A masterpiece indeed ...
You probably looking for another tvn-Netflix masterpiece after a small gap and here is the answer - 25 21 . Actually for me it was it's okay to not be okay before this, But now it must be 25 21 is my first choice if i need to decide from both. Twenty Five Twenty is the reality, pure slice of life drama with a stunning cast.For your knowledge, if you are looking for a rom com with a cliche type of plot then it's not for you. Because the romance is only a small part of the drama, there is not much role for rom. This is actually the life which so many people can relate, drama mainly narrating the story between five people and their life journey. thier friendship, Hardship and struggles, happiness, Sadness, dicision making, Choice, Some regrets. etc. The drama has so many things to discuss with you.
Every episode is worth and for the last 3 episodes I don't know what i can say. Just amazing, life is all about dicision making and right choices which you not regret later here is no room for some forced scenes, just follow the orginal script and make a masterpiece out of it and they did it. Especially the finale episode was particularly i liked a lot. The way they finished just wow. I expected this but the experience which i got was something really special..
The come back of Kim Taeri into drama land was gifted a special drama which i can remember for a long time. All the others actor's were also good. Twenty Five Twenty One is must must watch drama if you love slice of life plots.
Really happy ?
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Nam Joohyuk and Kim Taeri are phenomenal! The way they carried this drama by adding their own touch to their characters. I've always been amazed with Nam Joohyuk because he did so well in (WLKBJ, The Light in your Eyes, Josee, Start-up) . The fact that he did different roles in each of his project kinda reflect the kind of actor he is. And the fact that he completely change Baek Yijin's original character to his own interpretation. Outstanding.
As for Kim Taeri, i actually never heard of her before. But she really left a deep impression. Who would've believe that she's actually 32 y/o? She brings Na Heedo to life. She's a perfect female lead I've ever seen. Strong, immature but also mature, determine... Na Heedo is such a loveable character and i love her so much
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Does the journey matter or does the ending?
Okay, if you're one of those people that think "how it ends doesn't matter, it's the journey that counts" then you'll probably rate this really highly and love it from start to finish. If you're the type of person who needs things to be wrapped up cleanly with closure — me — then the show will leave you with a lot of mixed feelings.To start with, the vibe of the show is pretty much perfect. I really loved Heedo's character and how the themes were incorporated into the show — dreams, efforts, happiness, friendships, different types of love, supporting each other from afar...it was all just really beautiful. I still love all the friendships in this, and for the most part the time jumps were done really well with us seeing how the characters grew into adulthood and went about their lives after growing and learning from each other.
It's the last few episodes (15 & 16) that really take a different turn. There were really multiple ways to write a "realistic" story and the writers picked the one that, to me, felt as though it went against a lot of the inspiring hope that we had gotten in the rest of the show. There were crazy time jumps in the last episode and the past and present timelines never felt like they converged with closure. The last episode was just kind of miserable, except for a few side characters that really saved it.
Speaking of which, I felt like present timeline was just really unnecessary from start to finish. The characters never felt like themselves (even if they were the same actors) and it really felt like it was included either to (1) show how time passed and Heedo's daughter Minchae was dealing with the same thing (to which I would say nobody really cared about her story and everyone only cared about the 90s timeline) or (2) to purposefully throw off the audience. Either way, it felt disjointed and unnecessary. It didn't provide closure either — the questions we started with still persisted, and we never saw the other main characters again.
Overall, this was still such a comfort show for me for so many weeks. There are some iffy parts that I wish it touched more on but overall I thought all the character arcs were thought out thoroughly. It just kind of sucks that the writers picked the route they did.
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2This review may contain spoilers
Age of Youth
Juggling life as a teenager growing up in the 1990s while carrying the nation’s hopes for sporting glory? That’s what this drama is entirely about as it revolves around Na Hee Do’s coming of age as a young woman and as the rising star of South Korean fencing.25-21 is presented in a non-linear storytelling approach from the perspective of Na Hee Do’s daughter in the present day, who comes across her mother’s diary which provides an account of her life during her younger days. Viewers are then taken back in time to the 1990s, the main setting of the narrative, through a prolonged series of flashbacks. We get to observe Na Hee Do navigating her way through countless challenges that life throws at her while also developing close friendships with the people that she encounters and, of course, experiencing her first love. Simply put, this drama is about slice-of-life, youth themes, friendship, sports and, yes, romance too.
