AnicsiRoscoe

Actually, I think it's mostly practice, too. You are right that it will make speaking more difficult, because it comes out differently from how you're used to 'hearing' yourself talk. But when you lose your hearing as an adult, muscle memory still goes a long way (which is why Yi Chan speaks just fine just after the accident), so technically, if you receive proper coaching/treatment along the way, chances are you can still talk, albeit not exactly the same as before. I assume though, that it was much less advanced in the 90s, and with Cheong Ah being deaf as well, Yi Chan fell into a routine of not vocalising alongside the sing language. I would have liked to actually see a change here between Yi chan before and after time travel - perhaps a way to show him being more confident despite his disability. I also didn't like that they showed him trying to commit suicide on the roof. In the changed timeline, I felt like he had enough support and willpower to see the good. In my opinion a weak point of the last episode. (along with putting soundtrack in the scene where he watches TV and turns up the volume to the max, yet not hearing anything. The scene would have been so much more powerful had they shown us complete silence - like what he was hearing... nothing at all).

I was confused about that as well. She might have wanted to rekindle a flame/start something new, considering her mother did say she had a first love and it sounded to her like she regretted not marrying him. She probably would have thought of a plan to get the two together after figuring out who it was. Possibly via love letters or something similar. But it's true that it was never mentioned and would probably not have worked, considering her mother was attending school across the globe. She did remember though that her mom had rebelled once in senior high after moving to the US, so maybe she had planned to use that incident as a catalyst.
In any case, I thought her story was actually the one that got the least attention and wasn't resolved that well, either. Weak writing on that account.

Beautiful drama with flaws. This show is a lot of things rolled into one: music, slice-of life, drama, romance. I binged it in two days and cheered and cried with all the characters. I don't think it'll become a rewatch favorite, but it's a beautiful and sweet teenage time-travel drama. I cannot help but compare with Lovely Runner, also a time-travel drama with hints of mystery/drama. The biggest 'flaw' for Twinkling Watermelon in my opinion is that many things seemed 'too easy', most of all the music. I get that the two main leads were supposed to be geniuses, but forming an entirely new band with a frontman who knows next to nothing about music, to composing their own song(s), delivering a flawless performance etc., all within a month, seems highly unrealistic. They were too good, too fast, and it didn't help that Yi Chan's vocals didn't seem to match his character. I actually tried finding out if Choi Hyun Wook sang the songs for watermelon sugar himself, but I couldn't find any sources. I mean the recorded versions, obviously, not the ones where he practices acoustic. Lovely Runner showed a much more realistic approach with live vocals and a the ML with slight stage fright the first time he steps on stage. Byeon Woo Seok received voice coaching for more than 3 months prior to filming the drama and sang all the songs himself. So despite not being 100 percent perfect (pretty close anyway), each and every song just feels raw and real, and I miss that with Watermelon Sugar. Their songs are catchy, no doubt, but they're just too perfect and obviously lip-synched. (And if Choi Hyun Wook really is the vocalist, it was just poorly produced).
Secondly, FLs trauma being unable to play the cello was left mostly unresolved, the ending rushed. There were some more lose ends that I would have loved to see on screen.

Even so, this is just me nitpicking. Overall it's a beautiful drama with memorable lessons and characters that take life into their own hands on second try. The friendships, bromance (or father-son-mance?) and pure romance was really sweet. 8.5 from me for many sparkling moments!

Hmm, well actually during Joseon era it was very common for officials that turned into criminals or their families to be exiled. Like what was supposed to happen to CP grandfather, had he not been killed. Sometimes they were not allowed to leave their residences, but at least it was better than prison (and they often had several buildings and servants that would bring food and stuff, although it wasn't as luxurious). And I think those exiled to Jeju could roam freely, because it was almost impossible to escape from there, it being an island very far away from the mainland. So yeah, I think that would've been an adequate sentence perhaps.

