When Life Gives You Tangerines

Loved it

"When Life Gives You Tangerines" is a drama I would definitely recommend. It’s a touching story about two people who have loved each other since childhood. They went through countless hardships together, built a family, and faced many ups and downs—but no matter what, they always stayed together.

Among all the characters, my favorite was Yang Gwan-sik. From beginning to end, I felt a deep connection with him—both in his younger days and older version. My favorite scene was when he jumped into the water for the woman he loved.


IU delivered an amazing performance, as always, but I feel like she truly nailed it this time. I felt really bad for Park Yeong-beom’s character (Geum Myeong’s ex boyfriend). He truly loved her, and it was visible. But Geum Myeong wasn’t wrong either—he was torn between his mother and Geum Myeong, and he loved both deeply. He couldn’t leave his mother because she had made many sacrifices for him, and he respected her. There came a point where he was ready to leave his mother , but Geum Myeong realized it would hurt him even more. So, she made the right decision. Still, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.

Kim Seon Ho, as always, put his heart into playing Park Cheong-seop, the artist. His performance was top-notch. I especially loved the scene where he made that crazy expression after seeing his bride, and another where, after his wife gave birth, he said, “No more children!” because he couldn’t bear to see her suffer again.

There’s so much more I want to say about the other characters as well but I don't want to be spoiler but I feel good to mention those name and they are Geum Myeong's mother and brother and those three aunties —everyone gave their best.

I just wish that in the final episode, they had ended with a family photograph scene—maybe with a photographer clicking a picture of their happy family. That would’ve been the perfect ending.

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Why should we watch When Life Gives You Tangerines?

When Life Gives You Tangerines... It shows life in a way that makes you love life and living even though you should hate it. Honestly, I left a part of my heart in When Life Gives You Tangerines. I watched this series during the episode and while I was waiting for the four new episodes on Friday, it was the best month of my life. I can never forget this series. 😭
The acting... the soundtrack was so good, I could probably never fall in love with anyone other than Gwang Shik. When Go Myung and his first love didn't get along at the end, it showed how much Gwang Shik and Ae Sot loved each other, especially Gwang Shik, who was such a role model for their children. This series is amazing.

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This is obviously very good and as of today there are over two hundred 10/10 reviews on MDL very articulately explaining why. I don't want to waste anyone's time with parroting the same sentiments, so I'll focus on the three things I did not like.

⌲ When I watch slice of life life dramas there is a limit of how many sad, tragic events or emergencies I can take in a single show & this one definitely exceeded that limit. Just because this show has countless brilliant, heartwarming scenes, that doesn't mean it was easy to get through it for me, not at all. Emotional roller coaster-ing is common in this genre, but I feel really too many negative shocking things happened in this one life, sometimes in too quick of a succession.

⌲ In my opinion Kim Seon Ho's guest role is really strange. I could barely believe it that it's really him playing the character in the early episodes & I initially thought they took away a supporting actor's job to give the big star a cameo, but that is most probably not the case. Nonetheless this is really immersion breaking to me, after his character reunited with Geum Myeong he has "become" a completely different person. He has jarringly transformed from an interesting but flawed person into a guy that is -how can I put this- serves a fan service role to women, like how when people accuse various Asian dramas to be pornography for women, this is the kind of main character they are visualizing, I think.

⌲ And finally let's talk about the poet dreams. Poets are extraordinarily over represented in kdramas for some reason, but I think this is really not a great fit here. An extremely poor & smart adolescent girl, who has already gotten many slaps from life would never ever dream of becoming a poet by trade. As well made as the plot around this is throughout the entire show, it's just too absurd to me..
For example imagine that in an alternate timeline Ae Sun's dream had been to become simply just famous & near the end of her life she became a renowned poet due to a combination of talent and her extreme life experiences fulfilling promises made just the same ...


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As for scoring the drama I decided to go with 9. I understand why it's so highly regarded, why almost everyone is rating it at 10, it's just that I think Reply 1988 is much better than it & When Life Gives You Tangerines had moments that were really hard to get through at various points in the show. Of course entertainment means different things to every one of us & it's not really unreasonable that someone would watch this & think that this is the best thing they've ever seen. I just don't feel like giving a show a 10, when I to an extent feel relief that it's finally over.
There is also the fact that this show released at a time when it has been two forevers since another slice of life kdrama came out that could even come anywhere near this level of quality and plot quantity.

