love this drama >____<
YOU MUST WATCH THIS because of park bogum and iu very suitable IN MY OPINION ♡_____♡ I really like gwansik's character like GREEN FLAG REALLY GUYS.. and I also want to have a husband like Park Toto AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA >< actually, I really empathy for Geumyoung's boyfriend, he's a good kid but his mom is NOT GOOD, GUYS, BELIEVE ME 🤬 her mother is really looking very social status LIKE? HUH? THE HELL.. 🙄🙄OKAY, from this drama I learned a lot of life lessons, they are really related to my life and we can take moral messages from this drama AND THIS WILL BE MY TOP BEST DRAMA IN 2025 LIST :D
MUST MEET GWANSIK AND AESUN ALL OF YOU EHEHHEHEHEHE RECOMMENDED
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ITS DRAMA OF THE YEAR(2025) FR
……………………………….……………………………….……………………………….………………………………i loved how its so good i got hooked on like from the first ep. and each volumes were so good and message was so well done. i literally bawled almost every episode like a baby even though I’m like literally in my thirties. but thats the thing. its so relatable yet so magical story and it shows. i really hope every one who needs it find this masterpiece and get some lesson and motivation they need for them……………………………….……………………………….……………………………….
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RESONANT JOURNEY OF LOVE AND LOSS
I found myself attached to the characters from the very start. Ae Sun's journey is written beautifully. She feels real, flawed, and achingly true to life. Geum Myeong, her daughter was another I loved. She reminded me of Ae Sun, ambitious, full of hope, yet weighed down by choices and circumstances.What makes this drama so special is honesty. It doesn't romanticized life, it shows the pain, the losses, and the regrets, but also the beauty of love that lasts even through hardship. This drama reminded me that even if life isn't perfect, it can still be meaningful and full of love. I liked the reincarnation hint and the ending was satisfying.
Kudos to the production team and the casts. The direction was tender yet moving, letting silence speak as much words. And the writing was honest and heartbreaking, and made this story linger with me for a long time.
Plot 9.5/10
Acting and Characters 10/10
Cinematography 10/10
Writing 10/10
Pacing 8.5/10
OST/Score 9/10
Overall 9.5/10
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Overrated
This show has clearly received overwhelmingly positive reviews. Unfortunately, I cannot agree with this sentiment. Of course this is my subjective opinion, as all reviews are.So, here is my attempt to express precisely what my problems with this show are:
1) The timeline - The show has a habit of constantly skipping around the timeline. While telling the story in a chronological order isn't strictly necessary, this show just takes it too far. As a casual viewer I was often left disoriented and confused by this. This is exacerbated by the use of the same actors to represent characters for very long intervals of time.
2) The characters - The events of the show span the period of over 50 years, basically covering 3 generations of a family, which naturally comes with a very large cast of characters. This is very ambitious, to put it nicely. It makes keeping track of all the characters very difficult. Even worse, this results in the characters lacking ...well... character. Trying to cram in 3 generations and 50 years worth of story into a 16 episode show results in a distinct lack of character establishing and building moments. When it comes to the main characters, while some of them seem like they could be OK if given more time to develop (like Yang Gwan Sik and Yang Eun Myeong), what little bits we were shown of the main main characters (O Ae Sun and Yang Geum Myeong) did not make them seem likeable at all, and did not make me, as a viewer, root for their success.
3) The story - Due to the problems mentioned in points 1 and 2, the viewing experience of the story was somehow both confusing and boring at the same time. Additionally, it lacked direction. Where is it going, what are the writers trying to tell us with this? I could rationalize it (if I was inclined due to actually liking the characters) as being an artistic choice to invoke a “realistic” feeling (as in, the show is structured as if someone in their old age were just recalling events from their life, as one would whilst going through a photo album), but it doesn’t make for an actually good story. Good stories are told with a purpose and have both a natural flow and solid structure to them. This felt more like just recounting of events without any emotional weight, which is better saved for history books.
In conclusion, I did not enjoy this show. The people who made this were like Icarus - arrogantly trying too hard to make something too sophisticated for them to actually successfully pull off with their skill level. In the end they just burned and crashed instead.
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cherish ur loved ones.
no bullshi**ng around here. when I tell you I cried in every single episode I did. not only did I cry once in every episode but MULTIPLE TIMES. when I tell you this k-drama hits home hard it reallyyyyy does. esp coming from an immigrant-middle eastern background this really made me more grateful for my parents. it's the perfect k-drama that shows us truly a reality that we live in. like having to work hard to make ends meet for your kids, trying to make them happy, educate them, provide and spoil them, raise them, seeing your kids get married, dealing with death and still having to move forward to put food on the table. it really really had me so emotional and thankful that the producers and story writers thought of all these details that go on in a persons everyday life. I would so recommend this show to have a good cry thankful sesh and to always remember to be thankful for your family, siblings, neighbors, people who adore, care, love and want the best for you. not to mention how gwan sik is the perfect example of how a man should be and how he stood by ae-sun through hardship and ease. the ending had me sobbing but also so happy how it ended. I truly love this k-drama <3 please give it a watchWas this review helpful to you?
I say this as someone who isn’t a parent. I wonder, though—do those who have held their child for the first time, who’ve learned to love in ways I can only begin to imagine, see this differently? Does the instinct to protect, nurture, and shape something so precious change how one receives life’s unexpected gifts?
To me, this series was a reminder that not every twist is a tragedy in disguise. Some are tangerines.
The actors—what they delivered was nothing short of immaculate. Their performances didn’t just serve the story; they became the story. I’ll carry this series with me for a long time, and I can’t help but wonder if they will too.
