Second 20's - Full Review
Welcome to Second 20's-Full Review. A middle-age housewife gets a chance to finally go to college and experience all the things she missed out on when she became a mother at 19. If you haven't watched this drama yet, I recommend checking out my unspoiled review here.
Second 20's
♥ Aired: August 28 - October 17, 2015
♥# of Episodes: 16
♥Where to Watch: Netflix
♥Genre: Romantic Comedy
♥Starring: Choi Ji Woo and Lee Sang Yoon
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The Story
Ha No Ra gave up all her dreams when she became a mother at 19. Now, after years devoted to her husband and son, her son is starting college and her husband wants a divorce. Her husband, the psychology professor, says their life together is boring and they have nothing in common. So in a desperate attempt to save her marriage, No Ra gets her GED and applies to colleges. But a crazy chain of events leads her to the same college as both her husband and son. Not only that, but one of her professors is an old friend from high school. As she tries to navigate this crazy web of relationships, she begins to find her own self and gets the chance to do all the things she missed out on in her 20's.
The Leads
Choi Ji Woo as Ha No Ra
Ha No Ra dreamed of being a dancer when she was younger, but an unplanned pregnancy at 19 dramatically changed the course of her life. Now, 20 years later, she has a college-age son who no longer needs her and a husband who finds her intellectually unfulfilling. Going back to college seems like the best way for her to gain their respect and hopefully save her marriage. She applies to a different school than both of them, so she can attend in secret, but their sudden change of plans finds all of them at the same college. Her carefully scheduled day assures that she will never run into either of them, but her secret doesn't stay safe for long. Her husband and son aren't the only familiar faces she sees. One of her best friends from high school is teaching one of her classes, and he doesn't seem happy to see her. But in spite of the need to juggle three difficult men, No Ra finds herself loving life for the first time in years and she learns that college offers much more than intellectual knowledge.
In the beginning, No Ra is meek and immature. She never speaks her mind or disagrees with anyone. But as time goes on, she learns how to be true to herself. Slowly she learns that it is okay for her to pursue her own interests and that age is no barrier to follow your dreams. Choi Ji Woo is the crux of this whole drama. Without her relateable character, the series would be meaningless. It's easy to be annoyed by her character in early episodes because she seems whiny and a bit pathetic, but as the show goes on, it's hard not to root for this brave woman who reminds us all to keep living and striving.
Lee Sang Yoon as Cha Hyeon Seok
Ha No Ra was Cha Hyeon Seok's first and only love. After she moves away and breaks his heart, he devotes his life to his career and gives up on love entirely. So he is less than pleased when he finds her sitting in his classroom 20 years later. But as he is drawn into her life and struggles, he realizes that his feelings for her never went away. As he brings her in to help him with his latest theater production, they become closer and Hyeon Seok sees that he doesn't just love the old No Ra that he once knew. He also loves this older version of the bright and brave girl from his past.
Cha Hyeon Seok is a complicated character. He is, at once, prickly and immature while also being caring and compassionate. I loved to see him protect No Ra and pull strings to help her when he could. But he could also be manipulative and arrogant. Lee Sang Yoon did a wonderful job of encapsulating all these complexities into a role that was believable and realistic. I didn't always love the character, but Lee Sang Yoon's acting shone through it all.
Supporting Characters
Choi Won Young as Kim Woo Chul
Kim Woo Chul is Ha No Ra's husband. As a psychology professor, he has always found No Ra's lack of education and sophistication to be an embarrassment. For the last four years, he has been having an affair with the daughter of the college chairman. His plan is to divorce No Ra and marry Kim Yi Jin once Min Soo begins college. But as Woo Chul sees No Ra grow and change, he begins to wonder if he has made a mistake.
Kim Min Jae as Kim Min Soo
Kim Min Soo is the son of Woo Chul and No Ra. He is just starting college and has promised his dad he will not date until he graduates and will maintain a high GPA all the way through. Thanks to his dad's example, he finds his mom to be embarrassing and inferior. But as he watches her bloom from her college experience, he gains a new-found love and appreciation for her, and he begins to wonder if college is the only path for his own happiness.
