Twenty Five Twenty One (2022)

TOP 5 K-DRAMAS OF ALL TIME !!

2521 was an amazing, all-rounded 10/10 drama that i spent every weekend looking forward to. This drama was so good that at times, it was as if i could not bear to even watch the episodes because of what immense perfection they were!! Everything from the writing, to the acting to the cinematography just worked together so well that every episode was a masterpiece in itself... though I'm still reeling from the ending, i still had to try and write a review to do some justice to the drama. 2521 is a perfectly imperfect coming-of-age, slice of life, romcom and i HIGHLY RECOMMEND everyone to watch this drama!
[spoilers ahead]

Story/writing:
> This drama was such a masterpiece and each and every episode was so well done! In a single episode, i could go from laughing to crying then back to laughing again. Every single character, side plot all came together and even those small seemingly insignificant moments in the drama added much value. So many memorable scenes in the drama that it would be hard to list them all out but my favourites include:
- Restaurant scene with the ahjussis when they provided comfort and encouragement to Heedo
- Payphone scenes in the snow where both of them were so far apart yet connected by something so simple such as a voice message
- Beach scene where they were talking about their life stories
- Seungwan talking to her mum about her decision to quit school
++++ so many more!!
> From the beginning, the main story and message about the drama had always been about what a beautiful time Youth is... yet such a wonderful season of life is fleeting and bittersweet. It was a time of innocence; where we could be bold and brave in doing whatever we wanted, earnest and optimistic about the future, ignorant yet wishful that things would last forever. During such an age, we fall over and over, we worry about the most insignificant things and we experience first loves. First loves that are raw, earnest and clumsy, where you think you will stay together forever; together against the world...and where you end up breaking each other's hearts irrevocably.
> Baekdo were each other's first loves and they were soulmates. The fleshing out and development of their relationship was one of the strongest parts of this drama. In each other, they had found missing parts of themselves and thus were able to comfort and provide strength and support to one another. What they had in each other is something other people can only wish for; a once in a lifetime person... The dialogue, the actions and the progression of their relationship were so natural and realistic that it really hurt at times. When they were cute and happy together, they made you laugh and squeal in joy... but in the final episode where they exchanged hurtful words that both of them regretted immensely, it actually hurt me physically EURGHHH. While fans had been hoping until the very end that they would magically end up together, it would not have flowed well with the overall tone and message the drama has always had since the beginning. What happened to Baekdo finally, while it was really painful to watch, it was realistic and kept to the message the production team wanted to convey: that what is important is that it happened, not that it ended. The journey the couple took was more important and the memories they shared would never be lost. Their breakup was the fault of neither party but just that life was taking them both in separate directions. However even as adults living separate lives, they had still supported and loved each other and that was what made their relationship so beautiful.
> Adulthood is harsh and comes with responsibilities and commitments. The drama had slowly introduced this concept from the very beginning where Yijin had to suddenly grow up because of his family circumstances. In so many scenes, the distinction between his maturity and the innocence of OT4 was palpable. It was also shown through Seungwan where she had to break without bending in keeping up with her own values. She recognised that she was not yet mature enough to be flexible in her convictions and she had always been clever beyond her years. And in the later episodes where 9/11 happened and the cruel reality of the world finally burst the bubble that the characters had been in. It all culminated near the end where OT5 had all stepped out into the world and got too busy to meet up, only having the time when they were attending a funeral. And this is the sad truth of adulthood, being busy, rescheduling, cancelling and then always missing the right timing to catch up with old friends because of how life has lead everyone in different directions.
> Friendship:
- I really liked the cradle buddies relationship portrayed in this drama. Both seungwan and jiwoong provided each other with unconditional support and love... im really glad that the writer decided to keep their relationship a platonic one because it worked out really well when they could support each other in their endeavours.
- I also really liked the friendship and rivalry between Heedo and Yurim. They respected each other immensely as athletes and only between them could they understand the kind of struggles each other faced: dealing with the media, being under pressure to perform, missing out on important school events and outings...
> Family: There were many types of families depicted in the drama... broken families by divorce, by bankruptcy, absent parents, close knit families etc etc. The drama gave each family time to flesh out the feels and i really appreciated the focus other than just pure romance.

