A fun youth story about family and responsibility but poor writing detracts from the experience.

Twinkling Watermelon is an enjoyable watch with an intriguing premise. While it had a warm, cheerful atmosphere, when emotional moments struck, it had me crying. The strength of this drama was the relationship between Eun Gyeol and his family, not the plot, nor romance, and most certainly not the logic. I also loved all their individual backstories; it was both relatable and emotional.

Eun Gyeol is a CODA (Child Of Deaf Adults) which shaped him into who he is. He puts his own happiness aside to ensure his family’s. He time travels back to when his parents were in high school and is on a mission to bring his parents together and protect them from what troubles them in the present. Time travel is a device, not the theme, for him to learn about his parents and how he isn't solely responsible for their happiness.

It started off strong, setting up the present perfectly to refer back to after time traveling, but then it devolved into one of those shows where I need to turn my brain off. Both Eun Yu and Eun Gyeol handled the time travel frustratingly. I would understand if this had something to do with their growth as characters, but it's dumb decisions that could have been written better.

Eun Gyeol states that he cannot find his mom and is breaking down because of it, but he never looked for her. He should have been asking schools if they've heard of the name Cheong Ah or literally anything.

Eun Gyeol and Eun Yu are terrible at keeping their time travel secret. He explains to Eun Yu that he wants to act as if they're from 1995 because he doesn't want to mess things up. Yet, he's been telling Yi Chan multiple times that he is his father and then taking it back over and over. When he should be hiding it, he's so bad at it as if he doesn't know how to come up with a better excuse. As for Eun Yu, sharing the same face, taking the same name, and acting absolutely nothing like Se Kyeong shouldn't have worked as well as it had. She's obviously not who she poses as when she's giving so little effort.

Eun Yu’s goal didn't make sense. She wants to romance her mother's first love to hook them up to avoid being born, but I don't see how she could date someone and then effectively pass that date. Se Kyeong would steer clear of someone who acts as if they know her, like how she was disturbed by Eun Gyeol who knew more than he should have about her. Not to mention, this first love would fall in love with Eun Yu’s personality and not Se Kyeong’s because she acts nothing like her.

The way that Eun Gyeol treated Eun Yu was unfair and overlooked. Eun Gyeol should have put more focus into finding and uplifting his mom into his dad's heart instead of focusing on destroying Yi Chan’s relationship with Se Kyeong and Eun Yu. It made him come across as unlikable and immature for me. Yes, he's acting as a caring friend and son since Se Kyeong had been lying and leading Yi Chan on, so Eun Yu picking up after Se Kyeong doesn't leave her with a good impression. But for all Eun Gyeol knows, Se Kyeong (Eun Yu) is an actively changed person apologizing and trying to make it up to Yi Chan by giving him a fair chance, and Eun Gyeol is trying to rid them of Se Kyeong (Eun Yu) when he has no right in policing Yi Chan’s relationships. Of course I know that Eun Yu has ulterior motives, so we as the audience overlook Eun Gyeol's actions, but that doesn't make it right.

Eun Gyeol was hypocritical when he got angry at Eun Yu who's now responsible for Se Kyeong’s action of leading Yi Chan on, but then he did the same by lying about his love for Se Kyeong (Eun Yu) to string her along and away from Yi Chan. I can understand why both Eun Gyeol and Se Kyeong did this. Yi Chan wouldn't take no for an answer and Eun Yu was disrupting Eun Gyeol's plans, but it does decrease their likability since they never suffer the consequences or apologize for it.

The romance between Eun Gyeol and Eun Yu was baseless at first. They had no reason to like each other. Eun Gyeol was constantly trying to get Eun Yu out of their lives yet he made her heart flutter? Eun Yu has been nothing but an obstacle with a bad impression for Eun Gyeol, but he is developing feelings for her? I only started to like their romance when they began to have a reason for liking each other. Like when Eun Gyeol began to show worry for her, and when Eun Yu would help Eun Gyeol out with his problem despite being ignorant of it.

I love Se Kyeong’s storyline, but it was disconnected and a waste of potential. I found it tragic that no one truly suspected that Se Kyeong was no longer Se Kyeong. All everyone knows about Se Kyeong is “I take cello seriously.” This should have been explored more to make her more connected to the plot. She's a main character that was cut off and comes back for one or two scenes at the end. To make her storyline less disconnected, she should have been more involved. It would have been more impactful if the catalyst for her to rebel from being her mother's jewel and to become her own person was if she got to know Eun Yu and found out that everyone wasn't able to distinguish who's the real Se Kyeong.

