This review may contain spoilers
믐, 좋아......,난 너무 좋아
I waited almost a year for this drama. From the moment the first stills were released, I knew I had to watch it, no matter what. I’ve always loved dramas that bring the past to life, and as someone who holds Reply 1988 close to my heart, I never thought another drama could capture life so intimately. And yet, When Life Gives You Tangerines did just that.Watching this drama felt like reading a book where every line is a favorite quote. Every conversation, every narration—each moment was something I wanted to highlight and keep forever. It was beautiful and refreshing, yet deeply nostalgic, like a memory I had never lived but somehow understood. More than anything, this drama showed love—not just romantic love, but the love woven into everyday life, in the smallest gestures and unspoken words.
The direction, writing, cinematography, and screenplay of When Life Gives You Tangerines were exceptional, coming together to create a deeply immersive and emotionally rich experience. The storytelling was raw and heartfelt, with a script that brought complex, lovable characters to life. The cinematography beautifully captured Jeju Island’s charm, enhancing the nostalgic and emotional depth of the drama. Every element worked in perfect harmony, making it not just visually stunning but also a story that lingers long after it ends.The characters were portrayed so beautifully that you couldn’t hate anyone. Everyone had their own struggles, their own reasons, and their own stories to tell. And that’s what made them feel so real. The character developments was just lit. Among all Bu Sang Gil's was the best.He was never a bad person from the start. His character development was something I really waited for.
The relationships were the heart of this story. They felt so real that they ached. Up until episode three, I was simply happy watching them. Then episode four came, and for the first time, I cried. The scene from Ae Sun’s perspective—waving to Gwan Sik from the kitchen, with Geum Myeong in between—stirred something indescribable in me. I didn’t know if I was crying from happiness or sadness. And then, episode six… Dong Myeong’s loss was the most heartbreaking moment. Even the steelheart couldn’t hold back, how could mine?
By Volume 3, I thought the story would shift more toward Geum Myeong, but Volume 4 there would less scenes of Ae Sun and Gwan Sik. But no other story could fill me up. All I craved was Oh Ae Sun and Yang Gwan Sik.
This was the ending I expected. The drama was about life. And life gives you only what it can. The ending wasn’t wrapped in fantasy, but in truth. And somehow, despite all the heartache, I was at peace.
“I had a loving dad. But my dad didn't have a loving daughter. His loving request for me to be sweet to my mom still stings in my heart. We took dad for granted as though we owned him forever............ Dad's unrequited love was now over but mine had just begun.” - Yang Geum Myeong
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This review may contain spoilers
A nostalgic Jeju love story about first love, growth and quiet resilience
When Life Gives You Tangerines captures such a beautiful Jeju and 90s aesthetic that immediately pulls you into a world of soft nostalgia and first love. There is something warm yet quietly heartbreaking about the way the story unfolds, like you are watching memories being lived rather than just a drama.The relationship between Ae-sun and Gwan-sik is the heart of everything. Ae-sun is incredibly strong in the way she always stands up for Gwan-sik, even when life keeps testing them, and Gwan-sik truly feels like a green forest of a person, steady, grounding and quietly devoted in a way that doesn’t need many words.
Episode 6, Life Goes On and On, completely broke me. It felt so real and heavy in the way it showed that life continues no matter what, even through pain, loss and change. It stayed with me long after it ended.
Overall, it is a deeply emotional drama about love, endurance and growing up, wrapped in a soft nostalgic atmosphere that feels both comforting and heartbreaking at the same time. It also made me cherish my loved ones even more and appreciate the small moments with them that we often take for granted.
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Masterpiece / Magnificent tribute from the author to their own parents
A superb slice of life: 60 years of Korean history seen through the lives of a couple and their family.PLOT: Living conditions are difficult in Jeju for orphan Ae Sun. She is helped by Gwan Sik (son of a fishmonger, and later, fisherman), whom she eventually marries after running away to Busan, despite the opposition of her in-laws.
+++ A young, simply magical CL (IU and Park Bo Gum) (ღ˘⌣˘ღ) (ღ˘⌣˘ღ)
+++ Excellent older couple (Park Hae Joon & Moon So Ri)
+++ The drama shows (for once) the real living conditions of poor Koreans, in the 1960s in Jeju, then in Seoul in the 1970s and 1980s, with great realism. The reference points are provided by historical events (Olympics, elections, etc.) through the feelings of ordinary people.
+++ Superb cinematography: reconstruction of eras, costumes, hairstyles, landscapes, etc.
+++ Vintage OSTs, which perfectly complement the atmosphere of the series.
+++ Solid storyline, with well-developed, endearing (and fabulously brought to life) characters.
