[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Twenty Again" Episode 12

Our main characters were twenty once, but it was a long time ago. Some of the powerful, virulent emotions that overtake youngsters have begun to plague the grown "adults" of "Twenty Again". No-ra hasn't felt the flutterings of a crush in twenty years. Woo-cheol hasn't felt intrigued by his wife in just as long. Hyeon-seok is reliving the love from his youth.

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These youthful emotions overtake the adults quickly, and they almost flounder save for the fact that their experience tempers them. This may actually be No-ra's problem. She feels she's done little in life and is fiercely proud of what she has done: be a stay-at-home mom. She has never really had time for the pitter patterings of love and doesn't know how to handle it. It's exactly this role of a naive housewife that Woo-cheol looks down upon. With the changes in her, he is now being forced to respect her and all that she's done for him. There is finally a push-and-pull between the couple whereas before it was completely dominated by Woo-cheol, a dynamic that mirrors relationships of the young. It is also No-ra's new twenty-something-like behavior that reminds Woo-cheol so much of the woman he fell for that brings him out of his narcissistic stupor and allows him to really see her.

No-ra's burgeoning feelings for Hyeon-seok are new to her, but they are also just plain cute. Choi Ji-woo is winsome in her puppy love and watching her unknowingly flirt and open up around Hyeon-seok is rewarding after all of his chasing and all of the emotional repression she has suffered. Although this show doesn't have as much conflict as I could, what conflict has occured until now is happily rewarded with these happier moments. After this, however, I'd like to see some real work on No-ra's broken marriage: talking about how they will live separate and about how to best insure Min-soo's future. It would be a great juxtaposition to the caring, thoughtful behavior that Hyeon-seok has displayed. Yes, he tends to run hot and cold and also acts like a total jerk. But in general, the way he treats her is as she ought to be treated - as someone of value. Woo-cheol may be starting to get an inkling of it during what may be his awakening from his caveman-like mentality.

Hyeon-seok has been slowly revealing his relationship with No-ra's grandmother, but there isn't enough tension behind this reveal to make the slow pace worth it. At this point it should all be out in the open or Hyeon-seok should have some remaining reservations with No-ra to properly build the anticipation for the big reveal. The rest of "Twenty Again" also moves a tad too slow, focusing more on the fluff than on developing themes of family, betrayal, divorce, second changes, and second loves.

The strongest point thus far is how much No-ra has changed and how she isn't afraid to call out Woo-cheol on his illogical attempts to control her. She's taking control of her life and I greatly applaud her for doing so.

Written by: Raine from 'Raine's Dichotomy'

"Twenty Again" is directed by Kim Hyeong-sik, written by So Hyeon-kyeong, and features Choi Ji-woo, Lee Sang-yoon, Choi Won-young and Kim Min-jae-I.