THOUGHTS ABOUT REPLY SERIES
TvN's Reply series has been one of the most wonderful shows ever produced in Korean Dramaland. It has 3 installment series with different characters having almost the same concept about friendship following a nonlinear storytelling as they move back and forth between their past and present selves. This list is created to enumerate the stuffs I liked in each series and not to pit against each series. Surely there are some factors and features that I liked in one series more than the other but I gave all of them the same ratings because I believe they have their own strengths and they are all successful in their own ways. In fact, they are the highest rated cable dramas at their times of airing.
PS: Here are some of the best OST's from Reply Series trilogy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kENF20cbCmo
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1. Reply 1997
Korean Drama - 2012, 16 episodes
I love the friendship among the high school friends in this show. A little bit immature but understandable due to their teenage years. But their adulthood as they grow up is really believable and fond to watch.
The main female lead portrayed a very hilarious fangirl which I liked and very relatable to me as I love to stan Korean actors and KDramas. Being crazy about H.O.T. and competing against Sech Skies' fans are some of the highlights in this flashback series.
I was right about predicting the OTP (Yoon Jae and Shi Won) and it was obvious they will end up each other.
Yoon Jae is such an eye candy. I love him! I like when he joins Jun Hee and Shi Won in fans gathering for H.O.T.
I love that Sun Jae is able to know his purpose as individual which is to serve people in a community.
The romance of Yoo Jung and Hak Chan is good to watch. I love the maturity of their love story.
I think the most hilarious part of this show is when Dong Il pulled Shi Won's and Yoon Jae's hair knowing that one of them smoke.
The bromance between Yoon Jae and Jun Hee is heartwarming. I love how Yoon Jae handled everything knowing that his bestfriend is in love with him.
OST-All For You is the only soundtrack I love. A very plus factor that the OTP sang this song.
It has a nice ending. As the gang leave the reunion place severally, I love how the series shows that they have separate lives as adult but the friendship remains and never ends.
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2. Reply 1994
Korean Drama - 2013, 21 episodes
I really have a good feeling in this series, maybe because I share the same experience living with others in apartment.
The Shinchon boarding house is the heart and soul of the show where the bond and friendship of the gang grows. Everytime these country bumpkins eat together, have their drinking session and watch football or any tv shows will always be memorable and nostalgic.
The main female lead Na Jung is easy to love as daughter, friend and girlfriend.
I really like the bond between Na Jung and Haitai as real male-female chingus, Haitai and Samcheonpo as roommates and Trash and Bringgrae as sunbae-hoobae relationship to almost bromance.
For the couples; I really love Dong-Il and Il-Hwa in this series among the other 2 Reply installment for being a kindhearted parents to the boarders. The relationship of Samcheonpo and Yoon Jin is what makes the series more hilarious and lovable. I really had a hard time predicting on the OTP (Na Jung and Trash). I love Chillbong more than Trash. :(
I like Haitai being competitive to be a Seoul hotshot, then being a happy go lucky and the most easy to get along with among the group. I also like how he is satisfied in his job as he grows older.
The story of Bringgrae is one of the lessons I want to highlight. Our times is different from the others. We may be left behind in our goal setting but the most important thing is having goal with a clear mind and in a light hearted way. We may be confused at some point in our life but there will always an answer through someone that fate will give us.
OST-Seoul and Happy Me are really good soundtrack.
The ending hits me to the core as all of them leave the boarding house one by one. Sepanx feels!
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3. Reply 1988
Korean Drama - 2015, 20 episodes
It is a more complex story of friendship, family and neighborhood. So the feeling really strikes through the heart big time.
The series shows how neighborhood should be. The love, care, compassion and comfort in each individual in the neighborhood is greatly highlighted. I started to believe the genuine relationship of them when Sung family temporarily lives with Kim family.
The main female lead Duk Seon is just lovely, innocent and charismatic. No one would ever hate her. It's humorous when someone calls her Soo Yeon.
The three moms are so lovely. Even the first episode already had a good feel moment of Mi Ran to Jung Hwan when she wants him to be open to her. Sun Woo seeing his mom working in bathroom at night is really breaking. Il Hwa's scene stopping the policemen from arresting Bo Ra is heartbreaking.
I really love the moments when the fathers talk to their kids; Mr. Kim to Jung Bong on how he accepts his son's weakness and Mr. Choi to Taek on seeking permission to take Sun Yong to be his wife. I love when Mr. Sung treats No Eul ice cream secretly. It's just a father and son bonding. His relationship with DS is amusing and the way he wanted to be close to Bo Ra is just moving.
I laugh so hard in the audition scene of Mi Ran. This will always be the most hilarious scene in all Reply series.
I love Jung Bong's weirdness and humor. Their brotherhood with JH is touching.
I had a hard time in following the OTP (Duk Seon and Taek). It's obvious that I like Jung Hwan for Duk Seon. It's painful to see how JH did not even had the courage to confess to DS in a truthful way. Among the second leads in Reply Series, I pity JH the most.
The OST is really good. Nostalgia strikes to the heart everytime I hear Hyewadong. I feel sorry to Jung Hwan when I listen to A Little Girl. I also feel sad listening to Don't Worry.
The ending feels like another sepanx watching each family leaves the neighborhood one by one.