Twinkling Watermelon

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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Back To The Future--But More Heartwarming

I finally finished this with my sister and we LOVED it.

I had wondered if the high rating was deserving, and I think it is.

It is certainly unique as far as Kdramas go; the pacing and plot does not feel particularly tropey or cliche in the typical Kdrama way, with a really unique main character setup since the the ML and his dad (who I guess is technically the 2ML) are basically equal parts the ML. We see more of the internal world of Eun Gyeol (the ML), but it's Ha Lee Chan that this story revolves around, and he is ultimately the main focal point.

It was SUCH an endearing premise and so beautifully executed. My sister and I loved how the ML basically acted as the parent his parents never had, and his presence in their past (paired with the love he shows them) changes all of their futures in such cool ways.

By going to the past, Eun Gyeol helped his parents deepen their connection to those around them and build lasting community built on found family, compassion, thoughtfulness, self-sacrifice and love. He opened up a new world for both of them out of the fullness of love they had given him that he gave back to them when they needed it most.

I also love the theme of a child learning compassion and empathy for their parents' story (this is true for the ML and FL). After traveling to his parents' past, Eun Gyeol has such a different perspective of the imperfect parents he already loved to pieces, and I just loved how much he cried over them and their hardships, struggles, and pain. (It was refreshing to see the ML cry so often, and over things completely unrelated to romance. He now might be one of my favorite MLs of all time.) And, ironically, while Eun Gyeol parents his parents, haha, he also gets to have a second childhood, learning how to let go, let loose, have fun and do what he loves. For the first time, he also allows himself to play, fall in love and be a kid. (And he gets to do that with his very own dad while they are the same age. Eun Gyeol is a fussy mother hen, though, and he drives Lee Chan bonkers in the most adorable ways. I love that Lee Chan can also eventually see the place of deep care his over-protectiveness comes from; that was a lovely touch).

Some didn't like the ending, as they say it was a cop out and gave the wrong message about what was important. I disagree. The way my sister and I saw it was that the changed future shows the results of the love and care Eun Gyeol gave his parents in the past that changed their stories and life trajectories (for the better). He helped catalyze their growth and launched them into a more secure, grounded, flourishing independence and confidence. Because of him, they had more tools, stronger relationships, and realizations that allowed them to grow into a more stable flourishing. A byproduct was that this allowed them to not NEED Eun Gyeol in the same unhealthy way they needed him before he went to the past, and which gave him the freedom and independence he always craved. By selflessly helping his parents, he helped himself.

Another thing I loved is that all the characters in the past learned some form of sign language to draw Cheong Ah into their world and help her belong. As a result, I think it ended up being a crucial part of the main characters' stories changing in the future. And while Eun Gyeol's relationship with his dad in the past is just adorable and hilarious, Eun Gyeol's relationship with his mom is precious--he gives her a voice, and fights for her to have the dignity of a human and the quality of life of a beloved daughter. His aggressive, unabashed protection of her was just brilliantly and beautifully showcased. Eun Gyeol displays a man at his best--when he's wielding his strength to fight for the dignity and flourishing of those unable to fight for themselves.

It's also nostalgic in a variety of ways because of when it takes place; the 90's setting gives it a slight flavor of Reply 1988 which had such a deeply aching, nostalgic quality to it (the last episode of that drama tore me into little pieces and left me in a puddle). Both dramas do such a great job capturing the lovely, fleeting beauty of youth, and the hope, dreams and joy that accompany it. Beautiful memories are forged in that time of life, and this is one of the dramas that capture some of the quality of what it might feel like to relive those memories.

I kind of wish Episode 16 wasn't so darn emotional (it packs a punch), but it's a beautiful ending, and I think they wrapped up everything very well. The way they filmed some of the last scenes reminded me of the way they retroactively brought Hayden Christensen to be Anakin Skywalker's ghost in Return of the Jedi instead of the old dude that originally played Darth Vader (and don't worry, I'm not saying anyone dies). You'll know what I mean when you see the end.

The cast was awesome, but Choi Hyun Wook was so darn stinkin' cute. He was hilarious, and fit the role to a T. He just steals your heart. This is also by far my favorite drama with Ryeoun, too. He acted his heart out, and I love his deep, soft, velvety voice. Neither ML stole the limelight, but together, they stole the screen. Cheong Ah was a close second in cuteness, and she did a fabulous job with just her expressions and eyes.

Such a heartfelt, poignant, powerful, and beautiful watch. Highly recommend!

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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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Loved it but something was missing

I honestly loved the story. I liked how it was going but the ending felt a little off? I felt like there could be more to the ending. Like how Chung Ah reacted to Yichan's hearing loss, how they overcame the struggle. Or something like how Eun yu:'s family ended up in 2023, though there were not any changes but yk Eunyu met Sekyung in 1995. I felt like in the ending it was more focused on Eun gyeol and Eun yu and they didn't show much of the struggle of Yichan and Chung Ah. But otherwise i absolutely loved the story . I loved how well written the characters were. I loved Chung Ah's father's character development, how he tried to rebuild his relation with his daughter. And I'll be honest I was more interested in Chung Ah and Yi chan than the main couple 😶‍🌫️ idk but they seemed wayy too cute 🙈

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VIVA LA VIDA ???????