### Not really addictive (except for the first few episodes), and the non-linear narrative (with many flashbacks to different eras) sometimes leaves the viewer a little confused.
=> I've the feeling that the author wanted to pay a (very successful) tribute to his parents through this magnificent and moving series. The actors' performances are phenomenal and the drama well deserves its numerous Award nominations.
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Superbe tranche de vie : 60 ans d'histoire de la Corée vue à travers la vie d'un couple et de sa famille.
PLOT: Les conditions de vie sont difficiles à Jeju pr Ae Sun, orpheline. Elle est aidée par Gwan Sik (fils de poissonnier, puis pêcheur), qu'elle finit pr épouser après une fugue à Busan, malgré l'opposition de la belle-famille.
+++ Un CL jeune , juste magique (IU et Park Bo Gum) (ღ˘⌣˘ღ) (ღ˘⌣˘ღ)
+++ Excellent couple plus âgé (Park Hae Joon & Moon So Ri)
+++ Le drama montre (pr une fois) les vraies conditions de vie des coréens pauvres, les années 60 à Jeju, puis à Séoul dans la décennie 70-80, avec bcp de réalisme. Les repères sont donnés par les évènements historiques (JO, élections, etc) avec le ressenti des gens ordinaires.
+++ Superbe cinématographie : reconstitution des époques, costumes, coiffures, paysages, etc.
+++ OSTs vintage, qui accompagnent bien l'atmosphère de la série.
+++ Solide storyline, avec des personnages bien développés, attachants (et fabuleusement mis en vie).
### Pas vraiment addictif (sauf les 1ers épisodes) et la narration non linéaire (avec bcp de flashbacks de différentes époques) rend parfois le spectateur un peu confus.
=> Sentiment que l'auteur a voulu rendre un hommage (très réussi) à ses parents au travers de cette magnifique et émouvante série. La performance des acteurs est phénoménale et le drama mérite bien ses nombreuses nominations aux Awards.
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Sweet and sour at the same time.
This drama evokes a catalog of emotions, from laughter to the deepest tears. They say love is a bed of roses, but in this case, it's full of thorns.All the actors, including IU and Park Bo-gum, deliver masterful performances.
The series is bittersweet, taking you through ups and downs. Moments of joy and triumph eventually turn into hardship and loss, creating a sea of emotions.
The series goes beyond the typical K-drama clichés; it reflects how hard and difficult life can sometimes be.
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This review may contain spoilers
I BEG U TO WATCH THIS
this is a MASTERPIECE!!!! what a drama I came across!! I've never cried so hard in a long time about stories that are not mine. the fact that everyone felt so close! at one point I felt like part of ae-sun's family itself! the grief of losing a mother, a child and worst of all of her husband whom she was with all her life I felt everything like it was mine!such a nice drama with details of every character! not a single flaw there is in the show! such an amazing character development of the main leads.
tho I wanted more screen time for geum-myeong's husband:(
loved the show<<3 totally the best thing I've ever watched
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MASTERPIECE
This moved me to the core of my heart, truly. Makes you think about your family and truly feel everything the story characters are going through. And last episode, cried so much, my heart still hurts. Would definitely, 100% recommend this to everyone! ♥️I have seen a lot of korean dramas in my life but this one really hit differently and even though the character lives were very different, i could still relate to so many things, it's truly refreshing! If you're still in doubt, please give it a try, you won't regret it.
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BEST DRAMA OF OUR GENERATION, IF YOU DISAGREE YOU DON'T HAVE TASTE.
I am only 21,fxxking 21, JUST 21.I am gonna recommend this drama to everyone around me even tho ik not all of them gonna watch it but I wish they give it a try.
I am still in my springs but sometimes it truly feels like it's autumn. But I got to learn so many things, I am happy that I gave it a try. I was reluctant to start this drama and the only thing I knew was IU and Bogum were the leads. Started this drama without knowing anything else, thought might be a comfy romcom but dude they made cry rivers. So many known faces it truly suprised me.
Being an eldest daughter this was a harsh watch for me. All the feelings from the show I could feel it too. Sometimes it was like I am watching my family on screen even tho my father is nothing like Gwan-sik, but whenever my mother finds new hobby all my father does is research abt my mother's new hobby and keeps talking abt it, he makes sure that she has somebody who's willing to listen to her rant abt her hobby.
I have no interest in romance for myself but If I ever find Yang Gwan-sik, I am stealing him and running away. I'll never pass an opportunity If I ever come across Yang Gwan-sik, I truly hope he exists.
There's a webtoon called "After school lesseons for an unripe apple " I truly love that webtoon, I've been reading it since it released. I think love like that and love this is truly once in a millennium and not everybody can have it.
