[Drama Review] 'Reply 1988' - Episode 7

AKP STAFF

REPLY 1998 - EPISODE 7

It's Christmas time, and Sun Woo makes his startling confession to Bora, who rejects him. The next day, Jung Hwan's hyung, Jung Bong, has decided to start a Secret Santa-type game. In the initial round, everyone draws Jung Bong's name, which hyung quickly invalidates as "practice." In the new round, Dong Ryong draws himself, Sun Woo draws Bora, and Bora draws Sun Woo, which enrages Deok Seon.

The parents discuss Christmas, and are angry at the fact that Bora apparently told tiny Jinju that Santa Claus was not real. Deok Sun's parents reluctantly decide they will get Jinju what she asks for, which is a snowman. They spend a lot of time and effort building one, only to see it melt on Christmas. Sun Woo tells them that to her, "snowman" means "ice cream," and grabs her one from the store.

Sun Woo brushes snow off Bora's head

Jung Hwan intimates that he likes Deok Seon, doing little things like meeting her at the McDonald's that just opened in Gangnam, sharing headphones, and watching a movie together. He even tells Sun Woo he's surprised he confessed to Bora, since Deok Seon is the prettiest of the two. Since Taek promised our heroine a secret santa present later, Jung Hwan goes and gets her the pink gloves she wanted.

Taek shares an intimate moment with his dad, who can't say the words, "I love you." Sun Woo's mom has already told him that he's a great dad, and he should feel as proud of himself as he is of his son. Taek's manager, at baduk practice, gives him the cut footage from an earlier interview with his dad. When the reporter reassures Dad they won't air this part, he says those three special words he couldn't say in person, and tears fill Taek's eyes...

Taek cries when he hears his dad say "I love you."

I'll admit, that had me crying too. There is no more powerful bond than one between blood. These scenes even had more impact to me than Episode 5 and what occurred between Sun Woo's mom and grandma. Taek and his father are very reserved, to the point where it's difficult for his father to even say tender things to his son. You can tell there's a real person under Taek's skin, though, that he's not just a robot who plays baduk. And we can tell that he feels very deeply for his dad.

I love Christmas episodes, and this one in particular. This was great; they set up tons of conflict, and really highlighted what many people experience during the holidays: heartache, love, family time (as exasperating as it may be at times), isolation, loneliness, self-doubt, and wonder in the most unexpected things. And the great thing it's not just through teenage eyes that we see this -- it also involves the parents.

Taek and Deok Seon share a moment

So now I have to wonder if it's Jung Hwan whom Deok Seon marries. If it is, he seems different from the bad boy he appears to be here. But we get so much, again and again, from Jung Hwan. It's obvious he likes her, but she doesn't dwell on him too much. He does all the little things right, and it's really cute. Especially since he's almost denying to himself that he does them. There's almost a sense of exasperation that he does these things, almost as if he's unused to such tender feelings toward another person. As much as I'm rooting for Team Taek, I don't think he's in the running.

On the other hand, Bora's loveline is interesting. I think she does have feelings for Sun Woo, but is afraid to show them. I think there is some age-ism there, sort of a feeling of 'he's too young to fulfill me.' But by the same token, when he said he liked her, she said it right back. And her protests fell a little flat to me, not to mention extracting a promise to never mention the confession to anyone. Why? I think there was a whole lot left unsaid there, and I'll be sad if they don't pursue it further. But, to quote Foghorn Leghorn, "I've been -- I say -- I've been wrong before."

I love the emotions they dig up here. I was a little concerned, at first, about the family dynamic, but they've done a good job. At first it was really, really confusing to see what was going on with the crush of people involved, but it's gotten better, now that the introductions are out of the way. Perhaps I just got used to it but I'd like to think that it improved some. Before, it all really seemed like just a chaotic mess.

I'm eagerly awaiting the next episode. Are you? Or have you already watched it (no spoilers, please!)?