Cast/acting:
> Baek Yi Jin: I have watched many of NJH's previous dramas and his acting has improved by leaps and bounds. His portrayal of BYJ was all the right amounts of swoon, cute and restrained angst. From him promising to never being happy again to being clingy while drunk to crying because he felt like he betrayed the ones he loved... it was all acted out very believably and you could see what he was feeling from his subtle clenching of his jaw or from his expressive eyes. He's just like an overgrown puppy that was forced to grow up
> Na Hee Do: I have also watched many of KTR's previous works and she is one of my favourite actresses. Her acting as a high school student was done so well that no one else could have portrayed NHD in a better way. From her labile emotions as a growing teenager to her increasing maturity as she grew... it was all acted out to perfection. When she laughed and got excited about simple things like romantic characters in Full House or bread stickers, you smiled along with her. When she got upset and felt wronged, you cried along with her. EVERY SINGLE TIME when she cried, it just made me cry too because of how well her hurt carried across the screen.

Cinematography:
NO WORDS FOR THIS... JUST PERFECTION!! So many times during the drama i had to pause and take a moment because of how gorgeous the scene was... You could just pause the drama and it would be a postcard or painting
> My favourites would be the snowfall scene as Heedo was on the payphone as well as the beach ASMR scene with the seagulls, waves and their laughter layered over in the background... I CRIED because of how beautiful it all was omg

Music:
OSTs and background instrumentals in this drama were used tastefully in scenes to highlight the emotions at that time. All the songs are amazing and have made it to my Spotify repeat playlist HEHHE

Overall:
While this drama might not have ended in a way that most people wanted it to, I think overall it was still coherent in its message and tone. This drama provided me with much comfort, laughter, tears and has been immensely memorable. Never have i ever been so enraptured by a drama before and i have watched like >150 dramas lol... This drama was a masterpiece in ALL aspects and really is a gem... but i have -0.5 for the ending hahaha because while it was realistic, we watch kdramas for the heart-fluttering moments and escape from life it offers :'))

WILL BE REWATCHING FOR SURE

Lire davantage

Heartwarming and Special ❤️

Twenty-five twenty-one is a youth-life record of 5 friends. It's about their bonding, their struggles, dreams and how they grew up. 25-21 is a beautiful journey that keeps you entertained till the end. It's nostalgic, funny, gloomy and inspiring. The overall concept of this drama from 1998 to 2021 has impressed me.

So what did I like so much in this drama?

✧ It has a dynamic story that made me emotional many times. I could feel for all of them and I literally smiled and cried along with them… a special mention to the screenwriter Kwon Do Eun for making this so special. The dialogues are absolute perfection. Even normal phrases appeared like quotes.

✧ the suspense. I bet no drama had so many "endgame theories" lol. I was quite satisfied with the ending. I do have some mysteries left unanswered in my mind but I don't mind them much. As compared to this destination they've reached, the journey was far more precious.

✧ Romance is definitely one of the main themes here and you'll end up rooting for our main "rainbow couple." They're the reason I rated this so high.

✧ I love things related to sports in dramas and two of the leads (Na Hee Do and Ko Yu rim) acted as fencers. It had many fencing matches and struggles as a player. I appreciate taking fencing as the main sport which is not a very famous game. And Coach Yang is still the best. “Don’t ever forget how you earned a new opportunity. Whenever you’re having a hard time, remind yourself how difficult it was to start.” – Coach Yang

✧ They chose the "right cast". They look like a bunch of silly teenagers who seek out their part of happiness. Their transition from being childish to understanding things slowly, being mature, taking decisions, falling and learning is beautiful.

✧ so many loveable characters ~

Na Hee-do (Kim Tae Ri) is my favorite character and it will be difficult to move on from this drama just because I was habitual to this voice for the past month. She is like sunshine. It's her straightness, her thoughts and her hardworking spirit that I fell for. At one scene she said "It feels better when I turn my tragedy into comedy." Gosh! How can someone not love her.

Baek Yi-jin (Nam Joo hyuk) – He is not your forever perfect male lead and he gets sad, weak and tries to make things better. The way he and hee do become each other's hope is so heartwarming. “Because you give me hope. And I want more for you and it makes me want to do well too” – Baek Yijin

Ko Yu-rim (Bona) – Yu rim is the proud fencing gold medalist and Hee do's inspiration. She has her own problems. She is hardworking and honest at least. “It’ll probably hurt if you lose it all. But what matters is that you’ve had it at one point.” – Yu Rim

Ji Seung-wan (Lee Joo Myung) – I like her uprightness and being like the silent topper of the group. Also I love her changed look for the later half. Those perms look absolutely beautiful on her.

Moon Ji-woong (Choi Hyun Wook) – the loveable part of him is his nature. He's so carefree, chilled out and supportive. I like his bond with Seung wan.

