Reply 1988

A Taek (thank) you blog.

I know I am too late for this drama but I thank the universe in the form of Erik Matti because he led me to this one that’s super relatable and a super easy favorite. 💯

Reply 1988 is not your usual love story drama series because instead of “faux Cinderella stories”, its heavy focus is on family and friendship.

Everyone in here is bida. And life is the kontrabida.

So it captures your attention on how it tackles day-to-day life scenarios of five families that ring true in so many levels.

And that’s why almost everything is relatable.

With 20 episodes for 31 hours, it’s long but I must say that it’s truly tagos!

Thank you Bonghwandang block.

I stan this block!

Each household in Bonghwangdang Block, Ssamundong, Dobong, Seoul is distinct. 

First one is so loud every single day due to sibling rivalry and loud-speaking parents.

Second one is the opposite, it’s so silent having a soft-spoken father and shy son living together.

Third one seems so harmonious because the eldest child (son) is so respectful and loving to both his widowed mother and cute little sister.

Fourth one is also “silent” because the youngest son’s other siblings have a family of their own already while both parents are still so busy at work who are off very early and come home late leaving the house with zero person most of the time.

And last is the GV fam with two children who are supportive of one another, a joker father and an annoyed mother. 

Financially, each household also varies much from another.

But even with those disparities, it doesn’t prevent them to show love and care toward each other. They embody the definition of bayanihan in Filipino language. A good example of how to “love your neighbor as you love yourself” in the Bible. And enough to remind us that no problem is too big when you have a strong support system, which in Reply 1988’s case…the whole block is the support system. And I think it couldn’t get stronger than that.

Thank you parents for the love and sacrifices.

Thank you Reply 1988 for reminding us of our parents who want nothing but the best for us despite life constraints and other limitations. Each parent has his/her own love language and carries on with life with some little sacrifices just to make the life of their child or let their child feel a little better.

Like lowering down the television’s volume so that Taeki doesn’t get disturbed while playing baduk at home.

Sneaking out to do a part-time job as a cleaner at a nearby bath house because Sun-woo’s eomma wants to be able to earn money for his son and daughter most especially the former is going to be a college student soon.

Still choosing to wear an office shirt that’s off size and uncomfortable because it’s a daughter’s gift (I think Bora’s the worst person to ask help to buy something to be worn, I must say, but it’s the thought that counts anyway).

Tending extra hours to a son (Dong Ryong) who gets into an accident even though there’s a work-related event that’s also happening at the same time to which the high-ranking officer mother (Chief Jo) must be present.

And by simply being patient and supportive to your child. Jung Bong gets admitted to college only after the eighth try, but even with prior failed attempts, his parents never lose faith in him.

These simply show that each father and each mother show a different type of parental love that’s why we should never compare. Reply 1988 reminds us that we must thank them for all the sacrifices they make, whether big or small and never take them for granted.

Thank you for the friendship 1971-born kids.

Now, let’s pan our attention to the five 1971-born kids (Ryu Dong Ryong, Sung Sun Woo, Kim Jung Hwan or Kim Jung Pal, Choi Taek and Sung Deok Sun) in the block whose friendship greatly reminds us of our own and whose childhood and youth seem like our own too. 

Oh, good times!

The innocence of childhood allows one to enjoy the company of another without any prejudice, one doesn’t mind if a playmate is not good at academics, or how ‘idiot’ one is. What matters to a child is only the very moment when he / she runs outside and plays with his / her playmates down the block, unknowingly making memories that will grow into something sweet and deep.

Years pass by…childhood playmates become the best buddies who now enjoy sleepovers, foodtrips, cut classes (not encouraged), movie dates (not necessarily in movie houses), attend concerts (or consider perya) and many more stuff together.

Truly, the beauty of childhood and youth. And this is how Reply 1988 connects to us greatly. It makes us reminisce one of the best parts of our past. It reminds us of our first friends, the simplicity of life, and how you can go “all out” for friends…just like how they protect Taek and how they are always to the rescue in all of Dong Ryong’s mishaps whether a trip to the beach for running away from home, to the police station for not wearing helmet while motorbiking with Michol, and to the hospital for bleeding due to piles.

But with life being a kontrabida, yes, spoiler, a love triangle emerges eventually that puts a challenge into their relationship as friends (okay, only for the three).

But I like how the persons who are involved hold on and unknowingly wait for the perfect time for things to get “fixed”. Everyone has their sacrifices though but they all go through it well by recognizing timing while giving importance also to their friendship.

To love someone doesn’t mean you don’t hate them, it means you can’t hate them.

Reply 1988

But one’s clear, ang haba ng buhok ni Sung Deok Sun. So…

Thank you for letting us guess who the husband is.

Actually, they got me here on the husband guessing game. It’s the main reason why I patiently watched the first few episodes even though they are so long, I was really curious to find out who the husband is.

So was your guess since Episode 1 correct?

Well, I’m bad at guessing and it’s fairly consistent here…so yeah, I got the wrong guy.

But I am still happy to whom the female lead gets married to.

No question on why she picks the eventual husband most especially there’s no sulsul from friends involved, so the feeling is really authentic. Nuks!

And I got very kilig how their love story unfolds. The confession in the hotel room. The “long” kiss (I don’t think I need to mention this but I just did anyway 🤪). The hug with the arms beneath the coat. Just to name a few.

However…

Upon nearing the end, the leads have only few scenes together and I honestly felt sad. I also noticed that the drama has not wrapped up well some important characters and storylines. It still ends on a good note, but I am still wanting more. So I think, Reply 1988 is one of the heavily followed dramas with mediocre finale episode. But still…

Thank you, Reply 1988…

…for giving us a drama series that’s authentic and again, so relatable (it even tackles socio-economic issues). Honestly, I really had a hard time moving on from this show that it made me watch it again (yeah, spent 62 hours of my life for Reply 1988 alone and definitely no regrets). I also watched YouTube videos related to it like the drama concert and also watched Youth Over Flowers Africa in an attempt to cure my “hangover”. Ryu Jun Hyeol, you are my fave! In short, Reply 1988 is really something that you won’t easily forget.

Of course, no one can easily forget especially my fave, Jinjoo. The role I envy the most…who’s either sleeping, playing, dancing, singing or the best part, eating. Jinjoo, you are so lovely! I wish I could pinch your cheeks. And oh, guys, Kim Seol aka Jinjoo can also sing. Find her singing Hyehwadong on YouTube. It’s so lovely. 😍

Also, thank you for showing us how we can communicate even with language barrier like how Deok Sun tries to convince the receptionist to get a new room in a hotel in China. One of my fave scenes actually. 🤪

Hmmm, thank you too for sharing to us a one-of-a-kind greeting that we, Filipinos, may not be familiar of but nakakaLSS (last statement syndrome 😂): “Aigoo, Kim Sajang!”

Thank you for making me crave to eat ramen (with kimchi) in a casserole and not in a ceramic bowl.

Thank you for being realistic too. That not all people are academically smart but they will still become successful in life. 💯

And thank you for reminding us that there’s always a perfect timing and reason for every single thing.

Again, thank you, Reply 1988. 💛

Mehehehe. 🐐