Twinkling Watermelon

This is one of my favorite k-dramas out there

Twinkling Watermelon is one of my favorite K-dramas. I recently rewatched it for the first time, and it was just as amazing as I remembered.

When I first heard about this drama, I didn’t plan to watch it while it was still ongoing because I usually avoid ongoing shows. However, the spoilers people were posting intrigued me so much that I gave in. I kept telling myself to wait until it finished airing, but every day, it felt like the wait would never end. By episode 10, I finally decided to start watching. The main reason I was drawn to it was its focus on the experiences of deaf individuals, which resonated with me because my uncle is also deaf. It’s rare to find a drama that explores such characters so well.

Episode 1 is crucial for any K-drama since it needs to hook the audience right away, and Twinkling Watermelon did exactly that. The background story of Eun-gyeol’s family was heartbreaking, and his personal struggles were deeply moving. He had to hide his love for music from his family because he was the only one who could hear and speak, and he felt the weight of their expectations. If he failed, people would blame his parents. He couldn’t afford to be a failure, and that pressure built up so much stress. Music became his escape.

One reason I fell in love with this drama is that I love bands. But I was so frustrated—why wasn’t there a Watermelon Sugar version of the songs?! Did the actors not sing? Or was the band not skilled enough with their instruments to release a proper version? I was really disappointed about that.

As for the characters, my favorite is definitely Yi-chan. Choi Hyun-wook did an amazing job portraying him—he’s so funny and relatable. As someone who is the same age as the characters in the drama, I really connected with Yi-chan’s desire to form a band and make his youth shine. (I just wish I were extroverted like him so I could "twinkle" too.) It’s also incredibly sad because when he tells Eun-gyeol about his dream, we as viewers already know his future—one where he loses his ability to speak and can’t continue making music. That made me so emotional.

Chung-ah’s voice was beautiful. It was so soft and soothing, and I loved listening to her. One of my favorite moments was when she told Yi-chan, "You own your feelings, and I own mine." That line really stuck with me.

One of the saddest scenes in the drama was Yi-chan’s dream of getting into college and graduating. It was heartbreaking to watch.

Overall, this was a fantastic drama. I absolutely loved it. I’d rate it a solid 9.5/10. However, there were quite a few plot holes and unresolved questions that left me frustrated.

Questions That Needed Answers

I feel like the ending was rushed. Eun-gyeol returned to the present in episode 16, but that was already halfway through the episode, leaving very little time to wrap things up properly. They should have added more minutes to explain everything more thoroughly.

Here are the questions I wish had been answered:

1. What happened to Eun-yu? What happened to her family? Did her parents still get divorced, or did they reconcile? The ending didn’t mention her at all, even though she played a huge role in helping Eun-gyeol.

2. Did Watermelon Sugar and Chung-ah recognize Eun-gyeol? This is a major plot hole for me. It seems impossible that they would forget him when he was such an important part of their lives. He was the band’s guitarist, the reason Yi-chan had his accident, the person who helped Chung-ah escape her abusive stepmother, and the one who taught her sign language. How could they not remember him?

3. Why did Viva become the master? And how did Eun-yu know that the master was her grandfather? Just how?

Despite these lingering questions, I truly loved the overall story. It beautifully captured the essence of youth, and as someone who is still young, I found it incredibly relatable.

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Arguably the best

This k-drama did (almost) everything perfect. The acting/cast was phenomenal. The main four actors are all such great actors (plus they’re all so attractive). The music fits perfectly with all the scenes, adding a powerful emotional element. The OST is also just so fun to listen to regularly. I definitely cried in the last episode. My only complaint is that the ending was a bit rushed but all the other amazing parts of the show make up for it. Overall, a very family-friendly, binge worthy show that I’d definitely rewatch several times. Candidate for best k-drama of 2023, if not all-time.

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Viva la Vida

Want a feel good drama that highlights the importance of family & shows the lengths a child will go to for the sake of their parents (in a non-toxic way)? Watch this! It portrays these aspects beautifully with an abundance of heart & humor. 🩵

The ML has the responsibility to help his deaf parents & younger brother communicate with the world. This leaves him little time to focus on himself. When he discovers a talent for playing music, a fire is lit within. Then an accident happens &, burdened with guilt, he puts his dreams aside & focuses on his family. But his love for the guitar never dies, so he performs in secret with a hidden identity.

Drama happens, his father demands he quits, they fight… & the ML is magically transported back in time. He meets his dad as a teen who can HEAR & believes that his purpose in being there is to stop whatever caused his dad’s hearing loss from happening. Cue all sorts of hilarity from this chaotic duo!

