A Breath-taking experience!
This has got to be by far the most magical, fantasy kdrama I have watched. I was looking forward in watching something original and fun. This kdrama for sure didn't disappoint! It has a very depth storyline to it; which shows the struggles in life and how people avoid it by distracting themselves believing in magic! I must say I could truly feel all the emotions that the actors have portrayed. This show will make you laugh, cry, smile, feel relief, and of course have hope that maybe magic does exist after all...Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
When I tell you this show is life changing...I really mean it
The emotions I have evoked from Twinkling Watermelon are unexplainable; never in my life have I cried so much of sorrow and happiness from watching one show.When I watched this, I felt as though I was really there, with them, laughing with them, crying with them, fighting for my dreams, living the magical youth, stumbling across life problems and eventually overcoming them...
This Kdrama truly is the definition of everything happens for a reason, and therefore we should never miss a second of our precious lives and value it with all our hearts.
However, us humans, we take things for granted, and we don't appreciate what we already have, which is significantly shown in this drama. Once we lose something so valuable to us, only then do we realise how much we should have treasured it. This show wants us to see that life is worth living, and even at your lowest point, you should never give up, whether it's because you lost a loved one, or you feel like no one loves you and you see no point in living, or maybe that you lost your hearing...never give up on your dreams!
As someone who struggles and doesn't always see the point in living life, this drama truly gave me hope.
What I loved about this drama, is the portrayal of the deaf and those who are unable to speak. Many people in society look down on them, but even with disabilities like these, they don't give up and move on, as they become stronger day by day. I also loved how the characters communicated between each other using sign language, it was so beautiful and I truly think that it's one of the most precious languages out there, as you speak through actions and not words. You pay attention to every little detail to understand the other person.
This drama places a huge emphasis that we should be grateful for what we have, like hearing, and even if we don't have it, life is still worth living.
STORY
It was well written and thought through, there wasn't a second when I paused and thought, this is getting boring and it feels like it's being dragged, no. This was definitely not the case. It was all connected from start to finish, which made it so entertaining to watch. The time travelling from 2023 to 1995 was so intriguing, as it gave Ha Eun Gyeol the opportunity to not only try to change the future, but to also meet his parents when they were young, make new fantastic friends and make unforgettable memories...
This show is based around a lot of factors: like music and passion and how Eun Gyeol helped his father (Yi Chan) to create a band. Additionally, falling in love for the first time and how truly beautiful and innocent it can be.
This drama presents how deaf people overcome their struggles. Additionally, this drama shows the relationships between the loved ones in families and how they support each other no matter what, it also targets the sensitive topic of domestic abuse and inequality, this is to spread the word and to show how people overcome it.
The story is just wonderful in every aspect, I really can't think of any flaws.
ACTING/ CAST
What can I say, the acting was absolutely outstanding. If you were to ask me who stood out the most, or who carried the show, I'll reply with: I can't choose, they all did. Everyone in the cast carried the show, It was absolutely amazing.
Ryeoun is such a talented actor I must say, this was the first project I have watched with him, so I didn't know what to expect, but oh my- he for sure delivered. Every emotion he portrayed as Eun-gyeol, I could feel through the screen. The way he cared for everyone so much, and was determined to save everyone from their problems and worries; will always grasp my heart with appreciation.
I will also never get over the most iconic duo and the beautiful bond between Eun-gyeol and his father, Yi Chan. Just tears. The father and son relationship is just so exquisitely presented.
And of course Choi Hyun-Wook, the God- given actor he is, who played Yi-Chan, was beyond words amazing. He supported his son back, was always ready to sacrifice himself for someone he deeply cared for. His realisation when we fell for Cheong-ah is the sweetest thing ever. He put the time and effort into learning sign language just for her. And when he hit rock bottom he didn't give up, he carried on fighting and believing in himself; he is the strongest character in this series.
Furthermore, our wonderful actress Shin Eun-soo who I'm also new to, was extraordinary. She had one of the hardest roles, she played Cheong-ah who is a deaf girl with family problems. Throughout the whole series she didn't speak and communicated through sign language which I think is hands down incredible and deserves an applaud!
She conveyed her feelings through emotions, through her eyes and actions, I was absolutely stunned, what an amazing performance!
Finally, Seol In-ah. Such an inspiring actress who played two roles, one of her mother when she was younger in 1995 (Se-kyung), and the other as her present self, Eun-Yu, in 2023. This should be praised, because she effortlessly portrayed two completely different roles, with opposite personalities tremendously.
Seol In-ah shows through her character how in the beginning she doesn't have the will to live and masks out her true self, filled with pain and regrets. Everyone sees only her bright side and her outgoing personality which many fall for, when in reality she is fighting internal problems and doesn't have such a bright personal life. However later, due to a life changing experience, where she meets many new friends, gains support from Eun-gyeol, and falls in love. Eun-Yu overcomes this and realises life is worth living.
