If the slice-of-life genre of K-dramas is your favorite, then stop everything you’re doing, bring those tangerines, and sit yourself down for the new K-drama, When Life Gives You Tangerines. The IU and Park Bo-Gum starrer is the exact kind of show we’ve been waiting for in this deficit. Spring is finally here, and it’s looking bright and orange, a little bit sour and a whole lot sweet. The show tells a story in two timelines, one of a woman born in the wrong era, and another of her daughter, both played by the same actress. It is a little bit confusing at first, but it does a brilliant job of paralleling the two stories, reeling you in and keeping your curiosity alive. Ae-Sun is a young girl who dreams of becoming a poet. A boy named Gwan-Sik has been deeply in love with her since age 10, but she always says she’ll “never ever” marry him. But of course, when life gives you tangerines, you peel them and then you eat them. This is essentially the basic premise of the story. If I say any more, I’ll go into spoiler territory, which I don’t want to do.
Of course, when it comes to this genre that beautifully blends comedy with tear-jerking drama, I have to speak about the acting, which is the core of the show. Sure, a good story is important, and since it’s written by Im Sang-Choon, I’m not expecting anything less than fantastic, but it is the acting that really carries the show and brings out the screenplay’s full potential. This role for Park Bo-Gum is a cakewalk, because it’s quite similar to his role in Reply 1988. Not only does he naturally ace the quiet, shy boy who is deeply in love with a woman, but he also looks the part with his short bangs and burgundy tracksuit. This is perfection, in my opinion. But there’s no denying that IU carries this show on her tiny shoulders. I have a feeling she’s going to leave us as much in tears as she did with Scarlet Heart Ryeo, and I, for one, am not complaining at all. The supporting cast is filled with “ajummas” K-drama fans are familiar with; they’re legends, and they’re amazing.
The show comes to us in 4 volumes of 4 episodes each, released every Friday this March. It’s most wonderfully timed to release in the spring season, because that’s what the show is all about, the spring season of Ae-Sun’s life. I think this is a great tactic for K-dramas, because it’s like watching 4 movie sequels every weekend. There’s just so much to appreciate here, from the stunning visuals of Jeju Island to the heartfelt story of a young woman who finds herself crying every time she’s in crisis, despite being the smartest person in the room. I don’t know how IU or Park Bo-Gum do it, but they must’ve had swollen faces for days after shooting because, man, that is a lot of crying. The story so far is compelling and fast-paced and will leave you looking forward to what’s to come, even if it means more tears.
I’m not going to lie, my first thought after watching the first episode was that this is going to turn out to be another Twenty-Five, Twenty-One, but while the vibe is a little bit similar, we already know that the two main leads did end up together and married (minor spoiler, whoops). I’m sure this will make a lot of fans eager to watch it, because a sad ending is not something a lot of people want from K-dramas. However, I think there’s going to be more than one death in the show because it’s a story of a life cycle. Kind of like in Pachinko, so I would recommend keeping the tissues ready.
The show is set between the 1960s and 1990s for the most part. It seamlessly travels through time, and through the costumes, the backgrounds, and the vibes, you know which era you’re in. Specifically, when it’s IU on screen, since she’s playing both mom and daughter. The show is a timeless tale of love, not just romantic but familial and parental love too. I don’t know about you, but I’ve been complaining a lot about how K-dramas have recently been trying so hard to cater to a Western audience that it just feels like the spark has been missing, but then we’ll get a show like this one, and my faith is immediately restored. If you’re looking for a healing slice-of-life K-drama that makes you feel the nostalgia as if you’ve been transported in time, then this show is for you!
But I will warn you, if you’re the kind of fan who doesn’t prefer seeing reality on screen, even if it is from about 70 years ago, you’re going to want to skip this one. There’s no denying that it will make you angry and sad, and there are some things that are quite painful to watch; however, it’s a balance of niceties and bitterness. Visually, there are some scenes in here that’ll really make you want to pull out a canvas. In terms of chemistry, the love story is one for the ages rather than something passionate or typically romantic. But this is not to say that there’s no romance; in fact, the feelings are oozing in a subtle way.
It seems I’ve been watching everything through a “feminist” lens because I can’t help but notice how female-centric positive dramas have been doing the rounds recently. When Life Gives You Tangerines might turn out to be a tragedy, but I have a feeling that it’s instead a story about home passed from generation to generation, about how spring may end early one year, but it will last a very long time the next time around. I think this show is going to be profound, and it’s pure at heart, making you want to keep watching. If you like shows like Reply 1988, Twenty-Five, Twenty-One, or When The Camellia Blooms, then I urge you to watch this show. I think I might just have to give volume 1 of When Life Gives You Tangerines a perfect score.
