4 Things We Loved About The Premiere Of "Twenty Five, Twenty One"

With an all-star cast, there’s no reason left to wonder why tvN’s “Twenty Five, Twenty One” is a drama that has to be on your to-watch list. The story follows the relationship between Na Hee Do (Kim Tae Ri) and Baek Yi Jin (Nam Joo Hyuk), who first meet when they are 18 and 22 years old and reunite when they are 21 and 25 years old. The first two episodes were packed with comedy, new friendships, heartbreak, and intrigue. Keep reading to find out what we loved about it!

Warning: spoilers for the premiere episodes below.

LOVED: Na Hee Do’s determination

With such a talented actress portraying her, there was no doubt that Na Hee Do is going to be a character that fills up the screen in every scene she’s in. Her character is so great because of her never-ending determination. From deciding not to give up on fencing and trying to get arrested to transferring schools and finding the courage to talk to her mom, there’s never a dull moment with her.

Much like how Baek Yi Jin tells her, Na Hee Do is someone who sees what she can gain and not what she has lost. Kim Tae Ri’s acting really brings the character to life, and you can’t help but laugh and smile whenever she’s on the screen. She perfectly captures the essence and dramatics of what it’s like to be a teenager with a dream. If you just need one reason to watch this drama, let this be the one.

LOVED: The ambiguous relationship between Shin Jae Kyung and Yang Chan Mi

Perhaps the most intriguing scene of the first episode is when it’s revealed that Na Hee Do’s mom Shin Jae Kyung (Seo Jae Hee) has met with Coach Yang Chan Mi (Kim Hye Eun) to talk about Na Hee Do joining the fencing team. While it’s not fully explained, it’s clear that something caused a rift between these two women.

This is the most ambiguous relationship that the show presented within the first two episodes. Simply put, I just want to know what happened between these two. It feels like there’s a lot of baggage there, so hopefully, we’ll see how it’s explained later on.

LOVED: Na Hee Do and Go Yu Rim’s rivalry

Unlike Na Hee Do’s mom and her fencing coach, the relationship between Na Hee Do and Go Yu Rim (WJSN‘s Bona) is very clear. While they share an unbelievably cute umbrella scene where Na Hee Do is a starstruck fan, their relationship begins to creep into a rivalry as the episodes progress. Go Yu Rim is unwelcoming to Na Hee Do and becomes more jaded when she loses to Na Hee Do in a match during practice. The match scene, in particular, reveals their childhood connection where Go Yu Rim was too scared to fence against Na Hee Do and lost the match.

Their current setup has all the makings of a K-drama leading pair: a cute umbrella scene, getting off on the wrong foot, and a childhood connection. While the leads’ relationship is cute, this one also feels just as compelling. It will be interesting to see if they remain rivals for the rest of the show or if their relationship will develop past it.

LOVED: Na Hee Do telling Baek Yi Jin to be happy

Finally, there’s the blossoming relationship between Baek Yi Jin and Na Hee Do. Nam Joo Hyuk effortlessly portrays the mature emotions that Baek Yi Jin is feeling since he lost his family, fortune, and dreams overnight. While the character still has that boyish charm and gentlemanliness that Nam Joo Hyuk is known for portraying, Baek Yi Jin spends a lot of the first two episodes holding back his feelings and trying to atone for his father’s bankruptcy. The most heartbreaking scene of the drama is when he tells former employees of his father’s business that he will never be happy. Fortunately, Na Hee Do firmly tells him that he shouldn’t think this way and that he should live happily, even if it’s just a secret that they share together.

This scene shows how well these two balance each other out. While Baek Yi Jin is serious and seemingly shrouded in darkness, Na Hee Do seems to be the bright light at the end of the tunnel. It’s warm, comforting, and sets a strong foundation of friendship that will later blossom into romance as the drama progresses. And who doesn’t love a good story of friends to lovers?

Hey Soompiers! What did you think about the first two episodes of “Twenty Five, Twenty One”? Let us know in the comments below!

kaityv is a freelance writer and editor. In her spare time, she enjoys watching K-dramas and listening to BTS, Red Velvet, and other super talented artists.

Currently watching: “Twenty Five, Twenty One,” “Forecasting Love and Weather”
All-time favorite: “Strong Woman Do Bong Soon,” “Do You Like Brahms?”
Looking forward to: “Bite Sisters” with Kang Han Na, “Why Her?” “Thirty-Nine,” and “Soundtrack #1”