60
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Life gives tangerines, love turns them sweet, a journey through struggles and growth with realism!
8.7/10
This drama wasn’t about a passionate love story that swept you off your feet, rather it was about the journey of two people who loved each other through thick and thin, in every phase of their lives. It was realistic, capturing the hardships and complexities of their relationship as they navigated various challenges. We have seen this several times in dramaland, but the portrayal here felt sincere and deep. Each time they faced hardship or joy, I felt like I was right there with them, crying when they cried, laughing when they laughed.
Yang Gwan Sik and O Ae Sun’s romance wasn’t the usual typical fairy tale, but it was so comforting in its own way. While there were moments when I didn’t get why they made certain choices, but their loyalty to each other was unmatched. The way Gwan Sik literally crossed oceans for Ae Sun spoke volumes about the depth of his love and commitment. Gwan Sik’s as a husband and his daughter's father is something I could write essays about.
O Ae Sun had a tough childhood and the only person who ever really had her back was Gwan Sik. And he didn’t just have her back, he protected her with everything he had. But Ae Sun herself was a strong, fiery woman and an even fiercer mom. She was determined that her daughter wouldn’t go through the same struggles she did. The way she showed her protective love was so bittersweet, it honestly made me cry a few times.
Watching her journey with Gwan Sik, I realised, it was never about love but survival in the most romantic way possible. To me, this is what real love is, not star-crossed lovers, but two people who fight against all odds and still manage to be soft and gentle with each other.
The drama also touched on the subject of the parent-child relationship with such raw honesty, reminding me of a universal truth that as a child, it was easy to argue with my parents and feel frustrated by their decisions. But as I grew older, I began to see things from two perspectives - mine, which often felt difficult with my own struggles and expectations from life and the perspective of my parents, where I realized they were facing their own challenges. The drama gave me a humbling experience here and there. It was a reminder that sometimes, you can't truly understand someone’s choices until you walk in their shoes or at least try to. It beautifully captured that emotional journey, showing how perspective can change as we grow and mature.
With realistic portrayals come realistic disappointments from our projections. (Lol xD ) I feel a certain way about when a mother chooses to favour one child over the other. One child is left to fade into the shadows, while the other is bathed in her undivided attention, somehow because they are the living embodiment of her own unfulfilled dreams.
While I do appreciate how the drama portrays both men and women with depth, this issue of favouritism really bothered me a bit. The mother’s desire to ensure her daughter doesn’t face the same hardships she did is understandable and I don't think there's anything wrong with that. However, I felt the boy was somewhat neglected in the story.
Gwan Sik and Ae Sun as Geum Myeong parents should and would win Oscars for being the best parents , a woman could ask for but sadly in the case of Eun Myeong , they missed the mark. They did try to come around in Vol 4 but for me, it was a little too late.
Also, compared to vol 1 and 2,vol 3 and 4 felt a bit off in terms of pacing where few arcs felt streched out and also the transitions between the past and present seemed somewhat random, something I didn’t notice in the first two volumes.
The acting was excellent across the board and I have no complaints. The main cast, IU and Park Bogum, were at their absolute best. The supporting cast also had some incredibly seasoned actors and their performances only elevated the drama whenever they were on screen.
The cinematography and the opening credits were also remarkable. The struggles of village life, the beauty of the sea, the vast open fields and the stunning sunsets were captured beautifully. In fact, I never skipped the credits once. You can sense throughout, that the budget wasn't the problem.
Overall , it was raw and messy but in all the right ways. For anyone who has been through tough times, whether it's financial struggles in childhood or personal battles against societal pressures and expectations, this would get to you. It somehow also teaches you that life goes no matter what.
Tangerines here were like problems in life - unexpected, sometimes sour and hard to handle at first. But when life hands a tangerine, it may not be clear what to do with it right away. Over time, though ,the bitterness can be peeled back, revealing the sweetness inside, turning something challenging into something worthwhile. It’s about making the best of what life gives, even if it’s not what was wanted or expected. The drama did a good job at that. (At least what I inferred)
I would definitely recommend this drama and would also recommend a tissue box on the side for the ugly crying that will follow. xD
Thank you for reading my review! It was difficult to write this one without spoilers. I hope you enjoy the drama if you give it a try! <3
This drama wasn’t about a passionate love story that swept you off your feet, rather it was about the journey of two people who loved each other through thick and thin, in every phase of their lives. It was realistic, capturing the hardships and complexities of their relationship as they navigated various challenges. We have seen this several times in dramaland, but the portrayal here felt sincere and deep. Each time they faced hardship or joy, I felt like I was right there with them, crying when they cried, laughing when they laughed.