In terms of the rest of the cast, they were all absolutely splendid in portraying their characters. Yi-Chan's grandmother was so adorable, and supportive, the band group in 1995 were so fun and always happy to help each other, Eun-gyeol's parents and his brother (Eun-ho) in the modern time were always there for him too.
All the actors in this show were absolutely incredible. Bravo!
MUSIC
The OST was beautiful. Especially because this drama was heavily based around music and band groups, the director and filming team had to seriously focus on the compositions. It contains 90's rock songs and modern pop, and the background music was also fabulous.
The ending was better than I expected. I heard it will be bitter-sweet which is partially true, because unfortunately what Eun-gyeol was so desperate to change, didn't work out, he wasn't able to accomplish it. However, everyone got their happy ending in the end, which I was so relieved to see. They all deserved it after all.
Throughout the whole series I cried every episode emotionally, which is surprising because this rarely happens, and I was so touched in every way. This show will forever have a special place in my heart, which I will never forget. This drama showed me that life is worth living, and if I'll ever feel at my lowest point, I'll remember Twinkling Watermelon, and reassure myself to stay strong and keep fighting, just like characters did.
And this is why for some people, this show may be life changing, it's full of life lessons and motivation to keep going.
So go and watch this show, maybe your perspective on life will also change...
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A Great Action Zombie Movie!
I couldn't resist, and decided to write a review on this underrated movie. Honestly I don't understand why it received so much hate; because it's actually very good.Many people compared Peninsula to Train to Busan, meanwhile although they're slightly linked, they're completely different plot wise and cast.
Train to Busan targets more of a psychological genre, and the relations between people, whilst Peninsula is more of an action packed movie.
If you're currently in that stage, wondering whether or not you should give this movie a try, do it, watch it. Trust me, you won't be disappointed! The amount of negative reviews also put me off from watching this movie, but I'm so glad I still gave it a chance nevertheless!
Peninsula is honestly very entertaining and worth a watch. I loved the cast, the acting was outstanding, and of course the plot didn't disappoint itself.
Plus it has a more positive ending, compared with Train to Busan.
Either way, give it a go!
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Not a typical high school kdrama!
I was looking forward in watching a psychological/thriller. I must say Extracurricular delivered! It was very eccentric and intriguing. I absolutely loved the character's development.Actor Dong-Hee Kim did an amazing job; portraying his character's 2 sided personality, every time he turned evil I always got goosebumps. As well as him, Park Ju-hyun's acting skills really payed off, her playing as Bae Gyu-ri really stood out, her desperation to escape her parents and the pressure she was under was presented fantasitcally!
The cliffhanger ending fitted well, as it leaves you questioned with what may happen next. Apparently there will be a season 2 coming out in 2023, my hopes are high!
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Robin Hood, But Make It Slick. My First Look at Confidence Queen.
First episode in, and I'm already intrigued.The plot will likely branch into multiple storylines, with the main characters facing off against various antagonists. What makes it interesting is that their methods aren’t always morally clear, they often bend the rules by impersonating others and taking on roles they aren’t technically entitled to. Still, their ultimate goal remains justifiable: to protect the innocent and bring justice to those who have been wronged.
Introducing our charismatic crew of con artists: Starting with Yoon Yi Rang, portrayed by Park Min Young. She’s smart, witty, and unstoppable; whatever she sets her sights on, she achieves. But her schemes always come with a purpose, as she uses her talents for a greater good. Fiercely loyal to her partners in crime and always ready to help those in need, Yoon Yi Rang is the ultimate good baddie, the kind who flips her hair, winks, and blows a kiss while leaving you in awe. And yes, her outfits in this drama are absolutely stunning.
Next up is James, played by Park Hee Soon, the seasoned member of the crew. With his years of experience, he carries himself with an air of sophistication, looking every bit as expensive as he sounds. Calm and collected, he balances the team with his composed demeanor, but he also surprises with a dry, dad-joke kind of humor that’s oddly charming. Most importantly, James is the steady backbone of the group, always standing by his partners and offering unwavering support.
Finally, we have Myung Gu Ho, portrayed by Joo Jong Hyuk, the youngest of the group. Energetic and eager to help, he radiates a puppy-like charm, trustworthy, funny, and utterly genuine. His light-hearted nature brings warmth to the team, and even when he gets a little grumpy with his partners, he doesn’t come across as intimidating, just irresistibly cute.
Confidence Queen has a very promising premise, and I’m excited to see where it goes. While it’s hard to judge a show based on just one episode, I’m already hooked, the concept is engaging, the characters are delightful, and the music fits perfectly, keeping every moment interesting.
Right from the start, the drama gave me familiar vibes, reminding me a lot of Leverage (the Korean adaptation). After looking into it, I realized that the same director, Nam Ki Hoon, who worked on Leverage, is behind Confidence Queen as well. That connection gives me even more hope for the series, especially since I thoroughly enjoyed Leverage back in 2020.
I can’t wait to see how the story unfolds, and I would highly recommend Confidence Queen to anyone looking for a fun and thrilling watch.
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