Every once in a while, amidst the multitudes of Korean dramas which employ all the stereotypical clichés such as Cinderella story lines, hapless women who have tear ducts the size of the Pacific Ocean, and men fighting over mates like gorillas, a show such as Reply 1997 comes along to provide viewers with a breath of fresh air. I recently undertook a marathon session of this drama after many recommendations from friends, and I don't know why I waited so long; everything about Reply 1997 is believable, relatable, and most of all entertaining. This drama will transport you to 1990's S. Korea, as several high school students wrestle with the ups and downs of life while dealing with one another. Reply 1997 will make you yearn for the good ol' days of your adolescence, as well as reminisce about the golden years of S. Korea. I guarantee that you go straight to your computer and make a playlist of most of the songs that are wonderfully woven into the drama.
Many different and surprisingly complex themes are explored in every episode; many of the experiences portrayed are those that you or someone close to you have probably gone through, and this drama recognizes that real life happens. One quip I had with Reply 1997 is that some of these themes could have been developed a little more, such as that involving Joon Hee. Another issue I could see arising is that viewers who are not familiar with the pop culture of 1990's S. Korea could have difficulty catching onto some of the references made. This is minor, however, as the top-notch acting and stellar writing more than make up for this.
Seriously, just go watch this thing. The only regret you'll have after you're done is that you won't be able to watch anymore episodes.
