One word: Masterpiece
This drama is just mind-blowing. Everything about it is just superb. I watched it only because I always saw it in the list of must watch Korean drama, without knowing any of the actors, except Park Bo Gum.I first came in to watch thinking it would be a funny romantic comedy. It turned out to be very funny indeed, but not just all about the romance. It's more about family and friendship, with romance being kinda a minor storyline? But oh boy, what a ride. Love all the parents, siblings, friends, neighbours ...
The amount of tissues I used while watching this is also mind blowing! They were mostly tears of happiness, though. So many touching moments.
Every single characters are so interesting and well played. I didn't do skips or fast forward with this drama at all.
This is the first time when I root for the ML and SML equally until the end. I'm so happy with the one who became the husband, I think his character suits FL more. Meanwhile my heart broke for the one who didn't make it. Like, really broken! All in all, good ending.
It really deserves the hype and it certainly is one of the best k-drama I've ever watched.
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Ultimately, I had little complaints about the ending of the show. I found the show to be very well written. All of the characters were thoroughly fleshed out with personalities, ambitions and weaknesses. I really enjoyed how much Reply 1988 focused on all of the families of the friends. It was not just main male and main female lead and their families, it was about the neighborhood and the people who lived in that neighborhood. With all of the focus on the group and location, it really brought together the feelings of nostalgia and youth that this franchise is all about. I was born in 1988, in a western country so there really was nothing about this story that I was able to immediately relate to yet, I was able to relate to the feelings of youth. It was really well done throughout this show. It goes to show that everyone, no matter what age, can relate to these characters.
Reply 1988 was a hit in more ways than one. I wholeheartedly recommend it.
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It was a journey that I am sure I will take again someday
I have nothing but praises for this drama. This may be the best of the lot, endearing and engulfing. I smiled throughout the show at beautiful bonds between the characters and bawled my eyes out when the occasion called for it. Every character was written with such depth and the million relationships that fluttered on this one street warmed my heart.The drama was definitely long but was worth every minute spent on it. The FL was a trailblazer for me, not your regular damsel in distress, self sacrificing cliché. The writers were successful in delivering on the promise of a love triangle with equal contenders. I obviously have major second lead syndrome, but I also strongly feel that the FL and the ML were meant to be.
Subtle plot lines and brilliant performances made the story what it is, a masterpiece. The OST was beautiful, I was convinced that this show was shot in 1988, production was absolute perfection.
There is an elite list in my head of dramas that I am sure I will watch again in my lifetime, it is very short and very exclusive. Reply 88 has successfully etched itself there.
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I'm currently 18 years old, the same age as Deok Sun, Jung Hwan, Taek, Sun Woo and Dong Ryong at the beginning of the drama, and I was amazed by how much I could relate to them—their feelings, their issues and their experiences. Everything was seriously on point and realistic that this drama hits especially hard with the life lessons that they convey. It's storyline was simple, really, but the beauty of it is that it's totally character driven. We see the daily lives of five families living in Ssangmundong, we watch them deal with their issues, we feel happy when they're happy and sad when they're sad. I hadn't even realized how attached I'd gotten to each and every one of these characters until it ended. The story of youth, family and friendship was so well-written that I felt like I was actually growing up alongside the characters in their neighbourhood. It's like a piece of me is literally left behind back in 1988's Ssangmundong. It's amazing. Truly.
Reply 1988 has successfully earned a large amount of space in my heart. I doubt that any other drama will be able to top it for me, at least not in the near future.
I'm going to miss the residents of Ssangmundong so so much, especially the gang of 5. Thank you so much for teaching me so many things alongside them. I hope my remaining journey through youth will be as beautiful as their's ♡
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This review may contain spoilers
Nostalgia about youth
I haven't watched all of the reply series yet, I just watched 1997 and this one. Considering that this one is the newest among the other replies, this one delivers a much more powerful impact and story. The story revolves around 5 childhood friends, about their youth and families.I would say this is one of the best youth theme dramas I have ever watched. The story is natural, quirky, and realistic, There are many potentials candidates for Doek sun's husband. But I think it is pretty obvious who is the husband since the beginning. There are many hints and also the chemistry between Doek sun's and the husband are the best among other candidates. Their scenes together are always romantic and memorable. They just compliment each other so well that I can't argue with the end game. I just feel a little bit sad that we didn't get to see any scene of their wedding, although we know that they end up together in the end.
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This review may contain spoilers
“Time will always flow. Everything will pass by. That might be why youth is beautiful. It shines, blindingly bright, for just an instant. But you can never go back to it.” – Deok SunI don't have words to describe how much I loved this drama and I also don't have heart to say goodbye to it! This drama showed me the importance of family, friends, lovers and community. Like most dramas I watch, the romance was present, but in this drama, it wasn't what kept me interested. Of course, wondering who would end up with Deok Sun and seeing Sunwoo and Bora's relationship progressing was good and entertaining but what kept me interested and made me finish this drama was the friendship between the 5 friends and their parents, the love this parents have for their children and also their children's friends. This drama wasn't cliché and it didn't have a plot very complicated to understand. In every episode there were problems that everyone of us faces in their daly lives. This drama portraid youth even better than life itself. Reply 1988 made me want to stay a child forever, it made me want to go out there and enjoy time with my friends without worring about other stuff, it made me want to hug my parents and thank them for everything they did for me, it made me want to spend the most time with my siblings before they move out of the house. This drama made me want to enjoy youth to the fullest because we can never go back to it. If I were to reccomend a drama to someone, this would be it. Wether you like romance, slice-of-life, coming of age, friendship or family-oriented dramas, this is the perfect drama for you. I would even reccomed it to someone who doesn't like those genres because I bet they would love it. This was so well writen, from plot twists to character's development, everything was perfect. It made me interested in South Korea's story during the 80's and 90's. The OST was also perfect: the song Youth by Kim Chang Wan was the perfect harmony for the lives of the Ssangmundong gang.
