Sparkling Watermelon (2023)

Sadly not for me

Everybody seems to love this show (as shown by the very high rating on here) and based on the premise it had EVERYTHING I love and thus it should've been perfect for me.

Sadly I didn't love this show.

Firstly, let's talk about some of the things that I personally loved:

● The deaf representation I thought was wonderfully done imo and they also didn't fall into some clichés that I personally despise.

● I loved Yi-chan, his relationship with his grandma and the band.

● Cheong-ah storyline was my favourite and I loved her character.

● I think they handled the themes of depression and suicide quite well and I was impressed by some of the conversations that were being had.

● Also I thought they way generational trauma was hanndles in the show was really nice.

● Tge parents relations in the present and in the past was the cutest and I love it, I genuinely would've loved a mini series just on their original timeline story.

Now let's mention some of the things I didn't enjoy:

● For almost the whole show I just couldn't stand Se-kyung, I was constantly annoyed by her and just couldn't find her likeable at all. As I said I did enjoy some of the themes that were explored through her character but because I was just so annoyed by her for more than half of the show, it became hard to enjoy the show itself when she's one of the main characters.

● After a while I just stopped being interest in the story and the characters, it just didn't manage to keep my attention. The plot itself to me just felt a bit too predictable and like many other time travel stories we've seen a thousand times so it was the characters job to keep me engaged, however, past a certain point, the characters and their relationships and stories just weren't strong enough for me to care.

● I personally hate the ending. I don’t want to spoil anything but yeah, just didn't like the rout they decided to go with.

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Refreshing like a watermelon

I have no words to express how much I loved this drama. This was like a breath of fresh air for me. The characters are well-written, and the story is so emotional and enjoyable and has so many lessons and emotions carved into it. At the beginning of the last episode, I was destroyed emotionally and cried a lot, but the ending made me so happy T^T.

My only complaint, and also the reason I don't give this drama a 10, is that I would have liked to see more of their lives in the future, both Eun Gyeol with his family and Eun Yu with her mom. Also, Eun Gyeol and his father playing the song they wrote together would have been nice.

This is my first time doing a review, and I'm glad it's about this story. I'm so grateful to have watched such a great drama. It was just perfect. I'll miss them so much T^T.

Twinkling watermelon will always have a special place in my heart.♡

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"Maybe a little more to the ending?"

"Twinkling Watermelon" started as a time-filler, but it ended up tugging at my heart. Viva teaching Eun Yul guitar was sweet, and the drama between the father and son had me on edge. The "Master" twist and the 19s lifestyle kept things interesting. Ha Yi Chan's romantic story was a highlight.

But, man, the feels hit hard when Eun Yul couldn't dodge the accident, and Yi Chan lost his hearing. Why didn't they spill the tea on Choi Se Keoung and her dad's story? Yoon Cheung Ah's happy ending was a win, but I needed more deets in the finale. Overall, emotional ride, but give me a fuller ending, please!

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Watermelon on a sunny day vibes

Nov. 14, 2023

Twinkling Watermelon is the best KDRAMA of this quarter for 2023. Everything for me was just perfect. The writing, the dialogue, the execution of the scenes, the pace, and the ending. It was so well-done.

I genuinely haven’t felt this type of emotion within the past few years, but this KDRAMA gave me all the feelings that I need. There wasn’t any unnecessary filler and sub-plots. All the things that were presented, were in tied and put well together. There is nothing I can even say that is incoherently bad about Twinkling Watermelon. There is so much life lessons that were shown here like living for yourself and not for your parents. Live the life that you want. It is such a heart warming KDRAMA. I have definitely can say that this is an S-TIER KDRAMA.

It deserves the hype and the love that it is getting right now. Twinkling Watermelon has given me so much comfort that I know that I will be rewatching this again and again. I love how the youthfulness was shown. The fantasy aspect was amazing and I really feel that inner child of mine being healed in a sense.

The cast is amazing from the current time period to the past time period. They all executed their roles well and I cannot believe I am saying good bye to them. My Mondays and Tuesdays will now be feeling more hollow and the joy that this series have given me was truly just spectacular.

To Yi Chan and Cheong Ah: I truly believe that you guys are such important figures in terms of showcasing that you really gotta fight and push through with life. No matter how things can get rough and challenging. Seeing them push through and over coming their challenges is definitely a life lesson that I will be keeping in my mind. As I also flourish with age, and my youth will slowly disappear. I wish I can age and find a love that they have to each other.

