the best dorama
The dorama should be watched by everyone, the best cast, story, characters and all about simple people’s every day life. After watching you will understand what is more valuable in the world. Therefore I recommend it to everyone to watch. I think for reviewing 500 characters are too much. Mow I will start writing spoilers if it will not end. oh my God I start regretting to write this review. when it will end. please finish this review. ok after this sentence if it won’t be accepted I will deete my reviewWas this review helpful to you?
Tangerines
Every episode brought tears to my eyes. I originally came to this drama from a clip on YouTube of her daughter, thinking this drama would be about them, and I was totally wrong. I loved all the couples here. This was such a real and beautifully heart-warming experience.You watch their stages of life, all their struggles and happy moments, and while this is not a happy-go-lucky drama, it is a real one, with the ups and downs of life that are sometimes so painful you don't know how to go on. This will leave you thinking about things, taking things into a new perspective, and so much more.
Expect to bawl your eyes out, but also expect to be drawn in, and to laugh and feel things they felt with them. This drama was an experience, and it deserves all the awards it gets.
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The Real life
Today i have completed this , took a long time to watch this masterpiece because of my busy schedule. I have to say this drama is an wonderful life though it was full of emotions flashes but this is how truly people struggle in life get angry but cannot give up on the love for each other. Coming to hero in real life there is no such a person exsting now a days and earlier days, now a days and also ancient days with two wifes or extra Martial affairs or even cheating but the hero with such love without any mixed feelings from childhood to till his death fixing his eyes upon his sweetheart the love of his life. Prince park bo gum innocence face his acting skills was fantabulous no other would have fit for this role this role was specially for park bo gum. Coming to IU very bold and good humor all the rest of the actors whether it is a middle aged version of gwang sik and ae sun was also awesome and scenery was outstanding. This drama shows how we struggle and also cannot become rich in one night even though we work hard there will be struggles for certain time because of heavy responsibilities or certain unexpected challenges in that tough times when it feels like giving up but finding a reason to go on and on until our journey comes to end and suddenly achieving what we have yearned for but suddenly achieving at a different time than ours.Was this review helpful to you?
A healing rollercoaster of emotions <3
WLGYT took me on a breathtaking seven-decade journey, filled with a rollercoaster of emotions and unforgettable life lessons. It reminded me of the immense sacrifices our parents make for us, the importance of treating them with kindness, the power of finding joy amidst hardship, the courage it takes to rise after heartbreak, and the comforting truth that life always moves forward.I found myself bawling my eyes out more than once, as I developed a deep emotional connection with the characters. Each one brought something unique to the story and warmed my heart in their own special way. This was truly a story I needed to see.
I haven’t written a review since 2020, but I felt compelled to share how much this masterpiece meant to me. At a time when I’ve been facing personal struggles, this show brought me unexpected comfort and healing. From the story to the music, the acting, the cinematography—every detail was beautifully executed. Watching it made me cry, yet it also felt like therapy—it reminded me of the importance of persevering through life.
Thank you to the WLGYT cast and team for creating such a touching and unforgettable experience <3
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This review may contain spoilers
a women centred drama for the mothers and daughters – a story so heartbreaking yet so beautiful.
“when life gives you tangerines” starts from the journey of a mother, who once was a daughter, sure of her space in the world. the young and bold ae-sun, who was ready to have it all for herself and her mother saw her entire life taking a shift before her very eyes after she lost her mother.the story starting from highlighting the struggle of women in patriarchal society that exists to snatch their every dream away from them takes a turn when ae-sun, in her own ways, decides to challenge those norms. her world, even though shattered after losing her mother shapes her daughter’s world.
this drama is about the unconditional love between a family, who despite losing everything, gained their everything. showcasing the portrayal of the sea as both the giver and the taker, it emphasizes on the harsh realities of life and nature no one can win against. the life ae-sun’s daughter grew up dreading was the same life ae-sun was willing to relive all over again as she managed to define her happiness in her own way. the ups and downs of their journey itself teaches a lesson– when one door is closed shut, another one is bound to be open. their life was all about searching for those new opened doors as the uncontrollable forces of life shut the previous ones for them. each member in the family struggling in their own way found their way out of the darkness in some way or the other, and the most dreadful season eventually passed each time it added up to their struggles.
the heartbreaking ending itself roots from the touch of reality; everything is bound to come to an end. what matters the most is that you lived a great life– in no one’s but your own perception. the four volumes, consisting of heartbreak in all forms– the loss of parents, dreams, a child, love, and the sacrifices made concludes with the reflection of love in all its purest forms that eventually make all the hardships seem worth it at the end.
