Reply 1994: Ooooooookay?

Yep. That sums up my reaction to the finale. It was . . . okay.

We got to spend one last night with our 1994 crew and witnessed their tears, and loves, and noisy jubilation when Korea beat Italy that just went on and on and on. (Seriously, how long was that scene?) There were sweet callbacks to previous episodes and character interactions that made you want to go “awwwwwwwww”. I guess my dissatisfaction stems from one major flaw. But more on that later. Let’s start with the good stuff.

He’s the husband! He’s the husband!

I picked the Oppa ship early on and stuck with it, despite the heavy temptation to leap overboard by the overwhelming awesomeness that was Chilbongie. Oppa’s initial hesitation, his rival’s adorable persistence, and the out-of-nowhere overseas separation might sway a viewer’s heart back and forth. But there was one thing that never wavered. Na-jungah. In her eyes, there was only one man from start to finish. She wanted Oppa. Period. Not that I blame her. Our trashy, but affectionate medical genius pinched, and laughed, and cuddled his way into my heart, as well. They make sense together. Any other ending would have felt like a con-job, after the way the writer made Na-jung’s heart rock-solid from beginning to end.

But why does the writer hate Chilbongie?

THIS is my major beef. Did someone see Yoo Yeon-seok kick a puppy or something? It seems like the writer held a serious grudge for some unknown reason and took it out on his character. Why must our cherubic pitcher be tortured up until the last minute? Let’s recap what they put him through, shall we:

1. Drowned him in the ocean in Samcheonpo’s hometown.
2. Almost crushed his skull in a department store collapse.
3. Had an angry sunbae beat him up for protecting Na-jung.
4. Gave him a mother and father who see him once a year.
5. Packed him off to Japan, where we didn’t see him for 3 episodes!!!!!!
6. Wrecked his pitching shoulder and made him go through surgery.
7. Broke his heart over & over again as he watched Na-jungah watch Oppa.

I’ve probably forgotten something, but why should we depress ourselves. At least with such an overinflated finale, I figured we’d get to see him happy for one episode. But, nooooooooo. He spent most of it rejected, crying, alone in America, or in the hospital. *Sigh* Was it asking too much to give him longer with his own happy-ever-after girl than one scene?

One Stinkin’ Scene!

Talk about an unromantic meet-cute. I never expected Chilbongie’s true love to come in a shower of chicken wings. It was obvious this was the girl for him. Kooky accent, not overly feminine, and doesn’t seem to know he’s alive. She’s just his type. I knew the actress playing the chicken girl must be a cameo, but I didn’t recognize her. Being a drama rookie, I had to look up Jung Yoo-mi and even then I wasn’t impressed. For our dear, longsuffering Chilbongie, I wanted someone with the beauty of Kim Tae-hee, the spunk of Ha Ji-Won, and the sweetness of Moon Geun-young. But it’s really asking too much of any actress to satisfy us in ONE! STINKIN! SCENE! So bitter.

The point where I reached for a tissue

It wasn’t so much the bittersweet goodbye that choked me up. Or our ever-faithful puppy finally letting go. It was Na-jung’s speech as she hugged him. I loved her promise that she would brag like crazy to her children someday that the awesome, famous person on TV used to like her. That may be the best version of “It’s Not You, It’s Me” I’ve ever heard.

What it’s really about

Who’s the husband was never what Reply 1994 was really about. It wasn’t romance. It was family. The kind that you’re born with, and the kind that you collect along the way. I admit that I envy Na-jung. But not for the two hot guys that couldn’t live without her. (Well, not much.) I envy her that she sits with all of her adopted family almost twenty years later to reminisce about the good old days. I’ve lost touch with so many dear, college friends that I spent some of my happiest moments with. I wish it were as easy for me to call them over my house for a lazy night of reflecting. She’s one lucky lady.

Reply 1994 really was like life. Sometimes disappointing, but still filled with fun and sweetness to ease the pain. Thank you, show, for all the laughter you brought me. Kamsahamnida.

