a new and refreshing plot but a wasted potential
honestly, i knew i was going to love this drama as soon as i heard about the plot and as soon as i watched the first episode. but as the story progressed, it became repetitive to the point that the story became kind of predictable. i think that the show had a lot of potential only if they focused on her curse as much as they did on the main character. the repetitive flashbacks were boring and added nothing new to the narrative most of the time.regardless of all, i loved the idea of him continuing his research because at a certain point, her being a witch didn’t matter to him and how he risked his entire life to reveal his feelings, even after knowing the outcome. i loved the conclusion of his research being him searching for a way to love her despite it all. i just wish it was carried off well.
in conclusion, it’s a nice drama to binge watch all together if you’re looking for something other than romcoms. overall, it’s good for a one time watch.
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the kind of love that finds you no matter what
although i was unsure of enjoying this drama as much as others when i started it, i ended up loving it as much as the story progressed. the slow burn was my favourite part of the show, the angst was definately worth it. i smiled, laughed, and even got emotional as i binged these 32 episodes consisting of an emotional rollercoaster ride.centering around yifan’s ptsd and suffering while dealing with her family, i loved how this drama showed that healing wasn’t linear. yifan’s sudden disappearance without a word showed a pattern she couldn't break until she eventually realized that running away wasn’t the solution. the love she received from sang yan gave her power to fight back, and she realised that she wasn’t really alone. always being neglected by her family, belonging to no one, she ended up finding her own people, who chased after her even after she disappeared from their world without a word. this drama showed that familial bond wasn’t everything; you don’t always have to forgive the people who did you wrong, never stood by your side, and abandoned you. yifan’s relationship with her mom concludes on the same note– instead of choosing forgiveness, she chooses herself.
the way sang yan loves yifan deserves it’s own appreciation paragraph. he loved her through thick and thin; both as a young boy and as an adult. his character is the resemblance of the kind of love that waits, and is worth the wait– even if it’s years.
the ending episode was really beautiful– the awkwardness during the proposal scene, sang yan’s overwhelming emotions, the gesture on wen yifan’s face as if she had been dying to hear those words, and most importantly– the ring. it was all beautiful.
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a women centred drama for the mothers and daughters – a story so heartbreaking yet so beautiful.
“when life gives you tangerines” starts from the journey of a mother, who once was a daughter, sure of her space in the world. the young and bold ae-sun, who was ready to have it all for herself and her mother saw her entire life taking a shift before her very eyes after she lost her mother.the story starting from highlighting the struggle of women in patriarchal society that exists to snatch their every dream away from them takes a turn when ae-sun, in her own ways, decides to challenge those norms. her world, even though shattered after losing her mother shapes her daughter’s world.
this drama is about the unconditional love between a family, who despite losing everything, gained their everything. showcasing the portrayal of the sea as both the giver and the taker, it emphasizes on the harsh realities of life and nature no one can win against. the life ae-sun’s daughter grew up dreading was the same life ae-sun was willing to relive all over again as she managed to define her happiness in her own way. the ups and downs of their journey itself teaches a lesson– when one door is closed shut, another one is bound to be open. their life was all about searching for those new opened doors as the uncontrollable forces of life shut the previous ones for them. each member in the family struggling in their own way found their way out of the darkness in some way or the other, and the most dreadful season eventually passed each time it added up to their struggles.
the heartbreaking ending itself roots from the touch of reality; everything is bound to come to an end. what matters the most is that you lived a great life– in no one’s but your own perception. the four volumes, consisting of heartbreak in all forms– the loss of parents, dreams, a child, love, and the sacrifices made concludes with the reflection of love in all its purest forms that eventually make all the hardships seem worth it at the end.
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