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Twenty Again: Episode 16 (Final)

I’m really sad about saying goodbye to this show. Twenty Again made a simple story about a woman and her road to self-discovery an uplifting, emotional journey where we could root for our heroine to grow young so that she could grow up. Maybe it even inspired some of us to do some soul-searching of our own. I feel like I walked away with the same life lessons without having to pay the tuition to go back to college… for which I’m pretty grateful, actually, since I’m still making payments for going the first time.

 
SONG OF THE DAY

Kim Yerim – “Goodbye 20” [ Download ]

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FINAL EPISODE RECAP

Nora rides her bicycle through the neighborhood in the morning and stops to have toast on a park bench just like she did once with Hyun-seok. We don’t know how much time has passed, but it doesn’t seem like more than a few months. She heads to the market and gets picky about the vegetables she’s buying, saying that she’s on a shopping test right now.

Then it’s over to Dong-chul’s shop to learn Grandma’s ddukbokki recipe, which he’s teaching her in secret over multiple lessons. He runs off for yet another audition, and Nora picks up a newspaper to find a story on Hyun-seok and his new theater project, using the title she came up with: “Finding Lost Time.”

She scrambles to hide the paper as Yoon-young arrives, and assures her that she doesn’t regret dropping out of school at all. Flashback to the day Nora first told Yoon-young that she dropped out: Yoon-young was shocked and appalled, and asked why Nora would quit something she wanted to do so badly.

Nora realized that there was no reason to keep going to school—Woo-chul was the reason she went in the first place, and the cost of tuition over four years wouldn’t make sense for her budget. And other than dance, there was nothing she really wanted to study and pursue.

Yoon-young said that lots of people go to college for the specs, whether it’s to get a job or otherwise, and suggested graduating anyway for Hyun-seok’s sake. But Nora declared that she was done trying to match other people’s levels according to what the world thinks (good for you), and added that she was going to leave Hyun-seok in the past as a first love.

Yoon-young asked if she wouldn’t regret it, and Nora said she didn’t know, but there was no way she could stand on her own while constantly depending on Hyun-seok and letting him protect her.

Back in the present, Yoon-young offers to go with Nora to honor Grandma’s birthday, and they remember wistfully that their last trip was to that same old house in the country when they were in high school. Yoon-young asks if Hyun-seok has been by, and tells her that he bit Dong-chul’s head off for even mentioning Nora’s name, and told him never to speak of her again. Yoon-young thinks that’s overkill, but Nora expected as much. Still, she looks sad to hear it.

Hyun-seok is pricklier than usual, even for him, and yells his way through rehearsals. Soon-nam busts in with snacks and breaks the tension, though he looks terrified that Hyun-seok will just yell at him instead.

He must be the new assistant, which I hope means that he decided to pursue his dreams after all. Hyun-seok tenses up when the other director asks why they never eat ddukbokki anymore, and just says he doesn’t feel like it.

Nora is happy to have a chance encounter with Hyun-seok at the bookstore, when she sees him walking her way. As he walks up, she prepares to say that it’s been a while… but then he just continues right past her like she’s invisible. Ouch.

Nora can’t believe he’d ignore her (are you forgetting that whole who-are-you business when you first met on campus?) and is about to chase after him to get mad… But then she remembers that he said it’s time to move on from his first love, and that nothing lasts forever. She lets him walk away.

She heads home to her single-room apartment and opens up her laptop to Skype with Min-soo. He’s spending a year traveling around the world doing volunteer work, and he seems so happy and carefree as he talks about how it’s broadening his mind. They sign off, and Nora sighs that Min-soo’s all grown up now.

She opens up the book that Hyun-seok gave her about finding your happiness today, and flips through the pages she’d carefully hand-copied and illustrated day by day. She finishes that volume and moves onto a new book, and then takes out the news article about Hyun-seok that she’d clipped out.

In the interview, he says that he buried his past in a time capsule so that he could focus solely on the present while he’s working on this production. It makes her angry all over again to think of their bookstore run-in, and she gives Hyun-seok’s photo the evil eye. She takes out his keepsake box and opens up the card he sent her with roses, and grumbles that he once said he wanted to look out for her.

Nora is all packed up to go visit Grandma’s house, but Yoon-young calls to say that she forgot about taking her mother to the hospital for a checkup, and they agree to meet at the train station. As Nora waits in the street for a cab, she sees a couple sharing headphones and it makes her think of Hyun-seok.

Out of nowhere, Hyun-seok pulls up in his car and offers Nora a ride, which seems odd given his bookstore behavior. Nora says no at first so he doesn’t bother asking twice, but then he changes his mind and packs all her things into the car anyway.

He isn’t particularly nice about it or anything, and Nora grumps to herself that he hasn’t asked how she is even once. He spends the whole ride on the phone, and seems to use that as an excuse to just keep driving directly to Grandma’s house instead of the train terminal.

At first Nora argues, but he says he has a right to see Grandma too. She calls it burdensome, but he asks why: “First love is over. Just think of it as seeing an old friend.” She still argues, until Yoon-young calls to say that she’s running behind.

They arrive at Grandma’s house, and Hyun-seok offers to clean up a little while Nora visits Grandma’s grave. She tells Grandma about going to college with the money she left her, but says that she quit because there was nothing else she wanted to learn there. She tearfully thanks Grandma for being born as her grandmother and for loving her.

Then she immediately follows that up with a whiny complaint about Hyun-seok and what his deal is, heh. She’s startled when he shows up to swap places, and he starts pulling weeds from Grandma’s grave as Nora cooks.

Nora pouts as she makes food and grumbles aloud, “You were all, twenty-year first love, blah blah. How could you empty your heart out like that in just a few months?” She thinks back to how sweet he was back in high school, when they were here at the house practicing for their show.

She suddenly remembers now that Hyun-seok went to go get a watermelon and she went too… and that’s the moment when she told him he’d be a famous director in twenty years. She follows Little Hyun-seok out of the house and down to the creek, as she remembers the conversation where they’d made bets about their future predictions and buried a time capsule together.

Hyun-seok had taken care to remember the exact location, and Nora had assured him that they’d come together to dig them up, and they pinky-swore on it. Nora looks around for the spot now, not quite sure where it is.

But from across the creek, Hyun-seok calls out directions and guides her to the spot under the tree. She’s surprised that he remembered the time capsule all this time, but he says he isn’t interested in digging it up. He tells her she can read them both.

So Nora digs and digs, and lights up when she finds the two bottles buried right where they left them twenty years ago. She opens up Hyun-seok’s first, which says:

Hyun-seok: “Thirty-eight-year-old Ha Nora of 2015! You’re the same—you’re still bright, and strong, and beautiful, just like you were twenty years ago on July 30, 1995. Ha Nora, I was happy and grateful that you were by my side for twenty years. Let’s be happy in the future too. —Cha Hyun-seok, who always wants to be by Ha Nora’s side.”

Then she opens up her own, where she’d predicted that Hyun-seok would be the best director in the country, then crossed out her name and written instead: “The person who wants to look out for you.” It’s the exact wording he’d used with her when he sent her flowers. Her eyes well up with tears, as she realizes that he’s read this already.

She looks up and sees that Hyun-seok is already walking away, and chases after him to ask if he dug up the time capsule without her. He says he did, and we see in flashback that he’d come to pay his respects at Grandma’s grave after army duty. He dug up the time capsule to throw it away, then thought better of it and read the note inside.

Nora asks why he put it back in the ground, and he says maybe he’d hoped that they’d still come back twenty years later together. He says that she’s that kind of person to him, then turns to go.

Nora looks like she’s about to burst into tears when he walks away from her, and runs after him. Yay! She grabs him in a backhug and cries into his back, and he asks stoically what this means.

She says she’s figured it out now—the final assignment he’d given them in class to pinpoint that one pivotal moment in your life that changes everything. Nora: “I think it’s now.” But Hyun-seok remains distant as he answers, “I don’t understand unless you say it directly, like the last time.”

She remembers saying that she didn’t want him beside her, so now she says, “I want you to be by my side.” He asks why, and she cries, “Because I like you. Because I missed you. Because I can’t forget you. I thought I was going to die from missing you so much!”

That finally cracks his armor and puts a smile on his face, and he asks her to say it again. Instead, Nora asks, “You didn’t forget me, did you?” He turns around to hug her and replies, “How could I forget you?”

She wails and calls him a jerk as she pounds him on the back, and he looks totally offended. It seems like the start of a typical argument between them, only this time Hyun-seok just swoops in with a kiss instead. It takes Nora by surprise, but soon they’re lost in the moment.

Later, they set the table for Grandma’s birthday with all of her favorite foods. Nora pours a glass of makgulli for Grandma and one for herself, and she says it’s a birthday tradition because Grandma liked makgulli so much.

Hyun-seok scoffs and tells her to stop using Grandma as an excuse, knowing full well that she’s been drinking the stuff since she was six and dancing at village parties. Lol, it’s unfair that he knows all her embarrassing stories from Grandma.