To Eun-Gyeol and Eun-Yoo: I heavily relate with you guys. Having that expectations from my own parents definitely have made me feel super pressured and it did boggle with my mental health. I think your scenes have definitely triggered some of my own hidden emotions that I have been running away from as well. I guess a letter to myself is that like how you two were able to succeed and fight through the course of life. I will be able to tackle my problems head on too. And I will not have to resort to just running away from it.

I truly felt the roller coaster ride type of emotions while watching Twinkling Watermelon. I do find myself having comfort with the cast and the series. I wish you guys can give this show the love that it deserves. This show has definitely jumped into my top 5 Kdrama series for sure.

Viva la vida !

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Every imperfection is an opportunity for a new perfection in life!

This is one drama that is really great among the few time travelers – dramas. First, I'll start with the story. The genre itself tells us the story, time travel, youth, friendship, first love, musical. But what separates this drama? What makes it special, different from the rest? First, the whole story is divided into sections (retrospect) through which we get to know the characters and their lives from different angles, their problems, and through them we arrive at the main plot. Something that underpins this drama is that we get to know the story through the main characters and their little prologues that are really emotional. Throughout the drama there were various emotions and feelings that were a major part of the story, and the characters conveyed all the emotions perfectly to me and the rest of the viewers. And in fact this story gives us a much deeper meaning, which is that life is perfect with our imperfections, and sometimes we have to learn to live without thinking about the past, because the future is in front of us. These are some of the best impressions this story has left on me, and certainly on anyone who has seen this great play. As far as the characters, as I mentioned to you, they did a great job. They conveyed every emotion so realistically, and in my opinion, the main characters did the best job, especially the ones who couldn't speak, because they fascinatingly introduced us to their personalities and conveyed each emotion in sign language. I liked that they actually handled the main characters' backstories very well, getting to know them better and getting us into the whole drama. I want to start with Ha Yi Chan, the one ML. His character was really dynamic and difficult, but still so interesting and funny to watch. His character was represented from two sides. One is from the perspective of the mature and experienced Yi Chan with his difficult life situation with his family, and the other is from the perspective of the first image we had of his character who is energetic, lively, cheerful, so carried away in his youth. We see the huge contrast between the two characters of him, but we actually see that they are very similar. They are content with what they have, they value their things as if they were most precious to them, and they live as if it were their last. Although his difficult story was told through both personalities, he managed to stay who he was and did not give up on his dreams. His character was the most interesting and also the hardest to watch, but both actors did a great job. And then there's Chong-ah. As I mentioned earlier, I'm fascinated by the grief of her character. We have the same case as Yi Chan. We see her character from two perspectives. But I would talk more on her character in her youth, because that's when we get to the heart of her story. I actually liked that at first she was portrayed as a shadowed person, but over time we realize and discover how combative, strong, and filled with grief and pain she is. Through love, she confronts herself and her problems and learns how to fight in life, and we see the same with Yi Chan. The other FL was also fantastic. As for her character, there was the most contrast between the two personalities of her character. We have a cold, insensitive girl versus a cheerful, playful, free-spirited girl, but both have experienced a lot of trauma and difficult situations. We see her way of wrestling with herself and with life. I liked that her character was included in the main plot because it all made sense in the end. And finally, we have the other ML. His character, like the others, is seen from two perspectives, but in a different way from the other characters. We've seen the whole story throughout his life, and that's why I think his role was really the most important. I liked that in the other characters the lives were presented as a flashback, but in his character it wasn't. We see his perseverance and great desire to improve the family, and to do something that will make everyone happy. I think that even though his character is seemingly portrayed as the most mature and self-aware, the main message of the drama is conveyed through his character, which is that no matter how hard we try sometimes we can't change some things and situations in life, but we can accept those things and use them as an opportunity for something new. Something better. All the characters are interconnected, and although they all have different problems, coming from different backgrounds, they find happiness in the darkness, and turn insecurities and imperfections into opportunities for struggle, for success, for life and happiness. Some may not want the ending because the second main couple in the drama didn't have the ending they imagined. But I think it's great that for them we're back in retrospect, but now with a new and better life for them as well as for all the other characters. It's this ending that suits the drama the most and makes it even better, and all the characters get what they really deserve. As for the OST, there really aren't any words here. Because it's a musical itself, the characters express all the feelings through songs, it's actually great that music is one of the main genres in this drama because it's the one that brings the characters together even though maybe not everyone can hear it, they can feel it. A lot of funny and interesting moments were told through it, but also the traumatic and bad things that the characters went through. Although the drama was filled with countless happenings and things, there was a flashback to time travel and multiple plots, it is still perfectly good and excellent, so I reckon everyone would have liked it. As you can see, this drama is one of the few that deserves a 10 for everything. Except for the value of re-watching. Yes, the drama is perfect, but one viewing is enough to grasp the point of the drama and the message it carries. I personally would watch it again, if only because of the wonderful songs that were part of the drama and the fantastic acting of the characters. All in all, my final rating is 9.5, for this masterpiece, which will definitely remain etched in the hearts of many viewers. Finally, I want to share my favorite message from this play, which has really taught me a lot. In fact, a person is like a fortress, which is built of a myriad of virtues, perfections, and beautiful traits, but there are also flaws, imperfections, scars, and whiteness that make that fortress even stronger and stronger. It is up to us whether in life we will fight and tear that fortress behind us or give up and tear down our personality (^o^)

