On Sunday, Twenty Five Twenty One Finale episode aired on Netflix. The show stars Kim Tae-ri, Nam Joo-hyuk, Bona and Lee Joo-myung. Over the past few weeks, the characters of these shows became very dear to the viewers. The Korean drama had packed with lots of emotions, drama, young love and even heartbreak. If you are yet to watch the finale, you should stay away from the article as it contains spoilers.
Every fan thought that the makers would give a happy ending to their favourite couple Yi-jin and Hee-do, in Twenty Five Twenty One Episode 16. Even though things weren’t looking possible until the end, they had one tiny hope in their hearts. Sadly, their favourite couple doesn’t end up together. This has left many fans shattered.
A lot of fans took to their Twitter page to share Twenty Five Twenty One Finale Memes and reactions. One person wrote, “Was expecting a happy ending for #TwentyFiveTwentyOne finale, but this is just the reality of life. You don’t always end up with your first love, you change, you grow up, you forget & move on. But the people you met will always be part of who you are now. #TwentyFiveTwentyOneEp16.”
Another Kdrama fan posted their disappointment with the finale. The fan posted, “8 weeks wasted. Legit how can it end OPEN like that with them merely saying goodbye to each other. I understand first love doesn’t always work out, but they rushed the ending and never gave proper closure. They did them dirty. ???? #TwentyFiveTwentyOne #TwentyFiveTwentyOneEp16”.
“Me when I wake up in the morning after they gave us that ending…i’m afraid i’ll never be the same again,” tweeted a fan.
Check out some Twenty Five Twenty One Memes and Reactions below
Meanwhile, Leisurebyte’s finale review reads, “It wraps everything up great and ends everything on a high. You watch everything come together as easily as everything else. It’s so easy and lightweight, yet so heavy with emotions.” You can read the full recap here.
Watch the show here.
What do you think of the finale for Yi-jin and Hee-do’s ending? Do let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
Also Read: Business Proposal: What Happened to Tae-Moo and Ha-ri At the End of Episode 10?
I will never watch another Korean production with Kim Taeri in it!!!- first, Mr. Sunshine ends with EVERYONE WHO LOVED HER DYING!!!!! So, can we catch a break on this beautiful coming of age story? NO!!! this couple that has supported each other so beautifully throughout the show breaks it off with barely a fight. What happened to “don’t take a single step away from me, Back You Jin!” Where’s the “fight for the relationship Hee Do” we all came to love??? She was a fighter for every complication in the plot except the one we all tuned in for…her own. TVN, if you step out in front of my car, I’m hitting the gas pedal. GO BACK AND MAKE US AN ALTERNATE ENDING BECAUE WE ARE ALL DOING IT IN OUR MIND”S EYE
My husband and I agree with most of these comments. The ending was so very disappointing and left us with many questions! Who did Heedo marry,, where is he now? They fought for their love for so long and then just let go!! Let’s get another ending please to restore our faith in our beloved K-Drama’s.
Not sure why everyone is so upset with the ending. We all were told at the start, and throughout the series that they would not end up together!
The whole series was about a daughter looking back at a halcyon time in her mother’s life through her mom’s diaries, where she learns about people and events in her mom’s life that in some cases no longer exist in the present day.
The writers were very clear and it was overtly stated repeatedly that Ye-Jin, although he was mentioned once by grandma, was not part of Hee-Do’s life.
Even the title was clear. Since their start was at 22-18 then 25-21 could only be their end.
I agree with the comments of unsatisfying ending- who did Hee doo marry where is he now- why did they show Hi-Jin logging in to a 15 yr old site with Hee doo’s name . Their friends never tried to get them back together. Rushed and disappointing ending.
Do you notice that K-dramas rush to give you an un-satisfying ending. The 25 21 writers do a great job drawing you in but spend little time getting creative in ending the story. Kind of makes you think they just either ran out of time-money-or creativity. It would have been better more believable to kill off Ye-jin by having him push on the subway in New York….. Lol.
They did give a hint of a potential happy ending.
Remember that tunnel?
Remember He-Do’s face when He-Do’s mom mentioned that she had met with Ye-Jin? You could see the bitterness and pain in He-Do’s face.
When He-Doo first visits the tunnel in modern days the tunnel is closed and barricaded.
But when He-Do visits the tunnel after she had read Ye-Jin’s message the tunnel is no longer blocked.
