Drama Digest
The drama is set in the 1990s and follows Shi Won, a female high school student in Busan who idolises boyband H.O.T, and her five high school classmates. As the storyline shifts from their past as 18-year-old high school students in 1997 to their present as 33-year-olds at their high school reunion dinner in 2012, one pair will announce their engagement.
The Feel-Good Part
This drama was unique in that it didn’t have the customary cliffhanger at the end of each episode, and there wasn’t a set storyline. It was the success of the story-telling of two first loves and their maturation together. It was wonderful to watch all of the characters mature from high school to adulthood. This drama is plenty of nice moments since there isn’t some unpleasant, cockblocking opponent that is merely there to provide a base conflict. The drama’s struggle was more personal, realistic, and relatable, making the drama appear more “genuine.”
The Disappointing Factor
The incessant cursing and arguing was a lot of fun. Some may think this is a little excessive. But, as if the magic had worn off, the characters began to lose their appeal and become flat halfway through the play. There was no longer any character development, and the plot had become one-dimensional, uninteresting, and at times even irritating.
In-Depth Analysis
Reply 1997 is a South Korean television series about the lives of six friends in Busan, as the timeline jumps between their past as 18-year-old high school students in 1997 and their present as 33-year-olds at their high school reunion dinner in 2012, where one couple will announce their engagement. As the first chapter of the Reply series, it also depicts the extreme fan culture that arose in the 1990s, when first-generation idol groups like H.O.T. and Sechs Kies were gaining popularity and K-pop was just getting started.
Star Power
This sitcom’s cast is just fantastic. Really. It doesn’t get any better than this. Every single one of them was able to tell their own tale in their own unique, quirky way, and it all came together beautifully. For all of their worries and woes, I laughed, loved, and sobbed. They made it look so easy, imitating the Busan accent and acting like crazed loons, but it all felt so real and genuine. The young, naive, and reckless love of Yoon Hae and Shi Won has made a lasting impression on me. Seo In Guk was amazing in his part as Yoon Jae, and not to get too far into this, but this guy knows how to convey emotion.
Overall Opinion
Start watching this right now if you want to see something youthful and give your realistic side of your brain a break! There will be a lot of laughing and possibly some tears!
