The Sweet, Bright Story That is When Life Gives You Tangerines - A Review

 Very rarely does a drama move me, really move me to the point of not being able to emotionally let go of right after the show ends. And When Life Gives You Tangerines did just that. 

We all know the story: Gwansik and Aesun loved each other for over 50 years, 16 episodes spanning 70 years of what we call life.

We grew up with the phrase "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade". But this drama gave me a different perspective of that line. Life will always be full of challenges, much more than what we wanted to experience. But in those moments, life throws a tangerine - something sweet, surprisingly wonderful event - and you just take that in. Make the most of it. To help you get through, survive, live.

Gwansik and Aesun has been by each other's side since they were young, from those moments he would bring fish from their own home to feed Aesun, to the time they lost a son, raising two more children. The many trials they have all faced, but along the way, they have their tangerine moments. And you never see them taking these for granted.

 

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As he was dying, Gwansik apologized for not giving Aesun a better life, but she gave the reassurance that she was never lonely for a day because of him. They were each other's sweetest tangerine. 

Gwansik has always chosen to love Aesun rather than control her, even in those times when patriarchy and society allows for men to have power over their wives and daughters. Aesun had her happy ending, she chose to take his hand and she chose to not let go.

Now, their eldest daughter, Geummyeong. She met her first love Park Yeongbum at Seoul National University, fell in love and dated for 7 years. They almost got married, but Yeongbum's mother treats her bad, always saying she's not good enough for her son. She knew how this treatment would upset her parents, who gave up so much to send her to college and let her chase her dream. She broke off the engagement, which broke both her and Yeoungbum.

Aesun and Geummyeong both got to experience true love.
GY got to experience ut twice. #WhenLifeGivesYouTangerines pic.twitter.com/EX5eilhY1C

— Subeom Noona 🍉 💍☎️ #WhenLifeGivesYouTangerines (@NoonaChronicles) March 28, 2025

But then, a tangerine was thrown her way as well. Park Chungseob. They started as friends. Co-workers. They met when they both had other partners, but see, fate has its way of bringing people together. It made a way for them to meet again. They dated and they get married.

Their son, Yang Eunmyeong has his own tangerine as well. All his life, he felt second only to Geummyeong. He felt like everything his parents did was for her, realizing only later on how much his father loved him as much. In a way, he lost his way, but as parents, Aesun and Gwansik, did everything to help him. Even selling their beloved boat to take him out of jail. For me, he had Bu Hyeonsuk, who has been with him long, and never left him despite every mistake. She stuck with him and his family. 

Aesun and Gwansik's life have been full of struggles.
But that never stopped them from living a wonderful life with their family. #WhenLifeGivesYouTangerines pic.twitter.com/rLDDutVvA4

— Subeom Noona 🍉 💍☎️ #WhenLifeGivesYouTangerines (@NoonaChronicles) March 28, 2025

So many tangerines in this drama. Those people who helped them along the way. Aesun's stepfather's wife, Na Min Ok, who paid for their rent for 3 months. Their landlords, who fed them secretly when they had nothing. Aesun's grandmother, who gave her the means to buy their boat so Gwansik does not have to work for Bu Sangil anymore. The auntie haenyeos, who has been with Aesun since the start. The housekeeper who helped Geummyeong prove her innocence. The theater owner, who made the way for Chungseob to meet Geummyeong that fateful day. Even Bu Sanggil, who was secretly helping Eunmyeong get better in life. 

And then there's Chloe Lee, the very reincarnation of Aesun's mom, Jeon Gwangrye. Now, she's living a comfortable life, the very opposite of her haenyeo days where she had to sacrifice so much to give Aesun a better life. She paved the way for Aesun to finally publish her book of poems. 

 

Surely, Gwansik is smiling up there. He left making sure his family is better. With every sacrifice he ever did, he deserves the rest he finally got to have.

Definitely, life is always full of tangerines, and we grab ours and make the most of it. That's how we live. That's how we survive, 

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If you are a parent, a child, a spouse, a grandparent, watch this. You will cry, definitely. But you will smile as well. There are so many realizations, so many things we take for granted, so many things we will see differently after watching. 

But one thing I will always remember from this drama is, we will always struggle. But we don't just sit still and let it get to us. We will struggle with all our might. Until we get to get up again. That's how we live. That's how we survive.