a perfect love story (you see gls are SK thing), enemies to lovers, then we've got obstacles with typical separation.. and Yi Jin being the third wheel, oops I shouldn't let my overimaginative mind wander, I love BYJ very much.

Seung Wan..*standing ovation* she should be a role model, I know I'm overusing this word, but she's amazing! she's super smart, she's best diaper buddy, bestest hoobae and she stands for herself, for wrong things... she's not afraid of letting her hard work go in vain for her principles as she has not learned to bend (yet)... then we see her little silly side, who just desperately want to go college (cute), on the side not I love her mom too, like daughters like a mother or vice versa.

I wanna applaud the writer for not messing diaper buddies by adding any sort of romanticism between, best friends just being best friends.

Ji Woong... our little stupid (not so stupid) entertainment pack. He is cool and a very committed lover, he's not any side character who's just there for timepass or just as a love interest. Though he's not given a big story arc as others he completes the group.. the last missing piece. And damn he's very us (or just me) praising the beauty of NJH lol xD

Now, these were the main characters... one special thing (among many) of this drama is none of the side/supporting roles are insignificant or filers, they hold an important position in the story.. and are well explored in a timely. Hee Do's mom could have been an evil mother figure, cold, aloof, and caring for her daughter, and very cliche: stay away from my daughter, but the writer has every intention of being unorthodox, which made me struggle (I actually have a similar experience with my mom) rationally, professionally mom's right, but then it makes my point of view wrong... damn gotta say I love writing when it legit challenges me on a personal level.

Then we have our coolest coach ever, who may come a little obnoxious in the starting but trust me, she's the best. Yi Jin's sunbae at work could have been any other typical egoistic senior, then a supportive confidant/friend. Even the bad (should I say more annoying) persons were reasonable and not over the top. And yeah Min Chae was representative of us viewers.

Within the same drama, we see 5 different relationships between daughter-mother, and son-mother, totally different (bitter/sweet/sour) from each other but still precious as they should be. Not just that but every relationship dynamic is awesome... whether friendship, relationship, family. not-really related still related, being friends with friends... the embrace of mother to the person who defeated her daughter in the match. Ji Woong's sudden change in attitude after learning his club senior... damn I have a long list of the unconventional but beautiful dynamics between all the characters.

Can just one episode give you absolute pleasure and satisfaction? Yes, yes, yes. Almost every episode was a roller coaster ride with all emotions and sentiments, many times I found myself crying, sobbing... then laughing loud at the end. When the whole gold medal drama made me super sad, miserable then the encouraging words of those grandpas brought me comfort, and yes river of tears.

The story amazed me with the depth of characters, their journey of growth becoming a better person, overcoming hurdles... it had that ounce of unpredictableness that threw cliches and stereotypes out of the window (then forgot it in very last episode). Making it a unique and one of the kind drama. It's the best youth drama I've seen in recent years, it's heartbreaking, thought-provoking, a slice of life, coming to age, heart-touching, rom-com with the most beautiful love story, and the best comic timing. Well it's a mystery, (damn I've seen fewer "theories" in the crime thrillers), it's suspense drama with its unpredictable plot... and maybe it's much more than this, it brings comfort to me.

Nonetheless... I still need answers, I need closure lol

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Be prepared ....unsatisfactory ending!!

everything about this drama was great from the actors to their acting to the initial storyline but after 13 episodes the story suddenly debacle resulting in a pathetic ending
if u wanna watch it for hee do and Ji yin's bond in the initial episodes u can give a try ( till ep 14)because the ending will tear you apart.
all the hopes were shattered and the worst was it is open-ended making you ponder the whole time about the ending and their afterlives
8 rating only for Nam Joo Hyuk and Kim taeri 's brilliant acting
after such a stupid ending I still feel it's generous to give 8
I recommend not to watch if you hate open and bad endings and can't live without watching the ending.

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Felt Like A Self Help Book To Me

There’s a debate regarding how the show was ended. I think that the ending was a risk for a Korean Romantic Drama, however, I do think that it was a risk worth taking. A lot of romantic dramas have happy endings. Twenty Five Twenty One took a route I’ve never seen done before. The ending was meant for the characters, not for the viewers. I think Hee Do held a huge regret regarding how she ended the relationship. There were words she said to Baek Yi Jin that she wished she said and wished she hadn’t said. On the other hand, Baek Yi Jin was able to find closure because Hee Do’s journal where she wrote how she truly felt ended up on his door, while Hee Do never got closure til the end of the show. I honestly liked how the reasoning behind why they had to break up, Baek Yi Jin chose his career and did not want to share the pain he was going through as a reporter which shows the trauma he went through at the beginning of the show. Hee Do decides to initiate the breakup because she wanted someone who could share both their happiness and sadness which Yi Jin was unable to do. In the end, Yi Jin and Hee Do broke up because they wanted different things for each other. One thing I got from watching Hee Do’s closure as she reads and imagines an alternative breakup with Yi Jin is that when you choose to end a relationship build from love and support it is best to end it the same way. I truly enjoyed watching this drama. I do not by means think it is the best Kdrama I have seen but it is definitely the drama that made me think about my relationship with myself and my relationship with others and how I treat them.