Yang Gwan Sik and O Ae Sun’s romance wasn’t the usual typical fairy tale, but it was so comforting in its own way. While there were moments when I didn’t get why they made certain choices, but their loyalty to each other was unmatched. The way Gwan Sik literally crossed oceans for Ae Sun spoke volumes about the depth of his love and commitment. Gwan Sik’s as a husband and his daughter's father is something I could write essays about.
O Ae Sun had a tough childhood and the only person who ever really had her back was Gwan Sik. And he didn’t just have her back, he protected her with everything he had. But Ae Sun herself was a strong, fiery woman and an even fiercer mom. She was determined that her daughter wouldn’t go through the same struggles she did. The way she showed her protective love was so bittersweet, it honestly made me cry a few times.
Watching her journey with Gwan Sik, I realised, it was never about love but survival in the most romantic way possible. To me, this is what real love is, not star-crossed lovers, but two people who fight against all odds and still manage to be soft and gentle with each other.
The drama also touched on the subject of the parent-child relationship with such raw honesty, reminding me of a universal truth that as a child, it was easy to argue with my parents and feel frustrated by their decisions. But as I grew older, I began to see things from two perspectives - mine, which often felt difficult with my own struggles and expectations from life and the perspective of my parents, where I realized they were facing their own challenges. The drama gave me a humbling experience here and there. It was a reminder that sometimes, you can't truly understand someone’s choices until you walk in their shoes or at least try to. It beautifully captured that emotional journey, showing how perspective can change as we grow and mature.
With realistic portrayals come realistic disappointments from our projections. (Lol xD ) I feel a certain way about when a mother chooses to favour one child over the other. One child is left to fade into the shadows, while the other is bathed in her undivided attention, somehow because they are the living embodiment of her own unfulfilled dreams.
While I do appreciate how the drama portrays both men and women with depth, this issue of favouritism really bothered me a bit. The mother’s desire to ensure her daughter doesn’t face the same hardships she did is understandable and I don't think there's anything wrong with that. However, I felt the boy was somewhat neglected in the story.
Gwan Sik and Ae Sun as Geum Myeong parents should and would win Oscars for being the best parents , a woman could ask for but sadly in the case of Eun Myeong , they missed the mark. They did try to come around in Vol 4 but for me, it was a little too late.
Also, compared to vol 1 and 2,vol 3 and 4 felt a bit off in terms of pacing where few arcs felt streched out and also the transitions between the past and present seemed somewhat random, something I didn’t notice in the first two volumes.
The acting was excellent across the board and I have no complaints. The main cast, IU and Park Bogum, were at their absolute best. The supporting cast also had some incredibly seasoned actors and their performances only elevated the drama whenever they were on screen.
The cinematography and the opening credits were also remarkable. The struggles of village life, the beauty of the sea, the vast open fields and the stunning sunsets were captured beautifully. In fact, I never skipped the credits once. You can sense throughout, that the budget wasn't the problem.
Overall , it was raw and messy but in all the right ways. For anyone who has been through tough times, whether it's financial struggles in childhood or personal battles against societal pressures and expectations, this would get to you. It somehow also teaches you that life goes no matter what.
Tangerines here were like problems in life - unexpected, sometimes sour and hard to handle at first. But when life hands a tangerine, it may not be clear what to do with it right away. Over time, though ,the bitterness can be peeled back, revealing the sweetness inside, turning something challenging into something worthwhile. It’s about making the best of what life gives, even if it’s not what was wanted or expected. The drama did a good job at that. (At least what I inferred)
I would definitely recommend this drama and would also recommend a tissue box on the side for the ugly crying that will follow. xD
Thank you for reading my review! It was difficult to write this one without spoilers. I hope you enjoy the drama if you give it a try! <3
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