Twinkling Watermelon - A Heartfelt Symphony of Youth, Family, and Timeless Bonds
Twinkling Watermelon - ReviewTwinkling Watermelon (2023) is a heartwarming and unique blend of music, fantasy, and coming-of-age storytelling that leaves a deep emotional impact. Directed by Son Jung-hyun and featuring a talented cast led by Ryeoun, Choi Hyun-wook, Seol In-ah, and Shin Eun-soo, the drama captivates viewers with its originality, touching themes, and nostalgic charm.
Story and Themes
The drama revolves around Eun-gyeol (Ryeoun), a musically gifted teenager born to deaf parents. After a mysterious incident, he travels back in time to 1995, where he meets a younger version of his father, Lee Chan (Choi Hyun-wook), and other characters tied to his family’s past. Together, they form a band named Twinkling Watermelon, bringing their love of music to life while navigating their relationships, dreams, and hardships.
The story is a masterful exploration of family, love, identity, and the intergenerational connections that shape us. It beautifully portrays the struggles of the hearing-impaired community and the emotional complexities of growing up. The time-travel element adds depth, allowing viewers to see how past decisions ripple into the future, blending fantasy with real-world emotions seamlessly.
Performances
Ryeoun shines as Eun-gyeol, delivering a heartfelt performance that balances youthful energy and emotional maturity. Choi Hyun-wook impresses as Lee Chan, embodying a playful yet deeply vulnerable character with charm and depth. Shin Eun-soo and Seol In-ah also bring grace and emotional weight to their respective roles, particularly in their portrayal of complex relationships and unspoken emotions.
The chemistry among the cast is natural and engaging, making their individual struggles and shared moments feel authentic. The dynamic between Eun-gyeol and his father, both young and present-day versions, is particularly poignant and serves as the emotional core of the drama.
Visuals and Cinematography
The cinematography is visually striking, with vibrant and nostalgic scenes set in the 1990s. The juxtaposition of modern and retro aesthetics creates a visually compelling narrative. The use of lighting and symbolic imagery adds a layer of artistry, enhancing the drama’s emotional resonance.
Music and OST
As a music-centric drama, Twinkling Watermelon delivers an exceptional soundtrack. The band performances are electrifying, with a mix of rock, ballads, and heartwarming melodies that resonate deeply with the audience. The music not only enriches the story but also becomes a character in itself, symbolizing connection, healing, and self-expression.
Strengths
Unique and emotionally rich storyline that blends fantasy and reality.
Outstanding performances by the cast, especially Ryeoun and Choi Hyun-wook.
Beautifully crafted visuals and nostalgic 1990s setting.
A memorable and emotionally impactful soundtrack.
Weaknesses
The pacing can feel uneven at times, with certain subplots either rushed or underdeveloped. Additionally, the time-travel logic may not satisfy viewers seeking a strictly coherent explanation, but this doesn’t detract from the emotional journey of the story.
Final Thoughts
Twinkling Watermelon is a gem of a drama that combines heart, humor, and music to create an unforgettable experience. It’s a celebration of youth, family, and the bonds that transcend time, making it a must-watch for fans of coming-of-age tales with a touch of fantasy.
Rating: 9.5/10
A moving and beautifully crafted story that will leave your heart full and your playlist enriched.
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JUST BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!
This, I think is if not the best drama, it is way up there!!!!! It is DEFINITELY the very best i have watched in a while. A few of the recent releases have either been so evil that I've pretty much clawed my way through the drama, or theyve been soooo corny!!!!!!! But this one was just TOOOOO beautiful!!!!!!!! My eyes kept leaking 🙈😅😅😅 The cast was awesome!!!!!!! My favourite, of course (i say of course juat because i dont see how he wouldnt be anyones favourite 😅) was Choi Hyun-Wook. His voice and.....juat his whole vibe was BRILLIANT!!!!!!!! I've never seen Yoon Jae-chan, and will definitely be adding him to my list. But the characters, the story (and when Choi Hyun-wook was singing, the music).....it was juat SUCH a heartwarming, funny and sometimes sad, story. Thank you for this!!!!!!!!!Was this review helpful to you?
