In Jeju, a spirited girl and a steadfast boy's island story blossoms into a lifelong tale of setbacks and triumphs, proving love endures across time.In Jeju, a spirited girl and a steadfast boy's island story blossoms into a lifelong tale of setbacks and triumphs, proving love endures across time.In Jeju, a spirited girl and a steadfast boy's island story blossoms into a lifelong tale of setbacks and triumphs, proving love endures across time.
- Awards
- 10 wins & 4 nominations total
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Summary
Reviewers say 'When Life Gives You Tangerines' is an emotional series exploring love, resilience, and time. Praised for IU and Park Bo-gum's performances and chemistry, the show's cinematography and Jeju Island setting are lauded. It delves into family dynamics, societal pressures, and women's struggles, with a non-linear narrative enhancing storytelling. However, some find the pacing slow and time jumps confusing, suggesting tighter editing. Overall, it's celebrated for heartfelt storytelling, strong performances, and vivid portrayal of life's challenges and triumphs.
Featured reviews
Well, K Dramas will always surprise you with new and unique stories, everytime you watch.
This one, for sure has set a very high standard among other Korean shows. The story has got an enormous emotional pulp which will keep you entangled episodes after episodes.
The economical and cultuaral growth in South Korea has been shown along with the struggles in a mother-daughter equation.
How much a mother can sacrifice for his child is beautifully described in the show. Very few TV shows or movies these days would be able bring justice to the story like they have done in this show.
All actors are brilliant, the protagonists dearly deserve Emmy awards. Lets see.. :)
This one, for sure has set a very high standard among other Korean shows. The story has got an enormous emotional pulp which will keep you entangled episodes after episodes.
The economical and cultuaral growth in South Korea has been shown along with the struggles in a mother-daughter equation.
How much a mother can sacrifice for his child is beautifully described in the show. Very few TV shows or movies these days would be able bring justice to the story like they have done in this show.
All actors are brilliant, the protagonists dearly deserve Emmy awards. Lets see.. :)
10mhStella
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
10jjbam
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.
IMDb Staff's Favorite Series of 2025
IMDb Staff's Favorite Series of 2025
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Did you know
- TriviaThe popularity of Park Bo-gum's portrayal of Gwan-sik started a viral challenge on social media called "My Own Gwan-sik" where fans post about their partners, husbands, and fathers behaving like the character.
- How many seasons does When Life Gives You Tangerines have?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
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- Language
- Also known as
- When Life Gives You Tangerines
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- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime
- 1h(60 min)
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.00 : 1
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