beatriz
over the rainbow
This review may contain spoilers
I started this drama right after finishing Reply 1997. That was in August 2018...
It took me a while to watch this because the 21 episodes felt very long and draggy. Despise that, I adored every single scene of this show. I don't know how to explain it but even though I spent months pushing it back, once I started watching it again I would watch 6 episodes non-stop. And then have a three-month break haha. So even though it may seem contradictory, this show means a lot to me. I will explain it further in this review as I give more details about each aspect but basically, I feel like I've found and lost a friend. I felt the exact same way while watching 1997. And I'll definitely feel the same when I watch 1988.
Plot: Yeah, I was born in 2001 but I feel nostalgic whenever I think about the 90's. Maybe because I didn't get to experience those years where technology didn't exist. I think this show did an amazing job at showcasing the different eras of technology. The "pagers"/"beepers" were so amazing, I wish we still used that system today. I loved all the references they made to the World Cup, the music, the economic clash, the different cities of South Korea. The story entertained me from beginning to end so I didn't even care that it was draggy. I genuinely laughed multiple times in every episode and I also cried every now and then. I feel like the viewers got to grow with the rest of the characters because we were there when they met and when they parted ways to live their own lives and that is something I appreciated about this drama. The ending was kind of predictable but I still can't bring myself to dislike it.
Actors/Acting/Characters: Let me start by saying that, yes, I was team Chilbong. Yoo Yeon Seok had my heart since the first scene. But I accept the fact that Najung ended up with Seuregi. His character was quite interesting and different from what we usually expect from the main love interest. Najung was amazing as the protagonist. In my opinion, her character was even more likeable than Shiwon's from Reply 1997. The whole group of friends- Najung, Chilbong, Seuregi, Samcheonpo, Yoonjin, Bingeure and Haitai- was so so so so so likeable that I wish that I was living at the boarding house with them. Their chemistry was outstanding- as friends, as lovers, as family. The parents were great, even if the father scared me sometimes hahaha. I loved the whole cast and characters, to be honest. I felt attached to every single one of their stories and I have a special place in my heart for all of them. I cried, I laughed, I screamed and I lived with them and that makes me think that the actors really did an amazing job bringing them to life. But Chilbong... I don't think I've ever felt the second-lead syndrome as intensely as I did with this one and I was team Jihoo in Boys Over Flowers!! One of my favorite scenes was Najung and Chilbong's scene at the field, when Najung says "I'm thankful I was loved by you". I had never cried so hard in my life, Jesus Christ. He truly was an amazing character. Yoonji and Samcheonpo's relationship was iconic. Totally different people who just worked well together. The friendship between Chilbong and Bingeure warmed my heart. Haitai was so funny that I couldn't help but wish I knew someone like him in real life. To sum it up: perfect cast to portray the perfect characters.
Music: Probably the best part. And that is saying A LOT. Every song in this drama was incredible and I found some amazing artists and songs because of it! Just like 1997's, I will listen to the soundtrack often. One of the best I've ever seen, if not the best.
Rewatch Value: When I wasn't watching this (during my "break" times) I would think "It's taking me so long to finish it... I'll never rewatch this." but I've changed my mind 100000%. If this drama makes me feel so many amazing things, why wouldn't it rewatch it???? I'll certainly do that at least once every two years. Just like Reply 1997. Too good to only watch it once.
OVERALL
Ahhh my heart is broken and happy at the same time.
When I remembered I still hadn't finished this drama ,I would think: "Well, I guess 1997 is just better than this one.". But WHILE WATCHING I couldn't bring myself to skip over scenes. I could only think "I love this so much." or "I feel so nostalgic." or "The soundtrack is so amazing." or "CHILBONGIE I LOVE YOU SO MUCH, PLEASE DONT BE SAD!!". Honestly, my heart felt so warm while watching this. It will forever have a special place in my heart, next to Reply 1997, because I can't choose between the two. I don't want to choose! They're both in my top 10 favorite dramas and that is quite impressive.
I adored this and I know that when I rewatch this in 2, 6, 15 years I will still remember this feeling. And that is something I can't ignore. So yeah, 10 stars!