Reply 1994: Little Things Mean A Lot

It’s the little moments that make a lifetime. Those sepia-colored details that other people didn’t even notice as they happened. Reply 1994 does not do fast-paced. Far from it. But it does know how to capitalize on the little things. And sometimes, in the end, they turn out to be not so little after all. Here are a few that left me smiling this week:

All in the Family

One of the reasons it’s so easy to root for Oppa is because he’s already a longtime member of this crazy, country bumpkin family. The four of them sitting in a row, watching the hit parade on TV just warmed my heart. Not that the outrageous dancing hurt, either. I especially liked Trash’s cross-legged bouncing behind the more exuberant Na-jung.

Oooh. Buuuuuuurn! 

How many times have we watched the hero tell his girlfriend she shouldn’t be jealous because the other woman is just a buddy? They’ve always been close. She would never think of him that way. Meanwhile, the second lead schemes and plots and does all sorts of horrible things to break the OTP up. So how much did I love the moment when Oppa’s pretty colleague offers to pick his mother up and his response is: “Why should you?” There was so much sub-text in that moment. “Who are you to pick my mother up? That’s not your job. You’re not my girlfriend. So let’s not even go there.” Trash Oppa can be pretty dense, so the fact that he picked up on the impropriety of her suggestion and shot it down immediately just made me love him all the more.

Don’t leave me! 

Sometimes I wonder which choices come from the actor, director, or writer. That heartbreaking gesture when Trash is packing up the truck and Na-jung just follows behind, holding on to the back of his shirt. So good. A big handclap for whoever thought of it. That small act encapsulates how hard it is to say goodbye to someone you love, even when you know you have to let them go.

Reunited and it feels so good 

Welcome back, 1997! The bus scene was great. Hilarious. But I loved the extra stuff that we weren’t expecting even more. Hak-chan being tutored by Najung-ah and just as awkward as ever. And our original Answer Me couple being the noisy neighbors upstairs. When Shi-won opened the door I got so happy. I love the reminder that she and Yoon-jae keep on living and loving and screaming at each other in Busan dialect long after the credits of Answer Me, 1997 rolled.

‘Til Death Do Us Part 

Die-Die won me over pretty quick. She sits quietly with her dainty, little hair bow, and then downs a potent potful without blinking. Just to save the cute hoobae beside her. It’s a testament to the acting and the writing that I liked this couple together even though they only had two episodes to sell it. The whole “Confirmation” scene with her and Binggeure hearkened back to the original series when Yoon-jae stole a kiss from Shi-won at the water fountain. That moment ended in a beat-down, but what would be the result this time? When our shy med student awkwardly went for it, you had to hold your breath to see where this was going. Would this end in love or rejection? Kudos to the director’s choice of focusing in on Binggeure’s face to let us know. When he opened his eyes for that split second and then softly closed them again, you knew she had him. No dialogue necessary. Such good storytelling.

This week gave me that happy, contented feeling like when you’ve just stuffed yourself with a plateful of your mom’s best Thanksgiving leftovers. I know the Chilbongie shippers must be livid at his small amount of screen time. But there’s still four episodes to go. Plenty of time for the angst later. Right now, I’m going to sit back and enjoy my K-drama comfort food.

Reply 1994: Aaaargh!

This picture sums it up. Two sets of stairs. Two guys to choose from. And I’m looking around for the elevator that will get me to the top faster and put me out of my misery. Whose brilliant idea was it to make Reply 1994 twenty-one episodes long? Oh, Oppa and Chilbongie. Why do you make me want to bang my head against the floor like Yoon-jin yearning for Seotaiji's toilet seat cover? Why do you both have to be so great! I don’t think I’ve ever been so torn between two characters before. It’s bad. It’s really, really bad. So I guess that means the show is doing its job really, really good. Here’s a few ways they got it right this week:

Little things that warm your heart 

Aren’t Na-jung and Oppa adorable? They laugh, and snuggle, and make us believe that they’re meant for each other. Jung Woo is especially good at highlighting his character’s adorkable side. I loved his little dance outside the hospital after he kissed Na-jung. This actor doesn’t mind looking ridiculous, and I applaud him for it. If it weren’t for the shadow of the poor, heartbroken Chilbongie casting a pall over my happiness for them.