Se Kyeong, Eun Yu, and Cheong Ah’s relationship should've had more tension or at least acknowledgement. Se Kyeong is friends with Cheong Ah, knows her crush, told her that she did not like Yi Chan, and that he's all hers. Se Kyeong (Eun Yu) actively pursues Yi Chan, yet Cheong Ah doesn't show any acknowledgement or conflict toward Se Kyeong (Eun Yu) who went back on her word. There's also that time when Se Kyeong openly showed enjoyment about leading Yi Chan on, yet Cheong Ah only showed dislike toward Eun Gyeol when he wronged Yi Chan. I couldn't tell where the relationship stands a lot of the time.

The ending was rushed and did give the bare minimum to infer. For some reason, the Watermelon Sugar members didn't realize that 2023 Eun Gyeol looks exactly like 1995 Eun Gyeol, but we know they should since Yi Chan was hinted to have connected they're the same person. It's only a matter of time before they discuss the past. Did things change between Se Kyeong and Eun Yu? Eun Yu’s hair length represents her freedom. In the ending, she had short hair that was slightly longer than in 1995. This signifies that things did change and that she didn't just keep her hair length after time traveling. Se Kyeong was always meant to go back to Korea and meet her real father, and might have always meant to break the furniture as a small act of rebellion before going back to how things were. I don't see how Se Kyeong could’ve changed when she was disconnected from all the changes in the past. That leads me to assume that when Se Kyeong came back to Korea, all the connections Eun Yu made transferred to her, giving her true friends that she didn't have previously which instigates positive change. Perhaps Eun Yu’s goal to transfer a romantic relationship to her mother wasn't so far-fetched after all.

Even though I had a lot of problems with Twinkling Watermelon, the characters, the relationships between them, the theme of responsibility, and the way the story made me feel for it made it worth it.

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A good balance of light-heartedness and angst with heartwarming friendships as the highlight.

Sword and Fairy 4 was not a drama I expected to like as much as I did. In the beginning, it was light-hearted and silly, and I didn't expect it to become as deep and impactful as it was later on. For me, the highlight of this drama is the friendship between the four main characters. What made me almost drop it---and I'm glad I didn't---was Tianhe's naivety which was a bit much at first for me, but he does become more experienced while never losing his innocence which is the core trait of his character. As for Lingsha, I found her stealing the sword was unjust after Tianhe beared how much it meant to him, but even she has her reasons and I do love the morally gray situation she had on her hands. All the characters grew on me and so did the story.

Plot:

It had a good balance of light-heartedness and angst. It's never too bleak nor is it ever so light-hearted that it's without conflict. The main focus of the plot is about Tianhe learning about his parents and what happened 19 years ago, both to understand them and clear their names. We have Lingsha, his first friend, who schemingly convinces him to go down the mountain with her and pursue the past and then his two friends Mengli and Ziying who he meets along the way to accompany him for their own reasons. In the first half, they go on a journey, they come across the story of others that reflect and foreshadow their own as well as work as trials to test their friendship. It's rewarding to see their friendship grow and strengthen, and it hits hard when their friendship is in question.

While every side story contributed in some way to the bigger story, they came across very detached from them. It didn't have a long-lasting impact on them as characters. It felt like they became the side characters to the side characters. They swoop in the middle of a conflict, fix a problem, earned an item and some info, and move on, exactly like a side quest. Not surprising since this is adapted from a video game. It's very plot-driven. The character development comes from the main story while the detached side quest are complementary to this. I would consider the story a plot-driven vehicle, a seat behind would be friendship, family, character development, and chilling in the back is romance.

Characters:

The main four characters were endearing in their own ways and they all struggle with their own problems and develop through the course of the story. We watch Tianhe learn friendship and love, and see the world both good and bad and still retain his pure heart. Chen Zhe Yuan was able to capture Tianhe's emotions and give us a heartfelt performance. Lingsha is a character you get off to a bad start with until you begin to sympathize with her. She's in an impossible situation between family and friendship. It's heartbreaking to see her hide her pain behind a smile, especially during the end of the series. Lingsha is certainly my favorite character by Ju Jingyi. She did a good job of bringing Lingsha to life with every expression from start to finish. Mengli and Ziying made the quartet whole. They're both supportive and put their friendship first before themselves. Su Yao and Xuan Xiao make formidable antagonist that can make anyone's blood boil.

Relationships:

I love Tianhe, Lingsha, Mengli, and Ziying. Watching their interactions gives me warm fuzzy feelings, and make this drama comfort drama for me.

The romance between Tianhe and Lingsha was slow and sweet. I did question if there was romance at first since it was such a small part. It was adorable seeing Tianhe pick up Lingsha's mannerisms and acting like two little kids at times, but they were lacking romantic moments throughout. I can't tell if Tianhe or Ziying had more deep moments with Lingsha. They did have enough that the pairing seemed genuine, but it would have been nice to have more moments.