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"Carpe diem", seize the day!

Time and patience, told to be the greatest warriors, can change your lives to the extents, that you can never imagine, right? Time is not the best thing, it's the only thing. On contrary, time you enjoy wasting, is not wasted time; it might flow like an arrow but still brings out fruitful results. You witness, in 2521, what time is capable of doing with human lives and what it can turn them into.

Produced by Hwa&Dam Pictures and Created by Studio Dragon, "Twenty-Five Twenty-One (스물다섯 스물하나)" is a 16 episode show about blooming youth, that has set on an odyssey to attain prosperity and entirety of life. Written by Kwon Do Eun and Directed by Jung Ji Hyun, 25-21 was broadcasted on tvN and Netflix, for which Lim Ha Young has taken the responsibility for composing the album. The production started shooting on 7th September 2021 and the principal photography was done in Ahyeon-dong, present in Seoul's Mapo District. It was also filmed in parts of Jeonju, Seohak-dong, Jeonju Hanok Village, Jeonju National University of Education's dormitory alley, and the National Intangible Heritage Center, as per the production.

25-21 is a drama about dreams, passions, ambitions and goals of a group of young students who despite their situations and circumstances, not only strive to achieve what they want but also get them and thrive together, through their teenage. It's the story of love and mutual care between characters, who share each other's life with utmost solicitude and look forward to their success. The story keeps at centre, Baek Yi Jin and Na Hee Do, who met when they were 25 and 18; and shows us the flow by which their lives change when they turn 25 and 21, respectively. The most important fact, the story takes us to the year 1998, when the world as well as South Korea is nearing to welcome a new millennia and embrace the changes that come along. I think this is good enough to describe the show without spilling anything important.

Na Hee Do (Kim Tae Ri) is an aspiring fencer, who gives her best and can go to any length when it comes to keeping up with her passion. In spite of the rough days she had to go through while dealing with lonliness, she's not been able to give up what she loves with all her desires. Baek Yi Jin (Nam Joo Hyuk) is a young guy with passion, whose dreams get shattered after sensing poorness from being a chaebol. With the desire to get his separated family back, he does work hard while trying his best to keep up with his mental health. Ko Yu Rim (Bona) is Hee Do's rival and a world champion fencer. Ji Seung Wan (Lee Joo Myung), the class topper and Moon Ji Woong (Choi Hyun Wook), the fashionista popular, guy are friends with the Hee Do and Yu Rim.

Some very familiar and skilled faces in the drama include: Seo Jae Hee, Kim Hye Eun, Kim So Hyun, Choi Min Young and Kim Young Sun.

The acting dept is full of acclaimed actors who wonderfully justified their characters. The kind of role Nam Joo Hyuk plays is definitely his forte and his acting skills has nonetheless been proved since the beginning of his career. I would like him to switch but I feel this particular character was made for him. Also remember him saying in an interview "Wow! That's Hee Do"in response to his impression about Kim Tae Ri. And on that note, I am certain no one will disagree that anyone else could have justify Na Hee Do, like Taeri has done. Being a 31yo woman, she has done the most accurate representation of a 18yo immature teenager, that, I am sure nobody can level with. Been a fan of hers for years, I know that, as a person of cinema, she isn't someone who rashly accepts any drama making it to her home, and 25-21 is the living proof of why I'm saying that.

Bona is a blooming actress and judging her improved skills from this show, I truly wish she goes up and up in the drama world, because I have witnessed the way she has evolved even with handful of experience.The same goes for Lee Joo Myung; I didn't really remember seeing her elsewhere before checking her biobut what an impressive character and what an amazing performance she has delivered throughout, I am impressed. Special mention to Choi Hyun Wook; being the youngest among the 5 main actors, that too only 20, when others are 26+, the way he could establish himself at the level of such amazing acting, he deserves all the appreciation. I wish Joo Myung and Hyun Wook had more screentime, but I guess whatever they had, they definitely brought the best outta it. Also mentioning, Choi Min Young who played Baek Yi Hyun (Yijin's dongsaeng), bcs he was cute; I mean I have seen him numerous times before, but he was the cutest here TT.

