Twinkling Watermelon

A Hell of a Drama, hell yeah!!

Twinkling Watermelon is a beautifully fleshed-out drama that is mostly well-written, well-acted, and well-directed. From its main characters to its support characters, everyone shines!

- First the Story -

I would've given a 10, if it wasn't for that evil stepmother plotline. I REALLY dislike that trope where the stepmother gets all the blame and the poor father/other responsible is blameless. "He didn't know, poor him :(" hell nah! The "he was out of the house this entire time" excuse doesn't stick, and I honestly wanted him to suffer the consequences also. Yi-chan was right, Cheong Ah didn't have to forgive him! I can't imagine any plot holes on the top of my head, so that's a good thing, I suppose.

Other than that, I'm frankly surprised they managed to keep this drama so consistently good, the story never fell flat, or had I lost interest (something that happens very often if I'm being honest)! Eun Gyeol is not a one-sided protagonist who is not allowed moments to show how flawed and immature he is at times, he IS flawed and he IS immature, he's a teenager and he acts like it!! Another Surprise was Eunyu who is a compelling deuterogist to this story. She is not a damsel in distress and knows very well what she wants and her growth was masterfully done!! Her romance with Eun Gyeol is one of the high notes of this drama and I was craving for some more cute scenes between them.

Ha Yi-chan's and Cheong-Ah's romance is REVIGORATING. So cute, so adorable, so pure. Ha Yi-Chan is a lover boy on the deepest sense of the word and Cheong-Ah is an angel that fell from heaven, frankly. Something someone pointed out that really stuck to me was that every scene between Ha Yi-Chan and Cheong Ah was kept between them, not even Eun Gyeol was there to see it and I thought that was so sweet, it's their moment, their story.

Every scene between Eon Gyeol and his parents was a blast! That poor boy was bullied to hell and back while he was just trynna help, lmao. The scenes in the final two episodes made me cry like I was a recently born baby, who just put his wrinkled lil face to the world, I was sobbing hard.

I was also really happy deafness was not treated like a horrible, life-destroying thing in here. It happens, people are deaf and they can and will live happy and fulfilling lives like it's shown in this drama. Really glad that this disability was treated with the respect it was supposed to be given.

THAT twist was also super cool, had me crying hard.

- Second The Acting/Cast -

Brilliant, simply brilliant, every single actor chosen in this drama was stupid good (and the script they were given is partially credited for that). I want to say that the one actor who shone the most is Choi Hyunwook, that kid's gonna go far, I'm telling y'all, he's brilliant! Every scene of his is fresh and funny and STUPIDLY well-acted. He acts so naturally at times I almost feel like I'm just seeing a random ass boy doing stuff instead of a drama. Secondly, Ryeoun is also phenomenal here, I loved him in '18 Again' but seeing him here was just a blast, he acted beautifully during the whole drama, and like Choi Hyunwook I was delighted by his presence as a protagonist.

Shin Eunsoo is AMAZING, she didn't have a single line of dialogue but her expressions, and mannerisms really talked for her. She's an insanely good actress who kept an insanely good performance from beginning to end. And the talk of the town Seol In Ah, do I even need to say something? Girl had two roles in one drama and she was a genius in both of them, giver her an award already.

The support actors were also amazing, special thanks to Ha Yi-Chan's adult actor, that man copied his counterpart's mannerisms to a TEA, insane stuff.

- Thirdly The Music -

The weakest link I'm not gonna lie, the BGM's were alright but the only one that I remember a lot is the 'nananana' sad music, it is engraved in my brain. The vocal tracks tho, were pretty good, however, 'SHINING' is generic and forgettable and I don't even remember the SPINE9 song, 'A song for you' tho... ahh, the strings of my heart.

- Fourth The rewatch value -

I would watch it again, yeah. I heavily recommend this drama to those who want to laugh, cry, and get nostalgic for something you never lived, an amazing experience.

