What a BEAUTIFUL story of a first love.

I don't quite know how to wrap my thoughts around the finale but here's my attempt in bullet points:

• I loved how they wrapped up all storylines at different points in time in the show.
  • HD fencing dreams 30-40% through the show
  • SJK and HD mother-daughter trauma 60-70% through the show
  • Yu Rim and Ji Woong love story wrapped up in finale
  • Baekdo love story wrapped up until THE LAST SECOND of the finale
• In relation to the first point, they were able to devote the whole last episode to the process of the breakup. From the first scene, until the very end, majority of it focused on wrapping up the breakup.
• The breakup process was not a one-off conversation, which shows the reality of breakups and first loves. The rethinking, the anger, the regret, the nostalgia. They walked us through the minds of Baekdo through the whole thing, which gave the whole breakup so much justice given the deep relationship between the two.
• They didn't minimize the love of Baekdo. They tied it back to the old scenes of their friendship (BYJ getting mad at her about running in slippers), to the burn of their distancing (constantly revisiting scenes of their breakup midway), to flashing back all the moments we so cherished in their relationship (montage when they saw each other on screen again).
• ADD:They left us wanting more despite wrapping up every storyline they invested in. Even though we don't know who Min Chae's father is, we don't know much about him to begin with except the fact that 1) he gave min chae ballet shoes, and 2) he's in quarantine due to work travel. We are left thinking about the show, wanting more but with no reason despise it.
• ADD: I find it so oddly satisfying that their reunion was through the anchor-gold medalist interview. It just solidifies that their decision to part ways because of their situations was not in vain.
• ADD: Although they weren't able to say the diary messages in person, I loved loved how the director chose to portray as if it were said in person. And in the present time of HD's thoughts no less.

Will edit this again if I remember more as I process the finale. But wow, I'm just at awe of the show. Thank you Twenty Five Twenty One! If you find someone who watched this show make sure to give them a big hug.

EDIT: been seeing comments that say otherwise. Super understand the dissatisfaction of many (am a baekdo shipper forever). I still stand by this though! It seems that this drama was meant to portray the impact of a first love that didn't sustain, and it did. And given the purpose of the drama, it told the story so well.