The Answer Me 1997 love keeps growing, along with ratings
by javabeans
Yay for Answer Me 1997, which is seriously the best show airing right now. Ratings are climbing at an impressive rate for the little cable show that could, and this week’s broadcast netted a notable 3.25% rating (with a high of 4.56%). Whoa. Them’s serious numbers for cable.
I was happy enough when it broke 1%, given that it’s a drama that kicked off with so little buzz, but now I’m tickled that it’s getting so much recognition as a high-quality production AND a buzzworthy “syndrome” show (meaning, it’s becoming a real hit with an ardent fanbase).
What has the ratings climbing every episode is strong word of mouth, coupled with a burning need for us to know who actually ends up together, which the 2012 scenes hint at with clues dropped at regular intervals — just enough to satisfy us for a moment, but more tantalizing than anything.
After all, we just need that confirmation, even with all the clues being dropped along the way. Because we all know who’s going to end up together, right? Wait, or do we? Because will they do the obvious thing and give us what we’re all rooting for? Or will they throw in the twist? Or is it more of a twist to twist the twist… and give us the original pairing after all? Is the first love the endgame, or is it a beautiful thing of the past? Who is it? WHO? Answer meeeeeeee, 1997!
It helps that the two leads are adorable together as the best-friends-since-birth pair Shi-won and Yoon-jae, and Jung Eun-ji and Seo In-gook have palpable chemistry. Take, for instance, the behind-the-scenes clip below, where Seo In-gook prepares to make his confession on his “D-Day.” (He gets down on one knee, and Jo Eun-ji squeals and yells, “Get lost!” So cute.)
What I love about the show, and what I think is connecting with so many people, is that it’s got a really strong sense of identity and an unwavering faithfulness to its heart, its emotional core. It works in tons of hilarious ’90s references and is loaded with fun cameos, but the show doesn’t build its plot around them; those are icing on the cake. It’s got a smart, witty way of addressing the growing pains of its adolescent cast that is just as relevant today as it was back in the late-’90s setting of its primary plot.
Another of the show’s charms is its Busan setting, which is just a matter-of-fact thing in the show. It’s not a show about Busan — not like, say, Haeundae Lovers which makes it a point to work in the locale — but these characters feel like real people who belong there. (Aided by the fact that much of the principal cast is actually from the region.) I appreciate that for once we have a show that doesn’t treat Seoul as the standard, and shows us that normal people live in normal cities outside of the capital.
In fact the popularity of the show even has fans talking in showspeak, making the Busan Saturi dialect the trend of the day. Ha. Saturi as the coolest thing ever? Are we in alterna-Korea, run by hipsters?
Answer Me 1997 airs on Tuesdays; up next week are Episodes 9 and 10.
Via TV Report
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Tags: Answer Me 1997, cable programs, drama ratings, Jung Eun-ji, Seo In-gook
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51 sunshine
August 19, 2012 at 2:06 AM
When you first mentioned Answer Me 1997 and said it was 8 episodes, I thought it was 8 episodes total, as in it's already over. I watched the raw this past Tuesday and felt my heart break. Just now, I noticed on the side bar that there's an episode 9-10 and rushed to the streaming site to watch it, my heart lifted that it's not the end. Then, I didn't find it. Coming to the conclusion that the show really did end and the calendar must have had a glitch, I actually heard my heart shattering, since it felt like the ending that I thought happened now solidified. I now realize that I am idiot: 9-10 doesn't air until Tuesday and there are 8 episodes left. Show, thanks for playing with my heart, mind and soul.
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PeepsLeAwesomePotato
August 19, 2012 at 9:34 AM
LMAO, you poor thing.
But this show's worth it! Isn't it?
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52 kit
August 19, 2012 at 2:12 AM
Best. Show. Ever.
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53 cocoonedsoul
August 19, 2012 at 2:16 AM
episode 8 gives you that twist ;A;
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54 hzu13
August 19, 2012 at 2:36 AM
LOL you silly people, Faith is the best drama airing at the moment. XD
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55 panda
August 19, 2012 at 2:44 AM
I love this show so much. It really deserves the climbing ratings and the positive buzz.
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56 crzycpl
August 19, 2012 at 2:59 AM
I LOVE THIS SHOW. And the whole "who is it?" is great! It better be Yoon-jae .. otherwise, I don't know what ... but it better be him. HAHAHAHA
Looking forward to the recaps for 7 and 8.
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57 Mis
August 19, 2012 at 4:16 AM
Yes, this is easily one of the best dramas I have ever seen. Even though my teens were very different in so many ways, I can still relate to it so much... if nothing else but by how well the teenage characters and the adult characters are connected. Like how the teenagers have their own little world in some ways, where feelings are important that might not seem important to a grown-up, but they still become adults in the end and they still can't escape from dealing with the adult world. All the characters feel very real. tvN has done it again!
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58 john
August 19, 2012 at 5:04 AM
Jung Eun-ji rocks!
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59 dangerousgoods
August 19, 2012 at 5:14 AM
This drama can do no wrong. But Yoon-jae and Shi-won better end up together OR ELSE XD
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noi
August 19, 2012 at 1:26 PM
i wish that too. but i think the writer is going to pull a twist :p i think daewoong is the other most possible candidate xD or maybe she'd ended up with tony ahn (lol) or that seoul guy from rotc... lol
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60 Lilian
August 19, 2012 at 7:42 AM
Yes..yes...yes...I am so glad I read the posts here. If not, I probably would not have given this drama a try at all. And I would have missed out on this heart wrenching, laugh worthy and totally amazing drama. It will definitely be missed once it ends.
