ANSWER ME, MY YOUTH

A few years ago, i stumbled upon a show called Reply 1997. It ended up as one of my favourite shows of all time. Reply was a big hit and since then it had spawned 2 other series under its name: Reply 1994 and Reply 1988. Concept is the same. A heartwarming nolstagic drama about youth and friendship set in a certain time period while keeping you on the fence on which male lead the female character ended up with. I've watched all 3 series (didn't finish 1994 because it simply couldn't live up to the standards of the first series but was still a good show nevertheless) and my favourite has to be Reply 1988 - which is the latest instalment. Which i had just finished like 30 mins ago, haha.

I really like 1988 a lot. At first i thought i wouldn't make it through because every episode was about 90min long (omg!) and the beginning was quite slow. But i ended up loving it more than 1994 and 1997 because of them feels.

The only irritating part is the love story of the main characters. Honestly, the development was so sucky that i felt unsatisfied even though the pair i was rooting for ended up together. For the past 2 series, the love story was the biggest selling point of the show. The whole keeping-you-on-your-toes on who the husband is, giving you clues but making you confused... it was a great ploy. But it failed on Reply 1988 mainly because the adult male character didn't get his character correct which misled me and made me mad because it felt like my emotions were being played with grrr. Just thinking about it makes me mad.

But what made up for it was the friendship and kinship stories. Unlike the previous series, 1988 focused on the stories of the side characters as well. Every episode was an insight to a certain character and his/her story and about the relationship between each and every character... The friendship of the neighbourhood ajummas, the support group between the fathers, the mother and child relationship, the community etc... it truly was a neighbourhood drama. There were so many scenes where i teared up that has nothing to do with the love story (in fact i didn't cry during the love story scenes lol) - when Il Hwa ran in the rain with her bleeding stubbed toe just to protect her daughter, when Bora bought her father a shirt that was way too small and yet her father insisted on wearing it everyday, when Bora bought a pair of shoes for her father to wear during her wedding but it was too big this time round so he had to stuff it with tissues to walk her down the aisle and Bora just cried uncontrollably when she noticed it (so did i T_T), when Jung Bong and Jung Hwan realised that their mom could not read romanised alphabets at all because she was only a elementary school grad (she was portrayed as a superwoman who could do everything in the show)...

And there were also many small moments like how DongRyong ran away from home because of the lack of love in his family, or how Mi Ran went through her menopause and her family supported her through it, I felt as though i journeyed through their lives and it was so heartwarming. Words can't describe how much i am in love with Reply 1988 so I'm just gonna slap in some videos (hahahaha i love that the sheep's bleh during awkward moments).









There were so many funny moments, i wished i could show them all! It makes me warm and fuzzy looking back at past episodes. And even though all the characters are superb and awesome, this woman is the bomb.

Someone give this lady an Oscar please.

Nostalgia plays a big factor to the popularity of the Reply series because who doesn't have fond childhood memories that they can think back on? I met up with my primary school friends a few days ago and since most of us watch the Reply series (thanks to my recommendation ;D), we started to talk about the show. And as per every meet up, we talked about the old times as well. And you know what? As we were chatting and laughing over our lives (and the characters'), it hit me that everyone has their own Reply series. Within the 4 of us, our Reply lies in the days where we always gathered at YL's house after school to eat fishballs, heading over to SH's house to play Sims, the red brief hanging on gate of our room in camp, the nights in camp that i comforted SH as she cried for her mother, the mornings that i braided her hair because she doesn't know how to tie, the moment when i wanted to call home from camp one morning but ended up dialling XY's house number due to fatigue and familiarity....

So grateful for this bunch of girls whom has walked with me for more than a decade. So thankful for this friendship that has survived time, separation, life and arguments. We are going to continue this through the next decade and the decade after that and the decade after that and i am excited to go through the rest of my life with them.

This is my Reply 2006: the last year of my primary school days and the year our friendship cemented forever.

Sentiment is a chemical defect found on the losing side

I am not a fan of western shows because they come in seasons. And i hate the feeling of waiting tirelessly for a new season only to have a short enjoyment before it all ends and the cycle repeats.

I just finished 3 seasons of Sherlock.
What am i supposed to do with life now???

Book: Warm Bodies (and other TV stuff)

I actually felt that the movie is nicer than the book itself. The humour is really well played throughout the film, the acting is great, the OST is awesome and it is visually appetising. The book, though it provides more details, is drier. And i preferred the movie version of Julie. I guess the actors really bring life to the characters. The only plus point about the book that triumphs over the movie is the theme. The idea of hope, change, meaning of life, love etc. Nevertheless, it was a good read.

I have been watching many shows the past few months. Despite assignments and homework, i firmly believe in the importance of relaxation time. Past experiences have proven that if i do not have enough time for play, i would either 1) feel like killing the entire world or 2) bottle up and explode into a puddle of tears eventually or a combination of both.

