I loved Answer Me 1997 with every beat of my heart and that drama perfectly combined an infinite range of emotions, all sprinkled with the nostalgic feeling of the 90s and also helped in understanding the similarities and differences between my culture and South Korea’s in that era. I planned on marathoning its successor Answer Me 1994 but then the combined result of not-so-great reviews and lots of spoilers was that I never gave it a try (another reason — toilet humour, which is my pet peeve). All in all, the franchise has proved to be extremely popular both the times and now it is bringing 80s with it as the new instalment is titled Answer Me 1988 (or Reply 1988). I don’t know much about the 80s experience as I’m a 90s and 2000s child but I love the 80s, fashion fails and all. I never find style and fashion and general vibe of movies or shows shot or based in earlier decades cringeworthy or laughable or annoying as that factor adds in making those special and takes us to that era and makes us feel nostalgic.

Answer Me series faces one major complaint — the ‘who-is-the-husband’ game that stretches through entire run. But the latest show promises to be more about family and there will be nothing like the aforementioned issue, I hope it keeps up the promise. Anyway, the show will be set in a neighbourhood and focus on five families, of course which will encompass love, friendships, warmth and poignancy. The cast includes Kpop group Girl’s Day‘s Hyeri (who recently acted in Hyde, Jekyll, Me), Park Bo Gum (last seen in I Remember You) and Go Kyung Pyo (loved him in Flower Boy Next Door). Song Dong Il and Lee Il Hwa are the only two actors who have appeared in all dramas from the franchise and they star here as well. Answer Me 1994‘s Kim Sung Kyoon costars.

There was lots of commotion and anger when Hye Ri was cast in the lead role. I haven’t seen her in anything but I’ve only read negative reviews about her acting. I hope that Answer Me 1988 will prove to be the turning point in her career with respect to acting and she will excel in the role.

I’m pretty excited about this show as I’m so ready for something that would give me warm and heart-tugging moments and the Answer Me dramas are all about that. I would also get to learn about the country’s environment in the 80s, particularly 1988. Answer Me 1988 will premiere on 6 November on tvN after Twenty Again wraps up (Nooooo!) as the new Friday-Saturday drama.