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Doubtful beginning and amazing ending

First few episodes made me doubtful and I was thinking about dropping this drama, but I'm glad I didn't do that and chose to watch further. The actors were amazing and the soundtrack was strong, it kept me going.
The strong meaning of the main idea was portraid so beautifully and interesting. The relationships between son and father, grandmother and grandson were so important and pure and growing connection between father and daughter made me happy.
Although ending still left so many question, that I tried find the answers online, little details that were shown answered some of them. The last episode made me weep, it was so emotional and strong. This is by far the best Kdrama I had ever seen. I wish I could watch this drama again as new.

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CODA: Get ready to wrap it up beautifully

CODA, a word that is linked to two major topics.
While it has a place in music, where it means to conclude the song nicely, it also has a meaning in society, where it means child of a deaf.
Combining those two topics was a great idea and holds a special meaning storytelling wise.

Story:
The story itself is great and somewhat new.
The usual time travel dramas are dealing with a main lead, that is traveling back in the past to investigate, or even change their future outcome.
While this is partially true for Twinkling Watermelon too, it has more depth to it.
Ha Eun Gyeol was unintentionally sent back in time and Choi Se Kyeong got there to just have a wholesome last time.
One is trying to prevent the dad from a great misfortune, while the other is trying not to get born at all.
While both don't know why they are exactly there, their futures are more intertwined than they assume at first.
Linking light events like first love, family matters, but also deals with more in depth topics such as abuse, abandonment and many more together.

Casting:
The cast in Twinkling Watermelon is so phenomenal.
I can't think of better main roles.
Ryeoun and Choi Hyun Wook were absolutely astonishing in how they portrayed Ha Eun Gyeol and Ha Yi Chan.
Their bromance, the laughter and their relationship of friends/ father son is one of a kind.
It makes you wish to have this kind of relationship too.
Both did amazing in how they brought the complicated characters of them to life.
Seol In Ah did a fantastic job portraying Choi Se Kyeong.
Her character brought a cheerfulness and easiness into the drama.
But my highest respect goes to Shin Eun Soo who is portraying Yoon Cheong Ah.
Acting itself is hard as it is, but portraying a character, with no lines and purely throughout facial expressions and actions is top tier acting.
You could literally see the character development of Cheong Ah through the screen.
Hands down, my highest respect.

Music:
The OSTs as well as the songs played in the drama itself were nice.
"Higher" perfectly describes a spirit that is free.
Nothing can stop you, while you are trying to reach your dreams.

"Shining" is more of a motivational song.
It describes a feeling of Not giving up.
Forget about the past and start again. There are always opportunities for it.

Overall, Twinkling Watermelon is a must watch.
If you haven't seen it yet, you are missing out.
You'll feel all kinds of emotions while watching.
I caught myself cheering and even shedding tears several times.
The director did really great in directing the drama and the actors did fantastic in portraying the emotions.
Well done.

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Heartwarming time-travel story

This show had everything: the sad backstories that make us empathize with the characters, beautiful redeeming arcs for the 2nd generation, as well as some amazing high school friend group scenes! Absolute must-watch for anyone wanting to relive their high school days.
When I initially started watching this, I thought it was a similar concept to a Bollywood movie from 2010 called Action Replayy since it involves the son going into his parents' past to make them fall in love. But as the episodes went on and Choi Se Kyeong's character was shown more (+her and Ha Eun Gyeol's relationship developed), it reminded me of A Map Of Tiny Perfect Things because of the similarities in the main characters stuck in the same "time loop" and needing to help each other to get back to the present. If you liked this drama, I highly recommend these two movies!
The last episode was probably my most favourite, seeing the positive implications of the changes that happened due to the time-travel instead of things going bad because of what was changed.

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The title is both clue and metaphor

Rarely have I been so impatient for each successive episode to be released as I was for this series, such was its high level of enjoyment and anticipation and production.

