When Life Gives You Tangerines — and everlasting love

Express Tribune

13-04-2025

In the ever-evolving landscape of K-dramas, When Life Gives You Tangerines is a poignant testament to enduring love and familial bonds. Released on Netflix in March 2025, this series is set in the picturesque backdrop of 1960s Jeju Island, South Korea. It is in essence about the mother-daugher bond told through the story of Ae-sun, a little girl with big dreams growing up in a fishing village. The series spans decades and takes the viewers inside the home of Ae-sun as she grows up, has a family and then raises them. It is a domestic saga and peels back the layers of familial bonds, casting a close eye on the primal relationship between mothers and daughters.
Ae-sun (played by popular singer and actress IU) and her mother are stuck in the hardness of poverty and the unfairness that comes with being underprivileged since birth. Her mother is a strong and acrimonious haenyeo (a woman who dives for fish to earn a meagre living). Her softness is displayed only for Ae-sun for whom she makes any and all sacrifices despite being unable to make ends meet. As the saga follows Ae-sun maturing into a woman and then a mother, the story transitions to shed light on her relationship with her daughter, also played by IU. The drama is in fact narrated by Ae-sun's daughter Geum-myeong who's life unfolds in the second half of this series.
When Life Gives You Tangerines chronicles the intertwined lives of Ae-sun and Gwan-sik (played by Park Bo-gum). Born in the 1950s on Jeju Island, their journey spans several decades, capturing their reckless and rebellious days of youth, their turbulent domestic life while they share a home with Ae-sun's mother-in-law and grandmother-in-law, and their age of maturing and finding stability and security. The narrative delves into Ae-sun's aspirations beyond the confines of her island home, her relationship with her mother, a resilient haenyeo (female diver), and her evolving bond with Gwan-sik. Ae-Sun is called crybaby by others as a girl and a young woman – aptly so because this character's incessant wailing is like a grating soundtrack that was off-putting in the start of the show. Her better half (because we are talking about Park Bo-gum here) is the antithesis to her petulance. Gwan-sik is a softie but as resolute as steel. In his childhood he developed a crush on Ae-sun and he didn't let go of her for the rest of his life. He is the anchor to her life and takes on the onus to be her lifeboat too.
Ae-sun has dreams of becoming something, a poet or a president. Gwan-sik does everything in his power to make her wishes come true. Their romance is sweet enough but nothing compared to what K-dramas have offered before despite the reviews you will read. Some are comparing this series with Reply 1998. Now, other than Park Bo-gum there is no similarity or comparison of the two in my eyes.
The heart of this series lies in the performances of its lead actors. IU's portrayal of Ae-sun grows on you. She encapsulates the character's fiery ambition, vulnerability, and unwavering determination with youthful exuberance. From her spirited youth to her contemplative later years, IU navigates the complexities of a fallible woman, and one finds her amusing, relatable and inspiring. Although when she transitions into the character's daughter, Geum-myeong, the same panache is missing. Nevertheless, she is regarded as a top-notch actress and Tangerines too showcases her versatility.
Opposite her, Park Bo-gum's depiction of Gwan-sik, a man of few words but big gestures, is a treat to behold. Gwan-sik's steadfast loyalty, quiet strength, and enduring affection for Ae-sun are portrayed with subtlety and grace. Park Bo-gum captures the essence of a man whose love is both gentle and unwavering, providing a perfect counterbalance to Ae-sun's tempestuous nature. His expressive eyes hold the viewer's attention and his on-screen presence is both tender and heart-wrenching.​ Park Bo-gum leaves one wanting more and an episode about his character's story arc would have only added more to the show.
The series is a visual feast, with cinematography that captures the serene beauty of Jeju Island. The lush landscapes, coupled with the meticulous attention to historical detail, transport the viewer to a bygone era. The colour palette, dominated by earthy tones and vibrant hues, mirrors the emotional undertones of the narrative, enhancing the overall viewing experience. Each frame is thoughtfully composed like a tapestry that intertwines the minutiae of everyday life and the enduring vistas of natural beauty.​
