Twinkling Watermelon

not the story I was expecting

I was so excited for this drama but I just feel like we could’ve gotten somewhere had we stayed in the present. we could’ve gotten a story line about him and his brother instead which is what I really was looking forward too. Him expecting his family not to understand him just because their deaf was something that effected his views on himself and his whole family. We also had this strange concept of being in the past and present until we he goes to the past is when you find out it’s not another side character. once I got the change in the story line I was over it tbh

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A youth drama that made me laugh, cry, and heal at the same time

I finally finished watching Twinkling Watermelon... and honestly, this drama became one of the most beautiful coming-of-age stories I’ve ever watched. It’s not just about friendship or romance, it’s about family, dreams, music, youth, regrets, and understanding the people we love more deeply.

What I loved the most about this drama;

* Story development ; The story was written so beautifully. The mix of youth, time-travel, family issues, and music felt emotional and refreshing at the same time. Every episode kept me emotionally attached, and the pacing was so good that I never felt bored while watching.

* Character development ; Every character had their own pain, dreams, and struggles. Watching them slowly grow and understand each other was honestly heartwarming. The emotional journey of Eun Gyeol especially touched me deeply. His love for music and his family felt so genuine and pure.

* Family relationship ; This drama shines the most when it comes to family emotions. The way misunderstandings, sacrifices, and unspoken love were portrayed felt incredibly realistic and emotional. Some scenes between parents and children genuinely made me cry.

* Romance ; The romance was soft, youthful, funny, and emotional at the same time. It never overshadowed the main story but instead blended naturally into the characters’ journey. The chemistry between the characters felt warm and comforting.

* Music ; One of the BEST parts of the drama. The band scenes, performances, and OSTs made every emotional moment feel even stronger. Music became the heart of the story and connected all the characters beautifully.

* Cinematography ; The warm and nostalgic visual tone matched the youthful atmosphere perfectly. Every scene looked lively, emotional, and comforting.

This drama made me laugh loudly in one episode and cry emotionally in the next. It reminded me how precious youth, family, and dreams truly are.

Twinkling Watermelon is not just a school drama...
It’s a heartfelt story about understanding love, appreciating family, chasing dreams, and healing old wounds.

Thank you to the actors, writers, director, and the whole team for creating such a meaningful and unforgettable drama.

Goodbye Eun Gyeol...
Goodbye Watermelon Sugar band...

You will stay in my heart for a very long time.

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best drama I've ever watched

the acting was amazing, the storyline was amazing, the message was amazing, the filming was amazing, it was just such a good drama!! I've rewatched it twice already. It is a funny drama with one or two sob scenes. I will never shut up about this. i knew this would be an amazing show knowing choi hyunwook plays in it. if you liked Julie and the phantoms, you will eat this up!! the music is amazing! I was wondering if choi hyunwook actually sings in this as his voice is very similar to the singer of higher... but that doesn't matter because it's great nonetheless. the fact they used sign language makes me so happy!! the actors also actually learned how to play the instruments so it's very accurate :)

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some burdens are not yours to carry

very heartwarming and emotional! given how comedic this drama and its characters are, i didn't expect to cry so much watching it.

everyone's acting was amazing, especially (but not limited to) the main four actors. there is so much emotion conveyed even without the use of words, and i think they're amazing for that!!! all the characters, future and past, the friend group, the grandma, even the students of snail boarding house—everyone was so loveable.

i also love this story's approach to portraying deaf people (and those who use sign language). it's not often that this sort of representation is there, and i think twinkling watermelon did it so beautifully and thoughtfully.

i also think the core message of this was so important. not just for eungyeol and eunyoo, but for the viewers as well. sometimes, things are inevitable no matter how hard you try. it is important we don't carry guilt for things out of our hands, and learn to embrace the future. this drama touched my heart ❤️

the soundtrack was amazing!!! as expected for a show cented around a band and i-chan/eungyeol's love for music. i was also delightfully surprised to see ikon's ju-ne show up here, haha. the guitarist grandpa's comment about speaking to an instrument and it responding back to you will stick with me forever 🥺

all in all, a very solid drama. it will give you laughs and tears and everything in between 💕

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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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A Nostalgic Melody of Family, Music, and Second Chances

Twinkling Watermelon weaves a gentle, time-slipping tale about a CODA (child of deaf adults) teenager with a passion for music who unexpectedly travels back to 1995. As he forms bonds with his father in his youth and joins a retro band, the drama builds a charming blend of warmth, nostalgia, and emotional resonance. The story’s heart lies in its exploration of familial love, deferred dreams, and the unspoken chords that bind generations. While the music is central and often delightful, some viewers felt it didn’t always hit the right emotional note. Still, the cast’s sincerity and the show’s uplifting spirit make it an engaging watch for anyone drawn to quiet, soulful K-dramas.

