Answer Me 1997 a.k.a. Reply 1997: My Korean Drama Review, Spoilers, OST lyrics of 응답하라 1997 (Part 2)

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Continuing on for my favorite parts and quotes from Episode 11 to 16.


Episode 11: The Definition of Relationships
  • Shi Won: "Relationships also have levels of difficulty. Yoon Jae and my relationship is the easiest level of them all.  It’s easy to explain and easy to explain – a relationship between childhood best friends.  However, I realize vaguely, very vaguely, that our relationship could become one of the most difficult in the world. The hardest level of them all – the relationship between a man and a woman."
  • Yoon Jae: "We expect different things, look towards different directions, and dream of different dreams. The things that happen between a man and a woman are full of continuous love and war. We turn our backs, and then console each other. We fight and make up. We give each other pain and hugs.  A relationship like a manic-depressive patient who can’t make up his mind. But the hardest thing about the relationship between a man and a woman is the timing-if the love doesn’t begin at the same time, it’s unlikely to ever begin at all. " - I may not fully comprehend this.  But, I think it's because men and women are wired differently so its difficult to know what each other is thinking and expecting and this could lead to misunderstandings.  Even married couples still fight once in awhile.  I find the last part most interesting.  I don't think it has to begin at the same time.  I think the man needs to initiate to lure the woman otherwise, she'd be clueless.
  • Hak Chan: "The one benefit to that top-degree-of-difficulty relationship between a man and a woman is… one word can overturn its mood at any time" - In this part, Hak Chan assures Yoo Jung of his love for her.  - Because of Hak Chan's bold move, these two had a stable relationship all throughout the drama.  Summing up the lines of Shi Won an Hak Chan seems to imply the a clear cut answer that a man and a woman can be just friends.  I don't agree to this.  In the case of a man being attracted to a woman, the woman can set the boundaries and foundation of friendship at first hand.  It's even less complicated to a woman because she can't do anything about it.  She'll probably let her feelings fade or cater to the suitor that comes along just like Shi Won did.  That way it won't be difficult to for her to maintain the friendship.  I've seen this work all the time.  After all, it seems like the only logical thing a woman can do.  But on rare occasion, like in the story, it could backfire.  She could realize that she likes the friend than her man which returns into the difficult situation.
  • Yoon Jae: "But there is one relationship that is more annoying and dull that I cannot avoid. Therefore, a painstaking relationship that’ll last forever. It’s family." - As important as the relationship of friendship and love is family.  
 Episode 12: The Meaning of a Hand



