A Slice-Of-Life Story That Entertains But Doesn’t Leave The Kind of Mark You’d Hope For

Tv Drama Name: Twenty-Five Twenty-One

Where To Watch: Netflix ← *Click for direct link*

Average Rating: 8.8/10 (MyDramaList)

My Rating: 6.5/10

One Sentence Description: A heartfelt yet scattered story about youth, first love, and the reality that good things don’t last forever.

Trailer:

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Disclaimer: This review is 100% my opinion — I’m not here to hate, just to share my thoughts! Also, SPOILERS AHEAD, so proceed with caution if you haven’t watched yet. Watch it, come back and let’s see if you agree. Let’s keep the discussion respectful and fun! 💕

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Description

Twenty-Five Twenty-One (2521) is a slice-of-life drama about a girl navigating her late teens, dealing with sports drama, friendships, and a love that hits a little too close to home — specifically, her mom’s past mistakes.

The show kicks off in 2020 with a girl quitting ballet and running away to her grandmother’s house. While there, she stumbles upon her mother’s diary from 1998, a time when South Korea was deep in the IMF crisis — setting the stage for the K-drama to begin.

*IMF Crisis: The IMF crisis refers to the financial struggles in the late 1990s when South Korea faced a severe economic downturn and had to seek assistance from the International Monetary Fund. This period was marked by widespread unemployment, business closures, and significant social and economic challenges.*

Back in 1998, Our protagonist, Na Hee Do (the girl’s mother), is first seen excitedly heading to Saturday class to see “that kid.” While we assume it’s her boyfriend, it turns out to be her idol, Go Yu Rim — a fencer whom Hee Do aspires to compete against. Her joy quickly turns to dismay when her school’s fencing club is shut down. Determined to continue pursuing her dream, Hee Do sets her sights on transferring to Tae-Yang High, where Yu Rim trains.

Back home, she runs into her mom — a news anchor, a workaholic, and an all-around distant mother figure — and asks to transfer schools. Her mom, fully aware of Hee Do’s struggles in fencing, immediately says no and tells her to quit since she’s not good enough. Ouch. The rejection, however, only fuels Hee Do’s resolve.

Meanwhile, outside, a paperboy, Baek Yi Jin, shows up to deliver the newspaper, unintentionally eavesdropping on the argument inside. Long story short — he throws the newspaper, breaks Hee Do’s fake statue, gets an earful about it (especially since there’s a sign that literally says “No Newspaper”), and they part ways… for now. Turns out, Yi Jin just moved to the neighbourhood and is juggling two jobs — delivering newspapers and working at a comic book store. Why does this matter? Because Hee Do is a regular at that very store, where she always picks up the comic Full House. This chance interaction sparks the beginning of their relationship.

Back to Hee Do’s transfer desperation. After a dramatic night of begging the Tae-Yang High fencing coach to teach her (only to be rejected but encouraged to transfer), she decides it’s time to get creative. By that, I mean she hatches a series of ridiculous plans to force her school into kicking her out — so she’ll have no choice but to transfer. From picking fights to sneaking into a club as a minor, her attempts hilariously fail.

At the club, she runs into Yi Jin again, and we learn that he used to be rich — until his family lost everything during the crisis. He, being the responsible adult in this scenario, drags Hee Do out of the club and gives her a solid scolding about making dumb choices and terrible planning. Hee Do continues her mission to join Tae-Yang High’s fencing team. After enduring a series of tests, losing her belongings, and relentless persistence, the coach finally agrees to let her join. What Hee Do doesn’t know is that her mother secretly visited the coach earlier, asking her to give Hee Do a chance — a heartwarming twist that quickly turns comical when we realize Hee Do lost all her things for no reason!

Overjoyed, Hee Do begins her new chapter at Tae-Yang High, thrilled to be on the same team as Yu Rim. But before we get to that long-awaited fan moment, Hee Do meets Ji Woong, the resident pretty boy with a raging crush on Yu Rim. We also meet Seung Wan, the class president and Ji Woong’s childhood bestie. Finally, the big moment arrives — Hee Do meets her idol. She beams, expresses how honored she is to be on the same team, and then — BAM. Yu Rim shuts her down cold and tells her she won’t last- a shocking and disheartening turn. Before we even have time to process this, we cut back to Yi Jin, who’s still trying to navigate his new life.

