Watching this drama was a no-brainer for us. Oppa is a huge IU fan. She's on Oppa's List. We watched her concert. He's a fan club member. He even took photos of her album.
And Park Bo Gum is on my Noona's List.
We know IU always chooses her projects really well so we were sure that we were going to love this. :)
Before I begin, however, let me apologize if my notes/review would seem a bit chaotic. Everything and every character in the drama is somehow intertwined and there were moments when I found it difficult to identify which category a thought would belong to.
And while I usually put my thoughts towards the end of the review, I would do it differently here. Some people might not proceed to watch this drama because it has a bit of a slow start. And especially if you're watching this because of IU and Park Bo Gum, who only appear towards the end of the first episode. But please don't allow that to put you off. I guarantee you, this show will give you a lot of feels and each and every episode will be worth it.
Although the drama crosses over several time periods, ranging from the '50s to the present, everything was so masterfully done that you won't get confused at all.
And since some characters are played by several actors, I'm going to do the review per character and have mini discussions on the actors who portrayed them.
Plot
The plot is really simple. When Life Gives You Tangerines is all about Yang Gwan Sik's (Park Bo Gum and Park Hae Joon) undying love for Oh Ae Sun (IU and Moon So Ri). The two grew up together in Jeju and the story takes us through all the twists and turns they had to go through to fight for their love. Gwan Sik and Ae Sun's story, although it might be very rare in real life, is proof that when you get lucky, love can win and conquer all. I won't go through all the little details. Because this story is meant to be told, watched, heard, felt, and experienced.
Oh Ae Sun
From the very start, we see that Ae Sun is a fighter. She's feisty. Yet, she does not hesitate to cry and show her emotions when needed. I loved Ae Sun because she is a perfect example of how one can be feminine yet strong. Polite but won't allow people to walk all over her. Like how she stood up against her mother-in-law (Oh Min Ae of The Glory 1 and 2 and DP) when the latter wanted Ae Sun's daughter, Geum Myeong (IU), to train as a haenyeo.
Ae Sun is also a dreamer. She had bold ambitions. And throughout her young life, that was probably the thing that bothered her the most. She wanted to soar but she knew it would burden her mother (Yeom Hye Ran of The Glory, Hospital Playlist, Live, Prison Playbook, and Guardian). She loved Gwan Sik but she knew he could not provide for her dreams of being a poet, going to college, and living in Seoul. Despite all of her difficulties, however, Ae Sun chose to be kind-hearted. She stood by her mother's side and she chose to be with Gwan Sik.
And while Gwan Sik is probably the bigger person, Ae Sun isn't far behind either. Her positivity is so striking. Despite everything she's been through, there's no room for self-pity in her life. She revels in whatever situation she's in and she finds the good in everything that happens to her.
As always, IU (You are the Best, The Producers, Moon Lovers, My Mister, Persona, and Hotel Del Luna) had a very solid performance, both as Ae Sun and Geum Myeong. There's really nothing that she can't do. She's scary when she's all angry and throwing tantrums. But her tears of sorrow and despair will melt your heart. One of my favorites would be that scene where her youngest son died, especially when she was still in denial of what happened.
So while we love IU the singer, we also wish she'd do more dramas because she's so good at it too.
We were not so familiar with Moon So Ri (Juror 8) but we fell in love with her right away. She was perfect as the middle-aged and old version of Ae Sun. I don't know who copied who but young and old Ae Sun were so alike in movement and mannerisms, you won't notice the difference. I'd have to say IU and Moon So Ri did an amazing job in making sure all the Ae Sun actors were in sync. Everything was so seamless.
Yang Gwan Sik
You can't really say anything bad about Gwan Sik. His love is so pure, real, and sincere. He has this quiet yet very reassuring presence, regardless of the situation, earning him the nickname Steelheart. He makes you feel that you have nothing to fear because he is in-chrage. He will do anything and everything for the people he loves.
Yes, I know Gwan Sik set the bar so high for fathers and husbands. And in reality, I'm pretty sure someone like him would be a rare find. But somehow, I'm okay with this one. Never mind if it would set unrealistic expectations for girls. I love how this show teaches us that not because it's nearly impossible to find a Gwan Sik, we should settle or lower our standards. It's part of loving ourselves to want to find the best that we can have.