  • This is the only tear-jerking part of the series...
  • Yoon Jae confesses in tears and says: "I like you.  I really like you a lot.  From the moment I was born you were beside me.  There wasn’t a day I didn’t see you.  I remember the first day you got your period.  But despite all this, you were still a woman to me.  On the first day of high school, I thought you were pretty for the first time in my life.  And since then, I’ve stayed beside you – showing that I like you.  Asking you to like me.  But you didn’t seem to know.  We’ve been friends for so long, I figured it was understandable you didn’t know.  So I decided to confess my feelings to you... - Very sweet and smart of Yoon Jae to understand that Shi Won was totally clueless so he has to confess.
  • Shi Won replies: "Yoon Jae, can’t we just be comfortable friends, like we were before? Like you said, we’ve always been together, from the day we were born. I’m not so smart… you know that… but I do know that you are the most important friend I have in the world. You’ll still be my friend, right"
  • Yoon Jae responds: "When a man reveals everything in his heart to the woman he loves one-sidedly – it means he’s not intending to see her ever again"  - I'd say the interplay of words are quite realistic.  Talk about story of my life.  I've heard a similar thing before and like most girls do, I used the same reply too.  And, my guy best freind disappeared for awhile in my life too.  Until I we decided to try... 
  • Shi Won: “If our teenage years are filled with wild emotional fluctuations, it’s because we don’t know the answer.  We don’t know what it is we truly want, who it is that truly loves me, whom it is I truly love.  Here and there, we search for that answer, undergoing much trial and error.  And in that last moment, when we’ve miraculously found the answer to everything, we had already become adults, enduring small and big farewells/separations.  In that manner, that winter was full of partings.” - The timeline jumps to 2005 (so they're now 26), Shi Won and Yoon Jae accidentally meets each other in a coffee shop.  I can imagine how pissed Yoon Jae feels with the encounter.  It's as if fate has been teasing him after he intentionally avoided going home just so they don't see each other again.  But, of course, as viewers we are happy for it!  I'm now an adult, yet I still haven't found my answer. Wish it's as easy as in the dramas right? I hope I can find it soon cause I don't want to bid more farewells. =(
  Episode 13: Next Time… No, Now
  • Yoon Jae: "I forgot about it. That she was someone who if she liked something, would endlessly express it with a burning passion at that moment. I just needed to say it like she did. All I had to do at that moment was tell her that I liked her and wanted her to be my person, but back then and even now, I was hesitating.
    There is no other desperate time than now. It’s because ‘later’ might never come. To talk about a ‘Maybe next time’ instead of the ‘Now’ that’s right in front of us, our lives aren’t that long.
    If we give up our ‘Now’ due to laziness or a lack of courage, there might not be hope for next time. If you love now, the best timing is right now. Approach it before it’s too late. And confess right now, because you don’t know what will happen later. The next opportunity may never come. - Shi Won finally admits to herself that she liked Yoon Jae but fails to realize it.  Joon Hee knew it all along though.  All that speech though and Yoon Jae didn't do anything even though he now knows Shi Won likes him back.  But, I totally agree and act on the NOW thing. 
   Episode 14: The Heart Is What Makes You Love
  •  Joon Hee: "Liking someone is not a matter of choice. It’s something the heart makes you do. She likes you. You like her. I understand why you’re avoiding her. But it’s not her fault. You and your brother liked her. Why does she have to be tactful? It’s not her fault. Because you liked her for a long time and she didn’t notice? It’s not her mistake…. She could have not known. There are times in life when you don’t know… that someone likes you.
    Do you still like Shi Won? Then the game’s already over. No matter how much you struggle, there’s no answer. You already like her. So what choice is there? What decision to make? Don’t regret it later. Don’t use your brother as an excuse. Do as your heart tells you.” - Way to go Joon Hee! Because of this, finally Shi Won and Yoon Jae are together.  I agree that we can't choose who to like.  And, there times when everyone can see that someone likes you but you don't so the other party should be more understanding.  I'm always clueless with these things too.   But, this only provides an answer if you like someone who likes you back.
   Episode 15: While You Were Loving
  •  It was smooth sailing from here as Tae Woong acknowledges defeat.
  • Shi Won's Grand Uncle tells a touching story about his brother (Shi Won's Grandpa) who accepted him despite his jealousy and hatred for him, paid off all his debt and even apologized to him.
  • Fast forwards to March 2013 were Shi Won is in the Labor Room and both Yoon Jae and Tae Woong runs towards the room.

   Episode 16: The Reason First Love Can’t Be Realized
  • The lady of the ward asks who the father is and even Shi Won's parents don't know the answer.
  • It also showed that Shi Won and Yoon Jae are not like typical lovers who are sweet and they still fight and tease each other like siblings.  Shi Won still bullying Yoon Jae who is within her wrath.
  • Yoon Jae: "First love. The reason why first love is so beautiful isn’t because first love itself is beautiful. During that time, we had our youth - which wasn’t vicious, me - who was overly innocent, and you - who was uncontrollably passionate. And… because we already knew that we would never be able to go back to our youthful, innocent, and passionate times.”
    “First love is thoughtless. If you don’t calculate and just throw your innocence and passion at it, it’ll end up failing. But that’s why it’s dramatic. The thoughtless stories, mixed with the emotions and warmth that can never be retrieved again. That why first love is my life’s most dramatic story. Therefore, failure is even okay. Sad endings resonate longer than happy ones.  And thus it’s wonderful to leave behind at least one sad drama of a failed first love in my life.”
    "First love is a time. Once it passes, it’s gone. Now you have to give a new love and a new time a chance. It might not be the experience or the purity of first love, but out of that scar is a love that grows and becomes a little more mature-you have to wait for an adult love. Only those who wait can dream of love.  And the person, who waits, will miraculously recognize the love that has returned to him like fate”
    “When romance passes, life comes. Purity gets dirtied, passion freezes over, and youth turns to shrewdness as you age. That innocent era’s first love becomes fatigued and exhausted daily routine… and is why first love appears to be something that can’t be realized.  Because those who succeed at realizing their first love… don’t tell you.”
    “Succeeding at first love is nice too. There’s comfort that’s even better than your favorite sweater, but also an excitement that you can find when you’re tired of that comfort. As childhood playmates, as first loves, as lovers, and as husband and wife, we live through the same times, share the same memories, and grow old together. A familiar excitement. It’s nice.” - This is the longest narration that closes the story.  I especially agree with "first love is a time that passes".   Everything changes so people shouldn't force themselves to hold on to the past. 
    I like the hopeful note in this.  If you're not successful with your first love, then just wait for it to return to you.  
I also love the OST song "All For You" sang by Seo In-guk & Jeong Eun-ji (the main casts themselves!)