We learn that his family once sponsored Yu Rim’s fencing career, a relationship that ended when his family lost their fortune. Yi Jin moves into Seung Wan’s family’s guesthouse, and we uncover the root of Yu Rim’s hostility towards Hee Do: years ago, Hee Do defeated Yu Rim in a fencing match, leaving Yu Rim feeling threatened ever since. This rivalry only intensifies when Hee Do wins another significant match against her.

As for Hee Do and Yi Jin, their bond deepens during a whimsical night of waterfalls and laughter. In an emotional moment, Hee Do overhears Yi Jin telling his father’s former employees that he’ll never find happiness again. Not on her watch. To cheer him up, she playfully makes a pact: he can only be happy with her, and only in secret — a sweet and unforgettable moment that captures their unique connection.

A few days later, Hee Do’s coach informs her that she’s been given a rare chance to compete in the nationals after two competitors withdrew from the lineup. Then, we get another layer to Hee Do’s life — her online friend. Throughout the drama, we see her exchanging messages with this mysterious person, who, on this particular day, tells her exactly what she needed to hear: Yu Rim was in the wrong for not standing up for herself when an older girl got mad at them for practicing late at night. Their conversation is adorably supportive, showing just how close they’ve become. Just as we’re admiring their heartwarming dynamic, the show drops a bombshell: The anonymous online friend? None other than Yu Rim herself!

Meanwhile, Yi Jin is struggling to find a job, but Hee Do’s chaotic personality keeps lifting his spirits. Eventually, the big day arrives — Hee Do competes for a spot on the national team, making it all the way to the finals. With her sharp instincts, she quickly adapts to her opponent’s moves and wins! While she’s celebrating, Yi Jin leaves town with his brother, heading to Pohang, where his mother is staying. Life moves forward and Hee Do moves into the national team dorms… and ends up rooming with Yu Rim. Unlucky.

Months pass, and Yi Jin returns to Seoul as a trainee reporter. Meanwhile, Hee Do wins a bronze medal in a fencing competition, while Yu Rim struggles under mounting pressure from her coaches. Yi Jin and Hee Do eventually reunite, with Yi Jin giving her the long-awaited Full House Volume 15.

Fast forward to the Asian Games. Hee Do and Yu Rim both make it to the finals, facing off in an intense match. The deciding moment? They both land a hit at what looks like the same time. But Hee Do is declared the winner.

Yu Rim, convinced she touched first, complains to the referee. He stands by his decision. The problem? Everyone wanted Yu Rim to win, so the entire country jumps on board, painting Hee Do as a fraud. The controversy explodes when Yu Rim, feeding the flames, tells reporters she was robbed. What should have been Hee Do’s greatest moment becomes one of her worst.

Fortunately, Yi Jin isn’t about to let her sit in that misery. He picks her up and she demonstrates that fencers actually know when they win. Conclusion? Yu Rim was just being a sore loser. Yi Jin then tracks down the referee and persuades him to give an interview, clearing Hee Do’s name and restoring her honor.

Days pass, and the long-awaited online friend meetup is finally happening. Hee Do and Yu Rim each plan to carry a yellow rose so they can recognize each other. Sounds simple, right? Well… Yu Rim arrives first, spots Hee Do holding the rose, and immediately panics. Instead of facing reality, she nopes out and hands the rose to Yi Jin, making a run for it. Enter Hee Do, who now sees Yi Jin holding her signal flower. However, the truth hits soon enough — it’s not him.

Yu Rim continues to hide her online identity. As Yi Jin begins work on a documentary featuring both fencers, tensions flare. When some girls badmouth Yu Rim, Hee Do intervenes and fights them. This leads to an argument where Yu Rim finally confesses that she’s the anonymous friend. They share an honest, heartfelt conversation, patch things up, and their relationship undergoes a dramatic shift.

Time moves forward, and the squad — Yi Jin, Hee Do, Yu Rim, Ji Woong, and Seung Wan — head to the beach. This trip gives us some much-needed bonding time, filled with fun, chaos, and unexpectedly deep moments. Their friendships feel solidified. But just as we’re basking in their youthful glow, we cut to the 21st century, where Hee Do casually drops the bombshell that she doesn’t even remember the trip. Time really does fly, doesn’t it?

Back in the past, the group returns home, their bonds stronger than ever. Yi Jin gets promoted and is now in charge of the documentary. Meanwhile, Hee Do’s mom? Still on brand. She misses yet another meet-up with Hee Do, reinforcing the long-standing rift between them. The rifts origin starting back in 1993, Hee Do’s father passed away and her mother chose to broadcast breaking news instead of attending the funeral.

