Acting/Cast: Perfect! Good chemistry for the main characters. I didn't expect Yoobi to have good chemistry with Minho but they did.
Music: I like that the music also complemented the web drama (Follow Me Down OST from Alice in Wonderland).
Rewatch value: I watched a few episodes again. It's not a long story and not dragging so I can watch it over and over until I figure how to connect the epilogues to the episodes.
Overall, a must watch for those who love light drama with slice of life, school life, time travel genre. I expected a longer episode 10 though but, as with a few of the Kdramas I've seen, most endings seem to make me feel like there are missing elements to conclude the story.
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This was my first time watching these two actors and I will definitely be looking forward to more of their dramas. Lets go searching, searching, searching!
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Pain is never permanent
tw: su!c!d3, d3pr3ss!onI've always been attracted to time travel stuff, but it's so hard to find a drama that portrays it so well that to be honest, this one really got me. First of all, we start the drama seeing how well and fine our ML is, with his "perfect" life since he accomplished everything he wanted because he was the best student in the whole school. But the thing is: his life is far from perfect, he's brooding over the past because the girl he loved simply k word herself, when they were teenagers.
Kyung Hwi (the ML) is now living by the automatic control: he goes to his work, treat patiens (he's a doctor) and talk to his best friend who also is his brother-in-law. And one day, his sister just tells him to go on a blind date, but he doesn't accept it since he's still in love with Han Na Bi (our FL and also, his lover who died), even though it's been 10 years after her death. Kyung talks and drinks with his bestie and his sister and goes to Nabi's father pub which he's closing and selling because he's tired and feeling guilty over her death. Kyung drinks more at this place and finds Nabi's diary which he discoveries that she was really sad and guilty over something that nobody knew. Kyung then listens to a song which asks him: "Is there someone you wanna meet when you go back?" and he answers "Nabi", that's when he sees her and follows this kind of "mirage" and suddenly, blacks out.
That's when our story begins.
Kyung Hwi is, definitely, madly in love with Nabi and we can see that throughout the whole drama. All the things he changes for her, all the things he does so he can get closer and understand how everything happened to her and, the most important thing: how he does everything to make her understand that she matters and that she's loved. We can see through the flashback scenes how he was so coward because he was bullied, but 28yrs Kyung Hwi is mature and when he comes back he shows that. I loved how he could care less about the bullies who frightened his life in his 18y, but now his main mission was just make Nabi pass through her death date.
Nabi was amazing, I really loved how sassy, but sensitive she was. She would always pay back in the same coin the bullies when she caught them doing bad things, but she also would feel sad if someone who she thought that cared for her, do the same thing as them. Nabi had parenting issues and trust issues, but not just that, anxiety and depression because of the reason she k word herself.
At first, I really didn't expect that Nabi's death was su!c1d3 and even the reason is somehow astonishing. And how the story goes and we just keep discovering everything with Kyung Hwi, it really makes us feel his pain and his anxiety to make her live. I really felt it all. But the ending was really unexpected, and seriously, I really wish we could have a s2 just as the chinese version has lmao
The conclusion is: even when life gets hard, we have someone who cares for us, and even though we don't see it or even though we don't know it, we always have someone. If we exist, it's because we're needed, we just need to surpass the obstacles and everything gets better. It's hard to believe, but trust me (and this drama), in the end we'll be seeing a sunset and then a moon in the sky, and in the next day we'll be experiencing new things and learning that, somehow, nothing matters, but our own life.
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Going into "Somehow 18" I wasn't expecting much, but oh how I was positivity surprised by this drama! I was expecting the run-of-the-mill high-school drama with the added element of time travelling, but this turned out much more than that. Plot and Pacing
The plot was great! I loved how the story unfolded at a natural pace. It did not reveal too much at once or kept me waiting with burning questions for too long. How refreshing that was! It can be so frustrating when dramas drag out or narrate too much exposition at once. This drama left me wondering how and why certain things occurred, and I wasn't left feeling dissatisfied with any plot holes. The ending felt satisfying, even though it was here I had most issues with the plot. It seemed like the writer wasn't quite sure how to end this otherwise very well-written and structured story. I won't go into spoiler territory, so I'll just say the ending is acceptable, but I disagree with some writing choices.
Serious Themes
Honestly, I was expecting a silly drama that couldn't tackle the sensitive issues of suicide and bullying that it brought up, but it dealt with the themes in an appropriate way. The bullying did seem a bit silly at times, but it was believable. The theme of suicide was handled maturely, which was contributed positively to the drama. Any drama that can handle serious themes realistically becomes a better story to me.
Acting
Choi Min-Ho (Oh Kyung Hwi) did a great job of playing an honest and pleasant guy. I have seen him in "To The Beautiful You", and he has really improved a lot in my opinion. His delivery is much more natural and his emotional scenes seem more authentic than they did before. Lee Yoo Bi was great as Han Na Bi. Her emotional scenes had me on the edge of my seat. The minor roles did well too. Only the bullies felt very one-dimensional.
"Time Travel Rules"
It was nice that there was a consistency in the rules of time-travelling. It added greatly to the credibility of the drama.
