Premiere Watch: A Moment at Eighteen
by stroopwafel
Time slot: Monday & Tuesday
Broadcaster: JTBC
Genre: Coming-of-age, youth
Episode count: 16
This week’s premiere is a coming of age story about three young people who struggle to find their footing in that precarious space between childhood and adulthood. Kim Hyang-gi, Ong Sung-woo, and Shin Seung-ho play a trio of students who attend the same school. Ong Sung-woo is a recent transfer to the school and a loner who keeps up an indifferent-to-life facade. When model student Kim Hyang-gi attempts to from a friendship with him, it breaks down his walls and the two form a bond that doesn’t go unnoticed by others. Namely, Shin Seung-ho. Though Shin may appear to be the perfect student, with great grades and a gentle demeanor, that demeanor masks an unsteadiness. Shin struggles with countless insecurities and when he sees Kim Hyang-gi grow close to Ong, Shin develops a hostility towards him. Kang Ki-young will play their immature homeroom teacher, an embodiment of the adage that age doesn’t equal maturity. But as he grows closer to Ong Sung-woo, he comes to realize what it means to be both a good teacher and a good adult.
I love the youth drama genre so I’m excited about both the show and the number of new faces in the cast. Even if they’re a little rough around the edges, there’s something fulfilling about watching young talent get started and come into their own.
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1 mary
July 22, 2019 at 8:05 AM
Gah! I forgot I was leaving space in my drama-watching time for this! (And Devil Calls Your Name.) WHERE TO FIND TIME???
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Diana Hansen
July 23, 2019 at 8:20 AM
just quit your job and live on ramen and gimbap til its over!
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2 greenfields
July 22, 2019 at 8:14 AM
Isn't this the writer of Girls Generation 1979? I want to watch it, but where is the time? T_T
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bea
July 22, 2019 at 8:19 AM
It is! And let me know if you do end up finding time, I would like to convince it to clone itself. More time will always be appreciated.
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mugyuljoie is preciousss
July 22, 2019 at 10:46 AM
I'll have to take a look then.
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SadKDramaLama
July 22, 2019 at 5:09 PM
@greenfields
..."writer of Girls Generation 1979"....
Thanks for the heads up. That drama was my dark horse of 2017. I was so shocked that it didn't even register on the Bean Count. To me this was the little drama that roared.
Initially I was going to skip this but now :D
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kiara
July 22, 2019 at 5:20 PM
One of my fave from 2017 also.
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OhSoEnthusiastic
July 22, 2019 at 8:40 PM
Our of curiosity, how was Girls Generation 1979? It's on my watchlist, but I've never gotten around to watching it.
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greenfields
July 22, 2019 at 8:42 PM
Excellent, in my honest opinion. I really do recommend it. Just eight episodes so it'll be over pretty fast as well.
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OhSoEnthusiastic
July 22, 2019 at 8:44 PM
It looked good, but no one was talking about it, and then I read a few negative reviews, so I thought maybe it wasn't that good and shelved it way in the back of my mind.
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greenfields
July 22, 2019 at 8:51 PM
Well you can see from the other comments in reply to my comment that it was well loved on DB. :) I think perhaps the love was on the fanwall, since I don't remember DB recapping it.
SadKDramaLama
July 23, 2019 at 12:47 AM
@greenfields
Sadly, I think GG1979 was more of a sleeper hit...the small number who like it - reallllly liked it...but it just flew under the radar.
At the time, I remember reading comments disparaging Bona - hence I was so shocked when she grounded this drama beautifully.
OhSoEnthusiastic
July 22, 2019 at 8:45 PM
If Moment at Eighteen is good, I'll have to put 1979 higher up on my watchlist.
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SadKDramaLama
July 22, 2019 at 11:19 PM
@ohsoenthusiastic
I put Girls Generation 1979 in that group of
KDramas with:
- 30 but 17
- Just Between Lovers
- Marriage not Dating
- QIHM
To me, these should be the bread & butter of KDrama:
- Interesting story...that stays true to itself
- Well written
- Young names- scaffolded by strong veterans.