This TVN production which is streamed on Netflix is helmed by Jung Ji Hyun, the director of notable productions such as The King: Eternal Monarch and Search: WWW, the screenwriter of which also wrote the screenplay for this drama, Kwon Do Eun. Kim So Yeon (not to be confused with the actress; who had also directed Kim Tae Ri in the 2017 film, Moon Young) provides the artistic direction while Im Ha Young (Hometown ChaChaCha) serves as music director.
Since broadcast began, 25-21 has maintained the top spot in the South Korean popularity rankings for 7 consecutive weeks, placing first in viewership ratings for 12 consecutive times (in both the Metropolitan Area and nationally). At the time of writing, it has been featured in Netflix's "Global Top 10" (non-English edition), a weekly list of the most-watched international Netflix series, for five weeks in a row.
The story is set primarily in Ahyeon-dong, in the Mapo District of Seoul. The principal photography, which is based on a live-shoot system, took place across a variety of exciting and gorgeous filming locations including Jeonju, Seohak-dong, Jeonju Hanok Village, Jeonju National University of Education's dormitory alley, and the National Heritage Center.
Sharing a bit of trivia concerning the drama. Both main leads, Kim Tae Ri and Nam Joo Hyuk, had tested positive for Covid on separate occasions during filming which had halted productions momentarily but fortunately the broadcast scheduling was not affected. In terms of the historical accuracy of the competitions depicted (Singapore 1997, Madrid 2001) and Asian Games (Gyeongju 1999), the Olympics and Asian Games are never held in odd-years while the editions referenced had actually taken place in different host countries. Additionally the women’s fencing saber event, which Na Hee Do and Go Yu Rim specialise in, was only adopted as an official Olympic event for Athens 2004. Obviously the drama is fictional and events are dramatised for the benefit of viewers so historical accuracy really has no major impact on the plot at all.
What I Generally Liked
As far as this drama is concerned, personally I have absolutely no complaints over the production values and technical execution, which are amongst the best that I’ve seen in recent memory. Top notch cinematography and special effects rendering, quality production designs and obviously the numerous filming locations add to the beauty of the visuals. The sporting aspect comprising the fencing choreography and stunts is quite impressive, as is the post-production editing. Even the title sequence is nicely put together. This is an extremely well produced drama indeed.
There isn’t much to criticise in terms of the casting and the all-round performances of the leads as well as major supporting characters either. Kim Tae Ri is 31 years old but manages to pull off the depiction of an 18-year old Na Hee Do. She not only looks the part physically but behaves very much like one as well, which is quite amazing in and of itself. I’ve been a huge fan since her Mr Sunshine days and she doesn’t let me down here with a near flawless and absolutely endearing performance that made her my favourite character in the show.
I’ve seen Nam Joo Hyuk around but most notably in The School nurse Files. Playing the ML Baek Yi Jin here, he has won the hearts of many viewers and unsurprisingly so as he demonstrates an impressive range while exuding much charm, tenderness and fragility to his portrayal. Amongst the supporting cast deserving of mention include the likes of Bona as Go Yu Rim, Seo Jae Hee as Hee Do’s mum, and Kim Hye Eun as the fencing coach. Look out as well for memorable appearances made by Choi Myung Bin (The King’s Affection) as Hee Do’s daughter, and Kim So Hyun, a renowned South Korean musical singer, as the present day Hee Do.
Music plays a big part in this drama not only by evoking the emotional connection and ambience but also in drawing the 90s vibes. Featuring a total of 9 tracks that range from the upbeat and inspiring to the deeply touching. My personal favourites are the retro beats of the opening theme, Starlight by Taeil, and I’ll Shine on You by Bae Ki Sung.
What Ultimately Proved Contentious
The only aspect that ultimately proved controversial, certainly to the many viewers and myself included, which provoked profoundly passionate debates as well as creative postulating of theories not only here in MDL but also around the world (judging from the internet) is the plot itself.
For the record, I truly enjoyed most of the drama, especially up to around say episode 14. After that, the plot trajectory sort of went sideways for me, in particular the out-of-character final episode which was rather surprising considering how consistent the screenplay had been in general.
I don’t speak for others but there are two key issues for me…
1. From a subjective point of view, which relates more to personal preferences rather than any fault of the script, I would have preferred a more positive and feel-good outcome. Regardless of whether any ship sailed or what became of the endgame, and the age-old argument about “realism through tragedy” to reflect real life instead of an unrealistic or impractical “Walt Disney happy ending”, I honestly do wish that the screenwriter could have dispensed with the overdramatics, the at times overwhelming air of negativity and pain in the final arc of the drama.