Yeah, I mean I didn't really want death for the both, but not a happily ever after. They did too much harm to deserve it. Feel sorry for their child though.

hmm, yeah I think we have to agree to disagree on that one, then. You're right in that she lost her 'feisty' attitude from the beginning, but generally I think the tone of the drama got darker and the situation was very grim. She never intended to follow her father's wishes, though. After finding out about his evil deeds, she condemned him and told him she wouldn't be able to forgive him. She knew that being openly rebellious would only make it worse and she wouldn't be able to win against him, so she lied to him that she was at a temple all the while treating the king. When the wedding date came closer, she planned to escape to her maternal family. The only reason why she did not go, was because the king woke up and she trusted the CP that he would find a way together with the king to make sure the wedding wouldn't happen. How could she have openly spoken up during the wedding ceremony, with all the officials present? Not obeying the royal command/bridal selection in itself would have meant treason. So she couldn't do anything but hope and pray that the CP and king would be on time. I saw her tears in that moment as an embodiment of everything so utterly wrong with the situation itself, as all the tragedy that had led to that point, not primarily her being afraid of marrying the GP:

You're right about the prophecy, it really was meaningless, and very disappointing.

I know what you mean about the 'buildup', because there's not a whole lot of push and pull and 'should I really?' I actually thought it was refreshing, though, I liked how naturally they progressed from 'bad first impression' to 'I'm curious about them' to 'I think I actually like you'. That's how it usually goes in RL, too, you'll rarely fall in love on first sight. They also didn't dramatize the boss-employee bit too much, like in a lot of other dramas (at least not in the beginning and not from their end). It wasn't really that he randomly started to like her, though, at first it's her genuine smile, her outspokenness and her compassion and vision for her job. I felt that quite clearly. But as you said, to each their own, there are other dramas where people are raving about main couple's chemistry and i'm like: where?? lol

Just dropping in again to say that Ro Woon is the greenest of all green flags, and I want one for myself. I mean, he's just so wholesome without being overbearing. Never pressuring, just silently supporting in a way that makes him so lovable and dependable. Guys like him probably mostly exist in dramaland, but still... Dreamy.

Junho is a fabulous actor, especially considering he started out as an idol. I didn't even know he wasn't primarily an actor when I saw him in Chief Kim. He stole the show in that one! I didn't even miss the romance, although I usually mostly watch romance dramas.
He's also outstanding and charming in Wok of love, where he has crazy chemistry with the FL and bromance to the max with the SML.
Just between lovers is beautiful but also a little tormenting. I can seriously recommend each and every drama he starred in.

100% agreed, I tried watching it three times, but always get stuck at episode 8 or so. They just don't have chemistry as a romantic couple at ALL. Familiar bickering like brother/sister, uncle/niece, yes, but nothing beyond that. Their love scenes seem so... wrong to me. I absolutely love fantasy dramas, so I'm sad I cannot get into it ;(

I wanted to love this drama, I really really did, I tried watching it three times. And while some of it was funny and engaging, I just couldn't get over the lack of chemistry between the leads. She seems like a child while he's like a very serious grandpa. I know it's the setup, but I just feel zero whenever they supposedly have a 'heart fluttering' moment. Since it's a romance driven drama, it just made everything seem very bland. I guess I'll drop this for the third and final time at episode 8 and just hope the next fantasy romance will be more my cup of tea.

I agree that DS hot-headedness is a big issue, but I think including him in at least some details would have made a difference, because as long as he vehemently refused to be the crown prince and was on his brother's side they could have had a chance of winning this. But because he tattled on his brother and the maternal grandfather, the whole plan went to hell.

And yeah, even after finishing it, I still hate the QD and her loverboy. Suffering doesn't give you a free pass to murder everyone and drag them into hell with you. I was so annoyed whenever they tried to make us feel sympathy. Crown Prince was way too gentle and nice, well, he knew that QD was pregnant from overhearing their conversation so I guess that's why he let her go also, and that was very noble.

