'Twenty-five, Twenty-One,' starring Kim Tae Ri and Nam Joo Hyuk, recently broke the double-digit viewership ratings captivating viewers with its retro sentimental vibe.
The tvN Saturday-Sunday drama 'Twenty-Five, Twenty-One' ranked 1st place for two consecutive weeks on the content impact assessment index (CPI), released by CJ ENM on March 15. As soon as 'Twenty-Five, Twenty-One' started broadcasting on the 12th of last month, it entered second place in the overall category and has been increasing its CPI index every week.
Set in the backdrops of the late 1990s - when the IMF crisis occurred - this drama depicts the growth and love of young people who are pursuing their dreams while overcoming the difficulties and the struggles of that time.
The performance of the cast, including the lead actors such as Kim Tae Ri and Nam Joo Hyuk, is also considered a factor in popularity. But above all, the historical background cannot be left out as the reason why this drama is loved so much.
Just like the popular drama 'Reply' series, viewers are able to find joy in looking at the retro props such as the beepers seen in the drama.
Props such as beepers, public telephone booths, comic book stores, and more might be unfamiliar to the younger generation, but it is nostalgic to the generation that experienced the 90s. Additionally, even the fashion of that period was seen in the recent episodes adding to the nostalgia of that era.
The drama also succeeded in gaining the empathy and sympathy of viewers as the drama depicts the struggles of the IMF period in Korea. Many viewers feel it has something in common with the current pandemic we are facing, as many have lost hope in this era as well as the IMF period.
The characters are seen enduring and overcoming the pain and struggle of that era just as we are doing so now. The characters grow together and comfort each other moving forward little by little in the midst of difficulties. This is giving encouragement and strength to viewers who are currently struggling with the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.
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This drama takes time to really immerse yourself in and empathize with the characters. I tend to skip over the present-day scenes with her daughter but the intertwining plots of the characters in the past are pretty heart warming.