Growing up in the neighborhood in 1988

47 October 5, 2015July 19, 2021

by girlfriday

I’m actually too sad that Twenty Again has to end to get excited about tvN’s next Friday-Saturday drama Answer Me 1988 yet, but I’m sure it’s going to be another heartwarming family series that makes us all wistful for the good ol’ days. The Answer Me franchise has built its identity around feel-good nostalgia for simpler times, first loves, and friends that become family. The newest installment promises more of the same, though we were told up front this time that there would be no more husband-hunting mystery. I’m gonna hold you to that, just so we’re clear.

This time the story will be about five families that live on one street. I wish they’d tell us a little more about the setup, but this series pretty much relies on the one concept — retro family drama — and the fun will be in the small moments and relationships that form. The latest poster features our heroine Hyeri with all the boys from the neighborhood: Lee Dong-hwi (Divorce Lawyer in Love), Go Kyung-pyo (Cantabile Tomorrow), Ryu Joon-yeol (Social Phobia), and Park Bo-gum (I Remember You).

I hope this doesn’t mean we’re just morphing the love triangle to become a pentagon. I suppose Answer Me 1994 started out with everyone as a husband contender, but that’s exactly what I don’t want a repeat of. I like the poster’s concept though, with the five kids on their playground ponies and all grown up on the same exact street. The copy reads, “This alley is the same.” And the bottom poster says, “My last love is family.”

The first teaser doesn’t even count as a tease — it’s just flipping TV channels back in time, along with the era’s music to match, of course: Answer Me 1997 set to H.O.T., to Answer Me 1994 set to Seo Taiji, then Answer Me 1988 set to Shin Hae-chul. I wonder if that’s a clue about this year’s fangirl on the cast, because we can’t have an Answer Me drama without a diehard fangirl, right?

Answer Me 1988 follows Twenty Again on Fridays and Saturdays in October.

Via Chosun Ilbo

Required fields are marked *

1 Lizzie

October 5, 2015 at 4:07 AM

I am excited for this and dreading it...as it means half the school semester will be over already..but that's unrelated to the drama of course..

Required fields are marked *

2 Kit

October 5, 2015 at 4:11 AM

That poster is adorable.

Kinda wish it was 3 boys to 2 girls though. There's a different fun in a friendship between two girls.

(And can't Twenty Again become a daily drama? We should crowd fund to get the funds to pay the $$$$$ necessary for an episode of Choi Ji Woo heh.)

Required fields are marked *

KDaddict?JCW

October 5, 2015 at 4:40 AM

I'd pay good money to watch Han Nora graduate, work an internship, become a professional, kicking ass all the way, be tight friends w Sang Ye, run into her unemployed ex-husband, who needs her expertise to get his ass out of a tight jam, and she graciously gives it, to his great humiliation, while she raising triplets, preferably named Dae Han, Min Guk, Manse, w HS.

Required fields are marked *

pancchi

October 5, 2015 at 4:53 AM

Exactly what i want to see!! Add shower of those dimples in the list.
Only 4 epis left..sigh.

Required fields are marked *

JC

October 7, 2015 at 8:02 AM

Totally agree with this!!! Real female friendships are so neglected in Kdramaland (and tbh, many TV shows and movies across all cultures).

Required fields are marked *

3 Miky

October 5, 2015 at 4:36 AM

I'm really exited for this drama hoping it will be chill and curious if it will stand on the same as his two other older siblings in terms of success,also i find it cute thinking of the heroine being the only girl among the gang and how she becomes one of them,makes me remember my childhood days when i lived at a house on a steet same full mostly with boys jjjaaja,also can't omit Park Go Bum bawl haricut,he looks cute no matter what but so sad he got stack with that ugly hairstyle...

Required fields are marked *

4 striving8

October 5, 2015 at 4:39 AM

I'm so excited!!!

Required fields are marked *

5 KDaddict?JCW

October 5, 2015 at 5:35 AM

OMG, that orange shirt, w those jeans, and the hair w the centre part....Why does it remind me of movie posters of Andy Lau?

Required fields are marked *

joykim

October 5, 2015 at 6:32 AM

Exactly my sentiments. Carrot jeans!

Required fields are marked *

6 Rachel

October 5, 2015 at 6:02 AM

OMG Go Kyung-pyo and Park Bo-gum look so cute in those pictures. Go Kyung-pyo in particular looks like he's gonna be pretty damn dorky in this. CAN'T WAIT.

