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Brilliant show with a terrible ending
I was prepared to give this show a 10/10 rating until I saw episode 15 and 16. So bizarre! I've adjusted my pre-final rating of 9.5 to 8.5 just because of those last 2 episodes.The story begins with a national level fencer, Na Hee Do, who is now retired dropping her daughter, Kim Min Chae off to perform in a ballet contest. However, seeing her competitor's performance, Min Chae runs away and eventually goes to stay with her grandmother in Hee Do's childhood home. She discovers her mother's diaries and learns about Hee Do's passion for fencing, her rivalry and friendship with Go Yu Rim and her first real relationship with Baek Yi Jin. Most of the story revolves around these characters growing up in the 90s and how they deal with hardships and forming a strong support system for each other. This journey (until episode 14) is the most beautiful part of the series. The realism and the positivity is inspiring.
Then from episode 15, everything starts to spiral downwards eventually crash landing in episode 16. Ep 15 was a drag. There was a huge build up surrounding what happened between Na Hee Do and Baek Yi Jin and who is Kim Min Chae's father? The answer is weak to non-existent. Of all the obstacles, both endured, the result does not make sense. Even if the writer did not want to deliver a positive ending, which not all stories and real life experiences have, why not answer some questions as to who Hee Do married and why focus on this elaborate story if it was all about the kid going back to ballet?
Overall:
The Good
1. Na Hee Do's fencing moments are thrilling.
2. The rivalry and friendship between Na Hee Do and Go Yu Rim are beautiful! I adored the development and result.
3. The way Na Hee Do and Baek Yi Jin's relationship develops and their journey as each other's support system is endearing.
4. Baek Yi Jin's struggles from his family facing hardships and his growing responsibilities as the new head responsible for bringing his family together is worth watching.
5. The friendship between Moon Ji Woong and Ji Seung Wan is adorable and provide a lot of comic relief!
6. The coach and Hee Do's mother are wonderful characters and their relationship with Hee Do is interesting to watch with plenty of ups and downs.
7. The OST is wonderful.
The Bad aka the parts that are left unanswered:
1. The writers wanted a sad ending but Yi Jin's choices did not make sense since he switched fields just to avoid ever hurting Hee Do and in the end completely avoided her.
2. Why send a rookie in local news to cover a major international event? This is entirely illogical in the real world setting. It does not sit well with me progression wise.
3. Why did Yi Jin leave coins over the telephone booth at the beach? It wasn't clarified who it was for.
4. Who is Kim Min Chae's father and what was the need to hide his identity towards the end? There is no communication between the family and the father over a call either which is bizarre.
5. Why was Kim Min Chae and the older Hee Do required for the story? Was it all just so that Min Chae is motivated to pursue ballet? Could Min Chae not have the same life experiences without it?
6. The unnecessary dramatic departure that was stretched way too long.
I wanted to rewatch this series but after this ending, I might skip it. I would only recommend this show until mid ep 15. Don't bother with the rest.
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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!
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'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
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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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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. =)
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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.
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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 muchVond je deze recentie nuttig?
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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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1I think it’s important to know the title of the drama is more of a destination and not an indication about what the plot will be. Most of it is set when Hee Do is a teenager - last year of high school and the beginning of her 20s. We join her on the journey, as she tries to follow her goals and dreams, builds friendships, experiences sweet victories and bitter loses. She is both mature and innocent with her approach to problems and how she interacts with people. Truly a wonderful female lead that could inspire a lot of younger and older audiences.
Baek Yi Jin perfectly represents the time of our life when we are not quite kids anymore, but we still have a long way to becoming adults. New responsibilities are piling up, and you are slowly learning how to handle them. He was also one of the best male leads in the history of Korean dramas - understanding, supportive, pointing out the mistakes in a mature way, which helped Hee Do grow as a person. Was his selflessness too much? I think it served as a quite well structured flaw that led to many interesting internal and external conflicts he was facing.
He was not perfect, taking steps back when he was overwhelmed by the given situation or unsure of the future results. On the other hand completely immersing himself after he makes a decision to take action - these realistic flaws made him an even greater character.
I think it’s also important to mention how great of a job the writer did with Go Yu Rim’s character. She was quite flawed, self-centered at times, extremely insecure - all that led to many unfortunate moments, making her behave in an awful way. Yet, by the end of the show, the majority of the audience adored her, felt sympathy and wished her happiness.
Not only the main characters, but also the supporting cast did a wonderful job. That said, I find it slightly disappointing how little we got to know both Moon Ji Woong and Ji Seung Wan. I think both of them could present an interesting and unique perspective, but they were not really given the chance to do that. Yes, Seung Wan had a few truly moving and inviting further reflection scenes, but overall, she was mostly pushed to the side lines.
The character that I could not fully understand and root for till the end was Hee Do’s mom, Shin Jae Kyung. I found her striving to be a good journalist and presenter rather one-dimensional and boring. Her reasoning often made little sense and her overall stand on the issue seemed a bit artificial - only existing to create some drama between her and her daughter.
