Answer Me 1997

[dangermousie]

I think I have a new drama love - I am barely half an ep into AM1997 and am so very smitten. A drama about a group of friends in their last year of high school, which happens to be in 1997, the vibe feels a little SUFBB with its delicacy and joy and feeling of growing up. Even more, it reminds me of my own high school and college years. I graduated high school in 1996, and though I am not Korean and thus the specific cultural references are not applicable to me, the feel of that time in my life, as well general late-1990s relics like VCRs and chunky video games feel so hauntingly familiar. I honestly have no idea if it will work as well for someone not in that generation, but it probably will - growing up is universal.

Just as with SUFBB, the main cast is pretty much all young unknowns (I think some of them may be idols, I am not sure) but are knocking it out of the park. The only one I even recognize is Seo In Gook, who plays Yoon Jae - he had a small role in Love Rain (and was excellent in it).

This drama is more about the vibe and the feel and the relationships (friendships and incipient romance) than the plot. It's emotionally gorgeous....



Oh, and me being me, of course I have a ship: Shi Won/Yoon Jae - the brash, confident Shi Won, the rabid fangirl of H.O.T.'s Tony Ahn. And Yoon Jae, her best friend. You know, I am a sucker for a couple who have been best friends since childhoods. I mean:



Have a shippy MV. Apparently I am not alone:

I don't particularly expect anything to happen out of it, it's high school and all. But I ship it anyway.

Comments

[walkwithheroes.livejournal.com]

This looks lovely. Putting this (and SUFBB) on my to watch list.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yay!

You won't regret it!

[(Anonymous)]

what is SUFBB stands for?

[walkwithheroes.livejournal.com]

Shut Up Flower Boy Band. It was a Korean drama

[(Anonymous)]

Ah, I actually watched it, I liked it even though it didn't make it into my favorite list. Haha
It's just that when people write drama titles in short forms, I can't figure it out most of the time. Thanks for the explanation!

[walkwithheroes.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I also sometimes have issues when people write drama titles in short forms. You're welcome!

[clairiere.livejournal.com]

OMG it's Eun Ji-Won (the tie-less guy in the group picture)! LOL took me a few seconds to recognize him but would never mistake him for anyone else. I knew he'd been cast in a cable drama, but didn't realize it was AM 1997. Though when I think about the PTB (the creative force behind the original 1 Night & 2 Days), well, duh... Must really tickle him to be starring in this. If anyone knows anything about the 1990s, it's gotta be him, one of the original k-pop idols. tvN dramas are not really my thing but I'm definitely checking this one out one of these days. My nostalgia for the 1990s AND the 1N2D team (not just EJW but also the main PD and the writers) demands that I do.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Oooh, I didn't know that. Interesting!

It's an unpretentious little drama so you might like it.

[mionenoelle.livejournal.com]

Awesome! I was thinking of giving this try based on my 90's nostalgia alone. Glad to know this drama is good :)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

It really is awesome

[yunhalove.livejournal.com]

I'm also so in love with this drama. It's such a lovely and understated gem and though I'm a bit younger than the age group indicated I still remember my older sisters fangirling/fighting over HOT/Sechkies as a young girl so this is totally a nostalgia trip for me. I also think it's hilarious how Eun Jiwon is acting in a drama where characters are avid fans of his idol self circa the 90s, only playing a completely unrelated character (Hakchan) So meta. And I love how they completely dismiss the supposed resemblance LOL

a funny fact-- seo in guk has admitted during an interview about the series that he thinks he's actually come to fall for eunji (shiwon) a bit during filming and it TOTALLY SHOWS OMG. and of course when they called eunji up on the show she rejects him without any hesitation whatsoever (LOL), which is so typical of yj/sw's relationship and so I just laugh and laugh.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

This feels so right. tVN is on a kick.

[timescout.livejournal.com]

It's such a darling little drama and after watching all the aired episodes I can say it just keeps getting better. I'm totally in a different generation but beeing a teen was more or less the same for me too. Only more in the 'dark ages' as we didn't even have VCRs, LOL!

I love how it's both hilarious and heartbreaking, often seamlessly shifting from one mood to the other. TPTB are also quite sneaky and they manage to surprise you just about every episode, usually after first giving you a red herring or two. There's always a twist or reveal at the end. XD

I LOVE the chracters, all of them! If the 1st two eps were mostly Shi Won and Yoon Jae, we'll get to know more about the others in the next 4. The mostly no-name (as actors) cast is doing really well imho.

