Reply 1988

응답하라 1988 ‧ Drama ‧ 2015 - 2016
Completed
KingC
0 people found this review helpful
Jun 9, 2021
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.0

A Walk Down Nostalgia Lane.

I'd recommed this series to anyone who wants to watch an almost realistic portrayal of family relations and troubles. It somehow managed to compile all the emotions and instances that we love and fear all in one.
Narrated by Duk Seon, we switch the perspectives through several characters that grew up together. My personal favorites were Sun Woo and Jung Hwan - they did not stand out but there was a certain charm about how they handled stuff.
The parental relations were the highlight - they have the ability to make you tear up.
By the time I reached high school, the internet and smartphones had taken ove. Me and my friends, who still didn't have them, could slowly see communication decline in favor of banal frivolities such as selfies and cliques. I wish that I had grown up somewhere during Duk Seon's times as the meaning of "friendship" was taken with much seriousness than today's times. Parental ties are something that no amount of technology can conquer and I'm glad that Reply 1988 attempted to depict the two sides of life in a relatable manner.
Overall, its a worthy watch with a lot of life lessons. Youth is a terrifying period of life, but all storms are meant to pass. And they will, eventually.

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Completed
aeri
0 people found this review helpful
Jan 2, 2025
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.5

Between love, youth and friendship

Reply 1988 is a nostalgic drama that shows the lives of 5 childhood friends who live in the same neighbourhood in seoul and their lives between 1988 to 2015. The best part about this kdrama is that it has so many different characters and parts to it that there is something for all to enjoy. All the characters were important definitely however i feel at times the kdrama felt a bit too long for me. Since each episode is 1hr 30 mins long and some being even longer it was hard for to focus on some parts that i felt were unnecessary. I can say too many good parts about this kdrama. It beautifully shows the phenomenal beauty of youth, strong bonds between people who are not family by heart but by blood and sacrifices made by certain characters for the others to remain happy.

The ending wasn't exactly happy for me- it left more of a bittersweet feeling inside of me as i came to realize that our youth lasts for only a short minute and just like the characters in the kdrama oneday we all will become busy with our jobs and lives. Its sad that we lose ties with people who we were once the closest with. Even though i wasn't born in the 80s i still enjoyed reply 1988 for the most part.

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Completed
redshanks
0 people found this review helpful
Feb 18, 2022
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
This review may contain spoilers

Youth at its best and most wholesome

What can I say? I laughed I cried, I awed and I booed. This story really made me believe in Kdramas as wholesomeness. Man this was so good. I was thinking about it when I wasn’t watching it. I was shipping characters together. Acting was incredible out of everyone and I just really loved learning about Korean culture through the eyes of this neighborhood. I loved traveling back in time like this to a time when things weren’t so freaking disconnected. My favorite kdrama to date.
I will say however that I will never ever ship Choi Taek and Doek Sun together at all. I’m team Doek Hwang idc. I love Go tbh so I’m a Taek fan but come on he does not have any chemistry with Doek Sun.
I think in general this drama portrayed the ups and downs of a youth well lived. A youth that was spent on all the things we should spend it on. One where every personal moment seems like the end of the world but rlly that moment is just that a moment. How dramatic we are as youths that everything matters so much and yet they matter so little.
This drama encapsulates that within it.

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Completed
Victortansk
0 people found this review helpful
Oct 7, 2020
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.0

Beautiful Coming of Age Drama

I’m always a big fan of coming of age films and series that showcased the development of the characters. This is show is set in the eighties timeframe that is probably one of the best period in history where fashion in my opinion is timeless.

The amazing dynamic between the 5 best of friends is extremely heartwarming. Shout out to the supporting characters/family members who are portrayed by veteran actors/actresses creates further depth to the overall series.

The ‘how I met you mother’ style of making you guess her eventual partner is what make the series captivating as you pick up some clues along the drama.
However, the eventual reveal of the husband may be disappointing to some but then it again it sends an interesting message to the audiences. ‘Always capture an opportunity and not let it slip, you never know when it will be your last’
Also, at the end of the day, timing is everything.