2. From an objective perspective, something which contradicts the intended realism that the writer is trying to infuse in the story, is that viewers (or maybe just me) have no inclination as to who Na Hee Do’s actual husband is. Not with absolute certainty anyway. This begs the question of why? Whoever he is does not appear at all in that capacity either in the past or present.
I strongly suspect that because this is a live-shoot drama, perhaps the screenwriter was strongly influenced by the initial ratings success and rave reviews garnered during airing that she must have felt compelled to “sensationalise or tease” the rapidly growing number of viewers and fandom to such extent that certain characterizations regressed while the eventual closure raised more questions than provided much needed answers instead.
Final Thoughts
TLDR - the first 14 episodes were great and I truly enjoyed them. The last 2 were disappointing, in addition to a few other turns of events along the way. Is this worth watching? I would still recommend it but be prepared for the dissatisfying ending.
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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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Kim Tae Ri does it yet again..
Hm, i fell for the ole adrenaline rush after completing this drama for the first time. I’ve given this a rewatch recently and.. i was reminded of the many small aspects that didn’t sit well at all with me. This section alone will be an update of my thoughts with a clear head this time as to those bumps in the road i forgotten about. The first episode is,again, without a doubt the worse of this series, may i even say god awful when looked at separately instead of comparatively. Embarrassingly forced interactions(the club),amateur scenes and screenplay that were unbearable to sit through again(after school “brawl”),and underwhelming moments of acting where it could’ve hit the hardest. Pair these disaster moments along with the unfortunate nosedive the last two episodes took and it became very clear that i was too fixated on the highs of this drama and rated it beyond how i regularly would. Welp, that’s about it and some small revisions in my original review. Back to it.The main cast all served their roles decently enough so don’t get me wrong when i say this, but Kim Tae Ri OWNED this drama, easily her best performance out of all her works for me, and that says alot due to all of her previous works being damn good as well.
The first episode showcases the worst part of the drama , i think most of us can agree on that, because what a HELL OF A 360 the quality took from there. Don’t believe me? Give the very first two episodes a shot and tell me if you can even believe both were even from the same writer.
I’m not somebody that says a show is a must watch, but in my perspective I’ll definitely say that this drama is most certainly a must try, we all have different tastes and preferences, so this series obviously won’t be worth everyone’s time to sit through. The first 2 episodes are enough for a viewer to know rather the show is worth their time or not, anything further than that don’t bother, the quality skyrockets from the second episode and keeps that consistency the rest of the way.
Now there are obviously some hiccups in how they pushed towards the ending, and NO it didn’t showcase realism...In reality people don’t suddenly go blank in their decision making, the problem isn’t the end game despite many thinking so, the problem resided in the lack of effort in resolving and communicating. It didn’t make enough sense for me to believe Yi Jin would’ve taken that offer down New York knowing how hard it was to see Hee Do already, he became inspired in that field in the matter of months, not a childhood dream he longed striving for where he’d immediately put it before anything else. Maybe he thought Yu Rim did it why can’t he? Lol. Hee Do giving up that easily didn’t quite add up with her character consistency either, yes there’s the past conflicts with her mother because of similar issues but that doesn’t mean cut everything without trying to at least accommodate either of their paths to work out for one another. Putting that aside, “ both characters’ reasoning for their actions were clear and understandable, just paced poorly. I agree that it was extremely rushed at that point,still, the Pros far outweighs the cons , and i mean FAR. Undeniably a masterpiece that’ll be that staple slice of life, coming of age drama for alot of us.
It’s been quite the journey.. here’s to my 8 week long adrenaline rush,here’s to first love, here’s to the unforgettable experience. Until next time
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The ending makes it unique in its own way....
The entire drama was overall really good but me rewatching it is something that would most likely never happen...I don't UNDERSTAND WHY THE ENDING HAS TO BE THAT WAY? I was making so many assumptions about what would happen. I thought they would have ended up together. I can't say I'm disappointed because it was a really good drama and if it didn't end the way it ended it would have been no different than other dramas. The ending makes it unique in its own way....( i still would have liked the opposite tho?)Was this review helpful to you?
Twenty Five Twenty One Alternate Ending
5 years later:Back in New York, Yi Jin is sitting at his desk with a view of Manhattan. He stares at a beautiful rainbow and smiles thinking of Hee Do. The rainbow is a good sign. Every time a rainbow appears, he knows that Hee Do is wishing him well and erasing whatever gloom that is hanging over him. Due to his detailed reporting of the aftermath of 9/11, he was able to help locate and reunite many Korean citizens with their family. He is now a critically acclaimed news reporter. He’s excited about returning to Korea because he just accepted an offer as the anchor of a Korean news station.
