Kayosai
All the right nostalgic notes!
Wah, my heart is so gooey and FULL. I felt nostalgic for a time I didn't even really experience. I can only imagine how hard this show hit for people who grew up in this precise timeframe; those who graduated university around the IMF crisis and went from a fully analog to digital world. The voiceovers hit all the right notes, and the sweet family and friendship moments are the ones where this series shines best.
Other highlights: Samcheonpo and Yoon Jin on the boat at sunrise, those who remembered the December 31, 1999 promise, the Reply 1997 cameos, Binggeure's moment of filling in the blanks, and Chillbong's interview shout-outs. This show highlighted how strong bonds can be after living together, and I can only imagine how special that would be in a boarding house with parental figures to boot.
My main complaint was that this show dragged a big TOO LONG, particularly the husband mystery. I think it would've completely benefitted from a tighter 16-episode story. We also didn't get enough relationship progress with the main couple, although this result seemed inevitable. Still, this show gave us major, major second-lead syndrome (it possibly even invented this term?). I still find it hard to understand why Najung made the choice she did, but it was justified well enough. There would've been something realistic about timing playing a factor in everything... but ultimately, I think the story ended the way it should've. Plus, the moment of realization that the second lead had to "let her go" hit all the right notes. You can't make someone love you, after all. My only other gripe was the basketball fangirling — it didn't feel necessary to the story at all (although Seo Taiji and the Boys DEFINITELY did).
This story was sweet overall. It didn't have the highest highs nor the lowest lows (unlike Reply 1997), but was consistently solid. I think I liked all the people better overall, or perhaps I just related to them better as someone in my 20s feeling optimistic and earnest. I am glad I watched the show and got a better sense of Korean culture during such an interesting period. One can only hope that writers will one day cater to my generation with a Reply 2008 or even a Reply 2020 (because this year is a WILD one).
Other highlights: Samcheonpo and Yoon Jin on the boat at sunrise, those who remembered the December 31, 1999 promise, the Reply 1997 cameos, Binggeure's moment of filling in the blanks, and Chillbong's interview shout-outs. This show highlighted how strong bonds can be after living together, and I can only imagine how special that would be in a boarding house with parental figures to boot.
My main complaint was that this show dragged a big TOO LONG, particularly the husband mystery. I think it would've completely benefitted from a tighter 16-episode story. We also didn't get enough relationship progress with the main couple, although this result seemed inevitable. Still, this show gave us major, major second-lead syndrome (it possibly even invented this term?). I still find it hard to understand why Najung made the choice she did, but it was justified well enough. There would've been something realistic about timing playing a factor in everything... but ultimately, I think the story ended the way it should've. Plus, the moment of realization that the second lead had to "let her go" hit all the right notes. You can't make someone love you, after all. My only other gripe was the basketball fangirling — it didn't feel necessary to the story at all (although Seo Taiji and the Boys DEFINITELY did).
This story was sweet overall. It didn't have the highest highs nor the lowest lows (unlike Reply 1997), but was consistently solid. I think I liked all the people better overall, or perhaps I just related to them better as someone in my 20s feeling optimistic and earnest. I am glad I watched the show and got a better sense of Korean culture during such an interesting period. One can only hope that writers will one day cater to my generation with a Reply 2008 or even a Reply 2020 (because this year is a WILD one).
Was this review helpful to you?