Little things that rip your heart to shreds 

This writer does the slow reveal really well. Remember Oppa’s gift, when we saw the box, then him putting what looked like a pillow under Na-jung’s head, and then we finally saw it was a replica of her beloved stuffed animal from childhood. Well, they did that again this week with the hat. Chilbongie gently placed his cap on Na-jung’s head to protect her from the snow, and she carelessly tossed it to the side when she got home. That seemed a little cold already. But when the camera panned over to show us her picture was still tucked in the band. Ugh. Are you trying to kill us, show.

Love is a stolen toilet bowl 

At least I can enjoy one couple with no regrets. The evolution of their romance continues to bring chuckles and warm fuzzies, sometimes simultaneously. Samcheonpo complained and grumbled about his girlfriend’s Seotaiji obsession until you would think he was ready to dump her. But the way he rushed up the stairs to lock her in her room when the news of her idol’s retirement came out. And then committed a white porcelain felony to bring her back to the land of the living. All together now . . . Awwwwwwwwwwwwwww!

On a totally, weird and unrelated note 

We met some wacky side characters this week. I probably laughed the hardest at poor, abused Haitai’s interaction with the screw-loose Sergeant. (Mini rant: Did they have to break up our happy little family so thoroughly? Oppa moved out. Haitai got drafted. And Bong-ah’s off to Japan for who knows how long. I miss the days when everyone was under one roof.) And Oppa’s claims-to-be-clairvoyant cousin came from way out in left field. The freaky part of the field with the rusty chain link fence and unmowed grass. Thank goodness she was played by our hilarious “Right Now” girl from Flower Boy Next Door. You know she’ll be a trip the minute you see this actress. Was she right? Is a break-up imminent for our cute Oppa-Dongsaeng couple? Considering we have six episodes to go, I think it’s safe to assume that’s a YES.

Many a tear has to fall, but it’s all in the game 

Yoonjin warned us that this baseball has a story to tell, and I bet we’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg. What a great fakeout to make us think Chilbongie would give it to Na-jung and then have him pass it to Oppa instead. It’s not a sweet, sentimental remembrance. It’s a challenge. (It’s really great to see such a tenacious character that isn’t afraid to repeatedly throw his pride out the window for love. But I can’t help but wonder if Chilbongie isn’t partly motivated by the challenge. We’ve seen how competitive he is in sports. Does this translate to his love life, as well?)

Right now Oppa has the ball, but how many times will it be passed back and forth before it ends up on the shelf of that Seoul apartment in 2013? Even then, we can see that our two heroes can’t ignore its meaning as they cast sheepish glances at each other. I’m glad to see their future selves hold no resentment. But there’s obviously a lot of history there. And this game is far from over.

This love triangle really messes with my enjoyment of the show. Even though I was rooting for Oppa, I can’t enjoy his romantic triumph because I feel so bad for Chilbongie. I imagine I would feel the same way, if their roles were reversed. If its predecessor Reply 1997 is any indication, this show is going to drag their struggle out to the end. But at least 1997 was only 16 episodes. 21 is just too cruel for the boys, and for the viewers. I want everyone to be happy in the end, but most especially me.

Reply 1994: The Honeymoon is Over

You know that point in a relationship, be it with a boyfriend, pal, or coworker, where things start to get on your nerves? The rose-colored glasses are off and annoying, little habits start to feel like a big deal? I think I’ve hit that phase with this show. It’s good. Really good. Sometimes Really, Really Good. But here are a few things I wish we could fix before we move forward:

It’s your turn to get the baby! 

Remember that awesome episode where Mom woke up at 3 a.m. thinking it was another Soondae craving, but it turned out she was in labor? Dad was at an away game, so all the boys ran around the house like crazed lunatics trying to get her ready. Everyone piled into their tiny sedan like it was a clown car, and when they got to the maternity ward, the only doctor available was Oppa. Talk about your hilariously awkward birth scenes. Oh, you don’t remember that? Well, neither do I. Because we never saw it! All of a sudden, Baby Joon is being rocked by a houseful of doting, hottie babysitters, and I feel cheated because we missed out on what could have been a hilarious outing. Talk about missed opportunities.

Why don’t you ever want to talk about your day? 

