The Greatest K-Drama of all time
All the praise and positive remarks this show is, and will get, are rightfully warranted. Having known about this drama prior to its airing years before, I had nothing but high expectations for this. Given the amazing cast and crew, thank you My Mister, another masterpiece, it was drama of the year or bust for me. Let me just get started by saying this is the greatest work of television I have ever watched, and is now my favorite drama EVER.
Just in terms of analyzation of a piece of film at its core, cast/crew, screenplay, cinematography, characterization, production, story-telling, pacing etc, this drama is masterful. Similar to My Mister, the Director does an amazing job in showcasing the nuances of life in general. From the grandiose events someone may experience in their life such as graduating school, getting married, getting your first paycheck, to the simple everyday things such as talking with a friend, or buying groceries, not one second of this drama is wasted, or unimportant in the grand telling of the story. Everything literally serves a purpose, and gradually builds upon one another as further themes are either explored and or introduced.
The actors ARE the characters. It's one thing to memorize lines and say them, it's another thing to ACT, to BE the character, and every actor and actress here became their character and acted their butts off. IU and Park BoGum deserve to sweep all Korean show awards this year with how masterful and emotionally provoking their acting were. The nuances in how they act with their body, from literally how they use their limbs, their eyes, and minute changes in facial expressions, and inflection in voice, were perfect.
One thing that can set a good drama from an amazing drama is the characters and their journey. The characters are so perfectly imperfect, and that's so beautiful. Like life itself, we continue to learn and change as we grow older. While the trendline in life is to become a better person in aspects (upwards), it is not linear. We have highs and lows, either or which may be sustained over an extended period of time. Perhaps we were more financially stable a decade ago, maybe I could control my emotions better when I was younger versus me right now who is supposed to be more mature and experienced. We grow and regress accordingly, and all the characters envelop these realities of life so well, that it feels like I was watching a real story, like this can happen (and maybe in some semblance when you divide by the 4 volumes, aspects of these stories have definitely been lived by another real person(s)). Because this story feels so real and palpable, it all the more allows viewers to connect to their personal lives and become more invested and appreciate what the cast/crew were trying to show us.
I can literally write a thesis on this show, but I will end it by saying that you will not be disappointed watching this show. If you are not affected by the brain rot of social media right now, aka having a short attention span, you will love this show, regardless of your experience with kdramas, or television for that matter. This show will have you laughing, crying, and contemplating life after. If you are not experiencing this while watching, you are the problem LOL (I say very kindly and semi-sarcastically, as everyone has their own preferences).
I feel that I have a good basis to call this the greatest kdrama ever given my watchlist. While I have not watched many kdramas comparatively to those who have watched for a long time (i'm a little less than two years in) I have watched the likes of Moving, My Mister, My Dearest, The Good Bad Mother, Extraordinary Attorney Woo, Hospital Playlist, which I feel are objectively masterpieces on all fronts of story-telling, and can confidently say that When Life Gives You Tangerines is in a league of its own.
Just in terms of analyzation of a piece of film at its core, cast/crew, screenplay, cinematography, characterization, production, story-telling, pacing etc, this drama is masterful. Similar to My Mister, the Director does an amazing job in showcasing the nuances of life in general. From the grandiose events someone may experience in their life such as graduating school, getting married, getting your first paycheck, to the simple everyday things such as talking with a friend, or buying groceries, not one second of this drama is wasted, or unimportant in the grand telling of the story. Everything literally serves a purpose, and gradually builds upon one another as further themes are either explored and or introduced.
The actors ARE the characters. It's one thing to memorize lines and say them, it's another thing to ACT, to BE the character, and every actor and actress here became their character and acted their butts off. IU and Park BoGum deserve to sweep all Korean show awards this year with how masterful and emotionally provoking their acting were. The nuances in how they act with their body, from literally how they use their limbs, their eyes, and minute changes in facial expressions, and inflection in voice, were perfect.
One thing that can set a good drama from an amazing drama is the characters and their journey. The characters are so perfectly imperfect, and that's so beautiful. Like life itself, we continue to learn and change as we grow older. While the trendline in life is to become a better person in aspects (upwards), it is not linear. We have highs and lows, either or which may be sustained over an extended period of time. Perhaps we were more financially stable a decade ago, maybe I could control my emotions better when I was younger versus me right now who is supposed to be more mature and experienced. We grow and regress accordingly, and all the characters envelop these realities of life so well, that it feels like I was watching a real story, like this can happen (and maybe in some semblance when you divide by the 4 volumes, aspects of these stories have definitely been lived by another real person(s)). Because this story feels so real and palpable, it all the more allows viewers to connect to their personal lives and become more invested and appreciate what the cast/crew were trying to show us.
I can literally write a thesis on this show, but I will end it by saying that you will not be disappointed watching this show. If you are not affected by the brain rot of social media right now, aka having a short attention span, you will love this show, regardless of your experience with kdramas, or television for that matter. This show will have you laughing, crying, and contemplating life after. If you are not experiencing this while watching, you are the problem LOL (I say very kindly and semi-sarcastically, as everyone has their own preferences).
I feel that I have a good basis to call this the greatest kdrama ever given my watchlist. While I have not watched many kdramas comparatively to those who have watched for a long time (i'm a little less than two years in) I have watched the likes of Moving, My Mister, My Dearest, The Good Bad Mother, Extraordinary Attorney Woo, Hospital Playlist, which I feel are objectively masterpieces on all fronts of story-telling, and can confidently say that When Life Gives You Tangerines is in a league of its own.
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