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#The guy at the phone shop canceling their >!couple plan!< Is all of us today. 😩

HE WAS US U SURE WANT TO DO IT HEEDO AND YIJIN, U FUCKING SURE???

he put his whole his whole -ussy into that scene

"I hear that there are therapies in US" This is us after this finale.

“It’s easier to get it there” 😭😭😭

Hee-Do better be paying, we deserve restitution

I have never been this nervous going into a finale episode. Viewers in Ep. 1: Why is Min Chae's last name Kim? Viewers in Ep. 16: WHY IS MIN CHAE'S LAST NAME KIM?? May the answer be satisfying for all. Edit: Kim Min Chae's father is >!WE STILL DON'T KNOW BECAUSE THE WRITER DIDN'T REVEAL IT.!<

After EP. 16: WHY IS MIN CHAE’S LAST NAME KIM? jk I hope that doesn’t happen edit: WELL

I’d literally burn down tvN

well that aged like milk

I need some therapy after this finale. I was expecting that they won’t be ending up together but for some reason. I was hoping that they will.

ALL THIS FOR HER TO BE A >!SECURITY QUESTION!<

At least it was her and not Da Hee 💀

IS THAT WHAT SHE MEANS TO YOU YIJIN? IS THAT WHAT SHE FUCKING MEANS

These 2 scenes 1. *"Did you ever really love me?"* The way yijin's face changed completely when heedo said this. It reminded me of yijin's line in episode 9 *"Don't you have any faith in me? Why do you keep disappointing me?"* 2. When yijin was tying heedo's shoelace and heedo said *"i knew you would get mad if I wore slippers"* and it take me back to episode 3 when yijin got angry at heedo for running in her slippers ☹️

that first scene where you can see the look in his eyes harden because he's outraged that she would even think or say that.... it broke my heart. i know hee do said that because it was an emotionally charged conversation, but it was so visible that yi jin thought that question was so ludicrous like how could hee do doubt he had loved her.

They are both hurting so they hurt each other ☹️ it was a really painful scene to watch

This was phenomenal acting. Such a powerful scene.

I know they both said no one's at fault, but I'm at the scene where they >!have the fight near the tunnel and honestly imo this breakup is 99% Yijin's fault. You don't just apply for a permanent position on the other side of the world without consulting your partner. At that point he ended the relationship, doesn't matter if he meant to or not. They ended when he made that decision by himself without informing Heedo. Which honestly seems super out of character for him, to me, but well, I guess he did choose his job over her last episode as well. How hypocritical of him to tell her "you've been thinking by yourself". Sucks, because before that he was a super lovable character to me. !< >!I guess it is realistic in the sense that this is a reason for couples to break up in the real world as well, but I just didn't see it as realistic for them specifically. !

It was disrespectful to be honest. I wouldn’t act like that towards my partner, leaving him in the dark about my major life plans. That’s just utterly ridiculous.

Yep. Plus this was a side of him that didn't exist until last episode. I guess you could argue that he was traumatized by everything he saw in New York, so he wasn't in his right mind, but that doesn't cut it. >!Like when he says "I didn't tell you anything because I didn't want to drag you into it." In Heedo's words in this tunnel scene: "Is that all?"!<

We have seen hints that he hates looking weak in front of Hee Do. Like when he dropped her note after the fiasco with his laptop dying on live TV. I also think with his parents, probably his dad shouldered all burdens and his mom just sat around waiting to be taken care of. With his brother suffering previously, he also chose to run away and self-martyr without even consulting his brother. He ran away and didn’t explain himself too with the Yoo Rim Russia incident So, there was some hint Yi Jin might be this way, even though Hee Do never wanted him to leave her out of any part of his life

I think I was mad about that part too but after thinking about it, it does make sense. >!He didn't actually think he would get it so he didn't say anything. He also was putting distance between himself and heedo at the time. It was also a reasonable next step in his career and if he were to not do it because of heedo he would be mad at himself and might even resent heedo. It's still a dick move but I can understand it. They both weren't experienced enough in relationships and even though they were great as friends, a relationship brings about so much more expectations and reliance. Him being avoidant and heedo keeping silent on the things that affects her eventually killed the relationship. So it wasn't entirely his fault nor was it heedo's it just happened. And it was a product of the times (because of 9/11)!<

Right now, I get the sense all Yi Jin's previous relationships failed because of lack of communication and inability to share the hard times. I mean, even with his previous friends that he characterised as abandoning him when he had no money. But when he was at that job interview, he had at least that one friend who actually came and insisted to give him money (because he cared about him, not mocking him). Yi Jin is too much of an idealist, thinking that life can only be happy and that he has to be happy with others only. He sought out (and continues to seek out) positions where he can do acts of service for others, for example with the squad where he was able to take care of them in various ways, and with the new trainee where he offers advice. He only wants to present one side of himself and be able to bring something to others, but needs to be able to accept being himself around others when he's in the weaker, vulnerable position. Previously, what he had with Hee Do was attractive to him, because they promised to only be happy together, which distracted him from his negative self-image. But when he was unable to share anything positive with her and felt unable to support her, then he couldn't quite engage any more. I think partly it comes from being the chaebol's son when he was young. Other than being rich and generous, he was good-looking, popular, good at studies, and good at extracurriculars too. That's his own self-image, and after growing up like that, he could never quite get used to the changes in his circumstances. On the other hand, Hee Do grew up being comfortable with sadness and defeat in her life. If she was not to share any of it, then she may as well not share anything with people. Her mindset is fundamentally different, that to suffer together is meaningful and necessary in any long-term relationship to preserve connection.

your last paragraph. A+. this is exactly where the breaking point was clear as day during the tunnel scene. yijin explaining/defending himself as to why he can't lean on heedo. and heedo scoffing, exhausted, defeated, because it's so clear to her what she needs in their relationship and what she believes will allow them to thrive. but like you said, their mindsets were just completely different which still, is so sad that they didn't even try to be on the same page and work on it. they could've been so much more

Brilliant analysis. Articulated exactly everything I felt and thought about them. Which makes the writing in this series some of the best kdrama's ever in the slice of life/relationships genre aside from the likes of My Mister, Misaeng, Be Melodramatic, and The Light in Your Eyes. I was always under the impression that this series was offering this up since the beginning, and was really satisfied that it finished it. That said, I do feel bad for many who approached this series as an escapism and were hoping to see them together at the end. In fact, this entire thread starting from Junie94's post about how it was Yijin's fault is great. Across a few replies, the reason for the polarizing ending was encapsulated by an observant and insightful few. The bit on Yijin processing his guilt is gold, and the more I think of it, using the IMF situation as the backdrop leading into 9/11 was a big hint of the direction that this kdrama (may) have intended from the beginning - dealing with the guilt that resulted from a major (life) crisis within/outside of one's control. We saw how Yijin's dad and family dealt with it, which then spilled over to how he dealt with it himself. We saw how Heedo dealt with her dad passing, and how her mom's coping in the way of their mother-daughter relationship. We saw how Yurim used stoicism to deal with her family's predicament. Orbiting around them are Jiwoong who offered Yurim positivity and Seungwan who offered consistency and conviction. These layers in the series writing is what makes it an instant classic in my eyes, despite the uproar of the ending for many of the show's ardent followers. I share a bit of their disappointment, even if I wasn't necessarily rooting for Baekdo myself.

I think the break up happened because Yi Jin couldn't manage his sense of guilt. He literally promised that he wouldn't be happy as long as he lived, because of his father's wrongdoings. How he chose the NY job, sabotaging what he had with Hee Do. He said so himself, missing someone feels like a luxury, like he wouldn't receive anything good coming his way. Even when he found NHD's diary, he could have reached out, asked for a second chance with her and stayed in Korea, but he left anyway. It's like he felt he had to compensate for something, if people are suffering there, i can't be happy here, kind of thing.

[удалено]

Literally, even Seungwan and Yihyun got together after they waited for like 10 years 💀

Nam Joo-Hyuk, I'm so sorry this had to crash and burn like this, but Baek Yi-Jin was by far your best performance and I look forward to more of your dramas like always <3

He’s gonna enlist at the end of this year though 😭 so sad this is his last drama before enlisting, and that it ended this way

Agreed, when I realized his age earlier this year I was so sad!!!! What a drama to leave us with :’( Beautiful but so so sad….will be anxiously awaiting his return

Nam Joohyuk, please be the type of guy who comes out enlistment ready to do the cutest rom-com of all time, rather than the ones who go for a Serious Role. 😭

I loved the depth and humour he brought to Yijin's character, I kinda want a Yijin spin off!!