Did anyone else feel a split second of panic for Chilbongie when the news about the department store collapse aired? Then I remembered he must be fine, because he’s hale and hearty in 2013. But that was a tense millisecond. I thought for sure this was going to be the turning point, where Na-jung realized how much she cared for him, and Oppa was left wishing he hadn’t dragged his feet. But all we get is a tender hug in the street and never another mention. Where’s the tearful reunion with the friends who were desperately calling him? And why wasn’t he in that basement? I assume he was checking out the new Wendy’s to make sure it was worthy of his dream girl, but he never really said. Again, the show left me wanting more and feeling grumpy at not getting it.

You never know when to stop! 

Speaking of which, is there a Korean equivalent for the old cliché “Less is more”? These episodes are long, even for Dramaland. Is it really necessary to give us three separate scenes of the boys saying goodbye to their army buddy (a minor character, at best)? Yet our own beloved Haitai only gets a quick send-off from his parents. These writers need to check their priorities. The story. The acting. It’s great. But I feel like they keep pouring the pointless scenes into their metaphorical plot glass, just waiting for somebody to say when. In that case, dear writers, WHEN!

Where’s the person I fell in love with? 

Na-jung feels a little dreary lately. Thankfully, she hasn’t gone down that self-sacrificing-hide-my-feelings-noble-idiot route that so many K-heroines do. But I miss the girl that grabbed Oppa’s hair and shoved him to the ground. The girl that unabashedly screamed at basketball practices until even the players were embarrassed. She’s still strong, smart and funny. Just a little . . . limp.

You’re such a player! 

I don’t root for second leads. It’s like a rule with me, because I want a happy ending, so I’m going to back the guy that gets the girl in the end. There’s just one, little problem . . . I haven’t got a clue who that is. We’ve got two heroes who are equally wonderful, and equally flawed. Oppa’s an adoring, close-like family, first love who just happens to be a genius. But he’s also romantically slow as molasses, a little dorky, and lives in the equivalent of a trash pile. (And he smokes, which is a major turn-off for me.)

Look up tenacious in the dictionary and you might see a picture of Chilbongie. He loves Na-jung and he ain’t giving up until Kim Min-jong sings the wedding song. He takes extra hard classes to be near his crush, and rushes out with a smile when she gets a craving for Deukbokki. But we’ve just learned he is also *gasp* a dumb jock. If it isn’t about baseball or the girl, he could care less, and can’t even be bothered to prepare for an open book test.

I love these guys so much, that it almost seems impossible to be happy with the ending, because they both can’t be the guy in that 2002 video. I hope this drama doesn’t follow the Reply 1997 pattern and shove another girl for one of them in the eleventh hour. Don’t drag it out as long as your predecessor did. Give us a few episodes to get used to the new girl, so we can be convinced that she isn’t a consolation prize. Quit playing games with my heart, show!

Reply 1994 has so much going for it, but I think I’ve hit that first hill in our relationship. I know we’ll get past this, but right now I’m feeling the strain.

Reply 1994 or "Who read my diary?"

What is this moisture in my eyes? This isn't my story. I wasn't raised in Seoul, Korea in 1994. I don't know who Seo Taiji is. But I did go home with college friends and meet their crazy families. And I did nurse a huge crush on a guy I never confessed to. So, maybe this is my story, after all. And, because of that, this show is quietly making a place for itself in my heart. Here's a few reasons why:

Protestin' to the Oldies

Who knew political demonstrations could be so fun? The townspeople turned a sit-in into a sock-hop, dancing in front of City Hall with their protest signs. I loved the guards surreptitiously tapping their feet to the music. Everyone had a grand time. At least until the storm troopers showed up with their tear gas.

Grandma, what big lies you have!

I know how Chilbongie felt when he learned Samcheonpo's frail-looking Grandma was just a con woman in a curly wig. Shock. Outrage. Amusement. I know because I felt the same way. This lady reeled me right in with her story about the Oppa under the tree that she never got to confess to. I may have even got a little misty when she bid goodbye to the kids for possibly the last time as she waved them off from the front porch. But how awesome is it that she's still alive and kickin' in 2013, and ready to start on her fourth honeymoon.