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Wroth every second!
This story truly resonates with the heart. The emotional depth is evident throughout the narrative. It's a captivating experience from beginning to end. The beauty of the storytelling is simply remarkable. This is a must-see for anyone who appreciates a touching tale.I think this is this years absolut tearjerker 😭 Is such a beautiful story. ?🩷 Even though you gonna cry alot its worthwhile to watch.
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Once in a lifetime show
Every episode every dialogue that always brings me tears such a wonderful drama. It connects to your heart. Life always didn't go in the way you want but with the right person it's doesn't matter.The way this drama speaks a lot about studies hardworks and everything in this life.
It's a great drama you need to watch at least once in your life time
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a drama i will hold close to my heart
i cried at every episode and could not stopwhat a story, truly heart breaking
a story abt women and their hardships, true love, a mother's love, the father's love, the dreams and aspirations we all are made of them
to think that aesun's mother's love and determination for her child led to the betterment of two whole generations of people
don't get me started on aesun and gwansik's story, two people giving up their dreams to be together, how they grew up in their love for each other, how they broke toxic cycles to let their children grow. to the very end they were amazing
i even loved geum myeong's story. a eldest daughter's guilt, responsibility, love and the ultimate urge to be your own person. her having enough love for herself so that she could prevent herself from falling into the dangerous cycle that her mother tried so hard to keep her away from, i cried for hours over this.
this drama reminded me so much abt how we all are just humans trying to survive life, trying to not be a burden, trying to give our loved ones our best. i feel like crying every time i think about it.
truly great
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A heartbreakingly beautiful masterpiece.
I never expected a slice-of-life drama to hit this close to home, but this story completely shattered me in the most beautiful way possible. The absolute beating heart of this masterpiece is its incredible lineup of characters; they feel so real and unpolished that it almost feels like you're watching a real family's life unfold rather than a scripted TV show.Ae-sun is such a wonderfully messy and relatable protagonist. She is chaotic, rebellious, and fiercely stubborn, but it’s all a defense mechanism against the heavy burdens she carries as a daughter. Watching her navigate her complicated relationship with her mother—where love is often hidden behind harsh words and defensive arguments—felt incredibly authentic. Then you have Gwan-sik, who completely redefines what a "green flag" male lead should be. He isn't loud or flashy; he is just a silent, unyielding anchor for Ae-sun. The way he simply creates a safe space for her to be angry, loud, or vulnerable without a single shred of judgment is just beautiful. Their relationship stands out so purely because it doesn't rely on grand gestures, just steady, mature devotion. But what really fleshes out the story is the focus on the other children and the older versions of these characters. The narrative splits its soul between the past and the present, showing how the choices, trauma, and quiet endurance of the parents profoundly shape the lives of the next generation. We see children who love their families deeply but are simultaneously suffocated by the crushing weight of expectations and the unspoken guilt of what their parents sacrificed for them. Even the older couple, dealing with decades of silent grief while trying to keep the family moving forward, adds a layer of raw realism that is nothing short of staggering.
It does require a bit of patience at first—the shifting timelines and the slow, book-like pacing can take a few episodes to get used to. But once you lock into its rhythm, watching these characters love, clash, suffer, and ultimately endure together is an unforgettable experience. It’s a profound, emotional ride that stays with you long after the final credits roll.
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Best Family Drama Series Ever
For me, the series 'When Life Gives You Tangerines' is the best family saga I have ever watched, in KDrama or anywhere else.It is my top rated drama series.
I laughed, smiled, felt outrage, cried, and had feelings of deep connection with the characters in the series.
As an International viewer who is 68 years old, with a grown family and grandchild, it made me think over my own life.
