5. We've still got fangirls... their idols are basketball players

While it may seem on the surface that we're just exchanging one intense fandom for another, the change from idols to basketball players does offer an interesting new perspective on things. The biggest difference is the fans' access to the players- while Shi Won and her fangirl friends had to go to extreme measures to catch a glimpse of their oppas, the fangirls of 'Reply 1994' can sit just feet away from them at basketball games. One of the players even came out of their house and went for a walk with the girls- an idol would never do something like that. Na Jung is still suffering because her particular bias on the team is cold toward his fans, but she herself says she's got a better chance of meeting and marrying him than any fan has of meeting and marrying an entertainer.

4. We've still got students... but they're in college

The college setting is interesting because, unlike in '1997' where our characters mostly saw each other at school, all of the main characters live together in one house. On top of that, most of them are in the same major at the same school, meaning they are around each other pretty much all day every day. That's one heck of a set up for some intense relationships.

3. Our main character has a best girl friend... but they're not friends at the start of the drama

We know from the present-day scene at the beginning of 'Reply 1994' that Na Jung and Yoon Jin (Tiny-G's Dohee) eventually become best friends. However, unlike '1997''s Shi Won and Yoo Jung (Shin So Yool), who were best friends long before the show actually started, the '1994' ladies don't seem to have much of a relationship at all at the start of the show, other than what they know from having lived under the same roof for a few weeks without speaking to each other. We'll actually get to see how our girls progress from strangers to best friends, which should be an interesting dynamic.

2. We've got satoori... but we're not in Busan anymore

While the first part of '1997' took place in Busan, which was everyone but Hak Chan (Eun Ji Won)'s hometown, '1994' takes people from all over and transplants them to the big city. Everyone- even Na Jung's parents- are fish out of water in '1994'. This gives our main cast even more reason to rely on each other- even though they're all still out of their element amongst each other, at least they're all out of their element together.

1. We've got a feisty female lead... but she's not Shi Won

Above all of the other points, this one was probably the most vital for me as a viewer. Sung Shi Won was the heart and soul of 'Reply 1997' and Shi Won 2.0 would have killed '1994' for me. When I saw the previews for '1994', with Go Ara screeching over oppa and fighting with her brother, I was... hesitant, to say the least. From short clips, it looked like my fears were coming true and Na Jung would just be new Shi Won. The fact that she literally has Shi Won's parents (a writing/casting choice I still don't understand) didn't help matters.

However, after watching the first episode, I see the differences. Sure, both girls are loud, obnoxious, overzealous fangirls, but there are enough points to separate the two. While Shi Won was a live wire, you always had the sense that she felt like she was in control of every situation. She knew she had the world wrapped around her little finger. Na Jung, on the other hand, is a barely-controlled trainwreck waiting to happen. She doesn't have that Shi Won smugness; she's running in all directions on all cylinders and the rest of us have to try to keep up and hope that she doesn't combust. I could see this getting irritating after a while, but she does show signs of being able to reign her personality in when needed, so I still have hope for her.

So, what do you guys think so far? Is '1994' looking too much like '1997', or are there enough differences to make this second season worth a look?