Sparkling Watermelon (2023)

So refreshing!! ?

first of all, i never felt so comfortable watching a k-drama. like, every episode that i watched i felt like I was having a popsicle on a refreshing, sunny day. the fun, chaotic, youthful energy made me feel good, made me want to be friends with the characters.

speaking of the main song, wow what a good song!! I've never heard an OST so enjoyable to listen to!

and of course, I can't forget sign language, it was a great plot! it was also cool to see some of the korean sign language.
I also can't deny that I was moved in many parts, not only in the sad ones but in the happy ones too!

The only criticisms I have are:

1° they could have shown how On Eun Yu's life turned out after their return to 2023. What happened? What has changed?

2° There could be a part where Ha Yi Chan asks Ha Eun Gyeol how he found the cassette tape of his old song.

3° They could show in detail how Yoon Cheong Ah and Ha Yi Chan's lives changed. We can see it, but not much.

ah, anyways, this k-drama will stay in my thoughts for a long time. I've never seen a drama like this! it was a refreshing experience 🍉

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First off, why does 2023 have the best kdrama releases? I'm on my kdrama slump for years but came back like something tells me to watch kdramas again. I'm absolutely glad to be back.

When the official teaser came out, it caught my attention. It's fun, youthful and has a unique plot. Of course, you would watch a kdrama if you like the casts. I always trust Choi Hyunwook when he picks a project and Ryeon?!!?! Why did I only see him this year????Where was he all these years?! I first saw him in a Tiktok edit from his previous project "Adult Trainee". I watched it and obviously loved it. I'm obsessed. When I saw he stars here I had no choice but to watch it. Shin Eunsoo!!! I'm surprised to see her Its been months since I watched Summer Strike lol. Looking at the teaser alone I know she'll be famous. I love her character development in Summer Strike. Seol In-ah!!!!! I cannot believe she is '96. I love her!!!!

Onto the review, the team behind this *chef kiss.* Creating a set in 1995 and matching its vibes is not easy. The amount of research and gathering of resources were real thought of. The same energy goes to the the casts as well. Their dedication to learning musical instruments and sign language! Making this drama with all their pure hard work and love for their passion and it resulting to a masterpiece.

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Beautiful but Incomplete

Twinkling Watermelon has a lot to love about it. I love Time Travel tropes already and I am happy they chose to introduce deaf characters and depicting family bonds and friendships. Despite it having several heart touching moments there is still something missing.

Ha Eun Gyeol is the only hearing member of his family. He has seen a lot of struggles as well as had to put aside his own dreams for the sake of his family. He is carrying burdens and is scarred without realizing what he means to his family. Travelling back in time helps put a lot of things in perspective and he hopes it is also an opportunity to save his father. It is only when he goes back in time, he realizes that his father was also once a teenager who had dreams of his own as well as struggles of his own. The same with his mother and he still desires to carry his family's burdens. But in the process he also ends up sharing a strong bond with his father, Yi Chan. One that he never expected. His moments with Yi Chan are the highlight of the show so the ending does leave you with a little more to be desired.

With regards to his mother, Cheong Ah, again he forms a protective relationship and a lot of instances made me tear up. The depictions are beautiful. Yet again, the ending speed runs through their reintroduction.

Eun Gyeol also meets Eun Yu. I found the chemistry between them quite lacking unlike Yi Chan and Cheong Ah's. The former's relationship didn't really develop well and felt quite choatic. We also don't see Eun Yu overcoming her own trauma rather running away from it. The series also completely skips over Eun Yu's family reunion which was disappointing.

There were moments that felt like the series was dragging and if they had simply reduced those, they would have had the time to give us a more complete picture and then I could surely rate it a 10.

The OST is nice but other than the final song, nothing really blew me away which is disappointing since music is such an important aspect of the plot. The final song is catchy but not exceptional.

Overall, the series is good and heartwarming. The actors have done a fine job in their portrayals and make this series worth watching.

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It wasn't what I was hoping for

I guess I should be blaming myself for this, but after watching the first two episodes of Twinkling Watermelon, I was VERY interested in what could happen to Eun Gyeol after traveling back to 1995. The premise of the story also made me wonder how would the plot unfold, and what would be the overall message and the ending. My problem with this drama is that, unfortunately, even now that I'm done watching all the episodes I'm still wondering what were they supposed to be.

The beginning of the story introduces us to Eun Gyeol and his life as a CODA: the way he had to grow up and be mature at a young age, the responsibilities and burdens he felt on his shoulders throughout his childhood and his teenage years, and the way he felt guilty whenever he tried to actually live his youth.
As he went back in time, I thought to myself: "okay, so I guess that this time-travel will teach him to actually live his own life and stop looking after others and sacrificing himself for them, right?"

...except that Eun Gyeol does the exact opposite for the entire drama. He looks after his parents, works as hard as possible to fix their problems and make them happy, even puts himself in danger for their sake. The theme of living his own life and letting others live theirs is barely hinted at until the very last episode, where it's exposed like some sort of lecture rather than something Eun Gyeol has actually internalized and made his own. It also goes against the entire plot, because Eun Gyeol changed the lives of both his parents for the better, which actually ended up influencing the future of many people for the better as well. It felt more like Eun Gyeol was truly supposed to take care of his parents after all.