I can only read the English subtitles, I wish I could understand the Korean language to watch it.
I am trying to learn it. Slowly 😆 I am a very fast subtitle reader now. 😆
Thank you to the Subtitle teams. 🙏
Thank you, Republic of Korea, for this beautiful story that touched my heart and soul. ❤️
Sandra,
From Australia 🇦🇺
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Is this drama a pandemic creation of the writer? Our tangerines.
If there was a new Baeksang Arts Award category created this year for the Best Achievement in Acting for the whole cast, then ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’ would be the first winner in my book. I was a skeptic going into viewing this drama, determined not to be easy prey, because of the high ratings all around that this drama was getting. ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’ won me over the hard way. This drama earned it. Male Lead Park Bo Gum’s compelling acting as the quiet but powerful Yang Gwan-sik is so good that it freezes you in place. In the past, I have found IU’s acting performances to be immature. However, she showed up big time in every scene as the bold and daring Female Lead Oh Ae-sun. Let us make this harder. IU also plays her own grown daughter Yang Geum-myeong. She is the eldest child and only daughter of Ae-sun and Gwan-sik, who has the opposite personality. Other child actors played this role of Yang Geum-myeong as young children. Since ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’ spans three generations, the audience experiences a total cast change as the decades are handled in flashbacks and flash-forwards. The chronological narrative of the story is interrupted, as multiple timelines are visited or revisited.There are a lot of balls bouncing in each fully loaded episode, but writer Lim (Im) Sang-choon maintains a consistent and congruent flow of this masterful storyline. She remains in complete control of this epic story. Very few actors get the job done, staying in character, perceiving the flow of the overall storyline and understanding how each character must develop in a cohesive manor, without a great director at the helm. Writer Director Kim Won Suk pulls the best out of each actor.
I found this a bit of interesting history and irony. Lim (Im) Sang-choon is the writer of ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’. She took a rest from the Film and Drama Industry for an extended period during the COVID-19 Pandemic. This new drama was released six years later. Is this brilliant masterpiece of art the result of her sheltering in place?
‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’ is a metaphor for experiencing sour setbacks. It is equivalent to the English saying "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade". This expresses a positive outlook one might take on when facing the travails of life. While I did not personally interview anyone, I know that the world was served up many lemons (or tangerines) in 2019, at the advent of COVID-19. Many resilient souls around the world found ways to make lemonade during this time period, or Sweet Tangerines (if you are from Korea). During this time, the writer Lim (Im) Sang Choon had all the time in the world to create a wonderful story, which starts in 1951 and spans three generations. The story is said to be inspired by an actual couple who lived on Jeju Island in South Korea.
Six Degrees of Separation
Writer Lim Sang-choon
Lim (Im) Sang-choon is the screenwriter for ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’. She won for Best Screenplay at the 56th Baeksang Arts Award for the drama When the Camellia Blooms 2019). Also, Lim (Im) Sang-choon was nominated at the 54th Baeksang Arts Awards for her screenplay for Fight My Way (2017). She writes under a pseudonym, keeping her personal information very private.
Few people claim even to have met Lim (Im) Sang-choon personally. Lim (Im) Sang-choon is shrouded in mystery. This helped peaked the curiosity of IU, when she get a phone call from Lim (Im) Sang-choon about joining the project. Actress IU and writer of ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’ Lim (Im ) Sang Chop met secretly during this time and went over the script. IU was asked to play the main female lead in this drama. IU has revealed that she would forever cherish this meeting. Production for the Netflix project began in March 2023 and concluded February 2024. The World Health Organization declared to the world on May 5, 2023 that COVID-19 was no longer a world health emergency.
(Writer) Director Kim Won Suk
Writer/Director Kim Won Suk co-authored the Korean Drama ‘Descendants of the Sun’ (2016), which won Best Drama. He was nominated for Best Writer for this drama as well. Kim Won Suk also wrote The Queen’s Classroom (2013), Man to Man (2017) and wrote Payback (2023). As a Director, Kim Won Suk won a Baeksang as Best New Director for ‘Sungkyunkwan Scandal’ (2011) and Best Director for ‘Misaeng’ (2015). He was nominated for a Baeksang as a Director for ‘My Mister’ (2019) and for ‘Signal’ (2016). It was on the set of ‘My Mister’ (2019) the Writer/Director Kim Won Suk met actress IU, who appeared in the drama as the Female Lead. Between 2019-2025, Writer Director Kim Won Suk wrote the Korean Drama Payback (2023) and concluded the project ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’.