Mengli supports Lingsha and Tianhe so well in romance that I was taken aback when she admitted to having feelings for Tianhe, especially because she smiles like a winner when the main leads are having a romantic moment. In the beginning, I didn't realize Ziying had romantic feelings either, but it becomes obvious despite it never being said from the way his ice cube exterior thaws around Lingsha. I think it shows how much they care for their friendship to the point of letting go and supporting their crushes, but it's also tragic to see Ziying sad. Mengli and Ziying are one of a kind.

Overview:

The story is fun and gets better and heavier the deeper you go. It's plot-driven, has character development, an adorable romance but lacking in romantic moments, and a heartwarming friendship between the four main characters.

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What if humans had gifts in a society unbeknownst to them?

Moving is a unique drama. It's a study of characters with gifts and the hardships of having those abilities. We start off in the present day where we follow high schoolers struggling in romance and their untrained abilities with the dangers of threats bubbling in the background. A large part of this drama is flashbacks of characters' backstories, of main characters and even villains. I'd wager that all together at least half or more of the drama is made up of backstories. It's sprinkled throughout, with the middle being entirely set in the past of the high schoolers’ parents.

These backstories add depth to the present narrative because we empathize and understand their motivations. While a breath of fresh air, this format isn't for everyone, including myself as I prefer a more linear narrative. However, these backstories were important to the present day and they were very well-written, every scene mattered and it'll keep your attention. You may even find yourself crying for these characters.

Story:

Moving is a highly character-driven narrative. The amount of characters and their backstories is immense. When the story shifted focus to the parents, episode after episode I had wondered when I would ever get to see the present again. The middle felt almost like an anthology of connected character studies. I love the depth they've written into the characters. However, the amount of backstories were not to my taste as I personally prefer a smaller cast and stories focused on the present which is why I say that this drama is not for everyone. This is not to say it is bad, just different. All these narratives do end up connecting and culminate into one big thrilling climactic ending. From each character story, we got to witness their hardships in a world where gifts are uncommon and to be exploited.

The character stories set in the past are more fast-paced and thriller. Although the present day plot was slower and overtly less complicated, what truly mattered was how much we cared for the characters when the stakes heightened. We were able to feel what was at stake because of how the stories of the past created nuances in the present, making it just as intricate and empowering.

Characters:

Each character was compelling, but if I'm evaluating them on their involvement in the overall plot, I could have done without a few characters being main characters. I feel for them but what is the point of some of them? Two characters specifically could have been replaced by other characters for a more concise cast. However, if I hold value on the story trying to paint the hardships of possessing gifts, then each story and character was pivotal in painting that picture. The hardships of gifts in society, government, and family were explored. The goal of the characters is to protect those they love, to break away from exploitation and live in a world with normal humans despite having gifts. That is the plot connecting all the seemingly detached narratives for this wonderful image.

Romance:

The developing relationship between Bong Seok and Hee Soo was sweet and heartwarming. One scene even made me cry at how beautiful it was. The romance between their parents was a phenomenal roller coaster of feelings. They were able to flesh out their characters, set up the conflict in the present, and portray a long, organic romance in such a short time.

Overall:

If you like a ton of well-written backstories, exploration of the hardships of gifts, sweet romances, and a large cast of complex characters, then this drama is for you. If you prefer smaller casts and linear stories, this is not it.

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How different would the same person be if they came from opposite backgrounds?

Derailment is 25% sci-fi and 75% slice of life. Many viewers go into this expecting a thrilling sci-fi experience with many twists and turns and they get that but in small doses. They're so thrilling that it appears separate from the rest of the drama which is a lot more workplace oriented. The focus is on Xiaoyuan adjusting from riches to rags. The mundane parts are where she develops which is also where viewers find it to be dragging. People's disappointment makes sense when the selling point of this drama is the premise of parallel universes. When going into this, viewers should expect a drama that hones in on different genres and to keep in mind that Xiaoyuan is the focus.

Story:

We follow the luxurious life of Xiaoyuan in the first universe. She's rich, popular, and has a sense of superiority that soon bites her. She wakes up in a parallel universe where she has nothing but a mysterious phone that traversed space with her. She meets Qi Lian, a wealthy guy she has never met before, who knows that universe's Xiaoyuan. Qi Lian is looking for a missing person who's only trace is an identical phone to Xiaoyuan's. Xiaoyuan learns the way of the world through hairdressing and later makeup, meeting many derailments in her pursuits. They both work together to solve the mystery of Xiaoyuan's entry into another universe and what happened to the second universe's Xiaoyuan in the hopes of setting things right and finding Qi Lian’s best friend.

