6 K-Dramas To Watch After "When Life Gives You Tangerines"
“When Life Gives You Tangerines” is an evocative, yet bittersweet ode to love and life, embracing us in its wholesomeness. The story focuses on the feisty, “remarkable rebel” Ae Sun (IU) and the stoic, yet “unyielding iron” Gwan Sik (Park Bo Gum), who is the wind beneath Ae Sun’s wings. As the couple navigates love, loss, heartbreak, and happiness through the many seasons of life on Jeju Island, viewers cried and laughed along with them, reveling in their joys and sharing their sorrows.
The show resonated with viewers for its real and raw storytelling which was reminiscent of the many struggles and innate strengths that families needed to survive against all odds. So, if you are unable to move on from “When Life Gives You Tangerines,” here are six K-dramas you can watch to fill the void.
“Reply 1988”
“Reply 1988” is a ballad celebrating life and the friendships which give us the sustenance to keep moving forward. If you liked Park Bo Gum’s steel-like resilience as Gwan Sik, his character Choi Taek in “Reply 1988” is yet another endearing and empathetic character.
Choi Taek is the Ssangmun neighborhood’s pride. As a national Go Champion, he remains humble and generous. He’s a quiet and reticent sort of a personality, and his lifeline is his four friends, Sung Duk Sun (Hyeri), Kim Jung Hwan (Ryu Jun Yeol), Sung Sun Woo (Go Kyung Pyo), and Ryu Dong Ryong (Lee Dong Hwi). The four kids and their families had become a part of Taek’s and his father’s lives when they moved into the neighborhood years ago. As his four friends struggle through the final years of high school, it’s Taek’s home which is their haven to watch films, eat pizza, ramyun, and fool around. And it is Duk Sun who is the object of Taek’s affections, his first and only love. As these five friends are on the cusp of adulthood, they navigate the winds of change in the country and the neighborhood, and it’s their bond which stands the true test of time.
A coming-of-age story, “Reply 1988” remains an all-time favorite for many. As these five find expression and embark on a journey of self discovery trying to strike a balance between their conditioning and the swiftly changing times, each of them has their own journey. A memorable show led by an awesome ensemble cast, “Reply 1988” is a watch for all seasons.
Start watching “Reply 1988”:
“My Mister”
There are times when life constantly challenges us, asking, “do you have it in you to dodge the many curveballs coming your way?” If IU’s portrayal as both mother Ae Sun and daughter Geum Myeong left an indelible impression, her portrayal of Lee Ji An in “My Mister” is equally heartrending.
Lee Ji An’s life is like an endless dark tunnel, where even the glimmer of light at the end of it seems bleak. She has no stable income, she is juggling several jobs together to pay off her debts, and she is also looking after her ailing grandmother. Ji An is depressed and feels hopeless. And to make her life more miserable than it already is, she is constantly victimized by a loan shark. She meets the amiable and gentle Park Dong Hoon (Lee Sun Gyun), a middle-aged engineer dealing with his own marital issues.
Dong Hoon is like an anchor to Ji An’s driftwood in choppy waters. The two strike an empathetic friendship, and Dong Hoon gives her the moral and emotional support she so seeks.
“My Mister” is a soulful and heartrending drama by “When Life Gives You Tangerines” director Kim Won Seok, who showcases his ability to tell simple yet poignant stories with strong characters. It’s a mesmerizing script with fine performances, making this one a must watch.
Start watching “My Mister”:
“Our Blues”
Jeju Island was one of the key and pivotal character’s in “When Life Gives You Tangerines.” Life in the island played an integral part in shaping the destinies and lives of the protagonists, in this case Ae Sun and Gwan Sik. The lush seascape of Jeju has often been the backdrop for several K-dramas, with the waves filling in the long silences in the narrative. “Our Blues” is a bittersweet anthology following the lives of several inhabitants of Jeju as they deal with the myriad shades of life.
There is Shin Min Ah‘s Min Seon Ah, who returns back to Jeju after her life in Seoul comes crashing down. Seon Ah’s world has crumbled with the collapse of her marriage, a bitter custody battle for her child, as well as her own mental health struggles taking a toll. She runs into her childhood sweetheart, Dong Suk (Lee Byung Hun), a traveling salesman, whom she had jilted years ago. These two find their way back to each other, and many of their unresolved issues resurface yet again.
