Oh man, what a show. Personally, I can't forgive the husband ending - I can accept that it would be Taek but nothing in the narrative convinced me it would be him, absolutely nothing, and I just feel scammed by it. A few tweaks in the writing and I could have dealt with it but ughhhhhhhhhh

Nevertheless, this is a great drama. I love all the older siblings and their different styles of interacting with their dongsaengs <3

I still haven't watched the last 2 episodes. I'm not sure if I'd be able to finish them even if Iwatch it the second time around.

I want to give Reply 88 another try but I just can't justify the episodes being that long.

I thought watching this for the nth time would make my heart ache less for JH knowing that Hyeri and Ryu Junyeol are dating but then it hurt the same... I still get tears in my eyes for the touching parts and burst out laughing in the funny ones. I miss the parents and the friends who made Ssangmundong so lively. This is the only drama that I can watch over and over again and still feel, if not more, the emotions they evoked the first time I watched it.

Love this show. Did not care for whatever ship/otp. The families and friendships were truly gold. I watched for those and came out with my heart feeling full.

I rewatched this series as well coincindentally Hyeri and Jun Yeol's dating news broke out *swoon*

I was a Jung Hwan shipper when I watched the series first. But when I watched this the second time around, I could see all the foreshadowing, all the clues that would point Taek as the husband. I love both boys though - they're so well-written and well acted by both amazing actors.

I still cry whenever I listen to the theme song "Ssangmun-dong" and remember all the heartwarming moments the family and friends shared in that street. <3

This is a drama that I love so much it hurts! But I don't think I would have the courage to rewatch it and go through all the pain once again.. I teared a little reading this post. Oh Jung Hwan, what have you done to us!

Goodness, you watched all of this in three days? Does it even fit into three days? From what I remember, poor girlfriday recapped the whole thing and was despairing as the episodes gradually crawled from 90 minutes to close to two hours per episode.

This was the best show ever until that twist ruined it all for me. I'm not a 'shipper' and I love Bogummie more than anyone, but that totally killed the story. I couldn't bear to watch it again. I wish they hadn't done that. Oh, well.

My all-time favorite drama! The best drama ever, 'nuff said.

Thank you for this post, Reply 1988 will always have such a special place in my heart ❤️ ❤️❤️

Reply 1988 was really all about friends and family. I love it so much :)

I'm all alone here, liking Taek. ?

1988 is my favorite Answer Me. I enjoyed all of the storylines but I still don't agree with the OTP.

Honestly just reading this brings back the excruciating pain i felt after hearing who the husband was going to be and even though my otp got together in real life, it doesn't make up for the drama ending lol! That said, R88 is def my favorite korean family drama (which reminds me i have to add it to my favorites on dramabeans)

I've watched Reply 1988 thrice, and thrice I cried in almost every single episode. The familial love, and the lovely friendships (be it the Ssangmundong gang or the ajumma trio or the silently supportive father figures) warm my heart. This is why this is one of my favourite shows, and Ssangmundong/ Hyehwadong remains as one of my favourite songs ever.

I think what I really enjoyed about Reply 1988 wasn't just the heartwarming friendships between the Ssangmundong gang, but just how much the parents themselves were developed as characters.

And the ending with all of their younger selves together was enough to cause the onion-cutting ninjas to appear. Loved the sense of nostalgia that pervaded it!

I love this series so much. Part of what drew me is the warm family vibe of these people who just happen to live on the same street. It reminds me a bit of my childhood. I have a large extended family and we practically grew up together. So I just wondered how it would be on a different part of the world. I realize thats it not any different. I had my own fair share of dramas but at the core its a group of people living their lives the best way they know how.

Plus I want to be one of those three ajummas when I get older. Part of this close knit group who would help me without expectations. I have friends irl who are just as amazing as them hopefully we continue to be as close. And grow old as wonderfully as these three Moms/Ajummas.

Watched it 2 times without even calculting tineswhen i rewatched specific episodes and still brought tears to my eyes and warm to my heart ???

"I love how the Ssangmun-dong gang valued and respected their friendship so much that it came first before love, to the point that everyone was acting selflessly..." Oh man, no truer words T.T

This will forever be one of those Shows where all the emotions, feelings, pangs, heartbreaks, and all else will always make me feel the same, hurt the same, make me get all giddy the same.... but most of all, make me love this Show all the same, yet, more intensely with every re-watch <3

i was verrrry late to watch this series -- like last month!

i LOVED IT!! i loved the families, i loved the parents, especially the moms who sent food to one another's families daily, who supported one another anytime there was a crisis or change or situation... they were the total HEART of the series -- and if i could write fanfiction to follow the series, it would be that all the kids would keep in touch and stay close and run to be there for one another...

but alas, the reality is that the kids did not (unlike the Reply 1997 kids)...

i am still tickled to know that Ryul Joon Yeol and Hyeri are dating -- fanfiction doesn't get any better than THAT, right?
; )

It is a good time to watch Answer me 1988. I am watching it for tefirst time righ now and I see so many watching or re watching it. Thanks Toni, your review made me feel better about not live watching the show and not being a part of recaps and comments right now.

I actually just finished my 6th re-watch and 4th dramabeans recap re-read just two weeks ago. Still not over it. The one thing I can't do ever again is read the comments because it got too ugly... although I look at the numbers and remember how invested everyone was.

The husband was always a toss-up for me.... knowing what the franchise is. Admittedly, I was Team Taek and overjoyed... but still so sad for Jung Hwan. I wish we could have seen a glimpse of everyone being happy years down the road.

the thing I hate about this show is the second lead syndrome oh man it hurt so bad

The drama is re-watchable and although each episodes are long, it doesn't feel long. That's how good the drama content is with all the relationships in the neighborhood, family, and friendship. But re-watching also made me see things I couldn't see before. Like the editing is manipulative to invoke the viewer emotions. Somehow I was very frustrated with it.