Hee Do’s mom is planning to retire and asked the news station to give her position to Yi Jin. She nonchalantly delivers this news to Hee Do while stating that Yi Jin is arriving today at the airport…probably about - now. Hee Do in shock drops everything, fumbles around for her keys and rushes to the airport. She frantically scours the airport for a glimpse of Yi Jin. She spots him in a distance and raises her hand to wave and yell his name…but she sees…
Being the hot shot reporter that he is, Yi Jin brings back Samantha, his assistant. He hands her some paperwork and tells her to wait for him at the hotel. He has someone very important to see. Knowing exactly who Yi Jin meant, Samantha leans up to fix his collar to make sure he is the most presentable he can be when he reunites with the love of his life.
Hee Do sees an attractive blond woman lean up and kiss Yi Jin! Shocked, disappointed, and upset with herself for being so excited to see him after all these years, she slowly lowers her hand and leaves the airport fighting tears.
Yi Jin hails a cab and tells the cab driver to rush to an address. He sees Hee Do’s house from a distance and he sees Hee Do! He smiles and is about to run to her when a child yells, “Oma.” Hee Do wipes the tears from her own face and puts on a brave face, “Kim MinChae, how was your day?”
Sadness seeps into every part of his body. Hee Do is married and has a child! He stumbles backwards and walks away aimlessly.
It is nighttime and Hee Do puts MinChae down to sleep. MinChae asks Hee Do to tell her more stories about her dad. Hee Do tells a love story of a heroic fencer and a beautiful ballerina.
With MinChae asleep HeeDo reflects on MinChae’s parents. MinChae’s parents both passed in a tragic accident. When Yi Jin and Hee Do broke up, Hee Do almost couldn’t move on. It was Kim Eunsu and his girlfriend at the time that helped Hee Do refocus on fencing. Because they were a huge support for Hee Do, when they perished in a tragic train accident, Hee Do stepped up and adopted MinChae.
Months pass and Yi Jin has thrown himself into his work. In these months, he’s discovered that the father of MinChae is also a fencer.
“Of course. Of course she would go ahead and marry another fencer,” he thinks to himself. Jealousy made him to dig deeper into his work. He’s digging up missing files of the tragic train crash. In it he see’s the name Kim Eunsu. Yi Jin reads that Eunsu was survived by a 3 year old daughter. The timeline didn’t make sense. This puts MinChae’s birthdate to be before Yi Jin even left for New York. Everything falls into to place and Yi Jin takes off. He runs out of his office, not noticing the rain. Half way through he notices a rainbow beyond the tunnel and runs into the tunnel for shelter from the rain.
Hee Do receives a package in the mail. She carefully opens it and it’s her diary. Outside, rain pours down and hits the window panes. Not wanting to remember Yi Jin anymore, she sets her diary aside but it drops and she realizes that it’s not her handwriting. In it Yi Jin wrote about how he thought of her everyday when he was in New York and that no matter how far he falls in life, she’s always able to bring him back to a better and higher place. Hee Do tears up and grabs her umbrella to go for a walk. Halfway through her walk, the rain stops.
Yi Jin enters the tunnel soaking wet. He looks up to see Hee Do at the other end of the tunnel. They stare at each other motionless and Yi Jin makes the first move. He slowly walks to her, stopping about 2 feet away. They look into each other’s eyes and he says, “You’ve always been my rainbow.” Hee Do smiles and they stand looking at each other with the rainbow in the background.
The End.
Hope you guys like this ending.
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JUST BECAUSE THEY DON'T END UP TOGETHER AS YOU WISHED, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THE ENDING IS BAD.