It took me a while to watch this because the 21 episodes felt very long and draggy. Despise that, I adored every single scene of this show. I don't know how to explain it but even though I spent months pushing it back, once I started watching it again I would watch 6 episodes non-stop. And then have a three-month break haha. So even though it may seem contradictory, this show means a lot to me. I will explain it further in this review as I give more details about each aspect but basically, I feel like I've found and lost a friend. I felt the exact same way while watching 1997. And I'll definitely feel the same when I watch 1988.
Plot: Yeah, I was born in 2001 but I feel nostalgic whenever I think about the 90's. Maybe because I didn't get to experience those years where technology didn't exist. I think this show did an amazing job at showcasing the different eras of technology. The "pagers"/"beepers" were so amazing, I wish we still used that system today. I loved all the references they made to the World Cup, the music, the economic clash, the different cities of South Korea. The story entertained me from beginning to end so I didn't even care that it was draggy. I genuinely laughed multiple times in every episode and I also cried every now and then. I feel like the viewers got to grow with the rest of the characters because we were there when they met and when they parted ways to live their own lives and that is something I appreciated about this drama. The ending was kind of predictable but I still can't bring myself to dislike it.
Actors/Acting/Characters: Let me start by saying that, yes, I was team Chilbong. Yoo Yeon Seok had my heart since the first scene. But I accept the fact that Najung ended up with Seuregi. His character was quite interesting and different from what we usually expect from the main love interest. Najung was amazing as the protagonist. In my opinion, her character was even more likeable than Shiwon's from Reply 1997. The whole group of friends- Najung, Chilbong, Seuregi, Samcheonpo, Yoonjin, Bingeure and Haitai- was so so so so so likeable that I wish that I was living at the boarding house with them. Their chemistry was outstanding- as friends, as lovers, as family. The parents were great, even if the father scared me sometimes hahaha. I loved the whole cast and characters, to be honest. I felt attached to every single one of their stories and I have a special place in my heart for all of them. I cried, I laughed, I screamed and I lived with them and that makes me think that the actors really did an amazing job bringing them to life. But Chilbong... I don't think I've ever felt the second-lead syndrome as intensely as I did with this one and I was team Jihoo in Boys Over Flowers!! One of my favorite scenes was Najung and Chilbong's scene at the field, when Najung says "I'm thankful I was loved by you". I had never cried so hard in my life, Jesus Christ. He truly was an amazing character. Yoonji and Samcheonpo's relationship was iconic. Totally different people who just worked well together. The friendship between Chilbong and Bingeure warmed my heart. Haitai was so funny that I couldn't help but wish I knew someone like him in real life. To sum it up: perfect cast to portray the perfect characters.
Music: Probably the best part. And that is saying A LOT. Every song in this drama was incredible and I found some amazing artists and songs because of it! Just like 1997's, I will listen to the soundtrack often. One of the best I've ever seen, if not the best.
Rewatch Value: When I wasn't watching this (during my "break" times) I would think "It's taking me so long to finish it... I'll never rewatch this." but I've changed my mind 100000%. If this drama makes me feel so many amazing things, why wouldn't it rewatch it???? I'll certainly do that at least once every two years. Just like Reply 1997. Too good to only watch it once.
OVERALL
Ahhh my heart is broken and happy at the same time.
When I remembered I still hadn't finished this drama ,I would think: "Well, I guess 1997 is just better than this one.". But WHILE WATCHING I couldn't bring myself to skip over scenes. I could only think "I love this so much." or "I feel so nostalgic." or "The soundtrack is so amazing." or "CHILBONGIE I LOVE YOU SO MUCH, PLEASE DONT BE SAD!!". Honestly, my heart felt so warm while watching this. It will forever have a special place in my heart, next to Reply 1997, because I can't choose between the two. I don't want to choose! They're both in my top 10 favorite dramas and that is quite impressive.
I adored this and I know that when I rewatch this in 2, 6, 15 years I will still remember this feeling. And that is something I can't ignore. So yeah, 10 stars!
Was this review helpful to you?