I also wondered if this time-travel was about him learning that his parents had to struggle in life, and that he wasn't the only one who had to suffer, but I really hope not because that would be a horrible theme. His life as a CODA and the struggles he had to face in his youth are not magically erased just because he finds out that Yi Chan and Cheong Ah suffered as well. Especially with the ending, I felt like Eun Gyeol's hardships were just swept under the rug and there was no actual communication between him and his family, which was truly a shame.

Something else that I couldn't understand at all was On Eun Yu's presence in the story. I might be biased here since I didn't like her character at all (and as much as I like Seol In Ah, I don't believe she was a good casting choice for a teenage character), but I seriously believe her presence was useless for the sake of the main plot. Even her "plan" didn't make any logic sense and felt like a huge waste of time. The screentime spent for her story could have been used to better explore Yi Chan and Cheong Ah's characters, or even better: it could have been used to create a more complete and satisfying ending. It really felt like the writers wanted to give Eun Gyeol a love interest at all costs, which was frustrating to see.

I can't say that I hated the story. It has a very interesting premise, most of the characters are loveable and it's a drama that makes one want to binge-watch everything in a day. I laughed, giggled, kicked my feet, got angry and cried with the characters, which is always great. There were multiple plot holes, but for the most part they were easy to ignore. I just had bigger expectations from it.

The production overall seemed good to me, but I wish they showed the characters better when they spoke in sign language, and I also wish they didn't use voice-overs whenever someone signed. The acting was also great, I especially loved Shin Eun Soo's performance as Yoon Cheong Ah and Choi Hyun Wook as Ha Yi Chan (and their moments together! So adorable!). The pacing is perfect in the first 10 episodes or so, then it started to feel a little draggy, but it wasn't too bad overall. The music is pretty good, I really liked the song choices for the different performances both in the past and in the present.

Overall I can say I had fun, so maybe give it a try for yourself! I can recommend it if you're looking for something that is both fun and tear-jerking.

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This is a charming drama that is better than its title implies. Choi Hyun Wook steals every scene he is in. He’s also a pretty good singer (assuming that was really him singing in the drama). The drama has a Back To the Future vibe to it and it doesn’t quite stick the landing but it comes close enough.

One thing I always wonder when I see dramas where the protagonist time travels to the past then returns to a changed present is what supposedly happens to all of the memories the protagonist had from his life before he time traveled. As a result of the changes he made noone else in his present life would have those same memories, right? And he would have no memory of his revised past.

I need to know in case I ever time travel.

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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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I have so many emotions

I watched this show a while ago and after I finished it, I felt so empty because all the characters had grown on me so bad. I legit screamed when I saw one of the actors for a split second in another show.

Anyways. The plot is very easy to understand, but still intriquite with a lot of beautiful messages in it. I love the different types of characters you get to see, the different personalities and the different sceneries that other shows do not give you in the same way.

I also think all the romance in the show really felt true and not fabricated which I love because it can often feel very fake in kdramas.

The music! THE MUSIC! I friggin die for the music. The soundtrack can put me in a trance Istg. Like it's very thought through and fun when it needed to be. The music made the show much more lively and added a lot of emotion to the sadder scenes.

The show manages to be serious, sad, romantic and also friggin funny at the same time. I can't even count how many times I laughed during each episode because ir just felt like hanging out with your friends while watching.

I recommend very much! WATCH IT, Im holding you at gunpoint🫶

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Viva la Vida!

When this show was airing I did not watch it I just think that it might not be good. I am happy I did not watch this drama while it was airing it would be torture to wait on new eps. What I love about this drama was the 20th century theme as someone horned in the 21st century I loved it the music the friendship the characters had and what it taught me. Even though Eun Gyeol was not able to stop his father from becoming deaf he changed everyone’s life. This taught me that even though life is different from what we want it to be it is the people in it that makes it worth while. I loved the cast energy hope to see them again soon. Until then “Long live life!”. Viva la Vida, Watermelon Sugar!

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Good time-travel drama in a while but

The story, cast , music everything was perfect until last episode, the ending felt too rushed, that many important points that connect past to present were missed.
I wanted to know how Eun gyeol life changed in terms of wealth and family relations, did Yi Chan and Chung Ah meet again in US, what about the story that was present before Eun Gyeol time travelled and they didn't show anything about Eun Yu's & Se Gyeong story. I think a special episode where all the missed story should be aired to answer most of my questions.
Overall the drama was pretty good. Had many emotional scenes that had me in tears, osts are also pretty good. Do give it a watch. The idols have also acted well memorising the sign language.

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love it!!?

I don't have any words left to describe how beautiful this drama is. Apart from the storyline, the production crew also made sure that the songs included in this drama were all amazing and meaningfully beautiful.
Hats off to the story writer and the fantastic production crew. Also, a big round of applause was given to the actors who portrayed their roles perfectly. While watching the drama, you can see and feel that the actors became one with their respective characters
I think that this was by far the best drama released in 2023!

I'll be waiting for season 2 desperately!
🥰I didn’t want it to finish; I wanted more. It's such a refreshing story. It's one of my favorite ones.

I'm just amazed by this perfect drama💫

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