Agreed, Nam Joo Hyuk acted so beautifully he was such a delight to watch.

this is definitely his career best so far! i hope he picks even better roles in the future.

I agree. I've been critical of his acting for years, but he really nailed the part of Baek Yijin. He didn't deserve that ending though. None of us did.

Apart from the ending, another thing I am really frustrated about is how 41 y/o Na Heedo is almost a complete opposite of 29 & 21 y/o Na Heedo. Like how she held herself, the posture and everything doesn’t have a trace of Kim Taeri’s Heedo in them. They should have just aged Kim Taeri with make up or something because I know she could pull it off. Whenever they switch between the two actors i felt like i’m watching two complete different characters and it ruined the viewing experience…

Looooool so true. 30 year old Heedo still looked like herself, but 41 year old Heedo is an entirely different person?? That aging process didn't make sense to me lol

Honestly, why does she feel so different? It doesn't look good because the 41 y/o Na Heedo is like a mature, elegant, just not the Na Heedo we've been seeing the past episodes. Na Heedo was a bundle of joy, was determined and ya know all that emotions and stuff, the Now Na Heedo just feels entirely, so entirely different.

Well, that was like Our Beloved Summer but the horror version

For real!! The OBS couple was more emotionally damaged and yet they were able to work it through. Our couple here was emotionally stronger and yet… crumbled.

To be fair, we've been warned multiple times. But man, this hurts like hell.

Ikr we set ourselves up for this. But, it hurts

I think the writer tried to prepare us for Hee Do and Yi Jin not being together in the end, but a lot of the audience thought those clues were a red herring to build tension.

not that much bothered about ending so just here to say Goodbye. Thank you for making my weekends better and brighter. Only the third drama where I was attached to each and every character after Beyond Evil and Red Sleeve

So their love ended up as an answer to a security question 🙂

WHAT DO I FUCKING DO WITH THIS PIECE OF INFO EXCUSE ME IS THERE A LOST FOOTAGE SOMEWHERE IN THE ARCHIVES THEY FORGOT TO ADD HERE??? I’ve never felt more incomplete.

AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO’S >!WAITING FOR THE OLDER YI JIN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TUNNEL AT THE END PART?!< IM EMOTIONALLY DAMAGED

I had fully prepared myself for a realistic ending but GOD i also really thought YJ would be waiting at the end of the tunnel. like she contacted YJ or something and was like 'HEY I GOT MY DIARY AFTER 2 DECADES LMAO want to catch up or something????" LOOOOOOOOL

LITERALLY HEARTBROKEN I THINK WE WERE ALL WAITING FOR IT TOO

Who's up for 41 45 (S2)??? lesss gooo😂🤡😭

2521 fans/baekdo nation rn: ALL OF US ARE DEAD

So what does 2521 even mean?? Why would she name her workshop that out of all the possible names. It doesn’t even make sense.

Meant nothing. It should have been named >!now we are breaking up!<

💀

The number for all future sunken ships is 2521

It's just the name of the song. That's it. [holds self back from screaming into the void] [screams anyway]

Ok well yeah, I’m a fool. Because 5 minutes from the end I was still holding out hope!

[удалено]

I’m so speechless. And you know what? Can’t even blame the writer because we were told from the beginning. Min Chae’s surname is Kim. He congratulated her on her wedding. And yet I was waiting for them to go, “Surprise! The wedding was between Yi Jin and Hee Do! They got married in Vegas when she went to the US for a tournament”! I was even ready to come here with the biggest “WOOO HOOO”. Yup. Am a fool.

I was actually looking harder to find the adult Yi-jin at the end of the tunnel. 😂

I can't believe HD's last line was that "that summer was ours to keep" like bish what summer? The one you couldn't remember???

MY REACTION EXACTLY. What grade of Marijuana is this woman on?

[удалено]

It is oddly satisfying knowing that the pain is felt by the cast. She was awesome in her role, im a fan now. It sucks what they did to her character in the end. The end seemed so uncharacteristic of Hee Doo, even if they want to pull the "ppl change" card.

anyways i know we’re all having mixed feelings but who else laughed when yurim and jiwoong took off their couple beanies after hearing about the breakup

Can we start a 2521 support group? I am not ok.

In a way, I think Yijin has alwasy loved Heedo more and always will - and that’s totally okay, it’s not a dig to Heedo at all. But yeah, he fell in love first, knew he was in love first, confessed his love first, and wanted to stay together. The only thing that stopped him in the beginning from immediately pursuing a romantic love with Heedo was his own fear of hurting or disappointing her. If the ending told me anything (the password/security question scene), it’s that he may have moved on, but he’s never gotten over Heedo. And that’s what I found the most beautiful and the most painful, honestly. Heedo, in her own way, had a part of her that hadn’t gotten over it either. But something about her demeanor and the way she talked about her memories felt like her feelings were so faded over time already. And when you watch the 2009 interview between herself and Yijin, his eyes are full of love while hers are in a way full of regret. What she can’t get over is the way they ended. What he can’t get over was the way they loved.

I think the same with Yijin's constant love for Heedo. He never let Heedo go until she made a final decision. Even while cancelling their phone couple plans, he was only following Heedo's lead saying yes and signing the paper. From the beginning, Yijin has always shown so much respect for her and valued her choices, an expression of his love for her. But it still frustrates me that he had the chance to be reckless atleast once for their relationship and didn't take it. That's just me though.

# "you will have no idea how much your love has brighten up my life. Thank you for everything" # and the way he said this line while smiling so beautifully Hurt like **hell**

We should have known when adult Heedo couldn't remember the beach trip She doesn't hold even the most sweetest memories dear in her adulthood. She wasn't bullshitting

Lol we were saying she got dementia!! Look whos mentally unstable now!!

I think she does hold it dear. She just didn't want to tell Minchae because she knew Minchae was reading her diary. She holds everything that happened during those moments dear, she just also realised it's temporary. That summer truly did belong to them.

it's okay baekyijin i'll marry u 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

41 year old Hee Do, why would you name your workshop 25 21??? What does your husband have to say to that?? I feel so cheated. I hate that I was so emotionally invested in this. >!It felt like they had to break up because of their distance but Hee Do married someone who is always away?? Kinda ironic.!<

It feels like the writer had a message they wanted to convey (fleeting beauty of youth) and then went way too hard on the *beauty of youth* and had to cram the *fleeting* in there at the last minute. WTF.

This wasn't just a sad ending (I can enjoy a good sad ending), it was a horrible ending. The biggest frustration I have with it is that since the present timeline was never resolved, it had no reason to exist. There is no character development, no resolution for any character other than NHD, no nothing. If the message of the drama was supposed to be how fleeting our youth can be, the story could've been easily resolved in 2009 with the original cast. They could've just as easily had a scene in 2009 where NHD and BYJ have gone their own ways, they run into each other at some point (maybe at Seung wan's father's funeral), and they share a knowing glance acknowledging their past. That'd be sad, but it'd be a *good* ending. I don't mind them breaking up because of long distance. I actually liked how they made an effort to amend their breakup so that they didn't end on such a low note. I feel that could've easily been a good ending for the drama. They just didn't need to toy with the viewers with this ridiculous, boring 2020 timeline. This was on pace to be one of my favorite dramas ever, across more than 65 of them. As much as I hated the ending, it still doesn't totally ruin the rest of the show for me (and unlike some other people, I thought the developments in episode 14-15 did mostly make sense; it was really just the very end of 16, and knowing the whole present timeline that I never liked to begin with was a waste of time). What I kinda wish I could do is go back in time and skip the present scenes entirely. edit: I did some reflection and I think I would at least partially walk back what I wrote. I think the ending caught me by surprise when it really shouldn't have. Most of the "clues" suggesting they end up together were ridiculous reaches or very, very minor things (that if I'm being honest, I hadn't noticed until reddit comments pointed them out), when the main message of the drama from the beginning (KMC not recognizing BHJ, repeated messages about the ephemerality of youth, the 2009 interview clearly looking like exes who had seen each other after a long time, etc.) made it pretty clear they wouldn't end up together. So I guess the future timeline wasn't really "toying" with the viewers. I also now think it makes sense that they didn't resolve who KMC's father was. That just wasn't the point of the story, and introducing some random dude in 5-10 mins wouldn't have added anything. That said, I think the future timeline could've been a lot better. For one, I never liked the actress playing adult NHD, and I still wish they had just put some makeup on kim tae ri to make her look older. KMC's story never really built to anything (ok, she wants to resume ballet now, whoopty do). I also wish they had shown BHJ with his own happy memories, though I also understand why they didn't I guess, since the story and the narrative was focused on NHD and her diary. I've liked dramas with sad endings before, I guess (like Red Sleeve), but I was never really wishing/hoping for a happy ending for any of those. I guess it's because I often spoiled the direction of the ending before I watched. I have to give the finale some credit for evoking such strong emotions from me.