Cinematography
Uninspiring, but it got the job done. Only one scene really stands out to me - when Kyung Hwi and Na Bi are on the edge of the building, looked beautiful. Otherwise, nothing stood out to me.
Music
The music in this drama did not impress me. There was especially one place where the music distracted from the story. This took place when Kyung Hwi travels back in time. It felt like the scene should be emotional, but the music completely ruined it for me. The lyrical allusion to "Alice in Wonderland" going down the rabbit hole was appropriate, but the song that played over this was just upbeat and extraordinarily bland. It felt really inappropriate because this mismatch was so distracting it interrupted the plot for me. There were a couple other scenes in the drama where the mood didn't match the tone of the drama because of the music choice. Perhaps, this won't even be an issue for you as music taste is rather subjective. Besides at this point, it's just nit-picking, as most of the instrumental music fit the drama well.
I really liked this drama for what it is. It's a short and beautiful story. I would recommend anyone to watch it as it's only the length of a longer film. The drama is not too emotional for my liking - I actually felt it was quite inspiring. The message that we should live in a way we won't regret was well delivered, and it left me feeling optimistic.
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Nice short timeslip romance drama to watch.
short timeslip highschool romance drama 10ep - 15min each =2,5hours watchtimeplot:
Male lead was bullied guy at highschool and wanted commit suicide. Female lead saved him from doing it, but week after it she herself did suicide.
Ten years pass and male lead is doctor, but he still cant forget female lead.
Bam miracle happens and he timetravel to time before his attempt of suicide.
Will he be able change past?
Guess its about it. Story is quite casual, timetravel is usual thing too. Drama focus more on how male lead tries get into heart of female lead and change her pessimism into will to live.
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The story line overall is 10/10. The story kept me entertaining the whole day tbh. It got me all teared up where I realize what Na Bi is going trough and I really admired the editing skills too. I really hope there would be season two!Was this review helpful to you?
A kdrama that makes you cry your eyes out!!!
Somehow 18 is one of the dramas that made me cry a lot because of how beautiful it is!It's one of the cutest and saddest dramas I've ever seen. The scenarios and the lightning made the story even cuter. The actors were so good I felt I was with them the whole time. I cried a lot watching it!
The backstory and the actual story are really touching and it teaches us valuable life lessons. I think it's amazing how through this drama they warn the society about bullying, suicidal people and the consequences of those. It shows the impact of someone's death in the people who cared for them and how they would do anything to go back in time to save them. It inspires us to get through our problems with the support of family and friends. It also teaches us to never lose hope!
The music was good, it wasn't anything special but it was cool.
I normally don't like short series because I always feel like it ended without everything explained but this one ended just perfectly perfect!
I loved the ending! I wasn't expecting it to end like that but i loved it!
With this drama I got to know Minho from Shinee.
I recommend this drama to everyone since it's short and because it teaches us important lessons, so I think everyone would like it!
I would rewatch this since it's short and so pretty that I'd never get tired of watching!
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One of my fav romances that made my heart cry-
I normally hate time-traveling dramas or shows in general but this was good. Considering that this drama had 10 episodes lasting about 15 minutes, it had pretty good pacing and it wasn't confusing at all.I mean it has high ratings for a reason. Attractive cast with good chemistry. While the topics are lowkey serious, the romance and story are definitely worth a watch. I loved the acting and story so much. They were really cute together and every episode kept wanting more. I would prob watch it again since I liked certain scenes a lot, plus Han Na Bi was really cute.
Literally, go watch it, it won't disappoint you.
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Somehow 18
Ah, "Somehow 18" is a Korean drama series that follows the story of a man who travels back in time to his high school years to save the life of his first love. Let's craft a brief summary inspired by the elements you mentioned:Title: "Echoes of Love"
In the Korean drama "Somehow 18," Park Min-joon, once a shy and introverted high school student, finds himself propelled back in time to his teenage years. Armed with the knowledge of the future, he embarks on a mission to rewrite history and save the life of his first love, Han Na-bi.
As Min-joon navigates the halls of his old high school, he undergoes a profound transformation. No longer content to stand on the sidelines, he sheds his former self and embraces a newfound confidence, determined to change the course of destiny.
But it's not just Min-joon's character that undergoes a metamorphosis; his relationship with Na-bi evolves as well. Their love story unfolds with a tender intensity, fueled by the knowledge that time is a fleeting commodity.
As Min-joon races against the clock to alter fate, he discovers the true depths of his love for Na-bi. He would move heaven and earth to protect her, even if it means sacrificing his own happiness.
Yet, as the final moments draw near, Min-joon is forced to confront the harsh reality of their situation. Despite his best efforts, some things are beyond his control, and fate has a way of asserting its dominance.
In the end, Min-joon's journey through time leaves an indelible mark on his soul. He may not have been able to change the past, but he emerges from the experience stronger, wiser, and infinitely more grateful for the love that transcends time itself.
"Echoes of Love" is a poignant tale of sacrifice, redemption, and the enduring power of love—a reminder that even in the face of adversity, true love knows no bounds.
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