“Twenty Five, Twenty One” Ending Labeled ‘The Worst Of All Time,” Fans Voice Their Disappointment With The Show’s Creators

Published Categorized as K-Dramas and K-Movies
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“Twenty Five, Twenty One” Ending has been a hot topic of discussion all over the web and fans are NOT happy with it.

“Twenty Five, Twenty One” aired its finale on April 3rd. The hit tvN drama came to a conclusion but that conclusion is not getting accepted by fans.

NOTE: SPOILERS AHEAD of “Twenty Five, Twenty One” episode 16

“Twenty Five, Twenty One” ends with Na Hee Do and Baek Yi Jin’s breakup, added to that, fans never find out who Min Chae’s father was, nor the circumstances behind why Na Hee Do eventually married or whom she married.

To top it all off, fans don’t get to find out why the present self of Na Hee Do turns out to be like that, and they never get to see Baek Yi Jin in the present time either.

“Twenty Five, Twenty One” ending was truly one of the most polarizing endings of a kdrama in recent memory. Many fans considered the kdrama to be healing and a slice-of-life type of kdrama up until its most recent episodes when it took a turn for more dramatics.

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On theqoo, many posts are talking about the drama with k-netizens expressing their disappointment with the ending sparing no curse words in the process. Here are some of their comments:

  • what a perfect trash drama
  • this drama made me scream curse
  • f*ck, this is really the ending?
  • Worst f*cked up kdrama in history
  • worst ever
  • I dont want to see anything by this screenwriter again
  • I agree with all the previous comments

and more.

On the international side, many are expressing similar sentiments. #TwentyFiveTwentyOneEp16 has amassed over 370K mentions on Twitter and is currently one of the top trending topics despite the fact that tonight marks the Grammy Awards, a busy night on Twitter.

Many international fans talked about the pain of watching “Twenty Five, Twenty One” ending, many people are writing about how open-endings are the worst because it leaves viewers guessing what if.

What did you think of “Twenty Five, Twenty One” ending?


My personal thoughts- written by Jass K.

Well….. I mean… I kinda get the anger.

As I said in my review of the finale, people don’t like open-endings and neither do I. Forget the fact that they didn’t end up together, I saw it coming but what I didn’t expect was how we ended up spending the entirety of the drama in the past, I legitimately thought we would get an explanation as to why Hee Do became who she became or why she forgot those happy memories and also touch on what happened to her group of friends in the present too.

The screenwriter is so stuck on showing us what first love was. Itt was a childish reason in hindsight but its not something both could have dealt with at that point in their lives, both were still kids back then. Long-distance relationships are very difficult, to begin with.

Also, I don’t understand why she never explained who the father was or why he wasn’t in the picture either. It wouldn’t have hurt to also explain some of the things we’ve waited for 16 episodes to see. I also wished we had seen Yi Jin in the present just to see how he’s doing, would that have been too much to ask for?

I think cursing is a bit much but I understand why people are this upset, when you find a gem, you want it to be the best it can be. Its sad when you’re surprised by the screenwriter not giving proper explanations for certain plot points that needed proper closure. It could have definitely been better.

Some dramas derail towards the middle but I am of the mindset that believes if you end things properly, you leave people with a good everlasting empression. Its okay if you get slightly lost along the way but its sad when you can’t find your way back.

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32 comments

  1. I have to agree I can’t even go back and watch it, I’m so angry, I feel for the actors and actresses they will deal with this also but nope that screenwriter needs to retire like NOW! I hate him too!

  2. To say that I “LOVE Kdramas” is putting it mildly. However, after being very drawn into Twenty-Five Twenty-One, I became more and more upset as the plot continued. This was the worst ending of any series I have ever seen. I had questions from the very beginning that I hoped would be answered but not even any glimmers of answers. There was no closure, with the exception that they evidently never got together, who she married, who her daughter’s father was, what happened to them in the future. etc. It was all just open-ended. We’ve all had first loves, but why couldn’t she remember what happened? That also didn’t make sense. I know many Kdramas end “and they lived happily ever after. . .” We don’t expect that in real life; however, we do like closure. It left me feeling very unsettled.

