The 16-episode ride in Netflix’s When Life Gives You Tangerines (2025) has left me in a nostalgic, sweet-and-bitter state. My heart feels like it has been dried on a Jeju porch and squeezed. It is a masterpiece of drama, which is decades long and sweeps a rhythmic soul of the 1950s and a quiet reflection of the present day. I am absolutely in love with the manner in which it handles the passage of time as both a thief and a presenter.

The Rebellion of Ae-sun

Ae-sun (IU) is a matchbox in a world of wet matches. I enjoy her energy as a rebel without a cause in the 1950s segments. She is a poor girl born in Jeju Island, who does not allow her poverty to be the measure of her worth. She is outspoken, she is rebellious, and she is a literal poet in a society that requires her to be a silent laborer. IU approaches her with a rough, nervous vitality that is completely dissimilar to her former roles.

She is not only a dreamer, but a fighter. Whenever she reads a book in bed or even shouts against the suffocating demands of her village, I get a rush of pride. Her soul is as yellow and clean as the citrus fruit the show is dedicated to. She is a girl who desires to see the world. It is a moving and smooth transition to watch her grow into her older self (the legendary Moon So-ri). The older Ae-sun is the same, but refined with the experience of a woman who has passed through the ages of life.

The Mute Power of Gwan-sik

Across this very colorful storm lies Gwan-sik (Park Bo-gum), a man who is the human equivalent of a sturdy wall. He is steel-like in his devotion. His unspoken, unswerving love for Ae-sun is a stirring emotion to me. He does not talk a lot, yet he proves to be a man of actions, full of a thousand words.

Park Bo-gum gives a performance of unbelievable restraint. His eyes are used to convey his lifelong desire and devotion. He encourages the wild dreams of Ae-sun, never attempting to put them in cages. Their relationship is a gorgeous, slow-burning fire that heats you, both inside and out. It is not glitzy or dramatic; it is the type of love that makes a home. The fact that his elder self (portrayed by Park Hae-joon) is still carrying this tradition of silent service made me shed tears on more than one occasion. The flow of spirits of the two actors is perfect, as they represent one tender soul at other times.

A Jeju Island Symphony

This K-drama is an actual love letter to Jeju Island through its cinematography. The colors of the earth, the sea, and the bright orange of the tangerines are flooding the pictures. Each scene feels like an old postcard brought to life. The production design is the intended embodiment of the gritty, hopeful mood of the post-war 1950s, and it is contrasted with the smooth, solitary one of the present.

The narration is positive and consistent. It gives ordinary moments in life the same importance as major ones, such as washing clothes by the sea, having a simple meal, or walking along a dirt path. I like how the show does not have the cliché of “will they, won’t they”. Rather, it dwells upon how they live together in reality. The plot is a gorgeous circle of the past and the present, which demonstrates to us how the decisions of our youth reverberate in our end-chapters.

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The Weight of Memory and Loss

As the k-drama moves towards the final episodes, the key to the show becomes a profoundly moving reflection on growing old and retention. The time-travelling road trip in the second part of the show is a pure emotion mishmash. I was thinking of my family background and the secret number of lives my elders had. 

My heart broke into pieces like shards of glass during Episode 14. The realization of the time spent, how many dreams had to be sacrificed on the way, is so gracefully managed. It is not a tragedy, but a tribute. The language is plain and heartfelt, with no hesitation about the ugly scenes of poverty or the physical burden of old age.

When Life Gives You Tangerines is an artistic work of closure. It does not present you with a fairytale; it presents you with a harvest. It teaches us that life may be brief and may be full of thorns, but the fruit we bear in the journey is sweet and everlasting. The last scenes made me feel peace that I have not experienced in a long time after watching a K-drama.

This is a must-watch for any person who is fond of a big family saga or a K-drama that can be compared to a warm embrace on a cold day. It is a tale of the loveliness of being a tangerine, a little sour, and so memorable. But I don’t think I have it in me to rewatch this again anytime soon.