It truly scares me to trust anybody else apart from my family, marry somebody I don't know about even the whole concept of marriage is scary for me but If a man like Gwan-sik is there, I think I might ace it.
If you're reluctant to watch this please give it a try, you'll love it. Hope everyone finds their Gwan-sik in this lifetime.💗🎀
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Masterpiece do século!
Não tenho palavras para descrever a experiência...E eu que pensava que não me remetia do The Good Bad Mother! Não sei o que dizer mais sem ser: perfeito, a não rever (não porque não foi bom, mas sim por ter medo de chorar outra vez nos mesmos episódios, fiquei tão mal que não conseguia levantar-me sequer) e não aconselhado a corações frágeis como o meu (principalmente o último episódio). Cada cena tem um propósito, cada personagem tem uma história que nos faz relembrar algum momento da nossa vida e se, por ventura, retirassem algum pormenor, a história já não teria o mesmo impacto.
Não tenho nada a dizer sobre o elenco, simplesmente incrível, cada ator/atriz foi escolhido/a a dedo e não mudaria absolutamente nada! A química entre o casal principal foi mágica (mas a IU prefere o Lee Jongsuk e eu entendo) e RECOMENDO todos, independentemente se gostam de k-dramas ou não, a verem.
Props!: para Park Bogum, a emoção na atuação do nosso sunshine foi de outro mundo!
Curiosidade: não só ‘cresci’ um pouco mais como pessoa como alguns factos mencionados ao longo da história me fizeram pensar o quão duro realmente foi sobreviver para os que estavam cá antes de nós.
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Masterpiece Series
The series is just mind blowing. Everyone should be watch the series. No matter how much I praise, words will fall short.The series is just mind blowing. Everyone should be watch the series. No matter how much I praise, words will fall short.
The series is just mind blowing. Everyone should be watch the series. No matter how much I praise, words will fall short.
The series is just mind blowing. Everyone should be watch the series. No matter how much I praise, words will fall short.
The series is just mind blowing. Everyone should be watch the series. No matter how much I praise, words will fall short.
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Masterpiece.
This kdrama touched my soul in a way nothing ever did. Decided to watch It after seeing everyone talking about It and It ended being the most beautiful show I've ever watched.It comforted me and broke me apart at the same time. I cried every episod, I can't.
It makes you realize how many things around us we take for granted, mostly our parents and what they do for us. I'm very attached to my family, mostly my mom, and some episodes were though, impossible to threathen my tears.
The cast Is amazing, the actors literally lived their characters, I fell in love with Iu and her acting skills, she managed to showcast mother and daughter perfectly, and have amazing chemistry with all of the male leads; but the way she portrayed AeSun is unforgettable, I coud always feel my empathy towards her no matter what.
Gwansik is THE standard, best male lead in kdrama history. The way he lived only for AeSun and his children until the very end. His ending broke me in tears: the way he asked for reassurance that she lived a happy life with him, the way he settled the kitchen lower because he wouldn't be around to help her and the way he brought hairclips for the next years after She told him who will buy them for her.
I will never get over them, may a love like their finds me every lifetime. They took care of each other until the end without regretting a single moment of how It went.
The scene where she cries in his arms in bed HAUNTS me. I love them too much.
I wanted to cry every scene that included adult Gwansik to be honest, his scenes with his daughter, the marriage and mostly his last scenes, they destroted me.
To the most beautiful drama, thank you for showing me what love is and what life Is about, thank you for showing us what to do.
"Thanks to you, my life has been spring everyday. Until the spring we meet again."
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if u didn't like it then u didnt understand the story n characters
I loved this drama so much 😭 i dont remember crying over a drama like this for so long, i loved the acting and that simple but not rly story. Remember to prepare tissues 🙂↕️ I almost drowned w my tears. I loved that we could see story from almost every character pov. IU's acting was so good that i lit didnt noticed that she played 2 characters. ......................................................................................................................................................Was this review helpful to you?
No villains, just life
Honestly, this is the drama of the year for me! What a heartbreaking yet beautiful story from start to finish. I am a daughter, a wife, and now also a mother--this drama really resonated with me. This whole drama illustrated the of each of these roles so well; life as a child looking at our parents, life as a parents with our children, and then life with our spouse. This drama has no villains--just life. Life happens. This drama did a great job depicting the story of life through two generations. I feel like words alone cannot do this drama justice. Such a masterpiece. Each episodes tugs at your heart and really makes you reflect on your own life. The pace is slow at first but if you can give a bit of patience, this drama will be worth your time.Was this review helpful to you?