Required fields are marked *

fay17

October 5, 2015 at 6:30 AM

Yah I can't do anything but laugh looking at go kyung pyo..that awkward posture lol...
And seriously what's wrong with park bo gum..is he being portrayed as a dummy here? That smile looks so hogu like =/

Required fields are marked *

loveycat

October 5, 2015 at 6:27 PM

Park Bo Gum is cute, i think it is he being himself in that pic, their not look like shooting at that time, but goofing around together in their free time.

Required fields are marked *

7 pastmidnite ?

October 5, 2015 at 6:42 AM

OMG black snow washed jeans. I had a pair of those! *facepalm

So now we don't have to play where's Park Bo gum again lol

Required fields are marked *

8 fab

October 5, 2015 at 7:04 AM

PARK BO-GUM. ♥

Where are her ~girlfriends~ at?? God, don't let this be a set-up for another dreadful husband mystery.

Required fields are marked *

juniper

October 5, 2015 at 12:02 PM

I'm pretty sure they straight up said they weren't going in that direction, but who knows.

Required fields are marked *

fab

October 5, 2015 at 1:57 PM

Oh yeah they did! But seeing four boys and one girl in one poster makes me suspicious of the premise.

Required fields are marked *

juniper

October 5, 2015 at 6:18 PM

Yup, I know what you mean. Seeing Ryu Joon-yeol in such a noticeable pose has me wondering if we're getting our male leads mixed up too.

Required fields are marked *

9 alienshore

October 5, 2015 at 7:32 AM

My love for Park Bo Gum cannot overcome my dislike of Hyeri. So sad.

Required fields are marked *

pogo

October 5, 2015 at 8:06 AM

I have some small hope that with a role tailored to her, Hyeri can pull a Go Ara (also regarded as a terrible actress before Answer Me 1994). The franchise does seem to have established itself as one that purposely goes for actresses with no previous reputation for acting ability, and they've done all right so far.

I've seen way too many people whose acting is terrible even in roles supposedly tailored for them, though, so I don't blame you for being pessimistic.

Required fields are marked *

10 gogummaa

October 5, 2015 at 7:44 AM

Still contemplating on whether to watch this or not. Park Bo Gum!! But...whenever I think Hyeri leading this...*sigh*

anyways, I wanted to comment when I saw "Twenty Again" ending...nooooo...I'm enjoying it too much that i forgot it's gonna end in just a few eps more. Why o why?

Required fields are marked *

yuna

October 5, 2015 at 9:29 PM

SAME! If i am watching, it's only because of PARK BO GUM. Is he the lead or not??

Required fields are marked *

11 redfox

October 5, 2015 at 8:19 AM

we desperately need Seo In Guk to cameo. Right? because Park Bo Gum...

Required fields are marked *

redfox

October 5, 2015 at 8:23 AM

but I just HATE bobbed hair on women. I had to wear that as a child, hated it, still hate it. It looks so damn ugly. even on pretty girls. It can´t ever look great, never.

Required fields are marked *

12 Sailor Mars

October 5, 2015 at 8:31 AM

Actually there's been such a long time since they started to advertise this that all my will to watch it is suddenly gone. It's bad when we know that a drama will air with so many months of antecedence.
Park Bo Gum and Go Kyung Pyo are great and I know they will do a good job on this. I will probably watch it once some episodes air.
Like many comments, I also wish there are more girls on this. The whole thing of "one of the boys" is outdated, in my opinion. I'm also kind of sad that it will be all about the husband game again.

Required fields are marked *

13 mindy

October 5, 2015 at 8:37 AM

YES. I'm so looking forward to this! But also super sad about Twenty Again ending. Man, tvN has been on a roll, haven't they? And their FriSat dramas just keep getting better and better ratings. First Oh My Ghostess, now Twenty Again, and we know that Answer Me 1988 will have plenty of people tuning in, too! And all are quality dramas, too--well, I guess Answer Me 1988 is to be decided on the quality front, but I hope so much hope considering the past two series!

Required fields are marked *

mindy

October 5, 2015 at 8:43 AM

Also, if they continue with the Answer Me series after this, do you guys think they'll go deeper in the past again (Answer Me 1980? Lots of politics there) or jump ahead to something like Answer Me 2000?