He shares another story he knows, about why Grandma loved red bean bread so much. One day she worked all day at her job and her boss could only pay her in red bean bread, and she was so hungry that she desperately wanted a bite. But she had a granddaughter at home who was starving all day. Grandma brought home the bread only hoping for one small bite at the end, but the first thing that starving little girl did was to feed Grandma the first bite.

Nora’s never heard this story before, and Hyun-seok remembers that Grandma used to say that you couldn’t help but love Nora. He says that it was Grandma who made it possible for him to love Nora deeply.

He tells Grandma that Nora finally came to her senses, and when she argues, he says she made him wait for three months and ten days. She asks how he could go all that time without coming to see her once, and he asks how she can be sure he didn’t. Of course you stalked her. Of course you did.

But what surprises her is that he calls her out on stalking him, and teases her for wanting to see him that badly. We see that she had come to steal peeks at Hyun-seok thinking she was being stealthy, and he let her carry on. That’s adorable.

Dong-chul would bring him tastes of Nora’s ddukbokki, and he took pictures of her at the ddukbokki shop when she wasn’t looking, like the stalker that he is. He heard from Yoon-young that Nora was dropping out of school, and decided to just hang back for a while and let her do her thing.

Yoon-young was worried that Hyun-seok was really giving up on Nora, but he’d decided to just be patient and give her the space to do what she wants. In the present, Nora scowls to hear that their friends were in on it, and asks why he gave her space.

Hyun-seok says he wanted to become someone who gave her courage in life: “So that you’d come to me on your own two feet.” He argues that he was being patient while he waited for her, and that he was extremely nervous she wouldn’t come back to him.

She points out that he saw her watching him from afar, but he says that wasn’t enough—it was a sign that she didn’t have the courage to grab onto him for real, that she didn’t believe in his love enough. She only makes him mad by agreeing, then teases, “It was worth the wait, right?”

Hyun-seok says goodbye to Grandma and promises to come back with Nora, and prods her to say the same. She tells Grandma that she might come back with Hyun-seok, depending on how he does.

Then we catch up with Woo-chul, who has really embraced the disheveled professor look. The buttons are falling off his shirt and he looks like he doesn’t shower often, but he’s hard at work to make something of himself at his new university in a small town (an entirely new school, not the one he was trying to leave Woocheon for).

He gives a lecture on narcissistic personality disorder, seemingly from a more enlightened place, and then notices Yi-jin stalking him on campus. She attempts to hide, though he points out that her incognito outfit is the exact same from when they were hiding their affair. He sighs that he made her hide when they were together and is making her hide even now, and declares himself a bad person. Huh, is that self-awareness? Well I never.

He assumes that she couldn’t get over her rage, but all she says is that it’s been hard to forget. He sticks his cheek out and tells her to hit him, and when she cries that he’s misunderstanding her, he wonders if it’s possible that she means she couldn’t forget him. He confirms that he moved here on his own, and made a clean break with Nora.

In flashback we see Woo-chul and Nora meeting one last time before his move. He asked if she still hated him, but Nora said she had no feelings toward him one way or another. He said that he realized how young he was back then too, and how he only thought of hiding his mistake. Nora told him that it was all in the past, and to only live looking ahead to the future.

He gave her the necklace he’d bought for her back when he thought he could win her back, and though it’s with a different intent now, he still wanted her to have it. She opened it to find a note tucked inside, and all it said was, “For twenty years… I’m sorry, and thank you.” Nora noted that it’s the first present he’s ever given her. He says it one more time aloud to her as a farewell: “I’m sorry, and thank you.”

In the present, he ends up going to lunch with Yi-jin, and she gets flustered when he puts a piece of fish on her plate tenderly. He admits that he doesn’t actually like this dish very much—he just always ate it because it’s her favorite.

He says that he’s working hard at his new school and will soon work his way back to a big school in Seoul. Yi-jin has resigned from Woocheon—she couldn’t bring herself to teach after what she did, and is leaving for the States soon.

It’s just a one-month trip though, and he makes sure that she’s going to come back. She says that she doesn’t know the reason, but she can’t quite bring herself to leave for good. He takes that as a good sign and asks if she wants to go eat red bean shaved ice for dessert, and then it’s her turn to admit that she hates red beans.

Woo-chul realizes how little they were honest about as a couple, and says that from now on they’ll be brutally honest and not hide anymore.

Hyun-seok busts out a new suit (the one Nora picked out) and primps in the mirror, and Nora does the same at home. It’s opening night for Hyun-seok’s show, and Nora shows up with Soon-nam to deliver food for the cast and crew.

Hyun-seok grumps that he told Soon-nam not to let Nora do this, while Soon-nam asks why he’d choose the director of his part-time job over his “forever noona.” Kyaa. Hyun-seok says he heard about Soon-nam pursuing directing, and prods him to choose again, him or Nora.

Nora asks what happened to the civil service exam, and Soon-nam tells her that while doing her part-time job for the last few months, he’s become interested in directing. Sang-ye introduced him to some musical theater contacts, so he’s thinking of working in production. Yay, Soon-nam! Nora smiles brightly, genuinely happy to hear that he’s not wasting his talent.

Hyun-seok stands there pouting that they’re talking to each other and excluding him, and prods Soon-nam to choose again. They just laugh at him and make fun, which is adorable. Nora whispers for Hyun-seok to go eat because she made his favorite porridge, and he compliments her dress.

Nora and Yoon-young sit in the front row as the play begins, all about people who have lost time one way or another. One character was in a coma for twenty years and is shocked at how she’s aged when all she remembers last is being eighteen, echoing Nora’s own journey of self-discovery.

The girls hang back as Hyun-seok gets flooded with reporters and fans after the show, and Nora suggests catching up with Hyun-seok later. But he breaks through the crowd exclaiming loudly, “I have to go receive flowers from my girlfriend first!” Keh, that’s embarrassing AND adorable! He takes Nora’s flowers and gives her a wink.

Nora gives the second bouquet to Sang-ye, and Hyun-seok congratulates her on finally escaping life as an assistant director. He says that she’s already planned her debut project, which they’re set to work on right after this production.

When Hyun-seok hugs Sang-ye, Soon-nam pries his arm off as he points out that his noona is standing right there watching him. He reminds them that Sang-ye has a boyfriend too, then turns to Seung-hyun and tells her not to let sunbaes do that to her. She jabs him and calls him oppa. Omo, they’re dating?

Nora ends up buying the ddukbokki shop and Dong-chul becomes her employee. Hyun-seok drops by unannounced and Nora runs out on personal business, teasing that he can’t know everything about her because she’s a woman of mystery.

Hyun-seok ends up spending the whole day just waiting for her to come back, and tries to act all casual when she returns, like he just happened to want to sit there all day. But then a regular customer comes in and chats happily with Nora, and Hyun-seok gets jealous to hear that he’s a divorced 35-year-old lawyer who works across the street and only comes in when Nora is working.

He gets huffy and demands to use his time capsule wish now (for getting his prediction right that they’d be together till now), and asks Nora to stop selling ddukbokki to that man. Pfft. You’re going to waste your wish on that?

She scowls and he rescinds immediately, but complains that she’s too smiley with the customers. She asks if she’s supposed to be angry instead, which he can’t quite get behind either. So then he settles on asking her to introduce him as her boyfriend.

Nora is just flattered that a man seems interested in her, which annoys Hyun-seok more. He reminds her of how he acted when she came to his play, but she tells him to stop coming here if he’s going to be like this.

The argument gets cut short when Yoon-young arrives, and Nora serves the three friends a plate of ddukbokki each. Hyun-seok is still in a foul mood until Dong-chul discovers that Nora put extra ingredients on Hyun-seok’s plate and not on anyone else’s. Ha, it makes him SO happy to discover that he’s getting special treatment.

When the boys leave, Yoon-young asks if Nora isn’t playing too hard-to-get, and asks what happens if Hyun-seok gets away. Nora figures that you can’t force a person’s heart anyway, so it’s not like doing everything his way is going to make him hers: “Hyun-seok is important, but so is my life.” Yoon-young teases her some more for her display of affection, and Nora buries her face in her hands in embarrassment.

Nora shows Seung-hyun a webtoon that she drew called “Second First Love,” and it’s all about her first run-in with Hyun-seok at school. Seung-hyun gets ready to post it online for her, and Nora hesitates, saying that she just drew it as a hobby.

Seung-hyun assures her that it’s an amateur webtoon site for people to upload their work and have it read and commented on, and Nora gets all excited and anxious before pulling the trigger. Oh, I’m so happy she did this. Seung-hyun promises not to tell anyone, and they light up when a comment appears asking for the next installment.

Nora and Hyun-seok go back to Woocheon on a Sunday afternoon, and they see Hye-mi in the distance refusing to go on a group blind date as she holds up a postcard from Min-soo. The friend asks if they didn’t break up, and Hye-mi doesn’t explain, but says that she has to study anyway to get her grades up. Looks like she’s changed a lot too. Hyun-seok asks if Hye-mi still doesn’t know that she’s Min-soo’s mom, and Nora says there’s no sense in burdening her with something like that.

