Sweet as an Orange
I put off starting When Oranges Fall because it looked to be another high school romance that offered nothing new. However, I found that its authenticity and realism in its characters, plus the setting in the late 90's/early 2000's, really made this story stand out. The conflicts were precisely what high schoolers figuring themselves out would go through: discovering feelings for a friend, the fear of losing the friendship, and the uncertainty of where your lives will go. The way these characters dealt with their emotions was so realistic and well done - definitely a new comfort show!
When Ko (Progress) meets his new neighbor, also named Ko (Almond), the two don't get along at first. Pretty quickly, they put aside their differences and become fast friends, particularly because new kid Ko 2 has an orange tree that Ko 1 loves the oranges from. As the two grow closer, Ko 2 joins Ko 1's existing friend group. The show follows the group throughout their entire high school career, and as the kids figure out growing up, they also have to figure out their feelings for each other.
Almond and Progress did a great job in these roles. It really felt like these characters were real people with real motivations. While there were a few episodes that felt like the conflict dragged on unnecessarily, and perhaps a few loose ends that never truly got tied up, overall this show was a wonderful watch. The portrayal of young and uncertain love was fantastic. I was surprised that for a show set in the early 2000s, there were zero conflicts about queerness. While that aspect may be unrealistic, I do love watching a show where queerness is never questioned. If you're looking for a sweet, feel-good romance with a bit of a nostalgia for the time period, this is one of the best ones for it!
When Ko (Progress) meets his new neighbor, also named Ko (Almond), the two don't get along at first. Pretty quickly, they put aside their differences and become fast friends, particularly because new kid Ko 2 has an orange tree that Ko 1 loves the oranges from. As the two grow closer, Ko 2 joins Ko 1's existing friend group. The show follows the group throughout their entire high school career, and as the kids figure out growing up, they also have to figure out their feelings for each other.
Almond and Progress did a great job in these roles. It really felt like these characters were real people with real motivations. While there were a few episodes that felt like the conflict dragged on unnecessarily, and perhaps a few loose ends that never truly got tied up, overall this show was a wonderful watch. The portrayal of young and uncertain love was fantastic. I was surprised that for a show set in the early 2000s, there were zero conflicts about queerness. While that aspect may be unrealistic, I do love watching a show where queerness is never questioned. If you're looking for a sweet, feel-good romance with a bit of a nostalgia for the time period, this is one of the best ones for it!
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