A Masterpiece I'll Carry Forever
This is truly the best things I’ve ever watched — especially as someone who cherishes feel-good, family-centered stories.No glitter no glams. No over-the-top drama. Just pure, heartfelt slices of life… portrayed with honesty and grace.
Out of the 1000+ movies and series I’ve seen, this one rises to the top and will stay there for years to come.
What hit me the hardest was Ae-sun’s character — a quiet, resilient mother who sacrifices everything for her children.
I could see so many real-life moms in her… including my own.
To every mother out there: you are seen, valued, and loved more than words can say.
This show made my respect for moms skyrocket.
It also reminded me of something we often forget in today’s fast-paced world —
Family is the most precious thing we have.
In this era where we sometimes take our parents for granted, where appreciation and respect are fading...
“When Life Gives You Tangerines” is a beautiful wake-up call.
A reminder to hug our moms a little tighter, thank our dads a little more, and cherish the love we often overlook.
Everyone should watch this.
It’s not just a show — it’s a soft, warm reminder of what truly matters.
This show didn’t just entertain me.
It made me cry & reflect.
This will stay at the top of my heart for ages.
10/10. A must-watch. Life-changing.
"When Life Gives You Tangerines"
“Sometimes, a drama doesn’t need to shout to be unforgettable — it just needs to feel like home. And this one does.”
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This review may contain spoilers
beautiful drama
it is simply a beautiful Drama.It was so beautiful to see how the lives developed. How the characters grew, mastered situations, but were always there for each other.
What struck me personally and stuck in my mind was that the mother married her first love, but the daughter didn't. That's life, you never know what will happen.
I enjoyed every second. There have been few series, films or books that have captivated me so much.
Sometimes it takes not much, just the right thing at that moment.
I sometimes had a real rollercoaster of emotions.
But I laughed, cheered and cried.
I will definitely watch it again.
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This review may contain spoilers
Not for me...
Just my opinion, move on if it bothers you.All of the actors were excellent.
Kind of a slow, slice of life story, but it didn't work for me.
I must say I did love the last episode.
-I didn't like the FL at all. She was so self-absorbed.
-ML was a doormat.
-The haenyeo were constantly bickering and fighting, I could have done without them.
-the makeup on the leads was too brown. So show that they were tanned because it was Jeju?
-too much going back and forth in time.
-there seemed to be many characters that I didn't like, which made it difficult to stick with it.
Almost everyone else in the world loved this, so I'd say give it a try. Don't go by me!
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The most perfect show that I have ever seen
I know this drama is getting such high praise and it may cause people to be skeptical but truly, it deserves the highest praise. It is the most well written kdrama out of all the kdramad I have seen.I feel like I’m pretty generous with my ratings for shows because even though there may be multiple things they could have done better, it’s usually a no overall enjoyable.
However when I give this drama a 10/10 I truly mean it from the bottom of my heart.
Everything is perfect. I have no notes. It’s DEVASTATING and heartbreaking at times but it brought forth so many emotions it was such a pleasure to watch and a very valuable experience.
If you’re hesitating, don’t. Just keep a box of tissues nearby, you’ll need it.
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A Kdrama that leaves a mark
When Life Gives You Tangerines” is hands down the best K-drama I’ve ever watched, and trust me, I’ve seen over 200. It’s an emotional masterpiece that perfectly blends heart wrenching moments, deep character growth, and breathtaking storytelling. Every scene lingers, every tear feels earned, and every performance is unforgettable. The way it explores love, loss, and healing is nothing short of brilliant. It’s the kind of drama that stays with you long after the final episode, leaving you both devastated and grateful to have experienced it.Was this review helpful to you?
A beautiful portrait of life
Beautifully melancholic. The sweet, sour, bitter all the flavours that make up life. cartharhic and emotionally draining yet it leaves you with this sweet pain in the heart; painful yet warm.Brilliant performance by the entire cast. Full of heart and a very relatable human story. A very realistic love story which is reminiscent of our parent's stories. Loved this drama which deeply touched me through its deeply poetic and nostalgic narrative.
""None of us have fully grown up.