He takes her hand as they walk through campus together, and Nora reminisces about her first days here and the fun, crazy, memorable events from her time here. Hyun-seok asks if she wants to come back, and she says no, but she’s happy she did at the time, because of all the unforgettable memories.

He asks if he’s the best memory of all, and she says in one way he is, because she learned so much from knowing him.

They head to their usual place to get some reading done, which turns out to be the park where they had their manhwa date. They listen to music together on his old Walkman and Hyun-seok lends his arm as a pillow, and in exchange Nora turns pages for him.

She falls asleep in his arms and curls up at his side. A little boy kicks a ball over to them, and Hyun-seok quietly asks him to play over there, handing him some chocolate to persuade him. It’s a tiny moment, but it’s exactly the kind of gesture that made Nora so envious when she was here with Danny, when a husband made sure not to wake his sleeping wife.

Hyun-seok gives her a kiss on the forehead, and Nora smiles softly as they snuggle up for an afternoon nap.

 
COMMENTS

That’s the cutest beat to end on. Of course Hyun-seok is the exact the kind of man to do the one thing she envied in another couple. It’s hardly a surprise, given that he’s always put her first in every other way. It’s a minor thing but it just strikes me as so perfectly thoughtful that he’s loath to wake her. I’m glad that we were given the kind of resolved-yet-open ending I was hoping for, where Nora finds love and happiness in the present, and learns to enjoy that above all. I didn’t want her jumping into a second marriage right away or need to see her whole future mapped out, since it’s more important that she’s strong enough to make those decisions for herself and pave her own path, no matter what outside people might think. It’s nice that Hyun-seok has learned to back off a little too, though maybe I’m more impressed that Nora has learned to assert herself and demand that of Hyun-seok.

Not that stalking her for the three months he spent waiting is anything to be proud of, when he was supposed to be moving on. But I would’ve been too heartbroken if he’d moved on for real, so I guess it was the best of both worlds to have him hang back and choose to wait it out. It’s far more meaningful for Nora to come to him as an active choice—not because he’s just always there, or it’s the easy thing to do to rely on him. In that sense their time apart was necessary, even if he was already on that page; she needed to get there too. I suppose dramaland has conditioned me to the point that I’m just grateful they didn’t have to spend two years apart while one of them studied abroad. It’s also just satisfying for her to admit that she missed him like crazy and suffered for it too, after he went through so much pain loving her from afar for twenty years. And really, it’s just plain funny that after breaking up like that, she spent the three months stalking him and getting mad at him for not coming around, when she’s the one who told him to stay away.

As far as Nora’s future goes, I can’t say that running Grandma’s ddukbokki place is all that inspired a career choice—I mean, I get that it holds special meaning for her as a part of her family, but I just think she could do more with her life. In a lot of ways I’m disappointed in the ultimate decision to have her drop out of school, even though I understand that it’s not the most realistic choice for her in the present. I was just hoping to see her graduate along with her class no matter what she chose to do afterwards, because being there made her so happy. But I think it’s enough that she walks away with true friends, lasting memories, a newfound sense of self, and having reconnected with Hyun-seok. Though if she didn’t start that webtoon, I think I’d actually leave the series feeling dissatisfied. But that first step at putting something personal out there in the world made me excited for her future.

I’m happy with where we leave all the rest of our characters, with Sang-ye happy and Soon-nam pursuing his dream in a realistic-yet-satisfying way (and dating Seung-hyun!), and Min-soo trekking around the world to find himself. I didn’t care either way whether Woo-chul and Yi-jin got back together as a couple, but I did like where he ended up as a character, finally coming to grips with his own overblown ego and narcissistic worldview, and learning some humility the hard way. Choi Won-young really stands out as an actor in this series, because he had the hard job of making a despicable character likable, and was a source of constant humor and even sympathy at times. He was a delightfully human antagonist, and I was moved by him saying after all those years that he was sorry and grateful.

It goes without saying that Choi Ji-woo carried the show and made Ha Nora someone we all loved and rooted for, but I was especially excited to see her doing a light rom-com after years spent spilling so many of her tears. She never made me question Hyun-seok’s sanity for loving her for twenty years (because really, that’s a crazy long time), and I loved seeing her embrace the funny, flawed aspects of Nora. She didn’t have sizzling romantic chemistry with Lee Sang-yoon, but they had the most adorable, childish bickering camaraderie that really made me love the romance, even without a lot of skinship. They were like a time-warp romance between two teenagers, and I loved it. It had a lot to do with Hyun-seok, who was so unbelievably supportive and unselfish (when he stopped being hilariously petty, which was once in a while). And Lee Sang-yoon is unfairly perfect for the role, because he could spend long stretches being cold and prickly, then turn on a dime with one flash of his dimples. He’s the least realistic of all the characters, but I still appreciated that he wasn’t drawn to be perfect—he had his flaws, and some of them were infuriating. But none of them compares to his undying devotion to Nora.

He’s pretty much the ideal romantic hero—the guy who loves you just as you are (or who you were before you forgot your own awesomeness at the age of 18), and encourages you to be your best and chase after everything you want, even if it’s another man. Often times first love romances feel forced, but in this story it was a nice constant to have someone remember how bright and beautiful Nora once was, and slowly draw her out of her dark shell. And in the end it was her remembering Hyun-seok at 18 that brought everything back for her, quite literally full circle, to a message from her 18-year-old self. It felt like a fully formed journey from start to finish, which doesn’t surprise me, given how much I like this writer’s dramas. I love that the message isn’t to go back and fix all the things you regret, or even to actually relive your youth. What Nora really learns is how to see herself clearly—her 18-year-old self, as well as her 38-year-old self—and then choose exactly who she wants to be, right now. Recognizing that she has the ability to decide and carve out whatever future she wants is truly empowering, and acting on it by forging her own path and grabbing onto love when she sees it—that’s inspiring.

 
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Awww... show is over...

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I'm gonna miss this show. It kept me entertained but it got me thinking too about life, aspirations, purpose, and individuality. The cast, script, and directing are all great. Thanks for recapping this show.

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It's over. It's finally over :(
I'm so glad this episode didn't head in the direction we were all dreading it would. The last episode had the same happy mood as the rest of the episodes in this drama. And no time leap, YAY!!

I like how he just gave her space to let her be herself and come to him instead of forcing her.
This drama was well done. I'm so pleased. Thank you scriptwriter!!

And omg... I died and went to heaven when I saw Cha Hyun Seok get ready for his play's opening. *fans self*

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Aww I wanted to rate this episode, but the star rating didn't last long enough. It disappeared after 3 seconds :/

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IT HAS ENDED!!!!

*bursts into tears*

First of all, thank you, Girlfriday and Javabeans for posting the recaps every week and thanks to the rest of the posters for the discussions. I am still trying to collect my thoughts so I may miss something.

On to the show…episode 16, why so many flashbacks? And the editing felt a little weird sometimes.

Anyways, I liked this drama. I am glad to have been taken on this journey of Nora’s, from the pitiful life she had in the beginning to getting this ending. Nora dear, you have come far…go spread your wings and fly… (Sir Dimples will be grinning in the background probably)

Woo-chul was the kind of man who, in a melo drama, would have earned my full wrath and hatred but in this show, I found that though I disliked what he did, I could not fully hate him. There was just something so comical about him sometimes and I truly did not want to see him have a terrible ending. I am glad he apologized to Nora. It may have been years too late but hopefully, he learned something. Perhaps I blame his actor for making me a little soft towards him…I wanted Woo-chul to change and become a better man. He may never make up for what he did to Nora but at least let him walk the right path.

I am glad Nora had a friend like Yoon-young…someone to talk to and share stuff with. I also feel like Yoon-young was the biggest shipper of Hyun-suk and Nora

One thing I wish is that we had gotten more of Seung-hyun and Soo-nam. I was so happy when they became Nora’s friends and had their little adventures together.

The thing I have still failed to understand and probably never will is the relationship between Min-soo and Hye-mi. Sure, they finally realized they were wrong for each other but they wasted each other’s time (and ours) coming to this conclusion. I have been harsh on this relationship and was hoping for it to end. I do not completely see what it added to either character, or the overall plot.

This show, like several other kdramas, has taught me the importance of communication. Several misunderstandings would have been cleared up if characters sat down and, you know, talked.

Otherwise, farewell to this show. It revived my being active on this site. I will probably go into hibernation again, dreaming of dimples and what not.

PS: that song, Cuckoo (the La la la song) is among my favourite osts this year…

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Just think of the flashbacks as finding lost time. ;) I knew about them from the soompi thread before I watched this episode, but while I watched they didn't bother me. Shorthand, but useful shorthand. I think the slowness of the early episodes is useful, too: there had to be time to see No-ra's trauma.

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Yes, i am listening to Cuckoo now while i am writing this hahas! It is so hype!

