3IDRock

Reply 1988 is a general but very good portrayal of just "life and family" and the youth affected, passing on to the next generation. As a young man in the 80's, I couldn't help but think of my past on a few occasions throughout the series. Obviously there are cultural differences, but overall, as a young boy and teen, there is much I relate to. Family ups and downs, friends that shape your life. I remember my first true heartbreak as a 19-year-old. However, I ended up marrying my high school sweetheart 5 years later.

The acting was good; Lee Hye Ri's role as Sung Deok Sun stuck out the most for me. She was like the glue (kids-wise) that kept the momentum. Yes, the others were bright, funny, quirky, and sometimes charming, but there was a reason Deok Sun took the narrative reins. The kids, with their own personalities, were like an extension of their parents. I also could relate on some levels to the parents having kids of my own. What bothered me a little was Reply 1988 didn't seem to have a main central plot; it just had a theme of day-to-day life as anyone trying to navigate through it. This was a good and a bad thing, IMO. Because the middle episodes 9–14 did seem a little repetitive. Without a main central goal, the initial warm and engrossing episodes started to trend toward a reality TV theme. This isn't a terrible knock because the execution was still present.

But as in life, things do change as the kids get older and more mature. Things move forward, and the show thrives. I too have revisited my old childhood area 18 years ago. The nastoglia here is on point.
Overall, Reply 1988 is worth the watch, and I do recommend.