I don't understand the hate to the final episode. Look. First of all, if you hate this because you don't know Minchae's father, ask yourself, does it really matter? 2521 is never about Minchae's father. All you need to know is Heedo got married and not to Yijin. And did they give you that piece of information already? Yes they did. The moment you're told the name of Heedo's daughter is Kim Minchae, you should've known that they don't end up together in the end. That's it, period. If you're disappointed because Yijin is not revealed to be the father, then youre the one expecting more. Just like Seungwan's father who passed away without us knowing early on that she had a father, the same goes to Minchae's father. Whoever that is, it's not the main focus here as he does not have anything to do with Heedo and her group of friends. Second, the series clearly wants to depict how Heedo held on to the most beautiful memory she had in her life at the age of 21. Just because they don't end up together at the present time, it does not mean their relationship doesn't matter to her. This series exactly would like to demonstrate how in our lives, for many, even the most beautiful thing that happened to us can be temporary. And if you're disappointed that the end is rushed and so sudden, well, aren't things in life also like that? We love a phase of our lives so much that we often forget it could end in an instance when you don't put effort to cherish and protect it? Have you never lost a friend, a lover, or anybody that you love so dearly but then suddenly you just don't talk anymore? I bet you have. And that's what this series is trying to tell you. If anything, it is actually very realistic. We can grow apart from people that we love in an instant and we just can't help but regret what happened. The fact that people say the series portrayed their relationship so beautifully but the ending is disappointing actually proves that they really are successful in conveying the message of even something beautiful could end just like that. Third of all. Let the feeling sink in. You're sad because something so beautiful doesn't end well and leave you with so many questions? Well, that's exactly what Heedo is feeling. She's confused, just as you are. Do you think she would've even thought for once that her and Yijin would not end up together? This is just as surprising and shocking to her as it is to you. That's exactly what they want to show here. To me, this series successfully takes you to feel what Heedo feels. To be in that confussion. Left with so many questions unanswered. Only to find out about how Yijin really felt later on lin life when they couldn't be together anymore and it's too late. But you just have to move on. Like Heedo did. Which I really like, to be honest. This is a new way of storytelling. It lets you know how does it feel to experience something so beautiful ends in an instant without getting any closure because you're the one expecting more than what you should have.Was this review helpful to you?
Twenty-Five, Twenty One’; A Bumpy Trip Down Memory Lane…
Anyone who is aware or familiar with the modern-classic, the ‘Reply’ series, will appreciate that the concept of nostalgia, mysterious flashbacks and trying to piece together events between the past and future ( especially with regards to romantic relationships) are not ground-breaking writing setups.
Nevertheless while ‘ Twenty Five, Twenty One’ does not play around with a new or an original idea, the narrative did offer viewers with a heartfelt coming-of-age story. In addition to this, ‘ Twenty-Five, Twenty-One’ presented an unravelling mystery. Although the drama could often be captivating, it is important to acknowledge that ‘Twenty-Five, Twenty One’ still suffered at times from inconsistent pacing and execution.
The main narrative and timeline of ‘Twenty Five, Twenty One’ is predominantly set in the late 1990s and focuses upon its two main leads; aspiring athletic fencer, 18 year-old Na Hee Do ( Kim Tae Ri- ‘ Mr .Sunshine’, ‘ The Handmaiden’ and ‘Space Sweepers’ ) and her hardworking ‘’sunbae’’ and potential love interest, college-student Baek Yi Jin ( Nam Joo Hyuk- ‘Who Are You: School 2015’, ‘ Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo’ and ‘ The Light in Your Eyes’).
The second timeline of the series is set in the near-present day. Instead of focusing solely on an adult Hee Do, the subplot instead focuses on Hee Do’s young daughter Kim Min Chae ( Choi Myung Bin- ‘ The King’s Affection’, ‘ Dramaworld2’). Within these future events of the main narrative, adult Hee-Do ( played by Kim So Hyun- ‘The King and I’) is revealed to have been shaped greatly by the unfolding events of her past. She is no longer an optimistic dreamer, and instead has turned into a prudent helicopter parent; attempting to mould Min Chae into becoming a prodigal ballerina through a regimented routine and regime, but without always acknowledging her daughter’s personal feelings and dreams.
Annoyed and fed up by her mother’s micromanaging, Min Chae is shocked when she stumbles upon her mother’s old diaries, photos and journals. Intrigued, she begins to digress through her mother’s personal coming-of-age accounts during the aftermath of the 1997 IMF crisis. Min Chae is astounded to follow her mother’s journey and slowly begins to understand more about her mother’s past and circumstances, especially with regards to her complicated feelings for Baek Yi-Jin.
Screenwriter Kwon Do Eun is most likely known by viewers for her critically-successful screenplay ‘Search: WWW’. Similar to her previous work, Kwon Do Eun added a similar stylistic approach of heart-warming angst and multi-layered characters throughout the screenplay for ‘Twenty-Five, Twenty-One’.
However despite several tonal similarities between Do Eun’s screenplays, it is important to note that ‘Twenty-Five, Twenty-One’ takes a different approach with its storytelling, particularly by using a non-linear narrative. Non-linear narratives can allow for some brilliant opportunities in order for screenwriters to explore character-depth, intensify climatic build-ups through flashbacks and flashforwards, as well as helping to entice the audience.
This was particularly apparent in ‘Twenty-Five, Twenty-One’ via the main storyline by focusing upon the potential romantic relationship between Hee Do and Yi Jin, as well as the complicated mother-daughter bond between Hee Do and Min Chae during certain scenes in the subplot surrounding events in the present-day.