I am so glad that the writer eventually listen to us and give Seung hyun and Soo nam a love line! I want more of them too, like their backstory of how they got together, though i feel that theirs isn't shown to us due to limited screen time and the very condensed ep 16.

The writer even takes care of Woo chul and Yi Jin's relationship, which I am thankful of as I personally hope that these 2 can mature together in their relationship, although I really dun agree with these 2 way of doing things throughout the drama .

The writer even heard my calls for continuing Min soo and hye mi's loveline!!! OMG, i thought theirs ended last episode after the break up trip. I even wrote a post dedicated to them lol. It seems that Hye Mi is waiting for Min Soo. More than anything, I am glad that these 2 found a balance - HM now sees the importance of studies, and MS takes a very big leap forward in leaving uni for travelling. That is such a courageous move, my applause!

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yes, right. dramalover, for past weeks, there are "little wars' here as some for/ mainly against Hye Mi. i chose to refrained from commenting. because neither loath her or liked her, i find i felt nothing towards her. she is just like those little young pretty things that came to my seminary here year by year... some Hye-Mis managed to graduate, and went back to whatever their interest, or simply disappeared even no reply from facebook... i have a long list of k-alumni that are like Hye-Mi, some make it, some don't... some just play thru their 3 to 4 years. and finally when you see them after 10 years, they suddenly grew up and have families. i guess, as much as i am please Writernim didn't listen to us and send WC to hell fire, she didn't make Hye Mi miserable too. Give her some times, and we will see ("shall not see" since TVN don't have session 2 right? ), she will get tired of playing, dump her A-Pink image, and be live a real life. yeah, if all korean pretty ones dreamt to be little Apink one day. HM is just like anyone around us, i learn not to be quick to judge her.

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Min Soo and Hye Mi ‘s relationship was important to the story as it represented a young love that echoed in a way Nora’s and her husband’s . Hye Mi wanted to be part of a campus couple, having fun with a boyfriend who was focused on her. Min Soo was pursuing a challenging academic path he wasn’t even sure he wanted. Their story was about the importance of finding yourself and your life goals and not just becoming what others want you to do. Min Soo and Hye Mi were able to recognize that and even though they cared about each other, they took a step back to do some self discovery.

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Love love love this show!
For a moment i thought we'd not get the ending most of us wanted.. but iam very happythat everyone'a stories were tied up well. I will miss this show... i will miss seeing CJW and LSY weekly. I love them and their characters so much!

*Now off to read the recap*

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No worries, the REPLY series is back with its third installment next week! If you are a fan of the reply series, i hope to see you around!

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ok. but who else squealed about Soonam and Seung-hyun?? :)) Too cute!!
I loved this drama beginning to end. It really makes you think about your life...or at least it does for me and I am grateful for it. :) Drama you will be missed. <3

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I did! I did!

I liked both of those two characters, especially Soonam after he stood up for No Ra.

I'm happy the writers incorporated them two in the last episode.

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me me me! I squealed during that scene! Soon Nam and seung Hyun yeahhh!! They're too cute together. It's awesome that they're dating.

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ive been shipping them since they started hanging out.
SO CUTE.

theyre more satisfying than the main couple tbh.

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MEEEEEE!!! I've been rooting for them the WHOLE series!! I love everything about this show, everything! Even including No Ra quitting school...I love how she comes to the conclusion, very level headed way and very realistic. I'm exactly her age, and I'd think that'd be my way to arrive to that decision too. I love the fact that she WENT to college, cause otherwise her mind wouldn't have expanded the way she did...and she wouldn't have met the people she met. Living however, shouldn't merely define by what you do for a living, but how you live and fill your life each day. Kudos to the writer(s)!!!

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the unique thing about this drama, is Writernim don't give us fairytale ending. In crude Real life, seldom do we really take on our dream and make a career out of it. i loved and have a gift in drawing, aka fine Art. but i know i cannot make a living out of it, at least here in my little island, i cannot expect anyone to fund my drawings, and sit and wait at art exhibitions. i don't expect any WC to swoon at my works and cited some awesome colour combination draw thru his body.... hahaha... whether is it Art or music ... some just thank the LORD to be given some chances to dream during our teens ... then keep that as hobbies now.. and went on to do what God has put into our palm in realities. when we were young, that Dream was all that we dreamt of... as we grew older... other dreams crept in, and some dreams grew bigger, some burst like bubbles, and we have other things or people that take on important roles in our lives. then, we also discovered we are good in other things too, some realised that interest in something we loved, actually doesn't mean we really have a gift or special talent in that area. But as God took away that dream, and make it lesser in our hearts, God also gave us new dreams, and even best, "New People" in our hearts, and we find joy and helping to fulfill quietly beside this "one Person" in our heart, to fulfill his dream. all in all. Dreams are like Hyunsuk's Treasure Box, say if Nora really have a happy marriage, those contents in that Treasure box or that Time capsule are also part of our memories. Young Dreams that have disappeared or grew smaller in importance, are still part of our precious memories. yes, Kudos to Writernim, to keep reminding us, most important is , Carpe Diem, seize the day, To-day is the Day, and whosoever, HE our Creator put beside us today. to have someone beside us, is the Dream many never ever have their dream fulfilled when they breathe their last breathe. Kudos to Writernim to use a simple rom-com to stir a wealth of thoughts to stir ourselves to rethink our lives.

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Awww… STTYO is over, and everything (or almost everything) was tied neatly with a bow. I won’t complain though. This ep. was sweet, funny, and somehow even some of the petty characters matured in 3 months and 10 days. Who would have thought? When I watched ep.15, I couldn’t believe HNR did not want CHS by her side. I understood her desire to figure out life for herself (and I am not sure CHS ever prevented her to do that), however I was thinking, “can’t he just continue to watch over you though? He is so committed and devoted to you… And there is the fact that you DO like him, a lot…” So my hopes were not really high for ep.16. “I hope we get at least one kiss”, were my thoughts. I felt that the fact that STTYO is a rom-com (it is, to an extent, right?), and the way our expectations were set up, made it ripe to expect at least one kiss for the whole drama.

I decided to check out ep.16 out of curiosity, and I ended up watching the whole ep., and liking it. I am going to go off tangent for a minute to say how handsome LSY is with his hair up. The way he looked when he went to his play (the outfit, the hair, the dimples, the glint in his eyes when he smiles, and the little wrinkles around his eyes when he smiles), all those things made me sigh… Especially because from his interviews and video clips, he seems to be quite unassuming in real life. He just looked another level of handsome in those scenes. And I liked the way he flirted with HNR, that was cute!

OK, so back to this ep.: after watching the whole ep., HNR’s decisions, about (temporarily) pushing CHS away, quitting school, running her grandma’s restaurant, and living in a smaller place, etc… made sense. She wanted to live her life on her own terms, and she was doing just that. And she also realized how much she actually loved CHS, though as she put it, “she valued her life, as much as she valued him.” That was mature, especially coming from someone whose husband’s thoughts meant everything to her. Good for her. I liked many things in this ep., and a few surprised me. I watched this ep. twice: raw this morning, and subbed later in the afternoon. I burst out LOL the 1st time I watched the ep, when I realized that KWC was actually teaching and lecturing his students on Narcissistic Personality Disorder. The irony… “He came up with that idea himself?” was my thought. He must have.

To see how mature KWC and KYJ had become in a mere 3 months was like “WOW!” (though having said that, I guess stalking your [ex]-boyfriend might not be very mature after all. And it also sounded like they would still see (or maybe date) each other? I was confused about that aspect of their relationship). It was nice though to see both characters having learned from their mistakes, and making up for them. I loved the way KWC gave HNR and himself closure about their separation and divorce.

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The apology, and the acknowledgement of how much she had done and sacrificed were very meaningful. I also liked that he still gave her the necklace, and that she took it.

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Hi @Ivoire

Yes, this was the Woo Chul and No Ra part in the entire series that was the best. I can't believe that the necklace was the first present he had given her in 20 years!!! What a patient wife! I'm guessing that she did not even complain, unlike what I'd have done! LOL!

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I also loved that CHS understood what was going on with HNR, and that he was willing to give her her space, and time to figure things out, and decide when she wanted to be with him. I think this writer wrote MDSY, right? If so, she did the same thing with the main OTP in that drama. I LOVED the ending of the drama, with the OTP at the park, and HNR falling asleep and cuddling into CHS’ s arms. And that forehead kiss *Swoon* (yeah, I am not difficult). I just really loved the OTP’s interactions in this ep. Seeing CHS being jealous, but then agreeing on all of HNR’s points about being pleasant and courteous to her customers (even the male ones) was so cute!!! And I love RYY, she is a really good friend, and so is SDC (who I realized was in YFAS).

Even OHM made some positive changes. I was like “WOW! This writer is leaving no one out.” To hear her say she had to go study, because she got an F before, surprised me. I also loved how HNR went to look for the time capsules again, which led to her confessing to CHS. I loved those scenes, and how CHS pushed her to say things clearly. He deserved at least that much.