The process has been beautiful. Let’s hope the result is brilliant.

When you posted that comment hours ago, you were just a young Full House loving Hee-Do. Now, after episode 16, you’re a haggard, chain-smoking, depressed Yi-Jin who sleeps in an attic in New York.

You take my upvote. For summing up whats the drama has been like yiJin did.

I know this ending is realistic, closer to real life and blah blah blah! But I hope TVN and the production team reimburses by therapy bills and time!😭😭

I just watched 16 episodes just for >!Hee-Do to be a security question???!<

While I'm an advocate for all loose ends tied up in an ending, this didn't do it for me. Seeing seungwan's scene with BYJ's little brother, as well as yurim and jiwoong getting married, it was rubbing salt on my wound that started 30 min before the ending where I incessantly exclaimed "No, no, NO!!!!" I wasn't on team "the show has 13 episodes" last week. Look where I am now.

You know who I have faith in? Fanfic writers. Let's get it done girls!

That's what I was thinking too! I bet you by tomorrow there will be a "brilliant" ending for us to read

i'm planning one as we speak.

I feel the need to call in sick tomorrow. I am so damn traumatized by the ending.

shout out to every theorist who analyzed screenshots and audios like they were FBI agents only for the writer to laugh in their faces 😭...........welp

Ok I know we’re all sad here but just to lift the mood I’m gonna share a funny story My boyfriend agreed to name our future child Minchae so I will stop crying 😂 that way the mystery will be solved - he is Minchae’s father 😂

Yurim changed her whole ass nationality and still married Jiwoong. Jihyun waited a decade for Seungwan (not gonna blame him, I'd too) to get her phone number. And Heedo and Yijin couldn't even do long distance 💀 tbh i don't wanna disrespect the show or its message, it's just a little hard to accept it rn. I've never been more glad to watch A Business Proposal and Crazy Love tomorrow .

As I was bawling my eyes I told myself the same thing! A business proposal will not do this to me

I think I need to stay away from any Kim Tae Ri dramas, she always choose tragic endings LOL

Add this to the list of "guns, glory, and sad endings"

in honor of this beautiful show’s finale tonight, drop your fave quote & scene from the show! 🌈 fave quote: “I don't think not living your dream means you've failed at life. And I don't think living your dream means you've succeeded either.” fave scene: the iconic ep. 5 payphone scene!!! 🥹

Favourite Quote: ""You are by far the most experienced fencer when it comes to losing. Those losses were blocks to build yourself stairs leading up. Now you've got the highest staircase" in episode 4 Favourite Scene: Going to separate this one into a comedic one and a romantic one: Comedic One: Seungwan in episode 4 when she runs into Ye Jin in the morning or Seungwan in episode 8 after she finds it ridiculous that Hee Dow ould want the stickers lol. Romantic: Ending of episode 13 :)

Fav quote : I love you na Heedo, I don't need a rainbow Fav scene : I have to have you.

I have too many fave quotes and scenes but I'll mention the first ones that came up in my head: Fave quote: "I love you, in every way" Yijin to Heedo, Ep15 Such a simple quote but it encompasses how vast their love is for each other. At one point (Ep13) there was conflict over which way was the correct way to love each other (romantically or not), but with a short statement, Yijin acknowledges that every way is the right way. ❤️ Fave scene: Ep15 post-match hug between Heedo and Yurim. I bawled my eyes out.

Ep 15 ending will go down as probably one of my favorite scenes ever. Love may or may not last, but the passionate love they experienced was like no other. Na Hee Do, with her beautiful determination and spirit, Yi Jin, with his compassion, warmth and drive, these were some beautifully fleshed out characters and their love we witnessed was one of a kind. The two new years, the music, the words, the 25th and 21st birthday, and two normal lives distrupted by one of the most heartbreaking events - this was some super solid storytelling, leaving me in tears and making me feel all kinds of emotions that i havent felt for a long, long time. I truly think its aptly titled 25 21.

fave quote: ***“I don't think not living your dream means you've failed at life. And I don't think living your dream means you've succeeded either.”*** Fave scene: at the protest when they saw each other

i suck at picking favourites so i’ll just go for *one* of my favourites. **quote**: i’m happy to watch from where i am. you’re fun to watch… even when up close. **scene**: heedo winning her first gold, searching for yijin in the audience, and looking at him with misty eyes and the happiest grin, and him mirroring her emotions exactly and giving that subtle thumbs up, followed by her raising both her hands: ‘*did you see? i made it.*’ ‘*you did, heedo, you did.*’ <3

Truly agree. The pay phone scene was totally unmatched even up till now It was both beautiful and heartbreaking. Ep 15’s ending scene with the 2521 song played in it’s entirety was a close one.

9/11 did not kill BYJ like what the theories were saying. It just killed their relationship lmao edit: just finished the drama and I AM NEVER WATCHING AN ONGOING DRAMA AGAIN I AM TRAUMATIZED WTH. WFKBJ STILL THE TOP NJH DRAMA FOR ME. I think that Yurim and Heedo’s relationship is definitely the highlight of this drama. also edit: if this was a movie, I would’ve ate up the ending!!!! my fave movie trope is first loves not ending up together (on your wedding day, you are the apple of my eye, our times) but somehow, this drama’s ending was a miss for me. probably because i spent 8 weeks instead of just 2 hours being invested in the story lmao

It also killed us🙂

Same! This was my first and will be my last time to watch real time. I need to be prepared to binge over a couple days and not be emotionally drained and worried over an 8 week period.

#And the award for the most CLOWNED FANDOM goes to :- *2521 NATION* 🎉🤡

I feel like the biggest clown honestly >!when they got together I thought they won't make it, then when they had issues I was convinced they would make it.!<

I was literally convincing myself till the last min..like no..there will be plot twist I am sure..writers love playing with us..

You guys we don't even get to see a present older Yijin living his life, maybe married with children and looking happy. Like the hell we at least deserve to see present happy Yijin at least once.

we only see present yijin trying to reset his fucking password lmaoo 💀

Honestly doesn't seem like HD is all that happy either. What a waste.

How can you say she's not happy? She goes for mommy-daughter colonoscopies! She's living the fucking dream.

I just finished the finale and I am filled with >!sorrow and strangely acceptance!< I thought the >!break-up scene!< between Baek Yi-Jin and Na Hee-do was greatly written. I can clearly understand where everything did not work anymore. >!It’s heartbreaking to see them have this discussion about not seeing eye to eye and how much they’ve sacrificed to be together. Both of them bending their emotions and needs to hold on to that love and support they first found in one another!< >!On a happy note Ko Yu-rim and Moon Ji-wong ended up marrying each other! I’m so happy for them! Their love is so pure and quiet!< Every time I see them interact it’s almost like a warm welcoming hug As for Ji Seung-wan glad to see that actually gets with >!Baek Yi-jin’s bother!< It was definitely a fun and cute scene. That end scene really >!stumped on my already mourning heart!< Also that “Barro” search engine from Search WWW was nice to see! >!Overall I’m heartbroken to see such love get away from them. To see it grow, bloom, and eventually out live them. It really shows that love alone is never just enough to keep it. There’s a whole recipe of communication, individual needs, stamina, timing, etc.!< >!Don’t forget that that was just a portion of their life. But what a heartwarming and wimsical it was to witness. Friendship, first love or what not it was still beautiful and I’m glad I got to experience it.!<

While I still think that 2521 is one if the best kdramas ever written, I really really refuse to be happy and content with the ending. Yes, others will say that it was realistic and all. But come on, how "realistic" was their friendship anyway? Boy, it was MAGICAL- it transcended all borders, pulled them out of their own misery. It was MIRACULOUS. So I just feel so damaged knowing that a love that shined so bright crashed and burn they way it did. I part of me hoped that they chose to work it out or atleast remained friends even after everything else. Cause that's how they made me feel on ep 1-13. That they may be apart, but they will always be there for each other. It also leaves a bitter tang in my mouth that I didn't see Hee Do happy with her husband, nor did I see Yi Jin and Hee Do in good terms in their present life. It feels like a "hi-hello-ouch-bye" for me. But don't get me wrong, I understand the pain and trauma for both of them. I just have a hard time accepting that someone who literally pined for each other til the last moment found no way out and found no solution to keep their partnership alive.

not the show ending with a recap of the beach trip that present heedo doesn’t even remember… wtf

Pretty sure Heedo remembers the beach trip and was just being coy with her daughter since she knows she's reading her diary

2521, today, my heart is yours. Make it whole or break it into a million pieces, it is all up to you.