With regards to the latter mentioned plot point, the potential onscreen chemistry between Hee Do and Yi-Jin was quintessential towards impacting events in the narrative. Admittedly and refreshingly rather than allowing the storyline to be entirely focused upon the romantic elements of Hee Do and Yi-Jin’s relationship, the series offered opportunities also for viewers to divulge deeper into the aspirations and sentience of the characters at times.
In particular, this was shown through the difficult journey taken at times by the female lead and male lead through different complicated situations and interactions. For the female lead, this was apparent throughher prickly relationship with her mother and news anchor Shin Jae Kyung ( Seo Jae Hee- ‘Run On’, ‘ Artificial City; and ‘The Youngest Son Of A Conglomerate’) as well as her rivalry with with Go Yoo-rim ( Bona ‘ Hit The Top’, ‘ Girls’ Generation 1979’ and ‘ Your House Helper’).
For male lead Yi-Jin, his personal conflicts came early on in the series. After his father’s affluent business went bankrupt nearly overnight during the economic crisis, Yi-Jin was forced to take on several part-time jobs in order to make ends meet. However, Yi-Jin feels as though he has struck gold after landing a position at a broadcasting company. Yet similar to the female lead’s personal struggles in order to attain her dreams, Yi-Jin soon acknowledges that his journey into the television industry isn’t as straightforward as it seems.
Nevertheless although the narrative helped to offer moments for characters to feel dynamic, it is hard to ignore that Hee Do and Yi-Jin were still shoehorned at times into specific roles and scenarios in order to drag-out misunderstandings and angst. In particular this was often prominent through Yi-Jin’s age difference and dating experience in comparison to Hee Do, who was sometimes subjugated during some of these moments as a victim of her own inexperience.
This wasn’t entirely a bad writing decision per say. Although age difference relationships can often be the subject of debate in narratives, when approached tactfully, they can allow for some intriguing explorations into setups, character archetypes and sociological barriers between love interests. Nevertheless although some praise should be given to Do Eun’s overtness with the setup and subject matter tackled, it is still notable that, Yi-Jin and Hee Do’s dilemmas could often feel somewhat cliché and enforced. Perhaps this was also due to the fact that of these misunderstandings and climatic scenarios ( particularly incidents where Hee Do would jump to conclusions or misconceptions about Yi-Jin) did become more repetitive as episodes progressed.
Kim Tae Ri and Nam Joo Hyuk starred as main leads and potential lovers. Kim Tae Ri added a likeable charm to her onscreen persona, Hee Do. It is a difficult feat at times for an actor playing the role of a younger character to adopt specific mannerisms or characteristics in order to make their performance feel authentic. Nevertheless although there were some moments of overblown dialogue, Kim Tae Ri brilliantly helped to bring young Hee Do to life through her bubbly character and personality. In addition to Tae Ri, A-lister actor Nam Joo Hyuk co-starred alongside the actress as main male lead Baek Yi-Jin. Although there were moments initially where Joo Hyuk’s performance could feel somewhat stilted by his limited screen time and interactions with the female lead, Joo Hyuk was gradually allowed more opportunities in order to add an emotive edge to his onscreen character.
It is important to point out that the main leads’ onscreen chemistry was decent enough. Kim Tae Ri and Nam Joo Hyuk’s initial chemistry felt somewhat stagnant in parts, but certainly did improve as episodes progressed.
In addition to the romantic relationship explored between the main leads in the series, there is also another important bond covered in the subplot; the relationship between Hee Do and her daughter. Kim So Hyun takes on the role as the adult-version of Hee Do. It seemed surprising considering the respectful age of Kim Tae Ri, that another actress was cast to play an older version of her character. Nevertheless, So Hyun helped to embody a certain believability with her onscreen performance. Alongside actress Kim So Hyun, co-star and child actress Choi Myung Bin delivered a brilliant performance as Hee Do’s daughter Kim Min Chae.
The maternal bond explored in ‘Twenty-Five, Twenty One’ between the main female lead’s adult-self and her daughter is arguably one of the most intriguing as well as shoehorned subplots in the drama’s narrative. Of course, screenwriter Kwon Do Eun added a certain level of depth to the onscreen relationship. Hee Do’s reasons for becoming a “controlling figure” within her daughter’s life are more complex than merely out of spite or jealousy. ( Her relationship with her own mother playing a big part with wanting to give opportunities to Min Chae.) Similarly while it would be easy to portray Min Chae as the “ fractious” daughter, Min Chae’s frustration seemed to reflect a lot of convoluted feelings.