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Dear Ivoire, it is very nice to meet you, as always.

This was a beautiful Drama. When you think that the main themes have been very well resolved (self-empowering, self-discovering, gender equality, and freedom) AND we get a truly happy ending (not only the fanservice: where everyone is better and more mature at the end), you know this is a good series.

I don't know what you will think about it nor Ms. Girlfriday and Ms. Javabeans, but in terms of discussing several key issues satisfactorily and sensitively (even if more humbly), Twenty Again is not too far from Flowes for my Life. And this is not something I say everyday.

Cheers!!!.

FGB4877.

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Ivoire, u said “WOW! This writer is leaving no one out.”
that is the previous unique part in this drama.
that the Writer took measures to give each characters their deserving or even not so deserving ends. that each grow in little ways, or big ways.
not Writernim bothers not to end it with sending any villains into hell, or polices cuffing up some evil ones.... finally we have a drama that looks like our daily lives.... our daily lives don't have extreme evil ones or prefect saints... even this OTP is not the normal KD perfect lee minho or even a JiChangwoo...
i didn't expect WC to be treated with repentance, and i walked away from the show, with this rare satifaction and surprise that actually we don't find happiness in seeing villians dead. we loved an Ends with WC waking up, loosing someone he once have and never treasured, now finally treasure this one (YJ) that both he and YJ don't deserved. 20A is giving a hope even for the undeserving. yes, CWY is awesome, after portrayed a pyschopath in such a way that we sympathised with him in i rememember you, now he make WC so hateful, yet so real. almost make you happy that he has his redeemed, and you give up wanting to send him to jail. i applause Writernim for her grace , and making us gracious too.

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ivoire, know you since Healer era.
nice to meet you at finale.
count it a blessing that we have Healer to start the year, and 20A to ends it so excellently. i don't think we shall find another one that deserved to hold such depth in our hearts like these two. (oh, that "i Remember you" too.)

2015 is a special year. i am not greedy. Thank God for a special year.

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Hmmm..... Did anyone else notice those dimples on Woo Chul as well? ?

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@ Dramaqueen

Ah did you mean at 47:45 minutes into the show? I noted that it was about the first time he had a big smile, at least for a while. :)

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Thoroughly enjoyed this show! I did not want an extension of episodes, but it would have been more fulfilling to see the romance with Hyun Suk develop since No Ra also missed out on a proper courtship. So much potential for cuteness. Nonetheless I discovered Lee Sang Yoon through this drama. Went on to read the recaps of Liar Game and watched Angel Eyes between episodes of Twenty Again. I knew he could do the melo/heavier moments but wondered if he could pull off the comedic angle. I don’t know if it was his dry delivery (“I’m doing all kinds of crap now”) or subtle reactions (his face when realizing he unwittingly admitted to sending the roses) but he definitely had me chuckling out loud. This is also my first time watching Choi Ji Woo and she portrayed Ha No Ra’s desperation, fear, vulnerability then determination, resilience, and hope so realistically.

On a shallow note yay for ditching the ajumma man-perm even if it was only for a few minutes.

Lastly, I saw on the soompi thread for Lee Sang Yoon that the pd or writer for Liar Game tweeted they were working on two projects for 2016, and season 2 of Liar Game was one of them. Can anyone corroborate???

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Saw that on soompi thread too and i think it's positive *crossing fingers*
These days i have been digging about Liar Game bcs i miss Ha Woo Jin and just find out that in bts video, all three main casts keep saying something about "season 2" and making hand gesture of season 2 with giddy cheerful expression lol. Here's to hope they will have the same cast like season 1.

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a little worry here, that as always while we chant and cheers for session 2. when the drama-kings gave us just that. they took away the awesome actors replaced by others... see, Princess Hours, Iris, Dream High... i always worry, the session 2 spoil everything

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I really didn’t think it was possible – but these two actually have negative romantic chemistry. Friend chemistry – amazing – but actual romantic chemistry – a vacuum. She actually seems uncomfortable around him, and not in the good way.

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the above comment from episode 15 made me laugh...

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It's over ;-;

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Another wonderful drama has ended!

First off, they ended up together! Yehey! And I saw a lot of dimples than any other episode! Hahaha

Watched it last night without subs but I got the gist and I will read the recap to understand it more.

We should have more of Soo-nam and Seung-hyun rather than that short clue that they ended up together.

Nonetheless, I enjoyed the Show and glad to have discovered Lee Sang-yoon. I will definitely look forward to his new projects and will watch Liar Game hihihi

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It seems like Hyun-seok's twenty-years-three-months-and-ten-days wait was worth it.

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Copy-paste from ex-Prof.Delulu-nim,

Mianhae for cursing you yesterday. Thank you for a beautifully-written ending.

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I will miss this drama so so much. I can't wait to watch this again in twenty years when I am 41 years old!! lol!!

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Hehe. I am close to CJW's age (older than the show's characters), and I respect everyone in their twenties who finds meaning in this show. I wouldn't have when I was 20-25. Hat tip :)

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Had to come read the recap before I watched since I was a little nervous things might not end well.

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Thank you for the recaps!

Decryption key for the MEGA files for episodes 15 and 16? New to me, and confusing.

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(I mean the audio files linked from this page and the one for 15.)

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I'm kind of bummed out about this ending and to a certain extent, the last four episodes of the drama. When I think about how much screen time was devoted to YJ's revenge machinations and WC trying to get out of them, I wonder if that time could not have been devoted to Nora's character growth instead.

I do like that Nora started the webtoon, but wish that there was something more substantial in her life than owning the ddukbokki place. Yes, it's her taking over her grandmother's legacy, but she's a creative person and it saddens me to think that she's not pursuing something more fulfilling along that line.

And even though I'm pretty glad they got together, I didn't like CHS just waiting around for Nora. I wished she had to work to get him back. It felt too easy.

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For me, it's enough that No-ra now has the confidence to decide future things that we don't see. The webtoon is a good step to that.

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I'm really happy that she has started the webtoon. I super love her illustrations in her bucket list!

However, if the last 4 eps had made me squeal at all, I'd be really bumped out right now that the drama has ended. As it is, I'm ready to move on to the next tvN drama, Reply 1988.
So the glass is half empty or half full.

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Yes, that makes sense. I do like the final episodes--even the stiffness of the kiss appeals to me, since No-ra probably hasn't spent much time kissing Woo-cheol, anyway. No one changes overnight, and three months is not much time. We shorten everything for the story's sake.

Hope you enjoy Reply 1988! I'm not sure what I'll watch next.

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I'm kind of disappointed by the ending as well. It was a sweet drama and there were parts I really liked but what you say about the last few episodes is true for me also. I didn't exactly expect the writer to go full on A Doll's House but I did wonder if No-ra's name was an homage to one of the greatest female theatrical characters, Nora Helmer. While her reasoning for dropping out of university, that it's really too expensive for her right now, makes sense, it's undercut when she adds that she was only doing it for the experience when she thought she was dying. Then she adds she did it to keep up with Woo-chul even though previously she's stated that these may have been her reasons when she started but now she's doing for herself. It's also very sweet that she's found romance with Hyun-seok but I found the romantic aspect the least interesting. For me 20A was always about a woman forced to reinvent herself after 20 long years of selflessly and thankless devotion to the domestic realm, an indifferent husband and son. Her little drawings and notes to herself revealed a great deal of creativity and it's sweet (that word again which is not exactly a complement) that she's started a webtoon. I often thought, though, that No-ra had a book in her and it would have been nice to see this explored.

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Aside from the practical reasons she stated, I think she realized that she went to college for the wrong reasons even though her experience with it was a positive one.

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+1

I've said this before but going through the divorce was the best thing to have happened to Nora. Without the divorce and her feeling inadequate as Woochul's wife, she wouldn't have gone to college. When she dropped out, I wasn't that disappointed as she has learned a lot in the one semester that she entered, gained friends along the way and re-discovered the old self that she lost when she got married to WC.

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Love the comparison to A Doll's house. The certainly is a lot of Nora in No Ra.

One semester of classes allowed her the opportunity to stand up for justice, understand the narcissistic behavior of her jackass husband, learn about relationships and dating through YJ's class, and confront her feelings about life through the horribly juvenile exercises in WC's theater class. (Writer-nim wins zero points with me on that score, as well as the play, which umm... did not make CHS seem like the best producer in Korea.)

Can you imagine what even auditing classes would do for her further development? Maybe she would have written that book. Maybe she would have replaced YJ in teaching the relationship class. Maybe she would have turned her love of dance-- from that of dancer to choreographer.

Practical or not, she's settling to a certain degree. It was her refusing to continue to settle, to shake up her life, toss aside her Helmer/WC and grow that made me root for her as a character. It felt like the writer decided to sacrifice that journey in favor of last minute drama and a hurried neat ending.

I'll still think favorably of this drama, just not its third act--- except for any shots focussing on LSY's craters of cuteness-- I'm only human.

