열여덟의 순간 S1

Although it took a few episodes for me to warm up to this drama, I ended up enjoying it quite a bit.

A group of teenagers struggle with... well, the struggles of being a teen; a maelstrom of academic pressure, family drama, fractured friendships, and love triangles. There's nothing particularly new or unique about the series, but the various elements are well executed, which makes for an enjoyable watch: interesting characters, great acting, lovely music, and nice cinematography.

However, there are a few minor things that lessened my overall enjoyment:

• Some of the storylines feel unfinished - possibly because there's quite a large cast of characters, so some plot points aren't fully resolved.
• Occasionally the music doesn't fit the mood of the scene: cheerful music over a tense situation is a bit jarring.
• While generally the show is an earnest look at what can be a tumultous period of life, it does sometimes slide into melodrama.

I think it would have benefitted the series to be several episodes longer: even the main couple's story seems to end rather abruptly, not to mention the loose ends that need tying up and the interesting characters that don't get enough screentime.

There's nothing particular to note about the language; it's generally full of everyday conversations on the topics of school, family, friendship, and romance.

Overall, an enjoyable show that will make you laugh, cry, and smile. While it has its flaws, I'd definitely recommend giving it a chance if it sounds like something that might interest you.

Content warnings: bullying, domestic abuse, self harm, death