Twinkling Watermelon

the best drama of 2023

I've never written a review before, actually, I have no idea how to write one... but this drama deserves to be honoured. many time travel dramas lack the necessary context behind them, however, I felt this drama perfectly captured the present, past and future and still somehow made it understandable.
i guess you could call this a melo-comedy... a drama has never made me laugh and cry so much throughout every episode. this really touched my heart even reminding me that our parents all have a story about their youth.
as for the casting, every actor was practically made for this role somehow.
the only issue I have with this drama is the rushed ending. the pacing throughout the drama is actually quite perfect and makes sense, however, in the end, it was a mess. this would have been perfect as a 20-episode.
all I can say is, you need to watch this to understand the hype, because for once I can understand why a drama is so hyped up. and go hug your mother.
VIVA LA VIDA

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When I tell you this show is life changing...I really mean it

The emotions I have evoked from Twinkling Watermelon are unexplainable; never in my life have I cried so much of sorrow and happiness from watching one show.
When I watched this, I felt as though I was really there, with them, laughing with them, crying with them, fighting for my dreams, living the magical youth, stumbling across life problems and eventually overcoming them...

This Kdrama truly is the definition of everything happens for a reason, and therefore we should never miss a second of our precious lives and value it with all our hearts.
However, us humans, we take things for granted, and we don't appreciate what we already have, which is significantly shown in this drama. Once we lose something so valuable to us, only then do we realise how much we should have treasured it. This show wants us to see that life is worth living, and even at your lowest point, you should never give up, whether it's because you lost a loved one, or you feel like no one loves you and you see no point in living, or maybe that you lost your hearing...never give up on your dreams!
As someone who struggles and doesn't always see the point in living life, this drama truly gave me hope.

What I loved about this drama, is the portrayal of the deaf and those who are unable to speak. Many people in society look down on them, but even with disabilities like these, they don't give up and move on, as they become stronger day by day. I also loved how the characters communicated between each other using sign language, it was so beautiful and I truly think that it's one of the most precious languages out there, as you speak through actions and not words. You pay attention to every little detail to understand the other person.
This drama places a huge emphasis that we should be grateful for what we have, like hearing, and even if we don't have it, life is still worth living.

STORY
It was well written and thought through, there wasn't a second when I paused and thought, this is getting boring and it feels like it's being dragged, no. This was definitely not the case. It was all connected from start to finish, which made it so entertaining to watch. The time travelling from 2023 to 1995 was so intriguing, as it gave Ha Eun Gyeol the opportunity to not only try to change the future, but to also meet his parents when they were young, make new fantastic friends and make unforgettable memories...
This show is based around a lot of factors: like music and passion and how Eun Gyeol helped his father (Yi Chan) to create a band. Additionally, falling in love for the first time and how truly beautiful and innocent it can be.
This drama presents how deaf people overcome their struggles. Additionally, this drama shows the relationships between the loved ones in families and how they support each other no matter what, it also targets the sensitive topic of domestic abuse and inequality, this is to spread the word and to show how people overcome it.
The story is just wonderful in every aspect, I really can't think of any flaws.

ACTING/ CAST
What can I say, the acting was absolutely outstanding. If you were to ask me who stood out the most, or who carried the show, I'll reply with: I can't choose, they all did. Everyone in the cast carried the show, It was absolutely amazing.

Ryeoun is such a talented actor I must say, this was the first project I have watched with him, so I didn't know what to expect, but oh my- he for sure delivered. Every emotion he portrayed as Eun-gyeol, I could feel through the screen. The way he cared for everyone so much, and was determined to save everyone from their problems and worries; will always grasp my heart with appreciation.

I will also never get over the most iconic duo and the beautiful bond between Eun-gyeol and his father, Yi Chan. Just tears. The father and son relationship is just so exquisitely presented.

And of course Choi Hyun-Wook, the God- given actor he is, who played Yi-Chan, was beyond words amazing. He supported his son back, was always ready to sacrifice himself for someone he deeply cared for. His realisation when we fell for Cheong-ah is the sweetest thing ever. He put the time and effort into learning sign language just for her. And when he hit rock bottom he didn't give up, he carried on fighting and believing in himself; he is the strongest character in this series.

Furthermore, our wonderful actress Shin Eun-soo who I'm also new to, was extraordinary. She had one of the hardest roles, she played Cheong-ah who is a deaf girl with family problems. Throughout the whole series she didn't speak and communicated through sign language which I think is hands down incredible and deserves an applaud!
She conveyed her feelings through emotions, through her eyes and actions, I was absolutely stunned, what an amazing performance!