Edited to add: After giving this some more thought (because I refuse to give this show a free pass on creating a character that's seemingly impossible to find), I've finally realized why I'm okay with women expecting their men to be like Gwan Sik. Because Ae Sun never asked for the moon and the stars and Gwan Sik never tried to give her those. The remarkable thing about Gwan Sik was that he did the simple and little things and that he tried his best in everything he did and in every role he played both as a dad and as a father - providing and caring for his family, listening to them, comforting them, being patient with them, affirming/validating them, reassuring them, or just simply being there for them. He never accused Ae Sun of just acting up when she complained that she was experiencing menopause symptoms. He didn't dismiss her rants either. He just understood and took care of her. And you know what, guys? Sometimes trying your very best is all that we women ask for. You don't have to be perfect. Sometimes we're just happy to see you trying, the way Gwan Sik did his entire life.
And I super loved Park Bo Gum on this one. The post-military service physique is very visible. He looks so much tougher and stronger. More manly. And we're definitely getting a more serious and mature version here, quite different from his other characters in The Producers, Reply 1988, Encounter, Record of Youth, Itaewon Class, and Seo Bok. He was perfect as young Gwan Sik. How can you not love someone who's flawless both inside and out?
And Park Hae Joon (Misaeng, 12.12: The Day, 20th Century Girl, and Tune in for Love) was also the perfect middle aged version of Gwan Sik. You wouldn't guess that he once played a contemplative monk in My Mister, or a total ass in The World of the Married and The 8 Show. He's that great of an actor. Definitely a shoo-in for my next Noona's List.
Again, similar to how IU and Moon So Ri were like clones of each other, Park Hae Joon and Park Bo Gum also mirrored each other perfectly. They've both mastered Gwan Sik's pensive, quiet gaze. And that willingness to take everything to make life so much easier for the people they love.
Gwan Sik and Ae Sun
The amazing thing about Ae Sun and Gwan Sik's relationship is that they've really seen it all. They've been through everything together. She kept on pushing him away, even to the point of saying mean things to him (she won't marry an island guy, he was in the way of her dreams). But he stayed. He was always there for her - giving her freebies when she had no food to eat, how he was willing to stay in her shadow (proudly saying he'll be first gentleman if she becomes president), bravely letting her grandma pull his teeth as well when Ae Sun was too scared to do it, memorizing poems that probably didn't make sense to him simply because she loved it, and of course, his ultimate sacrifice of running away with her and leaving everything behind for her when she became homeless. Oh the adventures they went through!
Yes, it started out as young love. When Gwan Sik proclaimed that he can provide for Ae Sun, even if he obviously had no means to do so. And Ae Sun resisting, thinking that she was in the way of his dreams, as his mom said. And trying to marry someone (Bu Sang Gil played by Choi Dae Hoon of Extraordinary Attorney Woo, Crash Landing on You, and At Eighteen) she didn't love just so he can move on from her. But of course, everything was capped off with that overly dramatic reunion where Ae Sun ran away from her wedding gown fitting and Gwan Sik jumped off a boat and swam through the sea to return to the love of his life.
But it wasn't just the bold expressions of love that made Gwan Sik a great partner for Ae Sun. It was how consistent he was even in the little things. Times were hard for them but he found a way to buy back her mom's house because he knew she longed for it. And he always bought her those cute hairpins that she loved wearing - even when they were older and she kept misplacing them. Or how his mom said he still treats Ae Sun as if she can't carry a bag of rice. He never got tired of listening and absorbing each and every little complaint Ae Sun had - from something as mundane as having a competitor in her squid filleting racket or as huge as feeling bad for not having enough to send Geum Myeong to study overseas despite trying and working so hard. Over time, husbands develop this talent of ignoring or contradicting everything their wives say. But I guess Gwan Sik is a saint who took to heart his role as the leader of his family.
And Gwan Sik always took Ae Sun's side, even if it meant not honoring his parents. I was so proud of him when he said that he was not afraid of his grandmother's wrath, but he was afraid that Ae Sun will have a hard time because of her grandmother. Or how he boldly moved away from the "men's table" during mealtime so he can help Ae Sun care for Geum Myeong. While some parents end up favoring their kids over their spouses, Gwan Sik never did that. He never allowed any of his kids to disrespect Ae Sun (like when he yelled at Geum Myeong when she was ranting about how burdened she felt as the eldest daughter). Geum Myeong was right - although she was number 1 in Gwan Sik's eyes, nobody can ever top Ae Sun, who will always be his number 0.
Ageless and timeless would be perfect words to describe their love story. As Ae Sun said, Gwan Sik aged on the outside but his heart never aged at all. His love never changed one bit. Or it did, because it grew stronger.
