Monday, December 8, 2014

Review on Reply 1997 (응답하라 1997) drama

 It has been 2 years when I last watched the drama Reply 1997 aired on the tvN channel.
What caught me watching it was because of Sechkies' leader Eun Ji Won was starring in this series when he was a pop idol during those times. I was a fan of 1N2D variety program so I was awe watching Ji Won (Choding) and Seunggi (Hodang) in the show.

Nevermind about that...let's get into serious business what is Reply 1997 about then...

The story opens about teenager Sung Shi Won (played by A-Pink's Jung Eunji) who is a fanatic fan of 80's pop idol group H.O.T formed by SM Entertainment. Terrible in studies and yet she promises herself that she will marry Tony (one of the members in H.O.T)

There's her friend Moo Yoo Jung (played by Shin Soyul) who adores Shi Won's neighbourfriend Yoon Yoon Jae (played by Seo In Guk) and gets into trouble for falling randomly with every pop star. Yoon Jae and Shi Won grew up together since his parents died in an accident. Eventually Yoon Jae falls for Shi Won but their neverending bickering makes everyone think they are just best buddies. Yoon Jae's best mate is Kang Joon Hee (played by Infinite's Hoya) is the 2nd most intelligent student in the school. He hangs out with Shi Won in concerts and even shares his deepest secret with her. Yoon Jae thinks the 2 are an item and felt guilty. 

There's the new transfer kid, Do Hak Chan (played by Eun Ji Won) whose father is a strict military man. One bad thing about Hak Chan is he goes total weak around real women! 



The drama shows on how these high school kids grow up together, share their happiness and tears with their closed ones, how they endure working life and meeting new people to getting married at the end with kids. The drama kept everyone in tense when Yoon Jae's brother Tae Woong (played by Song Jong Ho) confesses his love for Shi Won. Things went a bit a stray when Yoon Jae decided to lead his own life and keep his distance away from Shi Won and her family. Shi Won keeps Joon Hee's secret all along knowing he has always liked Yoon Jae. We all know that men-men relationship is rather forbidden but for some reason I love the "bromance" in this story. 

Another factor to love this drama is there are plenty of cameo apperances from famous actors and singers such as Kim Jong Min, ZE:A's Im Si Wan, emcee Shin Dong Yub, singer Kim Tae Won, A-Pink's members, H.O.T's Tony Ahn and singer G.Na. 



The scriptwriter gave us a pleasant happy ending as what viewers wanted. Who likes sad ending...nobody does! So look forward to who ends up with who... and for one thing I can say Ji Won looks adorable in this drama. He's in his mid 30s compared to the rest who are still in their 20s, he managed to play his role so well. Seo In Guk who rose to fame from his Superstar K winner recorded 2 OST songs for this drama with A-Pink's Eun Ji. Love the song by Cool- All for you. The 2nd song- 우리 사랑 이대로 was actually from original OST of Love Wind Love Song. I have to agree that the original version is better and more powerful than the new one. 

For Inspirit fans- this is your chance to catch Hoya's first breakthrough drama performance. How you wish you had a classmate like Joon Hee in those years...one who stand by you all the time and encourage you when you are feeling lost/down. Can I please have Joon Hee as a best friend all my life? *winks* Oh! his signature scorpion dance of BTD was shown in this drama too where he danced to a H.O.T song in a club. As for Eunji, she has a perfect Busan ascent and did well for her role as the crazy Shi Won. 


I've watched this drama twice and find it very interesting...maybe because I am one of them during those 80-90's time...those were the days when I was into Shinhwa, Fly to the Sky, S.E.S, FinKL...etc. Oh what can I say? Everyone goes through this stage during teenage years and as we look back now...we can find them as fond memories.



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