You can only pick one: Retro drama

by DB Staff

You can only pick one, and boy the pressure is on. The DB team will answer a new prompt in each post, and you’re invited to do the same in the comments. Ready to play?

You can only pick one retro drama

missvictrix: Even though I adore the clear winner here (Answer Me, any version), I’m going to pick Twenty Five Twenty One. In addition to doing so many things wonderfully, this drama captured the vibes of the 90s incredibly well — and it takes more than fashion to do that. Giving us a heavy dose of zeitgeist — from geo-politics to technology to cultural touchstones — it’s been a while since there was a drama that made me feel as if I were actually living inside of it while I was watching. Sure, it shattered my heart, but I wouldn’t take it back.

mistyisles: Answer Me 1988! While I had a few other contenders, this is the show my mind immediately goes to when the topic of “retro drama” comes up. Slice-of-life isn’t typically my preferred genre, but this show really sucked me into its characters and their, well, everyday life in the 1980s-90s. While some of my other contenders (Twenty Five Twenty One, for example) could probably still have worked if they were transplanted into a different time period with just a few tweaks to things like major real-life events, I don’t think the same could be said for Answer Me 1988 — set in a different time, it would be a completely different show about completely different people.

DaebakGrits: I suspect my answer to this prompt would be different if I’d ever gotten around to watching the Answer Me series (I know, I know), but because I haven’t, I’m going to choose Through the Darkness. Not only is it a well written and directed drama, but the subject matter interests me, too. No, I’m not obsessed with serial killers, but I am intrigued by the “novel” and “controversial” profiling techniques implemented by the 1990s detectives featured in this drama. Because criminal profiling is so prevalently featured in just about every cop show to air on television in recent memory, it blows my mind that this style of investigation is a relatively new concept that was developed and implemented in my lifetime. So not only was Through the Darkness a fascinating and engaging story, it was also a reminder of how quickly things can evolve and change — and not just in terms of technology.

solstices: Go Back Spouses! The drama made such good use of its time-slip-induced retro background, coloring the past with the bright-eyed excitement and wistful nostalgia of a disillusioned couple sent back in time. The 90s setting elevated the show’s comedic tone — Lee Yi-kyung’s long locks were hilariously iconic — and a big part of the fun came from subverting our expectations, leading to genuinely laugh-out-loud moments. But underneath all the humor and hijinks was a thoughtful exploration of love in its many forms, and it’s for this reason that the show stands out. In their journey through time, our titular couple had to wade through layers of regret — yet it’s also the temptation of all the what-could-have-beens that reinforced their loyalty and commitment. The show asks the hard question of what one would do with a second chance, and sometimes the answer is simply to follow one’s heart.

Dramaddictally: It’s hard to do a good retro drama that maintains the vibes of the times without falling overboard into caricature. The Answer Me series manages to strike the right balance, though, and Answer Me 1988 is my favorite by a long shot. It captures all the political angst in the background while keeping its focus on the heartfelt moments of everyday people. And how could you not fall in love with the entire cast in this drama? They’re funny and flawed — and just so relatable. Plus, so much romance! I know the main love triangle commandeered (and shattered) a lot of hearts, but Bo-ra and Sun-woo had all my attention. Gah, I love those two. There’s also something about the neighborhood setting that’s so nostalgic and reminds me of simpler times (even if, in reality, things were no simpler then). The drama is one of those rare gems that breaks your heart and then moves you to smile while you’ve still got tears in your eyes. I have a feeling I’ll still be recommending it when it’s too old to even call retro.

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You can only pick one: Retro drama