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“I found happiness in my own way. there was sunshine in my life too.”

If there’s a drama that perfectly captures our minds, it’s When life gives you tangerines.

It isn’t just about love; it’s about life, the struggles, the sacrifices, and the quiet moments that shape us.

This drama is so well written and i’d give my everything just to experience it for the first time again.

The cinematography is breathtaking. Jeju’s landscapes, tangerine orchards, and ocean views make everything feel so nostalgic and peaceful. IU and Park Bogum’s acting? Perfect. Their chemistry is so natural, it doesn’t even feel like acting. The drama is slow, but in a way that makes you want to soak in every second. It’s not just about romance; it’s about family, resilience, and the things we leave behind to chase our dreams.

It’s the kind of drama that makes you feel warm and sad at the same time. It doesn’t give you dramatic plot twists or unrealistic love stories. It just feels real.

I watched it with my grandmother which make this so much special for me. Watching this gave me comfort and sadness at the same time. We are too busy growing up to realise that our parents are growing old too.

A drama that feels like home.

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obra de arte!!!

Lindo! perfeito! esse dorama é um dos melhores que eu já assisti! muito delicado e forte! chorei até desidratar, cada episódio era um tiro no peito. Acredito que esse dorama mudou minha vida e minha visão de mundo. Em muitos momentos me identifiquei e vi minha família também.
De modo geral, a história é encantadora e muito profunda e é incrível como conseguiram juntar um cast tão perfeito, não só de aparência por se parecerem tanto como também pela qualidade das atuações. Todos foram muito bem e impressionantes. A cinematografia também é linda! fiquei apaixonada! A trilha sonora? perfeita! Enfim, muito feliz de ter visto esse dorama que é lindo do início ao fim!

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Your next comfort drama 10/10

From the very first moments, the drama’s intro sets the tone for an epic experience . The music, cinematography, and the attention to detail gives it a pure cinematic experience.

The story unfolds through a layered narrative spanning generations, beginning with a flashback to the 1950s in Jeju, where we witness the childhood of Oh Ae-Sun, born to a haenyeo (woman diver). This backdrop adds richness to the storytelling, intertwining themes of love, hardships, and societal norms—many of which still resonate in our present time.

Each character is thoughtfully written, bringing depth and uniqueness to the unfolding narrative. The drama appears to take multiple time skips, alternating between timelines. Young Ae-Sun, who dreams of becoming a poet, and the quiet yet devoted Gwan-Sik, whose reserved nature hides a journey of self-discovery. Their evolving relationship, filled with support and personal growth, adds an emotional weight to the story.

Bo Gum and IU’s on-screen chemistry is nothing short of pure perfection. Their interactions, from playful bickering to heartfelt moments of affection, make their relationship both endearing and deeply compelling. The drama captures love in its most tender and bittersweet form, making their struggles feel authentic and relatable.

One particular line stood out to me: “Their spring wasn’t a season to foster dreams, but to break them—and they did so willingly.” This sentiment lingers, highlighting how dreams evolve, shift, and sometimes fade, yet happiness can still be found in unexpected places. This is pure cinema I must say.

After watching the first four episodes, When Life Gives You Tangerines promises an emotionally rich journey, much like the fruit itself—blending the sour with the sweet. The breathtaking Jeju landscape enhances the storytelling, making it all the more captivating. While Ae-Sun and Gwan-Sik’s love story is at the heart of the drama, it’s only one layer in a broader exploration of family, sacrifice, and the resilience of the human spirit.

This drama is shaping up to be an unforgettable experience.

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A Poignant Meditation on Love, Time, and Fate

Some stories don’t just entertain—they stay with you, gently unfolding in your mind long after the final frame fades to black. When Life Gives You Tangerines is one of those rare dramas, a masterful blend of quiet longing, unfulfilled dreams, and the relentless passage of time. Set against the sweeping, sun-drenched landscapes of Jeju Island, the series is both a love story and an elegy to the lives we live, the choices we make, and the moments we let slip away.