Highly recommend to watch if have not already.

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Completed
Trish M
0 people found this review helpful
Oct 7, 2021
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 4.5

Good drama, issue with ending

Enjoyable show even if it did take me a long time to finish it. I will say I'm forever going to be upset that the writers evidently changed their minds about the romantic endgame for Deok Sun partway through the production because the flash-forwards to the future husband had a seeming personality transplant partway through. I feel like that's because they started out with one person in mind and changed their minds later on. While I like the character and actor of who ended up with Deok Sun, I'm going to always be not happy that it didn't go the other way.
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Completed
Duch dynne
0 people found this review helpful
May 12, 2019
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 5.0
Music 3.5
Rewatch Value 9.0
This review may contain spoilers
It is very entertaining because the drama contains family, friendship and love. I couldn't imagine that their life is the same on where my country is. I love the Sung Deok Soon and Kim Jung Hwan, but on the series they are not together in the end. I have a feeling that It is Taek who will choose by the lead actress but I am fanatic of Kim Jung Hwan who fell in love with her but he never said to the girl how much he loves her. The crazy moment was Kim Jung Hwan who will said to Deok Soon how much mean to her but take it back. And the moment that Jung Hwan run to see Deok Soon to be a partner on the theater wherein Taek was the leading on that. He really cried on that part. If he have the courage to said to the girl. They will be the lover until the end. #sad

As the drama goes to ending, I really cried because all of the memories was fallen apart. It is really enjoying. I hope that it will watch on our country not only on Korea.

Most appreciated the cast to whom I really cried. Thank you and God Bless :)

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Completed
linnea
0 people found this review helpful
Jun 16, 2021
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

A beautiful drama, with beautiful memories both for watcher and story-wise

This drama. What can i even say about this drama?
This drama is the one that I keep going back to because i never want it to end, the one i keep crying to even though I already know exactly what is going to happen. The one I keep recommending to all of my friends, my family and I ask that we watch it together because I love it so much. The one that I sing along to the songs when I’m watching it and just want to rewatch and rewatch.

Perfect story, perfect plottwists, perfect use of emotions and perfect recreation of scenery.

I wouldn’t recommend any other drama the way I do this one, you really do have to watch it, it’s The one.

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Completed
hotgimmik
0 people found this review helpful
Jan 5, 2018
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
When I first completed this drama, I rewatched it again 2 more times. THAT's how much I loved this show. I felt like Jung Hwan's experience was basically my experience and boy, I freaking CRIED when he told Deok Sun the truth. It felt so cathartic for me too.

Everything from the music, each character development, the friendship, the acting and the FEELINGS depicted of having lost your chance because you were too late and didn't make the right choice were SUPERB. I felt Jung Hwan's pain and felt as though I was just watching my life replay on the screen. I felt every emotion Jung Hwan went through. It was so gut wrenching but it was also a way to let go of the past. I still rewatch this show from time to time. It's so timeless and is a classic.

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Completed
Sunshine meadow
0 people found this review helpful
Jun 1, 2021
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 6.0

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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Completed
Mazee01
0 people found this review helpful
Oct 21, 2021
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

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.

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Completed
Lipsi
0 people found this review helpful
Dec 2, 2021
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 9.0

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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Completed
humanthouart
0 people found this review helpful
Dec 10, 2019
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
This is my all-time favorite drama. Hands down. The perfection of this, the feels and nostalgia- there’s nothing I could ever hate. It’s the kind of drama you’re eager to rewatch just to be able to experience again that tingling feeling. When the drama ended , I was kind of at a lost as to what else was there to watch. Also the OTP is perfect- I know a lot of people were disappointed but I loved them. The most precious thing about the drama is definitely the dynamic between the characters, the friendship and the whole setting that I think is familiar to many of us. All I know is when I finished the drama, I wanted to go hug all my loved ones because it evoked in me the reminder of what was most important in the end. Anyways I you’re hesitant to start this, don’t be, it’s worth it!

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  • Score: 9.0 (scored by 70,464 users)
  • Ranked: #53
  • Popularity: #38
  • Watchers: 171,576

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