Even as her resentment lingers, Hee Do’s relationship with her mother begins to mend, thanks to a set of chairs. These aren’t just any chairs — they’re ones her father crafted before his passing. While Hee Do had assumed her mom threw them out, she discovers that her mother had them repaired. This revelation cracks the ice just a little. It fully melts when they visit her father’s grave, and her mom tearfully admits she’s still deeply affected by his loss.

Time moves on, bringing significant change. Seung Wan, the school’s top student, shocks everyone by dropping out of school. Why? After a notoriously abusive teacher beats Ji Woong until he bleeds, Seung Wan reaches her limit. Despite corporal punishment being banned, no authority figures take action — even when she calls the police. The final straw comes when the teacher demands Seung Wan beg for forgiveness and publicly promise not to challenge him again. Refusing to compromise her principles, Seung Wan drops out, making a bold stand against injustice. While her classmates admire her courage, the decision marks something deeper- the end of an era. The high school years are coming to a close.

Shifting dynamics continue as Yi Jin begins to avoid Hee Do after she kisses him on New Year’s. Though he tries to create distance, his resolve falters, and they eventually enter a relationship.

Things take a sharp turn for the worse when Yu Rim’s father is involved in a car accident, crashing into someone else. While her father comes out of it mostly unscathed, the other boy is not so lucky. With the mounting financial burden, Yu Rim, feeling trapped, decides to change her nationality to Russian to receive financial support. It’s a heartbreaking decision, and Yi Jin, now working full-time as a reporter, is forced to betray his friends by announcing her decision. The nation’s reaction is swift and harsh — branding Yu Rim a traitor.

We reach 2000, and Yi Jin, unable to hurt his friends further, transfers to local news. Even though Yu Rim is now in Russia, she and Hee Do continue to stay in touch, exchanging messages frequently. But as the pressures intensify, especially with a crucial Madrid match coming up, the friendship starts to strain.

Finally, the Madrid match arrives, and both Hee Do and Yu Rim make it to the finals. Hee Do wins, but the moment is bittersweet. The two break down in tears and hug, showing the world that despite everything, their friendship still transcends the fierce competition. This moment, dubbed “Friendship before borders,” becomes a symbol of the deep emotional toll they’ve both endured.

Time continues on and Hee Do and Yi Jin are still in a relationship. Ever since Yi Jin transferred to local news, he’s begun to slowly put his career over their relationship more and more, leaving Hee Do feeling things she’s felt before- with her mom. Regardless, she continues to put up with it and makes it work. That is, until their anniversary comes. With their anniversary approaching on September 12, 2001, Hee Do waits at the airport for Yi Jin. But as she watches the news of the 9/11 attacks, she starts to piece together why Yi Jin is late. Yi Jin cancels their trip and rushes to New York to report on the devastating events. Hee Do tries her best to be supportive, but the emotional toll of Yi Jin’s trauma and guilt starts to take its toll.

The following year, Yi Jin accepts a job offer to move to New York, and their relationship, already hanging by a thread, starts to unravel. Hee Do, unable to ignore the distance between them, grows frustrated. After a suitcase mix-up unexpectedly reunites them, they have a heartbreaking realization — they’ve drifted apart and are living in completely different worlds. When Hee Do ends their couple’s contract, they revisit their relationship one last time. While Yi Jin hopes to reconcile, Hee Do is resolute, citing deja vu and the parallels between her life with Yi Jin and the challenges she faced with her reporter mother. Yi Jin candidly admits that her unwavering support had become a burden. With that, their relationship officially ends.

Years pass. Time has changed everything, and we see the fruits of their hard work. Yu Rim, now retired from fencing, owns her own fencing school. Ji Woong has built a successful website and clothing brand. Seung Wan is now leading reality TV shows. Hee Do, on the verge of retiring from fencing, looks back on everything she’s achieved. And Yi Jin? He returns to Korea, now a prominent news anchor.

The show concludes with an alternate ending to their breakup — how they would’ve wanted it to go. Hee Do thanks Yi Jin for always supporting her through her loneliness, and Yi Jin expresses his gratitude for her unwavering support during the toughest times- even though things didn’t turn out the way either of them hoped. Despite their separation, they acknowledge the impact they’ve had on each other’s lives before parting ways for good.

The End.

