Language: Korean
Release year: 2015
Episodes: 20
Genre: Drama, Family
Five teens growing together in a friendly neighbourhood of Seoul, redefines family, as they lean on each other facing desperate times. Relatable life issues about friendship, family, life and life-goals are portrayed realistically.
A hard-working father, a nagging mother, an annoying but caring older sister, a middle child who feels left out, caring neighbor aunties with homemade food to offer all the time – these kinds of characters take you to a ride to the past. In fact, the series begins with an instant throwback to the days of cassette players and denim clothes.
The series reaches its artistic pitch with emotional turmoil and domestic glitches. The originals soundtracks ease your heart, and then wrench it too with the feeling of nostalgia. Vintage lighting and the subtle mixture of old-fashioned and modern camerawork complements the characters’ 80s fashion and detailed setting of analog single-storey homes with boundary walls with broken glass pieces on top.
A well-deserved 9 rating series keeps you hooked to binge-watch on wintery cold days, or on lazy days of summer vacation, or with your family over weekends, or even just an episode per day when you are home after a long, tiring day, seeking comfort and peace.
With an average duration of 100 minutes for 20 episodes, Reply: 1988 creates such a cozy feeling that you would be tempted to watch the series again and again.
IMDb rating: 9
My rating: 9.5