Finally, Seol In-ah. Such an inspiring actress who played two roles, one of her mother when she was younger in 1995 (Se-kyung), and the other as her present self, Eun-Yu, in 2023. This should be praised, because she effortlessly portrayed two completely different roles, with opposite personalities tremendously.
Seol In-ah shows through her character how in the beginning she doesn't have the will to live and masks out her true self, filled with pain and regrets. Everyone sees only her bright side and her outgoing personality which many fall for, when in reality she is fighting internal problems and doesn't have such a bright personal life. However later, due to a life changing experience, where she meets many new friends, gains support from Eun-gyeol, and falls in love. Eun-Yu overcomes this and realises life is worth living.

In terms of the rest of the cast, they were all absolutely splendid in portraying their characters. Yi-Chan's grandmother was so adorable, and supportive, the band group in 1995 were so fun and always happy to help each other, Eun-gyeol's parents and his brother (Eun-ho) in the modern time were always there for him too.
All the actors in this show were absolutely incredible. Bravo!

MUSIC
The OST was beautiful. Especially because this drama was heavily based around music and band groups, the director and filming team had to seriously focus on the compositions. It contains 90's rock songs and modern pop, and the background music was also fabulous.

The ending was better than I expected. I heard it will be bitter-sweet which is partially true, because unfortunately what Eun-gyeol was so desperate to change, didn't work out, he wasn't able to accomplish it. However, everyone got their happy ending in the end, which I was so relieved to see. They all deserved it after all.

Throughout the whole series I cried every episode emotionally, which is surprising because this rarely happens, and I was so touched in every way. This show will forever have a special place in my heart, which I will never forget. This drama showed me that life is worth living, and if I'll ever feel at my lowest point, I'll remember Twinkling Watermelon, and reassure myself to stay strong and keep fighting, just like characters did.
And this is why for some people, this show may be life changing, it's full of life lessons and motivation to keep going.

So go and watch this show, maybe your perspective on life will also change...

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THE *BEST* KDRAMA EVERRRRR

"Twinkling Watermelon" is hands down one of the most fun dramas out there. I mean, it's got everything—comedy, romance, and a bunch of talented actors who totally kill it. Ryeoun and Seol In Ah? They're like the dream team, stealing the spotlight with their killer acting skills. And let's not forget about Choi Woo Hyuk and Shin Eun Soo—they bring so much depth to the story, it's unreal.

I was hooked on this drama from the moment it premiered on TVN. And let me tell you, I've watched it more times than I can count. The plot is wild—it's all about this 18-year-old dude who gets in a fight with his dad, who's deaf, and then wants to smash his guitar. But then, he goes into this magical shop and ends up time-traveling back to 1995 when his dad was his age and not deaf yet. Now he's on a mission to stop his dad from going deaf in the future.

As he's hanging out with his dad in the past, he meets his mom and this girl who's also from the future. She's on a mission of her own—trying to find her mom's first love. Thing is, they don't know she's from the future at first. It's a whole mess, but they all end up forming these super tight bonds and, surprise surprise, falling in love along the way.

Seriously, there are moments when you forget they're father and son—they're just so in sync, it's like they're soulmates or something!

And let's talk about the chemistry between the characters—it's through the roof. Ryeoun and Seol In Ah, and Choi Woo Hyuk and Shin Eun Soo? They absolutely nail their relationships, making them feel so real and touching.

But "Twinkling Watermelon" isn't just your run-of-the-mill time-travel drama. Nah, it's so much more than that. It's all about family, love, and the power of relationships. It's a real feel-good reminder that no matter how tough life gets, there's always hope for better days ahead.

Seriously, if you haven't seen "Twinkling Watermelon" yet, you're missing out big time. It'll have you laughing, crying, and rooting for the characters every step of the way. So grab some snacks, kick back, and get ready for a rollercoaster of emotions. Trust me, you won't regret it!

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Actually One of the Best Things I Watched This Year

I’M NOT EXAGGERATING WHEN I SAY I CRIED LIKE 12 TIMES DURING THE LAST EPISODE

Ok but fr, this show was actually so amazing and I’ve recommended it to almost everyone I know. There really is nothing I would change about it tbh. I’m really going to miss watching this show every week. If you’re thinking about if you should watch it or not, stop thinking and just watch it. You will not be disappointed I promise (if you are I think you might be a psychopath). Please, please, please watch it and give the actors lots of love because they all did an amazing job!!

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It has its flaws, but everything else about this drama is beautiful

I absolutely loved this drama. There's no mistaking that there are some plot holes here and there and that a lot of people wish they had gotten to see more of the "ending", but I think everything else outweighs that and makes this a 10/10 for me. The characters, the acting, the story were all amazing, emphasis on the character/acting because WOWWWW it's been a while since I was so attached to so many characters while watching a k-drama. Dramas can often become boring to me even after initially enjoying them but this show had me hooked.
Some say giving this a 10 is overrating it but I think this drama has a really beautiful story that so many people can enjoy, its so very touching.