Most of the performances were solid, some truly amazing. I’m surprised how well Kim Tae Ri delivered the role of Na Hee Do. It’s honestly not easy to give a believable performance of a teenage girl by a woman in her 30’. She aced the role and no other actress could do as well as she did.
I’m not the biggest fan of Nam Joo Hyuk, granted it had more to do with the roles he took than his performance. That said, he was born to play the role of Baek Yi Jin. He did great with the duality of the character - mature and protective, but at the same time scared and struggling.
Go Yu Rim’s character and her arc was not an easy task, but Bona did the character justice. Probably one of the characters that evokes the most emotions in all the viewers - be it positive or negative.
The only performance that did not convince me at all was Kim So Hyun as an adult Hee Do. Watching her on screen, she had that theater actress characteristics, so I was not exactly surprised when I found out she is in fact a musical theater actress. Theater and dramas demand a completely different approach, and I am not sure she was able to successfully switch from one to the other. Things needed on stage will work against you in front of the camera.
What a beautiful show it was. My screenshots folder is full of amazing pictures. The pacing was perfect - slow enough for me to have time to appreciate the scenes and dialogues, but fast enough to always keep me entertained. Loved the shots that focused on the details, objects, often hands - they at times served as the guidance of what is the center of the scene and where our focus should be.
The arrangement for the song truly perfectly fits the 90’ and early 00’ sentiment. Being perfectly honest, I am not the biggest fan of the music style from these times, but the show could not have a better list of songs. Wonstein’ Your Existence is probably my favorite song from the drama.
Overall, this is far more than just a romantic comedy. I would say the romance, even though presented throughout the show, is not the focus point. It’s a heartwarming story of finding yourself, fighting for your dreams and convictions, creating meaningful relationships and beautiful memories while slowly facing the reality of adulthood.
If it just concluded on the ending of episode 15. I actually think the last scene from that episode would be the superior and more fitting ending. Where is a white truck of doom when you need it? I’d take one dose of amnesia - please let me forget I’ve seen that last episode. Still, the journey was worth it.
If I had to leave with one last complaint - the whole present times storyline was useless and the drama could do without it.
My explanation for the ending and how for me it makes sense in the comment under the review (hidden for spoilers).
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Makes you vicariously long for a passionate and cherished past.
This drama is a must watch. It handles the different paths our lives takes with a realistic and positive vision. The characters develop so much it's beautiful. Growth, pushing yourself, overcoming challenges, taking risks, and so many light and funny moments, this drama has it all. The drama is visually fun with so many colors and sceneries. OSTs 'with' and 'your existence' are also top tier. The phone booth moment with "I wanted to see you, and then I saw you" is legendary. Having the cast sing 'with' worked out so beautifully too.All in all, 10/10. Makes you vicariously long for a passionate and cherished past.
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Pure and Vibrant then...Painful
This drama is a hidden gem. It has the potential to be the best drama of 2022. Every scene is well executed and the story of each character is well woven into each other. I love the relationship between the ML and FL, something that blossoms from friendship and mutual understanding. They meet and communicate very naturally and every moment they get to spend together seems so innocent yet so sweet. I'm sure we are all reminded of our youth, our high school times when we watch this drama. I am hoping for double digits!Edit: I cry a river in the last episode. And promise myself to never watch drama from Writer Kwon Do-Eun again. Both this drama and SearchWWW hurt me so badly. She likes to portrait the reality of life, which I don't want to see in a drama. If I could sum up 2521 in one phrase, it would be a proverb from my country which is "Head of an elephant and tail of a mouse", meaning it started so spectacularly and suddenly ended so spitefully. I feel bad for Kim Tae Ri and Nam Joo Hyuk, their acting was phenomenal but still couldn't calm the anger from the audience. It's all the writer's problem.
Rewatch? No, I won't. Just like how you desperate try to forget your first love so you can move on, this drama will make your heart pounding so much for the beautiful memories only for you to cry your heart out at the ends. It's too much of a roller coaster for me.
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I love everything but the ending was too much bittersweet.
Everything was great the story, the cast was the best, songs were good . It just felt like i am experiencing what first love is like, how beautiful friendships are in our life. How we should support and understand everyone in life. But the ending is breaking my heart into pieces i saw it coming but not this brutal bcz it doesn’t matter if its their first love or second love what really matters is that they were perfect for each other literally soulmates and this what loving someone is. Why its portraying to the viewers that when things get hard even the perfect lovers will break up and become strangers. Please writer focus on the ending too everything was being rushed in the end if you are writing such a masterpiece show with so many lovely moments, i think ending plays a very important role bcz it will leave an impact on the viewers who are watching it.😭❤️🩹💔Edit-: We have to understand this is life. Sometimes some people are not meant to be together. Destiny plays it part. That why i think heedo has some regrets after reading baek yi jin message from the last diary. Its heartbreaking bcz their love was so pure and precious. But after listing to the 2521 song by jaurim and reading its lyrics it made me realise that the breakup was meant to happen but i love heedo and yijin chemistry so much that I don’t want this to happen. They still love each other it would have been great if the writer twisted the story(which i feel was a real persons story) and made it happily ever after. But no worry I love this show it was a roller coaster of emotions for me. I laughed while watching it and cried too. Saranghae❤️
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