The story is character driven, specifically focusing on the development of Xiaoyuan. It's well-written but the hairdressing arc could have been condensed for a more concise storyline. The amount of time we spend on hairdressing is not equal to its importance down the line plot wise. Most of Xiaoyuan's development happens in the hairdressing arc and should have been spanned alongside the plot in the makeup arc as it had more significance. This drama could've been cut down to 24 episodes, perhaps even less than that.

Characters:

Xiaoyuan is the product of her environment. Stubborn, self-centered, arrogant… She was born rich with those closest to her catering to her. She doesn't consider other people's feelings and self-righteously forsakes rules for what she believes is right and expects others to put up with it. How can she grow if no one tells her what she's doing wrong? And that is where the second universe comes in where she must start from nothing and endure many hardships to learn humility, resilience, true happiness, and to cherish what matters.

Qi Lian has an unhealthy obsession with finding Xu Jingyang, his best friend who disappeared. He's so obsessed with his goal that he struggles to see past it. For viewers discretion, I believe there should be a warning that Qi Lian became abusive to Xiaoyuan for a couple episodes which almost made me drop it. He is the ML, not an antagonist, so something like that is breaching his role for me. I did forgive this since this was a part of his development and he does develop and make up for his mistakes.

All the side characters were very likable, especially Fang Zhou and Jiang Bo. You can feel the love they put into writing these characters.

The parallels and differences between the two Xiaoyuans with opposing backgrounds was very interesting to me, especially with the biggest plot twist.

Romance:

The romance is a rocky ride. It's slow with many bumps and isn't the main focus. I felt iffy about them getting together after how Qi Lian abused her, but it was ultimately an okay romance. However, if I had it my way, I would have preferred that the romance be between Xiaoyuan and Jiang Bo. It's illogical since it wouldn't work plot wise, but his relationship with Xiaoyuan was more entertaining, equal, and didn’t cross any moral lines.

Overall:

If you're looking for a sci-fi focused drama, concise plot, and a respectable romance throughout, Derailment isn't for you. If you're looking for a drama that's slice of life, workplace oriented, has lovable side characters, a well-developed FL, great OST, an okay romance, and comes in small doses of the thrilling, plot twisty sci-fi premise, then this drama is it.

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Cherish your loved ones while they're there

I was hooked throughout and liked how they dealt with the time travel. I never like amnesia tropes but this was an exception. Everything comes full circle. There were even moments that brought tears to my eyes. You never know when your loved ones may disappear which is why you must cherish them. Both the FL and ML are two sides to this, one who disappeared and one who had someone disappear. And if you don't cherish your loved one, they may end up like the SML or you'll regret it for life like the ML.

Chu Xia and Xiao Dong are adorable together with a healthy slow burn relationship. I loved all of the FL's outfits and hairstyles. She made every scene a visual. I really enjoyed both the lead's personalities. The ML's approach in romance was admirable. People love him for him because he didn't flaunt what he has. Although the FL doesn't seem like it at first, she doesn't want to be burdensome and tends to keep quiet even to her own detriment. Some may find it annoying but I find it very relatable.

The SML was a formidable antagonist yet relatable. I will say though, I find it odd that many characters believe in the time travel story without much resistance. And I do think they could have done the FL's character better as she has made some decisions I don't think any real person would do because of how brainless they are. The realism is not reliable in this drama, especially what happens with the SML at the end. Overall, it was a fun ride if you look past that aspect.

I personally like the ending. It had a hint of tragicness to it, but all is well that ends well. It was definitely a win for all in a way that you would not expect.

SPOILERS OF WHAT I DID NOT LIKE (AKA not well written character decisions):

I was facepalming when the FL pretended like the SML didn't just reveal her identity to her parents without her consent and continued to talk to him like nothing happened, or when she believed in the SML's biggest lie about her involvement with the patent without a second thought despite how she knows he's been lying to her this entire time (although I will give her the benefit of the doubt because of the photographs, but I still think she should have at least questioned it since he's an unreliable source), or how she literally did nothing but stare at a clock when she went back in time and finally had the chance to spend time with her parents, time not well spent. She was also slow on the uptake about how her past in 2011 was her future self going back in time. She should have known immediately when she was recreating the photographs and her flashbacks in the forest. They really did her character dirty.

I hate the SML but I love the concept of his character. He wasn't cherished by his loved ones and it turned him into someone who will do anything for it. I know that he wants his father's love but considering how stubborn he is, I find it hard to believe that he would just give up that easily after all the grievances his father gave him up until that point at the first sign of a loving parental relationship or just because the FL said so with her line about his future self telling her to stop him no matter what. I still very much enjoyed everything, I just have to look past the unrealistic parts

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