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The Review

The Good

The Actors

I feel like I’ve mentioned this in all the dramas I’ve reviewed but the actors in this were really good. I must say Hee Do was done really well. Crying scenes are said to be the hardest and yet it was done so effortlessly. Not only that, but I must mention the fact that their eyes would be red from crying felt so real. This acting was so well done that sometimes I forgot this was a show and not just secret filming (not really but you get my point!).

The Breakup

Many viewers felt the ending of Hee Do and Yi Jin’s relationship was rushed, questioning whether it aligned with Hee Do’s personality. Some believed she would have fought to preserve it no matter what. However, I respectfully disagree. Let me break this down in two parts:

She Did Wait

I think it’s important to remember the months leading up to Yi Jin’s move to New York. More importantly how much Hee Do did try. For months. Even when he was constantly late, always canceling because of work, and missing important moments, she stuck with him. She pushed down her feelings, trying to be understanding, but it rightfully became hard. One important moment that stands out is when Yi Jin missed dinner with her mother — a missed opportunity that highlighted Hee Do’s growing exhaustion.

That dinner is crucial because of what follows. Her mom asks her if she can handle the constant disappointments, sacrifices, and waitingin being with someone whose career overshadows their personal life. And let’s not forget, this isn’t just a hypothetical for Hee Do — this is exactly how she grew up. She says she’s willing to wait, but we later see her struggle with that answer. Hee Do did fight for the relationship, but as time passed, loneliness took its toll, leaving her emotionally drained.

It was like déjà vu — of the worst kind

This wasn’t just about Yi Jin being busy. This was about Hee Do realizing she was walking into the same painful cycle she had with her mom. Her childhood was defined by waiting for her mother, a workaholic news anchor, which left her battling feelings of neglect and isolation. Recognizing the parallels, Hee Do foresaw her romantic relationship mirroring those painful experiences — not just for her, but for her future family as well. She clearly looked into her future life she might’ve had with him, and saw her potential kids who would’ve felt as neglected as she once did. It wasn’t a decision rooted in misunderstanding or haste; it came from a place of deep reflection and lived experience. People think it didn’t match her personality when in reality, it may have matched her inner child’s issues and fears of history repeating itself. Knowing how she felt growing up, I’d be more surprised had she actually stayed with him. Staying with Yi Jin might have turned cherished memories into resentment and regret. Ending things before they unraveled allowed them to part ways while holding on to their love, rather than letting bitterness consume them. And honestly? That was the best thing she could’ve done- for both of them.

Sometimes it’s better to let things go while they are still good, then to hold on, eventually have to let go, and not be able to have the same kind of love you once did. Hopefully me and you, dear readers, never experience this, but it’s clearly more painful to hold on rather than just letting go in the first place. It’s better to see them off with love then see them off with hate.

The Scenes

Even though this drama had its messy moments (see “The Bad” section), some scenes were incredibly well done.

I loved the friendship group moments — the beach trip, the hideout… all of it. I never had a friend group like that in high school (tragic, I know), so watching them felt bittersweet.

The fencing scenes? Top-tier. Stressful, anxiety-inducing? Yes. But also some of the most intense and well-executed moments of the drama.

And don’t even get me started on Madrid. That scene was heart-wrenching. No notes. Just pain.

The Bad (Kind of)

Fencing Skills

This might not be a huge issue, but how did Hee Do’s fencing improve so fast? In flashbacks and scenes at her old school, it was clearly said and shown she wasn’t very good. Yet within days of transferring to her new school, she’s suddenly as good as — or even better than — Yu Rim, who was supposed to be the best fencer in the country. Sure, Hee Do practiced a lot after she transferred, but it still felt like too big of a jump. Was that amount of practice really enough to make her unbeatable against Yu Rim? I know she knew all her moves but what about the other girls in the country who she DIDN’T know? It didn’t feel very realistic to me.

Yi Jin Moving to New York??

A lot of people thought this was just a random plot move, and honestly… same. Yi Jin was clearly unhappy in New York and even struggled with trauma from being there. So why did he decide to move there? It didn’t really make sense to me. Not only that, but he seemed to make the decision without thinking much about his family, his brother, or even Hee Do. Moving to New York felt rushed, especially since he claimed he wanted to make things work with Hee Do. How could he think that was possible while leaving her behind? And then calling her support a “burden”? That hurt.

This Show Was Kind of All Over the Place and… Boring

Look, I enjoyed the romance, the friendships, and the sports elements — but all together? It made things kind of messy.

I genuinely struggled to come up with a one-sentence description for this drama. What was this show actually about? If you had to sum it up, what would you say?