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Amazing Show

This show was amazing and I loved everything about it, especially the sorry line I have no complaints except for the fact that to me the main couple was kind of boring because they didn't really interest me. I liked Ha Yi Chan and Cung Ah more they were interesting and everything about their love story is just so cute. Another thing I didn't really like I that when Eun Gyeol came back to the future everything was different and now they were these rich people and I guess that's what happens when you change the past but I just feel as if it was sad that those sweet moments they had in his childhood technically didn't exist anymore. Also, the story doesn't make sense if Eun Gyeol went to the past and altered the future then when he came back to the future shouldn't he not remember his old childhood and now remember a new version with all the changes he made. Other than does small things the story is amazing and I would definitely recommend this.

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Time travel, family, and retro jams—until the plot forgot which decade it was in

A Nostalgic Fantasy That Sings to Your Soul (Even If It Occasionally Forgets the Lyrics)

✨ THE GOOD:
Genius premise – A CODA teen lands in 1995 to join a band… with his teenage dad. Family therapy via electric guitar? Sign me up.

Emotion-packed cast – Ryeoun and Choi Hyun-wook nailed the son-dad dynamic, and Shin Eun-soo brought depth to a deaf character without a single wasted scene.

Nostalgia heaven – ’90s fashion, warm café lighting, and an OST that deserves a Grammy in the K-Drama Universe.

🐢 THE “WE’RE STILL WALKING?” MOMENTS:
Slow. Start. Syndrome. The first few episodes move like a cassette on low battery.

Mood swings much? Family drama, then magical realism, then rom-com, then trauma—pick a genre, bestie.

Ending felt like a group hug cut short – Not bad, but could’ve hit harder after all the build-up.

💌 THE “JUST PLAY ONE LAST SONG” FACTOR:
When it clicks? It soars. Mid-to-late episodes (esp. 6–8 and 13–15) were peak coming-of-age magic.

The side characters felt lived-in and lovable, especially the bandmates and that one chaotic village ajumma.

And yes, that ending song? It's got repeat button abuse written all over it.

🎯 VERDICT:
"Like digging up an old mixtape from your childhood—nostalgic, imperfect, but packed with soul."

Watch if: You want a warm hug from your screen, with music, tears, and time-travel therapy.
Skip if: You lack patience for a slow build or get whiplash from genre blending.

Best paired with: 🎧 A warm hoodie, your dad’s old playlist, and a little emotional damage (the good kind).

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Twinkling Watermelon – A Coming-of-Age Gift Wrapped in Music and Second Chances

I started Twinkling Watermelon expecting a cute time-travel fantasy. What I got was an emotional hug of a drama that made me cry, laugh, and just… sit with my heart full.

The story revolves around Eun-gyeol, a CODA (child of deaf adults) who lives in two worlds—silence and music. He’s a boy torn between being the “perfect son” in his family and following his own rhythm. When he accidentally time-travels to 1995 and meets his teenage dad? That’s when it really begins.

It sounds sci-fi, but Twinkling Watermelon is actually about something much more grounded:
Healing generational wounds, understanding your parents as people, and learning how to forgive—not just others, but also yourself.

And the music! The band scenes gave me chills—the way they used sound and silence, punk rock and soft ballads to carry emotions. You don’t just hear the songs… you feel them.

The father-son bond? Broke me. Rebuilt me. Broke me again.
The friendship, the romance, the little moments of laughter between big emotional waves—all of it was so well done. And the cast? Flawless. Ri-an's character arc especially grew on me so much, it made me rethink first impressions.

What I really appreciated was how it touched disability with sensitivity. It didn’t pity. It empowered. The scenes with sign language were some of the most emotionally powerful I've ever seen in a K-drama. As someone who loves family-centered stories with a heartbeat of music and a splash of fantasy, this felt like a personal gift.

Twinkling Watermelon is a love letter to misunderstood parents, to teenage dreams, to the messy journey of growing up and making peace with what you can’t change.
It’s for anyone who’s ever wished they could go back—not to change the past, but to understand it better.

Rating: 10/10
Perfect For: Dreamers, musicians at heart, emotional softies, and anyone who still carries questions for their younger (or older) self.

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