Then he meets his mom too & just… *sigh*. Their relationship is so sweet. The ways he protects her & his efforts to better her life are so loving. The cast did such a great job showing that, before becoming adults with responsibilities, our parents were once teens with hopes & dreams too. 🩷

And the whole aspect of his parents falling in love? Precious! This is a really good drama. The music, friendships, familial bonds, & dual love stories are so fun! 🫶🏻

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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : MC - ep.10, SC - ep.14💋
- Together : Both Couples - ep.13 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp: Nope

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The story that stays with you for awhile

I don't often come across drama that makes me feel so excited and makes me eagerly anticipate each episode till the very end. I didn't watch it as it was coming out, but since I was busy I couldn't binge it as much as I maybe wanted to. Even though it has it's flaws, the good feeling I was left with exceeds and overshadows them and at the end of the day, what matters the most to me is that I had a good time, and that I most certainly did!

I think it's the best way to go into a drama like this with as little information as possible, so I am not going to delve into the plot much. I'll just say it is super interesting with all it's twists and turns and I was genuinely surprised how creative and funny it gets, despite dealing with some very serious themes. Some of the the themes hit very close to home and I was touched with how they managed to present them and I think about them often even after finishing the drama. All the main characters and most of the supporting ones are so lovable that you want to protect them at all costs.

I have to give praise to the screenwriter Jin Soo Wan for yet another amazing drama, this woman has me in her grasp and so far everything I've seen from her I rated 9 and above.

Actors did an amazing job bringing these characters to life and they had good chemistry between each other. It was endearing to watch them and very easy to root for them. Music was fun and even as I'm writing this the main OST is playing around in my mind, little earworm that it is.

And for the end, I have to mention the few shortcomings. The main fault I'm finding with this drama (while completely ignoring the consequences of time travelling) is that I feel that at the end things got a bit rushed and there were a few loose ends and questions I wish we got an answer to. I also wish we got to see FL's story with the same amount of depth as the ML's, especially in the aftermath. I realize that with the drama this complex it's inevitable to leave some things in the shadows or use convenient solutions (I am looking at you, Master), but it was still something noticeable for me, although to repeat myself, it didn't ruin the overall experience at all.

I recommend this drama wholeheartedly if you are craving something sweet, but thoughtful to watch.

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Comfort show! I DEFINITELY RECOMMEND.

I found it really boring in the beginning like the first 2 episodes so it took me quite a while on resuming it, even though I considered dropping it. But I gave it a chance bc I was curious on what the hype was all about. And now I get it!! I really loved it! Some of the moments did confuse me, but I eventually understood it. I like how the time traveling worked, it's unique and I really liked the music. I love the ending as well!!! I was such a big fan of it that I even bought their watermelon keychains sold online. I really liked watching how their friendship developed and seeing them enjoy their youth also makes me want to enjoy mine.

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YOU WILL NOT REGRET WATCHING THIS SHOW!!!

I cannot explain how much I love this show, it has seriously taken a big spot in my heart and I feel empty now that's its over.

I'm not joking when I say that I was so desperate for more that when the ending credits on the last episode played, I saw the 00:59 at the bottom and thought that there was another 59 minutes left. I'm not sure what I was even hoping for, bloopers or maybe a second epilogue, but even though in back of my head I knew it was seconds not minutes, I still needed to double check in hopes that that voice was wrong and the editors were just pranking me.

as much as this show leaves me empty, it will always have a special space in my heart. the ending leaves me satisfied and as much as I want more, more might just ruin the perfection that this show is.


this show has helped deal the hole in my heart that was meant to be filled by my youth, I feel like I lived my teenage years through them. I love a good youth show, but this one takes the crown.


the first 2 episodes are more of a build up to the plot, but you'll be completely lost without them. they're incredibly interesting and were great to watch, but episode 3 was the one that's really captured me. I just needed to know what was next.


this show was truly an emotional roller coaster, the writers need to open classes on cliff hangers bc this show really just kept me hooked week after week. I bore very easily and often drop shows, but this one really drew me in.


I'm not someone who is great with emotion, I often can't understand emotional shows and drop them bc I'm unable to feel what I need to which just makes everything feel very isolating and confusing, but this show really hit me. maybe it was the acting, maybe it was the writing, but this show was absolutely amazing, it's a piece of art.I do wish we got to see eunho and chungha more, I adore them so so so much.


thank you to the random tiktoker who put a very curiosity stricking tiktok on my fyp, the second I saw that video I just knew I had to watch the show and that was one of the best choices I have ever made.


if you've read this far and are still wondering if you should watch it or not, watch it. just as the title if my post says, you won't regret it. this show is so deserving of its current 9.2 rating, so much so that it deserves more.

I've said so much, I'm not sure i why, I just can't stop.


I'm not sure if any show will be able to hold my heart the way this show does, but I don't think I want that anyways, this show is so special to me and I hope it continues being this way for a very long time, maybe even 28 years.


thanks you very much to everyone who worked on this show, even u you did a "minor" job, your hard work helped bring this masterpiece to life. thank you to the writers who wrote this beautiful piece of art and thank you to the actors who brought it to life. you did so well and I hope you are proud of yourselves. you've touched my life and my heart.


this is the end of my very very long review, I tried to keep it spoiler free!

