2521...the best of times, the worst of times

2521

When they loved the most. When they lost the most. When they grew the most.

I had a feeling when this drama was first introduced along with the actors that it would be special and I am not sure even my hunch knew how special this drama would be. I think I could write on this topic for hours on the specialness between the friends, the family, the romantic relationships and the platonic relationships.

I do have to laugh when I look back at all the theories and video fan theories and deep diving into screen caps and timelines that was done. If there was a Baeksang for Fans Who Excelled in theories it would be this one.

Hee Do and Yi Jin. First let's talk about the breakup. That was painful to watch but yet so real. No one said long distance was easy but as Hee Do stated, it wasn't right between them even before the US trip. It boils down to relationships are hard work and willingness to share and when you forget to share and you don't trust that the person you love is strong enough to bear your burdens, that's where the real breakup stems from. There is no question whether they loved each other. They actually had more types of love that most of us get. Friendship love. Family love. Romantic love. They had a support system and that support system was the basis of all their love and when that support system cracked it was inevitable they would as well.

Two lines stood out to me. So much so I had to stop watching and go get my laptop to write them down.

"It's just that this love isn't supporting me anymore."

"I couldn't see our future."

Tough, tough words but what powerful insight Hee Do had. I am proud of her for doing the hard things. Yes, they could have kept going on while he went to America and she on her competitions but it likely would have ended with far more regrets than it did. I was a bit mad with Yi Jin in that tunnel. He didn't seem to be listening to her. Listening to how emotionally exhausted Hee Do was by this. It's hard feeling like you are the only one sharing burdens. When they eliminated Yi Jin from covering fencing, I did think maybe this was the green light the relationship needed but that wasn't where their ultimate problem lay. It was all about needs and fulfilling needs and they just weren't the right people for each other to have those met.

I know there will be questions like why were Ji Woong and Yu Rim able to make it last and they were far more separated by distance than Hee Do and Yi Jin? Simple. Their burden of sharing was different. Their individual relationship needs weren't the same. It wasn't that they loved each other more or better. They just didn't need the same things.

I am so glad Yi Jin and Hee Do was able to have some sort of closure through the words in the diary. Yi Jin was able to read those words 15 years earlier than Hee Do and I think it was then that he realized just how hard it was for Hee Do and how distant he had been and he was able to write a response. Hee Do was able to move on from her regrets and had a life, child, family but it is never to late for wounds and regrets to heal and I am glad she got that even if it was years later.

Do I wish that Yi Jin would have been standing at the end of that tunnel waiting for adult Hee do? Yeah. I'm a romantic at heart but it wouldn't have made sense from the story the writer had laid out. The writer was very clear that this was a story where sometimes life isn't what you plan or what you want but you still have to live it. I think Hee Do is happy. I think Min Chae and her mom and I hope her husband provides her with all the love and support she needs.

I would have liked to have gotten a bit more insight into present day Yi Jin. He's not dead thankfully! Is he happy? Did he go on to find love? A family? For some reason I feel like as soon as he made the choice stay in America that he was choosing career over love/family which is fine. There is no set path for us in life. I think he's in love with his work. As long as Yi Jin is happy, I'm happy.

Nam Joo Hyuk is my actor. He's the one that rarely lets me down. I'm going to be so sad when he enlists later this year and I hope we get another project from him before he goes. Kim Ti Rae was the most believable teenager. The subtle changes she made in Hee Do as she got older was spot on. These roles were made for them and I am so glad we got them in it.

Friendship. What an amazing journey of friendships we had with this group. Yu Rim and Hee Do at the forefront. They really were each other's soulmates in so many ways. I don't know if adult Hee Do and Yu Rim are still friends. I would like to think they are. Unwavering support. Maybe they are those type friends that 20 years will pass and they met up and it's as if no time has passed at all? One thing I really appreciated about this drama was there were no mean girls. No bullying. Seung Wan in other dramas would have been a bully and in this drama she was the trendsetter. The one that stood up for rights and for those being bullied. I am glad she got to meet back up with Yi Jin's brother. I also appreciated the time given to Yu Rim and her success (back in Korea!) and with Ji Woong being just as successful. At times, I felt almost like a proud Mama.

Laughter. I didn't expect this drama to make me laugh as much as it did. I think I laughed more than I cried and I cried a lot. It's a testament to the writer for having that ability to have that duality of emotions so close together and making it work.

Another thing that struck me from a American point of view was 9/11. Up until that episode, I never once thought about the international impact. Sure, I knew NYC is one of the greatest melting pots but all I could focus on was the American souls. I am glad for 2521 for opening my eyes a bit and it now gives me even more perspective on that tragic day.

There are certain dramas that stick with you. This will be one of those for me. Not only for the story but for the discussions about it on social media, the new friends made during the journey, the wild theories that none proved true. In the end, it was a pretty simple and straightforward slice of life drama about the ups and downs of youth. One we will hold onto for a while, remember it fondly and as Hee Do says even though things may pass "one thing we can still have is memories."

Grade A+. Just perfect.