I find it hilarious how a frumpy ‘do and glasses equates to social outcast in dramaland. Upcoming web drama Somehow 18 teases a sweet, nostalgic first love story tinged with tragedy and a time-slip element. The rom-com’s premise sounds vaguely like Manhole, but with a lot less of the zany immaturity and more of a melo slant.
Shinee’s Min-ho (Hwarang) will headline as an attractive, chic medical resident who was a bullied loner during his high school days. He somehow finds a way to go back in time, and chooses to relive the worst period of his life in order to save his first love. This first love will be played by Lee Yubi (Scholar Who Walks the Night), whose innocent outer appearance belies a quirky, direct personality. Her character is described as the hero’s savior when he was an outcast high-schooler, and she also holds many secrets.
In the latest teaser, a melancholic older Min-ho pictures his high school first love as he remembers her, and then we see them together acting all coupley and cute after Min-ho goes back in time. I know this is the hero post-time travel because his hair is sleek and neat, and he isn’t wearing glasses. He teases that they must be girlfriend and boyfriend if she agrees that he’s “bought” her affection, though she counters that he’s getting too far ahead of himself. She narrates that he’s starting to look attractive and that she predicts she’ll keep thinking about him.
Things take a more serious turn when a bus ominously loses control on the road as our heroine’s narration continues, “Suddenly, I got scared. That this happiness will disappear, like bubbles.” The teaser ends with Lee Yubi smiling in happier days and the words “Today, my first love… died.” You go save her Min-ho!
I am all about the high school romances these days thanks to School 2017, so I’ll be checking this out. Although I’m not necessarily a fan of the whole tragic first love trope, it sounds like it will give an urgency to the hero’s time travel that will have us rooting for him to save the heroine and also overcome his own trauma. I find the lead actors likable, and both the teaser and the poster suggests that they’ll have good chemistry, which is super important in a romance. I love the dreamy lighting in the poster as well, with the words, “And that is how we… met again,” hovering between the two classmates.
Somehow 18 will begin its run on Naver TV starting August 28, and will be releasing episodes daily from Monday through Friday.
