This review may contain spoilers
A Masterpiece
Wow! This drama was beautiful! It brought back so many memories of the '90's to me! It really captured that time period perfectly, even down to the little things, like the sudden switch from pagers to cell phones. As someone who lived in that era, I found no flaws at all and at times, it reminded me a lot of the Reply series, though the stories are very different. It was the nostalgia. I could relate so much because I was the same age as the main character during that time. (Yes, I am now an ahjumma lol!)The music was great, too. It was original, but it had the late '90's vibe to it. I really notice that sort of thing. I also noticed it in Hit the Top. My rating always goes up at least half a point if they have modern music that sounds just like it belongs back in the '90's when I watch a drama set in that time period.
Acting wise, omg! Kim Tae Ri blew me away! She was perfect as Na Hee Do! She could be hilarious and awkward, just like a teenage girl, yet also serious and detetmined. She better get an award for this perfornance! I saw her in Mr. Sunshine and wasn't impressed, but she proved me wrong here. She is freaking 32 irl yet you can not tell at all! She looked and acted the part of an 18-19 year old perfectly.
I have never been a big fan of Nam Joo Hyuk, either. I didn't dislike him, but I wasn't ever impressed with him, either. Again, I was proven wrong. This is the best performance of his career so far. He was such a good actor here. For the first time, though this is only my opinion, he was able to really show emotion. I think he struggled before, but you can tell that he has really grown as an actor.
The other actors and actresses were awesome as well. The one that really stood out to me was the coach, played by Kim Hye Eun. She was great and I look forward to seeing her pop up in more dramas after this.
Before I end this review, though, I have to add something. I don't usually use spoilers in my reviews, but I have to make an exception due to the issue. I have read a lot of negativity from others about how 9/11 was included in the final episodes. I was expecting something quite different because of the comments I saw. As someone who was there during that time, I have to say that it was portrayed very seriously and respectfully and had a purpose. It was not a mere plot device. It was something Baek Yi Jin went through that made him grow as a person. It was, actually, perfectly added, as before, he was still very much an innocent kid, then after, he was suddenly an adult seeing the world through a different scope. For those of us who lived during that time, it was a jolting reminder of the innocence before and suddenly being thrust into a new and more somber world. I think many who were not born yet may not have been able to see and feel that, but I was there and I totally got the meaning those last two episodes were trying to convey.
Anyway, I HIGHLY reccommend this drama to everyone, especially if you are an ahjumma like me and were a teen in the '90's. You will fall in love with it!
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This review may contain spoilers
An effort to capture the fleeting burning passion of youth, a drama true to its title.
Minor(major) spoilers so click off if you want to be(not so) pleasantly surprised during your first watch.
Many don't seem to aware that the title and the story itself is completely inspired from the song 'twenty five twenty one' by Jaurim which was released a few years ago and one listen is enough to tell how this drama will end. Of course there were still people holding out hope despite knowing this (read:me) and it didn't end well for them (read:me).
Nevertheless, I've been on this site for an year but was too lazy to actually make an account until now because I felt like I really had to let others know what this drama is and how strongly I feel bout it.
the start:
It was a teen dream, dare I say a perfect start from the perspective of this very positive person, heedo and this really gave the show a hopeful and summer vibe. The fencing concept was the best, if y'all are into competing you would understand it and love it through and through. It could be boring or not engaging enough for a minority few if you don't relate with the passion of competing, being a fan, being a teen w huge dreams in general. I personally am a thriller, fast paced drama kinda person; slice of life series like reply1998, which is so compared to this drama, is not my cup of tea. But I'm a sucker for a good romance so I thought why not and then before I knew I was hooked. I thought this was it, the perfect summer kdrama.
the mid:
It was keeping up to the hype if not more actually, there was probably one or two eps during the mid end which could be considered uneventful but everything until they were all together it was magically happy. The trip was definitely one of the highlights of the whole drama, I feel like I'll comeback just to watch that.
the end:
Major spoilers ofc.
They purposefully keep min chae's dad away from us till the end and was it a cheap trick to string the viewers along? that's based on your perspective. That brings us to the message, the message that they're trying to put across by never disclosing who she married and had kids with is that:- who min chae's dad is, is not the point of this show. It was a clever move because otherwise it would've drawn a huge traction, taking away from the whole point of the series, an effort to capture the fleeting burning passion of youth.
