The stories and themes are very different, but I like the two for the same reasons -- these dramas portray what it's like to be young in a way that feels very real (although they're 2 different age groups: R1997 is more highschool whereas CIT is college), their female leads are extremely relatable, and both are "slice of life" dramas that still manage to have heart-fluttering, yet realistic, romance. Also I love the female lead's best friend in both :^p ! The two dramas use flashbacks in a way that makes the story more intruiguing, instead of redundant. Finally, both dramas are tvn, so they have that slightly indie, less polished vibe, and target a young audience without being too fluffy or flaky.
These 2 dramas are very similar in their styles though one takes place in South Korea, the other in China. They also bring up pop culture references. And each character has a struggle. Though in When We Were Young, they focus more on the every day life struggles, like getting into college, money, parents, etc. Oh and there is a love triangle but like the Reply series, they don't make it clear until the very end. So let your shipping begin!!!
Both dramas are about high school love and goofy lives of teenagers but with a twist!
- Main stories of both dramas are set in near past (Reply - 1997; LR - 2008) and framed with current time. The near past element gives the story somewhat retro vibe
- Both dramas have mystery element (R - who is the husband?; LR - what lead to the tragedy that happened in current time?)
- Both female leads are energic, fun girls and also hopeless kpop stans
- Both male leads are good guys who fall first
Difference is in the stakes of the story. In Lovely Runner, the stakes are much higher as FL time travels back in time and tries to prevent several tragedies; in Reply the fantasy element is not there, these are just teenagers, living their lives
- Main stories of both dramas are set in near past (Reply - 1997; LR - 2008) and framed with current time. The near past element gives the story somewhat retro vibe
- Both dramas have mystery element (R - who is the husband?; LR - what lead to the tragedy that happened in current time?)
- Both female leads are energic, fun girls and also hopeless kpop stans
- Both male leads are good guys who fall first
Difference is in the stakes of the story. In Lovely Runner, the stakes are much higher as FL time travels back in time and tries to prevent several tragedies; in Reply the fantasy element is not there, these are just teenagers, living their lives
Both Reply 1997 and Hot Young Bloods follow the stories of teenagers in the recent past - Reply 1997 takes place in the 90s, and Hot Young Bloods in the 80s. They both pay careful attention to the aesthetic details of the era. But beyond the fact that they’re both “retro”, they also both portray characters that are normal, relatable teenagers. None of the characters are outrageously rich, celebrities, damsels in distress or alpha heroes… Both female leads are a little on the “strong” side, they’re more assertive than the male leads, that are slightly timid. The male leads, despite being awkward and flawed (and occasionally ridiculous) teenagers, are still attractive. And both this movie and this drama have a nice mix of romance, comedy, and slight notes of sadness, that sums up into good coming-of-age stories!
The plots are not necessarily similar, but the comedic moments are reminiscent of each other. Also, the 2 female MC's are similar in temperament to me. These dramas focus on different times in one's life, but the tone and atmospheres are similar. And they both leave you with a satisfied happy feeling once completed.
