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[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Twenty Again" Episode 15

I admit to being baffled by episode 15 of "Twenty Again". I just don't understand what No-ra is thinking. After all the romantic back and forth, and after how hard she's worked, it's difficult to fathom why she chose the path she did.

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Since the beginning, No-ra has worked towards figuring out who she is. She didn't have a chance to as a kid because she was thrown into motherhood and any personal desires she may have had were quashed by Woo-cheol. Going to college may have started as an attempt to please Woo-cheol, but it turned into a great vehicle of self-discovery. She did well in class, she made friends, she began to truly be self-sufficient. To have her drop that seems utterly foolish, especially since she was on a path towards being self-sufficient. If she needed to be totally independent of Hyeon-seok and Woo-cheol, she could've transferred. I don't see the point of giving up all the hard work she's put into school. There is no reason given for dropping out. I suppose that's the draw into the next episode.

She also cleanly cut Hyeon-seok out of her life, which he finally took gracefully. He may have pushed, but in the end he abided by her wishes. It is understandable that she is uncomfortable with the Daddy Long Legs role he had in her life, but there are other ways to tell him to stop rather than blocking him entirely from her life. It sounds like there is going to be a time jump in the future, a favorite K-drama tool that I utterly loathe when used in this manner. There was also a very clear parallel drawn between her relationship with Hyeon-seok and Min-soo's relationship with Hye-mi. Both relationships were ill-timed, rather than eternally not meant to be. Both No-ra and her son need time to figure out their futures free of romantic distractions. In No-ra's case, the clean break is too much, but such is the way of drama.

The build up to No-ra's isolation from Hyeon-seok was adorable "sort-of-dates" with Hyeon-seok that did fluster her and make her feel the flutters of having a crush. With all the wicked chemistry between them, it is unclear why she needs a total break in order to find herself. She can do so while dating Hyeon-seok and attending school. But the story suggests that she needs to completely break free in order to accomplish her goals.

As for Woo-cheol, he finally understands after totally breaking down, reaching rock bottom in his career, and with his ex-wife, and his ex-mistress, and with his son. I do like that he accepts his defeat and the fact that he has done serious wrong.

All in all, the episode, while mostly on the adorable side, is tainted by No-ra's very sudden decision to cut all ties. I hope it will be explained in the finale, but I was hoping she would just be as honest with Hyeon-seok as she was with Woo-cheol. Admit her feelings, but tell him she needs time. Admit she appreciates him, but that she wishes he would've come to her rather than just saving her without her knowledge. It seems like a ploy for the dramatic and is a step back for the new forthright woman she was in the process of becoming.

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.

 

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