Although the tune is happy, the lyrics are actually about the difficulty between a man and a woman which is what the story is about.  Ironically, if you interpret this one-sidedly, it's really lonely.  There's the feeling of discomfort and confusion of what you should or should not do or feel.  Although you want to be with that special person, you wish the best for them more.  And, you're happy to just have the chance to stay by their side, keeping your feelings your self and do everything you can for them.  But, with the duet which depicts the feelings being mutual, it transforms into a happy and sweet song.

 

All For You (English Lyrics)

All for you
It’s already been a few days since you haven’t called
Do you know that it’s my birthday soon?
But time keeps ticking without concern
Because I was more worried than annoyed
I went to the entrance of your street without planning it
I didn’t think I’d see you but you greeted me with a smile

Actually, I worried about this a lot
Because I had nothing I could do for you
Even though I lack so much and I don’t have much
Will you still accept me?

For you, only for you
I might not be able to give you the whole world but
Now I will promise only to you
I will be a person who is only for you

It’s only for you just wanna be for you
You just need to stay by my side just as you are right now
Even if I’m born again, I want to look at only you forever

You don’t know but it was a bit hard for me
Am I the right person for you?
And even if I’m not the one but it’s another person
I want to throw away that feeling now

For you, only for you
I might not be able to give you the whole world but
Now I will promise only to you
I will be a person who is only for you

It’s only for you just wanna be for you
You just need to stay by my side just as you are right now
Even if I’m born again, I want to look at only you forever

(Love – in my small heart – oh love – I want to fill it up with your scent)
So even if I’m eternally trapped inside
I can be happy

For you, only for you
I might not be able to give you the whole world but
Now I will promise only to you
I will be a person who is only for you

It’s only for you
Oh oh it’s all for you

All For You (Korean Hangul and Romanized Lyrics)
All for you

벌써 며칠째 전화도 없는 너
bolsso myochiljje jonhwado omneun no
얼마 후면 나의 생일 이란 걸 아는지
olma humyon naye sengiriran gol aneunji
눈치도 없이 시간은 자꾸만 흘러가고
nunchido obsi siganeun jakkuman heullogago
난 미움보다 걱정스런 맘에
nan miumboda gokjongseuron mame
무작정 찾아간 너의 골목 어귀에서
mujakjong chajagan noye golmogogwieso
생각지 못한 웃으며 반기는 너를 봤어
senggakji mot-han useumyo ban-gineun noreul bwasso

사실은 말야 나 많이 고민했어
sasireun marya na mani gominhesso
네게 아무것도 해줄 수 없는걸
nege amugotdo hejul su omneun-gol
아주 많이 모자라도 가진 것 없어도
aju mani mojarado gajin got obsodo
이런 나라도 받아 줄래
iron narado bada julle

