Reply 1988 visiting youth
First let me start out by saying I wanted to write this review for myself to capture what I felt after watching this drama, though many people have written reviews already. This is the first drama I have watched that focuses on childhood story. Since most of us reminisce about our childhood one time or the other I thought of giving this show a chance. Things I liked about the show are :1. It portrayed simpler times of people’s lives.
2. Everybody wanted to have friends who will always remain by their side.
3. The bond between people are very important whether you are in good or bad place.
4. The comedy was light and was not forced. It blended well with the story.
5. Funny goat bleating music was funny and apt for the mood of the show.
Things I didn’t like about the show are :
Certain characters were not given their proper ending. People who already watched the drama know what I’m talking about. Most of them would have felt that. This is probably one of the main things that did not agree with me apart from that the show was worth watching.
Finally, it was sweet warm and cozy show. Would I watch it again? Hmm... maybe after a long time when I have forgotten all about it.
For those who want to give this a try, I would say, do try it and see, if you like your childhood period !
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Utterly Unforgettable
Out of the 100 or so Korean Dramas I've watched in the past 18 months, this is one that I will never forget as long as I live. I thought it was as near perfection as a drama can get. Everything about it was impressive, from the story to the sets to the acting to the message. Sweet, moving, hilarious and precious. I fell in love with the whole cast, and now want to watch everything many of them have done. The young people as well as the seasoned vets put on a show that won't fail to impress you, I promise. I also want to give kudos to the writer(s) of this brilliant slice of life drama. It just doesn't get much better than this.Was this review helpful to you?
A must watch.
Story: It couldn't have been better. Heart warming plot. How the 5 friends & their family live in a neighborhood just like a huge family was totally amusing. The friendship moments of the 5 lead characters were indeed amazing but i liked the family bonding moments more. How they all were there for each other in every ups and downs was very heart warming. If someone from the neighborhood succeeded all the parents & their siblings were cheering for them. The mom & dad gangs were very supportive to their children. The little happy family moments, the frndship bond & slow romance pace all were just perfect. They didn't rush for anything. They opened the story slowly slowly so that viewers can understand & feel the warmth. I laughed out so loud & also cried a lot through out the whole drama series. I could feel each and every character. How they wrapped the story in epi 18-19-20 was very satisfying.Acting: Perfect! ! Hyeri is so good for this type of role. No one could have been better than her. The same goes for other actors & their characters. Its was my first drama of Park Bo Gum. I was always wondering "why people love him so much? Is he that good? " I got my answer from this drama. The mom & dad gangs were so good. I felt like they were my parents.
Music: Wow!! The retro songs were so good to hear. I never listened any Korean retro songs. It's my first time. I enjoyed them a lot.
Rewatch value: Would definitely love to rewatch this to lift up my mood. The amount of sarcasm & emotions are forcing me to.
Overall:. I don't know how to explain my feelings for this drama but i totally loved it. I'm gonna add this to my top 5 list & recommend this one to my friends.
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Maybe Too Overhyped?
I know this review may upset some people but it is what it is. Like I said in the title, maybe this was just too overhyped and I got my expectations up, I don't know.Anyways, I love the story, and I love this idea of seeing this group of friends grow up together and see how they turn out. I get why they did it, but it was weird to see the flash forward version of two of the characters where we're clearly not supposed to know who he is, but it sort of doesn't make sense as none of them would look like completely different people at age 50. lol
I feel like they could've just not used future actors. Maybe done it in a written format so we see the perspective but not them? I don't know. Anyways, the older sister really, really irritated me in the beginning. I know I'm not alone in that, but still. lol
I'm also not sure how I feel about the outcomes. I sort of had the same issue with the female lead in this that I had with the female lead in Personal Taste, which is that they sort of wrote her as "quirky" and "not like other girls" but in some instances it's just her being kinda gross for no reason. I did really like the story and the actors though.
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A charming portrayal of family, friendships, love....80s at its best!!!
I think I found my favorite show of all time…This show is the definition of perfection…I mean seriously I have never ever seen anything so well written. Everything right from the 80s setting to the plot was so well done…especially the characters. It’s very rare to find such fleshed out 3 dimensional characters with such natural interactions that not once did I feel like something is forced for dramatic measures…it really seemed like I was watching a documentary of the characters of a real neighborhood. I will point out a few things that I absolutely adored in the show (I will keep it brief because if I try to tell the positives of this show, words will fall short) :1. The Characters : Each and every character be it the main 5 or the other supporting characters are so beautifully developed that not one of them feels like the show could have done without them.. even minor characters like Deok sun’s friends to Ryu Dong’s father are a delight to watch..if it comes to rounding off my favorites though, I would have to say Deok sana is one of the most earnest characters I have seen…her personality is charismatic and she lights up every scene that she is in.you can’t help but fall in love with her.…I also liked the nuances in Taek’s character which was beautifully portrayed by Park Bo Gumm..But Jung Hwan was the character that touched my heart the most…I felt his longing and his pain of not being able to get what he so desperately wants …in the supporting character my absolute favorite has to be Deok Sanas’ dad!!! He was a gem and he raised the humor of the show to another level altogether. There were scenes where I roared with laughter..at the same time he was marvelous in the emotional scenes too..
2. The 80s Setting : the 80s neighborhood is the star of the show..the reason the show works the way it does is because the characters living so close to each other gives ample opportunities for unplanned interactions. Their lunch or dinner scenes where they are bickering (Deok Sana’s family) or the scenes with the ladies sitting in the courtyard and gossiping about everything were all so well crafted!! It really felt like the characters were from a different time altogether!! Moreover we got a glimpse of how life was in the bygone era…how friends spent their time, how it was to be in love that time..what was the trend in music, in lifestyle, fashion etc everything was beautifully depicted.