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Countless women have faced what No-ra is facing in Episode One - a stale and unfulfilling marriage with a husband who wants out and puts the blame all on her. She's dull, she's boring, she is of no help to him in his career, he needs more out of life etc etc ad nauseam but really it's his own lust for another woman that's to blame. But very few women have absolutely gorgeous, dimpled, successful men with 20 year unrequited love for them waiting in the wings.

To me the most interesting relationship was always between No-ra and Woo-chul. Not that I think they should have remained married or rekindled their lost passion or learned to love each others' real self. But these two have a twenty year history, a shared child and lots of baggage. No-ra does have her Nora/Torvald moment with Woo-chul when she slaps him twice at the professors' dinner. It's not just the lie about the impossibility of attending her grandmother's funeral. It's the fact that to be with him as a wife (because at this point he is interested in rekindling the marriage) she must rewrite her history and present herself as something she isn't. She choses, like Nora Helmer, to remain true to herself and develop as a person for herself rather than remain in the "Doll's House". To me, this is interesting but a romance that might come after is merely unnecessary icing on a really delicious cake. But I'm not really a romantic and it does seem to me like she's just settling.

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I hope that she will continue with her university studies, this time round for herself and not for anybody. It is a real pity that the shows wrapped up well with all the possible love lines but didn't have her return to university. The walk about in uni does not count here.

Yes, I assume that she may have a future as a webtoon artist, but since university life is what piqued her growth, she should have continued with it and not withdraw.

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Being someone that went back to uni in my thirties, I also felt a bit of disappointment with Nora dropping university. I wondered if the message was that uni was not for her (there are student loans, and certainly she would have more job opportunities with a diploma under her belt). But in the end, I think I was wrong: the same way I decided to live my life in an unconventional way and go back to uni to change careers, NoRa has the right to drop uni and look for the path that she desires. Life is different for all of us and only we know where we find meaning to it.
Well, I loved how this show made me think about deep life questions, and left on an optimistic note. I will miss it. Though I have to agree with other comments here that the romantic chemistry was not the strong point, that would have been too perfect :D

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Episode 15 felt so useless when CHS did exactly what HNR said she didn't want him to do (to control her life by stalking her for three months and deciding what she should know), and HNR later said that she was disappointed he never came looking for, i.e. disrespect her decision of living without him. I know they are supposed to be immature around each other, but the things that were said and done by HNR in episode 15 were pretty harsh and assertive.
I just think the resolution was too easy, even though it was a cute ending.

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Thanks for the recap! One of my fave dramas this year.

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Best drama so far! Best storyline! Best actors and actressess!! I have to wait until the final to finally see our couple locking lips omg!!!!
I must say professor antsypants-nim does look like Song appa (the triplets father) when he got primped for his show. Maybe it's just me. Lols.
So shipping Soon Nam sunbae and Seung Hyunnie too, yay!

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This was like the end to a really great book. You want more, but you were so pleased at the outcome you can't really be frustrated. Just the right touch of closure and open-ended wonder.

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Thanks for the recap! Perfect show! It played the perfect beat almost all the time! Well worth 32 hours of watching (had to watch each episode twice ?)

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After what was yesterday's ep, I thought it was unnecessary angst for the finale. But I was proven wrong. It made it that much more meaningful, because I loved that No-ra wanted to do things her own way and figure out what she wanted in life, without having to depend on someone else (like with Woo-chul in their marriage, and with Hyun-seok being her support beam and fairy godmother).

And how awesome was Hyun-seok in still being her biggest supporter while respecting her wishes!? I thought it was hilarious that he continued to stalk her when he supposedly "got over" her -- and even more hilarious that No-ra stalked him too! :P But it was nice to see the progression of No-ra "rejecting" Hyun-seok...only, within a span of a few months, be the one who realized her feelings for him were genuine and not just feelings of being grateful and thankful to Hyun-seok for all he'd done. It took that trip to Grandma and that time capsule, but at least it finally nudged her across that line! I suppose people might complain that this drama was chaste because it had only one kiss scene of the OTP, but I thought it was fitting...a toned-down, not forced down your throat kind of romance (with that expected wedding in the finale, kdrama style). Especially considering how both No-ra and Hyun-seok would revert back to their 18 year old selves most of the time.

One disappointment with this was No-ra's decision to drop out of school. Yeah, it was "unpractical" in her view because of the cost and how she thought it wasn't worth it...but I was hoping she was going to pursue something dance-related because that was her passion. To go from school to being ddukbokki store owner might have made more sense to her as being practical, but I, too, was hoping that she was going to do well in school and graduate with her peers...to show that those returning to school later in life can do well too. Oh well, can't have everything, right.

I also like the open-ended way of the ending -- I wholeheartedly agree that this drama really was a journey for No-ra to rediscover her true self. Hyun-seok is one character I won't forget, his grumpy/cranky ways be damned -- his dimply grins enough made it worthwhile :P It was swoon-worthy when he went to accept the flowers from No-ra, proudly proclaiming that she was his girlfriend. Those dimples were out in full force!! :P

Thank you, Girlfriday, for the recaps!!! :)

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Thank you so much for recapping!!! I wanted to watch the show after reading the first recap but grad application season is killing me so I never got around to it. This show and these posts have kept me alive over the past 2 months. So sad it's all over but CHS and his dimples will forever make me smile. :)

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Such a cute show..ha no ra definitely made everyone learn a lesson or two.. I m sure everybody did a little soul searching while watching this show.

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Ohh, what a journey we've been through with these wonderful people: NR, HS and even WC and YJ.

This drama had make me experience various feelings at once per episode. I love it, love it, and I simply love it.

CWY, as WC had me at your sincere "I'm sorry and thank you". Duh, I love him more since this drama. I hope he'll play a single career minded confirmed bachelor turn into smitten loverboy in next drama. He's hilarious, and I love him that way.. ^^

CJW and LSY, sigh, thank you for portraying the characters so convincingly. I thought that they were 12 when arguing back and forth in the most childish way, 18 when they stole a glance, teased and supported each other, and 38 when they continued showing me the reality of life and teach me how to fall in love for 2nd time in this lifetime.

Just like Angel Eyes, this drama taught me that it is possible to fall in love with the same person over and over again in a lifetime (or more?). Lesson is well learned. I'll appreciate the life and love I have, and will keep falling head over heels in love too, with my hubz ofc. ^^

Thank you, GF for the wonderful recap. Your recap captured all touchingly-wonderful moments, and your comments are sterling! Through this drama, you and the writer bring the hopeless romantic in me to the next level.. ^^

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While we missed our own ship, the window closed upon us, we are blessed to have stayed and become Yoon Young and DongChul in small little ways behind our screens. That we are satisfied to being not craving for becometh a OTP. We gladly walked with Nora and her Hyunsuk, and cheered as we took on roles of Yoon Young. Biting our lips, and chanting to Writernim, briding, pleading and threatening her to write some nice scenes for our OTP. Above all. Bless them a “happy ending”. A fine real show, doesn’t focus on OTP alone, it crafted out lines and edges , gaves depth and feels to sidelined characters, to the aunties, grandmas, the best friends, the colleagues, even to the love rivals… the Writernim will make them real, like people around us, its makes the supporting roles around OTP, into real people with feelings, with depth. That we don’t just want to be Nora, or Hyun suk, we find ourselves in our own real life, did acting like Yoon Young at times aching over our best friend’s plight, or Soon Nam that admired and inspired by some noona once, or even become Sangye, finally giving up the one that “was not meant to be”.
a fine show, do just that, make supporting roles very real beside the OTP, that even a supporting role’s tears can make us cry, or a supporting role’s redemption can cheers us up. To all the Yoon Youngs, Soon Nams, and grandmas, and even Sangyes in the world, cheers, and fighting. You all are important too, in life of those OTP besides you. And even to all the YJ and WC who wake up, and find yourselves.

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Gaeina, you were saying "fall in love over and over..."
yes, the show "second times 20" actually also means Hyunsuk falling in love second times after 20 yrs also. loving the new NR.
All WC can see is the soiled pampers that Nora was changing and her piggybacked Minsoo, while ignorance to her devotion to Minsoo and the family. WC saw a dancing rising star, and saw merely that. HyunSuk saw fearless spirit in a messed up Bloodied Nora after been punched repeatedly by young Yoonyoung. I guess, if WC was the witness to the punching bag / bop-bag Nora, WC may not even considered falling in love, or find anyone awesome in that Nora.
That was how much he loved her as his first love then, this we knew all along, that he has never cease to see her, as the spirited pretty energetic Nora, that worthy Nora that will give her first bite of red bean bun to Grandma. And never ceased loving her till now.