✧ On the side note, they also show us different types of bonds between parents and children going through different conflicts… so they touch many small topics and present them in the most endearing way.

✧ OSTs —
I'm no critic in music but since this had many many songs I'll list the ones that I liked listening to often ~
❥ starlight – by Taeil (NCT) ( just my type of song )
❥ with – sung by all 5 leads ( just the news that they all sang it together made me happy. it's slow, soothing and the lyrics is beautiful. this song sums up all the feelings of the drama )
❥ I'll shine on you – Bae Ki Sung ( this is just the right thing for karaoke )

In the end, do you like youth based dramas with enough emotional ups and downs, realistic stories of growth, characters chasing their dreams and character development. If yes? Do give twenty-five twenty-one a try!

Lire davantage

Exeeding Expectations... except the ending

Is this drama overhyped? Not at all.

The thing about this drama is the feeling it gives while watching. It's a one of a kind feeling, and one of the reasons I watch dramas in the first place. I honestly enjoy watching this drama so much, it does everything right and has so many different storylines all pulled together through Na Hee Do.

The main character played by Kim Tae Ri is Na Hee Do, and she is the most enjoyable lead I have ever seen in a drama. An girl with so many hopes, she's entertaining because she's honestly hilarious. This girl goes about life in her own way without being overly relatable, she's just Na Hee Do. Kim Tae Ri pulls off this youthful character so well, and for an actress over 30 she not it's not just about looking like a 19 year old. Kim Tae Ri portrays this character so well that the drama feels completely real, there's no doubt to her character. The other leads are not what I expected, seeing Yu Rim at first I never expected her to be either really mean or really nice. Again with this character she's someone you can root for or be against. There's not a villain in this drama, instead I'd call it a coming of age over calling it a romantic comedy.

This drama has sports, it has amazing comedic timing that even Jungkook had to put a moment on his story because it was just too perfect. The pacing isn't boring, but it's not too quick paced. This drama is one I've looked forward to every week and one I know I would binge watch if I could.

Now a controversies (if any) could come from the age gap between Baek Yi Jin and Na Hee Do. I don't see anything wrong with any of their story so far. Yi Jin looks after Hee Do but he isn't overbearing, he's protective but trusts her. The trust and communication they have in each other is touching, and again there's many moment with comedic timing between the two that is all too enjoyable to watch. The dynamic between the two is not only adorable, it's a word I can't find a name for so I'll call it scissors (if you watched you know :))

To sum this up, Twenty Five Twenty One is so good. I swear I see dramas and I can feel something change, I want to find other dramas like it but I know there won't ever be, and then more amazing dramas come out. Twenty Five Twenty One is an experience that I won't take for granted.

Now coming back after watching the whole show I am dissapointed with the ending. As it was open ended, ultimately they didn't need Present Day Na Hee Do to exist in the story at all, the show would've served much better taking place in the flashbacks the whole time without any present day story at all. That's because there was no closure at all, and there wasn't a resolution between Na Hee Do and Baek Yi Jin. In the end they loved each other a lot, and to me I don't understand why it was needed for them to stay apart forever. Sadness doesn't equal to a good ending, that's where the drama severely disappoints me. Nonetheless it was a fun watch.

Lire davantage

'therapy' review for my own sake

This, my dear readers, is my way to try 'move' on from this drama, or better, from that ending, through the 5 stages of grief...

With all due respect to that ending, I really needed this 'therapy' review for my own mental and emotional wellbeing, and hopefully it can help the future audience too, who are somewhat heartbroken from that finale.

So let me begin, the 5 stages of grief...

'DENIAL'
Really!? This was it? This can't be it right? There has to be one more episode that I'm not aware of! If not, what's with all those fragments of the past, in her present life? From the red car, her shop's name and those rainbow chairs in that shop etc? Were they just 'aesthetics'? Were we all just a bunch of overthinkers? Is this pain on us then?!

'ANGER'
How could everyone else in the drama get their 'happily-ever-after' but not them? Even Seung Wan managed to get a reunion with a potential 'partner' in that 2mins of the finale, which, reminder, started with a greeting of freaking 10+ years ago!! Seriously!? So we can go to that extent to reunite them (I'm very happy for them btw), but we couldn't possible work out a way to make our lead couple end up together too? Are we kidding here? After all that they've been through? If time and distance and 'life' is what stopped them from being together, how did YuRim and JiWoong work out? Of course to each their own, but it's Baek YiJin and Na HeeDo we are talking about! You want me to believe THEY couldn't make it work!? THEM? The pair that went through it all?! All that good bad and worse of times they've been through?! All that for this? An ending that's labelling it all as a mere 'first-love's fate? Why make them both so mature and understanding in that relationship, in that 'love-that-betters' of theirs, to only end it, without even giving it another attempt? And the fact that the present HeeDo is even regretting that decision, while she is the one who actually initiated that breakup! Really? WHy make her regret her decision now?! It feel even worse!