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A beautiful journey to heal yourself thanks to music, brotherhood and 1990's vibe

This youth drama with a fantasy twist and set mainly in 1995 provides a great nostalgia throwback feeling as you follow a group of high schoolers starting a band together. The drama approaches in a wholesome way profound topics about friendship, family, as well as differences and disabilities that overall resonated well with me as the characters grow and learn. Though both romances were pretty cute, it is the brotherhood within the band and especially the father-son relationship that really got me invested.

In terms of storytelling, I truly enjoyed the set up and introduction. However, I cannot help to think that the conclusion would have deserved more time to reap properly all the rewards of the set-up done in the show. I was expecting the way it ended, there was a lot of satisfying emotional payoff but it could have gone deeper on the aftermath for all the characters following one of the major event happening in the last episode as well as regarding the evolution of the main protagonists and their relationships (especially regarding the female leads where it felt a bit short).

Overall, the quatuor of main characters work very well together, and I am pretty satisfied by the performances of the ensemble cast (especially for some of the more secondary characters). Choi Hyun Wook delivers a consistent and reliable performance in the role of the frontman of the band. I loved him in Weak Hero Class 1 and I love him as well here. The only little flaw I see is that his character tends to be very shouty. I think it is both bound to the role as well as to some of the directing. It is not at all detrimental to the story but it prevents some range in the acting as the character is always at 100%. Despite this, he (and his character) was clearly my favorite part of the show.

The filmmaking is pretty great with a colourful and boyish atmosphere perfectly fitting for the scenario. I love the soundtrack with its "older indie rock" feels. Every song done by the band is super catchy and the musical scenes each time delighted me.

I would recommend this to people looking for a very solid youth drama set in the 1990's. If you enjoyed movies like "Back to the Future" and dramas such as the "Reply" series, you will for sure immensely enjoy it! If you are a fan of musical genre shows, this one is also clearly made for you. I personnally really loved it despite some issues with the pacing of the script and the way I would have liked a bit more development on some elements, especially towards the ending.

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As fresh as summery fruits, as hopeful as green grass in the winter

When I watch Twinkling Watermelon, I remember that Shakespearean idiom:
"My salad days. When I was green in judgment, cold in blood. To say as I said then!"

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The plot revolved around two teenagers who feel that their whole lives are mere fulfillment of their parents expectation. Until one time they find themself in the year of 1995. This time the two teenagers able meet their parents in their salad days, youth as bright and as sweet as summer fruits.

Yi Chan is a bright, passionate teens, living his youth to the fullest. Cheong Ah, a lonely deaf teens, keeping her desire to communicate with the world in silent. Se Kyeong, the cello queen, living as replacement, unable to owning her own live. Now the two teenagers able to see them not just as 'mom' or 'dad', but individuals with their own struggle and dream.

Here they begin the journey to understand. Journey to accept. Journey to learn to listen (because apparently it's not deafness that make you unable to listen, it's unwillingness).

.

Actually the beauty of this drama didn't lie in the plot. It's heavily rely to the charm of the characters and relationship between them. Their bonding moments, how some slowly falling in love, the desire to help the person you love, youth friendship. But overall the vibe is summery bright, no somber at all. At the end, there is no regret.

The main attraction is Eun Gyeol and his parents. Yi Chan, this man is the frontman of this drama. His way of live, how he treat others, this charming youthful energy. Cheong Ah, the sweet girl that's been treated unfairly by the world. Her journey to connect to the world is the highlight of the show. This two is my main couple. Our appa and eomma, haha.

And Eun Gyeol, a CODA, the dutiful kind child who do everything to protect his family. He is so precious, his burden was too heavy. I'm glad some of this burden lifted from him. The ending is working in a sense that it's hopeful and satisfying. It's so fantastical but it's keeping some of realistic take. That no matter what happen in your life, don't take all burden by yourself. Communicate with the person you love. And even though life doesn't give everything you want, it has unexpected present for you in many points of your journey. It's keeping the spirit of living.

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Uhm...

