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The beautiful, dreamlike story brought me to tears
When Life Gives You Tangerines is a beautifully crafted, deeply emotional story that takes viewers through love, loss, and the quiet yet profound moments that define a life. This is a rather poetic drama, unfolding like a slow-burning novel. There is no fairytale romance, exaggerations or grand twists; instead, the narrative finds beauty in the mundane: the laughter between people, the quiet ache of unspoken love and the weight of responsibilities that come with adulthood, especially when one takes on parenthood. It portrays the struggles of ordinary people with heartbreaking accuracy.
What I found remarkable about this show is how it embraces the passage of time. We don’t just see Ae Sun and Gwan Sik as young dreamers; we follow them across decades, through different phases of life, witnessing their evolving relationship shaped by circumstances beyond their control. It’s a bittersweet meditation on destiny: what we choose and what is chosen for us. Without being heavy-handed, it gives us glimpses into a time when survival often took precedence over personal desires, making Ae Sun and Gwan Sik’s love story all the more poignant.
The level of acting in this drama is phenomenal. Every member of the cast pulled their weight in gold, from the child actors to the seasoned veterans. When IU finally made her entrance with that familiar bratty yet effortlessly sassy charm, I yelped. It’s been so long since I last saw her in a drama, and she lit up the screen the moment she appeared.
Gwan Sik feels like Choi Taek in an alternate timeline, and I love it. I won’t spend too much time talking about IU and Park Bo Gum because, frankly, it’s predictable. They always deliver. Everyone knows that. There’s nothing new to say except that they continue to breathe life into every character they play, and somehow, each new role becomes their best one yet. No amount of praise can ever fully capture what they bring. I'm just thankful that they’re healthy, kind humans who are still doing this for us to experience and I hope that never changes.
The two kiddos, how do child actors manage to understand the emotional weight behind such roles at that age? They amazed me. And Yeom Hye Ran, even with her limited screen time, left a lasting impression. Her portrayal of the haenyeo mother was so grounded and powerful that it’s impossible to think of this drama without her. She embodied a generation of women with quiet strength and left a deep emotional mark. I’ve seen her in many dramas, but this is her best performance yet.
Park Hae Joon’s portrayal of Yang Gwan Sik resonated with me the most. I lost my father, and he was a man just like him. I choked up when Gwan Sik came home carrying peas for the family because my dad used to do the same. Back then, it seemed like nothing, but now… a fictional father does it, and I’m in tears. That’s the beauty of this drama. There’s something here for everyone, regardless of age, gender, or background. It truly reflects the everyday life struggles of most folks out there, and it hits where it matters most.
The cinematography is stunning. Jeju Island doesn't just serve as a backdrop; it feels like a character in its own right. Every frame is like a painting, rich with nostalgia, warmth, and emotion. This level of visual storytelling has quietly become a hallmark in recent K-dramas, and it’s something I’ve come to really appreciate. It shows how much care and craft goes into the genre beyond just the writing and acting. I was especially impressed by the way the show transitions between timelines. That kind of narrative structure is tricky to get right, and more often than not, shows don't do this part too well. But here, it’s done so creatively and seamlessly that it elevates the storytelling. It adds depth without ever feeling confusing or forced. And the soundtrack was perfect, too. The folk-inspired melodies blend so well with the setting and story. Even as someone who isn't Korean, I felt deeply connected to the emotion they carried. It’s one of those rare combinations where the visuals and music work in complete harmony, making every moment feel lived in and real.
Gwan Sik is what some might call a "fool", a man living in a time when men were overwhelmingly favoured and entitled, yet he never once leaned into that privilege. He didn’t care for the roles that society handed to him. All he wanted was for his girl to have everything she dreamed of, simply so she could be happy. He could’ve followed the crowd, conformed to the norm of transactional love, of marriages built on obligations rather than feelings. Instead, he chose the harder path. He chose to suffer for love. And maybe, just maybe, we all need a fool like Gwan Sik in our lives, a man who wants to be a husband and a father and not just have a wife and a child. There were so many moments I caught myself smiling and even laughing amidst their tragedy, not because I took joy in their pain, but because of how raw, relatable, and innocent their love was. It’s the story of a woman too smart and too ahead of her time and a man who is so beautifully stupid in love with her. And that first kiss? Probably the most awkward I’ve ever seen in a drama, and yet, somehow, the best one.
I strongly believe that both children and parents should at least give this show a watch even if it's not your usual genre. It tells a powerful story about how each new generation tries to be better, to become everything the previous one was not. But more often than not, they end up falling short, whether by choice, by circumstance, or simply by the weight of life. Parents carry the guilt of what they couldn’t give, while children carry the grief of what they never received. We live inside our own struggles, rarely seeing the other side until we try to live theirs eventually. That’s the never-ending conundrum: one that continues to echo through time, always imperfect, always incomplete, but sometimes made a little better through understanding and the wisdom that only time can offer.
Some dramas entertain, but some dramas linger in your heart long after the credits roll. When Life Gives You Tangerines is a drama that will stay with you for a long time. It is going to leave you feeling both fulfilled and slightly heartbroken, a rare balance that only the most beautifully told stories achieve. It makes you pause and reflect and be grateful for the little things you normally take for granted. Great purpose, great delivery, and this is what art should be like. Not everyone will resonate with it, but for those willing to immerse themselves in its world, this drama offers an unforgettable experience– one that lingers like the taste of a perfectly ripe tangerine, sweet yet tinged with the slightest hint of bitterness.
