Episode Guide
The first episode of the season was met with a review score of 4/5. The second episode received a review score of 3.5/5, while the third and fourth episodes both received a review score of 3.5/5. Episode five received a review score of 4/5, while episodes six through ten all received a review score of 4/5. Episode eleven received a review score of 4/5, while episodes twelve through fifteen all received a rating of 5/5. ..
This is why it’s so important for showrunners and networks to make sure their endings are as satisfying as possible, and why a good finale can mean the difference between a series being cancelled or renewed.
While Game Of Thrones plummeted nose-first onto the runway, exploding into a million pieces, Twenty Five Twenty One wobbles, loses a wheel and just about manages to make it down intact, albeit with shaky passengers and a lot of worried looks.
Twenty Five Twenty One was a great coming-of-age drama, but its ending left a lot to be desired. ..
This series features a strong story, excellent characterisation and one of the best soundtracks seen in any Korean drama for quite some time. The ending aside, this is one of 2022’s brightest gems.
In 1998, Na Hee-Do’s daughter is a young ballerina who is about to compete in a prestigious ballet competition. However, she starts to have doubts about her ability and decides to quit. This causes Na Hee-Do great sadness, as she knows that her daughter could have been one of the best ballerinas in the world. ..
Kim Min-Chae returns home to find her mother’s journals and through her eyes – and clever bits of narration – we learn about Hee-Do’s past. This is where the bulk of the drama takes place, as we experience the innocent, optimistic world of this up and coming fencer.
Due to the South Korean financial crisis, Hee-Do’s high school fencing team is disbanded. Hee-Do convinces her mother to let her switch schools and train with Coach Yang. Now, Yang has history with Hee-Do’s mum, which we learn more of across the season. She also happens to be coaching Ko Yu-Rim, the current Gold medallist in fencing, and Hee-Do’s role model. ..
Baek Yi Jin’s story is intertwined with that of his father, who is struggling to keep his business afloat during the economic downturn. When the crisis hits, Yi-Jin finds himself forced to take on additional responsibilities at home. He studies to pay back his debts and tries to make ends meet through part-time jobs. Despite all of his efforts, he still finds himself in a difficult position.
As the show continues, Hee-Do and Yi Jin find comfort in one another, with Yi Jin’s life experience and grounded attitude contrasting Hee-Do’s optimistic and upbeat persona perfectly. There’s something about these two that really resonates across the season, and their dialogue and mismatched relationship works an absolute treat.
Thematically, Twenty Five Twenty One is a powerful story about the power of forgiveness, innocence and the harsh realities of life. The run-time changes as Hee-Do and her friends get older, making the problems they face more important.
The show is set in the fictional town of West Egg on Long Island, and it follows the lives of its residents as they go through their everyday lives. However, the show takes a very different approach to school exams and training woes than what we’re used to seeing on television. Instead of focusing on the problems that these people are facing, the show focuses on their relationships and how they are trying to cope with their mental health issues. This is a gradual journey that is so subtle that you’re unlikely to notice it until it slams onto the screens near the end.
Despite being a well-told story, Twenty Five Twenty One’s ending is a bit of a letdown. Despite the fun and light-hearted tone of the story, the ending feels too forced and artificial.
The finale was a success in that it gave us a lot of closure and answered some questions that we’ve been asking for years. It also introduced new characters and made us want to see more of them.
The ending of Twenty Five Twenty One leaves many questions unanswered, while also feeling forced and ham-fisted. For those who have invested a lot of time into this one, the ending may not be satisfying.
The ending of “The Good Place” is not a bad per-se, but given how incredible the writing is before this, it’s a little disappointing to see average writing in the finale.
Despite the excellent drama preceding it, the ending falls short. There are some powerful lessons about friendship, sacrifice and the harsh realities of life that hit hard. I dare anyone to make it through episode 15 without shedding a tear. ..
Episode 15 is something I’d like to talk about here, as it seems to be the turning point for many people. The entire chapter is pitch perfect and probably one of the best episodes of any K-drama released in a long while. ..
The second relationship is between Hee-Do and Park-Jae; two people who have been through the wringer together, both with their own secrets and fears. Both relationships are explored in depth, with a focus on the dynamics that develop between the two characters.
The midway point of this hour-long episode shifts its focus to Yi-Jin and Hee-Do, but the tone is markedly different. Life, it seems, is like that. ..
Rocky’s words ring true for many people. The world can be difficult and it can keep you down. If you don’t take care of yourself, the world will do just that.
“Twenty Five Twenty One is a beautifully written, almost-pitch perfect K-drama that navigates through the innocence and youth of being a teenager and how brutal that shift is when you become an adult.” ..
Twenty Five Twenty One is an excellent K-drama that is one of the best released this year. The subjective ending aside, it’s a must-watch. ..