너를 위해서 너만을 위해서
noreul wiheso nomaneul wiheso
난 세상 모든 걸 다 안겨 주지는 못하지만
nan sesang modeun gol da an-gyo jujineun mot-hajiman
난 너에게만 이제 약속할게
nan noegeman ije yaksokhalge
오직 너를 위한 내가 될게
ojing-noreul wihan nega dwelge
Is only for you just wanna be for you
넌 그렇게 지금 모습 그대로 내 곁에 있으면 돼
non geuroke jigeum moseup geudero ne gyote isseumyon dwe
난 다시 태어나도 영원히 너만 바라볼게
nan dasi teonado yongwonhi noman barabolge

넌 모르지만 조금은 힘들었어
non moreujiman jogeumeun himdeurosso
네게 어울리는 사람이 나인지
nege oullineun sarami nainji
그건 내가 아니라도 다른 누구라도
geugon nega anirado dareun nugurado
이젠 그런 마음 버릴래
ijen geuron maeum borille

너를 위해서 너만을 위해서
noreul wiheso nomaneul wiheso
난 세상 모든 걸 다 안겨 주지는 못하지만
nan sesang modeun gol da an-gyo jujineun mot-hajiman
난 너에게만 이제 약속할게
nan noegeman ije yaksokhalge
오직 너를 위한 내가 될게
ojing-noreul wihan nega dwelge
Is only for you just wanna be for you
넌 그렇게 지금 모습 그대로 내 곁에 있으면 돼
non geuroke jigeum moseup geudero ne gyote isseumyon dwe
난 다시 태어나도 영원히 너만 바라볼게
nan dasi teonado yongwonhi noman barabolge

love 내 작은 맘속을 oh love 네 향기로 채울래
love ne jageun mamsogeul oh love ne hyanggiro cheulle
그 속에 영원히 갇혀 버린 데도
geu soge yongwonhi gatcyo borin dedo
난 행복 할 수 있도록
nan hengbok hal su itdorok

너를 위해서
noreul wiheso

너를 위해서 너만을 위해서
noreul wiheso nomaneul wiheso
난 세상 모든 걸 다 안겨 주지는 못하지만
nan sesang modeun gol da an-gyo jujineun mot-hajiman
난 너에게만 이제 약속할게
nan noegeman ije yaksokhalge
오직 너를 위한 내가 될게
ojing-noreul wihan nega dwelge
Is only for you just wanna be for you
넌 그렇게 지금 모습 그대로 내 곁에 있으면 돼
non geuroke jigeum moseup geudero ne gyote isseumyon dwe
난 다시 태어나도 영원히 너만 바라볼게
nan dasi teonado yongwonhi noman barabolge

Answer Me 1997 a.k.a. Reply 1997: My Korean Drama Review and Spoilers of 응답하라 1997 (Part 1)

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Answer Me 1997 also known as Reply 1997 is a 16 episode drama that hit the highest record of views in Korean cable last year.   The unique feature of this drama is the nostalgic presentation of the story about the six friends.  The timeline shifts back and forth from the present when they are already 33-year old attending a re-union because someone is getting married and the 90's when they were still 18-year old high schoolers.

I've always had an inclination for realistic films and this one is exactly what I was looking for.  You get to learn about the casts as they go on with life from being mere teenagers towards their thirties.  
reply 1997

The characters are the colorful enough to keep the story interesting yet ordinary that you could encounter them in life.

The main heroin is Sung Shi Won (played by Jung Eun-ji) who is a typical immature teenage fan girl.  She fanatic over the 90's boyband H.O.T.  She has a childhood friend named Yoon Yoon Jae (played by Seo In Guk) who is the smart, quiet and mysterious type of guy.   Yoon Yoon Jae and Sung Shi Won has a common friend Kang Joon Hee (played by Hoya) who starts of as Yoon Yoon Jae's best friend but shifts closer to  Sung Shi Won as they got older.  Sung Shi Won's best girl friend is Mo Yoo Jung who's easy to change her mind as to which boy bands as well as boy she'll like.  Together with talkative and gossipy playboy Bang Sung Jae (played by Lee Shi-un), the three guys are a clique as they are in one class until a new student Do Hak Chan (played by Eun Ji-won) who excels in sports and is the ultimate source of porn came in.