I totally agree with you. Those two were just too wicked. While I can understand their suffering, it doesn't condone their evil acts one bit. There was too much screentime wasted on trying to make us feel with them. Biggest disappointment of the show

I just thought it was really stupid for them to not run away, despite discovering she was pregnant. It was highly unlikely they would all get out alive, and they said something along the lines of 'the baby would have to grow up in hiding, a child of traitors and fugitives.' They didn't want that, so they went back to the palace. But in the end, they tried to escape again? I didn't understand how it would have made a difference, even if the coup would have been successful, there's no way the left prime minister would have let them live. And eventually the baby had to grow up without either of her parents. (btw, did I see right that the ML and FL took care of the child, or had they two children of their own?) Anyway, that was really stupid, although I also think the two of them didn't deserve such a happy ending after all the lives they'd taken.

I think Crown Prince knew that he had to establish order in court and the kingdom before he could leave the throne to his brother, who still had a lot to learn. But as you said, with his aides and his father he will surely learn the ropes quickly.

Ok, so I finally finished it and I feel like the second half of final episode was an alternative universe or something lol I mean... just what?? After all that drama, suddenly it's all that simple? I guess they wanted to cater to the viewers, but while it was cute, it was very much unbelievable. Oh well, better than a sad ending I guess.

All in all I am very conflicted. So, the positives:
+ no bullsh*t female lead, who really really stands up for herself. There are a lot of pretentious FLs who seem strong but still the ML has to come save the day all the time. This is not the case. She doesn't compromise her values, she doesn't blindly follow the ML, she doesn't do the stupid 'noble sacrifice' trope. She clearly draws the line with 2ML, too.
+ royal family is a true family, and while their hand was sometimes forced, they really cared for each other
+ chemistry between main couple was also good, although I have to say it dwindled in the second half because they focused on other things. Kisses were a bit disappointing but well.
+emotions really deliver here, there are some strong moments that tug at your heartstrings

the negatives
- I wrote a couple of rant comments while it was airing, but to summarize, it was just too long! First half was really good, then around ep 9 or so it started to drag terribly
- QD and her loverboy were just too out there. I felt sorry a tiny bit for her, but the more the drama revolved around them, the more I wanted to skip their scenes. I think maybe I could have felt more for them, had he been established as a loving and caring father figure from the start. But he was only set on making her the crown princess, other than that he seemed to not really care for her. Even later on, he always chose the QD over his daughter whom he supposedly loved. No matter how hurt they were, there's a line that shouldn't be crossed, and I just couldn't forgive the heinous murders and plotting and how much they made the entire royal family suffer in the name of their 'love'.
- I feel like the writing really was all over the place. It started with comedy, but midway it was just intrigue and heartbreak, and the focus shifted so much from the main characters and their 'bad fate', which all of a sudden wasn't such a big deal anymore. Without any explanation whatsoever. Why did her 'widow' fate suddenly change? I would have been satisfied had it turned out that shamanism and foreseeing the future is just superstition after all, but no, they believe in it until the end, but her fate suddenly turned inexplicably?!
- the 2MLs obsession. I get he fell in love with her at first sight. But he talks like he owns her or something 'but I fell in love with her first!'. So what? I liked that she countered by asking him if he doesn't care whom she loves, then. But still, his obsession was too unfounded, they barely actually spend any time together, and he was willing to abandon his brother for her, basically.

I could nitpick more, but these were the main points for me. It's a 7.5 and I probably won't watch it again, but it's not a bad watch.

I think because it's sort of episodical (new guests coming every episode and such), it's starting to feel repetitive if binge watched. It's probably better to watch it in small installments. That's how I felt about it, anyway.

I have already haha It's hard to let go... ;')

lol ah, I see... I thought there was a special or something I didn't know about. Too bad :(

Yes, but what kind of extra is it? The show already ended, so I am confused as to what new material it could be.

What live show/special are you talking about?