Yup, they actually have several idols in this. Like clairiere already mentioned, one of the original 90's idols Eun Ji-Won. He was the leader of Sechs Kies, the 'rivals' of H.O.T, LOL! Seo In Gook is the winner of Superstar K 2009; Shi Won is played by Jung Eun Ji of the girl group A Pink and Hoya from Infinite is Joon Hee. What? I follow me times.... XD

[sisterjune.livejournal.com]

lol girl u know ur idols. I only knew Hoya cause I'm an infinite fan, so I didnt know about any other idols in the drama. I wanna check out the drama for him tbh esp since I heard he's playing a gay character.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I normally view idols in a drama as an utter poison but this drama managed to unearth a batch that is actually good. It's akin to a miracle.

[bubblyshades.livejournal.com]

I only have hearts in my eyes and warmth in my heart for this show. Love it so much. I love the directing and atmosphere of this show, it's got a down-to-earth vibe that feels genuine and really resonates. The characters are well-written and well-acted. I love that this show is doing such a fantastic job of showcasing different types of love: familial love, platonic love, and romantic love. It feels so true to life and makes me incredibly nostalgic for my high school years.

Also, I love love love the cast. Jung Eun Ji as Shi Won has completely won me over; she's such a natural. I'm really enjoying the Busan satoori as well.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

The whole thing is pitch-perfect. It's clearly a labor of love.

[hanjae.livejournal.com]

I'm planning to watch this eventually for Eun Ji Won and Seo In Gook! I've been following the recaps at DB and I have to wonder how much joking around goes on BTS, since half the in-drama fangirls are all "Sechkies! Eun Ji Won oppa! <3" and Eun Ji Won's right there, playing one of the youngers. LOL I keep waiting for someone in the drama to make a meta comment about how his character looks just like Eun Ji Won. Casting genius, that.

[sisterjune.livejournal.com]

wait if this Eun Ji Won guy was an idol in the 90's wouldnt he be way too old to play a teenager now? I mean isnt he like in his late 30's at least?

[yunhalove.livejournal.com]

eh, you see it in western tv all the time. Older actors playing teens :P plus eun ji won's known in korea for seeming young both physically and mentally so he doesn't really stand out from the group.

[sisterjune.livejournal.com]

I cannot think of a single occasion on a teen tv show where there was anyone in the cast over the age of 25 (I mean when the show first starts at least, if it runs for a while yeah the cast will get older), and certainly not over the age of 30 -_- I mean even the adults in teen dramas that have alot of air time are usually pretty young too. basically since these types of shows are all about young pretty people lol. obv kdramas are different but its still pretty weird to have a youth kdrama with people who are not youths playing a youth character. but oh well, its a funny meta joke at least. lol (I think one of the most famous occasions of someone way too old to be playing a teenager played one, would be in the breakfast club the guy playing the rebel kid was like 28? and he sure looked it XD)

[yunhalove.livejournal.com]

It's really not uncommon at all. Glee, 90210, Vampire Diaries, Pretty Little Liars, Clueless, Hannah Montana, Save The Last Dance, etc, etc all had a bunch of actors who were at least 29 or thirty+ playing high school juniors/seniors, for example. that's just of the top of my head, i'm sure there are loads more i'm not aware of. :P

looking at it this way i would consider it much less common for a kdrama to cast an older actor as a teen, but like you said, there's the meta of it all so i don't really mind. XD plus ji won has a babyface so it's all good.

[hanjae.livejournal.com]

Yeah, he's 34! He's just extremely youthful-looking - He's second from the right on that pic mousie posted.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

LOLOL I didn't realize. That is brilliant.

[oozzeee.livejournal.com]

,what I like about the show the most? the well placed animal sounds!! they're just so befitting the scenes they are placed at.. I can't help but giggle every time I hear them ,even in the awkward situations..

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

LOLOL

[jennyhime.livejournal.com]

I'm loving this as well. It does remind me of my crazy fangirling days.
It does reminds me of SUFBB and it seems cable channels have been on a roll lately creating some great shows.
Shi Won and all of the characters in this drama are great, I especially have soft spot for her parents. I'm really curious who is Shi Won's baby daddy, I have some thoughts about this. It can be Yoon Jae or his brother, but it could also be someone completely else that she meets later in life.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I love that I am fine with whoever being the father - because this feels so real life and in rl things happen.

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

I've watched the first two episodes, and it's definitely wonderful. When I heard Hoya was going to be in a sitcom, I had no interest in watching it, because I'm super picky about even English-language sitcoms. I was really pleased when I found out that they label it that way because of the length of episodes, not because of the subject matter and that this is actually a drama in the true sense. It feels so sure-footed, like the writers know exactly what they're doing and where we're headed, and I almost never feel that with dramas, so I'm so pleased about that. And the characters have won my heart already. I think this one is going to be a true gem, and I'm so excited about it.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yes, I am so excited. I had no expectations away but I am blissing out.