When it comes to Korean dramas, traditionally they are made to be a single series. However, there are rare times when a series goes on for two or more seasons , but mostly in the form of a spin-off, not a direct sequel. Princess Hours ( Goong ) had Prince Hours ( Goong 2 ); Vampire Prosecutor has Vampire Detective ; and in a unique twist, Tree With Deep Roots had a prequel, Six Flying Dragons .
However, there is one K-drama spin-off series that has gained a major following since the original series, Reply 1997, first aired back in 2012 known as the Reply series, which is also known as the Answer Me series or the Respond series. The latest in said series was Reply 1988 and it was so popular, it became the first prominent and successful K-drama of this year .
At this point, the Reply Series has become a mainstay for Total Variety Network (tvN) K-dramas. As a matter of fact, it was revealed that the producing director of the series, Shin Won Ho, is preparing for its next installment.
Shin Won Ho, the producing director of Reply 1997 , Reply 1994 , and Reply 1988 , made it known he is now preparing for the next installment of the series during the tvN10 Festival, a celebration of the pay cable channel’s productions over the past decade, as reported by Soompi .
“I’ve just finished working on the DVD for Reply 1988 . Now I am getting ready for the preparations next year for the next Reply series installment.”
Shin Won Ho was joined by Korean actors Ryu Jun Yeol, Lee Dong Hwi, and Ahn Jae Hong. For those who do not remember, they played Kim Jung Hwan, Ryu Dong Ryong, and Kim Jae Hong respectively in Reply 1988 . As for the K-drama itself, it earned an average viewership rating of 12.427 percent by AGB Nielsen Korea and 11.8 percent by TNS Media Korea .
The main cast, along with some of the supporting cast, also found major roles in K-dramas later this year after Reply 1988 concluded. Hyeri was in Ddanddara ( Entertainer ), opposite Ji Sung and Kang Min Hyuk. Park Bo Gum is currently in Moonlight Drawn by Clouds, opposite Kim Yoo Jung. Ryu Jun Yeol was in Lucky Romance, opposite Hwang Jung Eum. Finally, Lee Dong Hwi will be in the upcoming K-drama adaption of Entourage, opposite Seo Kang Joon, Park Jung Min, Cho Jin Woong, and Lee Kwang Soo.
As for the predecessors for Reply 1988 , Reply 1997, and Reply 1994 , it is because of the format and style established in those K-dramas that Reply 1988 was the most successful installment so far. Though it is considered the least popular in regards to viewership , Reply 1997 is by far the one recognized for introducing to the K-drama community K-pop idols who do a believable job acting, especially Eunji of Apink.
Presently, there is no information on what the next installment in the Reply series will be about or what year it will be set in. Until then, K-drama fans are able to either review or view for the first time the previous installments in the series. Reply 1997 is available on both Viki and DramaFever . Reply 1994 is exclusive to DramaFever . Finally, Reply 1988 is available on both Viki and DramaFever . To watch any of the series in HD without ads, viewers must subscribe to either DramaFever Premium or Viki Pass respectively.
[Featured Image by Total Variety Network (tvN)]