Ae Sun's happiness was all that mattered to Gwan Sik. You can see how his usually emotionless eyes would light up whenever he sees Ae Sun happy. Until his final days, he bragged about how precious Ae Sun was and how she meant the world to him. And when he knew his days were numbered, he made sure everything was ready for her when he was gone - like fortifying the locks on their house doors and putting down stuff in their cupboards to make sure everything was within her reach, knowing that she will be living alone and asking Geum Myeong to take care of and not be frustrated with her.
Indeed, life was tough for this couple. But they pulled through. And while it broke my heart to see them be separated by death, I'm comforted by the thought that at least Gwan Sik saw Ae Sun fulfill her dream of being a poet, which genuinely made her happy.
Yang Geum Myeong
Before I talk about Geum Myeong, I just have to say that what sets this IU drama above her other shows is how she had to juggle two characters in one story. Yes, she lived through different eras in Moon Lover and Hotel Del Luna, but she just played the same character the entire time. But Ae Sun and Geum Myeong here were two different people who were not entirely alike in their personalities. Young Ae Sun was more on the meek side, broken by so many misfortunes that she had to go through in her young life. Geum Myeong was more of a rebellious daughter. So just for that fact alone, IU needs to get an award for this drama. :)
Although they were not entirely similar, it was obvious to see that Ae Sun and Geum Myeong's lives were intertwined. There were so many parallelisms in their stories and experiences. Like how the savior housekeeper (Nam Gwon A of Doctor Slump, Snowdrop, and Happiness) in the house where Geum Myeong was tutoring, turned out to be the lady warned by Ae Sun and Gwan Sik about the evil inn owners in Busan several years ago. Or how Ae Sun was living vicariously through her children - like how happy she was to send off Geum Myeong to college and her willingness to sell their house to fund her overseas study trip. Or simply how Ae Sun's maternal instincts are always on point - like when she guessed that something was wrong that she travelled to Seoul and true enough, she found Geum Myeong in the midst of a carbon monoxide inhalation accident.
One other reason why Gwan Sik is so lovable was because of his relationship with Geum Myeong. He was a very loving father. Yes, he was always out working. He was often quiet. But you are confident in his love for his family. It was always steady, dependable, and reassuring.
All those flashbacks of Gwan Sik's moments with young Geum Myeong were so heartwarming and nostalgic. And Gwan Sik's continuous declaration of love for his children (despite their tantrums and harshness) was just admirable. I loved it when he said he sleeps less so that hopefully, his children can sleep a little longer. Or when he told Geum Myeong at different difficult stages of her life that she can always stop and go back to him (her bag being too heavy in kindergarten, taking college entrance exams, or even during her wedding). I loved how he was always the net to whatever tightrope Geum Myeong had to navigate.
Geum Myeong's wedding to Park Chung Seop (Kim Seon Ho of Hometown Cha Cha Cha, Run On, and Start-Up) was a total tearjerker for me. Especially when Gwan Sik told Chung Seop that he was giving him his heaven on earth. How precious!
And how even if Geum Myeong already had her own family, she still came first in Gwan Sik's eyes. The way he paid careful attention to her and made sure she was okay before going to see his grandchild when she gave birth was a very beautiful testament to how much he valued Geum Myeong.
I really thought Geum Myeong and Yeong Bum (Lee Jun Young of Melo Movie and D.P. 1 and 2) would end up like Ae Sun and Gwan Sik. But I guess there's really no one like Gwan Sik. He set the bar too high for his daughter, especially with regard to men who bravely choose their wives over their own mothers.
Yes, Yeong Bum tried. But he could have tried harder, and probably, earlier. But that meal the families shared to discuss the wedding was a huge red flag. It was too painful and awkward. I was impressed with how Ae Sun and Gwan Sik held up, because they knew Geum Myeong loved Yeong Bum.
But the way Yeong Bum's mom (Kang Myung Joo, may she rest in peace) insulted Geum Myeong in front of Ae Sun and how she humiliated their family was obviously the deal breaker. Geum Myeong would never allow anyone to hurt her family. And she brilliantly put Yeong Bum's mom in her proper place by calling off the wedding first and returning that mama's boy to his mama. And how that mom got the ending she deserved.
I was so proud of Geum Myeong for choosing herself. Because Yeong Bum was too weak to stand up for her. Yes, the break up scene was heartbreaking but Geum Myeong deserved so much better. And I loved how confident Geum Myeong was that her family will always be there to catch her. It was a funny twist to see that her parents never sent out the wedding invitations because they knew Geum Myeong would come to her senses and cancel the wedding.
Although Chung Seop was not Geum Myeong's first love, I still enjoyed how their love story developed. From meeting under very awkward circumstances to working and going home together to parting ways to finally being reunited to end up with each other. It was gradual but very organic.
