Which ‘Reply’ Series Should I Watch: Your Ultimate Guide to Reply 1988, 1994 & 1997

“Should I watch Reply 1994 and Reply 1997 after 1988?”

“In what order should I watch them?”

If you’re a habitual Netflix watcher like me, then you’ve probably seen Reply 1988 and Reply 1994 show up on the “Trending Now” list every now and then. It’s also difficult not to go through social media without seeing people gush about 1988, with local media outlets continuing to write articles about the show and its cast.

So if you were curious about why this K-drama trilogy is so popular, then you probably asked yourself how and in what order you should watch the Reply series. Or perhaps you’ve watched 1988 already and was wondering if it’s worth giving the other two a shot.

Well I’ve watched all three of them, and Zoomers Corner is here to answer all your questions about these modern classics. We’re keeping things spoiler-free with this one.

What is Reply about?

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of it all, let’s talk about what these shows are all about.

At the core of every one of them is the same plot: we follow a highly-relatable, average dorky high school girl as she goes through life. That’s… basically it. Which doesn’t sound all that interesting, but that’s kind of the point of the trilogy—a tribute to youth. A slice of life, if you will.

It doesn’t try to be sexier and more explosive than that.

While most mainstream k-dramas are a bit on the unrealistic side (hello CEO-secretary storylines), Reply doesn’t stray too much from what real life has to offer. It’s hard not to place yourself in the shoes of the main character, and in the later installments, the whole ensemble. It’s a coming-of-age, basically.

The show keeps things interesting by using time as a device to incite a strong feeling of nostalgia. Even if there are a lot of Korean pop culture references that not a lot of us non-koreaboos will get, it succeeds in showcasing what South Korea was like before the new millennium hit. With such detail on the production design, costumes, and soundtrack, you’ll feel like you were transported to another era.

As the production got bigger and better, the setting also became a character in and of itself.

And one of the most riveting parts of every Reply installment is the core loveline/love triangle, because of course there’s a love triangle. It’s a k-drama after all! The timeline shifts to the present every now and then, where clues are laid out on who the main character will eventually end up with.

Not that these clues matter anyway.

What do I miss if I watch it out of order?

Just so we’re clear, we’re talking about the order on when these installments were released: Reply 1997-Reply 1994-Reply 1988.

You could watch them out of order, but I feel like you’ll be robbing yourself of some things along the way. In the spin-offs, some characters from the previous installments make cameos, and there are some Easter eggs that you’d miss out on.

For example, I don’t think people who only watched Reply 1988 got how important D-Day really is in the Reply-verse without having watched 1997 first. Or the fact that the parents of the main character are played by the same people and given the same names across the entire trilogy. There is even a student in 1994 who plays a parent in 1988!

Inside jokes and references are sprinkled throughout the trilogy, but nothing you’ll lose sleep over.

Perhaps the most important incentive to watch it in order is the fact that the husband of the previous installment is revealed through cameo appearances which is a huge spoiler alert!

How are they different?

This is probably what you came here for, so let’s get to it. The best way to explain the main differences among these shows is by exploring the themes in each one of them.

 Reply 1997 

Reply 1997 was released way back in 2012 and serves as the first installment of the trilogy. More than the other two, this show centers on romantic love, as every episode progresses the main romance plot a bit further. Everything hinges on the question: who will the main character end up with?

The main actors in the love triangle are obviously the focal point of the entire series. There isn’t an “ensemble cast” as much as there are side characters—friends of the main characters if you will. But it’s understandable because every episode only runs for around 30 to 45 minutes, which is short for your typical k-drama.

 Reply 1994 

Reply 1994 was released next, shifting its focus to friendship instead. This is obvious from the get-go, as the show is set in a boarding house where the main character lives with the rest of the ensemble. In fact, it made our list of top 7 best k-dramas to watch on Netflix for Gen Z’ers because of that very reason!

The show is what would happen if 1997 and 1988 had a baby. Viewers who started with either one of the two will find 1994 familiar, as it blends 1997‘s focus on romance while planting the seeds for the “community-first” take on 1988. Unfortunately, it doesn’t do a particularly excellent job doing that.

This is also when the 90-minute running time for every episode starts which hurt this installment particularly.

 Reply 1988 

Reply 1988 was released in 2015 and serves as the last installment of the series. This one centers on one word: family. While the parents have always been a focal point in the entire trilogy, 1988 takes it to a whole new level.

We not only follow the main character or her group of friends, but all their parents as well! Every one of the adults and teens are fleshed out so strongly that you’ll never forget who’s who. Everyone in the Ssangmun-dong neighborhood is given a chance to shine!

Because of the abundance of storylines that every character has, and the emotional connection we develop with them, the 90+ minutes pass by pretty quickly.