'BARGAINING'
I'm someone who doesn't like open endings, but for this drama I'm not sure which is more painful, this or if they showed an open ending instead...Would all the 'what-ifs' make it better?

What if during their last embrace, under that cherry blossom, they promised to give it another try, rather than a 'goodbye'? Would we have had a different ending now? I can't believe that the YiJin and HeeDo, that we've known for the past 15 eps, would given up that easily, especially on this love of theirs. I feel like it was all because of time, both in the drama and outside the drama. In the drama because, well 'life' happened, outside drama, because I really think that if there were more episodes, like even one more, they could have reunited sometime after that 'break-up' and find their way back somehow, I have that much fate in them!

What if in that last scene, when older Na HeeDo visits that tunnel, to say 'goodbye' to that younger Baek YiJin, and she returns to her red car, to find an older Baek YiJin behind the steering wheels, telling her 'enough of past regrets, we are together now, that's what matters!' with that smile of his that's only reserved for HeeDo. What if they were married all along, and I'm sure we can come up with some logical explanations behind how that happened, at least that would still make more sense than how they couldn't resolve their issue and be together!

'DEPRESSION'
I feel like at the moment I'm still in the anger phase, so the pain is not sinking in yet, no matter how much tears I've shed, the weight still seems to be there sadly.


...ACCEPTANCE
I'm sure one day, just like MinChae reading her mom's diary, I'll look back at this drama with a bitter-sweet smile on my face, but in this instance, I don't think I'm strong enough to accept it yet, I need time...apparently HeeDo managed to forget all about that beautiful memory in the beach, so I think I can probably feel less bitter about this ending too, IN FACT HeeDo managed to freaking move on from her first love, a 'BaekYiJin-NaHeeDo' type of first love at that, and actually merry another person, so I'm sure I can move on from this pain of the ending too, I hope...

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Okay apart from me 'grieving' that ending, I'm well aware that we can't belittle a whole drama by its ending only, especially for this drama, which is much more that that!
But happy-endings, in the traditional sense of the leads ending up together, matters a lot to me, and endings in general are break or make for me. That is why I was contemplating a lot about what rating to give for this 'masterpiece' if only we don't include that ending. Should I give it a low rating because of how it scarred me with that finale, or a high rating because of how much joy it bought me throughout its run. So I came with the conclusion, that you never know, there could have been an even more painful ending ( I'm not emotionally available to think of its logic and details now, but you get the point), plus I like to believe in journeys being more 'important' than destinations, and what a journey that it was!! So here's me celebrating this wonderful journey, regardless of how it ended and its few/many? unanswered questions.

HIGHLIGHTS

~the complex characters----- some were more complex than others of course, due to screen time, but as a whole, the amount of effort put to make those characters '3D' instead of some 'plot-devices' is commendable!

~the screenplay -----the incorporation of real life events, the nostalgic setting of the past, how that changes over time, the narrative style, and how the whole story unfolds is just art! The beautiful cinematography is a bonus!

~the acting-----where to start from? I was seeing everyone's work for the first time, except for Nam Joo Hyuk, so although I had no expectation of others, I was not expecting much from him either to be completely honest, but I can't express it enough, how impressed I am of his performance. Be it because of the opportunity to play a complex character, or him improving over the years or them both, but he pulled off Baek YiJin perfectly! So when he said in an interview, to look at his acting career as before and after 2521, I think that's exactly it! Writing a wonderful character can sometimes fall short, if you can't find the right vessel to play it, and not only he did justice to this character, he freaking owned it! From Baek YiJin's restrained self at the start, to him gradually warming up to happiness again, to his heart-wrenching break downs, it really felt like he lived every single of those moments. The same can be said for Kim Tae Ri, what a wonderful job that they've done, makes me look forward to their future roles.