At its core, When Life Gives You Tangerines is a nuanced exploration of the mother-daughter relationship. Geum-myeong over the phone to Ae-sun complains, 'Why do you frustrate me so,' while she is missing her and is concerned about Gwan-sik at the same time.
It is out of place to draw parallels with a hip American classic show from the 2000s, but the theme of Gilmore Girls is quite the same in that the mothers in both shows aim to give their daughters the education they didn't get and to live the dreams they couldn't reach either. Both Gilmore Girls and Tangerines depict mothers who are mentors and pillars of support for their daughters. They push their girls to reach for the stars despite their circumstances, they allow and provide their daughters with more than they had. In Tangerines, the three generations of maternal figures carve a life for their daughters that expands the horizon of the previous ones.
In Gilmore Girls, Lorelai's unconventional upbringing leads her to forge a unique bond with Rory, characterized by mutual respect and understanding. Similarly, in When Life Gives You Tangerines, Ae-sun's relationship with her mother transcends traditional norms. When Ae-sun has school presidency taken away from her unfairly, her mother, an illiterate haenyeo who stinks of fish, puts on the only clean dress she owns and makes her way to the school to get justice for her daughter. After her mother dies, Ae-sun dreams of her whenever a life changing event is about to take place. The dreams where mother and daughter meet poignantly show the longing a daughter has for her mother all her life as she is the ultimate protector in this world. Narrating Ae-sun's story, Geum-myeong shares how much she is like her mother and how much courage her mother lends her to face life, shaping her worldview and aspirations.​
Both series highlight the challenges women face in patriarchal societies and the lengths they go to protect and empower their daughters. While Gilmore Girls focuses on the trials of adolescence and young adulthood, set against the backdrop of a small-town American community, When Life Gives You Tangerines situates its narrative within the historical and cultural context of 1960s Korea. This setting adds layers of complexity, addressing issues such as gender roles, societal expectations, and the pursuit of personal dreams amidst familial obligations.​
The evolution of the mother-daughter relationship in both series is explored in depth. Gilmore Girls showcases the transition from teenage rebellion to adult friendship, while When Life Gives You Tangerines emphasises the cyclical nature of life, with the daughter eventually stepping into the role of caregiver. The family obligations and joint family conflicts depicted in Tangerines are certainly more relatable to Pakistani viewers as they display social mores similar to ours. The scenes with Ae-sun's mother-in-law are amusing for the petty clashes they have. The exchanges between the mother-in-law and grandmother-in-law further demonstrate the generational toxicity that is entrenched in some households. This progression is a commentary on the passage of time and the enduring bonds that define us as families grow larger.​
Set against the backdrop Jeju Island, the series provides insight into the lives of the haenyeo, the island's famed female divers. This cultural element sheds light on a unique aspect of Korean heritage. Wheres Jeju is now touted as a popular tourist getaway, the portrayal of the fisherwomen among Ae-sun's mother's coterie serve as a reminder of the underbelly of the island's history. The historical context enriches the story, offering viewers a glimpse into the socio-economic challenges of the time and the indomitable spirit of the women who navigated them.
The series has garnered acclaim both domestically and internationally. Within three days of its release, it secured the fourth spot in Netflix's global non-English TV show category, amassing 3.6 million views. Its ranking in the top 10 lists across 24 countries, including South Korea, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Peru, and Bolivia, indicates its universal appeal and the global resonance of its themes.
Critics have lauded the series for its emotional depth, stellar performances, and visual grandeur. The portrayal of complex characters navigating love, ambition, and societal expectations has struck a chord with audiences. So has the seamless blending of personal stories with cultural and historical elements which has been employed to lend the series narrative strength.​
When Life Gives You Tangerines did not hold my interest throughout and in fact dragged here and there. But if you are new to K-dramas it has a lot to offer, including romance, humour and emotional content.