I watch and dabble with various genres of shows. Usually i will stick to a certain "country's" shows for a period of time. Previously, it was korean shows or variety shows and then i moved on to american tv shows and currently i have finished a Japanese drama. I like American shows because they have SUCH interesting concepts but heck, they have way too many seasons! For a muddlehead like me, i would have forgot what happened in season 1/2/3/4/5/6/2349873690834958. I like Japanese shows because most of them are only 1 season AND THEY ONLY HAVE 10-13 EPISODES EACH! I feel a huge (false) sense of accomplishment everytime i finish a J-drama. Japanese are the best in mysteries/problem solving cases! Detective Conan, Liar Game, Battle Royale, Death Note, Kaiji etc.

Actually, i started and completed Cruel City even before i entered Uni. I initially watched it because i like Nam Gyu Ri. I realised she didnt have much screen time anyway halfway through the show hahaha. Honestly, the first few episodes were not promising AT ALL. It was only the cliffhangers at the end of the episodes that really get me going on but half of the time i had no idea what the show was talking about. But slowly, it got extremely interesting. LIKE OMGOMGOMG I CANT DO THIS ANYMORE - kind of feeling. It really showed the other side of drug dealers and etc omg, i have no idea what to say about this show except its extremely awesome and sadly, extremely underrated as well. I think its because its not marketed as a romance show so it didnt appeal to many people ): Top few favourite shows of all time though it hardly had any romantic element in it.

I first found out about Revenge on Youtube and I started to watch it about a month ago. The first 10 episodes are not addictive but subsequently, especially near the end, the plot twists and thickens and things start to get very interesting. The last episode, omg, revealed a whole new entire truth and so now im on season 2. Honestly, the characters are not very attractive. Not physically, because they are, but in the way they were written. Daniel is just really dumb and easily manipulated, Emily seems indecisive, Jack is just clueless throughout the entire show etc. The only characters i really love are Victoria Grayson and Nolan Ross. Victoria really is a very complex character which felt real. I enjoyed Nolan's loyalty and sarcasm. I was so afraid he'd die in the last episode and i wont get to see him in season 2. But he didnt haha.

Many years ago, when i was overseas, i saw the trailer on TV. And i finally downloaded it to watch. AMAZING film. It is about the entire world slowly losing their vision for some reason and it explores how people react in dire situations. It does not explain how this disease comes to be or how it can be cured but the focus of the movie is on human nature. I like shows that reveal true human nature - that we can be extremely sinister or discover the good inside of us we never knew we had.

I started watching Good Doctor because of Joo Won. His acting never fails to impress me. A rich ass bastard son, a scum-turned-vigilante, and now an autistic doctor. Good Doctor is not a romantic show so there isnt many lovey dovey scenes but it encompasses many moral lessons. Not one of my favourite shows, but definitely watchable.

Based on Jeremy Lin's drawings. My mom is a fan of his. When we were in HK few years back, there was an exhibition of his works and it was beautiful. The film is really good. I like the themes and the portrayal of the story. Honestly, i do not like Taiwanese shows because they are so draggy. But they always make the best coming of age movies such as Secret, You're The Apple Of My Eye etc.

Nazotoki Wa Dinner No Ato De is the latest show i've finished. In fact, i only completed the last episode today. I saw one episode on Channel U last Sunday and the pacing and editing of the show is impeccable. I really love the way it was filmed and edited! Can i just add that Japanese shows always have the best OST?!?! I am going on to watch the movie, which apparently was released in theatres few months back.

I will probably continue with my Japanese dramas craze, heh. Its been some time since i watch a Japanese show. And i miss my manga/anime too ):

your promises, they look like lies

Jade Palace Lock Heart really sucks. I didnt survive 2 episodes. So, im back to Modern Family and Drake and Josh. Oh, and Tree With Deep Roots but that's not very addictive.

Really want to watch some China tv show ): I know a lot of people hate China's shows because of their accent but i swear, they have good dramas at times! Plus, i like to watch period dramas and China is good at period drama because they accurately phrase the dialogues to how Chinese used to speak like. Though sometimes they talk in poems and i cant understand a single word, i just like to listen how different Chinese speaks now and then.

English seriously cannot be compared to Mandarin. I may dislike Mandarin but it is such a beautiful language. 4 characters can tell a story and 4 characters can mean a lot of things whereas in English you have a long sentence just to convey one thought. And whenever i listen to Mandarin songs with English subtitles on Youtube, i cant help but to cringe. The translation is correct but the deeper meaning is lost. English can never capture the essence and beauty of Mandarin.

I wish i were good at Mandarin. Then i can write poems with profound meanings.

等夏天等秋天
等下個季節
要等到月亮變全
你才會回到我身邊

要不要再見面
沒辦法還是想念
突然想看你的臉
熟悉的感覺

不 牽手也可以漫步風霜雨雪
不 能相見也要朝思暮念

只想讓你知道
我真的很好
愛一生 戀一世
我也會等你到老

只想讓你知道
放不下也忘不掉
你的笑 你的好
是我溫暖的依靠

Ok la, the above is not a poem. Its a song from BBJX, hahaha. But Mandarin songs usually are a quite poetic anyway.
Since this post so wordy and i bet no one bothered to read, i shall post one old picture then.

mmmhhmm, pouty lips. Who can resist?

Safe in my cocoon, i observe the outside world.

Its ugly.

But what's ugly is not the world.

Its humans themselves.