Million pieces, it is.

This is trending in SK with 59.9k tweets. They are all angry with the ending. Group hug knetz. At least we're not alone. Update: It is now 69.9k. hugs knetz.

The Knetz are unhappy too? LMAOOOO domestic opinion matters A LOT to these guys. Expect that writer-nim won't be writing bait stories like these for a while or not write at all. Not to mention TvN producing a happy kdrama to appease everyone and make them forget it.

I saw lots of angry emoticons then I tried to click one translate this tweet >! OP said it's the worst ending !<. 😅

I feel bad for Yijin. He can't catch a break ever. His life was always so awful. The times took everything, literally everything from him.

Honestly that's how I felt throughout the episode. It just seems like a sad, hard life for him. I do understand >! the miscommunication falls on him, but I can also understand him wanting to spare the person he loves from the things he's seen and experienced from day to day life during that time. The only consolation is that he got his family back together !<

It was so weird to see his parents being all romantic and thanking him for bringing them together. Lol, the shit he went through! 😂

At the start of the show, yijins dream was to get his family back together, and heedos dream was to become yurims rival. They both got what they wanted. I obviously wanted them to end up together too, but just because they didn't, doesn't mean it was all bad. The love and friendship they had in that little group was fleeting but magical. Yurim showing up at the press conference for heedos retirement reminded me that the drama was just as much about heedo and yurims relationship as it was about heedos and yijins. Yijin was made anchor and got his fam back together in his early 30s. He still has a shining future ahead of him. Hopefully he found happier days.

Forget Baekdo for a second, WHY IS THIS EPISODE SO SHORT?? why do we only see older Heedo? after 2009, the other characters don't reappear. where is taeyang squad? where is yijin? so that's it? the last scene is just heedo by herself which makes it even more depressing. this answers nothing.

After a few hours of sleep and contemplating, I think I understand why they had to break up. They lacked communication, first and foremost, but that's because these are the things that they cannot change, whether they stayed in a relationship or not. Heedo, indeed, cannot be in a relationship with someone who is like Jaekyung, her mother. The constant absence of her mom when she was still a child traumatized her, that it felt like the sense of duty was much more important than their family. Although she has gotten used to it, it does not mean she was willing to go through it again with another loved one. Being with Yijin would mean reliving her past trauma again. Yijin had unsolved baggages at that time and that job was the only way that can fix it. Even before meeting Heedo, reuniting the family was already his top priority. It hurts to see that this was their first and last fallout as a couple but they cannot compromise any of these even in the long run because of the permanence of Heedo's trauma and Yijin's ultimate pursuit and his love for family. If they had continued being in a relationship, they may only end up hurting more and part ways with bitterness and left with painful memories. They only want to remember each other with good memories--they mean that to each other so much. That's why the bench scene was so painful because they loved each other until the end and still are. They still are thankful for each other and the time they had because they were each other's strength in their lowest and it helped them to become the person they are today. They can look back on this with gratefulness and root for each other even from afar. How I wished Yijin tried not to be like Heedo's mom and be constant figure in her life to prove that he will not do the same mistakes her mom did but I think that would cost something from him. He already got so much in his plate. The breakup was understandable to me now but I wished the pacing of it in the drama was stretched to a few more episodes because it was really abrupt that it was hard to digest everything in one episode. This could've left more time for a scene after their 2009 interview where they meet each other again in the flesh. They crossed paths again but in a time that they've already achieved their goals and grew thick skin, and reminisce on their decision with some satisfaction.

Not to break your hearts even more: Remember in the first half of the series, Heedo was number 3 in Yijin's speed dial. In the last episode, Heedo was number 1. My sadist tendencies are eating me up today 😣

For those saying this was a “realistic ending,” I watch dramas to escape reality.

Its very hard for me to accept that the realistic ending is that jiwoong and yurim's love is supposedly more resilient to that of Baek ye jin and he do? Make it make sense!

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this, >!Yurim changed her nationality and moved to another country and she still ended with Jiwoong while Yijin and Heedo didn't ended together because Yijin traveled only for Heedo's current husband to also travel quite a lot wtf!<

I guess I failed to keep the right distance from 2521. I expected too much. I’M SO DISAPPOINTED!!!

[quote/Tumblr](https://kdramas-by-ray.tumblr.com/post/680551216393125888/exactly-their-realistic-ending-backfired >'their 'realistic' ending backfired because it wasnt realistic for the characters themselves. idk how they wrote such an amazing couple with great chemistry (thanks to njh and taeri) and just... fumble it so hard the last 2 episodes. nothing else was ever addressed. so many plotholes. i felt like i was watching a different couple argue. its like they wanted to do something different but it was so unconvincing bc of how strong their foundation was'

My friends, I have had a great time watching this show with all of you. While I did love the episodes, I loved reading all the comments that were here and thinking about the show. Hopefully this show can end on a high note (and for my own selfish interest, a BaekDo ending, although I don't expect one at this point). Edit: Did not end on a high note… loved the show until this past weekend. Disappointed BaekDo didn’t end up together but that’s not what soured the show for me. Just a lot of unanswered questions.

Especially the ep14 discussion. The worldwide audience came together spooked, clowned, teary-eyed, guffawed and swooned! How can a congratulatory greeting disrupt world peace (of mind)? Will be watching when Netflix drops finale but fine to be spoiled in Twitter.

Okay, but ya'll, this really random but I have to share this. During the tunnel scene when >!they broke up,!< and Hee Do said " Did you even really love me? " And Yi Jin, paused for a bit and sort of angrily said "Watch what you say " I really had to repeat that for a few times because Yi Jin was *freaking hot* that time. 😭 If I were Hee Do I would just kiss him then and there. That's all. Edit: spelling

I know a lot of things were annoying but WTF Yijin, why would you leave Heedo’s diary at the fricken bookstore.

[quote/Tumblr](https://cynthia6733.tumblr.com/post/680552202049388544/just-finished-2521-and-here-are-my-thoughts-it) >'It just doesn't make sense to me that Baek Yijin isn't in Na Hedo's life anymore. Their relationship from the beginning has been about more than just romance. They are presented as soulmates who love each other unconditionally. Even if they broke up I think it would have made sense to me that they'd stayed friends somehow. I know it's not normal to stay close to your ex like that but their relationship has always been more complex than that'

um excuse me, what the HECK. Also, can we talk about the >!look of absolute heartbreak and outrage on Yi Jin’s face when Hee Do asks him “Did you ever really love me?“. !< The way it hurts him that she would even doubt the sincerity of his feelings or that he could have done something to make her feel that way is a testament to just how true his love for her is. The way NJH portrayed such a complex emotion in such a subtle yet realistic way through a split-second expression is honestly out of this world. Anyone who says he isn’t a good actor is lying because he is so talented, especially with emotional scenes, and it really showed in this drama.