- On the lower budget end.
It's why I get so sad when these are a rarity rather than the norm.
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SadKDramaLama
July 22, 2019 at 11:31 PM
@ohsoenthusiastic
P.S.
This is one of the very few dramas I know of that deal with this very challenging time in SK and found a way to address it honestly...through how it affected the coming of age teen.
It uses that wonderful/annoying tendency of teens always seeing themselves as the centre of the universe to avoid becoming overbearing. However, their very self-centredness naturally draws them to rub against the reality of life of that time under a pseudo-military government.
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OhSoEnthusiastic
July 23, 2019 at 9:18 AM
Ok, that description clinches it for me. I want to watch this drama now, lol.
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OhSoEnthusiastic
July 22, 2019 at 8:42 PM
Comment was deleted
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3 bea
July 22, 2019 at 8:16 AM
*finds comfy clothes*
*grabs ice cream and iced tea*
I’m ready!
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4 sal
July 22, 2019 at 8:17 AM
I really have a soft spot for youth drama, so really looking forward to watch this!!!
Btw, was reading that episodes gonna be up on VIKI on Wednesday. I am just happy I can watch them kinda shortly after airing.
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5 amara
July 22, 2019 at 8:54 AM
this is such a cute picture LMAO they're tooooo cute
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6 Blue (@mayhemf)
July 22, 2019 at 9:38 AM
Been waiting for this drama!! So excited.
Go away real life, I have no time for you :))
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7 WishfulToki
July 22, 2019 at 10:06 AM
Me: I'm all rom-commed out. I will just watch sageuks for the rest of the year.
Also me: Oh, a youth drama! With a teacher story to boot! I have nothing else on my drama schedule so why not?
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kiara
July 22, 2019 at 2:54 PM
Slice of life and sageuks <3.
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8 neener ~ Inside the Magic Shop ~
July 22, 2019 at 10:23 AM
Youth drama! Why does it feel like it’s been a while since I watched one?
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9 Lady procastinator
July 22, 2019 at 11:02 AM
This is Moonbin's first drama 😁. Fingers crossed that he will get recognized and casted in many more dramas to come. 🤞
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10 Tanya
July 22, 2019 at 2:57 PM
It was a good start for Ong Seongwu.
I loved his expressive eyes and the way he changed expressions, like a small movement in his eyes and lips but it changed the overall expression and mood. His character was a lonely, stoic transfer student but the way he portrayed it didn't come off stiff. It was in the middle, he found a balance. He doesn't have much dialogues but you can feel his presence.
I love the stolen glances between Junwoo and Subin. Can't wait how their character develops.
The scenery shots are so pleasing to watch, the bgm matches so well.
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tesshan
July 23, 2019 at 3:26 AM
Agree. Can't wait to see his character development.
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11 kiara
July 22, 2019 at 3:26 PM
So happy to see Kim Hyang-gi back in dramaland <3.
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12 liar song #PuppyNotPuppyLeeJaeWookIsBack
July 22, 2019 at 6:56 PM
I missed watching youth dramas and the first episode of A Moment at Eighteen had the right mix of the characters being young and being uncertain at that age. The characters are interesting so far and actor Ong did not disappoint! And can we talk about Shin Seung-ho's character being the most interesting of all? I need episode 2 ASAP.
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OhSoEnthusiastic
July 22, 2019 at 8:51 PM
Where were you able to watch it?
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liar song #PuppyNotPuppyLeeJaeWookIsBack
July 22, 2019 at 8:53 PM
On VIU! 😁
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OhSoEnthusiastic
July 22, 2019 at 9:06 PM
Ah, ok. I'll have to wait for it on Viki then, lol.