Actor Park Bo Gum
Park Bo Gum did put out Record of Youth in September 2020. After this production, even Park Bo Gum went silent in the Film and Drama Industry until the 2025 drama release of When Life Gives You Tangerines. Park Bo Gum’s chose to complete his Military service, serving from August 2020 to April 2022. After his release from the Military, Park Bo Gum told the public that he would take a rest from the Film and Drama Industry, which he did untilhe was offrered tge male lead in ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’.
In earlier years, Park Bo Gum and IU met during a commercial shoot for a noodle advertisement in 2012. In addition, Park Bo Gum briefly appeared in IU’s Drama The Producers. Their 13 year friendship helped add the organic feel to their performances in When Life Gives You Tangerines.
Actress IU (Lee Ji-eun)
Actress IU (Lee Ji-eun) also took a break from the Korean Drama world after 2019. However, IU did appear in The Movie Dream in 2023 and appeared Korean Variety shows. IU has had nine Baeksang Arts Awards nominations with two wins. These are Most Popular Actress for My Mister (2019) and Most Popular Actress for Broker (2023). Actress IU (Lee Ji-eun) is nominated this year for Best Actress in a TV drama. It would be her first win in this category is she is successful.
When Life Gives You Tangerines is a Coming of Age Life Romance Drama that is resonating in so many different circles. Life has its travails, but you can still approach life in a positive way, is a central theme. The drama offers Healthy Relationship of Main Characters, Supportive Male Lead, Family Relationships, Parenting, and Multiple Timelines.
It is rare for a drama to still have a 5/5 rating of general Internet users after its run completion. Ratings usually drop a little, as more people add their voices. When Life Gives You Tangerines is still drawing 5/5. Descriptive words like “A Masterpiece” is being thrown all over the place. Are American Awards like Academy Awards (Oscars), Golden Globe Awards, and Screen Actors Guild Award and Emmy Award possible?
When Life Gives You Tangerines has garnered eight Baeksang Arts Awards Nominations (The next nearest is six). The Awards Show was set for 5 May 2025. All nominations are still pending. When Life Gives You Tangerines secured nominations in the categories of Best Drama, Director, Actor (Park Bo Gum), Actress (Lee Ji-eun), Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, New Actress, and Best Screenplay. This drama is a Netflix original. When Life Gives You Tangerines tops the latest Gallup Polls.
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A Heartwarming Masterpiece That Stays With You Forever.
This is my first-ever review on MDL, and I honestly couldn't have chosen a better drama to write about.When Life Gives You Tangerines is one of the most beautiful and emotionally moving dramas I've ever watched. Every single episode takes you on an unforgettable journey, making you experience the full spectrum of human emotions like, happiness, love, laughter, hope, heartbreak, pain, and healing. It has a way of making you smile one moment and leaving you in tears the next, all while keeping you completely invested in the story.
The acting is nothing short of phenomenal. Every cast member delivers such a natural and heartfelt performance that you don't feel like you're watching actors, you feel like you're witnessing real people's lives unfold. The chemistry, emotional expressions, and subtle performances make every scene incredibly impactful.
What makes this drama truly special is its storytelling. It's simple yet profound, beautifully portraying the realities of life, family, dreams, sacrifice, and unconditional love. The pacing is perfect, the cinematography is breathtaking, and the soundtrack complements every emotion flawlessly. There isn't a single episode that feels unnecessary or out of place.
From the very first episode to the finale, the drama maintains its quality and emotional depth. The ending is satisfying, meaningful, and leaves a lasting impression long after you've finished watching.
P.S. This review reflects my own genuine thoughts and feelings after watching the drama. I wrote it myself and only used AI to enhance the wording and improve readability.
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