Which one is the best and the worst?

Enjoying one of the Reply series doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re going to enjoy all of them.

 Best: Reply 1988 

By far, the Reply 1988 outclasses the other two shows. Like it’s such a clear winner that it’s not even a contest. This is why it’s frustrating to see it be the most popular with the general population; it’s difficult to convince people to watch (and complete) the other two!

Why is it the strongest one? Well being the last installment in the trilogy, the writers clearly learned from all their mistakes in the past to deliver in all fronts. They gave us interesting character developments, strong relationship storylines, and oh-so-many tearjerking moments!

Not that the other two didn’t give us those, but the quality of everything in 1988 is so superb that it’s just difficult to compete against. And if you watched it in release order like me, you’ll be able to point out where it succeeded that the others failed in.

 Great: Reply 1997 

Which brings us to Reply 1997. Writing this, I already know that it’s not gonna be for everyone. To be honest, it took me a while to warm up to this one too.

I think out of the three, this one really banked on the pop culture references the most. Again, as a non-koreaboo, I wasn’t a big fan of the first-generation K-pop boybands referenced in the show, like H.O.T and Sechs Kies. And they are so heavily intertwined with the main character and her interactions with other people that it’s hard not to gloss over them.

But plot twist: I love H.O.T now because of the show!

It was only in the eighth episode where I really got to appreciate 1997 for what it is. If stay away from k-dramas because you think they’re all “cutesy” and “fluffy” and cheesy, then maybe this one isn’t for you. Reply 1997 watches like a teenage summer romance—hot, quick, and dreamy. It’s definitely the most juvenile one out of all but still packs a lot of heart.

 Good: Reply 1994 

And then there’s Reply 1994 which if I’m being honest, frustrated me so much as a viewer. I don’t know if I’m just bitter because the main character didn’t end up with the guy I was rooting for. But honestly, the writers brought it on themselves.

Don’t get me wrong, 1994 has flashes of brilliance but it just drags in the last episodes especially when the “who’s the husband” mystery becomes such a nuisance that you just want to get over with. Thankfully, the writers learned from this by not shining the light on the husband so much in 1988.

It’s hard to appreciate all the heartwarming moments in the journey when you’ve reached the destination so early!

So which order should I watch the shows in?

With everything finally having been said, it’s time to unveil the right answer to this question… and it all depends on what kind of viewer you are.

 If you’re someone who gets bored easily: Reply 1994-Reply 1997-Reply 1988 

Even if I was frustrated with 1994, it’s objectively a great place to start your Reply journey. The first episodes are pretty strong; it will give you a taste of what the entire trilogy is all about. If you thoroughly enjoyed it, you should continue with 1997 because of how bingeworthy it is while retaining familiar elements from 1994. You could finish the entire series in a weekend if you really wanted to!

Now, if you didn’t really “get” 1994, then feel free to skip ahead to 1988 because 1997 probably won’t change your mind about the series.

 If you’re patient and want to enjoy the journey: Reply 1997-Reply 1994-Reply 1988 

1997 isn’t anywhere near game-changing or unique, but it is still pretty entertaining. It’s such a far cry from 1988, but it carries a lot of heart that has given me some sort of emotional bias towards it. And 1994 is such a perfect bridge between the two shows that you won’t get too disoriented because of how they different they are.

There is a beat to the Reply series that you’ll only understand if you started with 1997. Plus, you won’t get spoiled on any of the husbands’ identity if you watch it in order. So it’s just a win all throughout!

Either way, I would heavily suggest not starting off with 1988 because while it’s the strongest one out of the three, there’s nowhere to go but down from there. I guarantee you that you’re not gonna enjoy the other two as much when you set the bar so high for yourself.

I watched Reply 1988 first. What should I watch next?

There’s only one logical answer to this question: Reply 1994. There is an insanely huge gap between the presentation of 1988 and 1997 that jumping into the latter may come across as extremely jarring to you. Watching 1994 before 1997 will help ease you into the transition.

While 1997 is a solid show, a lot of elements that made people fall in love with 1988 aren’t as prominent as they were here. For instance, the focus on community and friendship are still present, but they aren’t embedded strongly in the installment.

By watching 1994 first, you will learn the husband’s identity in 1997, but I think it’s a perfectly fine trade-off. Out of all the three installments, 1997 carries the most obvious outcome when it comes to the love triangle. However, the journey was way more enjoyable here thanks to the fast pace kept throughout the series.

And I think that covers everything you need to know if you want to dive into the Reply or Answer Me trilogy. As a pro-tip, I would recommend that you watch 1997 in one sitting, while you should take it slow with the other two. With their long running times, it’s definitely best to dip your toes into the water first or it gets too overwhelming.

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