There is also Han Ji Min‘s Young Ok, who lives with the guilt of abandoning her sister in the city. Kim Woo Bin‘s Jung Joon is a sympathetic sailor, who is in love with Young Ok. It’s his stoic nature which helps her from being overwhelmed as he gives her the safe space she so craves.
“Our Blues” has several such stories of fractured friendships, broken relationships, and just the zeal to survive against the turbulent winds of life and change. It’s a show which could well be described as a symphony of life, and it strikes a chord.
“Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha”
Kim Seon Ho may have had a brief appearance in “When Life Gives You Tangerines,” but the talented actor made his presence felt in the short yet important role. The actor has won hearts for his portrayal of sincere and endearing characters in several dramas. One such drama is “Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha.”
Kim Seon Ho plays Hong Doo Shik, the favorite resident of Gongjin, a laidback seaside town. He is Gongjin’s chief handyman aka “Mr. Fix-It,” who can do anything and everything. From brewing coffee, fixing homes, selling fish, and even patrolling, Doo Shik is the town’s go-to man. However, the arrival of Hye Jin (Shin Min Ah), a snooty Seoul-based dentist, causes a lot of friction amongst the townspeople. Doo Shik and Hye Jin start off on the wrong foot, but soon strike a close friendship. One sees that beneath his cheerful faćade and demeanor, Doo Shik is dealing with emotional scars from his past. Hye Jin also is one who tends to runaway from reality rather than facing it. The two discover a connection which links them to their shared past.
“Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha” is like a warm hug for the soul. The townspeople, despite their differences, come around to support each other, come what may. The show shows the bonds of belonging in a community amongst the tight-knit Gongjin community, bringing comfort to even those who are watching it.
“Youth of May”
“When Life Gives You Tangerines” brought in a wave of nostalgia of times gone by. “Youth of May” is similar in that it highlights the burning passion of youth, their desires, and the idealism to change the world around them.
Lee Do Hyun is Hwang Hee Tae, a medical student who is in love with Kim Myung Hee (Go Min Si), a determined nurse. The drama unfolds in the May of 1980, against the backdrop of the charged atmosphere of the Gwangju uprising. This is when the students rebelled against the corrupt regime. It’s a politically charged time, which saw the loss of many lives. Can Hee Tae and Myung Hee’s love survive the tumultuous times?
“Youth of May” is an emotionally stirring show, enhanced by the intense performances by both Lee Do Hyun and Go Min Si. Keep the tissues handy, this one is a tearjerker all the way.
Start watching “Youth of May”:
“When the Camellia Blooms”
Writer Lim Sang Chun has the knack for showcasing the rigors of daily life in a subliminal narrative. “When the Camellia Blooms” is one such drama. Dong Baek (Gong Hyo Jin) is a single mother, dealing with painful emotional scars. The father of her son abandoned her and has left her to fend for herself and their child. She moves to a small town and sets up a rest-bar. It is here where she meets Hwang Yong Sik (Kang Ha Neul), a sensitive and enigmatic policeman. He falls in love with her, and it is his positivity which gives her the solace and the comfort she seeks. Hwang Yong too comes from a broken family and carries emotional scars.
“When the Camellia Blooms” struck a chord amongst viewers for several reasons. It highlighted the love and sacrifice of a mother who doesn’t give up for the sake of her child. Though she wants to embrace her second chance at happiness, her son remains her primary concern. And in Kang Ha Neul’s Yong Sik, we got one of the most enigmatic screen characters who was understanding and sympathetic to the core.
Hey Soompiers, which of these dramas reminds you the most of “When Life Gives You Tangerines”? Let us know in the comments below!
Puja Talwar is a Soompi writer with a strong Yoo Yeon Seok and Lee Junho bias. A long time K-drama fan, she loves devising alternate scenarios to the narratives. She has interviewed Lee Min Ho, Gong Yoo, Cha Eun Woo, and Ji Chang Wook to name a few. You can follow her on @puja_talwar7 on Instagram.
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