It's currently 1 AM and I'm on episode 10 of Twinkling Watermelon, and I'm considering dropping it. I started watching this drama with high expectations(my mistake), because the kdrama enthusiasts I follow seemed to love it, and it fell short.

I feel like the storyline or the plot is going in circles and it's going nowhere fast. I mean I am halfway through episode 10 and there seems to be no progress and it's really frustrating me. I don't think the storyline is bad per se, but I do feel like it's stretched out and it could have been a couple of episodes shorter(maybe 12 instead of 16). Or maybe it's just not my cup of tea? Which makes me sad because I was so excited for this drama. I was so confident that I was going to like it but I just want it to end so that I can continue with my life.

Would I recommend this series? Yes, it's not bad I just wish there weren't so many filler episodes. The actors were amazing, honestly, they were a 10/10 for me I feel like the portrayed the characters amazingly(which is another reason to watch this series). The music is also another reason to watch this drama.

I don't know if I'm going to finish this drama. I'm seriously considering dropping it especially after I accidentally saw a HUGE spoiler(the person did not flag it for spoilers, which is annoying). I am so sad I really wanted to enjoy this and it's also discouraging me from watching the other dramas I was excited for(i.e The Demon). I think I'm going to rewatch one/some of my series to get back my MOJO.

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soft, funny and romantic

loved everything bout this show.. soft, funny and may bring tears to ur eyes in every episode... it doesnt matter how old are you, your gender or your character; this show can give a piece of some emotions that you even dont know that you need it... also there is a good chance this show can give you a new perspective about people with disabilities... especially if there is a person with diabilities in your family i guess this show make you vry like a river from beginning to the end... actors and actresses are perfect fit in scenario and from the first episode you can relate with them easily...

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I think I just found a new favorite Kdrama!

Sometimes, a hyped show is overrated. You keep turning it up and down, trying to figure out what others see in it but it makes no sense. Then sometimes, the show isn't bad by any means but it's definitely not as good as others say. But on very rare occasions, the show is actually as good as everyone says it is! Twinkling Watermelon is definitely one of those rare stars in the night sky. Sure, it's a musical and that is a bit irritating, but the show makes up for it with a very creative plot, amazing cast with natural chemistry, effective humor, and so much genuine emotional anchoring that not watching this show would be an absolute loss.
Now, obviously this has time travel and I think they did it in such an interesting way and we're not gonna over-analyse the logistics of it...anyway, I thought the way that this works out which is sort of similar to "Back to the future" was so cute. It's just so emotional when Ha Eun Gyeol, the main character, meets his parents for the first time.
The plot is complex, very complex, but the show doesn't fumble and it wraps it up so well. And I'm so surprised to be saying this but I think this show could've had maybe an extra 20 minutes to explain some bits from the ending even more! (I know, asking for more time when usually 16-episodes shows drag, already! WILD!) The whole thing is heavily relying on the relationships between the characters and these characters are just so easily lovable that watching the show is just so fun. I didn't totally love our female lead as she caused a whole lot of drama but the actress is a personal favorite and she did a good job and despite the frustrations, it's all a part of her character growth so I think it wasn't a bother. My favorite characters remain Ha Yi Chan and Chung Ah, though. And of course, nothing beats the relationship between Yi Chan and Eun Gyeol. It was so touching and I just wanted them to be happy. :(
I've already expressed my love for the four main actors but the supporting cast were wonderful too. Everyone was just right in their own position and they all did such a good job. Kudos all around.
I wanna gosh more about just the plot and the perfect humor and the fact that despite a little hiccup between episode 11 and 12, this show manages to escape the curse of epsidoe 12 and the show doesn't lose the narrative momentum in episode 12. Despite the fact that it could've ended at that point, the story does find an excuse to keep going but at least here the excuse they use lands well for the plot and facilitates the existence of some of the most emotional moments of the whole show in the final episodes. Overall, I'm just so impressed with the writing in this show. It stands out among the sea of repetitive (if still endearing) and overwritten shows that keep getting made. And I think this isn't even a webcomic adaptation, right?! An extra star just for that!!!!
The production is very good here. It's nothing revolutionary but there are little affects used here and there that just make the show quirky and unique. The story is mainly set in 1995 and the fashion is just the right amount of vaguely retro that it isn't offensively modern and still conveys the 90s aesthetic. At least they don't have a 30 year old woman wear a 2024 trendy hairclip!
I might rewatch this actually. I loved it.
Final comment: This show deserves its place at the very top of Top Shows list. It was a delight to watch and I recommend it to everyone!
P.S.: If anyone knows who the singers for the main characters are, please let me know! Thank you!