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This review may contain spoilers
The Momen You Give Up, It's Game Over
This show is not my cup of tea, but it ends up in my top 5 kdramas of all time! WHAT THE HELL! This show is, despite has a heavy theme, packed in a very lighweight way. It's really fun and easy to enjoy, like living our highschool life again. A very well pictured students life, full of joy, tears, hardships and pain. The message about living your life and keep fighting to overcome your difficulties hit so hard. Thanks to Ha I Chan comedy is very very hilarious here. They were able to keep the comedy for like 11 episodes, and it was getting heartwarming after that. They didn't even need to add any cliche, just use a simple premise of highschool life (and a little absurd situation of triangle love, watch it yourself and you'll understand). In conclusion, they've successfully shift my laugh into tears and vice versa, in a quick time. It also brings awareness towards people with hearing imparment and their hardships. The soundtracks are excellent too. It very rare to find a complete package like this.Shout out to all the main leads, what an outstanding performance! I won't believe if Choi Hyun Wook says he was acting, he was basically reliving his old school days. Shin Eun Soo didn't even need to speak, her expression were enough to talk for her and made us understand how she feels. Character developments were really really good here. The chemistry between them is another level, even with the other Watermelon Sugar member! Another good additions to the package!
Now into the things that are off. I don't like the fashion job on this show. Between 1995 and 2023, there should be a big difference in fashion. In this show, everything looks the same, especially the girls. Looks like they were all having the latest hairstyle. The first two episodes are very slow and heavy, I can understand why a lot of audience dropped this early. The final episode is very underwhelming. I wish we could see more about the present reunion, and let them talk about the "missing" story. Also how come almost everyone forgot about Ha Eun Gyeol being in the part of their 1995, when that could be the best part of their life?
Should you watch it? Yes. Should you rewatch it? I rarely recommend a rewatch BUT THIS IS A MASSIVE YES! I solely think the reason why Eun Gyeol and Eun Yu returned to the past was to "relive their missing highschool moments", so you should too!
VIVA LA VIDA, LONG LIVE LIFE!
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A bit of a modern "Back to the Future"
The music alone makes this show a 10. I love that music is such a central theme to the show. I love how they brought the 90s to life and think they did a fantastic job of capturing the vibe of decades gone by. Normally time travel shows can be pretty bogged down by technical science fiction details but I think they had a clever work around to make sure the viewer doesn't overthink it. I will keep this review short as I tend to do, Just watch this show if you haven't already. It's a great journey, the writing is excellent.Was this review helpful to you?
A Symphony of Youth, Family, and Second Chances
“Twinkling Watermelon” is a rare coming-of-age gem — a series that glows with warmth, humor, and unexpected emotional power. It weaves music, time travel, and family into a beautifully resonant story about self-discovery and love across generations. More than just a fantasy, it’s a heartfelt reflection on communication, understanding, and the bonds that define us.Ryeoun shines as Ha Eun-gyeol, a hearing child born to deaf parents, whose passion for music becomes both his gift and his burden. When a mysterious event sends him back in time, he meets his teenage father — not as a son, but as a bandmate. Through this surreal encounter, the series explores the beauty of empathy: how truly listening to someone often has nothing to do with sound.
The performances are exquisite. Ryeoun carries both youthful energy and emotional depth, while Choi Hyun-wook, Seol In-ah, and Shin Eun-soo add charm, humor, and complexity. Every relationship — whether romantic, familial, or friendship — feels organic and tenderly developed.
The writing is sharp yet sentimental, blending time-loop mystery with grounded human emotion. The pacing never drags; each episode adds new layers of nostalgia and catharsis. The music — vibrant rock performances and gentle acoustic scores — is the heartbeat of the story, expressing what words often cannot.
Visually, the drama is gorgeous: sunlit classrooms, glowing night concerts, and soft hues that echo memory and hope.
What truly makes “Twinkling Watermelon” unforgettable is its sincerity. It’s about dreams, regrets, and the courage to connect — even across time.
Funny, moving, and full of melody, this drama doesn’t just sparkle — it sings.
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A kdrama you never get bored watching.