The story does drop clear hints that He-Do’s marriage had issues (the group reunion where she went alone and mentions it is harder to break-up after marriage., plus the fact the Min-Chae’s dad does not seem to be up-to-date on Min-Chae.
Wishful thinking?
wow thanks for the massive spoiler for a different drama. I was going to watch Mr. Sunshine next.
Absolutely a disappointment… they spent 15 episodes on the build up and what type of ending was that? I knew they didn’t end up together as yi jin congratulated he do on her marriage a couple of episodes earlier. Felt like i wasted my life watching this kdrama!
Warning spoiler alert!!! My hypothetical answer to “Twenty Five Twenty One” ending :
Baek Yi-jin (백이진) is still alive but stranded abroad due to a COVID travel restriction. He is secretly married to Na Hee-do (나희도). Kim Min-chae (김민채) is their daughter. Why is their daughter’s name Kim? Please follow these facts:
It’s common for Korean celebrities to have two names. Baek Yi-jin (백이진) used Kim Min Su (김민수) as his other name because this person is the one who united him with Na Hee-do (나희도) by sending the lost diary to him. Na Hee-do (나희도)’s diary was lost in the bus. There is Baek Yi-jin (백이진)’s ID in the diary, which also contains his address. It is easier to send it to him rather than go the extra mile to search for Na Hee-do (나희도)’s address as the owner of the diary. Honouring Kim Min Su (김민수)’s role in uniting their love, Na Hee-do (나희도) uses Kim Min Su (김민수) name as his new legal name. Hence, the daughter’s name is Kim Min-chae (김민채). Furthermore, according to this theory, Baek Yi-jin (백이진) also uses his alias as Kim Min Su (김민수) in his other legal documents, marriage certificate, properties, and other assets for financial protection in the future, considering his family bankruptcy in the past. The only surviving asset from his father is the red car because it’s registered under his aunty’s name. As a result, when Kim Min-chae (김민채) searched for clues online, she couldn’t find anything connecting her to Baek Yi-jin (백이진).
No one knows that Shin Jae-kyung (신재경) is Na Hee-do (나희도)’s mother including the inner circle of Na Hee-do (나희도)’s friends {Ko Yu-rim/Julia Ko (고유림), Moon Ji-woong (문지웅), and Ji Seung-wan (지승완)}, except Baek Yi-jin (백이진) who discovered this fact by chance when he borrowed a phone at Na Hee-do (나희도)’s home. There was the scene when both Shin Jae-kyung (신재경) and Baek Yi-jin (백이진) shared their proud moments together at the back of the crowd in the UBS studio with teary eyes when Na Hee-do (나희도) won the gold in Madrid. Considering this fact, it’s natural for Baek Yi-jin (백이진) and Na Hee-do (나희도) to keep their (married) relationship secret, even from their inner circle of friends. Remember the scene of how Na Hee-do (나희도) deflected the question about married life with her poker face during the funeral of Ji Seung-wan (지승완)’s father, where she also came alone without her husband.
Shin Jae-kyung (신재경) retired and recommended Baek Yi-jin (백이진) as her successor. Why? It allows Baek Yi-jin (백이진) to come back from New York to Seoul. Around the same time, Na Hee-do (나희도) won gold medal in San Francisco and will be interviewed by Baek Yi-jin (백이진) on his first debut as the new anchor. When Baek Yi-jin (백이진) interviews Na Hee-do (나희도) live on TV, keep an eye on their interactions. Both of them looked awkward on screen. Their faces seemed to be hiding something. Their eyes were intimate and there was a pause between their conversations when Baek Yi-jin (백이진) congratulated Na Hee-do (나희도) on her marriage. My theory is that Baek Yi-jin (백이진) married Na Hee-do (나희도) in San Francisco on his way back to Seoul from New York. Baek Yi-jin (백이진) was 25 and Na Hee-do (나희도) was 21 around this time. You don’t have to be a resident to get married in San Francisco, and the legal age to get married without a parent’s consent is over 18 years old. Back to the first air scene for Baek Yi-jin (백이진) as the new anchor in Episode 16. Watch carefully the interaction of Shin Jae-kyung (신재경), Na Hee-do (나희도)’s mother and Baek Yi-jin (백이진). Their eyes and their firm grip were more than just blessings for the successor; it’s a mother’s blessing to welcome him as the son-in-law.