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61 Lilian
August 19, 2012 at 7:45 AM
Yes..yes...yes...I am so glad I read the posts here. If not, I probably would not have given this drama a try at all. And I would have missed out on this heart wrenching, laugh worthy and totally amazing drama. It will definitely be missed once it ends. I hope that someday when I am in my 30s I can also look back on my past and smile, and at the same time I will also be accompanied ny my close friends just like the six of them.
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62 Lilian
August 19, 2012 at 7:48 AM
Yes..yes...yes...I am so glad I read the posts here. If not, I probably would not have given this drama a try at all. And I would have missed out on this heart wrenching, laugh worthy and totally amazing drama. It will definitely be missed once it ends. I hope that someday when I am in my 30s I can also look back on my past and smile, and at the same time I will also be accompanied by ny my close friends just like the six of them. That is what I hope for. Unbreakable bonds with my friends who are just like a family.
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63 MariePhils
August 19, 2012 at 9:04 AM
RM1997 IS SIMPLY UNIQUE...ONE OF THE BEST DRAMA AIRED IN TVN ! AND ONE OF THE MOST WELL-LOVED DRAMA IN KOREA THIS 2012.
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64 Reena
August 19, 2012 at 9:28 AM
I love this drama! I was 11 during the year 1997 and watching this show just gave me jolts of nostalgia... When Si Won was super crazy over HOT, I remember the same feelings that I had for Backstreet Boys... and how I kept on watching their shows/interviews/concerts on VHS. haha...
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65 citrone
August 19, 2012 at 11:10 AM
I think the end will be similar to "You're the apple of my eye" a TW movie. Expected finales make a good drama, unexpected finales make unforgettable drama! :)
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Patricia Koh
September 3, 2012 at 1:52 AM
ITA. Side-tracking, that was one good movie! Answer Me 1997 has the same feel-good vibes. It's nostalgic, warm, and so darn bittersweet! You laugh and you cry (sometimes at the same time too!). Love stuff like this.
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66 aramint
August 19, 2012 at 11:43 AM
The BTS was so cute. Does anyone know if there's any other BTS clips? Or maybe a forum or community dedicated to this drama? Thanks in advance. ^.^
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67 noinoi
August 19, 2012 at 12:04 PM
whoisthefatherwhoisthefatherwhoisthefatherwhoisthefather aaaaaarrrrrgggggghhhhhh i'd die from curiosity. is it possible that yoonjae-joonhee will be a couple? this is cable drama so it's ok... no? :p
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68 vanillasalt
August 19, 2012 at 12:09 PM
I really wanna watch this show! I'm already watching 4 other drama, but I think i'll just give up sleep and watch it. Yay! problem solved :)
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69 jingyi
August 19, 2012 at 12:24 PM
sigh, dramabeans.com kept going on about how this drama is but the review for this drama is coming out so much slower than the others so-called "not as good" drama. i wanna readddd!!!
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70 Maya
August 19, 2012 at 1:22 PM
Lol. Yay for being a BSB fanatic. I was 13 in 1997 and wanted to marry Brian Littrell so bad. I don't remember how ma y times I dreamed of dancing with them on the rooftop. Wow..that was just so innocent. I wasn't as crazy as Shiwon, but the devotion and adoration was there. Man, she cracks me up. I love her and her acting is so natural. She is also so adorable. I found another another favorite actress, besides Lee Chung Ah. Jung Eun Ji has an amazing voice too.
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71 coby
August 19, 2012 at 1:45 PM
I am in the verge of crying to the subbers to sub episodes 7 and 8.
Really a great show! I am a sucker for first-love-best friend stories so I hope they will end up together. No matter how overused that plot maybe.
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72 lovepark
August 19, 2012 at 3:04 PM
Ah! I'm so glad the show is gaining so much popularity!! My favorite thing definitely has to be that it's in Busan and therefore, the dialect. I'm a bit bias since it's what I've grown up hearing, but I just love it! Plus, I'm very pleasantly surprised by the cast. Wowzah!
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73 Jambo42
August 19, 2012 at 3:13 PM
Yaay for tvN! forever grateful to this cable network for giving us QIHM. :)
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74 dangerousgoods
August 19, 2012 at 6:37 PM
I'm going slightly stir-crazy waiting for the next recap! My hopes are actually getting picked up everytime there's even a new comment related back to Reply 1997...hah, yeah, is my desperation a bit too pathetic? I need to knowww XP Wae so awesome, Show?
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75 ohyeahyeahyeah
August 19, 2012 at 7:25 PM
The drama's not finished yet, but I can already tell this is going in my top 5 favorite dramas. It has heart, comedy, and originality. Big ups to the writer. And to the cast as well; they way they act is not like they're just playing characters, their acting is very sincere, and everyone has good chemistry.
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76 Tyler
August 20, 2012 at 11:09 PM
I'm in love with this show!!
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77 sleepy
August 27, 2012 at 12:17 PM
love this good storyline, great actors/actresses wish they were more episodes what to do when it ends shippin yoonjae and shiwon hope they end up together. ideal couple to me
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78 happybi
November 1, 2012 at 5:46 PM
I just finished this drama and I absolutely loved it!! What a pleasant surprised it was as it was recommended to me by a friend. I don't know anyone in the cast but went for it as it seem interesting. Watched it and loved it because I can so relate to it!!!! Drama is both funny and emotional so I loved it!!! Great job from the cast. I love her parents in the drama!
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