Samcheonpo gets to first base

A smelly, fishing boat never looked so romantic. This side couple's story tickles my funny bone. With her shelling the conches for her future Mother-in-law and him packing hot cocoa because he knows she hates coffee, their little moments really ring true. I feared Yoon-jin might grab his throat and choke him when he leaned in for a kiss. But the pint-sized gangster revealed a hidden girly side instead as she leaned her head against his shoulder and enjoyed the sunrise.

Second Lead Symptoms

Ah-choo. I think I might be coming down with something. I usually don't suffer from Second Lead Syndrome, at all. I pick a ship and stay on it. But after watching Chilbongie's overwhelming awesomeness last night . . . *cough, cough*

This guy rides a smelly, old bus for twelve hours just to have a five minute conversation with his crush. And what a conversation! There's something so sexy about a man who's willing to look a girl straight in the eye and say, "I like you." Instead of sending his friend, to ask her friend, to ask her, etc. I think we've all been there. And I'm not just talking about high school.

And then to top it all off with a tender but confident kiss. Someone call a doctor!

Ah, Doctor. There you are!

If it were anyone less than Oppa, I might be jumping ships. But our mutton headed man in the backwards sweatshirt can turn me around in a heartbeat. His long pause before he admitted to Bingguere that he couldn't remember anything about the movie he watched with Na-jung. Squeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaal!

I'm so confused. Does he like her or not? And if he does, is he aware of it? And if he is, why isn't he doing anything about it?

So many questions. But no matter who the husband in 2013 is, I love that everyone seems as happy and close as ever at the housewarming party. This show matters because it's about more than romantic butterflies in the tummy. It's about all the relationships that matter: family, friends, and the people you may only meet once but never forget.

Reply 1994: Why It's Gotta Be Oppa

Can Oppa be the husband and Chilbongie be the new, adopted son? I want both of them to be a part of this family. Our two Mr. Rights are each adorable in their own way, but only one of them gets the package the 2013 security guard delivered for Mr. Kim. My money's on Oppa, and not just because he's the best thing since sliced, Korean beef.

Here's a few points in his favor, underneath the headings of some well-known classics that might have been used as pager greetings back in the day.

Love is a Battlefield

Whoever ends up with Na-jung is gonna need a boatload of courage and a strong head of hair. This girl is tough. Oppa’s not afraid to twist her face off, or wrap her in a head lock, if necessary. Chilbongie’s such a sweetie, I’m afraid he might get hurt living with our female WWF impersonator. And his swoopy Justin Bieber hairdo wouldn’t last long in her hands. Maybe that’s why Oppa chops his mane so short.

Time is on my Side

It’s hard to beat that much history. Just like Na-jung, I didn’t realize the significance of the seal pillow at first. But when we both remembered . . . ugh. Those are the kind of things it takes a lifetime for a couple to know about each other. But these two have already spent a lifetime together. They know the important things. The tragic stories, and the funny ones. And they know the unimportant things. What your class schedule is and what your new pager password is going to be before you even change it. (1-1-1-1. Haha. So good!) 

Yakkety-yak (Don’t talk back)

Try to ignore the fact that he’s drying off with a bathmat. (I love Oppa, but his personal hygiene could use a serious upgrade.) What follows this moment is an entire round of “Yes, Dear”. 

Na-jung: Straighten the bath slippers. 

Oppa: Yes, dear. 

Na-jung: Turn off the light. 

Oppa: Yes, dear. 

Na-jung: And don’t forget to put lotion on your scaly face. 

Oppa: Yes, dear . . . which one is the lotion? 

She’s bossy as all-get-out, but this dunderhead needs someone to remind him of these things or he’ll be walking out the door without pants one day. 

U Can’t Touch This

Oppa must not be an MC Hammer fan, ‘cause he’s about the touchy-feeliest K-drama character I’ve ever seen. (I think he even surpasses Tae Gong-shil of Master’s Sun.) He wrestles her on the bed, he wraps his arms around her at the sink, he kisses her hair, and on and on it goes. Imagine you've never seen the show, and ran across one of those sappy Youtube videos. (You know someone is already splicing the clips. And I'm just the sort of sappy viewer that will be watching it.) But if you knew nothing about the characters' relationship, you might assume they were already married. 