Okay, so wow! What a peak writing. There's a lot of lore, the dynamic between characters, especially Ha Eun-Gyeol and Ha Yi-Chan. I got really emotional by that father and son. There are so many secrets in this series, and it has a way to attract your heart and interest. I fell in love with sign language. I'm sure it made people want to learn it. What I might find difficult is that there were too many plots, and they needed to rush the ending. But I'm giving it 10, loved it.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
I watched this because of its rating on this site…
Once you get past the ridiculous name, this was a fun drama! It’s far from my favorite time-traveling/90s nostalgia series, but it’s definitely above average.My favorite part was the father-son relationship between Eun Gyeol and Lee Chan. Eun Gyeol’s concern and over-protective fawning over his father was adorable, and the comedy built around all those silly misunderstandings was next-level hilarious! And of course I loved all the band members—they were such an easy group to cheer for.
I also loved the inclusion of deaf characters, and how it affects—not only them—but those around them. Even when the story veered into darker territory, the core message revolved around friendship, hope, and the profound need to feel heard. Eun-gyeol’s protective instincts towards his mom was definitely another highlight for me. Every time he stood up to her awful stepmother, I cheered.
I may be in the minority, but my main issue was the predictable plot that occasionally dragged. That, and I struggled with certain story and character choices—particularly Eun Yoo. I never quite warmed up to her role in the story, and struggled to connect with her as a character. She came across as overly dramatic and illogical (her “sob story” wasn’t extreme enough to justify suicide and her “first love” plan didn’t even make sense. She was hard to take seriously.)
However, I found Se-Kyung’s character much more sympathetic, with a more compelling backstory—so it’s a shame they traded her out for her boring daughter. I honestly would’ve preferred to see ajumma in the past as an actual “helper” who returns as her younger self to overcome her regrets, and finally make amends with her father. Adding the daughter felt like a cop-out, like she was shoehorned in to force an unnecessary romance with Eun Gyeol that would survive the time-skip back to the present. Frankly, their romance added very little to the overall story—nothing ajumma couldn’t have accomplished in her place, and ultimately, I just didn’t feel much chemistry between Eun Gyeol and Eun Yoo. The only romance that really mattered, anyway, was Eun-Gyeol’s parents—and they were sweet, but a bit lukewarm as well, since the writer kept wasting time on the other couple. I would’ve preferred more focus and buildup for them to make the final payoff more satisfying.
It was a fun drama overall, but not one I’d outright recommend unless you’re a fan of the actors or this particular genre. I think it could’ve been better, but it was enjoyable for what it was: An amusing, far-fetched fantasy with short flashes of brilliance, and an ending that didn’t (completely) disappoint.
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EASILY one of the best k-dramas ever.
"i came up with a name for you.""for me? my name? what is it?"
"shining voice. i can't hear your voice, but i can see it, i feel it. you shine the brightest when you're doing music, it's when you look the coolest."
words can't express how much i love this kdrama.
it was full of life lessons and it made me realize a lot of things. no matter how much eungyeol tries to stop yichan's accident, it will always be his fate and it's inevitable. it shows that not everything goes the way you want them to be, and we just have to learn to accept that that's how life works. the scene where yichan's grandma finds out he got deaf, and said "i will give you my ears" made me cry so much it hurts. when yichan tried to turn up the volume of the tv and proceed to hear nothing... and when eungyeol was talking and he said, "what are you saying? i can't hear you... i can't even hear my own voice." 😭💔
i love yichan and cheongah's relationship. i wish i saw more of their past life (without eungyeol's time travelling) like how they met in college, and fell in love. i also wish i saw their wedding (it would've been cute) and the band as the groomsmen. eunho also deserved more than 5 mins of screentime. honestly, i wish this series was longer! 16 eps wasn't enough.
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This review may contain spoilers
You own your feelings and I own mine.
This drama was super emotional. Definitely one of my favourite dramas ever. This came out 2 years ago but still remains trending, hand it's definitely worth it . I have read so many negative reviews saying that it did not live up to one's expectations and rushed ending but at the end it's definitely a drama i would recommend to every single person who's a beginner to the drama world.Their wasn't one single mistake in this drama, Everything was so perfect and well written. The casting, The ost, the characters, the writting, the plot, the scenes not a single was bad. The catch phrase Viva la vida will definitely remain in my bottom of my heart forever.
I usually don't care for the ost that much but the music in this drama was so good I added it to my everyday playlists. The the visuals of 1995 Korean and vintage lighting was so good. Overall visual was just 10/10.