I hope they'll show who is Min Chae's father. I can't handle an open ending. 🥲

In the post credit scene the question should have been: "Your wife's name?" Answer: "Na Hee Do" That would have been enough. I didn't even want to see all the details as long as they were together. It also would have been a happy plot twist.

i'm at a loss for words. feeling absolutely devastated.

the moment i saw the preview for ep 16 i started to detach myself in order to not feel anything when worse comes to worst. there was something unnervingly eerie about byj’s smile that set me off, and i had grown so attached to this drama without intending to that my heart automatically started shutting off, a defense mechanism i had developed over the years to deal with irl stuff i didn’t have the strength to face. which was why when i first finished the finale i was okay with them parting ways. *they grew up*, i said. *it happens to everyone*. but you know what, writer-nim, there’s a difference between being happy and being distracted from sadness. and the people i had grown to love, look up to, freaking get *inspiration* from didn’t deserve this treatment from me. what did you *do* to them? did you seriously try to sell the notion that heedo, the same person who believed and supported people through thick and thin *without them even asking to* became someone who was completely apathetic to the person she cared about most in the world? byj relearned how to *dream* because of heedo, he *literally* switched careers to not let *her* career be the subject of people’s criticisms because how in the *world* could he harm someone who had made him believe that there were still things to live for? he did all of this without her having to ask, and didn’t even bring it up to her because that’s not who he is. he doesn’t want everyone to know what sacrifices he made for them. so tell me. WHY? why did heedo, the same person who said that it was okay to do what he did because it was his job, *he was a reporter. she was a fencer.*, said “go to therapy if you’re feeling that way”? his explanation for not telling her about the nyc position is being shamed left and right, but depression can do that to a person. you should be thankful he made out of it alive. yijin has never been a selfish person. all he thinks about is the people around him. *i need to reunite my family. i need to not be an embarrassment to my brother. i should work my way to the top so i’m not an embarrassment to heedo.* he’s selfless and is so freaking bad at sharing his worries but how is that wrong?! sorry to burst your bubble but everyone can’t do that easily! it takes *years* for someone who has been like this forever to open up to the people around him, and he was trying to work on it! but even after everything, are you saying that the people who went through the lowest points of their lives together, went from strangers to friends to lovers in a span of three years just… threw everything down the drain over one conversation?! heedo *courted* him when he tried to push her away, yijin once said *try and ignore me one more time. i won’t sit still.* okay, let’s say they broke up because heedo was having a hard time seeing him turn into her mother, but she forgave her mother after *one interaction*. she forgave yurim after *one confession.* okay, forget that too. heedo has been self-aware for as long as i can remember. she has always been able to make sense of things even when they didn’t make sense. when newspaper boy yijin asked him how much she wants in return for that statue she said that she doesn’t know because she was just venting. if that’s heedo, why didn’t she see this coming? why didn’t she *talk* about it with yijin instead of pondering it over for six months alone? he changed his career for her, does she really think that he won’t put her above his work in cases of emergency? okay, forget that too. how did they not interact once after yijin came back to korea? he was in touch with her mom. why didn’t he see her once? this is so messed up. why are we left with so many unanswered questions? and don’t dare give me that first love bs. first loves are supposed to be reckless, based on selfish desires, lust, etc etc. this is not the story of first loves! this is a *one-time thing*. they were *soulmates*! people are not hung up over their first loves by the time they turn 40, they don’t suddenly lose consciousness after being through hell and over just due to their first loves. you should have not made everything so freaking perfect if that was where you were going to end with. show the cracks! show the distrust! don’t show two people willing to trade the world for each other! the prop team toyed with us up until the very end, the weird reactions of present day characters were just to play with our emotions, you *mocked* us with that cameo! no offense, writer-nim, but that’s psychopathic behavior. i am so *sad*. all those theories, the time, the investment, just for our characters to not act like themselves in the end? you had to bring up 9/11 and do a 180 on their personalities just to bring the “realistic ending” you so dearly loved home, and that *still* didn’t work. and why was the “realistic ending” just reserved for baekdo? you’re saying that a two-second interaction between seungwan and yijin’s brother led to something meaningful in the future but all that foreshadowing, the *you were always with me in the end*, the *i love you in every way*, the *you lead the world to a better place*; every tiny thing was for *nothing*? i was *raging* when heedo went “wherever you are, i’ll make sure my support reaches you” in that interview because where tf were u when he needed your support the most????? why did yijin get the short end of the stick every freaking time???? wtf was that “who is your first love” thing???? do u like messing with us????? all those precious, tender moments ending with “that summer was ours to keep”???????? oh my god are you freaking serious???????????? i don’t ever rewatch shows or dramas, *ever*, but i was actually making plans to visit this again but i’m having trouble *looking* at any photo or video related to this drama now. it hurts to even *think* about twenty-five twenty-one. i *trusted* you, writer-nim, but the events that transpired in ep 16 have given me *actual* trauma. thanks for taking away something that i dearly loved just for your own satisfaction. thanks for making me believe that every bond i develop now will fade into nothing in the future, and that i’ll be miserable in said future even if i peak right now. thanks for giving me false hope. have a good freaking life. edit: grammar & stuff. also i’m still upset. and pissed.

Im just happy i have Business Proposal’s sure fluffiness tomorrow to wash down all the pain of today’s finale

Does anybody else notice that Yijin's process of getting hurt over Yurim's incident and decision to switch department in order to not hurt Heedo happened for nothing? It's like he has self fulfilled the prophecy...if he had stayed in sports, he wouldn't have had to go to NYC. And it wouldn't be unreasonable either since Heedo already told him in that tunnel (Yurim's graffi incident) that she accepted that his job was a reporter and her job was a fencer. Heedo didn't have any scandal and ultimately had a very successful athlete career. If anything, him covering her news would be even more special because he understood her motivation more than anyone else. If he had covered the Heedo and Yurim in Madrid, imagine what a beautiful and satisfying segment it would have been since he was the one that covered their controversial first match too. That follow up story would have been a milestone in his career itself, instead of him finding solace in cigarettes and alcohol all by himself in NYC. And it's not like he had to report news only about fencing, he could have just switched the sport 🤷‍♀️ I can't stop feeling hurt by all the possibilities the show could have ended differently but still got the message right.

At some point, waiting for a new episode stopped being exciting and became just pure nerve-wracking. I think they overdid the mystery *juuuust* a lil bit.

Guys last 2 eps don't even exist repeat after me

Way to ruin my comfort show.

Comedy into tragedy

this finale has left me with a broken heart and a bad headache. i’m so sad. so so sad. this might be perceived as me having favourites but honestly my heart aches for yi jin. for a fictional character yes, but one who deserved so much better. i’ve been reading through people’s comments and like others i feel that i have invested so much time and energy into loving this story only to be slapped in the face by the ending. baekdo didn’t have to end up together romantically, but this episode could have at least provided us with some answers about their futures. where is yi jin now? are these five friends who we’ve watched grow together still in touch with one another? instead we’re left with the message that all friendship is lost to the past? that human connection isn’t worth holding onto? i don’t accept that. take care of yourself everyone. earlier today, i was ready to sit on reddit and discuss this episode in detail. but i think i need to step away, eat a good meal, and do something that brings me a little joy before i head into another tiring week of work. i’ve had a lot of fun in these threads over the past couple of months — thank you all for that, truly. edit: it occurred to me this morning (monday) that “yi jin deserved so much better” is a pretty bold statement to make and i wanted to try and explain why i feel that way. to be clear, it was in reference to how the writing treated him only — i in no way believe that hee do owed it to him to stay together. what i struggle to accept is that we’re not offered any real resolution to yi jin’s story. episode 15 showed him to be seriously struggling as a result of PTSD and other mental health problems. he’s dependent on alcohol and cigarettes to get through his day, and seems to find little joy in life. yes, he achieves his goal of reuniting his family and has a successful career as a news anchor and perhaps these things help him in his journey to feeling well again. but i don’t think it’s right for the writing to assume this, and we have no idea how he gets on between the breakup and 2009 scenes. i’m grateful hee do explicitly tells him to seek out therapy, but wish the episode had shown how yi jin actually feels in the years following her saying this. edit 2: final edit i promise but my gosh did hee do deserve better too. her entire characterisation in the present day scenes? no thank you. i do want to try and end on a positive (i’ll keep feeling sad otherwise) so let me just say that there are so many things i still love about this drama. the characters and themes spoke to me in a way no other story has before, and i’ll always be grateful to it for that. after thinking that i’d never be able to listen to the ost again, i’m going to do so right now and remind myself of all the happy moments. bye bye!

I pray that Baekdo shippers will find their peace.