But every time our hearts felt growing pains,
We all grew a little"
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A quilt of love, stitched with tangerines
Occasionally, a slice-of-life drama comes along and quietly etches itself into your soul — timeless, tender, and unshakably profound. When Life Gives You Tangerines is exactly that. A drama so moving, so poetic, and so intimately familiar, it feels less like fiction and more like memory. I honestly don’t even know where to begin with my praises — how do you put into words a series that, from the very first frame, already feels like home?Set against the soft, earthy rhythms of Jeju Island, this drama unfolds not with grandeur, but with grace. It’s an ensemble cast in its truest, richest form — where every character, no matter how brief their screen time, brings something meaningful to the table. But at its core, this is a story of three generations of women: a grandmother, a mother, and her daughter. A reminder that no matter how old we get, when it comes to our parents, we remain children — longing, questioning, and carrying pieces of them in everything we do.
IU and Moon So Ri deliver performances that can only be described as masterful. Watching IU portray both Oh Ae Sun and her younger mother was nothing short of jaw-dropping. The way she captures the shifting nuances of women living through the 70s and 90s is a testament to her extraordinary range and emotional intuition. And Moon So Ri — a powerhouse in every sense — carries Ae Sun’s present-day chapters with a quiet, aching strength that anchors the entire narrative.
Park Bo Gum and Park Hae Jun also deserve their flowers — the two faces of Yang Gwan Sik, both equally breathtaking. Gwan Sik, as a character, was written with so much care and love that you could practically feel it radiating off the screen. His steadfast devotion to Ae Sun, unwavering through every season of her life, brought me to tears more times than I can count. And though this story centered on women, I adored how deeply it emphasised that Ae Sun’s story — her survival, her spirit — was made possible because she had her “Steelheart” beside her.
What makes this series so poetic isn’t just the narration, the literary references, or even the beautiful, sometimes heart-wrenching quotes scattered throughout. It’s the soul of it. The way each episode is carefully stitched together like a memory, a poem, a cherished photo album. The way every side character — from the resilient Geum-Myeong and her quietly supportive husband, to the children and neighbours, to the smallest cameos — becomes part of the family tapestry without fanfare. There’s even an incredible quote from the final episode I can’t forget (though I may not have it word-for-word): “My mum made cuts to her own life to quilt mine together.” That line alone broke and healed me.
The story flows with the melancholy of nostalgia — something our Ae Sun longs for from the very beginning — and the final episode brings this full circle with utter grace. The sharing of Ae Sun’s poems, her mother’s miraculous presence, and that final wave of soft fantasy is what made it truly unforgettable. It was a touch of magic, just enough to believe in miracles without disrupting the emotional realism of the show.
And of course, the music. A beautifully curated OST that blends old classics and newer tracks with restraint and emotion, perfectly mirroring the ebb and flow of the series. Even the background scores felt like memory — never obtrusive, always moving.
I could honestly go on forever, but I’ll leave it here by simply saying: 폭싹 속았수다 is a quiet masterpiece. A literary, lyrical homage to mothers and daughters, to memory and sacrifice, to the pain of growing up and the joy of looking back. It’s the kind of drama that will stay perched at the top of my favourites list, now and always.
No doubt about it — a full-hearted, tangerine-warmed 10/10. Bravo to the entire cast and crew for creating something so beautiful, it feels lived in. Thank you for this Jeju masterpiece.
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a beautiful display of love and life throughout generations
I want to keep this short because I fear I might go on too long about this masterpiece of a drama...This is about the purest forms of love and resilience throughout generations of a family. This is a character-driven drama, and it works because I fell in love with the characters from ep 1. I laughed, cried, and got angry with them, as it goes with life and its many ups and downs. Sometimes I related with them, but other times, I didn't, and that made me fall in love with them even more. The drama is about all the different forms of love that one can have, whether it's family love, romantic, or even self-love. This felt like a memoir brought to life, and it was a breathtaking journey to join.
What I'll take from this the most is the love between a child and its parents. This tugged at my heartstrings, and I don't think I'll have to rewatch this any time soon, but that's only because I'll remember several scenes and I'll take its lessons with me.
MUCH LOVE to the amazing cast, staff, and production to making this gem. no notes, prepare many boxes of tissues as you board this amazing ship that is When Life Gives You Tangerines.