Plot Development...There was no definite plot to being with, that was made clear; the progression made it clear that 2521 was an awfully accurate "coming of age" story with bag full of "slice of life" elements. However, after the midway, the writer tricks the audience by setting a definitive goal; the flashbacks of the future comes as a storm to the audience creating confusions and curiousness, thereby bringing more intrest and attraction towards the show. I am sure, it was not just me, who was getting anxious with the ending of each episode; it's like I was walking on the eggshells with concerns about a lot of things. I would like to inform that, that anxiety reaches it's peak as the show nears its ending. I can noway forget how painful yet exciting it was to wait for a week to get my answers and be allayed. I should wrap up by saying that the ending was not convincing, not realistic either. The reason of..... felt very stupid; well, I am disappointed, not sad. It does hurt for why it happened, than what actually happened, Its not what you call realistic; the writer was not thinking right. Not gonna disprove the entire thing bcs of what happened at the end, but yeah, it will definitely affect my ratings.

I haven't been able to make time for Search: WWW yet and Kwon Do Eun jakka-nim has created only 2 dramas including this. Hence, I am not gonna present a criticism rather praise, how beautiful and impactful story she's offered the world through 2521 and any kind of word wouldn't amount to her skills as a writer; this is all I can say. The flow of the story is wonderful. The characters are awfully admirable; their archs were heart touching and accurately drawn with much relation to realism. This has some very gratifying and satisfying character development, I must admit. The storytelling method.... No I put a halt bcs the method here is very interesting and through which it takes place, also make it something to look forward to. Only if the ending waa good, I was gonna think her as one of my most favourite writers, I am serious.

Not so Rookie Director, Jung Ji Hyun PDnim, hit the stage of Kdramas with amazing drama and has continued to produce ones which become acclaimed by audiences, despite the qualities. Nevertheless, he must be credited for he always creates the buzz. I am not sure whether I should comment this but from every angel, I think this should be the breakthrough in his career. The direction and setups never let us down throughout, isn't it? The cinematography is mesmerizing for most of the parts; with bright hue and variable alleviating colour palletes which did correspond to the scenarios, moods and vibes for each and every scene.

Lim Ha Young PDnim who masters in composing for slice of life Kdramas has delivered tremendously amazing scores for 2521, proving again her skills. The OSTs are lovely, likable, memorable and I have come to embrace all of them. To my knowledge and as much I have been updated, there is a set of 9 OSTs.
# "Your Existence" by Wonstein is my most favourite of all and goes into my all time favourite Kdrama OSTs list. Wonstein's harmonizing vocals with the melodious instrumental and pleasing lyrics, makes this song so touchy, I can go on listening to it all the day, especially the rhythm of the song.

# "With" sung by the 5 main cast is something that makes you cry precious tears; of course it's very relatable for the story, given that the characters themselves have sung it.

# "Go!" by SVT Dokyeom serves as the energizing track of the album whose lyrics are also motivating was used during fencing scenes to present athletes' spirit.

# "Starlight" is lyrically beautiful song about passionate love, ornamented with Taeil's (NCT) vocals and has the feels of pre-2010 Kdrama OSTs'.

# "Shine on You with Blinding Flash of Light" by giseong bae is the track with retro vibes, depicting the beauty of blooming youth.

# "Stardust Love Song" by Jihyo is an emotional ode to love and it's essence in life. The vocal is so on point, it can make you melt.

Rest of the tracks include:

"Very, Slowly," by BIBI
"Free" by Xydo
"Your World" by SURL

What I loved...
# Na Hee Do... Yes! The character! Because Na Hee Do was that base of the mountain which held onto the drama of such huge essence. None of the people, watching this drama, would say that Na Hee Do wasn not their most fav character. She was the many people started this drama, she was the reason many continued to watch the drama, she was the reason people ended up falling in love with the drama and she will be the reason many will keep coming back to here.

# The flow of the story... It is very different from most of the drama out there who always set goals and move towards it, with either 'this' or 'that' results. The biggest achievement of the show is that, it made us think, which is very important.

# The narratives and topics... The kind of narratives it has with neutral as well as balanced perspectives of each of the every character even during contrasting disputes, truly commendable. The wide range of topics the writer has attempted to adresss and spark conversations about and also gave it a closure, is praiseworthy.

# The athlete pov.... Not the first drama to show the life and feelings of the athletes but surely the only one to showcase equitable and open-minded perspectives from either sides. The portrayal of true sportsman spirit between players and their contribution to replicating passion in the mass, is amazing.

# The reporter pov... As Baek Yi Jin became a journalist, I wasn't expecting the writer to show more about his life as a professional but to my surprise, untold and lesser known sides of journalism and reporters were brought into conversation, making it an unique set of approaches.

# The friendship... This is definitely going to the list of one of the best Kdrama squads, because it is. The group of five, 4 of which where classmates with Yijin were so adorable and supportive of each other; I swear they brought life into me, every time there was a scene involving them.

# The romance... It amounted to perfectness. It in no way is entirely romance-centric, even though their relationship remains at the center of the drama, followed by the friendship of the squad. It definitely evolved from teenager romance adult sharing of love, with meaningful exchanges throughout.