Jung Soo Young as Ra Yoon Yeong
Ra Yoon Yeong has been No Ra's best friend since high school. She never married but continued to follow her dream of dancing by opening a ballet studio. For years, she has been the only one No Ra could talk to and confide in. She also was friends with Hyeon Seok, which gives her insight into their past relationship and it's impact on the present.
Things I Liked
♥ Message
This drama is largely about the encouraging message, and I appreciated that. I think plenty of women would find this theme uplifting and inspiring. Mothers need to be reminded that their lives don't stop just because their kids are raised. I don't feel like all drama needs to have a social commentary, nor should it, but it's nice, once in a while, to have a drama that aims to refresh your heart and energize you.
♥ Young Hyeon Seok
While the present day Hyeon Seok could be maddening at times, I lost my heart to the younger version of him. The sensitive and awkward young student was charming and sweet. I also loved his relationship with No Ra's grandmother. Her grandmother made him fall in love with No Ra's inner beauty and kindness, and No Ra in turn gave him the strength to pursue his talents. Their fates were much more complicated than simply a first crush.
♥ College Friends
Seung Hyun and Soon Nam were great characters. I really enjoyed their friendship with No Ra. My only complaint is that I think their own storylines should have been stronger. Their roles added a fun addition outside of No Ra's private circle, and giving them a bit more screen time would have expanded the theme a bit. But regardless, I looked forward to the scenes they had.
Things I Didn't Like
Immaturity
As sweet as their love story was, it was a bit cringey to watch middle-aged adults act like junior high students with their first crush. It's hard to believe that the two of them lived their whole lives without ever learning how to related to the opposite sex in a natural, mature way. Especially when No Ra spent the last 20 years married and living with 2 males. A little flustered attraction is to be expected, but it was a bit overdone.
Hye Mi
I just never found Hye Mi's character likeable. Start to finish, she seemed self-centered and immature. Min Soo deserved someone better, in my opinion. I think maybe we were supposed to like her or at least understand where she was coming from , but I never got her. I was just hoping Min Soo would eventually find someone better suited to him. Hye Mi's only contribution to the storyline seemed to be teaching Min Soo what he shouldn't do.
Contracts
What kind of family puts every little promise into a notarized document? Seriously, the fact that none of them seem to see the whole thing as abnormal is a mystery to me. Even Yoon Yeong seemed to know about them and never once mentioned to No Ra that, just maybe, her husband is an abnormal control freak. Especially watching Min Soo agonize over his promise to his dad without even considering that maybe he should have some say in his own future was sad. It just goes to show how easy it is to allow ourselves to be put into difficult and unfair positions without even realizing it.
The Ending
It's pretty much happy endings all around for this one. No Ra finally divorces Woo Chul and moves on with her life. Realizing that her college dreams were more about everyone else than her own aspirations, she drops out and devotes herself to learning her grandmother's recipes. Hyeon Seok watches her from afar and waits for her to realize her feelings for him. A trip back to their hometown for her grandmother's birthday finally brings them together and she confesses her love. Woo Chul takes a job at a small college somewhere, but still plans to become successful through his research. Yi Jin goes to see him at school and the two make up and seem to be back together. Min Soo talks to his mom over the internet from a blueberry farm where he is working. He seems happy exploring the world and exercising some freedom to live his life the way he wants. Hye Mi, on the other hand, has had a wake up call and is becoming a diligent student. She is getting postcards from Min Soo, so there is still hope for their relationship. Sang Ye is dating and Seung Hyun and Soon Nam seem to have started a relationship. The final scene has No Ra and Hyeon Seok cuddled up in "their spot" at the park reading and napping. And that is a wrap.
Should I Watch
"Second 20's" is a simple romantic comedy that reminds us that it's never too late to follow your dreams. Because of the more mature theme, it may not appeal to younger fans. There are a handful of younger characters, but even their stories are told more through No Ra's perspective. If you enjoy surprising and unpredictable storylines, this probably isn't what you are looking for. This drama is more about the characters and the message of encouragement than a unique plot that keeps you guessing. What this drama does do is give a sweet story about second chances and the opportunity to find happiness and fulfillment later in life. I give "Second 20's" a 8 out of 10 ramen.
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