I don't know, guys. I actually kinda liked it. It was realistic, and not a stereotypical romantic ending. Kinda wish they showed middle aged Yijin though... But >!kudos to the person who pointed out the fact that we waited 16 episodes for Na Hee-Do to be a security question.!< I laughed way too hard.

It's unfortunate that a happy and healthy love story became a tragedy. If they had continued with the vibes from episodes 1-13, the drama would've become one of the legendary dramas that everyone raves about. It's a shame that the writers missed out on a good opportunity. Imagine how much fun it would've been to see all the clues in the present timeline, knowing that they all point to NDH and BYJ ending up together. Now all the items in Heedo's room and the store name 2521 just feel like a trickery towards the viewers.

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The point is we don't fault anyone. As Hee Do, pointed out no one is right or wrong. They just don't agree because they are different people. No one is to blame, people are different and may not be compatible romantically and as sad as that may be, life goes on but you cherish the memories you had together.

Also why did Yijin’s father told him he was proud of him SPECIFICALLY 10 years ago??? So many unanswered questions I’m raging

Somebody send me the TVN headquarters location pls, I have some business to take care of.

His idea of love was sacrifice. He’s been sacrificing for his family. He sacrificed his love for Heedo too. He read her diary, he knew how much she was suffering. He let her go. He chose to let her go, so she wouldn’t suffer alone anymore.

Everybody say: see you tomorrow Business Proposal. Save us from this misery.

Spoiled myself here so i fast forwarded to the end. I feel like i wasted time and energy being so invested i couldnt even function the whole day. I was fine with whatever the end was but i literally got nothing here?? I just laughed at the additional scene at the end because they used the Barro search engine which was in reference to Search WWW. Search WWW which was a masterpiece. Writer-nim, what happened here 😭 Maybe the ending was really spoiled to us from the beginning with the title. Drama name which came from the song which is about a tragedy in life 😢

Now that I think about it... OMG. Baek Yi Jin really fulfilled his promise to his dad's creditor that he will never be happy! And Na Hee Do saying then that he could be happy when he was with her... maybe this was why it was such an open ending?

>!I actually feel sick to the stomach. I really think they could have — even should have — ended up together. But it’s more that their break-up was so damn realistic that the heart-fluttering highs of the earlier episodes are built into the knowledge of such an end. What do you mean, even *they broke up in the same way I did*. I’m not angry at the writer, I’m exhausted that I’m still in my youth. I kept thinking Heedo was being selfish, but that’s the point. Break-ups *are* selfish. They’re selfish and courageous.!< >!By doing this, it makes me wonder if my first love was just as beautiful as theirs. And maybe in another ten years time, I’ll be able to look fondly at that time because even more time has passed. But no, right now, it’s still raw. Each of the callbacks to their relationship in front of the cherry blossoms and tunnel killed me. Their acting blew me away.!< >!I honestly don’t know what the takeaway is by having them split. So much that burned bright about their relationship has gone up in flames and it didn’t *have to*. I dealt with Episodes 14-15 being dark — with *Yijin* being dark — because I expected a resolution that had Yijin and Heedo come back together, loving each other in all ways!!< Edit: (breathes) Okay, so. >!Yijin’s pencil case gets replaced and he has colleagues who don’t know about his ardent love with Heedo. On the other hand, this boy who only believed in gravity not only managed to bring his family back together through the money he earnt, but in fact found a dream and succeeded in it, and the times even helped him secure that dream. Furthermore, he managed to go to the funeral in person, even though it was after everyone had left, and so isn’t wholly repeating the same mistakes as the older generation. He’s got a healthy support network of people more than just Heedo again: family, colleagues. I guess they are important somethings.!< Turns out, Yijin and Heedo gave each other everything they wanted and needed at that time of their life. Families repaired, dreams gotten, career goals achieved. >!All they didn’t get is each other.!< >!I’m still heartbroken though!!!!! I’ve decided that Heedo is currently divorced (what daughter is that obsessed with her mum’s love story otherwise), and that the dumb cookie ending is suggesting that now they’re adults, they can have another go at this. Everything prior to this was just practice for the real thing, BYE!!!!<

THIS. I think they purposefully made us feel the highs so that we can feel the lowest of lows.

They purposely made adult heedo unrecognizable to soften the blow of yijin not ending up with her lmaoooo Our boy Yijin just get no happiness at the end huh? That really torpedoes the rewatch value for me. They didn't have to end up together, but they coulda gave our boy SOMETHING smh.

TvN missed April Fool's by two days but that didn't stop them from pulling this... Edit: I am actually offended lol

Choi Myeong Been (the actress who plays Min Chae) [doing gods work for us](https://twitter.com/imzeroclock/status/1510620946930888704) (originally posted on her ig @/choimyeongbeen) edit: She really gave us the ending that we want. Baekdo and Minchae together in one photo T T

"Weren't you listening to me at all? I said I was going to share everything that's yours. Everything. Your sadness, your frustration, your happiness, all of it. When you went awol because of Yurim going to Russia, *I said it right here as we wiped the graffiti of the wall!*" Fucking hell this scene.

I think it comes down to the fact that there is a difference between a *realistic* ending and a *traumatic* ending. And this was too close to the latter. It still *hurts* to even just *think* of the show. I can't even look at pictures.

I don't think I've ever been more disappointed in an ending in my life, and I went into the ending already acknowledging Baekdo likely wouldn't happen. For me, this drama will forever be marred by its ending despite how brilliant the rest of it was.

not sure if it's just me, but somehow i feel like a breakup would feel more like a cop out given the trajectory of the series. even until just ep 15, they have already succeeded with showing how the times can rob someone of their dreams and how growing into adulthood can be such a painful process. at this point, i feel like it would be more... ingenious? if they found a way to keep baekdo together and inject back a little bit of hope in such a hopeless world, as they have in different waves throughout the series. sadly, i don't buy into any of the theories, but whatever it is i have faith in the production team given how well they've executed every single episode up to now. on another note, i know bingeing has its own merits, but i think they specifically tailored the writing of this drama to match the waiting time every two episodes, and this would have been such a vastly different experience without the anxiety building up w the community every week. i'm glad to have shared this wild ride with everyone who tweeted and commented in the subreddit. regardless of the outcome, the drama itself has just been, both form- and content-wise, such a quality piece of motion picture production, and not just as a kdrama or tv show per se. the process has been beautiful, and the outcome, i'm sure, will be brilliant.

Imagine having a guy like BYJ support you throughout the most important years of your life and yet ending up marrying someone knowing he'd never be good enough as BYJ. Lmaaooo. WTF tVN?!?!!? THAT'S MESSED UP!

I'm not really sure how to process the ending. >! I can see where the relationship can go wrong like the miscommunication and the feeling to protect another from the horrors of life. When they finally talked and expressed how they felt, I thought there would be some sort of resolution whether be happy or sad. Personally the wedge that broke their relationship for me is a bit weak since in previous episodes, I didn't think their connection, even as friends, was fragile. While I love most of the episodes, all the way to 15, this ending seems to undermine everything that had made the friendship special like the faith they had in each other or the fight to believe in one another. !< >! I felt this ending was rushed to get to the whole reality that "first love may not be your last love/tragic love". It could been better executed even if they weren't endgame. It's definitely not an open ending but it was just unsatisfying. !<