He loved her deeper, as he know her now, not wanting to change her back into that Nora, accepting her Present Nora. While WC faced Nora, the old and the new for a good 20 yrs, and has never ever treasured the spirited old one, nor appreciated the kind hearted new one. Hyunsuk, spent just few months, and loved this present one to core, hopelessly. While allowing Nora to be her-self, yet motivate her to become someone she wants to be, and to find a common Med-ground between these two opposites, is not easy. He saw her when she single fisted fight the Prof Molester, against all odds, he allowed her to face the dire consequences of not follow the norms. The most angst portion was none other than having to accept that “she loved WC” faithfully, even while knowing he cheated on her. While couldn’t accept completely her decision to continue sticking on to WC, not leaving him (as what he told Yoon young, why she don’t leave him after “seeing everything”). He accept what she wants, including trying to accommodate by working in same project with WC. Returning her phone to her when WC called 3 times, worrying that the missed calls may resulted in WC give up making peace with her. To him, it’s always, “if that’s what Nora wants.” Even if it included saying those very words “I sent No Ra to you.” to WC, which was most undeserving. It’s completely humiliating to claim defeats before the cheater WC. And furthered to fake-wooing YJ to lure her away from WC, how much more can a man do for a woman? He did just that all. Accepting her as she is, including accepting “her man”. His love for her now, started by loving her ‘love and devotion’ for a cheating husband, and trying to make the husband love her worthy to be loved, and admired her steadfast in love with WC(which of cause he was mistaken).

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loves the ending where they spend their time together in the park. wish we could get more story like this in the future

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This drama is over! ;_; Thanks for the recaps, GF and JB!

Now Fairy God-Stalker Cha Hyun Seok will forever have a place in my heart alongside Ha Woo Jin. His dimply face is just too adorable, and his love for No Ra is so sweet and admirable (when he isn't being a petulant stalker). I REALLY like the ending scene, where it was just them in their most comfortable environment.

It felt realistic to me that No Ra would drop out, because she wasn't planning to do anything with a college degree and so why waste the money especially when she doesn't have enough? She can keep on making memories with her same-age and college friends even after dropping out, so it was understandable. Her growth arc has been so satisfying, and I love her for recovering her old personality.

I could never really hate Woo Chul and Yi Jin just because of how comical they were this whole drama. And also the background music whenever either of them had a scene lol. I thought maybe Woo Chul had changed too fast, but thinking back on it, a lot happened to him too. There were enough catalysts for him to really start re-examining his life, so I'll give him a break.

And surprisingly, I like where Min Soo and Hye Mi ended up. (It might have to do with how little screen time they had in this final episode, because if they had more then I'm not so sure...) They're both growing and I can see a future where they end up back together, having both matured, because they obviously still have good feelings for each other.

Overall, A++ for you, Show. Thanks for a great time. :) Only now, I only have Sassy Go Go to look forward to every week, and that makes me sad. :(

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Agree. I actually applauded her decision to drop out of college. She gave it thought and decided it wasn't for her. In a way that actually takes more courage because there's this mindset now that college is everything.

I also felt like, it's only been three months, for her to find and pursue some lifelong passion is a bit unrealistic. I may be projecting, but I saw it as Nora had some interest in learning her grandma's recipes and she likes to cook. After she saves some money and gives it some more thought, she can look into other pursuits at her leisure.

I found her ultimate decisions very smart and felt she wasn't tied down to anyone, anything or any expectations. She was doing what she wanted to do. Bravo.

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Where can I find my Grumpypants? ?

This Show was deliciously sweet, funny, cute, heartwarming. I Loved It from beginning to end! It was the perfect follow up to OMG.

Kudos to tvN for putting such a simple yet uplifting story.

Thank you Dramabeans for your recaps - and as always - great insight.

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There is currently an empty hole in my heart where this drama took place for the past 8 weeks ):

I loved this drama to bits. It moved me to tears and made me so happy and pushed me to be introspective and it really accomplished all that without throwing in crazy plot lines or having insane love triangles. It knew how to be emotive without being saccharine and it was funny without being over the top. I always enjoy slice of life dramas because sometimes you want watch something that may actually happen in real life to real people.

I normally hate montages because it is clear the viewer has seen those scenes as they were watching the show, but the montage at the end of this episode was so effective because it really made me feel the growth of Nora throughout the show. She learned so much and it was great to be reminded of where she started and how far she's come.

UGHH it makes me so sad that this is over because I'm in a drama lull. But thank you, girlfriday, for the ever awesome recaps and thank you, show, for giving us an ending befitting the amazing ride that was this drama.

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i just watched the subbed episode :) kyaaaaa kkyaa i love this show, so heartwarming, okay off to read the recap now :)
Thank you for the recap Girlfriday!

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Just one note to add... which was left out in the recaps and a MUST to point out since its one of the most crucial plot line of the final ep.

When Nora was backhugging HS, she tells him that shes finishing the assignment he gave out. The point in time where she could go back to and relive it, what would she change. - her answer : to have you by my side instead of what she said (for you to not be by my side).

Its quite powerful to reference that moment. I always thought when he gave out the assignment the story might evolve to be her reliving the moment she met WC, she would have rejected him and pick dance instead of following him but she used the moment on HS instead. ^^

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yujin, yes. that assignment, together with the Time Capsule, i thought will be the Game Changer. ultimately, the Assigment itself is about a pivotal point where you life changes, you make or don't. you give up or you hold on to dear life, someone, something dear to you. yes, its naturally, like you, i think i will chose to relive that moment, and she telling HS, that even before that dance she had loved him, or went back to the creek when she said that was the Moment. ... No, but was glad she choose Now. Now, that she on her own has fallen a Second Time in love with him, as he has never ever fallen out his First Time in love with her. This is the carpe diem, for her, if she don't held out her hands and seize him and today. She will be almost felt like dying "I thought I was going to die because I wanted to see you”. if given a chance to rewrite her bucket list this moment, it is only one thing on that list, "Cha Hyun Suk, to hold and watch over for another 20 yrs and more." how many of us, can seize our One Moment, like her.
i loved the way writernim introduced bucket lists, time capsule, one assignment, even Carpe Diem... to inspire us. all of which dealt with one thing, "our One Loved one" and "today".
“the Future is not determined by past experiences, its what you do with those experiences that determines the future.”
What you do TODAY determines your future, and make your past worthy of remembrances when tomorrows come.

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My guess was right! Nora became the owner of ddeokbokki shop. Hehe.

I love the backhug and confession scene. The look of Hyunsuk's face was priceless. And the kiss! He deserves it! Wee~

How adorable they were after being a couple. Not forget to mention about Soon nam and Seunghyun. Cuteness overload.

Thanks gf for the recaps. I had so much fun. ?

How am i gonna survive without Hyun suk's dimples after this?

OH I LOVE THIS SHOW SO MUCH.

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It has ended.

Nooooo...
I'll miss their bickering.
Where can I get regular weekly dose of cute dimply smile?

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:)) so glad I could follow this nice show even only by recaps. Thanks~

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Very great drama. Glad it ended on a great note. That forehead kiss was better than the real kiss, imo. I thought tvN would guarantee more than that, but it's alright. There's always fanfic, lol.
I'm a little disappointed that Nora really quit school, I was hoping she changed her mind but after that TOEIC prep exam, I knew it was not happening... sigh. The webtoon is good, could hope that it somehow became a drama... hmm.
Could've cared less able Woochul and Yijin reconciling. That was wasted time we could've had for the OTP.
Although I must say that I'm a little bummed by that kiss, and that even when they were together only Hyun seok seemed really into it. Maybe it's the editing, but LSY was killing the game with those deep dimples, squinty smile and adorable cuteness. CJW, not so much. She still seemed uncomfortable except the last scene when she cuddled into him. Real bummer...
Overall, I enjoyed it! Gonna miss it.

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I agree on the kiss lacking something. At least LSY moved his arm a bit to draw CJW in closer, conveying some of the longing of waiting so long for No Ra to reciprocate Hyun Seok's feelings. But Choi Ji Woo seemed removed in that kiss - she didn't embrace him with her arms or body, she seemed stiff. I didn't feel their passion or chemistry or desire.
Made me think of the passionate kisses in Healer in contrast.

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If there's one thing I have to nitpick on, it's the kiss as well. For one, it's a beat or two too short. Two, I think the camera angle prevented us from seeing her expression so it looks like she wasn't comfortable with it. I also don't think she's one of those actress who can kiss passionately on screen. The scene would've been maybe better if they switched camera angles or have the kiss end on a eskimo kiss. It's a little disappointing, but it doesn't ruin the show for me.

The end scene with the forehead kiss and snuggling was a better show of skinship. It's more like them, like JB mentioned. What they have is not a sizzling hot romance, but a cute, homely, first-love kind of romance.

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I watched JW 's recent years past dramas, starting from A Star's Lover, Cant Lose, and Temptation. She always gave the viewers realistic kisses with open mouth and all. Even with kwon sang woo in Temptation, they had a real deep kiss with no angle tricks whatsover in spite of his marital status in real life. SO...after watching ep 16 of Twenty Again , i was surprised to watch a reserved fake kiss from jw. I am not sure why. I mean if LSY were my onscreen partner i would give my all. Haha. The filming was rushed brcause they were still seen filming the day ep 16 was scheduled to air.