TAKE HOME MEMORIES...
The whole drama is actually filled up with good, bitter-sweet memories, and with many hints of this imminent ending, I guess it's on us that we tried to see pass those hints for a final twist, so here's me trying to stop understanding the logic behind it all, and simply 'accepting' it as it is. Afterall it gave us so many wonderful moments, it would be too harsh to not appreciate them enough due to how it ended, so here's me 'letting go' of this drama, on 'good terms', Baekdo style:

''You comforted me just by being there.'' Na HeeDo
''I now know what perfect happiness is.'' -Baek YiJin

So will I shed some more tears again, seeing their break up scenes in the future? Yes, probably...
But I'm still happy for them, how far they've come, what they've achieved and the impact they left in each other's life.
And I'm glad I've got to experience it all, as an audience!

(I guess I've eventually made it to the acceptance phase of grief after all heheh)

P.S. This was really it huh

Lire davantage

Of Nostalgia and Regrets

“Nothing lasts forever. Everything is momentary. They all flow away. And that’s not always a bad thing.”
—Na Hee Do (Twenty-five, Twenty-one)

The ending may not be everyone’s cup of tea but I like that it is meaningful, realistic and bittersweet but with proper closure. I encountered so many emotions watching this drama and I’m not complaining. I enjoyed the ride from beginning to end. I can make a good reaction paper on the ending, trust me. :p

I think Baek Yi-jin and Na Hee-do help inspire each other’s dreams and become better persons, and the way that that unfolds means that they can’t end up together but that their love isn’t any less important or real.

And even if she and Yijin didn’t end up together, Heedo married someone else and has a child (Kim Min Chae) as revealed, 2125 celebrates those loves that came in our youth (friendship and passion) and that they’re just as important as the love you have now. Heedo and Yijin share a memory that is only theirs that is pure and special that no one can take away.

At the end of it all, it’s about how important each person is in your journey, friends or lovers, in wherever you’re going in life.

“My diary from those days is filled with just love & friendship. A time when friendship & love were all that mattered in life. A time like that lasts only a moment. I hope Min Chae experiences such passion as well. A rowdy friendship and passionate love. Because those brief moments are what make your long life shine.” -Na Hee Do, 2021

Will I recommend this? Yes! In fact I am rewatching it a second time, now with a relaxed heart and mind.

P.S. This is so far my favorite Nam Joo Hyuk performance in a drama. He has definitely broke away from the previous role he played in Start-up that many fans didn’t like. He’s back on the game! Kim Tae-ri, as always flawless performance. I have no major complaints with the acting, soundtrack, technicals, all on point.

Lire davantage

The Villain: Time

Was expecting a happy ending but this is just the reality of life. You don't always end up with your first love, you change, you grow up, you forget and move on. But the people you met will always be part of who you are now. I know we watch dramas to get away from reality, but I think after time I will recover from their sad ending and realize it’s not really sad. They loved each other, and that’s all that matters. They gave each other strength, and she showed her daughter that strength as well. While I admit that I’m broken they didn’t end up together, I would be lying to say that this ending didn’t touch me. This drama was special and will always be special to me. It shows me that in the future if I love something dearly, it was worthwhile and not pointless even if it ends.

This drama taught us how precious youth is. it's precious because it'll only be a phase, it'll be the only time where passion and friendship are the only things that matter. that's why you have to treasure it. This type of finale is kind of new. it was heart breaking but beautiful. Thank you for everything, 2521.

Lire davantage

i feel empty after watching this drama

at first i wasn’t really interested in starting this drama but once i watched the first ep i started binge watching them all. the story, acting, ost is amazing. sometimes i felt like i was floating, leaving my daily problems behind. every episode left me speechless and i cried a lot but also smiled a laughed. the chemistry between the cast is incredible. and one important thing, OST!!! this drama has some amazing ost, probably my favorite of all dramas i’ve watched so far, the ost was perfect for the scenes and cannot describe how it made me feel, my life was complete for a minute! i definitely recommend watching and i feel like i’m gonna rewatch it soon, the ending was a bit disappointing but overall i love this drama so much

Lire davantage

A Refreshing Take on Age Gap Romances.

Disclaimer: I'm not the type to usually watch age gap romances, but I will admit I am a sucker for Nam Joo Hyuk LOL so here we go!

Storyline: 10/10
Everytime I've watched a kdrama with an age gap, I'm immediately disgusted by how the (usually) male lead sees the younger woman romantically right off the bat. Especially when it's a minor and it's one of those "forbidden loves". But this story takes a wonderful spin on it. The male lead even explicitly says: "minors should date minors, adults should date adults". And even in the way the two characters talk, you can tell that the male lead knows to set a boundary and doesn't treat a minor girl like a "woman" so to speak. It's the bare minimum, but it's always lovely to see respectful characters. Aside from the main characters, the storyline itself is refreshing too. It's a bit sad since it's based on the IMF crisis, but it's got a good mix of sadness and hope. You don't feel weighed down by the heaviness of the situation but it's never a childish hope either. It's simply the world through the two leads' eyes: hope for the female lead since she is young and full of dreams and realism for the male lead since he's older and his dreams have been tarnished.