At its heart, the drama follows Oh Ae-sun and Yang Gwan-sik, whose decades-long connection is marked by love, duty, and the weight of their circumstances. IU and Park Bo-gum bring a tender, youthful innocence to the early years of their story, portraying young lovers who dream of a future beyond the constraints of their small island town. Yet, as reality sets in and life takes its inevitable course, Moon So-ri and Park Hae-joon step into their older selves with a gravity that is both heartbreaking and deeply authentic. The transition between the two timelines is seamless—one of the drama’s greatest triumphs—allowing the audience to experience the full weight of time passing, of love persisting even when life refuses to bend in its favor.

More than just a romance, When Life Gives You Tangerines is a study in restraint. It resists melodramatic flourishes, opting instead for a narrative that breathes, allowing emotions to simmer rather than erupt. Conversations are sparse yet weighted, emotions are conveyed through glances rather than grand confessions, and the silences—oh, the silences—speak louder than words. Director Kim Won-seok (My Mister, Signal) masterfully crafts an atmosphere that is contemplative and deeply immersive, ensuring that every frame, every lingering shot of Jeju’s tangerine orchards, carries a sense of nostalgia and longing.

What makes the drama particularly remarkable is its commitment to realism. The supporting characters aren’t merely background players; they are essential, fully realized individuals who shape the world Ae-sun and Gwan-sik inhabit. The series captures the cultural and generational shifts that shape their lives, particularly the rigid expectations of the past and how they clash with personal desires. Even Jeju Island itself becomes a character—its beauty and isolation mirroring the emotional landscape of our protagonists.

And then, of course, there’s the writing. Screenwriter Im Sang-chun (When the Camellia Blooms) has a gift for crafting human stories—ones that are grounded yet poetic, brimming with a kind of quiet melancholy that feels universally resonant. Every character, no matter how small their role, is given purpose. No moment feels wasted. The result is a drama that feels less like a scripted series and more like peering into someone’s life, witnessing love in its rawest, most unembellished form.

It’s rare to find a drama that is as restrained as it is emotionally devastating, as beautifully shot as it is narratively profound. When Life Gives You Tangerines is all of those things—a slow-burning masterpiece that doesn’t demand attention but earns it, unfolding like a memory you weren’t aware you had. In the end, it leaves you with a quiet ache, a sense of loss, and a deep appreciation for the love stories that aren’t just about grand romantic gestures, but about the simple, ordinary moments that define a lifetime.

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A Deep Dive into Love, Time, and Culture

This is one of the best dramatic series I have seen so far. It’s a real journey through time, immersing us in this island, its culture, and this era. At the crossroads of changing times: patriarchal repression, when a woman’s existence was only allowed beside her husband. Here, we see an impeccably portrayed character of a strong, extroverted young woman with her determination and ideals.

The female characters (IU and her mother) are strong, fighters, determined, patient, but what I love is that they’re not selfish (like Emma Bovary, Carrie Miber... even though they have their nuances). Here, they are strong and deeply humane. There is a strong feminist message, but it’s so touching, full of love for their children, family, and values. The protagonist is grateful to her mother, and I love her character (a truly well-developed heroine).

Beside her is the boy who complements her: an introvert, always by her side, loyal, protective, but also a rebel. He loves his family and will go to the end in his desires. He doesn’t forget his wife’s dreams (it’s so idealized :)) but I love it :)

The first sincere love, touching, strong, funny, and at the same time awkward. All the veteran actors (the mother, so touching, so realistic and majestic) and the children are excellent. The pair of Bo Gam and IU look so good together; they perfectly execute their roles, they are them, and it suits them. We see IU in a completely new light, and I like it. Maybe Bo Gam is a little like his real self? In any case, it feels like he’s just being himself.

This is a masterpiece among Asian series, made in Korea. With one of the best directors, one of the best screenwriters, and talented actors. The cinematography, colors, like a painting: with beautiful transitions. And the moments with lots of action or comedic scenes are shot in a way that makes you feel part of their world.

The music with traditional elements is simply genius, both at the opening and throughout the series. And the song by Chu Da Hye (this singer was such a find for me) in a retro-disco style with some folk!!! is just incredibly cool, I absolutely adore it!

The style is slow, and we experience it as if we were reading a book rather than watching a series, opening every page and every chapter of their lives. This might not be for everyone, but those who are looking for emotions (of all kinds), a slow narrative, and outstanding work will be satisfied. The quality of the work is similar to *Pachinko*, but the atmosphere is completely different—lighter, even when it's sad.

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