  3. Equation:
    Fans left hanging + > 3 unanswered ?’s
    = 2nd series! OR ELSE !!!
    On a lighter note it was probably the best written, best performed and most entertaining series I’ve watched in a very very long time. Congrats to all the cast and producers.

    1. Sad endings although hard to accept is okay.. but we need closure, i need closure. If this drama ended without unanswered question then it would have been fine. I would have considered this a great drama with a sad ending. But.. tsk tsk tsk.. unfortunately, i can’t deny that this is a great drama alright but with a disappointing ending.

  4. I understand this happens in real life..but we watch these dramas to get derailed from reality a bit. The immense joy that this drama was giving from episode 1, was completely shattered towards the end. Never have we ever felt so much connected to two people. Hence the disappointment!!!

  5. I couldn’t agree more with your sentiments Jass K. I just had to let this off my chest since I’m one of those very much affected of how the drama turned out to be. That Yijin and Heedo did not end up together was a bitter pill to swallow, tried my best to think that was it and things like that do happen. But to leave some parts of the drama hanging adds to the heartache of the viewers like what happened to Yijin at present time; who is Minchae’s father; aside from being a mom, what is Heedo into nowadays… Yeah, the negative reactions were understandable because the drama was supposed to be a gem— that its storytelling of friendship blooming into one special love was able to capture the hearts of many and endeared them to the characters especially that of Yijin and Heedo.

  6. Hated the ending, they were so in love but broke up ? But the second lead got a happy emding despite a long distance relationship..Hows that for a romcom! After builiding up the romance, we are left with a sadness and dissatisfaction. We would have been glad if jin yi and hae doo wedded and jinyi was always out of country for his job as mentioned in esrly part when “dad” was mentioned to be working…

    1. I agree with you since I feel like the writer based it on reality, the reality where we mostly forgot the memories but the feelings/experienced will always remain deep inside you. We never forget our first real love and that’s the truth but also there’s another truth where it is the moment we forgot and only the feelings of it will remains. I can’t express my thoughts well since I ‘m not really good with the language but I hope you do understand what I mean to say. But the writer clearly wants to say that sometimes even in books or in dramas it is not always a happy ending he did a good job. It is actually a good ending since you felt disappointed so as in reality and I think that is the point.

  7. Worst ending and i dont understand the ending,,The next time i watched kdrama maybe i must check first who is the writer and if the kdrama writer is same the writer of 2521,i dont watch anymore,It sucks!!!

  8. Real life drama is painful enough, would it be difficult for the writer to let the viewers dream of a happy ending (may they be together or became friends or each other’s support system)? It made no sense why depicts so much love and struggle in the beginning yet let us leave wondering about the ending when after the time lapse you can see and feel the love for each other? The viewers deserve more than that.

  9. I don’t hate the ending honestly speaking. I could understand first love not working out even when we want it too. Also not showing the other characters isn’t bad since we are mainly focusing on Hee Do’s story. Like Hee Do says, some memories are kept in the past and its not like you’ll always see how your close friends are doing in life now. Also idk if that’s an open ending? Like it shows the directions of the side characters and the end game for the mains. It’s all just precious memories for them.

  10. Too many unanswered questions, where’s Hee Dos husband , how is Yi Jin? Where are all the other friends?? Are they still friends? Disappointing ! I was yelling at my tv. Really loved this til the end!

  11. Frustrating end and so much disappointment with unexplored and unexplained gaps – worst kind of ending in a drama that showed so much promise.