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The best drama of the year

MASSIVE SPOILERS AHEAD

Let me start by saying that I usually hate time travel dramas. They're tropey and tend to follow the same plot. The characters tend to spend too much time freaking out over the culture shock, etc. I also actively avoid shows that are currently airing. I have no patience, and I prefer binge-watching. This drama changed my perspective. While I initially started watching because of the Reply series vibes and Ryeoun's performance in Adult Trainee, I was quickly won over by the cast's chemistry, amazing acting, and the refreshing take on the recently overdone time travel trope.

This has to have one of the best cast chemistry of all time. They felt like childhood friends. The cast's acting was amazing, especially Choi Hyun Wook and Shin Eun Soo's performance. Yi Chan and Cheong Ah were my favorite characters and my favorite couple. Yi Chan as a character was so charismatic you couldn't help but fall for him. His bromance with Eun Gyeol was so funny and endearing. His romance with Cheong Ah was so sweet. You have to watch the drama just for their scenes. Shin Eun Soo shines in this drama with her ability to convey such emotions through sign language and expressions alone. Cheong Ah goes through a lot of highs and lows in this drama, and she becomes her own hero. The writers tug at your heartstrings throughout.

This drama had me emotionally spent by the end. I cried at least once per episode. The writing, acting, and OST worked together to just rip me apart. That ending was beautiful. The return to 2023 was a little jarring. Suddenly everyone was famous and rich. It was too different for me, but that all ended when the parents' friends showed up. Intersplicing the younger versions of the characters with the older ones brought back the wholesome and sweet vibe of the show.

I did like the changes made to Yi Chan's future. He still had his friends by his side and they all learned sign language for him and his wife. I appreciated that he still became deaf, despite Eun Gyeol's efforts, because it wasn't something that needed correcting. Eun Gyeol's impact was ensuring Yi Chan didn't abandon his friends and dreams.

I feel like I could spend hours listing all the things I love about this drama. It was such a sweet story and I'm definitely rewatching it whenever I feel nostalgic for a simpler time. It's one of my favorite dramas of all time.

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Unexpectedly Charming

I went into this show with little expectations, just thinking it would be another teen love story with a twist. From the minute I started it until the very last episode I got the most wonderful treat. The way Ryeoun and Choi Hyun Wook absolutely embodied their characters, the classic sight gags and overall energy of this show definitely created a different and enjoyable time travel show. The creativity the writers put into the series could be felt and the way relationships evolved. Each one was unique and you could see that. There was no anxiety induced intense scenes that made you question if you should keep watching since the show revolved around the relationships of the teens and not so much the tragic backstory of the 4 main characters. This is definitely at the top of my “rewatch when I’m feeling down” list.

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Excellent story about love, friendship, … totally recommend it

Quoting Tara Tara from dramacool…. I liked the way she phrased the comments:
“First of all, thanks to Jin Soo Wan for writing such a wonderful script, thanks to the director who masterfully realized it, thanks to the actors who made these characters so real that we cried and laughed along with them. This series had everything a quality series should have. There was laughter, and tears, and anger and compassion, and little life lessons that we all learned once but this hectic and chaotic life made us forget them somewhere along the way. I know we were all hoping that Yi Chan would be able to hear but this was actually the last in a series of lessons that this series has taught us. Running away from reality is not the solution to the problems we face, tackling the problems is the only way. We should use what we have been given in the best possible way, that is, use our disadvantages as a driving force. Exactly what Yi Chan did.”

Every episode made me laugh and cry… music was excellent… acting was great… pace was really good.
Overall.. yes, all the hype is absolutely true… it is a great story…

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A gem

This series is a rare gem that delivers consistently from start to finish. Every episode is engaging, with no dull moments or unnecessary fillers. The friendships feel genuine, the family dynamics are beautifully layered, and the emotional beats land with precision. The blend of humor, heart, and heartfelt growth is handled with remarkable balance. The cast is exceptional, and the band moments add a nostalgic warmth that stays long after the episode ends. The only thing I wished for was a proper look at Eun-yo and Se-kyung’s relationship after she came back from past. Still, this show shines brightly and earns a solid 10/10 from me.

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A Promising Drama Held Back by One Annoying Character

**Review of "Twinkling Watermelon"**

"Twinkling Watermelon" is a drama that a lot of people really liked, but it didn’t fully work for me. I can see why it’s popular, but I struggled with the character Se Kyeong, who I found really annoying. Whenever she was on screen, it made the drama less enjoyable for me.

The first few episodes were pretty good, but the middle of the drama got a bit boring. Things picked up again towards the end, but not in the way I wanted. The ending left me feeling a bit disappointed and unsure about the whole show.

