When Life Gives You Tangerines

The drama reminds me my parents who went through all these harsh times to support me. Their generation never stopped working for the next generation and the country rose from nothing.

It is much easier to understand the drama if you get to know the background of the time. Since Japanese Invasion and Korean War, the people in Korea had very hard lifes which I remember the country actually was the poorest in the world. Yet, the mothers and the fathers were still planting the dream of better life and hope for their children on the ashes of the wars in the small land where mostly has the mountains with no trees left.

The story is the true life story of you and your family who live now. And we still have the reasons to live this world, even though the life may be hard

My respect to all mothers and fathers in this planet.

This drama will make you cry, laugh, be happy and let you experience a range of emotions. Even though only 4 episodes have aired, it is very good, and lets one experience the beauty of spring through the eyes of the characters. It is very heartwarming, and each season ends without cliffhangers, so you can just continue the next season without being on the edge. It's kind of like a feel good drama, and the direction, transition and script are all excellent. During the 4 episodes, I have experienced an upheaval of emotions that made me so invested in the drama. The actors in the drama, from the kids to the adults were well casted for their roles and I felt a lot of love/ hate for everyone of them. They did such a good job of portraying their characters.

What a heartbreakingly beautiful show this is. It's the kind that quietly sneaks up on you, warms you with its sincerity, and then-bam-crushes your soul when you least expect it. And I loved every second.

The actors? So genuine it hurts. They don't just play their roles; they are their roles. Every emotion feels raw, real, and straight from the heart. And the main actress? I'm still in shock over how good she is. She doesn't just deliver a performance-she lives it.

And the visuals? Absolutely stunning. Every frame is so aesthetically and authentic, like stepping into a living, breathing world rather than just watching a drama. The story itself is beautifully sad, at times unexpectedly funny, and always engaging, leaving a bittersweet taste-much like tangerines themselves.

IU and Park Bo-Gum don't just portray Ae-Sun and Gwan-Sik, it's like they lived their life too. You laugh with them, you cry with them, you want to hug them and tell them that everything is going to be alright. You desperately want them to be happy. I wouldn't imagine anyone else play Ae-Sun and Gwan-Sik, they're outstanding, impressively good and extraordinary. Each moment is significant, memorable and special. The whole cast, screenplay and locations are noticeable and treated with meticulous attention to details. It's a binge worthy show. While watching every episode I've enjoyed it so much that I didn't notice the time passing by.

If I could rate it more than 10 stars then I would! 4 episodes in and I can already tell this is/would be a masterpiece! Indeed, it's one of those dramas that only comes every 10 years and would remain iconic in this lifetime. I wish I could erase it from my memories and watch it again like it's the first time. Such a roller-coaster ride! It had me laughing then crying my heart out the next few minutes, then frustrated, then empowered. It's not just romance. It's a story about people-about life, dreams, hardships, persistence, and winning amidst these seemingly mundane life. Looking forward for the next 12 episodes!