K-Drama “Twenty Five Twenty One” Finally Finds Its True Genre, Changing It Yet Again

Rom-Com? Melodrama? Neither!
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Tegan Sweeting
Tegan Sweeting

Spoiler Alert

This article reveals plot details of a current movie or series.

Viewers of tvN‘s K-Drama Twenty Five Twenty One have absolutely loved the drama. Yet, they have been confused about its genre, resulting in anxiety over the potential ending.

Nam Joo Hyuk as Baek Yi Jin (left) and Kim Tae Ri as Na Hee Do (right).

Twenty Five Twenty One alternates between the present day and the past as it parallels the struggles of youth during both the COVID-19 pandemic and the IMF (the International Monetary Fund) crisis. However, it also focuses on the romantic lives of five characters in the ’90s, with the main focus being on female lead Na Hee Do, played by Kim Tae Ri, and male lead Baek Yi Jin (sometimes romanized as Back Yi Jin), played by Nam Joo Hyuk.

In a time when dreams seem out of reach, a teen fencer pursues big ambitions and meets a hardworking young man who seeks to rebuild his life.

— Netflix

The drama has a lot of heart and consistently touches on serious themes. Yet, it has remained lighthearted, including many funny moments.

Not only that but at its core are evolving love stories of five characters. So, it has been classified as “Romantic-Comedy” in the genre.

So, it came as a shock to many when the genre for Twenty Five Twenty One was changed recently. Eagle-eyed fans noticed that it’s categorized as “Melodrama,” although it had been “Rom-Com” on online listings.

@theoryofbelle

THE #twentyfivetwentyone GENRE OFFICIALLY CHANGED TO MELO ON GOOGLE THIS IS NOT A DRILL #kdrama #namjoohyuk #kimtaeri

♬ original sound – smd

This concerned fans that it could result in a tragic ending despite being a heartwarming drama for so many episodes. Romantic-Comedies, too, can delve into serious content but what consistently sets them apart from Melodramas is one has happy endings, and the other doesn’t.

In contrast to Western Melodrama, the concept of suffering is a fundamental component. It is partly captured in the word han, which is a deep-seated feeling of sorrow, bitterness, or despair that originates in oppression or injustice which accumulates over time and remains unexpressed in the heart. It is believed by some to be a distinguishing characteristic of the Korean culture. Another distinguishing characteristic of Korean melodrama is the emphasis on family. While Western Melodrama tends to focus on the individual, the portrayal of the self in relation to the family in Korean Melodrama is significant. Early melodramatic texts typically dramatize the moral superiority of old values.

In American melodramas, restages of social and cultural values are also pivotal. However, there is more of a tendency to evaluate the rapid transformation of social relations by looking back and consulting the old order of things. In typical endings, characters whose world has collapsed around them usually find another form of personal satisfaction and re-invest their faith in the typical American dream: a classic Hollywood happy ending. Contrast this to Korean melodramas, where the main characters don’t recover. When Korean melodrama characters realize they’ve lost it all, the film usually takes them back to a fleeting memory of past happiness and then ends, eschewing resolution.

— Wikipedia

A popular example of a recent Korean melodrama is Snowdrop.

It seemed like all fans’ concerns were becoming a reality in Episode 14. The episode contained major plot twists and heartbreaking moments. Just a few examples are the implications that Baek Yi Jin and Na Hee Do aren’t endgame, Yi Jin struggling with personal life and job responsibilities, and Ko Yu Rim choosing to accept Russia’s offer to fence on behalf of the country rather than her own after her dad suffers a vehicle collision, etc.

Still, fans are holding out hope for a happy ending. Many have created unique theories that make it possible for all the characters to live happily ever after…

So, fans have been using humor as a coping mechanism. Some have even attempted to change the genre themselves on Wikipedia.

@kdramabride

pls💀I love this fandom💀 #twentyfivetwentyone #kdramafyp #greenscreen #kdramatok #namjoohyuk #koreandrama #kdramalover

♬ IM WEAKKKKKKKKKK – XanthiaAriel

Now, it appears that once and for all Twenty Five Twenty One‘s genre has changed, but this time for the better. Google now categorizes it as a “Coming-of-age story.” Out of all three different genres, “Rom-com,” “Melodrama,” and “Coming-of-age story,” the final seems the most appropriate to define this K-Drama.

Screenshot | Google

We’ve seen three different genres for Twenty Five Twenty One in just one month. Perhaps the reason why it was so hard to select just one is that the drama is undeniable. It’s truly one-of-a-kind.

@theoryofbelle

from romcom to melo to romcom again to coming of age! we’ve finally made it #kdrama #twentyfivetwentyone #kimtaeri #namjoohyuk

♬ Just a Cloud Away – Pharrell Williams

Twenty Five Twenty One is concluding this weekend with its final two episodes. International viewers can watch it on Netflix.

Read more about Twenty Five Twenty One below:

There’s Still Hope For Our “Twenty Five Twenty One” OTP Baek Yi Jin And Na Hee Do—Here’s Proof That They’re Endgame

Source: Google

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