REVIEW: ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’ Inspires Hope And Tears

Within its first few episodes, When Life Gives You Tangerines pulls at the heartstrings. The latest Netflix kdrama from writer Im Sang-choon and director Kim Won-seok is a celebration of a life lived in all seasons. Telling the story of the romance between the rebellious Ae-soon (IU) and the unyieldingly stubborn Gwan-sik (Park Bo-gum), this series bounces back and forth throughout the decades to craft a stirring tale of love triumphing against all costs.

Memories propel the narrative backward in minutes, peeling back the curtain on Ae-soon’s and Gwan-sik’s lives. Sang-choon’s writing delves into the normalcy of the Jeju Island lifestyle, particularly the haenyeo occupation that some of the women have taken up to survive. However, it is a hard life, and one that Ae-soon’s mother, Kwang-rye (Yeom Hye-ran), begs her never to pursue. As we watch Kwang Rye’s struggles, it’s understandable as to why.

Ae-soon’s familial situation is messy, and the entire community seems to know about it. Her rebellion is born from her circumstances, enabling her to survive. But from the very beginning, Gwan-sik is there to care for her. It’s incredibly adorable, and through these simple actions, it’s clear that this is more than puppy love. He sees the good, the bad, and all of Ae-soon’s pain. Yet, he refuses to look away.

IU continues to show the depth of her range in When Life Gives You Tangerines.

The first four episodes reflect the spring of their lives. As When Life Gives You Tangerines transitions from childhood to young adulthood, the two characters begin to bloom. It’s messy and chaotic. They learn many hard lessons in a short period of time, something that would have broken many young couples in similar circumstances. Yet, through Sang-choon’s writing, Won-seok’s direction, and the committed multi-layered performances from IU and Park Bo-gum, it’s hard to look away from these painful, embarrassing moments.

It’s early enough in the series, but IU and Bo-gum have more than displayed their range within its opening episodes. IU has the more explosive role with her rebellious, unladylike Ae-soon. She is the extrovert to Gwan-sik’s more introverted personality, yet there is an easily won balance between the two. Where IU is more expressive, Bo-gum is more subdued. His eyes speak volumes when his Gwan-sik is otherwise silent.

As their characters age, IU and Bo-gum naturally evolve their physicality. Life on Jeju Island is hard, and the obstacles never relent in trying to bring these characters down. Despite the jumps back and forth in time, it never seems like anything too crazily changes, even when Ae-soon and Gwan-sik’s circumstances evolve. In fact, the editing goes a long way in ensuring these transitions are smooth and never weirdly chopped up.

When the story jumps forward to the ‘90s, questions are prompted when introduced to an older and arguably milder Ae-soon (Moon So-ri) and a more absent Gwan-sik (Park Hae-joon). IU pops in to portray Ae-soon’s daughter during this period and also provides voiceover narration in regailing the audience of this romantic slice-of-life tale. While the narrative has not yet filled in the gaps to where we are meeting these versions of our leading characters, there’s a natural curiosity facilitated. How does a rebel tone down with time?

In reflecting back on our memories, we honor those who paved the way for us.

Changes can be made with time, experience, and the right person. Part of growing up is compromising, and the same can be said for parenting. This can be seen through callbacks to Kwang-rye’s influence, something that looms large across Ae-soon’s life and that the young woman clings onto as she navigates her life mostly alone. Yes, Gwan-sik is by her side for most of it, but her mother shaped who she was. And while the love story is central, it can be argued that the biggest love story in When Life Gives You Tangerines is between Ae-soon and her mother.

Underneath the layers, and as revealed in its alternative title, Thank You For Your Hard Work, this series is also a thank you to those who have worked hard to allow us a better life than what they had. The sacrifices made by our loved ones to ensure our survival are often unnoticed. It’s easy enough to take it for granted. Through Ae-soon’s experiences, her life is a testament to those who’ve raised her, nourished her, and supported her. This keeps her heart from turning bitter in spite of her circumstances.

In just four episodes, When Life Gives You Tangerines covers a lot of ground. It is emotionally turbulent and perfectly encapsulates the rollercoaster effect that is life. None of these characters has it easy. Yet, there are pockets of joy to be found in their daily lives that keep them going. Whether it’s the motivation to see their children be successful, to love and honor their future marriage, or even just to have something filling to eat at night, they find a way to keep going.

This underlying theme is a constant in writer Im Sang-choon’s work, and it never grows old. To inspire hope in dire circumstances is always a necessary message to take away. In When Life Gives You Tangerines, this hope drives the perseverance of IU’s Ae-soon and Park Bo-gum’s Gwan-sik against all odds. Bolstered by their strong performances and Sang-choon’s timeless storytelling, this kdrama is a much-needed watch for our times. Just bring tissues!

When Life Gives You Tangerines is streaming now on Netflix.