Love Me Tender

Oppa can’t remember if he’s wearing socks, but he never forgets to watch out for Na-jung. He orders the seal doll way before the memorial day. He gets up at the crack of dawn to cook breakfast so she can go back to bed (even though he's a sleep deprived med student). He calls more than once to check up on her throughout the day. *Sigh* I wish I had a husband OR a brother like him. I’d be happy either way. 

Sorry, Chilbongie. You chip away at my heart with your wistful glances at the close family life the country folk share. I wish you could have Na-jung’s parents, but Na-jung belongs to Oppa. If the writers give us any other ending, I don’t know what I’m gonna do.

Reply 1994: I Luv A Good Twist

I think my overall reaction to Reply 1994 can be summed up thusly . . . He’s not her brother! He’s not her brother!

*Sheepishly clears throat*

Sorry, if I spoiled it for anyone. But that plot twist really crept up on me in the best way possible. The lack of a love interest in the better part of two episodes was confusing. Then one sepia-colored flashback sequence meanders across the screen, and the pieces snap together. I didn’t watch much of the preview, so I really have no idea who this Chilbongie character is. But if he beats out Oppa I’m gonna have to write another blog starting with “He’s not the husband! He’s not the husband! Waaaaaeeeee!”

It’s almost impossible not to compare this and the original Reply 1997, so I won’t even try. It’s too soon to tell, but I may even like the spin-off better. These are a few reasons why:

Ouch!

This scene . . . *snickers*. The romantic piano music swelled and everything. Has there ever been a more painful lip-lock in K-drama history? I wish I could have heard the actors’ thoughts when they got their scripts. Maybe something along the lines of “Are you kidding me!” Someone better release a Behind-the-Scenes video of this, because I don’t know how they kept a straight face. Way to subvert the traditional drunken kiss trope, dear writers. If this is a harbinger of things to come, I’m in.

Deng!

Na PD of 1 Night, 2 Days fame played a sadistic caricature of himself complete with puffy yellow jacket, as a boarding house student who serves the parents coffee with fish sauce, just for the fun of it. The evil glint in his eye as he watches them drink really sold it. I think he has a future in melodramas if he ever wants to step in front of the camera. Who cares about the basketball stars? Give me more entertainment industry inside jokes and I’d even drink a cup of Na’s coffee.

Ultimate Fighter: Family Edition

I’m an only child, so I can’t relate to the hair-pulling, gut-checking physical nature of the siblings. But that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy it. Again, I worry for the actors when Go Ara bounces on top of her co-star like there’s no tomorrow. He may be the one with the bad back before all this is over.


The 'Rents!

Just like Reply 1997, this Mom still cooks for an army, but this time she actually has one, with a houseful of boarders to feed. Her quiet moment of happiness when her snippy neighbor took the time to save her laundry from the rain felt so true-to-life. It’s the little things like that gesture that keep us believing the human race is still worth saving in this crazy world.

The relationship between father and daughter seems way less volatile in this new series. But I like it. This Daddy pets his baby’s hair until his arm is ready to fall off, just to help her sleep. And he puts on a sideways hat and karoakes with his adopted son, complete with gangster poses. Watching quirky, but close family relationships is almost as good as a sizzling OTP couple. Almost.


Ooopaaa!

He’s not her brother! Did I mention that before? But, aside from that, I love this character. He comes across as a likable, but lazy, unmotivated loafer who can’t be bothered to change his underwear, and then we find out he’s a genius medical student. Haha. This actor shone through the often dismal times of You’re the Best, Lee Soon Shin. His gentle charm and clownish humor as the faithful Bread Man helped to lighten the mood. He’s one of those guys that gets better-looking the more you see him. This time I hope he gets the girl, and all the credit a first lead deserves.

Since everyone ended up with who I wanted in Reply 1997, I’m a little scared of this new story. What if the writers decide to throw a second-lead curve ball like in Baker King? Because, let’s face it, no matter how wonderful Chilbongie turns out, showing up in the third episode makes you a second lead. But that’s not enough to stop me from watching. You know where I’ll be after work tonight. Replying to the 90s one more time.