3. Sibling Relationships : Realistic portrayals of how actual siblings behave in real life…real siblings don’t go around getting emotional or saying dramatic dialogues..they fight and annoy each other (deok san and Bo-ra) but at the same time they also care deep inside!!
4. The Parents interactions with the Kids : Be it Taek’s fathers immense love for his son (that scene where he rips open a drawer), or the banter between deok sana and her mom & dad, the devotion of Sun Woo towards his mom or the playful banter of Ryu dong with his father, the worrisome love of Mi ran towards her two sons, every parent- child relation brought a unique flavor to the table and showed various forms of parental love.
5. The most important – Friendship : This was the most crucial aspect at the heart of this show. And I’m not talking just about the friendship between the 5 leads but also between the moms and the dads!! The bond between the 5 leads is the main reason that carries the show to another level altogether. I have never met a more caring group of friends off/on screen..sure they bicker and pull each other’s leg and abuse each other verbally but they are there for each other in their actions..the way the entire gang treats Taek like a precious little baby or Doek san being that one pampered/bullied girl in an all guys gang..Sun Woo being like the elder parent in the group..their friendship made me jealous..I wanted to be a part of that gang and hang out with them..also the friendships between the parents..their non stop complaints..their gossips etc everything was just precious..
6. Romance : Frankly as much as I enjoyed the love triangle and that it gave me major anxiety, it was only a partial reason of why I enjoyed the show..I’m not saying that the show would have still been the same without it..obviously the romance was a very important part of the show.. its just that it contributed by adding more depth to an already brilliant show!! The thing I liked the most was that the triangle never became toxic..2 best friends fell for the same girl and despite knowing that they never for a second ill-treated or misbehaved with the other..both were ready to sacrifice their love for the other coz their friendship meant so much more to them..a few scenes just stand out and are a testimony to this…the scene where Jung hwan goes down to tie Taeks shoelace despite taek being a potential love rival…the scene where he wishes on the shooting star that Taek turns out to be a jerk so he can easily hate him…Taek cancels his plan with deok san knowing Jung hwan likes her….the characters are so likeable that I was conflicted throughout the show as to whom I wanted her to end up with..whenever there was a possibility of her being with either I felt bad for the other..In the end she got together with one of them (which was hinted throughout the show in the subtle writing) and though I loved them together my heart broke for the other guy!! That confession scene which was then told as a joke but it actually wasn’t, was one of the most beautiful confessions I have seen..also the subsequent scene of that person regretting being hesitant and all the chances he lost!!!!Oh my heart is weak!!
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Takes you back to the beauty of youth
Such a good story. Really made you feel like you were a part of that neighborhood. I felt so sad at the end, almost like my own youth was slipping away. So well-written, so funny, so gripping. Such a nice, light show to watch. The actors were amazing, you really felt like they were true friends who had grown up together. The only reason I gave it 8/10 stars overall was because she ended up with Taek. They were cute, but I was so disappointed she didn’t get with Jung-hwan I almost stopped the show at ep 16. I’m glad I finished it, but they really missed the mark with that one. They had so much chemistry, I feel like this show would’ve been so much more loved if they had went with that love story instead.Was this review helpful to you?
Wholesome Drama of Youth
Just give a try.And Be patience and you won't regret.
I won't say much about this drama.
still cryin' :'))
Drama was focused on friendship, relations bet parents and child.
Showed how parents are try so hard for their children and their child also know that their parents are trying hard for them, they may not say but they understand their helpness.
I wish i also had such a group of friends but it's okay.
You will cry, you will laugh.
That's a life so just lead it, live it.
Every one has their own way of living. it's judt about a time you will live well too , just the way in this drama showed.
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Every Asian's chilhood
This one is totally amazing and different from every kdrama out there this drama literally made me wish to born in Korea in that neighbourhood where there were not mobile phone internet that time life literally blossomed in every way ..This drama totally depicts the beautiful memories of childhood and I relate with every character I love every character equally this one gave me second lead syndrome and cried at the end but I am happy that they are together in real world..
Recommend watch!!
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Hits you right in the feels.
So i watched this a few months after it actually came out and i thought i had written a review for it but clearly i didn't. i'm currently watching it again (its like my 6th time watching it since it came out) and everytime it hits you right in the feels. You can relate with more or less everything that happens in it. We all wish we could go back to our childhoods, or see our parents when they were young again or see our friends that we grew up with. This drama makes you just want it all again. You're going to laugh, cry be angry with everything that goes on in this drama. This is the best of the REPLY series.The acting is just bloody brilliant by every single one of the actors. The story line of course is perfect. The music...on point. I heard one of the soundtracks in a tik tok video recently and it just made me think of the drama and it just had its ways of making you think of your life in general if you know what i mean? Sorry i'm so passionate about this drama that i feel im not making any sense.
But anyways if you want to watch drama that you will not disappointed with at all then this is it. Just watch this.
you will fall in love with everything about it.
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Daebak!
10/10!!!! If you want to reminisce your childhood and want to learn about family, friendship, love and life it is the best Korean drama that you need. Now, im getting emotional again. See, i've been trying my best to move on from this drama. Im on the stage where i can only sigh every time i scrolled on reply 1988 on my fb newsfeed. So i believed im halfway through my moving on. Now guess what. Im back to base 1. Family. Friendship. Love. And their youth. So nostalgic. Want to go back to my time and live that same kind of black and white years yet so full of life, very colorful and carefree.Was this review helpful to you?
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