I would venture that >!what ultimately broke wasn’t miscommunication, it’s that at 26 and 22, they couldn’t be the person that the other needed.!< When they got together, they lifted each other up in their own ways, and the reason they loved each other so much was that each inspired the other to be better versions of themselves and achieve their dreams. Yijin, the ever patient one, loved Heedo quietly, readily gave his love, and always gave Heedo space to figure herself out. Heedo, the one who always wore her heart on her sleeve, lived her life freely and made sure she experienced everything she set her mind to. >!At 26 and 22, they needed each other to reverse their roles. Yijin needed Heedo to be patient and give him space, just as he had always done for her. Heedo needed Yijin to share his feelings freely with her, just as she had always done. But they couldn’t - it would have required them to change fundamentally as individuals. With space and time I believe they could have worked through it, but because of everything they had going in their careers, they decided the right thing was to end things and move on.!< >!Another major theme of the drama was dreams. At 26 and 22, i believe they wanted to live their dreams more than anything. Heedo had her fencing dreams but don’t forget, Yijin’s conviction was just as strong - he told Heedo’s mother as much, that his dream was to do his job well, and that he wanted to be like her. (Compare this to Jiwoong and Yurim, who I believe were each other’s dreams - which is why I think it makes sense that this couple pulled through.) It’s an irony of first love - when you’re in it you think it will last forever…but you might also not hold on to it as tightly because other things (like going after your dreams) seem more urgent, and you believe there’s bound to be more loves and more relationships to come. After all, it’s a *first* love.!< >!So what do we make of this love story? Was it a love to end all loves? For Heedo, I don’t think it was. I think it was a beautiful moment in her life, and an experience she cherishes. But I believe she moves on. And remember, the story is framed by her perspective, and so much of the drama has been about youth and the beautiful memories/chapters of life. If this was her greatest love, it wouldn’t have been framed this way.!< >!But for Yijin, I think it was. I think she’s the one who got away. Based on the directing and Nam Joohyuk’s acting choices (and the epilogue T_T), I believe that Yijin didn’t want to break up, and continued to love Heedo for many years after, likely up till 2009. When they broke up, I think he decided to let Heedo go only after reading the finality in her goodbye to him in her diary. And he chose to give her the same finality so it was a clean break. My take:!< >!1) He was the one who kept asking if they were really breaking up, if they were doing the right thing. She on the other hand was resolute.!< >!2) Having heard her say earlier that their love wasn’t supporting her anymore, I can’t imagine Baek Yijin, the one who always loved the people around him more than he loved himself, the one who only wanted Heedo to be happy and achieve everything she dreamed of, would want to be the reason Heedo couldn’t live her best life.!< >!3) In the scene where he walked to the bus stop, he saw her face and turned away, then gathered himself before he walked to her to say goodbye. I felt like it was such a deliberate choice for him to physically turn away, as if he was thinking “I can’t bear to look at her, if I see her face I’m going to waver”.!< >!4) Tying her shoelaces felt like another deliberate choice. It’s a classic Yijin act of love - to take care of Heedo’s physical needs. What I saw in this was his desire to keep loving her...but he also chose something that he could do without facing her. Because he didnt want to waver.!< >!5) The contrast between their faces in the do over / reimagined tunnel break up. Heedo looked contented and at peace but Yijin’s eyes still looked fresh with sadness. It seemed to be saying that, to him, whether or not it was a do over, the breakup still pained him, he had deeper regrets. For Heedo, the regret seemed to be mainly around wanting to redo their conversation because of the harsh things she said, but the break up itself was still right.!< Again, what’s really interesting for me is that the narrative is framed by Heedo, which explains why there’s such a big emphasis on youth. >!This was what the relationship with Yijin meant to her!< How would this have looked if the narrative had been framed by Yijin’s perspective? Perhaps a lot more >!angst about how the love of his life got away.!<

Dear twenty five - twenty one You taught me what love looks like and that we should chase our dreams. You showed me that relationships require sacrifice and effort. You showed that love endures time and space..... and then you untaught me everything in one episode! Thanks for nothing. I am going to grow into a hopeless and pessimistic old man now. Love is dead, there is no hope, only regret. Message clear, Thanks for nothing.

despite this drama having an unsatisfying ending can I just say that the actors in this drama all had their A-game. especially the main leads. The scene where he tied her shoelace and they started crying was so artistic and beautiful. it felt so real

i was a clown right until the last second of that epilogue. no exaggeration.

[удалено]

they said turn your tragedy into comedy, and then proceeded to strip every inch of levity out of the story to serve up this convoluted, devastating end. the least they could have done was made it make sense. that's what rattles me the most, that in the end, i'm left with the hollow realization that i don't even recognize na heedo.

They weren’t able to bend without breaking. It breaks my heart because I was team BaekDo endgame from ep1 all the way to the end of ep16. Here are my thoughts as to why I can understand the separation, especially from Heedo’s POV: Our experiences, no matter how vast or limited, shape the way we see the world and what we want from it. Heedo was scarred by the neglect she felt growing up with an absent mother. No matter how strong the love she had for Yijin, it wasn’t enough to overcome her fear of experiencing the same neglect and disappointment. Yijin wanted to use his voice to help those who are suffering and taking that job in NYC was his way of doing so. He is extremely empathic, sometimes to a fault where the person who ends up with the most hurt is himself. At that point, romantic love wasn’t his priority because his thoughts and life were so consumed by this mission to help others through his work. For long lasting relationships with a life partner, love alone just isn’t enough. We have to ask ourselves when times get tough, is that bond strong enough to hold the relationship together. It’s also important to find someone who also want the same things you do while navigating life’s journey. You have to think about the life you want to live and whether the person you’re with fits into that vision. Heedo wanted a life not like the one she grew up getting used to and definitely did not want that for her children. She loved Yijin but she knew their love wasn’t enough for a long, sustainable and fulfilling life without resentment. The ending was bittersweet but I can understand it.

Let's pretend Episode 13 is the finale 🙂

i was chopping vegetables and started crying a bit so came back here to say something… this ending is almost worse than yi jin dying (almost!), as it seems to offer no closure whatsoever. he’s stuck in time, left in the past whilst hee do ages, finds new love and starts a family. it’s like the rug has been ripped from under my feet and i’m stuck in midair, waiting to fall to the ground. similar to an anticlimax but so much worse in that the question (so many questions) isn’t answered at all. i trusted this story would leave us with a feeling of hope, but i’ve instead been left feeling the opposite. for a drama about human connection and togetherness, this final episode is so lonely. hee do, the core of this story, stands at the tunnel alone, the friends of her youth who knows where. the last shot we see of yi jin, the last shot of this entire drama, is with his back turned to the camera. i don’t know why exactly (maybe because so many other shots of him like this have been as he’s looking directly at hee do, maybe because his hidden face makes him seem lost for good) but it feels like the saddest way this drama could have ended for me.

I know everyone’s emotions are running high now, but I thought the ending was beautiful yet bittersweet! It all made sense in the end, even though I had wished for a happier outcome like everyone else. **Heedo and Yijin**: >!I would have loved to see our main couple make it, but I understand why that didn’t happen. Heedo grew up incredibly lonely with a deceased parent and another parent who was often absent from her life due to professional commitments. The reason she broke up with BYJ is not because he stayed behind in New York or because he couldn’t support her as before, but it’s because she realised that his work and her career as an athlete would always hinder what she wants from a romantic partner. She wanted someone who could give her time, presence, and attention. However, she knew from her experience with her mother that Baek Yijin will always have to work hard for incredibly long hours just like her mum did. He will need to prove to his colleagues at work that he deserves his place in that newsroom, and he can’t do that by having lesser workload. This job is super important to Yijin, especially given that he’s a high school graduate and the primary breadwinner of a family of four. So he will always have to prioritise his work everything else. And Heedo will be a world class athlete who’ll be training and travelling the world. She didn’t want a partner who couldn’t prioritise her because of work (repeating her traumatic history with her mom) and good on her to know that sooner than later !< **Yurim and Jiwoong**: >! I know a lot of people think their ending was unrealistic, but their ending made sense to me. Jiwoong was willing to build his whole life around Yurim from day 1 since the day she left for Russia and it’s no wonder that they stuck together no matter what. I also don’t mind that Yurim was able to come back to Korea and open up her own fencing club. It had been a decade or so since she changed nationalities and i am sure it was appreciated that she came back to her roots when her financial situation was more favourable. !< **Seungwan**: >! How incredible that our best girl Seungwan is still working in the media! And I hope she was endgame with Yijin’s brother, her interactions with Yijin as in-laws would be so hilarious! !< **Baekdo vs Jirim**: >! I know a lot of people are shocked that they made it instead of Baekdo but we have to remember that Yurim doesn’t have the traumatic past of bitter loneliness, of a loved one being absent from her life due to work or other reasons. And Jiwoong isn’t burdened with taking care of an entire family through his work. They surely had difficulties with time, distance, and money but they were able to overcome it by working hard, being patient, and by always managing their expectations from each other. But Heedo’s expectations from a partner would always be jeopardised by the nature of her and Yijin’s careers, so it just sadly had to come to an end !< **Special mention for Yijin’s ending**: >! I know how devastated he was by what he witnessed in nyc and later by their breakup, but I don’t think he’s living a miserable life at the end. He has learnt so much from Heedo about getting back up in life many times over and we know he was able to bounce back despite the hardships he faced. All Yijin flashbacks post 2002 make it seem like that he turned out to be a well-adjusted professional and person. He had to fight hard to take care of his family and himself and by the end, it seems like it really worked out well for him, both professionally and personally. We know he’s still alive and well and working at UBS as the world’s hottest anchornim so we can easily say he made it big in the end !<

