[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Twenty Again" Episode 8

The halfway point of "Twenty Again" is here and rather than a huge physical battle, we've come to the apex of a high-tension set of emotions. It's also where the characters begin to see No-ra for who she truly is, unfettered by the emotional shackles Woo-cheol gave her years ago.

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It is not only No-ra that we begin to see more clearly, but Hyeon-seok as well. His personality is naturally hot and cold, but the motivations behind his childish behavior towards No-ra have only just been revealed. He thought she neglected her grandmother in her last days. He had grown close to her grandmother and felt familial affection towards her. His anger was justified, but the manifestation behind the anger gifts the show its title - he acts "Twenty Again". The behavior is mirrored by No-ra when they are together and they start on a path of growing up together, past the issues that separated them and kept them both in adolescence.

While "Twenty Again" is entertaining, it is only so because of No-ra, Hyeon-seok, and Woo-cheol. The other characters, while they may be adorable, infuriating, and everything in between, they are stagnant. No-ras friends who need help provide her a great platform to show who she really is: a vivacious, intelligent woman. And it's wonderful to see her grow by helping them and enjoying her time with them. But they do very little growing themselves. Neither does her son, Min-soo. He learns that he likes to dance, and learns he got it from his mother, but other than that, he is not going anywhere fast. I hope they have him bond with his mother over dance, just like he has learned to accept her ambitions. He could be a great character.

Woo-cheol is only entertaining because he is utterly ridiculous in his selfishness and denial of what a horrible human being he is. Everything he asks of others is only in consideration of himself. He cannot see No-ra growing apart from him because of an intrinsic motivation. He still believes she's obsessed with him. I would like to see him start to have a few realizations of his own or else he's just there to create conflict for conflict's sake.

We do get to see No-ra dance, which is the realization of her youthful dream of becoming a dancer. She has a surprise opportunity to join the festival performance, which is a highlight for her. Her adult life has been all about her family and she has done nothing for herself. She finally gets to dance for the joy of it and all of the men in her life, Woo-cheol, Hyeon-seok, and Min-soo, get to see it. I see this opening new doors in all of her relationships, whether they lead to a place of peace or of contention.

Although this drama is more light-hearted than not, skimming over the heavier plot points, the fine acting we see out of Choi Ji-woo and Lee Sang-yoon gives it depth. Then there is the humor that is ever present as No-ra and Hyeon-seok fuss and fall in love. A rom-com can't really go wrong with a couple we can get behind.

Written by: Raine from 'Raine's Dichotomy'

"Twenty Again" is directed by Kim Hyeong-sik, written by So Hyeon-kyeong, and features Choi Ji-woo, Lee Sang-yoon, Choi Won-young and Kim Min-jae-I.