  12. The ending sucks not only because they didn’t end up together, they can leave that in.
    It is the worst because ALL CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, ESTABLISHED PERSONALITY TRAITS were thrown to the GARBAGE BIN.
    All important questions were left unanswered, everything was RUSHED, FORCED AND CONTRIVED like their budget was slashed 100% to make a better ending deserving of the 8 weeks people put into a drama about COMING OF AGE… instead we get, MELODRAMA, “NOW WE’RE BREAKING UP” bs.
    If you’re a fan of the ending and see nothing wrong of it and believe 2521 is an International Treasure joining the ranks of other more COMPLETE and BELOVED dramas, you do you and whatever you’re on.
    B U T… RESPECT THE MAJORITY.
    WE ARE THE MAJORITY.
    AND WE HATE THIS ENDING.

  13. I realized… It’s that kind of love I never had. Yet I DON’T even want it. For some case of mellow drama, I had this lingering feeling like ‘I hope someone will love me that way’ or ‘their love was deep yet reasonable’ or ‘it’s fate, not their choice. I understand’. But this one loss what they had tried to build up since ep. 1.

    The characters lost who they are (Hee do’s fighting charm and Yi Jin’s diligence for the people he loved). Rather than winning back what they loss, they lost themselves in the end. Some breakups are indeed reasonable. Reality. Practical. But these one could have been saved. Yi Jin kept out Hee Do all of a sudden? WHEN HEEDO WAS ALREADY THERE from the beginning (like she knew his dad and the case of the people who looked for his dad) He liked her because SHE WAS THERE! And Hee Do didn’t even try to also speak up to Yi Jin or intentionally let him know she is there for him. It would have mean a lot to tell him that she’s there for him or that the situation isn’t his fault or if she really means it, she could have see him (she has the means to go, even Ji Woong was able to see Kyu Rim) . Hee Do could have also speak comfort to him without asking anything. Like girl, you are so straightforward. Where did all that go?

    More than disappointed, I was saddened. The drama already points out several times that he is not Min Chae’s father. But for us who are already living our lives in the reality of a mellow dramatic theme, we hoped and cheered that this love will be different. So again, whyyyyy. Why did you have to lose yourselves only to regret it later on?

  14. I swear at the end and asking what, that’s it. Where’s the explanation there and how about Minchae father and what happened to Yijin in the end. Thisdrama left us hanging.

  15. I agree, the ending was heartrending. I was expecting that there would be a happy ending seeing that he was back in Korea and they were both now adults and could make more informed decisions. While Hee do was younger she seemed to have such a fresh perspective on life and dealing with her own traumas. She was refreshing and I experienced all her pain, suffering and happy moments. I enjoyed the innocence of the show but expected a happy ending and answers to all the unanswered questions. Looking forward to season 2, let’s do this!

  16. I am very saddened by the ending. Some characters received a near perfect ending. The beloved couple who brought much delight and joy to
    viewers ended in heartbreak. I grew to love them from the first episode as I watched their friendship grew into pure love. I loved seeing their love deepen and blossom over time. I was always routing for them. They were were fun to watch and totally engaging. They had a unique ability to make you feel incredibly happy and care about them. The series was so fresh and different from all other kdramas.

    What was the writer thinking. He made you love the two of them together. He captivated the audience with charm and joy. He made the audience love and this couple. I couldn’t wait to watch each episode.

    But at the end I am heartbroken. This was the worst ending since Game of Thrones. I invested so much joy and and happiness in this uplifting enjoyable series. It feels like the audience cared more deeply for the couple than the writer cared for the audience. Beyond disappointed.

  17. Everyone who is upset about the ending should go and review episode 4.

    He-Jin is alive and is still in touch with Hee-Do’s mom. Their relationship continued to present day.

    Hee-Do remembers him.

    Hee-Do still feels something, as reflected in her face when her mom says she has met him recently.

  18. I realized… It’s that kind of love I never had. Yet I DON’T even want it. For some case of mellow drama, I had this lingering feeling like ‘I hope someone will love me that way’ or ‘their love was deep yet reasonable’ or ‘it’s fate, not their choice. I understand’. But this one loss what they had tried to build up since ep. 1.

