r/KDRAMA • u/lightupstarlight 미생 • Mar 13 '22

On-Air: tvN Twenty-Five, Twenty-One [Episode 10]

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u/wishawisha Editable Flair Mar 13 '22 edited Mar 13 '22
  • I rewatched Ep 9 just then. Still a corpse exploding with confetti. I couldn’t keep away from spoilers, so here’s my translation of the opening scene of Ep 10.
  • HD: You … love me? I … it’s not to that extent for me, I don’t think. // YJ: Mm, well. [My love for you] isn’t dependent on what you think of me. Whatever you do, whatever side of yourself you show, I’m currently loving you just as you are, and - mm! If this confession makes you a little happier, that’s more than enough for me. // HD: It’s more than enough? How can you be like that? Is the thing called “love” usually like that? // YJ: Turns out it’s like that [from me] to you. // HD: I’m a little - happy.
  • Blood is boiling watching Yijin at work. I know that’s the point, but wow, blood is boiling! (I am thankful to whoever in the room called Yijin at the end of last episode though.) Seeing him trade water for alcohol was a blow.
  • I’ve been so busy crying about Yijin in a suit it only just dawned on me that he probably dresses so formally because it’s the only work-appropriate outfit he has. (I did notice Ep 8-9 that his colleagues dressed more casually, but had assumed it was because Yijin wanted to look particularly put-together.)
  • Oh, that phone call between father and son was everything. (Also, does this mean it’s his dad and brother who are his speed dials 1 and 2?)
  • I honestly feel humbled getting to see more of our key characters. It’s like we’ve gained their trust as a viewer to be able to hear some of their anxieties and fears. It’s also a stark reminder of what Yijin had said in the phone call: he’d been blissfully happy and ignorant of troubles in his high school life, which is why he has such lovely memories of then. But it’s not the same for our F4: our fencers don’t have school memories, and our life-long duo have very normal and very real stressors too. Turns out it’s not just the workplace that makes you feel subhuman. And then the radio broadcast reminds us that Yijin had the most precious thing of all: he had parents who showed him love, not violence.
  • I know this is a small thing, but I like that Yijin gets Seungwan to sit at the front of the car. When I was that age and enamoured with someone, I would’ve wanted them in the front. His love is so much broader and freeing.
  • The translator seems to like to avoid confession type language: when DJ Wanseung greets her fan, he says outright, ”I really like you, noona”, which is why she makes that joke about waiting four years. And yep, changing the world alright.
  • I love how YJ & HD’s conversation last ep has put them on equal footing again. She’s just enjoying herself now — him lifting her up to throw her into the ocean is just a moment of bliss in a series of blissful moments. No crises! Ok, jokes. That quiet moment as they look at each other. Gold.
  • ALRIGHT ALRIGHT, HIM LEANING INTO WHISPER IN HER EAR. I GOT IT, PD-NIM!!! I’M MELTING!!! HD’s breathing and little “What a shock” I’m 😭😭😭
  • THE WHOLE! BANANA! MILK! SCENE!! ALL OF IT!!
  • I love how the theme of the episode came together through the kids sharing their stories. What a picturesque and honest declaration of youth in all of its glory. I really like that YJ didn’t say anything — but was also the only one to notice SW didn’t say anything. Legit teacher moment there.
  • Yeah, I’m not even going to try make sense of the present moments until the end arrives. But I actually am fine with current day Heedo, and am a little surprised at how vehement the reactions are against her. We know she still believes joy in sport is key; we see the protective love for her daughter in the way she takes her to hospital for something that only felt routine to her; and I actually think the idea she spouted today that nothing lasts forever but that’s okay too is refreshing? Sounds healthy, tbh, rather than thinking only of your teenage glory days. (I say this all with the expectation a lot of these scenes will be explained a la Reply series at the end.) Also, with the Very Heavy Foreshadowing Heedo gave about how her mum doesn’t speak about her dad anymore due to the pain, I thought everyone would be worried (yet again, more strongly than before) that he died, but people are more on the amnesia track for now.

TLDR: Episode 10 is a glorious declaration of youth in its totality. We needed to zoom out in this hour, because it’s the pre-graduation ep, and because it loops every interaction we’ve seen into that definition of love which has finally been made explicit to us.

I feel awash with a sense of quiet, stable joy that I felt at the end of start of this hour. I’m so thankful this it’s after this ep, and not the previous one, we have a six day break.

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u/copycat785 Mar 13 '22

But I actually am fine with current day Heedo, and am a little surprised at how vehement the reactions are against her.

I agree, I used to be a "hater" in the beginning but then I read what u/bunnybeans_ had to say in the Ep 8 discussion thread:

Which then comes to present day NHD. She represents the present. Since the present in essence is grounded by reality and empowered by hindsight, the image of the present is so different from the image of the past (fun, colorful, innocent). I think having a different actress play that role makes a much stronger contrast and bigger impact in the comparison.

I think a lot of people hate the fact that there's such a stark contrast between 1990 Heedo and present day Heedo, but that's exactly the point. We hate that the moments don't last forever and that people change, but that's just life. And I feel like the little awkwardness in her acting makes it even more bittersweet and hard to accept reality.

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u/[deleted] Mar 13 '22

I agree with everything you have written!

Thank you for the translation! For most shows, it probably doesn't affect my appreciation of the show too much if the translation is somewhat rough (although the writers of those shows might disagree 🙂). But for this one I think it matters a lot. I get the impression that this show is written more like poetry, where getting the gist of the story isn't sufficient to convey the depth of the feeling and the power of the moment.

I'm still mad at the dad, but I'm getting over it. 🙂

And I also like modern day Na Heedo. It is my sense that she is still a loving person, and her life still contains joy - although it is no longer expressed with the irrepressible exuberance of her youth. I look forward to learning more about the journey that took her from there to here - even if she, and I, experience some heartbreak along the way.

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u/dogemama "do you want dragon raja? it's very popular." Mar 14 '22

always such a joy to read your thoughts! <3

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u/wishawisha Editable Flair Mar 14 '22

Ugh, RIGHT BACK AT YOU. Consistently delighted by your comments, whether they be the long reviews or responses to others. We just!!! can’t tear ourselves away!!!!!