During the reunion, the conversation and actions of the characters are gives a foreshadowing about their past.  It also has some narratives where they share the lessons they learn from the events from their lives.  Let me share my favorites parts of quotes per episode. (Episode 1-10)

Episode 1: Eighteen
  • Yoon Jae mentions that to Shi Won that Yoo Jung asked him out and that he is unsure of what he feels about it.  He hands out the birthday coupon Shi Won gave him which states "Grant a wish no matter what".  When Shi Won asked what's his wish, he said "Tell me not to date her" - Although the scene gets cut off leaving it hanging, this clearly showed that Yoon Jae likes Shi Won who is clueless about it.
Episode 2:  Becoming More and More Different

  • Yoon Jae: "Go Stop, a game where you have to match the same shapes to get points. There was a time when we struggled to be the same. But in one moment, we began to be different. That we were becoming different types of people—why was that so hard to acknowledge back then? People are all different; that’s the law of the universe, the law of human growth. Eighteen. We were maturing into different people, and having to accept those differences meant we were faced with yet another consequence of growing up." 
  •  Yoon Jae: "the law of maturity, a boy grows into a man and a girl will grow into a woman. But the problem is when a boy who grows into a man, and the girl is still a girl. When the timing is wrong..." - Yoon Jae kissed Shi Won on the lips to confirm if she feels the same about him but she took it likely and began picking on him once again.
Episode 3: What You See Is Not Everything
  • Shi Won: "A person’s heart has countless levels. Its depth cannot be known. Its limit can’t be known. You could fight to the death, and then exchange affection as if nothing ever happened. A red-blooded male could turn into an imbecile in front of the opposite sex. Yes, the truth is uncomfortable. But if we don’t embrace that discomfort, then we must live the rest of our lives believing what’s fake to be real. Even uncomfortable truths must be embraced. What you see is not everything." - Joon Hee reveals he's gay and likes Yoon Jae to Shi Won.  It must have been a relief for him to share his secret to someone.  For me this episode is about acknowledging ourselves especially our hearts even if it seems uncomfortable at first perhaps because of our insecurities. 
Episode 4: Fair Play

  • Shi Won's Mom: "there’s no such thing as friendship between a boy and a girl" - If only she knew that Joon Hee is gay which would make perfect sense!
  • Shi Won replies by pointing to Yoon Jae - poor dear completely friend-zoned as seen from his expression!  But, also sad for Shi Won who innocently believes that Yoon Jae is a true friend right?
  • Yoon Jae: "I knew in that moment, that when you like someone, you have eyes for her in the sides and the back of your head. And that if you don’t knock, there will be no answer. Standing in place will not get you what you want. There’s no such thing as fair play anymore." - Yoon Jae is pretty sneaky in this episode as he slyly rejects Shi Wons chat mate without her knowing.  I guess here, he explains the extent he'd go for to win her over.  Still not apparent though. =(
Episode 5: Life’s Counterattack
  •  Yoon Jae: "Bumping into someone on the street, reaching for the same book at the library, or running under someone’s umbrella… I thought that falling in love would be special. I couldn’t imagine… that I’d fall because of something like this. Spring of 1996. My first love began that suddenly." - Yoon Jae explains that he fell for Shi Won unexpectedly when he fetched her for their first day of school and she wore contact lenses for the first time.  
  • Yoon Jae: “Back then she was pretty because she took off her glasses. But now she’s still pretty even when she wears them.” - I think it means Yoon Jae that when you like a person, it grows on you and you tend to accept them for who they are.
  • Yoon Jae:This life that might leap anywhere—there’s no use avoiding or ignoring it. There’s just facing it and getting beaten to a bloody pulp. But at times life can surprise us with gifts that make our hearts flutter. And if we endure sadness, we are rewarded with happiness." - This is about overcoming obstacles in life.
Episode 6: Love Makes You Do Things You Didn’t Do Before
answer me 1997