Chung Seop can be awkward, the way Gwan Sik can be at times. So it was so cute that he left a portrait for Geum Myeong when he had to do his military service. It was like a subtle proposal.
And although he seemed quiet and aloof like Gwan Sik, he also had a way with words. Saying things unexpectedly, like comparing Geum Myeong to a Christmas tree because she shines wherever she stands.
That cute reunion on the bus. The awkward laughters. I can actually imagine all of them happening in real life.
And how Chung Seop won over Gwan Sik when he proved that he was very thoughtful - following Geum Myeong to the toilet while they were on the boat even if he was so seasick because he didn't want her to fall or following her even if he was drunk because it was too cold and she didn't have a jacket. Of course, he's still no match for Gwan Sik. But he's good enough. And he had a loving mother (Lee Ji Hyun of Gyeongseong Creature, Thirty-Nine, She Would Never Know, and Hospital Playlist) who adored Geum Myeong, and for Geum Myeong's parents, that was probably all that mattered. And Ae Sun was able to wear a pretty pink hanbok with flowers on their wedding day. :)
I loved the modern touch given to Geum Myeong's family when she said that while she wants to have kids, she also wants to make sure that she can raise them in a family with means to do so. And how when Geum Myeong was in labor and the medical staff told Chung Seop that he might have to choose between mom and child and he didn't flinch when he said he chose Geum Myeong.
It's nice to finally see Kim Seon Ho back!!! This is definitely long overdue. And while he was more of a guest here, I actually appreciated the show's treatment of his character. He was not made a central part of the story. His appearance was not even announced or advertised until I think about a week before his episodes came out. I guess it's the drama's way of announcing that this is all about Gwan Sik and Ae Sun, and everyone else would just be in the background.
Yang Eun Myeong
I admit that Eun Myeong (Kang You Seok of Start-Up) started out as a nuisance to me. I was genuinely curious about his younger years - if he was really neglected as he claimed to be. Because I highly doubt that, knowing how loving Gwan Sik and Ae Sun are.
But I started paying attention when his love story turned out to be like a big joke from the universe. He ended up raising a family with Sang Gil's daughter, Hyeon Suk (Lee Soo Kyung of Law School, Reply 1988, and Miracle: Letters to the President).
And while Eun Myeong seemed like a good for nothing guy, I am hanging on to his mother-in-law's (Jang Hye Jin of Crash Landing on You, Parasite, Doctor Slump, and Hospital Playlist 2) prediction that he will turn out like Gwan Sik because sons always end up like their fathers.
Although Eun Myeong's relationship with his parents was more troubled compared to Geum Myeong's, I was happy that he realized before it was too late that his parents sacrificed a lot for him too and that they loved him. I loved that scene where he tried to work for a fishing boat only to be brought back to shore after a few hours because he couldn't handle it. That realization and guilt of how tough his dad's job was. And how he wanted to buy back his dad's boat that had to be sold to get him out of jail. It was touching for Gwan Sik to tell his son that he was not yet done making him grow up. And how Gwan Sik was loving even to Hyeon Suk, buying her face cream and secretly stocking up her beer supply.
Family Life
The central theme of this drama is all about family life and the different struggles families face.
Before I dive deeper, I just want to say that watching this show gave me the same feels I had while reading Kim Ji Young, Born 1982 (which by the way, IU also read). That feminist/women's lib tone was very familiar. And I liked how this drama showed us that it's possible for women to have strong personalities (like how Ae Sun said she wanted her daughter to flip tables, instead of setting them) while also having and raising a whole family, without being judged and bashed. And of course, that can only be possible if you have a strong, supportive, and secure husband like Gwan Sik.
I liked how we saw different and complex versions of families in this drama. You had Ae Sun's mom who remarried after her husband died so Ae Sun had to stay with her paternal grandma (Na Moon Hee of May 18, Worlds Within, and My Name is Kim Sam Soon). Typically, you'd think that that would strain the relationship between Ae Sun's mom and her grandma. But not really. Mom was scared to take her photo for her funeral so she asked grandma to come with her. Grandma put make up on mom and sentimentally recalled that mom was wearing the wedding dress grandma picked for her. And mom not hesitating to ask grandma for one last favor - explaining that Ae Sun is strong and proud but if there ever comes a time when she asks for grandma's help, it means she's tried everything and nothing worked so grandma has to help her. And how grandma fulfilled that promise - by giving Ae Sun and Gwan Sik her life savings so they can buy a boat for their livelihood.