Drama Info & Ratings

• Title: When Life Gives You Tangerines
• Episodes: 16
• Genre: Romance, Life, Drama
• Cast: IU, Park Bo-gum, Moon So Ri, Park Hae Joon, Kim Yong Rim, Na Moon Hee, Kim Seon-ho, Lee Jun-young
• Where to Watch: Netflix

• Overall Score 9.5/10
• Story 10/10
• Acting 10/10
• Emotional Impact 10/10
• Cinematography 10/10
• ReWatch Value 2/10

Remember how Our Beloved Summer made you think about those first loves that never really leave you? Still Shining (샤이닝), which just dropped this week, gives off a very similar vibe. Because of that comparison, I’ll admit I was a bit hesitant to start it and had zero expectations, especially since idol actors can sometimes be a hit or miss. But Park Jin-young (yeah, GOT7’s Jinyoung) and Kim Min-ju (ex-IZ*ONE) are genuinely holding their own and making the story feel natural on screen.

The Drama Begins With

The show opens in the sticky heat of summer 2014, when Yeon Tae-seo (Park Jin-young) leaves Seoul behind and moves to his grandparents’ quiet countryside town. He’s not there by choice as his younger brother is injured, and after their parent’s death, Tae-seo suddenly finds himself carrying responsibilities far beyond his age. Between looking after his brother, helping his grandparents, and pushing himself to study harder, he’s trying to hold everything together and build a better future.

The school library is the only place Tae-seo really feels free. That’s where he bumps into Mo Eun-a (Kim Min-ju), who is loud, talkative, and full of life, basically, everything Tae-seo isn’t. But beneath their different personalities, both of them are carrying their own burdens. Tae-seo feels the pressure of his family’s future on his shoulders, while Eun-a is always looking out for her father, who is struggling with his own battles. As the days go by, they start spending more time together by studying in the library, racing their bicycles, and teasing each other. And somewhere along the way, all those little moments begin to mean something more, and slowly, they start falling for each other.

From Distance to Confession

[SPOILER] By the end of episode 1, Tae-so finally goes to the doctor about his hearing problems. Turns out, they’re caused by stress and started after his parents’ accident. Once he gets the news, he just feels even more alone, so he calls Eun-a. But when he does, she calls him out for being rude and distant. That’s when it hits him that he messed up. He rushes over to the train station where Eun-a’s waiting. He finds her by the Han River, and together they catch the train home. On the ride, they actually talk, really talk, about how they feel and how being together makes things a little easier. Eun-a says they should stick together forever, and Tae-seo says yes. The episode wraps up with Tae-seo holding Eun-a’s hand as they’re starting to date now!! [SPOILER END]

Love, Exams, and Life Changes

Episode 2 of Still Shining begins with the students preparing for their upcoming PSAT exams. The next morning, before heading into the exam hall, Eun-a gives Tae-seo her scarf for good luck, while Tae-seo gives Eun-a his nametag to keep with her during the test. As the episode goes on, the two always find a way to meet and spend time together, even if it means traveling just to see each other for a short while. At the same time, Eun-a is quietly dealing with something personal, as she finds out that her dad is getting remarried, which hits her pretty hard and just adds to everything else she’s feeling.

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What’s Really Working for Me

The chemistry between these two just clicks. Nothing feels forced – it’s like their paths were always supposed to cross again. And the nostalgia hits in all the right ways. Those flashbacks actually matter,as they give the story more weight and help you get why their past still shapes them. When the story jumps to the present, Tae-seo and Eun-ah as adults feel real, like they’re just older versions of the kids you already know. Nobody suddenly turns into some big-shot CEO or has a wild glow-up – they’re just regular people figuring things out, and you can really feel what’s missing for them. Visually, the show’s got style. The warm countryside summers and hectic city subways clash in a way that really shows how much their lives have changed, even if those old feelings are still hanging on.

What Comes Next?

Right now, Still Shining feels like this quiet, emotional look at timing, memories, and how some people just stay with you. The slow pace actually helps; it gives the characters space to breathe and lets their emotions land. I’m definitely curious about the side characters, especially Bae Seong-chan (Shin Jae-ha). Is he going to keep playing the loyal friend, or will he step into that classic second-lead spot and break a few hearts? Guess we’ll find out soon enough.

Drama Info & Ratings

• Title:  Still Shining
• Episodes: 2 (as of this review)
• Total Episodes: 10
• Genre: romantic melodrama, slice of life, youth drama, slow-burn
• Cast: Jinyoung, Kim Min-ju, Shin Jae-ha, Park Se-hyun
• Where to Watch: Netflix

Overall Score: 9/10

• Story: 9/10
• Chemistry: 8.5/10
• Acting: 8/10