Fathers and sons; mothers and daughters; and the notion what would we do differently if we had the chance to live our lives again - these factors underpin “Twinkling Watermelon”, whose title provides at the start no clue to the entertainment riches that will gradually unfold.

When so much of this production is good, two stars stand out for me: firstly, the character of Choi Se Kyeong is as unique and multi-layered a person as if she had leaped out of the pages of a 19th C. English novel. She is played by Seol In Ah with enormous spirit and exasperating ambiguity that is perfect for the part. She dominates almost every scene she is in. She is shaded only by the second star: Choi Hyun Wook as the younger Ha Yi Chan, in a performance that shines throughout the series, full of vigour and energy and the optimism of youth undisturbed by life’s curveballs, equally full of filial devotion and undiluted anger at parental neglect, impatient with life but still excited at its gifts and surprises, confused at first but then eagerly succumbing when falling in love for the first time. It is a remarkable performance by a 21 year old; for me it is the standout acting of this year.

There is so much to admire and the quality is high throughout. It sees churlish to find fault but a mention should be made of the Kdrama penchant for an evil character, the whipping post for deflected disappointments and difficult struggles. In this case, it is the step-mother Lim Ji Mi, played by Kim Too Ryoung with appropriately steely dark eyes and pursed lips. Jin Soo Wan’s script contains so much nuance that it is a shame the “bad guy” in this case gets no such layering.

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Toys with my Emotions - Makes me Smile one minute and Cries like a baby the next minute.

So much praise has already been showered on “Twinkling Watermelon”, so I came in with high expectations because everyone seems to love it and it has an impressive 9.2 rating right now. I am glad I wasn’t disappointed. I knew it’s about going back to the past but I wasn’t expecting to be smiling one minute and then crying like a baby the next. I thought the drama would be full of funny moments of a bunch of teenagers messing around and forming a band, and then cute and fluffy moments of teenage love. Little did I know that this drama is so much more.

I don’t think any Korean teen dramas have impressed me this much, that honor usually goes to C-dramas. So, I am really happy to have waited for the right time, the right mood to watch this. “Twinkling Watermelon” does an excellent job in combining different elements of family, friendship, first loves, healing, hardships, mystery, and finding yourselves. A drama can easily lose its identity when it tries to do too much, not this drama.

I enjoy many of the songs in this OST. I love the band's performances and wanted to see more. Everyone on stage, present and past, is charismatic and a joy to watch. Ha Yi Chan is full of sunshine and energy. He’s the perfect frontman. He exudes joy. Ha Eun Gyeol is the cool and good-looking guitarist with crazy charisma. The supporting bandmates also seemed to have a lot of fun performing.

My eyes can’t stop following Ryeoun. I didn’t find him this attractive when I watched him in “The Secret Romantic Guesthouse”. In fact, in my review I said he’s pretty but acting is not that great and lacked charisma. What a change in “Twinkling Watermelon”. I might have developed a little crush on him. His acting has improved so much. Choi Hyun Wook has a similar energy that I got from “Racket Boys”. He’s such a sweet and his character really grows on me throughout the drama. His friendship with Ha Eun Gyeol, and relationship with his grandmother are beautiful to watch. Actually, everyone’s acting is great in this drama - the young ones and the veterans. I love that sign language is used throughout the drama, and many different actors and actresses use it. I applaud them for learning a new language and I am sure it’s not easy.

When it comes to romance, I want to put young Ha Yi Chan and Yoon Cheong Ah in a tiny little box and protect them from all harm. They are so sweet, so cute and so precious!!! I am especially touched by Cheong Ah’s story and love how their romance is developed. The present day parent-couple is just as precious. They live so passionately and so freely even with a disability. No wonder they raised such a Mr. Green Flag in Ha Eun Gyeol. I don’t feel as strongly for Eun Gyeol and Cho Se Kyeong’s romance but I like how they supported each other in the last few episodes.

If I have to pick on this drama, it’s that bullying is everywhere in all K-drama genres. I know it’s hard to avoid that when we have a central plot around people who are hearing impaired. But I still wish there are other ways to tell the story without such a focus on bullying. I also find Choi Se Kyong/On Eun Yu a little too loud and annoying. I didn’t really care for her character much when she came back from the US. I also would like a little more explanation on why the Master is who he is, and how this all happened.

I strongly recommend this drama if you are looking for something fun yet heartwarming and touching. This drama toys with my emotions! It also has great acting and music and a good-looking cast.


Completed: 12/25/2023 - Review #386

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