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[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Reply 1994" Episode 20

Romantic separation is the byword this time around, as the relationship between Na-jeong and Rubbish is (apparently) fully severed. The scene where this gets established carries a lot of emotional punch. As we saw earlier, they never really technically broke up. It was just that their sustained interest couldn't survive Na-jeong spending extended time working overseas. They're still both clearly heavily emotionally invested in each other, but once again, they've pretty much moved on.

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Something "Reply 1994" has done very well is using the setting of the nineties, and the limited technology therein, to establish limitations. We get lots of close shots of olde timey phones, and while the immediate intention is to provide a funny joke, in broader terms this calls attention to the fact that Na-jeong and Rubbish were quite limited in the ways they could stay in touch. In the modern highly interconnected world, would they have separated so easily?

It's not a question the drama answers here, though it does get into more relevant character territory. The main event this episode is how Chil Bong-I is going to talk in his big interview. The way his friends help him out is charming, cute, but as usual relatively pointless. I like how Haitai keeps himself busy. A running visual gag is how for most of the episode he's carrying Na-jeong's little brother on his back. This isn't really commented upon- it's just a thing that happens.

Comedy notwithstanding for the most part this episode is still a fairly depressing one, as to be expected given how much time we spend in the hospital. Again, though, it's not matters of the flesh that predominate here, but the bonds these characters have forged throughout the drama's run. A series of flashback proves enormously influential to Chil Bong-I, as he considers in greater terms the meaning of growing up.

I know that sounds rather goofy, yet "Reply 1994" does an excellent job selling the bonds these characters have forged. Oftentimes this drama has felt like it lacked much in the way of a clear plot. As we see here so clearly though, the absence of a plot is the whole point. The drama is all about living life and becoming an adult and realizing what matters. And inevitably, lots of dumb jokes get in the way, but that's just the way it is. I honestly really like these characters and can identify with what they're going through- to that extent, "Reply 1994" has had a very successful run.

Review by William Schwartz

"Reply 1994" is directed by Sin Won-ho and written by Lee Woo-jeong-I and features Go Ara, Sung Dong-il, Lee Il-hwa and Jung Woo.

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