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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A Refreshing Delight: Twinkling Watermelon Review

Twinkling Watermelon, the latest drama to hit screens in 2023, is a true gem that offers a refreshing and delightful viewing experience. The combination of a well-crafted dialogue, a compelling plot, and an exceptional portrayal of deaf characters sets this drama apart from the rest.

One of the standout features of Twinkling Watermelon is the commendable representation of deaf characters. The depth and authenticity brought to these characters showcase not only the dedication of the actors but also the nuanced understanding of the writer and director. It's truly incredible to witness a drama that goes beyond the surface, capturing the essence of deaf culture with respect and accuracy.

The characters in Twinkling Watermelon are undeniably the heart of the drama. The chemistry among the cast members is palpable, creating a genuine and engaging atmosphere. Shin Eunsoo and Ryeoun's performances deserve special mention, as their acting prowess shines through, leaving a lasting impression on the audience. The cast as a whole delivers a fantastic performance, contributing to the overall success of the drama.

The music in Twinkling Watermelon deserves its own applause. The soundtrack complements the narrative beautifully, with each song leaving a lasting impact. The carefully chosen tracks not only enhance the emotional depth of the scenes but also succeed in creating a memorable musical backdrop for the entire drama. The incorporation of music adds an extra layer of enjoyment to the viewing experience.

However, no drama is without its flaws, and in the case of Twinkling Watermelon, the only drawback seems to be the ending, which some might find a bit rushed. While the overall pacing of the drama is well-maintained, a more gradual conclusion could have allowed for a more satisfying resolution. Nevertheless, this minor hiccup does little to diminish the overall quality of the drama.

In conclusion, Twinkling Watermelon is a standout drama of 2023 that effortlessly weaves together a compelling plot, well-developed characters, and a stellar musical score. The respectful portrayal of deaf characters sets a commendable standard for representation in the entertainment industry. Despite a slightly hurried ending, the drama remains a must-watch for its engaging storyline and exceptional performances. Twinkling Watermelon is, without a doubt, a delightful addition to the world of Korean dramas.

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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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