Nevertheless despite Do Eun’s presentation of the relationship, it is hard to ignore that while this was still only a subplot, the storyline revolving around Min Chae and Hee Do was often shoehorned into a limited time frame, with inconsistent time-skips and flittering in between rarely helping to smooth out this counterplot by the ending of the series.
Sadly this was a slight problem with ‘ Twenty Five, Twenty One’. Although the narrative was heavily focused upon the events of the main leads and their complex potential onscreen chemistry, subplots and side characters could often be left out of the equation. This was mainly due to the fact that in a time space of sixteen episodes, the narrative had to be compact and focusing upon the main narrative rather than homing in on side plots did become necessary as episodes progressed.
On the other hand this is admittedly where ‘ Twenty Five, Twenty One’ could sometimes hit a slight rut; the side characters and subplots were often somewhat inconsistent and rushed. Even in a non-linear narrative, the series would often leave certain side characters’ intriguing backstories and character-arcs on the sideline, briefly explored in order to fill in screen time though rarely given a concise conclusion by the series finale. ( This was apparent for side characters such as Go Yoo-rim, Hee Do’s rival, played by idol-actress Bona [ Hit The Top’, ‘ Girls’ Generation 1979’ and ‘ Your House Helper’], Choi Hyun-Wook’s [ Real:Time:Love ’, ‘ Racket Boys] role as Hee Do’s popular classmate Moon Ji-woong, Lee-Joo Myung’s [ My Fellow Citizens!’, ‘Missing: The Other Side’ and ‘ Kairos’ ] role as Ji-woong’s childhood friend, Ji Seung-wan and of course Hee Do’s daughter played by Choi Myung Bin, Min Chae.)
Nevertheless it is hard to ignore that while there were some evident inconsistencies with pacing, ‘ Twenty Five, Twenty One’ was able to encapsulate a certain nostalgic and retro tone through the visionary eye of director Jung Ji Hyun ( ‘ You Are My Spring’, ‘ Search: WWW’). The opening of the series brings forth a stylistic approach of fuzzy gradients and vivid title sequences, akin to the opening credits of a TV show from a VHS tape.
There is also a subtle difference placed between the present day scenes and the past ; drab and mundane shots are suddenly animated to life in flashbacks through an explosion of vivid palettes and warm tones, helping to capture the buzzing warmth and joie de vivre of Hee Do’s youth. ( One of the most memorable and striking parallel scenes drawn between the past and present day being through the bubblegum blue diner that Min Chae is shown to visit with her mother in the present day. The bright blues are strikingly odd against the mundane attire of the characters. In the same episode, a parallel scene is shown through Yi-Jin’s visit to a similar diner; instead strikingly bright and warm through the bubbly and rose-tinted perspective of the past.)
As for the comprised soundtrack of the series, ‘ Twenty Five, Twenty One’ is admittedly less ambitious than it should’ve been. For a series set against the backdrop of the late 90s where music (especially in South-Korea ) was being explored and pushed beyond conventional tastes, it felt odd that ‘ Twenty Five, Twenty One’ was somewhat limited to an array of somewhat generic upbeat love ballads and schmaltzy pop singles. Nevertheless it is important to acknowledge that there are some catchy songs within the OST , in particular TAEIL’s “Starlight (스타라이트)" remaining one of the most memorable tracks throughout the series .
Overall ‘ Twenty Five, Twenty One’ is a coming of age tale which offered a nostalgic and poignant reflection for viewers upon youth and childhood. The issues of chasing dreams, the difficulties of being at the passing boundaries between childhood and adulthood as well as struggling with friendships and young love, were central and universal messages within the drama’s narrative. However despite the bubbling sweetness of ‘ Twenty Five, Twenty One’, the series wasn’t without its more apparent faults of inconsistent pacing either. Nevertheless viewers will likely be captivated by the narrative’s refreshing and lighthearted nostalgia ride, niche in parts, but surprisingly offering several shocking twists and turns by the finale. Overall a very good watch.