Acting/Cast: 10/10
Personally, I've watched Nam Joo Hyuk's dramas since 2017 onward and it's amazing to see how much he has improved. His facial expressions are better, his movements are more fluid. He's got Baek Yi-Jin nailed for me so far. Sad but kind, and just enough quick quips to be endearing. Now, this is my first time seeing Kim Tae-ri, but she is phenomenal. I was shocked to learn she's 30 because of her youthful face and her wonderful acting. She fits the part with her expressions, and you really feel like you're watching the character come alive and not an actor. I will definitely be watching more of her once this show finishes airing!

Music: 8/10
The music is quite good, I think it fits the retro vibe without any overkill. That's pretty much all I've got to say on that, but it's a sweet tune that adds to the vibe!

Rewatch Value: 10/10
As of now, it's hard to say whether I'd watch this show again since it's still going. But for now, I'm loving the way the show is moving and these characters.

Alright that's my review! I hope this can be helpful to anyone on the fence about watching this amazing drama. =)

Lire davantage

Tender, sensitive, beautiful. Thoroughly excellent.

This is a story about an age gap. It’s in the title, but it’s also at the heart of the writing and the unfolding of a relationship in which one is already an adult and the other coming of age. The mesmerising beauty of this drama is the acute observation and treatment of this journey.

It is in the excellence in the writing (Kwon Do Eun) that has perfectly captured the age difference in the dialogue, and displayed a depth of understanding that reveals, in sequence, each tiny step forwards. It is in the directing (Jung Ji Hyun) that forces nothing and under rather than overplays each scene, giving it space for a natural unfolding. It is in the cinematography and editing that keeps it very clean and pure, capturing facial expressions in the moment, in a simple and direct way and not holding them until they lose their essence. It is in the soundtrack which is sparingly used and refrains from emotive strings. And finally, it is in the excellence of the acting by all of the cast, but especially the two leads (Kim Tae Ri and Nam Ju Hyuk) who reveal the emotions with a visual ease that belies the skill involved, so that they emerge with total credibility. Wah! Superb!

It would be a mistake to approach this piece as simply a romance. The underlying theme is how the times and circumstances that we are born into as well as the random events that happen impact our dreams and shape our lives. It also reveals the cost that must be paid for the realisation of aspirations and responsibilities. Set in the economic downturn of the IMF crisis in the late nineties we see lives and relationships transformed and dreams crushed, but also opportunities realised, responsibilities fulfilled and sacrifices made through an engagement with the reality of the present.

This is a story about how nothing is forever. Moments of love, friendship, success, failure, ambition and passion — all change irrevocably with time and events. It is important to realise that the present is the only time that you have. If you live for and fully engage in the present the memories that stay with you will become the colour of your life. They may not be the moments that you think are important at the time, but these are the moments that last forever.

Perhaps the illustration of this theme provided the only fault I can find—that of the pacing and slight fragmentation in the latter stages and the necessity to rush some character development but I think it came true at the end (which I thought was the right ending). I loved the nod to her previous drama "Search WWW" that was the postscript to the show.

Setting it in the late nineties allowed the writer to explore a love story in a time far enough distant for it to be credible that development was at a later stage and the innocence of adolescence was something to be preserved. The ML (Baek Yi Jin) respects and gives space to the unfolding of maturity in the FL (Na Hee Do), which he himself was denied and this is a major part of the charm and warmth of the story. The gradual awakening of her sensuality, particularly during the beach scene, is beautifully portrayed by Kim Tae Ri and sensitively directed and filmed in close ups of her face that capture the subtle moments of realisation. This is pure, heartwarming nostalgia at its very best.

I defy you not to fall completely in love with Na Hee Do. What a creation she is! Kwon Do Eun has created a peach of a role and who wouldn’t jump over 10 metre fences for the opportunity to play this part. Kim Tae Ri has convincingly dropped thirteen years to engage with her unfailing optimism and resilience to failure. She has perfectly captured the character’s naivety, disarming honesty and staunchness as she blunders forwards, regardless of risk, inspiring hope in those around her. This is a stunning performance by Kim Tae Ri that completely enthrals from the first moment to the last.