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A BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED STORY

Twinkling Watermelon deserves all the hype it can get. Every part of it is beautiful, from the story to the actors and to the name. "Twinkling Watermelon"?? How bizarre. Turns out the strange name has a beautiful meaning behind it! The characters all felt extremely realistic which is crazy for a time-travel story LOL. For multiple reasons, this drama made me appreciate life more.

This story is so beautifully crafted and I'm grateful that I got to witness it. When Eun gyeol time travels to the year where he is the same age as his father, despite his father being immature, Eun gyeol manages to still learn lessons from him and vice versa. The story depicts multiple characters figuring out whether they want to be themselves, or be their parents' picture perfect child. we explore anxiety and struggles teenagers face. this drama has pretty much a mix of all genres but it doesn't feel like too much. there's many plot twists and i'll be honest, i didn't expect ANY of them.

obviously there's some unanswered issues because this is a time-travel drama. the question is, if Eungyeol and On Eun Yu go into the past and impact and affect people's lives, how come no one remembers them in the future?

I ended up feeling bad for all the main characters. Ha Eun Gyeol, his family's angel. The voice that connects them to others. They want him to study medicine when his heart belongs to music. Despite saying some hurtful things to his father, he really loves him.

Ha Yi Chan gives off golden retriever energy! His heart is so bright and kind and even when he's mad at them, he cares for others. When his inevitable fate occurred, I cried along with him. My heart broke into a thousand pieces and I cannot at all imagine how heart-wrenching it would be to suddenly never be able to hear ever again. I really felt for Eun Gyeol then too, he tried so hard to prevent this and it happens when Ha Yi Chan saves him from being hit by a car. The guilt would drown me. :( And if you have seen any of my past reviews on dramas that have old people in them, you'll know they're my WEAKNESS. I cried SO MUCH when Yi Chan's grandma sobbed when she realised he lost his hearing.

At first, when Choi Se Kyeong came back from Korea, I really disliked her character. She was annoying, bitchy and made me so upset but then we found out Choi Se Kyeong actually wasn't Choi Se Kyeong.. Then the actual character, On Eun Yu, grew on me and I started to love her. She was just really misunderstood and so was her mother. I'm glad she now understands her mother more. I live for healing family relationships LOL.

Yoon Cheong Ah's abuse shattered my heart. Just imagine living in a world of complete silence. Being deprived of love and not being able to express yourself freely. I was so fucking mad at that principal but we got the well deserved slap and in the end she got kicked out! I feel so bad for the actor of the principal tho LOL, she's always playing annoying characters but her QOT character was eh. I love this trope though, she fell first and he fell harder. SO CUTE.

the romance was chef's kiss. but the last episode was definitely too rushed. i needed to see more moments between BOTH couples? we just got a small reunion between Eun Gyeol and Eun Yu and literally nothing between cheong ah and yi chan!!

im really impressed by the acting from EVERYONE. i was shook when i found out Choi Hyun Wook is only 22-23? He certainly looks it but his acting skills are so good?! all the young actors devoured. i wanna see Ryeoun in more main roles. everything he expressed felt realistic and came across well. and, we only expected the best from seol in ah! one of my fave korean actresses. i do still think her in business proposal was the better role though. i just love her character so much more there but really seol in ah did a fabulous job in twinkling watermelon. Shin Eun Soo did amazing! her emotions were so natural and she really took the role on. also her eyes omg, they're so pretty and wow she knows how to act.