Required fields are marked *

fab

October 5, 2015 at 1:59 PM

Like a beanie had suggested, how about go way way back to Joseon, say 1832?

Required fields are marked *

juniper

October 5, 2015 at 6:19 PM

Now I want to see the sageuk version of eomma and appa really badly haha

Required fields are marked *

dRiger

October 6, 2015 at 8:27 AM

I will simply want them to go for REPLY 2000...

Required fields are marked *

14 dinsssss

October 5, 2015 at 8:48 AM

BOGUM AAAAAA!!!!!!!

Required fields are marked *

15 dkaoru

October 5, 2015 at 9:08 AM

I dont want twenty again to end ?

Required fields are marked *

16 Alexis

October 5, 2015 at 9:19 AM

seems that now the "in" thing is to make shows about the past..

the movie "Our Times" and a 16 episode drama serial "The Way We Were" are getting popular not just in Taiwan but in other countries as well..

Nostalgia sells now and audience seems to like these kind of dramas because they can relate to, I guess.

Required fields are marked *

17 bea

October 5, 2015 at 12:05 PM

I'm going to save this drama for my dad since this is from his youth. hopefully, hyeri will do well so I can show this to him

Required fields are marked *

18 Mini Roo

October 5, 2015 at 3:17 PM

Is there a reason that kid!KyungPo and Kid!BoGum are the only ones looking to the left...(at Kid!Hyeri?)

Required fields are marked *

19 liz

October 5, 2015 at 4:26 PM

we know there will be bromance, and shippinh fights again, just not husband hunt, but of course people will pick favorites to end with main girl in this version.

Required fields are marked *

20 Franbergh II

October 5, 2015 at 5:40 PM

but actually since nowdays fashion is kind of random, i cant really feel the 80s feeling so much. we really need to watch the drama so they can show us more than what the pictures show :D

Required fields are marked *

21 loveycat

October 5, 2015 at 6:19 PM

I kind of hope that Park Bo gum will be the lead, but let the Leading man not end up with the Leading Girl this time. Isn't they said "My last love is family"?
Let the story about family love which not less important than romantic love.
I never watch Hyeri's drama, but many not too happy with her acting, so hope that she not ruin the boy's change to shine in this drama...~_~'

Required fields are marked *

22 Ricky

October 5, 2015 at 9:41 PM

the number of Park Bo Gum's fans in this post LOL

Lemma join your army guys!

Required fields are marked *

23 NahlaJW

October 5, 2015 at 11:50 PM

I'm for him and Go Kyung Pyo xD...I never watched the previous dramas of this series but I'll marathon them for sure when I have time.

Required fields are marked *

dRiger

October 6, 2015 at 8:20 AM

i don't know about reply 1994 because i haven't decide yet to watch it... but seriously you should watch thoroughly REPLY 1997... that season can't be beaten by any of its series... that was a very very good production....

Required fields are marked *

24 Jisungie

October 6, 2015 at 12:55 AM

Comment was deleted

Required fields are marked *

25 dRiger

October 6, 2015 at 8:17 AM

I think this drama will surely got me term back in my university... i barely manage to avoid term back in last semester because of FATED TO LOVE YOU and I HEAR YOUR VOICE following I REMEMBER YOU.... my semester was disaster though i haven't any regret because i am a true K Drama Fan.... :D

Required fields are marked *

26 Tena Chen

October 7, 2015 at 8:36 AM

I can't wait to see this! I wonder what Korean fashion was like at this time, versus when I was in high school, wearing stuff like this:

http://www.jclillis.com/blog/fashion-advice-from-the-july-1988-teen-magazine/

(Yes, I had a subscription to Teen. I remember ear-marking and reading this religiously.)

And big hair and military-style (marine) boxy clothes with the shoulder pads. Oh those shoulder pads!!!

Required fields are marked *

27 missDVM

October 7, 2015 at 3:15 PM

Park Bo-Gum= Win.

Required fields are marked *

28 deedu

October 8, 2015 at 12:39 AM

min-ah.....

Required fields are marked *

29 heyahala

October 11, 2015 at 10:49 PM

based on the tagline seems like they gonna stick the first family related will be the love line....i agreed to 1997 ending but 1994 is just painful to watch for me

Required fields are marked *

30 Carinne

October 14, 2015 at 6:40 PM

Yay! It's finally nearly here. Awesome bday present if I do say so myself. c:

Required fields are marked *