While the series is often categorized as a romance, it subverts traditional K-drama tropes by prioritizing personal growth over a "happily ever after". The relationship between Hee-do and Yi-jin is a source of mutual inspiration, yet the show realistically depicts how their evolving career paths and the pressures of adulthood eventually lead them in different directions.
🎞️ Feeling All the "Twenty-Five Twenty-One" Feels 🎞️ twenty five twenty one new
| Character | Actor | Arc Summary | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Kim Tae-ri | A relentlessly optimistic high school fencer whose school team is disbanded due to the crisis. She transfers schools and rises to national stardom. | | Baek Yi-jin | Nam Joo-hyuk | Once a wealthy family’s son, his father’s business collapses post-IMF. He is separated from his family and works multiple jobs (delivery, reporting) before becoming a sports journalist. | | Ko Yu-rim | Kim Ji-yeon (Bona) | A North Korean-born fencer representing South Korea. She is Hee-do’s rival and mirror—disciplined, isolated, and equally hungry for success. | | Moon Ji-woong | Choi Hyun-wook | A rebellious, soft-hearted schoolmate and later a loyal friend. | | Ji Seung-wan | Lee Joo-myung | The pragmatic class president who voices the audience’s rational doubts about the characters’ choices. | While the series is often categorized as a
While we may not get a new season of Na Hee-do’s journey, the impact of the show ensures it will never truly grow old. She transfers schools and rises to national stardom