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I think the reserved kiss from JW is due to her character in this series. I can relate to her because being married and intimate to that only person for 20 years (own husband), it definitely seems awkward to be kissing and hugging another person. It isn't that easy especially she didn't date anyone else before that.

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I agree! Choi ji woo is not an actress afraid of torrid kissing scenes. Sta Lovers and Stairway to Heaven are two examples.

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Oh boy must include the list her kissing scene with Lee byung hun in Beautiful days, that scene at the storage room of a music store. I even saw the behind the scene of that one (I lost count of the takes, lol gotta blame LBH haha i thought he was doin it on purpose) CJW is really so fabulous in every role she takes that's why I admire her so much. She's full of passion!

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regarding her "kissing skill" and WC.
i think her marriage life more or less was reduced to responsibilities and duties. take note of what she told YY @ ep 1 “... do you know anything about married couples? On the surface, they may all look the same eating together, having sex which happens less frequently over time. They talked about their children, and watched TV.” i guess intimacy between her and WC was swiftly reduced to nothing much, as WC found her as "a mistake" that may caused his career, so he will be pretty much not having a "normal" intimate marriage between herself and WC. so which means, esp after Minsoo arrived, WC literally looked at her with distaste and irritations. she should have been almost like a "widow" for maybe 18 or 19 years... so think its right to say, whatever initmacy between the couple will be pure "duty" and "accustom to WC's needs." so i think she should be inept at a real heartfelt kissing.
i should say, this Creek's scene, should be her second real kiss, after the unfortunate first one with WC after their dance.

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Perfect recap and review, thank you for the lovely read!

I'm sad to see this end, but full and inspired by the show's message. I felt the same about Nora dropping out of college. But she made a strong argument. College isn't for everyone, and it's not just financially burdensome, but some people go to college to find their purpose, some people don't have to. I think it's just as simple as that. I also think she was happy there because of the connection with people and the realization about herself and not the academia life itself. She can socialize the same way on her own now that she has a sense of self.

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This drama made me realize that I prefer Lee Sang Yoon with eyebrows.

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Lol, priorities.

On the other hand, I immediately missed his bangs after his mini-makeover and was glad to see it back right away. Haha. He's a cutie either way, though. GAH, THOSE DIMPLES, THAT FACE. 'Nuff said.

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Same here. I last saw him in a show where his wife lied that her parents died, he was a rich man's son, his sister was dating her twin brother and he was so handsome there.

Here he is handsome, but with his hair up, he is super charming.

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I haven't been leaving comments lately but I have to for this last ep. This drama has totally been amazing from start to finish for me. I love how we didn't get 1year later and let her come to him when she was ready to.

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It's been such a fun journey with this drama T_T I've learned and have been able to reflect so much on my own life because of this drama. It's been so sweet. I love this couple! I wish the writer would've allowed more romantic chemistry to develop, but this adorable friendship and adoration for each other is great and refreshing too!

The ending wrapped up so nicely and simply. It's a breath of fresh air. My favorite drama this year!!! <3

And can we talk about how hot Lee Sangyoon looked during the play? Omg, he needs to brush his bangs back more! He looked more professor-ish with the bangs in front, but omggggg having them back and seeing his lovely skin and face = <3 <3 <3

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Yes, bangs back... love to see manly foreheads more than bangs and fringe! LOL!

But Lee Sang Yoon just looks good and with hair back, even better! Plus with smile *slain!*

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I love bangs down. Can we split him? I'll take him when he's casual, you can have him when he's dressed up!

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I love both too hahaha!! But it was a refreshing change! He looks older than he is with the bangs. With the bangs brushed back, it's just... *__*

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Thank you for the recaps!!

The show has ended just the way it began giving us love, giddiness, pain in between. Such a beautiful show. All the characters were lovely, yes, personality disorders included! The whole cast, writers did an amazing work in giving us 16hrs of pure love and lessons.

Onto this ep, i was surprised with hyun seok's behaviour at the bookstore or the fact that he knew whatever she was upto. He even indulged her in her own stalking. STALKING COUPLE.

The best scene according to me was definitely the last scene. A little gesture which touches your heart.
There is a pakistani show Zindagi Gulzar Hai where the leads were sworn enemies but when the guy comes through and proposes her she rejects him. It was only when he saves her hand from burning over a falling tea cup that she starts to see him as a man and a marriage prospect.

It is the sweet little things which have a deeper impact rather than those expensive surprises.

I am sad because weekends not gonna be the same but the show has done a clean joa and it deserves a good send-off. Thank you show, will watch it again and Again:)

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ayyyy another zindagi gulzar hai watcher!!

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I am so gonna miss our Mr Dimples. :( Hope to see him back in another rom-com drama soon!!!

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and this is, hands down, the best drama ever made! A drama with the best directing, best cast, best script and best ending. You don't get a lot of that in kdramaland nowadays. :)

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oh nooooo...dont want dis show to end...sob sob T T..

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I loved every moment of this show. Thanks gf for all the recaps.

How do I survive after this drama ??? Ottokee..

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Funny how this OTP is a loooot more romantic compared to those with abundance of smooches.

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Daebak! Thank you GF and JB for the recaps and this community. I think this drama can really be considered expressive art, based on deep thoughts and ideas that followed with your comments beanies. For some, it even provoked change in thinking or determination for change. I am so happy. thanks writer-nim. the ending wrapped things up well. CHS came out consistent in character. HNR, you tugged my heart. It is amazing how CJW can be beside actors who will have cult following after drama with her. She did it for BYJ for Winter Sonata. If this drama were aired simulcast in China, LSY will be a big star much like KHS of You from Another Star. I just feel that it is one of those dramas that will be pivotal.

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I will miss this show and will think about it for a loooong time. I'm so in love with this drama. Cha hyun seok, be mine pleaseeeee!!

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Why can't this show go on forever? It's my happy pill. :( But really, it's become one of my all-time faves.

Also, I personally think CJW & LSY look so good together. Hee.

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Like some posters said, they have friendly chemistry than romantic chemistry. I agree. It felt like bro sis relationship at times when they were off filming . She usually built great chemistry with her partners but in this drama it felt fall short in the chemistry dept. Just my 2 cents.

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tearing up now.

it was such a good ending. T__T *happy tears*

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I love that everything was wrapped up neatly. Although there awkward moments in the interactions which I could only say for this episode alone.

I'm ok with Nora taking over spicy cake store and not pursuing any grand career for that matter. Because for me, if you're doing what you love and what you want even if it's just running a small store is just as noble as becoming a big time producer or dance instructor or whatever. At the end of the day, if it makes you happy, do it.

And what she gained from her stint in school: gaining true friends, finding the confidence to do what you love are the real treasures we learn from school. More than our diplomas.

Truly an inspiring and heart warming drama. Carpe diem indeed!

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in cruel real life, not many of us really ends up making some bucks over what we truly loves to do when we were teens. what you loves, may be loved ardently, doesn't means you are truly gifted till you can make a career out of it. we dreamt big of what we loved, then settled with it as hobby life-long.
its just the Norm KD drama or feel-good hollywood style to make a "nobody" transformed into a gifted Master of whatever Art / genre he/she's in.
like you say, if it makes you happy, do it. if what you do meant a lot because of certain reason, for someone worthy, even if you were to forsake that once dream of your youth. who can really say you are not true to yourself? to me, joy in her cooking, and expertise in her cooking skill, may be "her thing" after all?!

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I full agree with you! No Ra achieved what she wanted to achieve at university.

I loved this drama and I am completely fine with her doing what she did. Although i could see it from a long time that she was going to be working/owning grandmas store. i think i would have been a little bit disappointing if she didn't because throughout the show she never really know what she wanted in terms of a career but you could always see her love of food/cooking and the show made you realize that she was actually good at it.

but i loved the show i love how it has ended. Although I would have loved to see Min Soo's reaction to her dating.

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I love this show so, so much. I needed something light (angst-free shows are a little hard to come by these days). I love Nora. I needed a show about someone in her late 30s realizing she's still a person, because sometimes I just feel old, decrepit, and irrelevant and I only just turned 34.

I love the friendships she built up, and I absolutely adore that there are female-male platonic friendships shown! (Although I am very happy Soon Nam and Seunghyun got together, even if we only got a little bit of that.) I wish more of her friendships had been shown. The three musketeers, for me, were the some of the best parts of the episodes.

I thought the arc with her son was important, him learning to respect her and relate to her, and learning that he was more like her than he thought. And, while I never got too attached to his romance I like that he and his girlfriend realized they weren't right for each other at that point in time and worked on improving themselves separately. They did help each other grow, and while I wish I hadn't had to watch most of it, I understood the point. Oh, I did really like where he realized he loved to dance.

I will miss this show very much. I don't know what I'm going to turn to when I need something sweet and bubbly. I expect there's a "20 again" marathon in my future.

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meighy, we're on the same ship then..Happy 34th birthday to us! May we find the child, the teen & the 'not-so-adult' in us..May we find US!

btw, chs is soooo chs; easily coaxed by the small things done for him..as long as it's only for him..!

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Yay! Happy 34!

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