It was also a nice touch that Ae Sun had proper closure with her stepdad (Oh Jung Se of Extreme Job, Jirisan, Hot Stove League, and Misaeng) and his new wife (Uhm Ji Won), who even paid for Ae Sun's rental arrears.
Gwan Sik's family was quite chaotic too. Shaman grandma (Kim Yong Rim of You are the Best) and Gwan Sik's mom initially hated Ae Sun for taking their precious Gwan Sik. They expected Ae Sun to be a "housewife" like them. They were scandalized when she refused to do so and Gwan Sik backed her up. But when they saw that she was a good person, grandma now loved her and even thought she was better than her own daughter-in-law. And while mom still probably resented her, she can't keep being nasty, knowing that it was Ae Sun's money that made Gwan Sik a boat captain. :)
A huge chunk of the drama is about the sacrifices parents make for their children, especially when the family is in poverty. Ae Sun's mom for Ae Sun. Ae Sun and Gwan Sik for Geum Myeong and Eun Myeong. And Geum Myeong and Eun Myeong for their own children. And how this never stops even when kids are all grown-up.
Individuals have ambitions. But everything takes a backseat when they become parents. Like how Ae Sun could not go to college. Parents now start to have lofty dreams for their children. And they try their hardest to give their children the best life possible. Gwan Sik enduring the physical pain on his legs/knees and fingers so he can continue fishing. Geum Myeong swallowing her pride to beg grandma so she can feed her family. Or selling their house and boat to save their children.
But sometimes even one's best won't be enough. Like how Geum Myeong kept on nagging Ae Sun that she seemed to be contented with being poor. But Ae Sun gently rebuked her saying, of course she wanted a better life like everyone else, but sometimes, we can just choose to be happy with the life that we've been given. That we have to fight through the currents and hope that eventually, life will be better and you'll survive everything. And that if you stay and work together, you can overcome anything and all those bad moments will be memories you can look back to later on.
And it's equally tough for children too. Both Ae Sun and Geum Myeong wanted to soar. But they knew that wanting more would burden their parents. And while it might have sounded disrespectful and selfish, I understood how Geum Myeong felt when she was lashing out at Ae Sun about how tough it was for her as the eldest daughter in the family. She wanted to live selfishly but her guilt won't allow it.
But of course, nothing can be more heartbreaking than the death of a child. I believe it's the ultimate test not just for parents but for their other children too.
The show's treatment of this story line was amazing. Everything from Ae Sun being in denial to Gwan Sik breaking down to Geum Myeong and Eun Myeong silently blaming themselves for what happened. The lines, the acting, everything was perfect.
Unfortunately, as anyone who has undergone tragedy knows, the world does not stop just because you're heartbroken. And as Gwan Sik's mom said, the parents have to live for their living children. There's just sadly not much time to mourn and process your pain. Fortunately for Gwan Sik and Ae Sun, their children and their supportive community helped them pull through.
And while quite short, I liked the show's reminder that we don't have to endure all the bad stuff all the time. We all have our tipping points and if a situation is already breaking us, we should be free to leave. That self-respect is more important than having a whole family. Like what Yeong Ran did to Sang Gil. She endured a lot while her children were growing up. But she put an end to her misery when she felt she was ready and the time was right. In a way, that proved to be a blessing in disguise, because it revealed that Sang Gil was more of a broken than an evil man. He loved his family in that odd way of his (cursing, bribing people to get what his children needed, etc.).
And I loved how the drama showed us that family is not only determined by blood ties. The way the auntie haenyeos (led by Lee Soo Mi of Crash Course in Romance and Hospital Playlist 1 and 2 and Baek Ji Won of Extraordinary Attorney Woo, Snowdrop, Encounter, and Fight for My Way) never left Ae Sun's side the rest of her life.
Although I'm quite hesitant to call this drama slice-of-life because I wouldn't want anyone to go through something that difficult, I appreciate how the show did not sugarcoat life. And while we may have different levels of struggles, life can be tough at certain points of our lives. People lose jobs. Couples break up. We get health issues. We can be scammed. We can lose loved ones. We all die. That's why even if it was utterly heartbreaking to see Gwan Sik die in the end, I'm grateful that the show didn't shy away from doing that just so we can get our happy ending.
Yes, it's easy to judge Ae Sun's life as one filled with misfortunes. But when you look at life the way she does, you'll appreciate that it was actually a life well-lived with lots of happy moments, thanks to Gwan Sik. And that's a perspective that would be truly nice to have.
Oppa says...5.
Noona says...5.