But does that mean I'm happy by the ending? nah. Ofc I'm very happy for the characters, it was right for them because they wanted different things, had very different opinions on how they should work together, which was clearly not something that could've been negotiated. But me being the 'end matters equally if not more than the journey' person, I was definitely crushed. Hence to the rewatch value being very low. Ofc I will revisit the first few eps and reminisce the feelings I felt but it will constantly remind me of the bitter end- bittersweet but with a lot more bitter just because of who I am and how I feel about such an end.
the acting:
The acting i must say nam joo hyuk improved a lot, like this role was really really good for him and I was pretty impressed. Tae Ri was the best ofc, she was incredible in portraying this very hopefully and bubbly person without it looking awkward or forced. The others were pretty good too- kudos for the fencing champions to actually learn and train to fence, it must've been very hard and also love the mom's acting especially.
the music:
brings us to why this drama caught my eye amd why I started this drama right away in the first place, I'm a huge nct fan- taeil's ost was truly awesome and that led to all this. That also led to me listening to the whole ost playlist countless times till I can sing along to every song so trust me when I say top tier.
overall:
Even though I am that kind of a person, for this drama, I will not put the whole drama down just because the ending was less than ideal. I'd definitely definitely recommend anyone to watch this (after warning them about the ending) and watching this was definitely not something I'd ever regret. signing off on one of the best kdrama of 2022.
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A break from the cliche of romance kdrama!!
Hands down, one of the best kdramas of the year!!This show had a lot of elements that i really enjoyed like the realism ,tension and most importantly its approach towards the theme of dreams and youth.
The way the story explored Na Heedo and her dream for fencing in the start drama was really inspiring to me. The freshness and innocence of Heedo is contrasted by Yi-jin's not so great life where he has seemingly lost all hope. This contrast makes the interaction with each other really unique and memorable. They both grow from each other and learn to be happy. This makes the audience also be happy with them and grow with them as well.
One of the main ideas portrayed is that of youth and memories. It's a concept often difficult to accept by most people. I believe the drama expressed the concept in a beautiful way through the diaries. The friendship group of jiwoong, yurim and seungwan was so pretty and innocent (ep10 especially). Seungwan in particular was the most memorable as she represented a lost soul who did not want to be restricted by the pressures of society.
NOSTALGIA is something that makes this drama truly special.
The ending absolutely wrecked me but it also is realistic and something that would happen in real life. I do believe Heedo could've been more patient and Yijin was not vulnerable enough to be in the relationship. The lack of communication is what led to their breakup. They were both young so it makes sense. This remained a beautiful memory for both. The final scene where she finally got her diary back and got the closure made me breakdown . It really made me think if she had gotten the diary before hand would things have been different?
Overall, this show had a beautiful insight towards youth and dreams. 100 % recommend if you are looking for a healing and comforting drama that would also make you cry with an amazing ost track. It has something for everyone from broken families to strong friendships.
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Worthy drama with bad end
I felt so happy when i started this drama. I went to my old days when i watched reply series. I dont want prefer ongoing dramas generally because i cant wait what next but this drama is worthy wait, i loved it and i felt so happy when i see the drama.Honestly i dont like the female lead first bt soon i liked her acting really Nd im in love with fencing basically i like and love fantasy,thrillers very much. This drama makes me happy tears always. But i dont like tht ending and im so sad for this. I understood when they apart in twenty one twenty five age i.e their last happy new yr celebration at tht time i told to myself this is nt happy ending. Even though some twist i expected.
I like upto 15 episodes and they made me laugh and cry.
But i dont like episode 16 really not bcz of sad end but bcz writer end things fastly.
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This review may contain spoilers
A quality drama with a controversial ending, but ultimately worth the watch.
WARNING: this review is going to contain some spoilers.At first, I was inclined to agree with most of the outraged reviews for 2521 around the ending. But now that the initial emotion has worn off, I'm a little more at peace with this finale. This drama stole my heart and soul, swept it up to dizzying heights, let me taste the giddy sweetness of youth again, and made me feel - so very acutely - the fresh open wounds of growing pains. I don't have an issue with the outcome of the pairing itself, but I do still think they should've executed it differently (there are countless other ways I can think of that would've given me more closure!!), and that might have alleviated a whole lot of anger and betrayal that everyone's been feeling.
But ultimately, this story is a tribute to youth. When we're 18 with the world in the palm of our hands. When we're 18 and we feel like time is ours for the taking. When we're 18 and we think our today will be our forever. It's a frozen snapshot in time; a first love that endures long after it's ended, immortalised in old worn photos and creased diary pages. That was what this drama sought to capture, and they did that to perfection. This was sophisticated storytelling - an elevation of the youth/coming-of-age genre to another level that I haven't seen another youth show before 2521 achieve. It filled my heart to the brim with soaring hope and whimsy and love, and also tore my heart into shreds and trampled all over my remains. I felt the highest of highs and the lowest of lows with this drama, and to that, I have to credit the quality of the storytelling - the writing, the directing, and the acting, all somehow coming together to create a magical synergy that made this drama glow and pulse with life and effervescence.
