One of the most common literary genres is the Bildungsroman, or coming-of-age stories. It is beautiful because of its relatability and simplicity. It tells of events many of us have gone through. This creates a story that seems simple at first glance but shows a character’s growth in a subtle yet meaningful way.
The Korean drama Reply 1988 is a perfect example of this. Written by acclaimed writer Lee Woo-jeong, it is very formulaic: a found family story with an underlying friends-to-lovers trope. Her distinctive storytelling style is evident in the first two installments of the Reply series and in her 2020 drama Hospital Playlist. All these contain what seems to be a favorite of her: found family. She loves to discuss dynamics among close friends and writes lots of good banter with impeccable comedic timing. Another signature of her is the ‘big reveal’- causing shipping wars among fans of the drama with some people being on Team Taek or Team Jung-hwan. This helped them build a devoted audience that ended with Reply 1988 being the highest-rated Korean drama at the time. It also has lots of “second lead syndrome”-inducing moments, a common trend in Korean dramas. Other than strong writing and committed fans, another strength of Reply 1988 lies in its simplicity. As a Bildungsroman, it is intentionally an ordinary story. The setting is almost always in their small neighborhood, Ssangmun-dong. The story focuses on a small cast of just 5 families, living on one street. It tells this strong story of growth and youth—sans the melodrama common in tv dramas. The chemistry among the actors contributed to its realism and relatability of the show. Park Bo-gum’s role as Choi Taek was a breakthrough performance for him, launching his career as a Hallyu star.
Overall, Reply 1988 was a highly riveting emotional rollercoaster. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a simple story that makes you feel nostalgic about your youth. It will bring you back to a time before cell phones—when life was much simpler.