  • Yoon Jae: “The easiest thing we can do for the person we love is to throw ourselves away. The strength to do things that aren’t in our nature — that’s love.” - Although I've come from a failed relationship, I still subscribe to this view of love.  It takes a leap of faith to go beyond our usual prideful and protective self.  But, I think this is rare nowadays.  Guys don't like to endure the hardship of couritng anymore and go through the mind games.  And, girls are also conscious about whether they are investing more emotionally on a guy rather than how they are being treated.
  • Hak-chan is really cool in this episode as he overcomes his fear of girls to pursue Yoo Jung and save her from Yoon Jae's rejection. 
Episode 7: Future Hopes
  • Tae Woong (Yoon Jae's brother): "A person needs to be satisfied with a goal that is near them. Aiming for something so far away is only greed and will cause so much pain. It’ll only end up as a scar in your heart. That’s why the stupidest thing you can do in the world is love one-sidedly.. But, sometimes dream come true from a distance. While you may not achieve the dream, getting close gives you the chance to be happy. Of course, that's very rare.  Unrequitted love usually ends in failure. But it's also sad if you're afraid and you give up before you even try out." - Tae Woong discusses with his students about their goals in life.  And, it has a double meaning as regards love too.  With regards to the story, Yoon Jae is clearly in the friendzone with Shi Won but he's still there  Also, Joon Hee is happy enough to just be best friends with Yoon Jae although he likes him.   I guess this means that if you love one-sidedly, you'd want to pursue it as much as you can.  Sometimes, if you're lucky, maybe you can reach it.  But often times, it ends up a failure.  But, I think you'll be happy enough to go as far as you can so you won't have "what if" regrets that you let go too soon without even trying.  I have the same view as Tae Woong.   Unlike for others, I find it difficult to have a change of heart when it comes these things.  
  • Tae Woong: "More important than what you can do is what you want to do. So let’s start with that. You only live once!" - he adds this to keep it positive which I agree of course!  Optimism is key. =D
Episode 8: D-Day
  • Yoon Jae:"You have to know where your enemy is, understand their situation, and be able to read their hearts. Even if you’re sure you’ve prepared perfectly, you can’t lose your chance, your timing. Because D-Day only gives two results: win or lose. My life’s first D-Day. November 18, 1998. I prepared meticulously… but lost the first post. The cause of defeat: reconnaissance failure." - This is the saddest part of the drama!  Yoon Jae losses the opportunity to confess to Shi Won because he found our Tae Woong likes her. 
Episode 9: The Thread of Fate
  • Yoon Jae: "They say that people are born with a red string that they can’t see, tied to their pinky fingers, and the end is tied to the one you’re fated to be with. But the thread is twisted this way and that, making it hard to find the other end. People’s countless threads, all tangled together. But when I start to unravel it, I end up face to face with my fate, without even knowing it. If the red thread of fate really exists, then who is the one tied to my red thread?" - This showed how Shi Won's parents and Yoon Jae's parents as well as their classmates met their spouses which is kind of cute and interesting.  I personally don't believe in fate this way.  I think destiny unfolds based on our choices given the opportunities that presents as.  But, it doesn't make the it easier since it makes uncertainties even more frustrating. 
Episode 10: The Reason I Like You
  • Joon Hee: "The reason I like you? Because you’re that person. Because you’re you. Is there another reason besides that one? I’d rather know the reason if there was one. Then I could find a way to not like you. If I can’t avoid it, then there’s only one thing I want: to remain by your side as a friend unchanged, for long time." - Joon Hee confesses to Yoon Jae who takes it as a joke.  I kind of understand how that feels like. =(  This question probably crossed the mind of every person who has every liked someone.  And, this question has probably been encountered by every guy who pursued a girl.  I think he made the right choice here.  A lifetime friend is just as rare as finding love so either one is good.  I keep hoping to find one too.  Crossing my fingers because I'm wishing that right now.  =D
  •  Yoon Jae answers Joon Hee on why he likes Shi Won,  Hak Chan answers Yoo Jung and Tae Woong answers Shi Won on why he likes her: "Because you're pretty... only to me" - The drama implies that other answers are wrong. =/  I didn't get this answer when I asked the same question before. *sob =( Kidding aside, I think this response makes sense.  Similar to the quote "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."  It's more than just taste or preference... Liking someone makes you see them in a different light.  That's why you'd often hear girls realize that they ex's were ugly after all. O_o
Check my part 2 for continuation =D