I don't know where even to begin. One thing is for sure, the 15 episodes if this drama are one a whole different level from many other dramas out there. 2521 set the standard too high and I really hope more dramas are going to be this good.

I probably have never watched anything filled with this much genuine love for life, realistic optimism, tear jerking nostalgia and hearful motivation to have a dream as 2521.

2521 reminds us that it is important to have a purpose in life. It fills us with all the emotions is intended to enwoke and succesfully deliebered everything it wanted to deliver. It is very rare for a film or series to achieve this, to be this genuine and impact the viewers this strongly.

I don't think I could came up with any other kdrama acting duo that had this much chemistry. Tae Ri and Nam Hyuk managed to so believably deliver the feelings and connection their characters had, it's crazy. Their chemistry was one of the most electric and captivating not only in the kdramas, but in the tv series generally speaking. I would put them up there with Joe/Cameron, Fleabag/Hot Priest, Sylvie/Loki, - pairings that just oozed chemistry.

Okay, now let's touch on the biggest, and pretty much the only flaw of 2521. The ending.

My problem with the ending isn't that it was bittersweet. In fact, I'm a sucker for a good bittersweet ending and I had expected it after ep.15.

The issue is that the leads felt really out of character. Also, their relationship was never "inherently" romantic, as time passed, they would've reconciled, at least as the friends. It didn't feel "realistic", it felt forced.

Like, the last episode was the opposite of "realistic" because it was not believable at all. These two people didn't want to let each other go, and they were shown to still harbor feelings for each other in the future. It didn't feel like "things change but life goes on", it felt like "people do things they regret", and I wouldn't have an issue if that was what the writer actually wanted to say, but I doubt that, it just came off as that.

Listen, all that matters in fiction is a good storytelling, 2521 definitely had an exceptionally great storytelling up until ep.16. The thing is, while this fantastic drama's rating shouldn't drop just because one episode, it is tricky when it comes to the last episodes, the bad last ep is going to leave a sour taste in the viewers' mouths. Objectively speaking, the last ep was not written well and not delivered well storytelling wise.

I liked the idea of "they break up to protect the purity of their love and leave only the good memories" but again, didn't came off as that. It didn't feel right and it didn't make much sense and the whole thing had a bad packing.

The 15 eps of 2521 made the drama one of the very best series in the recent years, but ep 16 was rushed and forced.


It was incredibly ironic how it felt like they were forced to part their ways by the outside forces rather than on their own accord.

I would actually say this makes this pair all the more exceptional in the dramaworld. And even generally speaking.

No, the ending was not written well, but the previous episodes seemed to have given the characters so much life that the conflict between what was the authors' intent and the unbelievable sequence of events was too apparent.

YJ and HD's separation would have made sense if they did it to save their friendship, to make sure they can preserve what they had.

And again, it is realistic that people part ways, but it is not realistic that people just give up on those they loved deeply, without really any strong reason.

Unlike many people, I don't really mind HD's husband staying unrevealed, he was never important to the story. What irritates me is the fact that we don't know if she's still married or divorced. She isn't wearing a ring (I think), her daugher is way too invested in her mom and her ex's story without any bitterness, HD's mom mentioning YJ, ect.

I agree that it seemed like the writer was playing something like "what happened to YJ" and maybe throwing confusing details in the future plotline. I personally dislike this tactic because it's only worth anything wile viewing the series for the first time. A good series is as good when re-watching it, and 2521 is most certainly a very re-watchable drama, but the future line, just like the last episode, is a mess and could have been better.

I'm glad they showed us HD becoming a professonal furniture maker instead of a housewife or something though.

Anyways that's it. I'm happy I watched this drama and I will he re-watching it again, maybe just skipping the ending.