[Drama Review] 'Reply 1988' - Episode 4

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REPLY 1988 - EPISODE 4

"Are we at our stop yet?" Dong Ryong asks

Deok Seon has decided she wants to go to college, and her dad tries a couple things to help her study. First, he pairs her up with Taek to have him teach her baduk (go), and next he gives her a Rubik's Cube. Unfortunately, she can't master baduk nor the Rubik's Cube. The next morning, she and Jung Hwan pack into the bus to go to school. He looks at her with concern a few times, and when the bus tilts wildly she grabs Jung Hwan's shirt, tearing it open -- fan service!

Taek loses a baduk match to a newbie, and it destroys him for a few days. He spends day and night just staring at the baduk board, pondering what went wrong. The parents are all careful to not to mention it to him, and tell the kids not to say anything either, but his friends pile into his room one night and tease him about it mercilessly, and get him laughing again.

Emotionally defeated Taek.

Deok Seon secretly leaves candy and a cassette tape for Sun Woo while he studies in the library, and later, a tutoring session with unnie, Sun Woo, Jung Hwan, Deok Seon, and Dong Ryong degenerate quickly.

The parents all have a tough time, Jung Hwan's dad can't seem to get anyone excited about being in that family, from celebrating his wife's birthday to the little everyday things. Deok Seon's mom notices the little things couples do, and notices that her husband does none of this. She is finally mollified by him sharing his umbrella as they link arms, and Jung Hwan's dad is cheered up by Jung Hwan actually doing a little dance routine with him, albeit awkwardly.

Try to curb your enthusiasm, guys.

Finally, when it's time to head off to school again, this time Jung Hwan's waiting for Deok Seon. They board the bus together, and Jung Hwan surrounds her with his arms, preventing her from being jostled... and keeping his shirt closed this time ;).�

Taek has me worried. It appears to be his first loss, and he loses to an untried noob. Maybe this other guy is not such a noob after all, but we don't know. All I know is he lost, and took it pretty hard. What concerns me is that he's pretty functionally useless. He can't eat with chopsticks well, nor can he open a yogurt container -- he can't feed himself. He's going to need that skill in life to at least make some cash. What I thought was funny, was his friends kick him when he's down but it actually helped -- a lot. He didn't need to be coddled, he needed a good kick in the pants. He needed his friends.

Jung Hwan protects Deok Seon from being jostled

It must be hard to be Jung Hwan's dad. The man is quick with a smile and a joke, and yet the whole thing is lost on his joyless family. Even the mom's birthday dinner didn't seem to be a happy affair, even for her. But how must it be to live in a world where your antics and enthusiasm aren't appreciated, even by your own family? I'm guessing that's why he looked defeated, the first time I saw him that way. At least Dong Ryong had the answer to cheer him up: just respond to his antics. I'm sure it killed him a little inside, but Jung Hwan was able to lift him out of his funk.

Deok Seon's mom had a similar issue. She was stuck in a loveless marriage, raising kids and she and Deok Seon's dad were fighting. At least, that's how it seemed to her. But as the man reminded her, the grass isn't always greener on the other side of he fence. And she finally got a little affection from the man she loves, and she didn't need to do anything drastic. At least they were happier towards the end.

Depressed, Jung Hwan's dad heads to bed

Jung Hwan has it bad for Deok Seon. I was wondering how Ep 3's events were going to play out, and now I know. Now he knows, too. The person that doesn't seem to know it is Deok Seon, but that may come in time... she's not dumb. But whatever happens, I'm not sure he would admit it. He plays it off when she indicates he waited for her. He may be trying to sort out his own feelings. I think it's interesting because he seems like the coolest one and it's nice to know he has some feelings, as he shows them for both Deok Seon and his dad.

All in all, it was a pretty good ending. I was kinda worried at first, because no one seemed particularly happy, and to see Taek and Jung Hwan's dad and Deok Seon's mom all in a funk, made me wonder how this was all going to resolve itself. One thing I like about this drama is that it doesn't use some of the cheap tricks that other dramas use to shake things up, some element of melodrama that pulls the characters in a different direction. I personally can't wait a week to see what's next!

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