I was born a little later than 1988, but you don’t have to have lived during that time to appreciate and love this series.
This is pretty much the entire reason why I love all the Answer Me series so flippin' much. I'm not even Korean and don't get all of the references, but the series does a fabulous job at creating charming and relatable characters and stories that anyone and everyone can identify and connect with.

I am still yet to understand just what exactly gave people second lead syndrom and why they were mad.
when I rewatched it, I kind of paid more attention especially to the dads. it was easier because the first time everyone was predicting Taekie to die because of his headache like "those pills mean he is sick! they refer to him in the past!" etc. and then that fake scare with the plane, I actually fell under the influence and thought maybe. but it soon turned around and I was so relieved.

I have to admit this was my favorite in the franchise, but I thought it was too recent to be 'revisited.' I'll never forget how Madagascar sort of became 'best supporting country' with its participatiin in that Olympic fiasco for our main girl. I mentioned this to a friend in Madagascar and she thought it was funny.

Drama crossed my radar again recently with the news that second-lead boy got the girl IRL. Good for them! Made me want to watch it again and see if there was extra crackle in their chemistry onscreen.

Though i was very upset that Doeksun did not end with Jung Hwan, ( i skipped the finale ep) the BEST thing i loved about this drama was the friendship and rapport between the elder cast. Love them to bits. They stole the show from the younger lot. I could watch the mother's meetings and their hilarious antics all day long and never get bored. It deeply saddens me that , the society and the times has changed so much, that we dont have time to spend with out neighbours and chit chat freely like them. The caring and sharing attitude has gone and its always 'ME' than 'US'.
This drama would be the drama that i really truly wished for the female lead to end up with second lead.

I am currently watching this drama for this first time so was spoiled about the whole husband mystery, and have never watched any of the other Answer Me series amd wild debates about them before. So I made the unusual decision not to watch the "future" segments (especially after a first glimpse of one if them I just felt a disconnect). I personally have never liked in movies, tv, or books when we time skip to see "where they are now", especially when a show is about teenagers, young adults. I enjoy the in the moment here and now journey (whatever time period it is set in), and can imagine for myself where they might go from there. And for me, I enjoy watching their youth and how I remember my own. The friendships between the parents and families and kids is way more important to me than the romance anyways. Although the romance is great, for me I want to see the tug of the two boys and leave it open ended and hopeful for both about the outcome. It is in that moment, not the future that matters. Which has made it so I don't feel betrayed about the potential "outcome", since I am not watching that part anyways. I can enjoy it for what it is. Friendship, family and growing up, it is all the same and important no matter the time or place.

The parents in this drama hurt my heart in the best way. Especially, for some reason, the little scene where Jung Hwan's dad talks about being embarrassed of selling jajangmyeon, and how happy it made him when his kids ran to him in the street. Makes me tear up every time I think about it, more than any swoony romance has ever done.

Love me this show so very much and the fact that my OPT was the ONE!! was like ice cream on top of more ice cream. I loved my Taek so much and loved the grown up actor that played him, one of my favorite korean actor.

What made the Ajummas so great was how well rounded they were. They were women, point blank. They weren't just mothers, or wives, or house keepers, just women. They had real emotions, wants and desires. Watching these women flirt with their respective partners, laugh with their friends, and travail over what age does to your body was so relatable. One of the rawest moments, IMO, was when all the mothers were together and Dong Ryong's mother discusses her stance on motherhood. What woman has not felt the pressure of deciding between working and motherhood. Or felt guilty for choosing one for the other?

For me, these women were some of the realest women I've ever watched on television. American, Korean or otherwise. I felt myself grow with this show and it made me realize that though I am a mother, I'm still me. There's no reason why you have to lose your identity to become a parent.

To all you shippers- I wasn't even shipping anyone- I was there just to watch the friendships. But after I finished the series- the last couple of episodes were actually my favourites. Where the resolutions ended. I think it's a disservice to yourself not to watch it. It gave me the warm fuzzies like watching where my friends ended up.

Can't be bothered about my age now since the Korean hairdresser called me ahjumma the other day. But the whole era- and leaving high school- made me miss my childhood and high school friends so much. So yeah, totally think Reply 1988 is a fantastic series. And my mum just met up ( cos' I arranged to meet up with my old neighbourhood friend this year after almost 30 years not seeing each other) with her. I am almost in tears remembering what it was in those days in Asia.

So forget about the freaking shipping and enjoy those innocent times. The music. How parents could spend time with the children. Where no one is busy talking selfies or glued onto their mobiles instead of interacting.

That, and crushing on a boy in class. Or hanging out together and NO RECREATIONAL drug use ( barring cigarettes)- cos' you know, hanging out in malls and driving dangerously ( and causing injuries ) are more the things that happens now in 2017.

There, that's my adult me saying Reply 1988 rocks. Focus on the important things. Not the whole stupid Taek and JH shipping war. That was totally nuts.

I attended the elementary school reunion and found 2 friends who also turned out to be very crazy about this series. There is no other way. Coming home from the reunion I made an What's App group specifically to discuss this series and then another drama as well. Want to know what this group profile is? The five of them were eating ramyun and smiled at the camera! (^O^)

I'm late to the party haha! I'm still not done watching (will be on the 16th episode tonight), but I'm loving this show so much! I now understand why a lot of people loooove the Ssangmundong families and our main squad. I feel like I'm a part of their neightborhood! It would be too sad to leave after 4 episodes huhu...