4.5 - Episode 5 of 25, 21

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 5 of 25, 21, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Kim Tae-ri as Na Hee-do and Nam Joo Hyuk as Baek Yi-jin. We discuss:

• How Baek Yi-jin has left town without a trace, to the angst and sadness of Na Hee-do and Ko Yu-rim.

• How Baek Yi-jin and Na Hee-do manage to communicate with each via messages left on each other’s pager voice mail.

• The contrast between Na Hee-do, who is confident and gets what she wants, while Baek Yi-jin has lost all of his confidence, he leaves town, and he can’t find a job.

• How Baek Yi-jin’s mom doesn’t know how to support her sons, while Na Hee-do’s mom can’t find it within herself to support and believe in her daughter.

• When Na Hee-do tells Ko Yu-rim that she didn’t want to be on the national team, but be Ko Yu-rim’s rival, it feels like a threat.

• Na Hee-do has secured a spot on the national fencing team, but her happiness is tempered by Baek Yi-jin’s disappearance, Ko Yu-rim’s coldness, and her mother’s indifference.

• Our surprise when we found out that injeolmi is a real thing! Injeolmi is a type of rice cake, often covered in some type of coating.

• The K Drama elements in this episode: alcohol, the FILA product placement, crying, holding hands, and first snow.

• The gorgeous cinematography in this episode, especially at the end of the episode.

• The background and career of the amazing Kim Tae-ri.

• The shows we’re watching now. Joanna is watching Something in the Rain and One Sprint NIght, while Sung Hee just finished Divorce Attorney Shin Sung Han

References

• The History of the Two-Way Pager

• Drinking in South Korea: 7 Tips on Handling a Hoesik

• Travel guide to Pohang

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K Drama Chat is a weekly podcast where we take one Korean (K) Drama each season and and recap and analyze each episode. K Drama Chat is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and Stitcher.