Highlights
When Life Gives You Tangerines is a new South Korean TV series. It is a simple story about everyday life in a bygone era. The show is made by Lim Sang-choon (writer) and Kim Won-seok (director), and it features famous actors IU, Park Bo-gum, Moon So-ri, and Park Hae-joon. You can watch it on Netflix starting March 7, 2025.
Storyline:
The web series tells the story of Ae-soon who is a strong and independent woman and grew up on Jeju Island in the 1950s, and Gwan-sik who is a tough and determined man. They face many difficulties together throughout their lives. The series is like looking through old family photos and seeing the happy, youthful days of our parents and grandparents. It’s about their first loves, funny stories, and rebellious moments. It’s a way of saying “thank you” for their hard work and sacrifices. The Korean title, “폭싹 속았수다,” is a Jeju phrase that means: “Thank you for your hard work.”
Review: Episode 1: “Spring in a Heartbeat”
Positive Aspects:
Episode 1 introduces a convincing and resilient female lead, Ae-soon. Her resolve to survive and thrive, even in challenging circumstances, is immediately engaging. Her emotional range right from her childhood to teenage, from fierce independence to vulnerable tears, is captivating.
Episode 1 effectively shows the harsh realities of life in 1950s Jeju, highlighting the importance of family bonds and the struggles for survival. The mother-daughter relationship is particularly the centre of attention in this episode.
The episode successfully evokes strong emotions, particularly through Ae-soon’s expressions of grief and helplessness. The scenes showcasing her emotional turmoil can make you cry easily.
The introduction of Gwan-sik and his act of kindness adds a layer of positivity to the story. The soft bonding between the characters right from their childhood creates a sense of anticipation for future developments.
The use of visual cues such as the changing seasons and the vastness of the sea, effectively conveys the passage of time and the themes of life and death.
Negative Aspects:
The episode’s focus on hardship and loss can feel heavy at times. The struggles of a mother in raising her children as both her husbands pass away at different times and her gradual passing might feel quite emotionally disturbing for some viewers.
Series Quality:
The series shows a high level of production quality, with attention to detail in its set design and cinematography. The emotional depth and engaging character development immediately draw the viewer into the world of the olden times. The direction is solid, and the emotional scenes look quite natural and are very well-executed.
Performances:
The performances are mind-blowing, particularly those of the child (Kim Tae-yeon) and adult actress (Moon So-ri) portraying the character of Ae-soon. Kim Tae-yeon easily manages to show her strength, vulnerability, and determination. Yeom Hye-ran as Jeon Gwang-rye who is Ae-soon’s mother plays her part quite well making us relate to the harsh struggles of a woman who passes away at a young age of 29 leaving behind her three small children.
Verdict:
The first episode of “When Life Gives You Tangerines” is a powerful story of resilience, family, and survival among female members of a family. The compelling characters and strong performances make the series to be quite impactful and a worthwhile watch.
Cast & Crew
Cast:
- IU plays Ae-soon:
- As a child, she was played by Kim Tae-yeon.
- As an adult, she’s played by Moon So-ri.
- Ae-soon is a strong, independent girl who dreams of being a poet. She’s full of spirit and doesn’t back down.
- Park Bo-gum plays Gwan-sik:
- As a child, he was played by Lee Cheon-mu.
- As an adult, he is played by Park Hae-joon.
- Gwan-sik is a quiet, loyal man who loves Ae-soon deeply. He’s always there for her, even when things get tough.
Supporting Actors:
- Kim Yong-rim plays Gwan-sik’s grandmother, Park Mak-cheon.
- Na Moon-hee plays Ae-soon’s grandmother, Kim Chun-ok.
- Yeom Hye-ran plays Ae-soon’s mother, Jeon Gwang-rye.
- Oh Min-ae plays Gwan-sik’s mother, Kwon Gye-ok.
- Choi Dae-hoon plays Sang-gil.
- Jang Hye-jin plays Yeong-ran.
- Cha Mi-kyung plays Chung-su.
- Baek Ji-won plays Kyung-ja.
- Oh Jung-se plays Yeom Byeong-cheol.
- Uhm Ji-won plays Na Min-ok.
- Lee Jun-young.
- Lee Soo-kyung.
Special Appearances:
- Kim Seon-ho.
- Lee Soo-mi plays Yang-im.
Director: Kim Won-seok
Writer: Lim Sang-choon
Don't miss out on the Latest Updates! Join our official WhatsApp channel and follow us on, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for Breaking News.
Follow Us 