I’d still recommend this drama to someone who doesn’t mind one character being annoying. Unfortunately, Se Kyeong’s character ruined it for me, which is a shame because I really liked the rest of the show, especially the touching relationship between Eungyeol and Yi Chan and the emotional scenes with Chung Ah.

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Will Definitely Be Added To My ‘Favorites’ Box!

SPOILER:


99% of the time, I only watch K, J and C dramas. I can’t remember when last I watched anything from Hollywood.
My criteria are that all episodes must already available AND already subtitled, plus it must be romantic with a happy ending. So, now you know something of why I put a spoiler alert.

Because you’re probably unfamiliar with the cast, I’ll try and make them memorable.
Eun Gyeol ( Ryeoun) Guitar Man ML1
Ha Yi-chan ( Choi Hyun-wook) ML2 Guitar Man’s Dad
Cheong-ah (Sin Eun-soo) FL1 Cello Girl
Se-kyung (Seol In-ah) FL2 Deaf Artistic Girl and ML1’s Mom
Along with other delightful and some scary characters. In fact, one of the really good looking 1995 band members has his bad past create quite a bit of havoc.

This is not a light-hearted rom-com, though many parts had me laughing so much my stomach hurt. I got swept away on a roller coaster of emotions, and cried my eyes out in parts, too. In fact, I cried so much cos at one stage it seemed hopeless, soI went back to check again if it DID actually have a happy ending! Some of it was chilling, where the headmistress plays her part-( in abusing Deaf Artistic Girl)- so convincingly you can’t help be appalled, and end up hating her (headmistress.)

Guitar Man is the CODA- Child Of Deaf Adults to his parents and also a a deaf brother. He tries really hard to be selfless and to subjugate his guilty passion for music and guitar playing. He isn’t successful so plays anonymously initially. I think this is clever, to make his passion music and to bring in the musical CODA.( In sheet music it signifies that the musical composition is nearing completion. Guitar Man was taught that by the grandfather of Cello Girl when the grandfather was teaching him to play the guitar. This is how all the lives in a drama series entangle.)

Most of the time Guitar Man succeeds in being the obedient child who strives to excel academically,and in all other areas, where he can be seen as an asset, and good example, so his parents can bask in the reflected glory. His parents aren’t knowingly bad in this respect, it’s almost an unconscious pressure they exert.

When Guitar Man’s Dad discovers his son’s secret passion, they clash, and Guitar Man rebels, and lands up at the time travel musical shop. Once he travels back in time he meets his charismatic, often hot-headed, but always well-meaning 1995 Dad. Cello Girl also travels back in time via the same music shop. She’s had enough of her home-life/situation, too. The younger version of his Mom, Deaf Artistic Girl is , of course, already there , and also enters the picture. So their lives, Drama-land style, intertwine.

Guitar Man and Cello Girl are unaware that both are time travellers until nearly the end. She tries to help Guitar Man prevent any disaster which might be the reason for Guitar Man’s 1995 Dad going deaf.

I got a bit lost with Cello Girl’s back story, as I thought she was the adopted child who was supposed to replace a child who died. That she was the adopted child who took up the cello in a desperate bid to try and gain her alcoholic Mom’s attention. How is she then a carbon copy of her 1995 “Mom” then? Confusing, or maybe it’s just me that is confused.. I never had time to go over earlier episodes to see how I missed some of that story so I will definitely need to watch it again. But even if I weren’t confused, I will watch it again, sometime in the future.

Both time travellers leave the only chance that they can, when the two moons appear in the sky. Guitar Man, who left 1995 feeling like a devastated failure re-enters a very different 2023 . Him and Cello Girl meet up again.

The ending satisfied my romantic bent. A lovely and very romantic kiss between our leads. It seems to me that the female leads in most dramas generally aren’t allowed to kiss so much as just be the recipient, so it is almost always up to the man to make it convincing, but Shin Eun-soo participated nicely. Ryeoun put his heart and soul into this series. Love his acting...loved the guitar playing parts (of both the men.) Many actors can’t cry convincingly- he acts very well generally -and cries absolutely convincingly.

The second leads were captivating and adorable. Again. Choi Hyun-Wook kisses beautifully (and cries convincingly). So nice for us, their audience, as often, though the second leads are shown to be romantically together, you hardly ever have a really breath-taking romantic moment/ satisfying kiss between them. This series was refreshingly different. .There’s a lot of gaps in this series. We learn that the Dad of Deaf Artistic Girl was hell-bent on hustling her away abroad to study poste-haste. How did Guitar Man’s parents then meet up again? What happened to them, and to other characters, in the years from 1995 ? Surely an 8 part side series could be made here?

To conclude: if you like the romantic, coming- of age time- travel genre that has some depth, it is well worth watching.

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