    The characters lost who they are (Hee do’s fighting charm and Yi Jin’s diligence for the people he loved). Rather than winning back what they loss, they lost themselves in the end. Some breakups are indeed reasonable. Reality. Practical. But these one could have been saved. Yi Jin kept out Hee Do all of a sudden? WHEN HEEDO WAS ALREADY THERE from the beginning (like she knew his dad and the case of the people who looked for his dad) He liked her because SHE WAS THERE! And Hee Do didn’t even try to also speak up to Yi Jin or intentionally let him know she is there for him. It would have mean a lot to tell him that she’s there for him or that the situation isn’t his fault or if she really means it, she could have see him (she has the means to go, even Ji Woong was able to see Kyu Rim) . Hee Do could have also speak comfort to him without asking anything. Like girl, you are so straightforward. Where did all that go?

    More than disappointed, I was saddened. The drama already points out several times that he is not Min Chae’s father. But for us who are already living our lives in the reality of a mellow dramatic theme, we hoped and cheered that this love will be different. So again, whyyyyy. Why did you have to lose yourselves only to regret it later on?

  19. I was disappointed with the final episode. I understand the reality of break-ups. There were hanging questions that need to be answered for the audience to be ready for the ending such as who is the father of Hee-do’ daughter. Is Yi Jin married? and so many more. Maybe these hanging questions will be clarified in the next season (if there is one)

  20. as most do – preferred ending would’ve been heedo-yijin living happily ever after BUT she already lived thru her mom being in the news and she did not want to hold back yijin on his career.
    they started as encouragement on each other’s path – they were just very important chapter in their lives
    knowing the present yijin would’ve given false hope of them rekindling what they had
    to sum it up, it’s a good ending to a coming of age storyline

  21. I felt every emotion as we journeyed with this couple for 15 beautiful heartbreaking and at times wretched episodes. I didn’t expect them to end up together (though a part of me wished for some kdrama magic that they got married in secret and he was the father somehow), but the closure of a reimagined break-up was too much.
    The lost diary that was found only let us live through a “better” break-up. Seriously? “Hey fans, thanks for watching. We know that break up was very hard to endure after we made you fall in love with this unique couple, so here is another version that isn’t as angry but is much more devastating in its finality. Enjoy!”
    The older Heedo seemed like a shell of her former self. They fact that they recast her made her feel like a completely different person, and that the passionate reckless protagonist we had all cheered for was no more.
    How could they use that summer trip as some kind of life defining balm at the end with the flashbacks when she doesn’t even remember it?
    They should’ve told us who she married and who the father was if it wasn’t who she married at the very least.
    I would’ve been easier if Yijin had died. That’s where this left me- death of one or both of the main characters would have been preferable to a lackluster anti-climatic dreary future.
    I appreciate this forum to express myself because it was this or therapy to help me grapple with what we just saw.

  22. Twenty five twenty is a really great movie, got me absorbed but the end was barbaric, nonsensical, annoying. The writer just played us. Made us have false hopes and then killed our joy.
    We’re all trying to get away from reality here. Some of us are struggling with depression and sadness. Some of us are trying to take our mind off things. Sometimes movie gives us hope but this writer destroyed my hope.
    I’m expressing this out of anger and frustration. I’m screaming silently. It hurts like hell. I started watching this movie because I was down. Heck, I didn’t even follow it when it aired because I had lot of things on my plate. I was exhausted and angry and watching this movie took my mind off lot of things. It makes me angry to realize that something that was giving me hope got crushed ruthlessly.
    Right now I need hope to continue and not drown in my problems but this movie just took that hope. The last piece of my sanity. I’m going crazy really. I’m sad. I’m angry. I’m trying to get problems off my chest but I don’t hqve closure to anything. This movie even told me that. I’m so angry

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