Let's start with the characters, Both the couples did an amazing job portraying their characters. The first couple dynamic was the chaotic couple who's always fighting but I loved they healed eachother as the show gradually goes on. They both had their own problems but at the end they found eachother. I never really understood Eun yu's problem her being adopted but also not?. But she was quick to reveal her feelings, and she was so straightforward too. Eun gyeol was such a good character who's love for music is just one top. We could see the emotions of him being the trophy and scared for messing up.
The second couple are absolute pookies. They were my favourite . Yi chan set the standards by learning sign language for her. He's so extroverted and she was introverted. He also made his friends learn sign language too so she won't be lonely, like Yi chan, The man you are!. I honestly need a seperate drama for them.
Their bromance is completely what makes the series enjoyable and funny. The father-son duo was just do pure and heart warming. The band members honestly needs to get the best use of found family trope ever. Their relationship was so funny and adorable. I wish they showed more of the band members personalities we only learned about the gangster guy, he was absolute cutie.
I think the actor who played the adult Yi chan needs like so many award cause he acted so good, he needs a seperate appreciation post for this drama alone, the raw emotions when he yelled at Eun gyeol at the club was so realistic.
Yi chan's song "A Song For You" for Eun gyeol was my favourite thing in this drama cause it felt like he said it with his whole heart. The very few lines he said in this song was:
"Looking back, I realized that this song wasn't the only thing you helped me complete. When I wanted something, when I felt like I lacked something, when I was in despair, and even at my most radiant moments, you were always there with me. You lied that you were my son. But you know what? For some reason, I felt as though you were like my father. Even though I have never experienced a father's love, I got to experience something similar thanks to you. Son, thank you. But in my next life, I'll be born as your father"
This was very meaningful, Him called eun gyeol his son was such a cute moment as he hated and thought he lied to him saying that he was his father.
I could see why everyone was saying the ending was rushed , they definitely needed another episode to clear things up cause I still want more things to be settled until Eun gyeol went to the future, like what is Chung ah's reaction to Yi chan losing his hearing?, what about the band members reaction?. The step mother actually got what she deserved (her acting was so good it made me want to slap her through the screen), i just wished they showed more.
The last two episodes made me bawl my eyes out seriously, but teaches you that if the fate is written it can't be changed. I thought they would have an happily ever after just like every time traveling drama but this drama is not like that.
There are so many good quotes from this drama, i really want to write in a study note to read again and again. Some of them are
"Life didn't have to be perfect for it to shine. It's the little moments that make your life twinkle, and happiness is what you experience when those moments come together."
"I can't hear your voice but I see it.
I can feel it. You shine the brightest when you're doing music."
And the title of this review is one of my favourite quote in this drama said by Chung ah.
I would recommend this drama to everyone who watches dramas and even people who don't watch dramas. An absolute masterpiece of a drama, Hoping for more dramas like this in the future.
Viva la Vida
Long live life.
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This review may contain spoilers
A Breezy Time Travel Romance
Time travel romances seem to be in trend and joining the foray is tvN’s latest offering “Twinkling Watermelon”. If you are wondering about the title (as I’m), maybe it is a mere connotation to the storyline which sparkles with youthfulness and has varied tones of friendship/love. Starring Ryeoun, Choi Hyun Wook, Seol In Ah, Shin Eun Soo in the lead roles, the drama premiered to high expectations and certainly it was worth the hype. The first two episodes set up the premise decently while introducing intriguing characters as well as the time travel element which pops up randomly. The storytelling is little out of place and at times without context (when they randomly switch between two timeframes), but the chemistry between the characters is reckoning and it manages to tide over those discrepancies. For now, I’m invested in this drama simply because the storyline is interesting and I’m hoping for some solid character development in the future episodes.Read the complete article here-
https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2023/09/27/twinkling-watermelon-first-impressions/
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Most funny drama have seen this year
One things I like from this drama is that number 1 all the characters they use especially this mad guy Choi Hyun Wook omo that guy I always like his acting both bully and comedy though I like his comedy acting the most all of his drama that have watch he always make me laugh, And also the first ML his reaction when he say (AJHUMA IT IS REALLY YOU) funny, I don't know for other people, but am really curious how he got deaf but from what I see from the episode 4 ending is that everything will change in the remaining episode because from what I watched do the trailer the CHOI SE YOEON didn't travel but am sure the future will change am really curious how this drama will endWas this review helpful to you?