If the writer has a weakness it’s her male characters. They don’t really have enough wrong with them; no edge, no raw, roughness to play with. Here again, as in “Search WWW”, she shows no hesitation in writing a range of strong, complex female characters; from the unhappy, controlled and judgemental, Shin Jae Kyung (Hee Do’s mother) to the clever, hard-nosed fencing coach, Yang Chan Mi. But her leading males are soft centred, as though she is nervous of being able to make them attractive if they have flawed character traits or are dislikable in any way.

Having said that, Nam Ju Hyuk’s performance as Baek Yi Jin was a masterpiece of warmth and tenderness. His character represents the voice of the times. He embodies someone for whom love and compassion are the currency of life and shows us its simplest form as a desire to hold a space for another to live in safety and happiness. His relationship with Na Hee Do is a voyage through varying aspects of love and support that subtly change as they both grow in age and understanding to embrace equality. And it was easy to see the transitions in Nam Ju Hyuk’s face. There were some beautiful moments in their relationship that explore not just romance, but the foundations of love, protection, support, generosity and respect. I enjoyed his interpretation of the ML and the chemistry between him and Kim Tae Ri was magic.

Kwon Do Eun knows how to touch your heart without raising a fuss. No false emotions, onion tears of histrionics necessary. Just simple scenes, like listening to a pager message from a phone booth. She sympathetically captured the excruciating embarrassment of adolescence that reached an unforgettable climax in the aftermath of “I have to have you”! But she also knows how to ham it up, as in the brilliant scene between separated husband and wife in the internet café. There’s a thread of delightful, knowing humour that swims like a silvery fish through all the episodes. It frequently made me laugh out loud and kept an almost permanent smile on my face.

The colour palette utilises bright and vibrant summer colours, reinforcing the nostalgia of a youthful optimism and perseverance, rather than the drabness of the economic downturn. The cinematography has an elegance that frames each shot with care and keeps the viewers’ attention where it should be, on the actors, whilst also adding character, texture and visual beauty. Who can forget the scene on the bridge (enhanced by CGI) with its opalescent sheen and overarching rainbow.

The whole production cleverly walks the edge between the nostalgic and the sentimental. It rarely falls over it and that is something very difficult to achieve. It is helped enormously by the straightforward cinematography, the choice of simple music and the partnership between director and actors that kept the performances restrained and the emotion true. This could easily have been overplayed, sickly sweet and emotionally exaggerated, but it wasn’t and that’s why it has earned such a high rating from me. It was a complete joy to watch and I cannot recommend it more highly.

What my rating means: 9+   A drama I totally fell in love with and is endlessly re-watchable. It ticked all the boxes and had some serious wow factor. It would go on my personally recommended list.

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SAD ENDING -- IF YOU DON'T WANNA CRY, THEN DON'T WATCH IT.

Everything of this drma was perfect until the last episode.
The director made the mistake (according to me) by showing a super duper SAD ENDING.

Story- 7/ 10 (it's a new kind of story and not just a cliché)
Rewatch value: 2/10 (bcz of ending)
Recommendation: 3.5/10 (only if you are a sadistic person, then watch it otherwise it's a BIG NOOO)

You will start the drama, you will laugh, you will love the characters, you will love their chemistry and then-- BOOOOOOOOOOM!!

Main leads are not together at the end!
Like seriously??!!!

The rating is currently dropping because of the Ending.
This drama could be a masterpiece but it lost it's chance.

I don't mind Sad endings but some directors think that sad ending is the only way to create a drama masterpiece which is totally rubbish!!
It was my favourite drama until the last episode and after watching the last episode, it's a terrible experience.
I am questioning myself that why did I decide to watch the drama??!!....

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A different type of bittersweet journey.

