Will someone please explain to me all the hype about the reply series ? I'm genuinely curious.
I hope I can do justice to this series by trying to explain what the hype about the reply series is. The hype is much well-deserved.
It's a heartwarming coming of age drama series. They're set in particular years that were significant in Korea (1997 - beginning of korean idols like H.O.T etc; 1994 - emergence of k-pop predecessors like Seo Taiji and boys; 1988 - Olympics in Seoul, student protests, era before internet hit Korea). If you were a child/teenager during the 1990s, especially in an Asian country, you will relate to it. It's a drama series that pays ode to the past. But more importantly, it's about first loves, family and friendships. Also, storytelling and plot are A++++, as is the cast and acting in each drama.
I waited for this show almost all year and was afraid it wasn't going to meet expectations. Although the first…
Park Bo Gum's ability to subtly shift expressions and his charisma and presence makes him one of the finest actors to be on screen right now. I am glad that he is doing such diverse roles and experimenting at such a young age in his career. I can' wait to see what roles he does next.
Love EVERY single role of hers (the ones that I've watched). Favourite ahjumma ever. Ra Mi Ran-sshi may contend that spot someday in my list but for now, it's Kim Mi Kyung-sshi. I am SO glad you wrote this article!
Couldn't agree more with this article, although I haven't watched To The Beautiful You because people told me not to watch it and I just skipped over it.
Thank you for writing this, and understanding what the drama wanted to express! I'm happy there are people who…
Thank you! I really don't like it when they dismiss this drama because of the subject matter or because Joon doesn't end up with her. Joon would never have been perfect for her anyway.
This drama will always be close to my heart, primarily because it was family/neighbourhood-oriented and while the romance of Reply 1997 will remain the most special, overall Reply 1988 is my favourite drama in the franchise. I absolutely agree with your views regarding Junghwan and Taek's attitude towards their feelings for Duk Seon. Perhaps that's why I was so glad that Jung Hwan did not end up with Duk Seon. I have had this conversation endlessly with vicious Team Junghwan fans - Junghwan wouldn't have been perfect for someone like Duk Seon who is so insecure. I also generally do not have patience for male leads who do not express/confess their feelings (How else is his love interest supposed to know that they like her when you either insult her or rebuke her? That's not how you show your love.) In fact, people did not pay attention to perspectives. The drama stopped showing the romance through Duk Seon's perspective the moment the pink T-shirt incident happened, so we had no way of knowing her feelings after that. Moreover, Taek was the only one whom she liked on her own, not because her friend insisted that he liked her as was the case with Sun Woo and Junghwan. So I'm not really sure if I would call Sun Woo and Junghwan her first loves. Maybe Junghwan but Sun Woo was simply an infatuation.
(My bias for Taek may also have come from the fact that I am an absolute Park Bo Gum trash.)
But as you mentioned, the focus of this drama was really the families and the neighbourhood, and no drama has treated that subject matter as realistically as Reply 1988. The characters, the relationships, the dynamics between the characters were beautiful. Perhaps my favourites were the BoRa-Sung Appa and Taek/Choi Appa story arcs. And Ra Mi Ran is an ace.
As someone mentioned in the comments section, I can write various dissertations on various aspects of this drama. Personally, the baduk analogy interests me the most.
This drama is perfect. It had all I wanted and more. After reading the comments I don't know if people watched…
I agree with you!!! It is so easy for people to take a moral stance from a distance but things are not always straightforward, especially when it comes to marriage. The drama doesn't condone adultery. It just attempts to negotiate through the reasons why some might commit adultery.
I guess most people just hate it because it is so complicated, and people usually don't want complicated things. Most of the dialogue, especially Hee Tae's monologues were so hard-hitting.
Tbh I don't get people commenting about the slow pacing. It's not any slower than Doctors. It's just more calm,…
Tbh, the pacing fits in perfectly with the winter concept that drama seems to be aiming for. And the flashbacks are necessary to set the foundation of thei relationship. I sonetimes feel like people complain just because they want to. Every drama cannot be similar in terms of plot, action and pacing of the action. So much depends on the overall concept. I really like the dreamy, wonter concept.
I really want to watch this but in the previous dramas I watched, Park Shin Hye always acts the same way. Like…
I was a bit apprehensive of watching Doctors precisely because I did not want psh to be the pretty crier again but so far, her vibe is completely different from her other roles. I like her character so far!!!
It's a heartwarming coming of age drama series. They're set in particular years that were significant in Korea (1997 - beginning of korean idols like H.O.T etc; 1994 - emergence of k-pop predecessors like Seo Taiji and boys; 1988 - Olympics in Seoul, student protests, era before internet hit Korea). If you were a child/teenager during the 1990s, especially in an Asian country, you will relate to it. It's a drama series that pays ode to the past. But more importantly, it's about first loves, family and friendships. Also, storytelling and plot are A++++, as is the cast and acting in each drama.
And let's not forget Playful Kiss *shudder*
(My bias for Taek may also have come from the fact that I am an absolute Park Bo Gum trash.)
But as you mentioned, the focus of this drama was really the families and the neighbourhood, and no drama has treated that subject matter as realistically as Reply 1988. The characters, the relationships, the dynamics between the characters were beautiful. Perhaps my favourites were the BoRa-Sung Appa and Taek/Choi Appa story arcs. And Ra Mi Ran is an ace.
As someone mentioned in the comments section, I can write various dissertations on various aspects of this drama. Personally, the baduk analogy interests me the most.
I guess most people just hate it because it is so complicated, and people usually don't want complicated things. Most of the dialogue, especially Hee Tae's monologues were so hard-hitting.