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Strong First Strike, but Loses Its Footing in the Last Quarter
Watching this show was an emotional roller coaster ride: in the first three-quarters of the show, the cart climbed higher and higher until it could go no further, limited by the tracks that the writer had laid out for the machine. But then it started its descent, and for me, the train derailed before it reached the station.It's clear to me that the writer knew exactly where she wanted to go and tried to careful craft a scenario to deliver her message about the elation and tribulations of first loves. For the first part of the show, I was totally engrossed with this plan. The story is told as a flashback of a little girl who read's her mother's diary, and like many other viewers, I was invested in the open question of who the identity of the girl's father - is he the main character of the mother's love story or he is not?! This was a question that kept everyone awake at night when this drama was airing. This was definitely an intentional effect as the series would intentionally omit clear references to the father, going so far as not to even show him on screen and to make dialog ambiguous so that you don't even know his name nor any hints towards his identity. Moreover, it seemed like every little detail of this Kdrama mattered -- it didn't matter if you forgot something, because boy, the writer sure remembered everything, and she often utilized these minutia to extreme emotional and dramatic effect. It was almost a masterpiece.
Almost. For me, the plot past episode 13 took a noticeable decrease in quality: characters started acting in ways that I thought were unearned - the fierce female lead that we had all come to know and love somehow became more passive and willing to give up -- this was a far cry from her "never give up attitude" that had led her to toil so hard to hone her fencing skill. The conscientious, sweet boy who put family and friends above all else suddenly became a workaholic -- he spent most of the first half of the story practicing the little, individual acts of loves for his friends, family, and love interests, and suddenly he's all about sacrificing for the greater good/his career. Yes, people can change, but for me, if we're talking about a television series, we should be shown the change and not have to infer it -- it's just jarring without a proper explanation. Even for side characters, things just started to arbitrarily work out for no discernible reasons - this is a little baffling to me in a story that prided itself on being so clear and clever with the details. The final nail in the coffin for me was dismissing things that we had become so invested in: that mystery we all cared about? Without spoilers, I feel I can safely say: it turns out it's irrelevant. Put simply, it felt like a slap in the face as if we were intentionally manipulated only to increase ratings and not for story purposes.
I don't believe that a story necessarily needs to have a happy end nor needs to have a sad end to be great. But I just feel this Kdrama did not execute its ending in a way that I felt was earned. It pains me to say: this Kdrama started as a 10/10 for me, but quickly destroyed my faith in it with just 3 measly episodes, to the point that I actually think it did the whole story a disservice. There were so many unanswered questions, that I think either the show needed a few more episodes to flesh things out or it needed less episodes to tell a complete tale without the feeling that something is missing. Either way, I can't help but feel there was a missed opportunity here. It's just such a shame.
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This review may contain spoilers
A light-hearted coming-of-age drama
Firstly, I really love the story. Who thought watching four teenagers and one adult navigate their life would be so interesting? I like how it is set in the past, leaving viewers many questions as to how the characters are doing in the present. This drama also incorporates realistic touches such as financial issues and different types of relationships with people.Second, the characters all gained my sympathy. Na Hee Do is very passionate about her dream, and she would do almost anything to achieve it. I admire that about her.
Baek Yi Jin might have fallen flat on his face when his family separated and went bankrupt, but he managed to get back up on his knees and restart his life.
Ko Yu Rim didn’t easily gain my sympathy, but as the story progressed, the drama opened up about more of her struggles. It must be hard to live a life like that, always worrying about money. She’s a gifted girl who cares about her parents very much, I love that about her. Also, the scene where she confessed to Hee Do that she’s actually Injeolmi - That really touched my heart.
Moon Ji Woong, despite having his own struggles at home, still manages to keep a positive attitude. Honestly, I aspire to be like him :]]
Ji Seung Wan is the class president and a constant top achiever. She finds life boring, but hanging out with Ji Woong adds a little spice to her life. Ji Woong is the “troublemaker” of the class, so I understand why she insists to keep hanging out with him. In Seung Wan’s monotonous, top achiever life, she really can’t do anything risky or somewhat crazy because of her grades and her school status. I can’t seem to word it correctly but I think she’s easily one of the most relatable characters in this drama.
Second, the actors are doing a very good job bringing their characters to life, especially Kim Tae Ri. It's like Na Hee Do was made to be played by her and her only. I couldn't really see other actresses taking the role of Na Hee Do. The acting of the cast has to be one of the strongest points of this drama!
Third, the OSTs. “Very, Slowly” by BIBI, one of my favorite artists, “Starlight” by Taeil, and “With” by the five leads are my favorites. The other songs aren’t the most mind-blowing, add-to-playlist-after-first-listen type but they fit in the drama seamlessly.
Fourth, the cinematography. I know what to expect from Korean cinematography, it’s almost always immaculate. This drama is no exception, the scenes are so aesthetic and visually pleasing.
The ending was kind of messed up but it had potential. The last two episodes felt rushed and it should've been extended.
Oh, and I watched this because of Kim Tae Ri. I didn't expect myself to be this hooked.
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