• Was it a fencing drama? Kind of.
• Was it about friendships? Sort of.
• Was it a romance? I guess?

It felt like the show wanted to do everything at once, and because of that, it didn’t fully commit to anything. I wish they had picked one major plot (like fencing) and then let the other elements be subplots.

For example, the Madrid match could’ve been the grand finale, wrapping up both the fencing rivalry and their personal growth. Instead, we got a story that kind of drifted along without a clear sense of direction. And because of that, some parts felt… well, boring.

This Show Was Too Close to Reality

This isn’t necessarily bad, but it’s hard to watch a drama that felt this real. The reminder that life moves on, that good times don’t last, and that friendships don’t always stay the same was painful. Too painful.

I know not every show needs a happy ending, but for slice-of-life dramas like this, I prefer happy endings, even if they’re not realistic. Dramas give me a chance to be delusional and pretend things stay perfect, and I think I wanted that escape here.

Seeing how the characters probably drifted apart and how everything changed was a reminder of what happens in real life, and that was like a slap in the face and a reminder that TV is TV. But come on! Let me be delusional! Some might find that ending relatable, but I wish the story had ended on a lighter, happier note instead so I can continue my delusions. I hope that makes sense.

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What I Would Do

(This will be short- don’t worry 😉)

A More Focused Plot

I get that this was meant to be a slice-of-life drama, but that doesn’t mean it needed to juggle so many major storylines at once. Fencing was where it all started, and it tied into the daughter’s ballet storyline. That would’ve been my main focus. Hee Do’s romance and friendships would’ve been more like side plots, making this fit much better as a “sports drama.”

When they were in Madrid, that should’ve been the big final match like I mentioned earlier. Hee Do winning, followed by her and Yu Rim sobbing and hugging each other, was such a powerful moment. That definitely felt like final episode material to me. No extra fluff needed.

Hee Do and Yi Jin’s Ending

They should’ve ended up together. Screw reality, we want happy endings! Here’s how I’d do it: Yi Jin is in New York (or still in Korea), and as Hee Do heads to Madrid, something makes him realize how distant he’s been and how much he actually wants her over his career. Maybe he overhears a conversation between two girls venting about their boyfriends never prioritizing them, and it finally clicks — this is exactly what Hee Do must have been feeling. In a split-second decision, instead of heading to another Very Important News Flash, he books a flight to Madrid in hopes of fixing things.

He’d arrive just in time to watch her final match with Yu Rim (we wouldn’t know this until after the match). Imagine how amazing it would’ve been if, as Hee Do and Yu Rim hugged, Hee Do looked into the crowd and saw Yi Jin crying too. That could’ve been the moment we all realized he’d chosen her and decided to prioritize their relationship. He finally put her first. After that, maybe he’d quit his job and finally pursue his true passion — he hinted at having one when talking to Hee Do’s mom. He follows that dream instead, and we get our well-earned happy ending.

OR…

If they had to go the sad route, I’d at least make Yi Jin’s move make sense. No New York. He just moves to a different city for better opportunities — something logical and in-character. That way, we still get the heartbreaking shoe-lace scene (ugh), but without the unnecessary “let me randomly go back to the place that gave me PTSD” plotline.

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Final Thoughts

This is my shortest review yet (and maybe ever), but honestly, I didn’t know what else to say. This show was just… fine. It wasn’t the masterpiece everyone hyped it up to be, but it also wasn’t bad — just aggressively average. If we’re being real, the only reason it got a 6.5/10 instead of a 5 was because of that beach scene song and all the edits I saw on social media (lol).

While this wasn’t a bad drama, it also wasn’t particularly great either. It’s the kind of show I’ll probably forget the second I finish writing this review. If this was (or is) your favorite drama, no disrespect, but I think it was overhyped. People compared it to Twinkling Watermelon, but aside from the friend groups and the fact that both are slice-of-life, they don’t really have much in common.

That said, the show did have its cute moments, and the cast was fantastic — but it just didn’t hit for me the way it did for others, which made it even more disappointing. If there’s one takeaway here, it’s this: don’t go into shows with sky-high expectations, because when they don’t deliver, it’ll feel worse than it needs to.

I’m glad I watched it, but I’m even more glad that it’s finally crossed off my watchlist. Some dramas leave you with deep emotions and lasting impressions — this one left me wondering what to watch next. 🤷🏽‍♀️

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What were your opinions on the show? Is it one of your favourites? Let me know!

See you next week!💕

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