IMW - Reply 1997

Woow!!! The long awaited review of Reply 1997.... I didn't want to watch this drama at first. Firstly, they are all new faces, and the theme is school-related and all. But with everyone getting hyped about the drama, K-pop idols were even at the edges of their seats (Well, I wasn't there, but that's what I read lol!!!) just to watch the drama. I decided to give it a shot and I'm very happy I did.

Before I start typing what and what not, take a look at the trailer/teaser. After searching for some extra few minutes I found one. xDD

Details----


Title: 응답하라 1997 / Eungdabhara 1997
Also known as: Answer to 1997 / Reply 1997
Genre: Youth, romance, comedy
Episodes: 16
Broadcast network: tvN (the last two episodes also aired on Mnet, OCN, and O'live at the same time)
Broadcast period: 2012-Jul-24 to 2012-Sep-18


Cast----
        Main Cast
Jung Eun Ji as Sung Shi Won
Seo In Guk as Yoon Yoon Je
Shin So Yool as Mo Yoo Jung
Hoya as Kang Joon Hee
Eun Ji Won (은지원) as Do Hak Chan
Lee Shi Un as Bang Sung Jae
         Extended Cast
Sung Dong Il as Sung Dong Il (Shi Won's father)
Kang Kyun Sung (강균성) as young Dong Il (ep 9)
Lee Il Hwa as Lee Il Hwa (Shi Won's mother)
Park Cho Rong as young Il Hwa (ep 9)
Song Jong Ho as Yoon Tae Woong (Yoon Jae's brother)
No Ji Yeon (노지연) as Jang Dan Ji
Jung Kyung Mi (정경미) as Kyung Mi / Eun Dok Ki
Sun Ah (선아) as Sun Ah / Eun Gak Ha

Synopsis ---
This drama will focus on the extreme fan culture that emerged in the 1990s when idol groups took center stage and K-pop was blossoming. It tells the story of 6 former high school friends from a school in Busan who meet again in 2012 and brings back memories to 1997 when they were still high school students. Moving back and forth between the ’90s and today, the story centers on the life of Sung Shi Won (Jung Eun Ji), who idolizes boyband H.O.T., and her 5 high school friends. --KimchiDrama
(credits - DramaWiki)

My review---
Okay, I forsee a long review LOL!!! First of all, I didn't include all the cast, those left are cameos and that list is exceptionally long >.< I'm going to be post some wonderful quotes and images from Reply 1997 in between the paragraphs.

I really need to complement Eun Ji, Seo In Guk, Hoya and the rest of the cast on their acting, it was really good, JJANG!! I couldn't find faults with acting at all, but I'm sure it's not as flawless as I think. The OSTs and quotes or sayings were just awesome!!!! Between Eun Ji reminds me of Min of Miss A.

As the synopsis reads, at first it's about the extreme fan culture... This drama also shed light on the competition between the then super k-pop idols HOT, Sech Kies, FIN.K.L and SES. Not only do one get to know about the rise of fandom, but also a little about the history of K-pop in Korea. 

With that been said, as Reply 1997  takes us through all this details, the First-Love concept is introduced and as the drama goes on, one gets to understand what it means to have a first love and the reasons behind why First-loves never really blossom, with some exceptional case of course. 

Reply 1997 doesn't stop there, it also highlights family issues - what it means to have a family and be in one, why you should love and take care of them (family members) now that they are still alive or around you. 

I could somehow relate to the latter one, sometimes I just get unnecessarily too busy and I don't call home or sometimes I just do some stuffs haphazardly, because I think they (family members) will always be there, or because I feel there will always be another time. But the truth of the matter, is that, there's a 50% chance of a second chance and no second chance at all. 

There's also the friendship theme, R 1997 shows us how long and lasting friendships can be, it also shows the individual journey of each of these friends. Even though they all have their separate paths and ways, they were still together, if not together, as in the same place but in their hearts (I did really envy their friendship). I'm beginning to really type too much, there's just a lot to write about.

One other thing I love about Reply 1997 is the way, the scenes were moving back and forth from the 90s to the 21st century.... It helped me stay focused!!!

I almost forgot something this.... There's this sound, like a goat bleating LOL!!! Anytime that sounds comes up I automatically laugh. It comes up when something stupid or unexpected happens. I also got emotional while I was watching this.

This is a drama every teenage and youth should watch, not only can one learn from it, but there's this eye opener that comes along with it - Friends, Families, Future ambition (A realistic future ambition, not something like wanting to marry a K-pop idol or something one has no idea about, but one thinks it sounds cool).

This review was quite long!!! LOL I sincerely hope you guys enjoy it as much as I did. ^_^