Netflix's 'When Life Gives You Tangerines' is a Tear-Jerker
Netflix’s latest K-drama, 'When Life Gives You Tangerines', has become a viral sensation. Fans love the story, the performances, and the beautiful visuals.
Read More: Here's a Sneak Peek of Bridgerton Season 4
The series is set in the 1950s in Jeju, South Korea and focuses on Ae Sun, who dreams of becoming a point in the mainland, instead of a haenyeo (female diver) and her friend Gwan-sik, who will do anything to help her make her dreams a reality.
The writer, Lim Sang-choon, has written a beautiful story about friendship, young love, and the trials and tribulations of everyday life. Ms Lim’s story has emotional depth, exploring various coming-of-age experiences nuancedly, creating a rich and heartwarming plot.
Read More: Squid Game Season 3 to be Released This June
The writer has also created a holistic historical context for the story, highlighting various socio-economic aspects of society in Jeju during the 1950s and 1960s, which perfectly shapes the developments in the plot. Therefore, the romantic plotline is not out of touch with the time and place it is set in.
With this story, Ms Lim sheds light on the experiences of haenyeo in Jeju, how they endanger their lives to make a living for their families. Despite the life-threatening nature of their work, they are still mistreated by their husbands and in-laws.
The writer also highlights female subjugation in Jeju society in various aspects; for example, Ae-sun is suspended from school after running away with Gwan-sik, but the latter does not receive similar treatment because he is a boy.
Korean pop star and actress IU has done a fabulous job playing Ae-sun; the character is different from the ones she has played before. IU has perfectly portrayed and retained Ae-sun’s childlike mannerisms through the episodes; for example, the way she runs and the way she cries, emphasizing the character’s immaturity. However, IU balances out this immaturity with Ae-sun’s strength, bravery, loyalty, creating a balanced character.
Contrasting Ae-sun’s loud nature, Bo-gum portrays Gwan-sik with a quietness that is not typical of K-drama male leads. He usually lets Ae-sun talk about her dreams and is happy to listen to her all day. Gwan-sik is always anxious to please Ae-sun, and Bo-gum has portrayed that so beautifully that he has already become the K-drama lead of the year. Despite his quiet and submissive nature, Bo-gum also shows Gwan-sik to be fiercely loyal to Ae-sun, consistently maintaining the character’s fierce determination to do everything right for the love of his life.
These amazing performances are complemented by beautiful visuals. The director of photography has filmed the series in a dull grey and blue filter, creating frames that seem to be from a long lost past, which complements the historical genre of the series. The production designer has also created historically-accurate sets, complementing the time period of the plot and a unique setting for the series.
With its beautiful plot, heartwarming performances, and stunning visuals, ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’ is a tear-jerker.
Episodes for the series will be released weekly on Netflix.