Before there was Reply 1988. Before there was Reply 1994. Before there was Reply 1997. Taiwan has this drama called Time Story. (More like Taiwan’s Reply 1982?)
Is South Korea copying? I highly doubted. Every culture has their own nostalgia, and it has its unique flavor.
Time Story did not shy away from the issues of the day: Remarriage, step families, parental abuse, young people competing for resources. The romantic leads are well done and felt like second nature. The relationships came together like any other people off-TV living their real lives. They didn’t do the who’s the husband mystery. It was just people living their everyday lives.
For bonus round, go check out Tammy Chen, Tender Huang, Megan Lai (from Bromance) and Weber Yang before they were famous.
Secretary Damselfly 