Episodes 1-13 and 15 were more perfect than any drama has ever been for me, and I've been watching dramas for over 13 years now. Episodes 14 and 16 were the hardest to get through, and reviews might tell you that it's no longer worth watching because of the ending, but I do believe that if you go into this show knowing what to expect now, this will still be a magical watch, and the heartbreak will still be worth it. That's life, after all. That's youth. That's us onscreen, experiencing our first ever love, and our first ever heartbreak. It's been a privilege watching Na Hee-do and Baek Yi-jin grow together and love each other these past 16 episodes. My heart still hurts for them - in fact, it's been cut up into a million pieces since the finale aired - but as Adult Na Hee-do once said: "Nothing lasts forever. Everything flows away. And that's not always a bad thing." And really, it isn't always a bad thing.
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Loved it! Perfect love-story
I really loved this drama. Sure, it may not have been something you're used to when it comes to romantic drama, but I loved it either way! I cried so many times, especially in the last three episodes.I love that Hee Do and Yi Jin have amazing chemistry, but I think I cried the most when it came to the relationship between Hee Do and Yu Rim. I loved their friendship once they were over being each other's 'evil' rivals.
Even if it's not something we're used to, the drama was still amazing. I loved the story and the music. Everything was done perfectly. But yes, I always do wonder what might have happened IF she had read her lost diary sooner, would it really have changed the course of the story?
I'm glad that even the second character got to shine!
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This review may contain spoilers
When the promos and posters of 'Twenty Five, Twenty One' came out I assumed it was a noona romance. I was so surprised on knowing the actual premise and age of characters that were in the drama. Like most people I started this drama with very high expectations. Kim Tae Ri is one of the most gifted actresses of Korea and with the praise she got in her last drama I thought this would be worth a watch as well.I think this was overall one of the better dramas that came out in recent times. However, I kept having issues with certain characters and sub-plots. While there were wholesome moments I kept feeling like something was missing. By the end the drama delivered on a lot of ends but the ending fell awfully short of making this drama into a near masterpiece that it could have been.
PLOT:
I'd compare this drama to Reply series but without the love triangle. However what they still have in common is the nostalgia of the 90s, friendship, parent-child relationships and memories of first love. This drama carries all the essence that one might expect from a drama set in the somewhat older times. There is innocence, youth, dreams and experiences that all people might have gone through one or other point in their lives.
CHARACTERS & ROMANCE:
I really admired Na Hee Do and Baek Yi Jin for the people they were. They both went different kind of struggles, had breakdowns but never gave up in the face of difficulty. I couldn't really see any chemistry between the actors and the age gap was a slight cringe, but their interactions had a lot of heart in them. I really enjoyed all supporting characters in this and only had a definitive love-hate relationship was with Ko Yu Rim and Achorwoman Na (who I cared less for). Yu Rim was pointlessly rude at times but we as viewers know that she isn't the villain here. People respond to bad situations in life in different ways and Yu Rim had hers. However I really like the group and their friendship stayed strong till the end.
OST:
I like the songs sung by NCT's Taeil and Twice's Jihyo. Other tracks were either fine or forgettable.
MAIN PROBLEM OF THE DRAMA: The villain i.e. timing
One thing I really loved about the drama was the realistic portrayal of how everything in life is about timing. That's the true villain in this drama along with the circumstances that come with it. After all, isn't that what life is all about? It becomes a little hard to accept an ending where the leads do not end up together, but I know plenty of people who didn't try hard enough with their past or failed relationships. Sometimes people are right for each other but they either give up or move on. That's what this drama portrayed and UNPOPULAR OPINION alert- I feel like there were clues all along.
I admit it did seem like the drama was setting us all up for a sad ending but some dramas do the reverse towards the end. This might be the first time where everything was clear and there were clues all along but the viewers kept theorizing about the possibility of the leads ending up together. For starters, the title of the drama is a dead giveaway.
ENDING:
For me the true shock related to this drama was that the writer was gutsy enough to do her own thing. I am sure she will receive loads of backlash but I'm always in for creative surprises. My real issue with the drama was us not getting to know how Na Hee Do and Baek Yi Jin lived after their separation. We have no clue about Na Hee Do's marital status and how Baek Yi Jin looks like now. I felt cheated with the lack of details. I wish they hadn't included the present time at all. It could have been a story set between 1998-2009 and us never having to meet their present selves at all. I think the ending is what ultimately takes away a major point for my overall review.