Another small fact leading up to their reconciliation was the cancellation of the couple package phone deal scene in Episode 16. Though both of them had signed the cancellation agreement, the phone retailer’s body language displayed something else. He covered his face with his beanie as if he didn’t want to witness the end of the couple’s relationship. He even suggested a 4 weeks grace period for the cancellation to be permanent. This was around the time when Baek Yi-jin (백이진) received the lost diary via mail before leaving Seoul. He was in a hurry to catch his flight back to New York. Therefore, he left the diary at the book store when he could not see Na Hee-do (나희도) at her home because she was waiting for him at the bus stop. They looked deeply in love in the bus stop scene. Why they have to break up? Having known each other’s feelings, they will use the couple package phone deal for free phone calls to further clarify their feelings and establish new ground while distance separate them apart. They rekindle their love with a long distance relationship.
The writer cleverly scatters clues throughout the scenes, jumping through times for us to establish our own ending. Regardless of whether there will be a sequel or not, This is my hypothetical ending. The writer did a great job of staying away from a typical Cinderella story and intertwining the world issues into the plot to establish the time frame, like the IMF crisis, millennium bug, and COVID.
Twenty Five Twenty One
Analysis and Speculation about a possible sequel TFTO-2
Spoiler Alert: Do not read this article if you havn’t watched TFTO, or if you are patiently awaiting TFTO Series 2.
Like many viewers, I was initially disappointed with the ending of TFTO but eventually I realized there is more to the Hee-do, Yi-jin tale than has been presented. There were many anomalies and indicators that pointed to a continuation of their relationship. For example, Min-chae is 15 years old during the Covid19 crises indicating that she was born in 2006 or 2007 at the latest. Why did Yi-jin congratulate her on her marriage in the 2009 interview when she won the gold medal in LA? The question 5 that he deleted from the list, with obvious embarrassment, may have revealed a secret connection between them.
TFTO provides many clues, and probably some misleading ones, about the future of Na Hee-do and Back Yi-jin after their break-up. They still had strong feelings for each other as displayed in the very emotional scene where they cried and embraced just before he left to take up the position in New York. Nevertheless, based on an analysis of the available information, and a little bit of imagination, their relationship could have a rather eventful future along the following lines.
When news of their breakup travels through the Korean fencing team several male members hit on Hee-do, an attractive and talented female who is suddenly free. She may have been reluctant to get involved in romantic relations because of the bitter breakup with Yi-jin, but over time she probably puts her concerns aside and becomes attached to one of them but apparently not Jong Ho-jin, ‘sweetie pie’. A steamy relationship likely follows as the fencing teams travel together with regular contact between them. Assuming the partner is Kim Eun-su, who is mentioned later in connection with her diary, they likely share travel, meals and, perhaps secretly, rooms. Unlike the love affair with Yi-jin, where timing was difficult and he was often late or missed rendezvous, regular and frequent contacts come with their positions.
Dates are critical to understanding this tale. Hee-do and Yi-jin broke up in 2002 when he left for the NY to take up the position. Therefore, Hee-do may have become involved in a serious relationship a year or two later, say 2003 or 2004. It could have proceeded to the point of marriage by 2005, at the time of her gold medal victory at Prague. However, as she commented later, “You never know till you actually walk down the aisle” so the marriage appears to have been a deep disappointment to her. Perhaps fond memories of her love affair with Yi-jin still haunted her.
Renewed contact with Yi-jin may have resulted from her gold medal victory in 2005. Did he interview her on that occasion and congratulate her on her wedding? A celebration dinner with her mother and Yi-jin possibly follows providing an opportunity for them to catch up on their respective situations including her separation and pending divorce. Hee-do’s mother, Jae-kyung, has always had a soft spot for Yi-jin and encourages their renewed relationship by conveniently being out when he visits, which he does with increasing frequency. They must keep their new relationship secret because of the reporter-subject problem and her divorce proceedings. Nevertheless, the affair may have blossomed into a new romance. One can speculate that Ye-jin suggests that they go on trip, compensation for the one they missed in 2001, and to give them more time together. As mentioned earlier, Hee-do has never been to Jeju and wants to go there, so it is the perfect destination. A volcanic island about 30min from Seoul by air, it is popular for romantic getaways. Yi-jin takes care of the booking, with separate rooms as insisted by Hee-do. Famous and easily recognizable, she doesn’t want a scandal while she is seeking a divorce.
