"Reply 1988" concluded on January 16 with one of the most contentious K-Drama finales to hit the airwaves, in quite some time.
The third installment of the popular period series recorded the highest ratings for the franchise to date, with the final episode recording 18.8 percent in cable viewership, according to Nielsen Korea. However, "Reply 1988" has emerged as the lowest rated series out of the trio, due to audience dissatisfaction with the controversial ending.
An article published by Ilgan Sports examined the ironic nature of audience backlash for the once beloved drama.
"[On the] portal site, Naver, 'Reply 1988,' the viewer response rating is 4.47," said the Ilgan Sports writer. "Its predecessor, 'Reply 1997,' has the response level of 9.8 versus '1994,' which did not receive the same amount of viewers, but has 9.5."
21.6 percent of audiences tuned in to see how their favorite characters would fare, during the height of viewership, in episode 20.
Many viewers were stunned as screenwriter Lee Woo Jung, who is credited for the previous installments of the series, derailed the budding relationship of Duk Sun (Hyeri) and Jung Hwan (Ryu Jun Yeol), designating Taek (Park Bo Gum) as the future-husband of the heroine.
While there were several signs leading to Taek, including the tender scenes exchanged in episode nine when Duk Sun accompanies him to China, many viewers did not expect the international baduk champion to emerge victorious in the lukewarm love triangle of the neighborhood friends.
The English translation site Netizen Buzz published some of the highest voted responses to the Ilgan Sports article, which fleshed out the factors that have contributed to viewer dissatisfaction.
"It's not that viewers are pissed that Jung Hwan wasn't the husband, it's that the viewers were never given a proper understanding as to why Taek became the husband. None of the events [leading to romance] was shown so of course we'll be pissed," said a commenter on the Ilgan Sports article, as translated by Netizen Buzz.
While domestic audiences have taken to forums and continue to "down vote" the program on portals like Naver, international fans of the series have responded by organizing a petition for an alternate ending.
Filipino viewer Sharmaine Nacino is credited for the Change.org petition, which needed 182 additional signatures, at the time this article was written.
Meanwhile, critics continue to discuss the series, with Korean publications speculating as to which decade with be the focus of the next installment of "Reply."
What were your thoughts on the "Reply 1988" finale? Were you a supporter of Team Jung Hwan or Team Taek? Do you think the conclusion was well-written? Comment below.
