Twenty-Five Twenty-One is a story about going after your dreams, friendship, love and growing up. Na Hee Do dreams of becoming a professional fencer to rival her idol, Ko Yu Rim. The slightly older Baek Yi Jin has no dreams left and is just struggling to survive. As he supports Hee Do with her fencing ambitions, he’s slowly inspired to go after something better himself.

I loved this so much. I loved the 90s setting, the fencing, the characters and their relationships. The relationship between Hee Do and Yi Jin is so lovely. They really lean on and bring out the best in each other. The relationship between them did feel a little strange when she was still in high school, but it became more natural after she graduated. The relationships between Hee Do and Yu Rim and Yu Rim and Moon Ji Woong are precious as well. At first Yu Rim is antagonistic towards Hee Do, but later on they develop a great friendship. They get each other really well and the way they later unconditionally support each other is gold.

The story builds fairly consistently, with some gutting twists in the second half. The ending is bittersweet and realistic. The last two episodes were way too drawn out though. While they had some very beautiful tearjerking moments, things became too overdramatic and I found myself checking multiple times how much longer they’d take.

All of the actors did amazing. Kim Tae Ri was very loveable and relatable as Na Hee Do. In the beginning I thought her character was kind of obnoxious, but Kim Tae Ri completely won me over with her sincerity. Nam Joo Hyuk, what can I say, just amazing. Baek Yi Jin had the biggest character arc and Nam Joo Hyuk portrayed every step of the journey wonderfully. Bona was great as Ko Yu Rim too, at times so sweet and fragile and at others cruel and cold. I could go on and on.

The one thing I didn’t love about this drama is how the story is framed in the present day. The long present day intro of the first episode almost made me drop it completely. It didn’t add anything, then or later. As a viewer I just found it jarring to be pulled out of the glorious 90s storyline and to be confronted with the Covid nightmare and Hee Do’s annoying daughter. The feeling of nostalgia and the message that youth and the good times etc. are temporary could just as well have been limited to the last episode.

If any of the other things mentioned above speak to you, I would absolutely recommend giving this drama a try.