Drama Review: Reply 1988

**spoilers ahead**

*if you haven't seen the show, read my spoiler free WYSW post first!!*

This post will continue what I started with Boys Over Flowers (where I wrote a long unsolicited dump of all my thoughts on a show I really loved). And, needless to say, I really loved this show too. I honestly haven't cried this much at a tv show in a long time, and that's saying something because I cry very often. I think I teared up at least once every episode, and don't even get me started on the final episode because I'm pretty sure I was full on crying for at least 1 hour straight.

I guess the reason I was so attached to this show, and likely the reason this show is so popular, is because it's so relatable. Even if you haven't lived in that one particular alley in Ssangmun, most people can relate to growing apart from friends, moving out of their parents' house, leaving their childhood behind, etc. I felt like I watched this at a really appropriate time in my life, and maybe that's why I was especially emotionally impacted by it.

WYSW: Reply 1988

*WYSW = Why You Should Watch*

**this review is spoiler-free!**

As someone still fairly new to kdramas myself, I really believe that Reply 1988 is the perfect kdrama for someone who's never watched one before. If you like slice of life, coming-of-age stories, and large casts, this is a great show for you.

The story focuses on several families living on the same block in Ssangmun, Seoul, South Korea, starting in the summer of 1988. The families are very close friends due to living in proximity, and they are able to share in each other's happiness and each other's struggles.

Honestly, while watching this show I found myself consistently envious of the families' sense of community. One of the first scenes in the show starts off with a typical dinnertime for the families. The teenage children of each of the families are being sent to share and trade food items, to the point where nearly everyone is eating the same several foods. While crossing paths with his friends during this trade process, one of the characters notes, "why don't we just eat together?"

While the majority of the family members (both adults and children) are important and developed characters in the story, the protagonist of the show is Sung Deok-sun, the only girl in the group of 5 same-aged friends on the block. I found her very energetic, likable, and realistic. In general, all of the characters felt very real, like they could've been people and families you may know in real life. You will certainly get attached to these characters and miss them when the show is over; I know I did.

While there are definitely serious moments on occasion, it is overall a lighthearted and funny family show that will lift your spirits. You can also expect some off-beat humor, including a goat-bleating noise inserted after comedic or ironic moments where one might normally expect a laugh track.

If you've never watched a kdrama before and are interested in checking them out, I'd highly recommend Reply 1988 to be the one you start with. If you already know and like slice of life and situational comedies, then you will be familiar with this type of story.

Thanks for reading!

-threecheersforinking