Ongoing Viewer Impressions of When Oranges Fall
I attended GMMTV’s *First Fall, First Love* event and have been following *When Oranges Fall* weekly ever since. Instead of posting separate long reviews here, I’ll use this space for shorter episode impressions while posting my full reviews on Medium.So far, the series stands out because of its warm countryside atmosphere, nostalgic aesthetic, and the natural chemistry between Almond and Progress.
Episode 1: A Promising Start
Episode 1 successfully introduced Ko Neung and Ko Song through soft emotional tension and visually beautiful storytelling.
What I appreciated most was how the romance developed through small gestures instead of forced dramatic moments. The recurring orange symbolism also added charm and subtle emotional meaning to the story.
The chemistry between Almond and Progress already felt very natural from the beginning.
Episode 1 Rating: 9/10
Full review:
https://medium.com/@ryanl_3785/what-it-was-like-attending-gmmtvs-first-fall-first-love-a-fan-experience-and-episode-1-review-5f1bb5dc7ff0
Episode 2: Quietly Growing Closer
Episode 2 focused more on routine, friendship, and emotional familiarity between the leads.
From shared classroom moments and bicycle rides to nighttime conversations through their windows, the episode beautifully showed how closeness develops through ordinary interactions.
Almond continues impressing me with his restrained acting style, while Progress balances comedy and protectiveness extremely well.
One of the strongest scenes for me was the fishing sequence with Ko Neung’s father, which unexpectedly gave the episode emotional depth through its dialogue about life and searching for meaning.
My only criticism remains the pacing, as some emotional developments happen rather quickly. Still, the chemistry between the cast makes the progression enjoyable to watch.
Episode 2 Rating: 9/10
Full review:
https://medium.com/@ryanl_3785/when-oranges-fall-episode-2-review-the-distance-between-them-is-quietly-disappearing-2dc4e747cf19
Episode 3: Love Slowly Finds Its Routine
Episode 3 is where "When Oranges Fall" slowly shifts from simple friendship into emotional attachment.
What I loved most about this episode is how the romance continues developing through ordinary routines instead of dramatic confessions. Shared breakfasts, bicycle rides, studying together, looking through each other’s windows every night, and eventually communicating through a tin-can telephone all made their connection feel natural and sincere.
The series also continues using its 90s setting effectively. From strict haircut inspections and libraries to playing under the rain and the absence of phones, the atmosphere feels nostalgic without trying too hard.
This episode also introduced the first emotional conflict between Ko Neung and Ko Song through jealousy and misunderstanding. What made it work for me is that the characters themselves still do not fully understand what they are feeling yet, which makes their reactions feel realistic for their age.
Almond once again impressed me through subtle acting and emotional restraint, while Progress showed impressive range by balancing comedy, jealousy, softness, and emotional vulnerability in a single episode.
I also have to mention that Augar and Achi quietly became scene stealers this episode. Their basketball court scenes added emotional warmth and depth to the story.
The symbolism of oranges also became more meaningful here. For me, the oranges now represent unconditional care, small gestures of affection that continue even after misunderstandings and conflict.
My only criticism remains the pacing. Some emotional developments happen very quickly, and I wish certain transitions had more breathing room.
Still, Episode 3 beautifully proves that "When Oranges Fall" understands how love can quietly grow through routine and presence rather than grand romantic gestures.
Episode 3 Rating: 9/10
Full review here:
https://medium.com/@ryanl_3785/when-oranges-fall-episode-3-review-love-is-slowly-revealing-itself-in-the-quietest-ways-d2c7a8408b02
Episode 4: The Last Rain Before Realization
Episode 4 feels more like an emotional interlude than a plot-heavy chapter, but it serves an important purpose in Ko Neung's character development.
After Ko Song suddenly disappears due to a family emergency, the episode focuses on Ko Neung's growing realization of how important Ko Song has become in his life. His conversations through the empty tin-can phone and his reflections about the meaning of "the last rain" became some of the most emotional moments in the series so far.
I also appreciated how the episode expanded the symbolism of oranges, rain, and reunion while continuing to build the nostalgic atmosphere of the show.
Progress delivers his strongest dramatic performance yet, while Almond remains effective through his subtle and restrained acting style.
The fishing trip and sunrise sequence were visually beautiful and led to one of the biggest moments of the series so far: Ko Neung kissing a sleeping Ko Song, only to be witnessed by August.
The pacing remains fast, but emotionally this was one of the most meaningful episodes so far.
Episode 4 Rating: 8.5/10
Full review: https://medium.com/@ryanl_3785/when-oranges-fall-episode-4-review-the-last-rain-before-realization-7dcea3f814ad
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