Hands down best kdrama of 2023 or to say best of all time (atleast in my opinion), It is an all-round show, telling us the story of a CODA (Child of deaf adults), which will make you laugh, cry, happy and sad all at their BEST. A show about a family, love, dream, passion, child-parents relation and those fluttering hearts at the age of 18 (With the addition of TIME-TRAVEL). All four main leads RyeoUn, Choi Hyunwook, Shin Eunsoo and Seol Inah were amazing in portraying the details of their characters.
PS : Twinkling Watermelon ✨️🍉 has one of the most beautiful and pure love story with a historic confession, Most favourite CHAOTIC father-son duo, CALM-BEAUTIFUL mother-son duo in the world of kdramas!!!


HOPE this show reaches to larger audience so all can feel the joy and beautiful emotions with it 💝
VIVA LA VIDA!!! WATERMELON SUGAR!!!

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The acting carried the whole show.

Overall the show was ok. In my opinion, unfortunately, completely overrated. I've never watched a show that made me not wanting to watch it but, at the same time, I couldn't stop watching it. But only because the acting was very good and the character building was excellent.

The story was just bad though. I am generally not a fan of time travelling and this show didn't change that. Too many plot holes and the twist with the grandpa at the end was just unnecessary. I mean how the squirrel could they not remember Ha Eun Gyeol. He literally is the sole reason for their achievements. And this is only one part of the problem.

It also felt like they wanted to put everything in the show and that made it really overloaded. They should have focused on one or two things. The time travelling was definitely not necessary and caused more problem than it brought value to the show.

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A super heartwarming story: perfect for summer!

This drama did a great job showcasing a beautiful relationship between characters with a beautiful plot and story. I loved most of all
the relationship between the band members and the way they’d always go along with the ML’s plan despite not agreeing with it all
the time: isn’t that what friends are for? Of course the romance was great too: a super cute and innocent high school romance. The whole drama made me feel nostalgic for my high school days! Also, for those sentimental
people out there (like me), there were a bunch of memorable quotes to remember! I’d highly recommend this, especially if you’re watching during the summer, as the vibes are perfect!!

Viva la Vida!

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Twinkling Watermelon is like the Umbrella when the Sun rays burn you, a comforting feeling.

Twinkling Watermelon is one of my favourites this year. Underrated in my opinion, it deserves so much more love. The casting and their acting is phenomenal starting for minor character to major ones. We were foreshadowed how Yi Chan's youth was his last chance to shine and Eun Gyeol despite his efforts couldn't undo the accident but through his trial and errors we navigate through the lives and struggles faced by our parents which are very similar to our own but due to the gap in terms of age and communication we feel like our problems are greater, beyond repair and hurt the feeling of our parents. Just like Eun gyeol and Eun yu we get a glimpse of life and see it in a brighter lens, relationships may sour over time if we can't communicate better and They sure teach us how to do that.

The best dad and son awards of the year goes to YI CHAN & EUN GYEOL.

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Twinkling Watermelon: A Beautiful Symphony of Youth, Family, and Love

Just when I thought I was getting drama fatigue, Twinkling Watermelon arrived like a gift. This show made me laugh, cry, feel goosebumps, and most importantly—it made me appreciate life and my parents even more deeply. It’s not just a drama about time travel or fantasy. At its heart, it’s about understanding between generations, healing family bonds, and cherishing the emotions that come with youth.

The relationship between parents and children is the true soul of this story. Watching the main character journey through his father's youth and slowly understand him with fresh eyes was emotional and profound. It’s the kind of drama that stays with you long after the final episode.

The writing is beautiful—though there were moments where I felt frustrated with certain plot developments, it never took away from the emotional impact. The cast did a phenomenal job. Every actor felt deeply connected to their character. You could see and feel the sincerity in every scene. Special thanks to the team behind this for casting actors who truly brought this world to life.

This drama captures the magic of youth: first love, friendship, dreams, and the chaos and beauty of growing up. And the love stories? So pure, so tender, and so unique. There’s even a historic confession scene that will melt your heart. Add to that the unforgettable father-son duo full of chaos and laughter, and the mother-son duo that radiates calm and warmth—these bonds are what make this show shine.

Twinkling Watermelon is not just a drama, it’s an experience. One that fills your heart and makes you reflect on your own relationships.

Highly recommended for anyone who loves youth dramas with real depth, emotional storytelling, and a perfect mix of humor, warmth, and fantasy.

Viva la vida. Watermelon sugar forever. 🍉✨

Rating: 10/10

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