To the people who were years away from their early twenties, have you ever thought of going back to the day you first started college? Or maybe, have you ever thought of regaining those unbelievably strong energy you had within you years ago?
While most of us of the current generation are lucky enough to live the life we wanted, our parents (and grandparents) don't seem to have the same privilege. We have the choice to go to college and choose our own desired major. What more is that quite a number of us are lucky enough to not worry about the costs.
Our parents, on the other hand, had a life which is the exact opposite of ours. Going to college is not a matter of "do I want to or do I not want to", it's actually a matter of "can I or can I not" - and no, I am not only talking about academic excellence here. Some of our parents may have excelled in their college entrance exams but ended up not going to college. Why? Because they have to sacrifice the opportunity to further their study for something they deem as more important.
It's been a long time since I sat down and watch my Korean dramas. The list keeps going on but I have no time to enjoy them (same goes to my books - I try not to remind my Mum how many books I have on my shelf, unread). And recently, I decided to invest my precious time into something I really enjoyed and from a random list of downloaded dramas, I chose tvN's <Twenty Again>, and trust me when I say this - it was the best choice I have ever made in the past year!
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| tvN's <Twenty Again> OST Poster Cover (Photo Credit: Google) |
Brief Synopsis
This romantic comedy stars Choi Ji Woo, the star who caught her fame in famous melodrama <Winter Sonata>, as the main lead of this drama - Ha No Ra. No Ra is the 38-year-old mother of a 20 year-old and the wife of a university professor. Her husband filed for divorce on the grounds of "inability to communicate". Therefore, with hopes to save her marriage, she decides to enroll herself for the national college entrance examinations. She eventually got a spot at Woochun University, the same university her son got into. What's worse is that her husband has transferred to Woochun University as well - coincidence much huh.
When both her husband and son got to know the news, they strongly disagree with her attending university, especially when they are all going to the same university. However, when No Ra was mistakenly diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, she decides to attend university - as it was one of the items in her newly-written bucket list.
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| Ha No Ra's "College Look" (Photo Credit: Google) |
The story goes on to depict how a 38-year-old fits into the social circle of the 20-year-olds. This was when she (and I) started to realise how different are the mindsets between people of two generations. Oh not to mention, she met her childhood sweetheart, Cha Hyun Suk (played by Lee Sang Yoon) while studying - but now, as her Theater Studies lecturer.
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| Ha No Ra and Cha Hyun Suk reminiscing the old days with a song they both used to love (Photo Credit: Google) |
Overall Verdict
I shall not let out further details - what I can tell you is that the two are going to bicker like any other characters in rom-coms. But what I can assure you is, this drama is worth your 16 hours. For those who are born before the 80s, you will find Ji Woo's interpretation of No Ra really palpable. As for those who are born after, it's time to understand the inner thoughts and desires (not in a bad way) of your elders.
After finishing this meaningful drama, I have been doing a lot of thinking. Though I am currently still in my early twenties, I have so many items pending in my bucket list, and time is running so fast that I am hitting 24 very soon. I have yet to publish my very own book,; I have yet to watch a musical in Broadway; I have yet to get involved in a theatrical or TV production (whether acting or producing) and there is so much more I would like to do. Most of the items in my bucket list are pretty much related to literature, music and drama. If not, why else did I start this blog? - it's because "writing to connect" is my passion, and it's a passion I would never forgo for another.
Ratings:
Casting and Acting: 9/10
Story and Screenplay: 10/10
Setting and Background: 9/10
Setting and Background: 9/10
Screen Direction: 9/10
Overall Performance: 9.5/10.0 - A MUST WATCH!