PLOT.
If I could forget all episodes I would just so I could fall in love all over again, that's how much one of a kind it was. It's been awhile since I last been so invested and attached to a drama. They gave us everything. When the cast, teasers and trailers came out I was so excited! I knew 2521 would be one of the best this year but it ended up being one of my all time favorites. I'm in awe of how beautifully detailed this drama was. They made us laugh, cry and root for them altogether week by week. I'm gonna be honest: it was both a dream and a nightmare having to wait to watch this. From main to side characters, I could feel their pain, sorrow, happiness. 2521 is a roller-coaster of emotions, just like youth and life overall. Even though a handful of unfortunate things happened, the quintet shined brightly as the time went by. At some point I thought everything would go down all at once, and I actually bawled my eyes out because of so much pain. However, I could connect with this drama a lot and I'm grateful for that. Also, I've been waiting for something like Reply series for so long, especially Reply 88. Every single character matters here somehow, they're so well written. As much as Baekdo are the main characters, this show gave everyone a special moment and not a single boring episode in between. Speaking of which, I just want to point out that I love both Heedo and Yijin as individuals and also together as friends and lovers. I had soo much of fun with theories, even the wildest ones! So many dramas lose its freshness once it reaches the second half, they did a an amazing job here sustaining the plot. They made a good number of people question what'd happen next. Writing, directing, producing and acting on point! The majority of us wanted Baekdo to end up together, but so many details were indicating a sad ending: they left clues here and there. All the hints were right there yet I grew attached to its plot and characters. From the very start I had a gut feeling that this drama could end with a bittersweet taste in my mouth (just by watching the teaser with 2521 playing in the background and seeing the poster where they were looking at different directions). I think some things could've been better of course, yet, imo it was a fresh and well-written one for the most part. I'd like to point out some things though. Both Yijin and Heedo had so much potential as a couple, I'm still hurt they grew apart like that, not even remaining as friends who support each other. I'm also sad because Heedo had forgotten that precious summer trip with the gang. However, I understand that's life, things change and we can't always control everything in order to get what we want. I'm taking 2521 close to my heart regardless of this and that.

CHARACTERS.
Kim Minchae: this girl represents 2521 nation so well it scares me ngl. Her father! As much as I was really curious to know who he was I also understand why the writter didn't show us: he was simply not the main point. I'm happy that she decided to go back to ballet and challenge herself in order to create her own experiences.

Ji Seungwan: she stood up for herself while helping other people and is such a great friend. She's so brave and honest, I really like her and I'm glad she had a good ending.

Moon Jiwoong: at first we got to see his reckless self as a funny student and his charms as the 7th pretty boy from class 3. As the episodes went by he shows his other sides as we see his friendship with Seungwan growing stronger and how much he looks up to Yijin. Last but not least, his love towards Yurim: he went from someone who used to appreciate her because of her image, and ends up forcing himself to grow up little by little in order to picture a future with her. He grew up and matured beautifully, without leaving behind his genius personality. The way he proposed to Yurim was so cute :)

Ko Yurim: this is a character with interesting layers. When I saw the umbrella scene I thought she wouldn't be as sweet to Heedo as it looked like - and I was so right. Her mean attitute towards Heedo would always let a bitter taste in my mouth. I was of course waiting for her redemption so when they finally got to know the truth I was the happiest. Yurim is extremelly passionate when it comes to fencing, it's admirable. She had to mature at a really young age and I respect that.

Baek Yijin: I'm glad Joohyuk changed the tsundere Baek Yijin from the script, he's definitely one of the best characters. His acting has improved even more here. This character is now part of my favorite ones, he brought a lot of comfort with his wise words and selfless actions many times. He was such an important person in Heedo's life, so necessary. He struggled so much, I cried watching him getting more and more disappointed in himself. Both him and Heedo started to lose themselves at some point, it was extremely heartbreaking. Baek Yijin had a caring and giant heart but too many issues and traumas at once on his plate. Him and Heedo deserved way better than they got in the end. Nam Joohyuk AND Kim Taeri both deserve nominations, they nailed their characters with top notch acting.

Na Heedo: her younger self was such a daring and carefree character, I'd like to be friends with her. She's become one of my favorite characters as well. Whenever the older Heedo would appear, I knew something would make me sad somehow. She looked miserable and hurt even after so many years after the break up. It was a relief to see Heedo being at peace with her mom while still young. I was shocked when she told Minchae that she didn't remember the gang's summer trip, because it was her first one. Also, her future self had many regrets related to their break up. What they had was really precious, how painful.

OST.
Hands down to everyone involved here, I've been listening to the tracks non-stop (including the instrumental ones).

On a final note, I'd love to see at least Joohyuk and Taeri (or Taeri and Bona) working together again in the future, their chemistry on and off camera is really natural. Oh and I'll definitely watch the whole drama all over again once the feeling of emptiness comes to an end, which is going to take some time. If you read this till here, thank you ♡

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Worst ending - disappointed

I rated this drama LOW and not because it was the worst drama I have watched but because the ending deserved a low rating. So close to being a masterpiece, but the last 2 episodes ruined the whole drama. Personally, I don't think I can rate higher this drama since it is unfinished, and will never be completed. Even tho the drama has an amazing cast and episodes, it concluded with NOTHING. The whole plot became NOTHING. It doesn't make sense the drama at the end, and wasting time watching it to have no conclusion is just rubbish. I don't even want to say more. I'm sorry to the actors and everyone who gave their all.

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