Would I rewatch this drama? For sure, with any doubts. Maybe not completely, maybe just an episode once in a while to remember the lives of this 5 friends who will be forever in my heart, as well as their families and friends.
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I Can't stop rewatching this drama!!
I absolutely love this drama!!! The story was perfect, I absolutely love the cast!!!, the music Was nice!!!.I did like the relationship between the 5 friends & the 3 ladies. I've rewatched this drama a lot of times!!!. the thing I didn't really like about this drama was the relationship between deok-sun & her elder sister bo-ra's relationship(I do know many elder-younger sibling relationships are like these) their relationship improves as the story progresses. I really like the way sun-woo cared about his younger sister & mom. this drama is currently my most rated one. I hope there's one more drama from the reply series.
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Brings back memories
Love the show-entertaining, witty, clever and funny! Brings back memories from the 80’s. Well directed and scripted. The cast have done a very good job portraying their characters and they all have a great chemistry. I did not expect it to that great but it is, I could watch it over and over again. I fall in love with Park Bo Gum and Hyeri they are Brilliant! I became their fan and followers. 👍👏🤗❤️❤️❤️ Love love love love love love love lots lots lots lots hugs hugs hugs kisses kisses kissssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss kisses kisssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssWas this review helpful to you?
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After watching Reply 1988, the series was a complete shot through the heart. It is a type of family drama that are full of Korean family culture and values, also how does a common Korean family lives. The theme was nostalgic indeed since it was portrait way back in 80's and 90's. A story of chances, especially on how you should tell your true feelings to the one who you really love. Wasted chances should not be happened if you say and confess it soon enough. It is not how fate tells your love story but on how you react and do it.The story was a little bit dull and boring at first but when you watch the rest of the episodes it becomes more interesting and enjoy to watch. There are a lot of times that this drama made me cry, laugh and excite especially on its romantic scenes. The ending part was a little bit short for me since the female protagonist didn't show how she ended up in a wedding with one of her best friends, but overall the ending was too good which really made me cry.
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WOW... It's worth the hype
As an avid k-drama fan, I was always aware of the presence of Reply 1988. I mean, it's at the top of most lists as one of the best k-drama's of all time.I don't know why I put it off for so long, to be honest. Maybe I saw the fact that it was so family focused and assumed there wouldn't be any romance or comedy—two things I NEED in a drama. Maybe it was the first two episodes that didn't immediately make me fall in love. Maybe it was how young the characters started off, or the frequent flash forward moments into time. All I can say is that I usually would not gravitate towards this type of drama, but I have no regrets.
All I know is, it was the best decision to binge the rest of it in a week when I came home for vacay during college. This coming-of-age tale is so amazing, heartfelt, and tender that I have difficulty putting it into words. The comedy was so underrated. I'm not the type of person to laugh audibly while watching a show or movie, but Reply 1988 had me CACKLING.
And don't even get me started on the PLOT TWISTS! Y'all, I was not ready for some of them. And I'm still trying to process a few now. My mind did a 180 a couple times and I was on the edge of my seat during specific scenes.
Not gonna lie, I probably wouldn't rewatch... the whole thing. Maybe I'd rewatch the second half. It's just a lot to process all over again. Regardless, it was a beautiful production with love, family, and COMEDY!
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Writing because I'm angry !! Read if you finished the drama
I'm omg !!! Like how could she leave Jung Hwan the manly man and go for taek with all his dullness ?!!There wasn't anything from him expresing his love comparing to Jung who expressed his feelings by actions alot but omg didn't get courage to confess first despite he said to her don't go on sugatting ! She got the hint but the turning was sadly when she was left with taek at the field and he hold her and run , tbh I hated every turning that led her being with taek
The most I loved in the drama when my Jung Hwan cried that really WRECKED MEㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ so frusted with all the way he's driving I was going crazy like come on !! Faster !! But in the end the drop and how touched I was by that the hurt feelings the regret the pain the love at that part ohhhh omg Im sure I'll repeat that again an d again ㅠㅠㅠㅠ I really loved that part from all the drama and cried alloooooot here omg that hurted me alot ㅠㅠㅠㅠ and was the most part I loved I the drama ¡-¡
For me I'm so romantic person and the feelings are most important to me the feeling of one-sided love , the rejection,the disappointment,the betrayal, the love, the hurt, I love that to expressed in way you live them with the characters and that what I felt in the last eps , I hated the end so much , maybe many won't agree with me and maybe many others will do , anyway I'm expresing my feelings of disappointment that I felt here rn cause I just finished watching it , writing so I can return here later remember how I felt .....
Many things was shown so beautifuly in the drama heheh my disappointment won't cover that the drama was good
The part when the brother came for their mother funeral was so touchting .....
I wanna say alot but yeah anyway .....
And another part I loved about this drama and so unfair to not be mentioned is the time it brought , the old memories the simple life we had when we were young , it really showed the old times very beautifully ...
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The ending is sad and meaningful. "Goodbye, my youth. Goodbye, Ssangmun-dong” -Deok Sun
Teaches you how important and significant your youth is. Beautiful story. So many feels from this.
The plot and setting is on point. Love it!
Some parts of their acting was awkward.
It has a mixture of family, friendship, school, romance and real world problems that happened at that time.
I love how they interviewed the adult Deok Sun and Taek, and than the whole thing was just them recalling their childhood memories together, super creative.
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