When Life Gives You Tangerines

Hi, everyone! How are you doing? Today I came to talk about a series that literally broke me inside – “When Life Gives You Tangerines” from Netflix. And man, what a perfect title! You know when you think you’re going to watch a cute romance about a paradise island and end up being hit by an emotional train? Well, get your tissues ready (and preferably a whole box)!

The Island of Jeju and Its Bitter Secrets
The story takes place on Jeju Island in the 1950s, where we meet Ae-sun (IU) and Gwan-sik (Park Bo-gum), two young people who grew up together in a time when dreaming was almost a luxury that the poor could not afford. Ae-sun is a spirited girl with dreams bigger than her village, raised by a tenacious mother, until an unexpected tragedy changes everything.

Guys, the way the series portrays the harshness of life in Jeju is breathtaking. Ae-sun watches her mother, Gwang-rye, struggle to survive after Ae-sun’s father dies. Gwang-rye maintains a tough exterior; underneath, she is completely dedicated to Ae-sun and committed to ensuring that she has the best possible life. It’s a raw and real portrayal of how women of that era carried the world on their backs.

IU and Park Bo-gum: The Chemistry That Spans Decades
Have you seen IU and Park Bo-gum return to television after six and five years respectively? Well, they came back with a bang! The actors are 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.

IU’s performance especially caught me off guard. She doesn’t just deliver a performance – she lives it. Watching her portray a woman who dreams of being a poet but struggles against all the limitations imposed by poverty and society is incredibly sensitive.

Gwan-sik, played by Park Bo-gum, is a sincere and diligent young man. He doesn’t talk much. Gwan-sik only loves and respects Ae-sun. The way he shows his love is not through grand declarations, but through constant acts of care and protection that span decades.

A Non-Linear Narrative That Takes You by Surprise

Presented in a non-linear narrative, the story follows the lives of Ae-sun, Gwan-sik, and their children divided between Dodong-ri on Jeju Island and Seoul between the 1950s and 2000s. Man, this time structure is brilliant! Events shown earlier are sometimes shown again in later episodes with more context to show the connection between different events and characters.

It’s like putting together an emotional puzzle. You gradually understand how past choices shaped the present, how small moments of joy turned into precious memories, and how tragedies defined the course of entire lives.

The Haenyeo and Female Strength

One of the most impressive things about the series is how it portrays the haenyeo, women who dive freely in the waters off Jeju Island to harvest seafood. The haenyeo have existed for 1,000 years in Korea. In When Life Gives You Tangerines, Ae-sun’s mother is part of the haenyeo community in Jeju and dives for abalone and seaweed.

Seeing these women risk their lives every day in the icy waters to support their families is a powerful portrait of female strength. The dynamic between Gwang Rye and Ae Sun is heartbreaking, but also beautiful. Gwang Rye’s sacrifice for her daughter, how she worked so hard as a haenyeo, hoping to spare Ae Sun from that life, speaks to how far mothers will go for their children.

When Love Faces Cruel Reality

As love blossoms between Ae-sun and Gwan-sik, they make their first brave move together. But their romantic adventure encounters an obstacle. And man, what obstacles! The series doesn’t romanticize poverty or offer easy solutions. It shows how the show also delves into the social dynamics and gender roles that are imposed on women, and it’s something that really stuck with me. The way women are often expected to stay in their place, how the world around them limits their options.

Watching Ae-sun struggle to hold onto her dreams of being a poet while reality constantly pulls her down is excruciating. It’s a layered portrayal of motherhood and the ways generational trauma can shape how we live our lives. Ae Sun’s journey is a reflection of that tension between breaking free from what’s expected and the reality of what she has to face.

The Tragedy No One Expected

Without giving major spoilers, but brace yourselves: the final episodes bring both closure and heartbreak. The 1997 IMF crisis threatens the stability of the Yang family. Eun-myeong’s imprisonment forces Gwan-sik and Ae-sun to desperate measures, leading Gwan-sik to riskily bet on a failing restaurant. Just as the family begins to rebuild, tragedy strikes – Gwan-sik is diagnosed with cancer.

Guys, I wasn’t prepared for this. In a heartbreaking farewell, he dies in Ae-sun’s arms, leaving behind a legacy of love. I cried for a whole hour. It’s the kind of ending that makes you question everything about life and how we should cherish every moment we have with the people we love.

A Global Phenomenon That Moves Everyone

The series was a domestic and international success, and not without reason. On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 6 critics’ reviews are positive, with an average rating of 9.5/10. Time magazine praised the series for being “devastatingly profound”, showing not only “the story of a family” but also “the story of Korea’s modernization from the post-war period to today”.

And look how cute: Netflix Korea generated additional revenue through intellectual property collaborations aimed at drama enthusiasts. A partnership with Yuhan-Kimberly resulted in the launch of a limited edition ‘Kleenex Moisturizing Essence Lotion’, with packaging featuring the drama; this product sold out during the pre-sale phase. They even made themed tissues! They knew we were going to cry anyway.

The Visual Beauty of Jeju

The visuals are absolutely stunning. Every frame is so aesthetically authentic, like stepping into a living, breathing world rather than just watching a drama unfold. With a robust budget and an all-star cast filming on location, the series is as nostalgic as it is sumptuously shot and lit.

Right from the start, there’s a scene when a constellation in the night sky becomes the yellow helmets of the haenyeo divers bobbing in the sea. So beautiful. The night scenes are crisp and detailed, painted in a golden glow. It’s pure cinema!

For Those Unafraid to Feel Deeply

“When Life Gives You Tangerines” is more than just a drama series. It’s a deeply moving exploration of love, sacrifice, and the unspoken emotions that bind families together. Unlike typical dramas that rely on exaggerated conflicts and predictable resolutions, this series thrives on genuine, raw storytelling, making each episode feel like a heartfelt letter to anyone who has ever struggled to understand or appreciate their parents.

If you’re looking for that series that will stir your heart in a way you’ll remember for years, this is the right pick. But seriously, prepare yourself emotionally. It’s hard for movies or TV to make me cry. One episode right in the middle definitely did the job. But that last episode… I spent the entire hour and a half crying as if I was mourning my own life – as if I had just watched it flash before my eyes.

The Meaning Behind the Title

The English title, When Life Gives You Tangerines, was announced on January 30, 2023, and is a play on the proverb “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade”; the fruit that grows on Jeju Island is tangerine, however. IU, the pop idol and lead actress here, says the English title is about using the sourest tangerines life throws at you to make a warm, soothing tea.

It’s a beautiful metaphor for turning life’s hardships into something that nourishes and warms the soul. And man, how this series manages to do just that!