The stories and experiences chronicled in that book become the primary point of Twenty Five Twenty One, transporting us back to the 1990s
Adults never believe us when we say we don’t have a dream,” Kim Min-Chae (Choi Myung-bin) tells her grandmother. Hours before, the adolescent had quit dance in the middle of a competition and fled to spend the summer with an older relative. “Does it have to be one?”
The pressure to have particular aspirations and a life plan set out ahead of you is a problem that many young people confront as they strive to figure out who they are and what they want in their life to be. But, as Min-Chae realizes when exploring her mother’s childhood bedroom, knowing what you want to do maybe just be as frightening as not knowing what you want to do.
Min-Chae discovers old artefacts of her mother’s — a flip phone, tape player, and a handwritten diary – as she settles into life at her grandmother’s. “Did she write it all by hand?” She is astounded as she scrolls over the diary’s neatly penned pages. The stories and experiences chronicled in that book become the primary point of Twenty Five Twenty One, transporting us back to the 1990s and Min’s mother’s adorable, inspirational story, Chae’s Na Hee-do (a phenomenal performance from Kim Tae-Ri).
Hee-do, an ambitious fencer, spends her days at school hard at her sport and her weekends hoping to glimpse young Korean Olympian Ko Yu-rim (WJSN’s Bona) training at a nearby school. Her enthusiasm for fencing is evident, but as the repercussions of the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis take root in Korea, her school disbands its team, forcing her to devise increasingly improbable strategies to keep her aspirations alive. Her mother wonders why she bothers, telling her not to “cling to something you’re not good at.” Hee-fire, do’s, on the other hand, is not easily quenched, and she puts herself through the wringer to keep alight.
She meets Baek Yi-jin (Nam Joo-hyuk), a 22-year-old newcomer to town who is attempting to rebuild his life after his family lost everything due to the financial crisis. Hee-do is four years his senior. With the responsibility of getting his family back on their feet in front of him, he keeps the impulsive teen at arm’s length. Still, he can’t pretend he’s immune to her contagious enthusiasm for long. As the story progresses, Twenty Five Twenty One discreetly tackles several sorts of loss and sacrifice but never sets one up as more worthwhile or tragic than the other. Instead, it examines each in its setting – from Yu-rim losing her fencing sponsor to Yi-jin losing his stability and prestige – and evaluates the impact on each softly.
It shows each character in a similar even-handed manner. Hee-do may be a crazy schoolgirl throwing a tantrum in the middle of the street one minute. Still, the next, she may be imparting sensible perspectives on life and strategies to cope with the huge and small tragedies we face every day.
Also Read, Eternally Confused and Eager for Love: Refreshingly funny yet…
Yi-jin may be the elder, presumably more mature figure in their connection, but Hee-do frequently puts him in his place and shows him fresh ideas. She devises a plan to capture moments of happiness whenever they’re together. Her upbeat attitude, mixed with her unwavering commitment to reaching her fencing goals, creates romantic feelings between the two.
Twenty Five Twenty One has few flaws, but it often feels like the show is trying to jam too much into each episode. Perhaps that’s the point – after all, adolescence can feel like a never-ending assault of passion and turmoil – but it can get a little much. Minor quibbles aside, the series is a nostalgic plunge into teenage memories and the importance of dreams. This beautiful drama keeps you rooting for its heroes and yearning to read the remainder of Hee-diary do’s long after each episode ends.
Twenty Five Twenty One appears to be many things: romance, healing drama with a dash of humour, but most importantly, a coming-of-age story.
The drama will follow the ambitions of two young individuals devastated by the 1990s financial crisis. Na Hee-Do (Kim) is a member of her high school’s fencing squad, which was disbanded owing to financial difficulties.
Meanwhile, the crisis bankrupts Baek Yi-jin (Nam) and his father’s firm. Overnight, the spoon-fed man becomes impoverished and begins working part-time to make ends meet. Later in life, he works as a sports reporter.
We’ll watch how they deal with adversity and what they’ll do to reach their goals.
According to the drama’s synopsis, Na (Kim) and Baek (Nam) initially met when they were 18 and 22 years old, respectively. And they fell in love at the ages of 21 and 25.
We’ll be able to see how their relationship has evolved as a result of the financial crisis and how they’ll manage life together—through thick and thin. Characters that help each other through difficult times and unwittingly fall in love? Please include us!
It’s the first time Kim and Nam have collaborated. While Nam’s character is ostensibly older than Kim’s, Kim is six years his senior in real life. It’ll be interesting to observe how their chemistry develops.
According to the drama’s synopsis, Na (Kim) and Baek (Nam) initially met when they were 18 and 22 years old, respectively. And they fell in love at the ages of 21 and 25.
We’ll be able to see how their relationship has evolved as a result of the financial crisis and how they’ll manage life together—through thick and thin. Characters that help each other through difficult times and unwittingly fall in love? Please include us!
It’s the first time Kim and Nam have collaborated. While Nam’s character is ostensibly older than Kim’s, Kim is six years his senior in real life. It’ll be interesting to observe how their chemistry develops.
‘Twenty Five Twenty One‘ is now accessible on Netflix.