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Memories, Choices, Passage of time
The cycle of life, wrapped in warmth and silence. It will find the part of you that remembers — being a child, a parent, or simply human, and quietly break you open.When life gives you tangerines, it’s not just about fruit — it’s about time.
This drama doesn’t shout. It doesn’t race. It unfolds gently, like seasons turning, like the slow ripening of fruit on a tree. When Life Gives You Tangerines is a meditation — on family, memory, and the subtle, painful, beautiful transitions that define being alive.
Set against the soft, rural backdrop of Jeju Island, the story weaves through the lives of an ordinary family, made extraordinary by its honesty. It doesn’t rely on dramatic twists or flashy plotlines. Instead, it leans into the everyday — peeling tangerines, setting the table, walking home and from these small acts, it builds something quietly profound.
If you’ve ever been the eldest child, carrying the weight of unspoken expectations… if you’ve been the youngest, aching to be seen… if you’ve been a mother trying to hold a family together, or a father lost in silence, this story will speak to you.
There is no rush here. Just a steady unfolding. Grief, love, forgiveness — not in grand declarations, but in glances, pauses, and the things left unsaid.
This drama isn’t for everyone. But if you’re someone who finds beauty in simplicity, who cherishes the still moments and the space between words — When Life Gives You Tangerines will stay with you, long after it ends.
Because sometimes, tangerines are more than just fruit. They’re time, memory, and everything we never say out loud.
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when life gives you tangerines...in eyes
this drama is more than just a drama. it’s an EXPERIENCE. it's set against the breathtaking backdrop of jeju island (your classic sea side drama): a poignant tale of love, resilience, and generational struggles, capturing the quiet battles that shape a life.at its heart is oh aesun (iu), a fierce, determined woman fighting to break free from the limitations of her time. iu delivers a raw, deeply affecting performance, making ae sun’s struggles feel personal. opposite her, gwangsik (park bogum) is a steady, unwavering presence. his quiet devotion speaks louder than words, making their love story deeply moving and heartbreakingly tender. (he's adorable)
what sets this drama apart is its passage of time. we don’t just see young dreamers, we follow them across decades, witnessing their evolving love and the struggles of their children, yang eunmyeong and yang geummyeong. their lives mirror and contrast their parents’ journeys, emphasizing the cyclical nature of love and fate.
beyond romance, the drama beautifully weaves in korea’s socio-political history, particularly the struggles of women like ae sun’s mother (a haenyeo), whose quiet strength leaves a lasting impact.
☆ visually, it’s STUNNING. the cinematography turns jeju into a living, breathing character, and every scene feels like a painting. the soundtrack is phenomenal, folk-inspired melodies elevating the story’s emotional depth. and the dialogues? spectacularly written! heartbreaking, raw, and deeply poetic.
some dramas entertain while others stay with you. when life gives you tangerines does both. sweet yet tinged with bitterness, just like a perfectly ripe tangerine.
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More Than Just a Drama—A Heartfelt Lesson on Love and Family
I have watched many K-dramas before, but I never felt the need to write a review—until now. I’ve always watched for entertainment, but this drama moved me so deeply that I had to share my thoughts.If you love your parents or have ever hurt them—intentionally or unintentionally—this drama is a must-watch. It will change the way you see them and make you realize the struggles they’ve endured just to give their children a comfortable life, without expecting anything in return.
Beyond family, the love story between the two leads is incredibly touching. It beautifully portrays that love isn't just about saying "I love you" every day—it’s about showing it through actions. In fact, I think this is the first drama I’ve watched where the leads never even say those three words to each other because their efforts and devotion speak for themselves. Their love is pure, selfless, and deeply moving.
I guarantee that if you relate to this drama from the first episode, you will find yourself in tears throughout all 16 episodes. As an elder daughter, I connected with it on a personal level—it made me realize how much my parents have sacrificed and that I haven’t done enough for them yet. It has inspired me to work harder so I can give them the comfortable life they deserve.
Lastly, kudos to the writers, director, actors, and every person involved in bringing this masterpiece to life. They have done a phenomenal job, and this drama will always hold a place in my top five.
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Like A Tangerine: Sweet With A Touch Of Tartness
This drama gently breaks your heart, then wraps it in warmth. It’s poetic without trying too hard — just simple, real, and deeply human.The story captures life’s quiet moments: grief that lingers, love that heals, and how even the smallest things — like the smell of citrus — can carry the weight of memory.
It’s not loud or flashy, but it hits you where it matters. An emotional journey that lingers long after the final scene.
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1
1"It takes a village to keep a person alive"
When Life Gives You Tangerines was a lovely bittersweet story of three generations of women, each desiring to do better than the previous generation. While the male characters were important, it was Ae Sun, her mother and her daughter that were the core of the story.Much of the drama took place on Jeju Island centered around the haenyeo and fishermen. Most of the people struggled to live day to day, relying on each other when things became dire. The sea is a harsh mistress and not only sustained life but took it as well. Yet there was laughter amongst the tears. And most importantly, there was the great love story between Ae Sun and Gwan Sik.
The different generations demonstrated the sacrifices that parents make for their children as well as their mistakes. Children learned that regret was a bitter pill to swallow once a parent was gone. The village relied on each other giving with compassion often accompanied by biting humor. Sometimes love was enough to sustain a relationship and sometimes it wasn’t. Life wasn’t easy about handing out answers regardless of the season people were in.
“It takes a village to keep a person alive.” The people of Jeju Island were generous, reconciliation often came after many tears, and the people showed great resiliency in the face of a collapsing economy. “Go together with others. If you do, 100 miles will feel like 10.” When Life Gives You Tangerines also reminded us that growing up is a lifelong process.
3 April 2025
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