When Life Gives You Tangerines : Story So Raw, It Feels Like Memories Instead of Fiction
This is a story of love, life, joy, sorrow, struggle, healing and everything in between. It follows Ae Sun’s journey from the turbulent 1960s through more than 7 decades, capturing every stage of her life. We see her as a bright eyed child with dreams as vast as the mountains, a determined teenager whose eyes still sparkle with ambition, passionate lover who pours her heart into her soulmate Yang Gwansik, a young mother finding her way and finally a grandmother who has embraced every role life has given her. In her, you see a daughter, a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a friend, she is everything. IU and Moon Sori deserve a standing ovation, they didnt just play their roles, they lived them.
Yang Gwansik, her unwavering companion, is the definition of a true soulmate. He is the green flag every girl dreams of, standing by her side from childhood to his last breath, fulfilling every duty with quiet devotion and deep love. While his romantic and husband phases were beautiful, what resonated most was his portrayal of fatherhood. He embodied the kind of silent dad who loves his children fiercely but struggles to put it into words. Both Park Bogum and Park Hae Joon who played him delivered phenomenal performances.
Beyond the leads, every character, from free spirited Geum Myeong to the elderly couple who sheltered the main characters during darkest times, offers a lesson in life’s complexities. Growth is a recurring theme, and even morally gray characters get their moments of depth and redemption.
The cinematography and production design are flawless, recreating each era from the 1960s to 2007 with stunning accuracy. Every frame feels immersive, transporting you to the past in a way that makes the story even more poignant.
So far, this is hands down the best drama of 2025. Its also the first slice of life series since Our Blues that truly tugs at the heart. A drama to cherish for a long time.
Yang Gwansik, her unwavering companion, is the definition of a true soulmate. He is the green flag every girl dreams of, standing by her side from childhood to his last breath, fulfilling every duty with quiet devotion and deep love. While his romantic and husband phases were beautiful, what resonated most was his portrayal of fatherhood. He embodied the kind of silent dad who loves his children fiercely but struggles to put it into words. Both Park Bogum and Park Hae Joon who played him delivered phenomenal performances.
Beyond the leads, every character, from free spirited Geum Myeong to the elderly couple who sheltered the main characters during darkest times, offers a lesson in life’s complexities. Growth is a recurring theme, and even morally gray characters get their moments of depth and redemption.
The cinematography and production design are flawless, recreating each era from the 1960s to 2007 with stunning accuracy. Every frame feels immersive, transporting you to the past in a way that makes the story even more poignant.
So far, this is hands down the best drama of 2025. Its also the first slice of life series since Our Blues that truly tugs at the heart. A drama to cherish for a long time.
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