# The slice of life elements... As told earlier, slice of life is the actual genre of this drama and it was tremendously reflected throughout the show. The monologues narrating lessons of life and the conversations emphasizing the essence of our existence, touched my heart so much, especially in the first half of the show, I had no way but to stick to it till the end.

# The contemporary elements... Be it the IMF crisis or the Asian Games or the revolution in art & lifestyle; the drama is another stupendous representation of the socio-cultural and socio-economic situations of the contemporary time. It's always a pleasure to witness Kdramas set in those periods.

What I didn't like.... THE ENDING. Don't wanna talk more about it. I know that could be a possibility but still, it was a well built story and the reasons the writer wanted to provide don't suffice the conventions; I'm not sorry if anyone disagrees.

Final Remarks... Honestly, I hesitated a lot before writing this review; I was not sure, whether I was worthy of writing a review for this? This drama has touched so many points and made mw reflect on my own, I was not ready to judge it a bit. It's after a long time, I have come to love something that much. After giving so much of thoughts, now that I write this review, I believe, it will reach many more people as it can and I wish you all who are watching it or going to watch, have the same, or even better experience than mine. I was more than willing to give it a 9.5 but provided the way the essence of the entire show got shattered into pieces with the ending, I am deducting the points. I am always gonna acknowledge how excellent of a show this is but the disappointment about the ending bothers me so much, I am giving a 9.0.

Definitely a must watch piece and already the best of 2022 despite it's ending, which I am not taking into consideration anyways. Putting it in my all time favourite list, without a second thought, please go ahead with it. Good luck :)

P. S. Definitely revisiting this post to add points whenever I am reminded of something that's worth telling about this drama.

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The writer did not bother to write a well thought out ending, why should I give this a high rating?

Okay, so the ending is just horribly bad. It's not just that I did not get the happy ending that I have wanted, but none of it makes any sense. BYJ leaves the sports department to be with her love NHD, joining the New York office is the bestest idea -also BYJ. I hugely dislike watching shows that are about first loves failing amicably, but I don't think this show ever wanted to be that. (otherwise they would've set things up differently) What I think happened is that the writer had no idea how to finish the story, so she kept procrastinating until the last two episodes & then just went with this knowing that no matter what she does, the commercial success of the show is not in danger anymore. Behavior like this is fairly common in Kdramaland, but this ending is truly one of the worst ones I've seen, in my opinion it's far worse than How I Met Your Mother's, there should be a blowback, right? Unfortunately I cannot do anything else other than writing this review & giving the show a low rating, so here we are!

If I want to be entirely honest, the ending is not the only problem with this drama. Yes, up until episode 10ish, up until HD made up with Go Yurim this was a 10/10 drama for me(Episode 9 was probably the best kdrama episode I've seen since IOTNBO's episode 3.), however after that, much of what made the drama so great has been toned down several notches. For example it would have been possible for me to partly ignore what happened with the OTP, if we would have gotten more fencing. Like I don't know, HD at the Olympics, HD at the Olympics for a second time. Could have even gone with some fairly standard plot with Evil Foreigner injuring GYR & HD having vengeance with her saber, there were endless possibilities to end this sports drama respectfully as a sports drama. Fencing was more than just cool up until episode 7-8.

So if you have have yet to watch this drama, should you watch it? Well, if you are not obsessed with getting closure, then yes you can watch the first 9 (perhaps even 10) episodes & then stop. Treat it like it's the American TV show Wonderfalls and just enjoy the ride. (Speaking of Wonderfalls, I should watch that again sometime soon)

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How to ruin a 10/10 show with one episode.

I must congratulate the writers for accomplishing something I considered nearly impossible. Well, I know better now. One can completely ruin a show in just one episode. Here is how I imagine it was done.

Step 1: Destroy the characters. The characters that the audience have known and loved for the past 15 episodes need to be ruined first. Take all their character-traits away from them, including their understanding, their love, their spirit of never giving up - everything that made them… them. Everything that made the audience fall in love with them. Ready? Great. Now apply this to their carefully constructed and super strong relationship and make it seem like it was nothing. Easy peasy.

Step 2: Try to trick the audience. Everything that has been shown important in the past 15 episodes needs to amount to nothing. All the little things, hints dropped, heartwarming things shown, need to be shown moot and useless. Now, switch their focus to completely different and dumb things which had no relevance before that wretched episode.

Step 3: Leave tons of things unexplained. Build up entire mysteries for 15 episodes and then simply refuse to solve them.

Step 4: Completely give up on all sense. Nothing needs to make any sense whatsoever. The strongest forged bonds are weak AF. People clearly madly in love with one another can be forced to break up with no regrets and can move on from each other just as quickly. Like I said, give up on all sense.

There you have it folks. A 4-step guide to ruin a 10/10 show. It was clearly easier than I had initially thought.

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