They fly to Jeju city and drive to a secluded resort on the south coast of the island. ‘Far from the maddening crowd’, they have a delightful holiday, visiting many of the unique sites on the island by day and enjoying sunset dinners in the evenings. The volcanic origin of the island is clearly visible with walls of volcanic rock enclosing fields and paths paved with the same material. Hee-do’s superior level of fitness soon becomes evident. There are long stairs down into the huge Mahjang lava tube that had carried lava during the last volcanic eruption. Also, Mount Hallasan is a comfortable walk for her, but Yi-jin comes puffing and panting behind. Nonetheless, Hee-do is supremely happy. She can finally enjoy the deep heartfelt pleasure of spending day and night with the man she loves, the one who first penetrated her heart. Before leaving Jeju, they take out forms to register their marriage and return to Seoul with a stronger bond than ever. Hee-do is also joyful a few weeks later when it is confirmed that she has a baby on board. She informs the coach and takes a year off from competitive fencing.
However, they are now in an exceptionally delicate situation; Hee-do is seeking an uncontested divorce and her connection with Yi-jin must be kept secret because of his work at UBS. Her estranged husband soon gets word of her condition and refuses to sign the divorce agreement. Eventually he relents but not before the baby is born and named Kim after him rather than the father. Thus, Min-chae appears in the series as Kim, not Back.
After a year off for maternity, Hee-do finds it difficult to recover her competitive form. When she confides her concerns to Yu-rim during an online chat she volunteers to help and goes to the training centre regularly with her. Yu-rim is still in excellent shape because of her fencing school and easily defeats Hee-do. In a short practice bout, the score ends at eight to zero. Hee-do is devastated but Yu-rim is delighted, sweet revenge for an old sore. However, losing to Yu-rim frequently riles Hee-do and arouses her competitive spirit. She works furiously to get back into shape for competitions including the LA games. Regular bouts with Yu-rim enable her to monitor progress. Eventually they reach parity and Yu-rim declares that Hee-do is ready to take on the world, which she does winning gold in LA.
Concurrent with these activities, Ji Seung-wan bonds with Yi-jin’s brother, Yi-hyun, leading to a passionate and adventuresome relationship. Yi-jin frowns on their activities but can’t say too much as they are both aware of his secret connection with Hee-do. A beautiful wedding for Moon Ji-ung and Yu-rim with some special effects courtesy of the groom. He designs custom made clothes for his close friends attending the wedding.
Hee-do and Yi-jin continue to maintain absolute secrecy about their close relationship. They are both well-known public figures and register their marriage secretly in Jeju. She sometimes wears a wedding ring to indicate her marital status but refuses to reveal the identity of her partner. This situation continues through 2009 when she wins gold in LA. Question No. 5 that Yi-jin deleted from the list prepared for the interview was probably about her spouse. However, her unspoken comment during the interview reflected the reality of their relationship: ‘Wherever you are, I’ll make sure my support reaches you. I’ll take care of everything. See you then.’ That certainly sounds more like a statement from a life-partner than an old girlfriend from almost a decade earlier.
Hee-do’s daughter, Kim Min-chae is an important factor and her birth date can be deduced from indirect pieces of information. She is 15 and mentions that her school trip was cancelled this year because of Covid-19 restrictions. Thus, she must have been born in 2006 or 2007 at the latest. That would have given Hee-do just time to get back to the level of fitness and competitiveness required for the LA games in 2009.
We also learn that Min-chae is anxious to have her father back home. He is unable to come for short visits because of covid-19 quarantine rules in Korea and the country where he is posted. That gives a small clue to who and where her father is. Her online search also provides clues to his situation. She finds that there is an undefined connection between Yi-jin and Hee-do at the time of the LA games and there is a mention of ‘diplomatic tensions’ in his connection. This suggests that he may have become involved in diplomatic work. This could have led to an overseas posting at a time when Min-chae was too young to remember him and would explain why she doesn’t recognize him in a photo from 1998. Covid rules restricted travel to Korea from 2019 to early 2022. The quarantine rules have been relaxed so it is now possible for Yi-jin turn up as the father of Min-chae, reuniting the family and everyone, including many fans, will be happy.
With congratulations to all the performers in Twenty Five Twenty One, Series 1.
Beautifully executed.
JWP, August 14, 2022
I just watch this and I am devastated. These people pulled your heart’s string back and forth. A lot of open questions that will never know answered. It was so good for the first 15 episodes and so disappointing on the last one.