OVERALL:

When we face new challenges, we shouldn't back out of them. We should go and face them and accept them. that's what ha yi chan can teach us. :) this drama has so many beautiful quotes imbedded into a beautiful well thought out masterpiece. I'm still giving this a 9.5 because i want to rewatch this, appreciate it more and then give it a 10. this is healing and gives you a new perspective to look at life. i recommend this and i believe this deserves the high spot it has on MDL.

if you decide to watch this, i hope you have a splendid time watching and one more thing!

you are loved. don't define yourself based on your achievements. you're more than that. strive to be the happiest and healthiest version of yourself. :)

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THE BEST YOUTH DRAMA

its my first time writing a review it won't be that helpful but i just wanted to say how much i love this drama and that you should definitely watch it
it was one of the best drama i watched no words can't explain how good it is, i will literally do anything just to watch it again for the first time it had everything I love music ,youth, friendship, romance, time travel, fantasy. the romance is so good it literally had me giggling and kicking my feet like a high school girl and the FRIENDSHIP WOW where can i find friends like that? ;-; they should make more kdramas like this you will not regret watching it.

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MUST WATCH!!

This drama is top 2 in my drama list and oh my gosh this shows the efforts of a man for a woman he love and A REAL SON i guess....... idk lets look at some pointers why is it a must watch kdrama!


ACTING: The cast was veryyyyyyyyy goooddddddd every role is given suitable to every actor and they acted it so WELL! The couples, friendship,bond between son and father,efforts for love this drama shows all of this and if you like time travelling drama this is a must watch again we have found first point why is it must for you.

OST: Actually i don't notice OSTs much but it was soo good and fit soo well with the moments between the each other so it was a 9/10 for me.

STORY LINE: The story was a 9/10 for I'll tell you why. First of all it was a time traveling drama and i am watching time travelling for the first time it was confusing in between but then got it after sometimes. I know Yoon chung Ah was not his first love but the troope was veryyyyyy good it was SHE FELL FIRST HE FELL HARDER i love these kinds of troops yeah back to topic Yoon chung Ah was not his first love but his true love and i felt so bad when he acted rude with her in starting but poor boy he didn't know she was deaf but later they shared moments with each other, he learn sign language for her and i was melted at that point like THE EFFORTS!! He also protected her and she got along so well with his family, he ate her food even though it was not good, i have noticed one thing in kdramas that the efforts that is done by a man can also be done by a real man like in real life so why to lower girls standard and that is not that hard to do. The bond between son and father is like 😭🫶🏻 oh my god he did everything for his father that he doesn't go deaf but being deaf was in his destiny like meeting yoon chung ah!❤️ But i cuted 0.5 because second lead's screen was not much like their dating era they didn't show much😭 but still this drama i can't forget in my whole lifeeeee😭❤️🫶🏻

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Refreshingly good! Viva la vida!

This is a failure as a time travel drama since its ending has loopholes galore but as a family drama full of heart, this is one of the best. It doesn't have any major mind boggling concepts. You can almost predict the storyline but with cast's solid acting, their on point facial expressions, the simple story was really brought to life.

The main character, Ha Eun Gyeol, is kind, smart and handsome, the perfect son any parent would want to have. As a child of Deaf adults (CODA) with an older brother who was also Deaf, he always felt some guilt for being the only hearing member of the family. He tries to excel in studying so that people wouldn't say that his parents didn't raise him well because they were differently abled. But because of this, he began to feel like he was a trophy. It was only when he time travelled to the past that he was finally able to understand the struggles his parents had in their own youth.

When the MC returned to the future in the end, a lot of logical questions remained with me. Because I mostly enjoyed his journey and I kind of expected the changed future because of his interventions in the past, I chose to let them go and accept the drama logic as is. Everyone received their just ending so I'm good.

My main takeaway from this drama is Viva la vida, long live life. No one can live your life you. Life, like a watermelon, may have many seeds/struggles but it doesn't take away the sweetness that you can experience. Enjoy it, let it twinkle, but always choose to be kind when you can.

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