OVERALL:
I'll still recommend this drama due to the stellar acting from the cast, the slice of life elements and the very nostalgic aura it gave me as a viewer. Just be prepared for a bittersweet ending (because heck Kim Min Chae is cute). :)
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Definitely Worth Watching!
That was a great drama but I do wish the ending was different? Or that they showed a little more? But despite that this drama kept me engaged all the way and I cried and laughed watching it. A 10/10 for me. I enjoyed all the posts. I enjoyed the story and I liked how they portrayed various hardships in people's lives. Like they showed how students struggled and how adults struggled. I enjoyed watching the character development and maturity. Definitely happy I watched this, it's been my fave drama this past month.Was this review helpful to you?
The most perfect drama !!!
Watching Twenty-five Twenty-one was a different experience altogether. Somehow in the past weekends I started feeling that 2521 wasn't some drama I was watching but a reality. I've cried along with Heedo, laughed together with Heedo. felt Baek Yijin's despair and felt him get back together. Most importantly I've felt Heedo's and Yijin's love and even if they don't end up together I know what they felt for each other. For me 2521 has been the kind of drama i would wait all week to drop and then purposely delay watching it so I don't start missing it too early. In my opinion everything about this drama was perfect from the cast to storyline to the music. I can't express how sad I am that this drama is going to finish tonight knowing that it will take a long tome to find something like this. In my opinion 2521 is the drama of the decade and none of the previous dramas hold any candle to it.Was this review helpful to you?
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Life leaves us with unanswered questions but those either lead to reality or fiction
It was an excellent drama and some people will beg to differ because of the ending but I loved the drama including the ending. If you think of Na Hee Do and Baek Yi Jin as two lovers then this story's ending is not what you'd want but if you think of them as soulmates, the ending will hurt you but not as much because you'll know that no matter where they are, they'll always hold a place in each others' hearts.The story/plot was well made. It all started with a simple fencer and a bankrupt boy and it went on to talk about life, dreams ,adults, burdens, importance and to portray a relationship where in both lift each other up. The writers sure created a good story with all the crisis, emotions. Na Hee Do isn't a perfect character, she's a great fencer, stands up for herself, optimistic, but at the same time is impulsive and wears her heart on her sleeve.
On the contrast there is Baek Yi Jin, a boy whose family is bankrupt,having a hard time and promises people to never be happy and suffer the consequences of his father's actions. When the 2 worlds collide they create a balance, they cancel out each others' worst traits and give each other what they need - reality checks,hope, courage.
A couple who shares similar dynamics are Ji Woong and Ko Yu Rim. Ko Yu Rim, a gold medal fencer who constantly puts herself down, poor, hardworking but succumbs to pressure and power. For her there's Ji Woong, smart, optimistic and someone who likes her whole heartedly.
If I were to sum up this drama then it's beautiful, simple yet elegant. It'll give you nostalgia of the 90s but also remind you of the problems. It'll teach you important lessons straightforwardly yet it'll give you a good dose of happiness. I've loved this drama and it's definitely worth a watch.
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IT WAS FLOWING BEAUTIFULY BUT THEN COMES THE WATERFALL
first of all great drama regardless of the things i am going to say later you should give it try their is no doubt about watching value of this drama .....first of all acting was wonderful great work by actors not only main leads all the actors and actresses did a great job..... then the music was fabulous .....it was catchy it was pleasent now the main thing the only thing i and millions of kdrama fans didnt liked was the holes in story everything till 13 episode was very done it was a masterpiece in my list but then writer director couldnt digest this much positivity form viewers and messed it all up i still cant wrap my mind about what happened in last two episodes everything was too fast it was like i was watching in 2x ....many people will say this is all beacuse they didnt end up together and all but its not all about that yes i am angry about writer showing us shitty 'reality'based ending but come on the one thing i hate more than sad ending is open ending they didnt explain things in the end at all and the most wanted still remains 'who is her father'....i will give this drama 10 star when they give us special episode a movue or anything just anything which explains everything...still i had a very good time watching those 13 episodes.Was this review helpful to you?
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What??
This was a solid 10, until the last half of the last episode. WTF was the writer thinking. It turned what could have been a 10/10, to for me an 8/10. I looked forward and enjoyed every single episode, except the end ruined it. This could have been one of the best dramas I’ve watched, but not. Why do writers think that a drama will be better with a sad ending? Every character in this had a happy ending, except the main characters. Think about how much better this would have been if they showed them getting married. I even thought that Kim Min Chae might end up being their daughter. Wouldn’t it have improved it 100%? I thought until right up to the end, that they would end up together. Although the acting and plot were good, it was a big disappointment…Was this review helpful to you?