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Controversial opinion but I enjoyed the love story between Ae-Sun’s daughter Yang Geum-myeong, the military guy, Park Yeong-Bum and the artist, Park Chung-seob. I feel it was more developed and happened more linearly whereas Ae-suns and Gwansik happened way to quickly and there was no real development to them getting together. I personally don’t see the hype with this one, maybe it’s just the genre as it isn’t something I usually venture into. I really tried giving this one a go but after a while the characters became tiresome. Especially Ae-sun she’s so whiny and annoying! Gwansik changes so much from the beginning to when he’s an adult, his personality changes to the point where it feels like an entirely different character. The story felt way to melodramatic and just using it as a way to make people feel something. It really repetitive and annoying the fact that so many characters kept dying, I understand why it’s added but it got to the point where I couldn’t care less who it was. Ae-Sun & Gwansik aren’t the best parents either they completely sideline their youngest son not caring about him at all, whereas the oldest daughter gets the most attention and the best treatment. The flashbacks to present to past got really tedious too, the show would’ve been so much better if it just stayed linearly instead of jumping back and forth between the four decades. This drama just feels like another overhyped kdrama that’s really not worth watching.
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Nice and meaningful
The plot, the scenes, the filming methods, and the actors are all great! It really makes me feel involved and moved. It is really heartwarming, sad, and happy. It is a really good drama. 🍊🥹❤️I can't wait to see what happens next, and I'm really looking forward to next week's update!The casting is also very good, and IU is really suitable. She performed both roles very well. She is a smart actor. I look forward to more works from IU in the future! Park Bo Gum is also very suitable for the role of the male lead!Was this review helpful to you?
Yeah !Queen is back.
A masterpiece in 2025. IU and Park Bogum's performance deserves a praise! ✨💯IU showing why she’s a master in acting and comes back on fire. This drama is great.If the first episode is so emotional, what will the rest of the episodes be like? I couldn't hold back my tears after watching the first episode.
I can say one thing with 100% certainty: After watching this drama, the definition of love will change.
At first I thought this drama was like a normal Korean drama but now this drama has completely changed my opinion.
In this drama, we will see how much one can do and how much one can endure for the person one loves.I have noticed one thing that is the two generations of love.
I'm really excited to see a new drama with IU after a long time.But I don't know why I don't like IU's short hair.I like IU's long hair.But let's not pay attention to these things, let's talk about the play a little.
There is no doubt that IU is a talented artist.
His acting skills will make everyone's heart flutter.He can adapt himself to all types of acting with ease.Because of this quality of adapting to all of IU's performances, all of us acting lovers are fascinated by her.
I was crying the whole 4 episodes.Bro I’ve never cried so much in any drama before, I really love the storyline!
In episode six, the scene where the child dies, even if it wasn't so brutal at the beginning, brought tears to my eyes.
But one thing is true here, Park Bo gum acted like a supportive husband here. Despite the death of the child, he fulfilled his duties as a caring husband.
The whole theme is breaking the generational trauma and I am here for it. The need to protect this couple is so strong 😭This drama really a epitome of the kdrama like how did you write a script like this and the actors that delivers the script are seriously masterpiece ✨💅 each and every actors are done their character well❤and importantly our Aesun and gwanshik doing their best in this drama 🤌❣️💜💖
This is one the deepest and most meaningful kdrama I have ever seen...I was crying through the 4 episodes,the purity of love shown by the mother was tremendously heart wrenching.This will be one the most memorable kdramas of my life.
This two cast are mind blowing their facial expressions are out of word it’s toooo great.
But one thing that will remain in my mind is why the drama will be released only one day a week.
I am very upset for that.I would like to humbly request you to release the drama twice a week.
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This review may contain spoilers
If it is about true love what about the love between Geum Myeong and her boyfriend?
This family drama beautifully portrays love, sacrifice, and resilience, with the entire cast delivering heartfelt performances. However, the film feels slow and repetitive at times, making it a bit depressing to watch. It also raises important questions about the parents’ evident discrimination between their son and daughter. Another key storyline shows the female lead’s deep love for her boyfriend, but due to his mother’s interference, she breaks up and marries someone she does not truly love. The film touches on deep love but leaves the emotional impact of this heartbreak somewhat unresolved.Was this review helpful to you?