“THIS IS A SILENT OUTCRY. A HANDKERCHIEF OF ETERNAL NOSTALGIA…WAVING TOWARDS THE BLUE SEAS!!!”
What I found remarkable about this show is how it embraces the passage of time. We don’t just see Ae Sun and Gwan Sik as young dreamers; we follow them across decades, through different phases of life, witnessing their evolving relationship shaped by circumstances beyond their control. It’s a bittersweet meditation on destiny: what we choose and what is chosen for us. Without being heavy-handed, it gives us glimpses into a time when survival often took precedence over personal desires, making Ae Sun and Gwan Sik’s love story all the more poignant.
The level of acting in this drama is phenomenal. Every member of the cast pulled their weight in gold, from the child actors to the seasoned veterans. When IU finally made her entrance with that familiar bratty yet effortlessly sassy charm, I yelped. It’s been so long since I last saw her in a drama, and she lit up the screen the moment she appeared.
Gwan Sik feels like Choi Taek in an alternate timeline, and I love it. I won’t spend too much time talking about IU and Park Bo Gum because, frankly, it’s predictable. They always deliver. Everyone knows that. There’s nothing new to say except that they continue to breathe life into every character they play, and somehow, each new role becomes their best one yet. No amount of praise can ever fully capture what they bring. I'm just thankful that they’re healthy, kind humans who are still doing this for us to experience and I hope that never changes.
The two kiddos, how do child actors manage to understand the emotional weight behind such roles at that age? They amazed me. And Yeom Hye Ran, even with her limited screen time, left a lasting impression. Her portrayal of the haenyeo mother was so grounded and powerful that it’s impossible to think of this drama without her. She embodied a generation of women with quiet strength and left a deep emotional mark. I’ve seen her in many dramas, but this is her best performance yet.
Park Hae Joon’s portrayal of Yang Gwan Sik resonated with me the most. I lost my father, and he was a man just like him. I choked up when Gwan Sik came home carrying peas for the family because my dad used to do the same. Back then, it seemed like nothing, but now… a fictional father does it, and I’m in tears. That’s the beauty of this drama. There’s something here for everyone, regardless of age, gender, or background. It truly reflects the everyday life struggles of most folks out there, and it hits where it matters most.
The cinematography is stunning. Jeju Island doesn't just serve as a backdrop; it feels like a character in its own right. Every frame is like a painting, rich with nostalgia, warmth, and emotion. This level of visual storytelling has quietly become a hallmark in recent K-dramas, and it’s something I’ve come to really appreciate. It shows how much care and craft goes into the genre beyond just the writing and acting. I was especially impressed by the way the show transitions between timelines. That kind of narrative structure is tricky to get right, and more often than not, shows don't do this part too well. But here, it’s done so creatively and seamlessly that it elevates the storytelling. It adds depth without ever feeling confusing or forced. And the soundtrack was perfect, too. The folk-inspired melodies blend so well with the setting and story. Even as someone who isn't Korean, I felt deeply connected to the emotion they carried. It’s one of those rare combinations where the visuals and music work in complete harmony, making every moment feel lived in and real.
Gwan Sik is what some might call a "fool", a man living in a time when men were overwhelmingly favoured and entitled, yet he never once leaned into that privilege. He didn’t care for the roles that society handed to him. All he wanted was for his girl to have everything she dreamed of, simply so she could be happy. He could’ve followed the crowd, conformed to the norm of transactional love, of marriages built on obligations rather than feelings. Instead, he chose the harder path. He chose to suffer for love. And maybe, just maybe, we all need a fool like Gwan Sik in our lives, a man who wants to be a husband and a father and not just have a wife and a child. There were so many moments I caught myself smiling and even laughing amidst their tragedy, not because I took joy in their pain, but because of how raw, relatable, and innocent their love was. It’s the story of a woman too smart and too ahead of her time and a man who is so beautifully stupid in love with her. And that first kiss? Probably the most awkward I’ve ever seen in a drama, and yet, somehow, the best one.
I strongly believe that both children and parents should at least give this show a watch even if it's not your usual genre. It tells a powerful story about how each new generation tries to be better, to become everything the previous one was not. But more often than not, they end up falling short, whether by choice, by circumstance, or simply by the weight of life. Parents carry the guilt of what they couldn’t give, while children carry the grief of what they never received. We live inside our own struggles, rarely seeing the other side until we try to live theirs eventually. That’s the never-ending conundrum: one that continues to echo through time, always imperfect, always incomplete, but sometimes made a little better through understanding and the wisdom that only time can offer.
Some dramas entertain, but some dramas linger in your heart long after the credits roll. When Life Gives You Tangerines is a drama that will stay with you for a long time. It is going to leave you feeling both fulfilled and slightly heartbroken, a rare balance that only the most beautifully told stories achieve. It makes you pause and reflect and be grateful for the little things you normally take for granted. Great purpose, great delivery, and this is what art should be like. Not everyone will resonate with it, but for those willing to immerse themselves in its world, this drama offers an unforgettable experience– one that lingers like the taste of a perfectly ripe tangerine, sweet yet tinged with the slightest hint of bitterness.
“THIS IS A SILENT OUTCRY. A HANDKERCHIEF OF ETERNAL NOSTALGIA…WAVING TOWARDS THE BLUE SEAS!!!”
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