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Must Watch!!

"Twinkling Watermelon" is a delightful Korean drama that effortlessly blends romance, comedy, and a touch of nostalgia. The story revolves around the relationship between the 4 lead characters, played with undeniable chemistry by the talented cast. It's definitely a must watch k-drama. Hope they'll release the drama on big platforms such as Netflix, etc because it's so underrated and deserves more hype! Check out the show's charming keychain collection on [ https://arya.lipsstudent.xyz/merchandise/keychain/hard-plastic/buy-viva-la-vida-watermelon-keychain-online-in-mumbai-200-only/ ] to bring a piece of the drama into your life!

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A Youth Drama We Didn’t Know We Needed, But Deserved

A story about a boy who goes back in time to prevent a tragedy from occurring… that’s just the surface-level synopsis of his trip.

Ha Eun Gyeol, our main character, embarks on a journey that revitalizes his youth, helps his dad shine in a way like never before, and opens a door of communication for his mother to the world— one sign at a time!

Twinkling Watermelon (반짝이는 워터멜론) is not just a comedic slice-of-life saturated with fluffy moments enough to make you pass out from sweetness at every corner. Rather, it’s a drama full of wounded interpersonal relationships, character development, healing, forgiveness, and acceptance admist the backdrop of '95’s Seoul. In fact, the setting is so well-crafted, coupled with the original premise— that it makes the audience feel like they’re embarking on the same journey as our main character.

One of the biggest aspects that I absolutely adore about this drama is the stellar cast. Whoever did the casting deserves some kind of award! Characterizations is so on-point that it leaves you in awe. CHW practically MOLDS into the role of Ha Yi Chan, and the same goes with the orher crew members. Line delivery was flawless, and the amount of times Ha Eun Gyeol (Ryeoun) made me cry is probably too much to count— I mean, mans is a whole tear-production plant!

Additionally, this drama teaches so many great values about family that will deeply resonate and tug at the heartstrings of many viewers. As someone with a close-knit relationship with their parents, and coming from a cultural background of collectivist beliefs, the interactions between HEC ans HEG made me deeply reflect on the relationship that I have with my loved ones.

For those who still have your parents, guardian, or a loved one in general, cherish the moments that you have with them. If theres anything that Twinkling Watermelon wants you to realize, it is as Mr. Viva said, “Major and minor chords must coexist harmoniously for a song to sound delightful and complete. The same goes for life. Experiencing hardships and joyful moments help you build your dazzling life.”

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Uma história sensível, gostosinha de assistir e puro suco de dorama ambientado nos anos 90

Admito que tenho certa relutância com doramas ambientados no ensino médio, mas ao ler a sinopse desse fiquei intrigada já de início. O primeiro e segundo episódio me prenderam demais, e àquela altura eu nem tinha me dado conta de que seria um plot de viagem no tempo. Me surpreendeu de maneira muito boa, pois ao perceber que o Ha Eun Gyeol voltaria ao passado e conheceria seu pai, sua mãe e todos os aspectos da juventude que eles nunca contaram, já vi que seria uma história incrível de acompanhar.
Toda a construção dos personagens é interessante e está de certa forma ligada, e isso é um ponto bom. Nenhum detalhe neste drama foi esquecido ou colocado atoa, sempre sendo falado e contextualizado em algum momento depois.
Muitas pessoas podem não ter concordado, pois a própria narrativa nos leva a pensar que realmente o objetivo de Ha Eun Gyeol era impedir que seu pai ficasse surdo no acidente. Entretanto, eu adorei que os roteiristas optaram por não fazer isso, por não "consertar" Yi Chan, que seria um tremendo desserviço, mesmo para uma obra de ficção. Pensando na representatividade que os personagens surdos neste drama trás, foi incrível que Eun Gyeol apenas mudou a maneira como a vida se seguiria tanto para a a mãe quanto o pai. Essa situação onde ele conheceu o passado de ambos, viu parentes que provavelmente nunca encontrou antes e conseguiu melhorar a qualidade de vida dos envolvidos foi muito gostosinho de assistir. Não era preciso impedir que Yi Chan ficasse surdo, o real objetivo era permitir que ele gostasse da música e aproveitasse sua juventude sem o fator trauma que originalmente causou sua aversão aos palcos.
Gostei também da maneira como todos os personagens foram aprendendo língua de sinais para se comunicar com Cheong Ah. Ela é tão expressiva e artística, e só precisava realmente de amigos que pudessem acolhê-la e tentar entender seu mundo ao invés de evitá-la.
É um dos meus dramas favoritos desse ano, me fez chorar, sorrir, ficar apaixonada pelo elenco incrível e refletir muito sobre a vida e como sabemos tão pouco sobre nossos pais, como às vezes precisamos lembrar que um dia eles também tiveram a nossa idade e passaram pelo que a gente passa.

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