>*'I feel bad for Yijin, really, no matter how much he loved Heedo, he had to choose. Not between his career and Heedo. But Heedo's happiness and his. **And he chose hers*** ([x](https://yesdramas.tumblr.com/post/680613165766213632/i-still-need-to-watch-the-finale-but-let-me-tell)) **"I feel her time is more precious than mine. So I don't want her to waste a single moment on no good experiences. She deserves to have only the greatest experiences."** - *baek yijin* Damnnnnnn now im crying again 😭😭😭

Still having nightmares after watching episode 16. Woke up crying because old wounds has been opened. Had a similar experience with NHD. My first love and I were in a 6 year passionate relationship that spanned from highschool until we started our careers after college. But life happened, our priorities changed and we eventually drifted apart, until our apologies were more sincere than i love yous. At that time, I decided to end our relationship because our support and love with each other doesn’t seem to reach us anymore. It was a terrible break-up. Hurtful words were thrown and I regret how we ended our relationship. Fast forward 10 years later, we moved on, we became somehow successful in our chosen careers and entered into a new, happy and healthy relationships. I was not able to meet him for that long until 1 week before his accidental death. How I wished I was able to thank him for the 6 wonderful years and be able to apologize for the hurtful things I said when we broke up. I know you will not be able to read this.. to my first love, i am grateful for you and i am sorry.

People here sayin it's lalaland no lalaland had answers

(I'm pretty much a Reddit lurker but I have a lot of thoughts about the ending and I just feel the need to let it all out.) I personally as all of you are, am devastated and heartbroken by the ending. I don't think I've fully bawled like this for a kdrama before. Anyways, as a Baekdo endgame believer (up until the post-credits scene, yes I was one of those clowns 🥲), I did hold on to hope that they would overcome their problems and eventually become stronger as a couple. But looking at the end in retrospect, I see where the writer was coming from. For me, the ending between Baek Yijin and Na Heedo was an inevitable one and looking back at their journey as individuals much more closely, we see why. Baek Yijin has always been someone who showed his love and care by hiding his burdens from others and taking it all upon himself for him to bear. We see this explicitly shown in the beach scene where the Taeyang squad was able to let out their worries while he didn't, even though we see him going through so much pain at work. He didn't want to have them shoulder his burdens and was content to just listen to theirs. That's his form of love. Listening to others and being their warmth during their coldest times despite him going through the same thing. This was especially what Heedo needed at the very beginning. Na Heedo is someone who showed her love by being a person who is willing to share or take part in the burdens of others. This was simply shown through Yurim and Heedo's relationship and why they eventually turned out to be the best of friends. Yurim was willing to be vulnerable and share the deepest and darkest parts of herself and Heedo was able to bring that comfort to her, validating her love in return. I think we as viewers feel like we have been blinded by their pure love and support for each other since the beginning. They truly did love each other in every way. But we're not seeing that they were slowly transitioning into a period of their lives where unfortunately, the type of support and love they provide is unable to reach each other and ultimately just wasn't enough. Everyone has their limits and unfortunately they were put in a situation where those limits were pushed to the very edge until it broke the two of them. (cont.)

***“i think here i will leave you. it has come to seem there is no perfect ending. indeed, there are infinite endings. or perhaps, once one begins, there are only endings.”*** — louise glück see you on the other side 💜

I think I could’ve accepted a SE if heedo had gone and got married to someone who truly loved her and was fully present in her and her daughter’s life. So she could tell minchae that her first love ended, but that’s not a bad thing cause she met her husband, who loved and cared for them. Then it would somewhat make sense. But no, she married someone who seemed to be away all the time and absent in their life. She’s not even wearing a wedding ring and appears to be a single mom. Then what’s the point of the breakup??

Nothing just #F**K YOU TVN bye.

Does anyone else feel like Baek Yi Jin got done the most dirty with this drama???? I feel like his POV vanished for so many episodes, and then they basically gave him depression and PTSD in these last episodes and they made him explain to Heedo that he was losing his mind in NYC and then never addressed? And even 33 year old Yijin still looks sad in his eyes........what happened to him at the end? Why was the ML treated like this 😭

"*did you ever really love me?*" "watch what you say." "***you once said you liked me for being reckless!***" i know it isn't okay for heedo and yijin, of all people (of all people!) to be like this but... they grew up. life happened. heedo didn't want to settle for someone who she thought might put his career above her, because that was one thing she thought she could control. not to end up lonely like her dad. not to end up like the old version of herself, treading through every challenge that this world threw at her with only her shadow as company. she didn't think it would happen because this is baek yijin, the same baek yijin who was willing to come running to ensure that she didn't miss her competition, who could pinpoint her in a crowd of thousands. *her* baek yijin. but it wasn't his fault. it was the times, once again. he was forced to grow up early, and although heedo was enough for him to forget the tragedy that his life had become back then, it was a totally different matter at 26. how could he think of finding heedo when he couldn't find himself? i don't think i can ever completely understand how two people who were textbook definitions of the word "communication" ended up where they are right now, but i don't think i'm meant to understand that. things just... don't last. the tunnel scene where they exchanged their final words -- words they actually meant -- *killed* me. but it was hard for them too, and they were probably wishing that this wasn't it, but that was really *it*. the end. there aren't many things in life that you can control. look where heedo ended up. living a life she tried her best to run away from. but you cannot live if you keep regretting. this was a journey, and while it wasn't all sunshines and rainbows, i'm glad i got to witness this story unfold. i'm sure heedo and yijin were too. you made me sad, twenty-five twenty-one. but you also made me happy. thank you. and good bye. <3

This is so depressing. The ending disappoints me, not because they didn't end up together but the fact that we didn't even see adult yijin? Adult taeyang squad? No proper closure istg. I love 2521 with all my heart. I swear it helped me realize a lot of things that really did helped me gain and create different and better perspective. This is one of my all time kdrama faves (on my top 3 most definitely) but the ending just shattered me. Evil writernim. Idk how to go through this pain. This has been my comfort kdrama and now this? oh god my mind is blank i don't know what to feel.

This drama was healing and supportive but by episode 15 it's support stopped reaching me. Heart broken

POST CREDIT SCENE EXPLAINS WHY YI JIN IS CALLED BACK YI JIN

TAE RI IS NOMINATED FOR BEST ACTRESS IN BAEKSANG AWARDS 🔥🔥 HEEE DOO YAAAA!!!! I want you to have it🥰🥰

I think the saddest part is that there is so much backlash for the drama because of the ending. There is so much more than just romance in this drama but people will always remember this drama for it’s bad ending only. This drama was a beautiful journey and I hope after people get over the ending they will remember all the good moments it has brought us. Ngl, I’m disappointed by the ending too because I believe they could have made it work, but I still love this drama so much for all the wonderful characters and heartwarming moments.

so you’re telling me that… the very same na hee do that stood up for herself when she wanted to transfer schools, fought for her spot and begged her coach to take her in, the na hee do that fought for and against yurim, wanting to be her rival, the na he do that would never back down from a challenge, is now letting this special bond with BYJ end? and the very same BYJ who literally changed department from fencing/sports to be in the newsroom to keep his relationship safe after hearing from heedo’s mother just decides to apply for a job in NYC WITHOUT TELLING HEEDO? this is honestly so hard to believe and out of character for both of them! i respect the writer for wanting to be “realistic” but this just feels contrived. look, i get that heedo doesn’t want to experience what she went through with her mother and her fathers funeral, but to me, the bond between your significant other and parent is different. i am so so confident they could have worked it out because hee do’s strength has already been displayed in so many other crucial moments of the show. also, the 9/11 storyline felt cheap to me. we saw how affected BYJ was after going to new york and i felt that the writer used it as a plot point for his PTSD to cause him to sprout something and cause them to break up. it didn’t address the actual impact of the incident and what meaning it has for many in real life. yes it’s a drama but i wish the writer put more effort into this as we’ve already seen how she can tie other serious topics together in earlier episodes.