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13 HANI
July 22, 2019 at 7:58 PM
partners for justice 2 and www are ending, so I have time and also looking for something light, I'm definitely watching this
(this is light right????)
no lie, I also watching to see how is Moonbin fare as an actor
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14 OhSoEnthusiastic
July 22, 2019 at 8:48 PM
IIIIII'm herrrrre for thiiiiiis. (read in sing-song voice) This has so many things about it that already have me hype. A teen drama? Check. A teen drama that doesn't appear to be overly dramatic and non-sensical? Check. Characters that are super relatable and normal? Check. Not to mention the more relaxed, kind of chill vibe it gives you. This already feels like it will be an easy, comforting watch.
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tesshan
July 23, 2019 at 3:25 AM
also the sadness and puppy eyes of the main character.
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OhSoEnthusiastic
July 23, 2019 at 9:09 AM
Haha, yes.
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SadKDramaLama
July 24, 2019 at 6:53 AM
@ohsoenthusiastic @greenfields
OMG. This drama is a treat.
From the first scene in ep01 this world was already so full. The story just rolls along but with every moment/every event it just builds. Almost without noticing it, by the end of ep02 the drama is palpable.
This is not just another teen drama. The directing shows so much intelligence. Its never static and the story is always shifting in multiple arcs so we are never looking at just one event...even when its physically the same it has 2 different readings. The director is always making the world larger by repeatedly using space outside the camera frame. I.e cleverly play out scenes where the action in frame is expanded by events outside of it. That moment where Joon-Woo is signing up with Teacher Oh and the Vice Principal is explaining it all in a different phone call of screen...simple & brilliant.
The cast have so much to work with here and it shows in how early they are grounding their roles. This is the best I have seen Kang Ki-Young. When he gets to play it straight, his humour makes him so human. Kim Hyang-Gi's performance makes it feel like she has more screen time than she actually does...and already you can see the complexity of her arc...its built into every little action/reaction.
This is defiantly a sibling of GG1979 - but so refreshingly different I love how this writer sees parallels in modern SK to the conservative authoritarianism of late 70s...I think the fluidity of the drama is because this writer doesn't turn away from the pressure of society and the strains it forces on people - its like for them, the only way out of this darkness is through the middle head on.
Bring on next week.
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15 💜🍍☠ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia ☠🍍💜
July 22, 2019 at 10:12 PM
Okay but when can Kang Ki-young headline his own drama please, and thank you.
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shach
July 23, 2019 at 3:17 AM
Same, my working theory is that producers have agenda against actors under 180 cm, the only reason why Kwak Dong Yeon doing cameos and Cha Eun Woo keep landing lead role with his none existing acting skills.
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💜🍍☠ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia ☠🍍💜
July 23, 2019 at 3:56 AM
PFFFHAHAHA
Eun Woo gets lead roles because Korea loves him and his face sells like hot cakes.
But your theory could otherwise be correct hehehe.
Now I'm sad neither KDY nor KKY have had lead parts yet. WAE YO. Another good one is Ji Il-joo. He has a great range and versatility imo but is never more than supporting. He's also under 180... O_o.
Kim Kyung Nam will be fine since he's 182...
BUT WAIT Yoo Seung Ho doesn't fit this theory...
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shach
July 23, 2019 at 4:24 AM
Maybe YSH looks tall in comparison to his childhood days ;)
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16 maritess
July 23, 2019 at 2:01 AM
I love this drama..❤
Waiting for the episode 2..☺
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17 autumnlights
July 23, 2019 at 4:52 AM
Been looking out for Shin Seung-ho since A-Teen! So happy to see him on screen again!
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18 chonsa
July 23, 2019 at 11:41 AM
Well, I've just finished the series I was watching so I'm ready to pick up a new drama (or ten). This looks promising :)
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19 theimprintonmynose
July 25, 2019 at 6:10 AM
I recommend you all to watch it. The first episode is a little slow but it picks up at ep 2. the leads' acting are good too
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