Positive, feel good, fun!
Feb 2024I absolutely loved every episode of this clever, joyful, positive and mysterious K-drama.
Each character brought something to the story. Most were high school students, with supporting adult characters, many of whom could learn a thing or 2 from the youngsters!
As the time-travelling mystery centres around a group of high school students that form a band, eventually called Watermelon Sugar, expect a fair amount of music, as the group and individuals rehearse, play and write.
I loved the cast, who were believable in their roles, had excellent chemistry and sucked me right in.
The present day characters within the central family are warm, challenged, close, but not without their issues.
Characters from the past are very varied; ranging from mysterious, to goofy, aloof, mean and frankly evil.
There are references to child abuse, bullying, threat and suicide, but those scenes sit within a story that is overwhelmingly positive, often funny and also emotional. I laughed, wanted to punch people's lights out and cried, throughout the 16 episodes, which flew by.
This drama can just be enjoyed for what it is, a feel good, happy and positive watch; but within it there are also several messages that can be found if wanted and related to, as well.
Very few plot holes and any I noticed were easily forgiven within an overall well thought out and refreshingly positive watch.
I also loved that the issue of deafness and mutism is so maturely addressed. It didn't seek to make a pity party out of the drama, with the emphasis far more on the family attempting to fit in, support themselves, and be accepted as equals.
Of course, there were characters who attempted to take advantage, bullied and treated them as though they were stupid, but there were also positive friendships too.
There is a scene near the end where a female mature character has travelled back to S.K. from abroad and remarks that things are improving [in how those with deafness are responded to/treated]. I found that very telling.
The romances (yes, plural) are very sweet. A main feature, but at the same time not in a way that overshadows the rest of the story, even though they are an integral part of it.
One of the best characters has to be Grandma, fabulously played by Go Doo-shim. Her personality, attitude and relationship with her grandson, were a joy! Loved the name of their guesthouse too.
Choi Hyun-wook as Yi Chan, was probably my favourite character overall. He just grew on me and I totally loved him.
If I had to name something I thought could have made it even better, it would be more of the latter part of his young story with Cheong-ah. Also a little more of their lives in the present day, after their return from the past (especially that of Se-kyung).
Choi Won-young made a great Dad and I loved Chun Ho-jin (a favourite mature actor), as a music shop owner. The kids who played younger versions of central characters, were great too, especially Jung Hyun Joon (as Ha Eun Gyeol).
There are flaws, but for me, none that I couldn't forgive. I really loved that actions had consequences and that parent/child relationships were widely covered.
Would very happily watch this again and I LOVED the soundtrack (link attached for msin tracks).
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This review may contain spoilers
my pov for this drama
I just want to tell that if you love time travelling drama.. it's for you.. like me.. I was waiting for something Good.. for some time travelling thing.. in starting all the childhood story and then.. his struggle not to let them know know about his music love was heart touching and when he mat his younger version of father.. that time drama and all things directing it in a good direction for a great drama..as drama continues he got to know about his father and his struggles. it's a good point to show that our parents has a past to and we are not only one who's struggling here.. I love that part. the more drama went towards it's end the more it got complicated for me because 'I don't want to end it now' is what I felt and at the same time 'okay.. so you have to do this.. you can do this' was in my mind too.
the lessons they gave us through this drama.. form every episode.. is just great.. I learn from this drama is that.. somethings are unavoidable. it will happens no matter how hard you try to stop them.. the more you know the more you want to stop it.. so... better let it happens in more good ways.. less traumatic way..
and one thing for sure.. everything in this world happens has meaning behind it.. like his father stopped him to enter in the music industry because he suffered and don't want his child to felt the same pain.. he was being protective toward his child.. that's all.. and at the same point his child thought the his father is controlling him.. everyone have their own pov so.. if have any misunderstanding.. just talk with them and slove it out..
music of this drama was.. mind blowing.. the lyrics.. voice and all.. was so great.. even after it's over I can't let it out of me..
and the comedy they put in this drama was.. just at another level ...
so.. what I'm telling is.. I recommend this drama to everyone around me.. worth watching and even re-watching it was not a bad choice ???
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Só tornou facilmente minha série favorita
O apego que senti com essa série não acontece com frequência comigo. A última vez que fiquei tão apaixonada por uma história assim foi quando assisti 2521, e isso me gerou alguns traumas (rs). Coração quentinho do começo ao fim, muitas mensagens bonitas, atores incríveis e cenas cativantes. Amei! Vale todo o hype e todo o tempo investido.A história da família é tão bonita e o final é de derreter qualquer coração. É legal pensarmos no quanto as vezes pensamos que conhecemos nossos pais quando na verdade existem diversos aspectos da história deles que não fazemos ideia.
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The korean nostalgia dramas always slay
I started this drama because of choi hyun wook and the setting of the drama. this drama is set in 1995. and with various other dramas set in the this period which were really good sparked my interest! this drama differs as it doesn't only portray the 90's . its beepers , radio shows , music but also the question of life. the drama's tagline can be viva la vida which is uttered by the characters quite often. it means long live life! and that is so amazing . because we are always running behind something and forget to live. we see the characters in dilemma while deciding what to do with their life . essentially ha eun gyeol time travels to 1995 and tries to stop an accident but through this time travel he meets his parents when they were young and ends up seeing them in different life. he is CODA which makes him feel distant from his family sometimes. but he heals with the time travel. there is so much depth in story as we chung ah's character who starts enjoying life and communicating while meeting loved ones. this one is for the heartbroken 25 21 fans as in this drama we get two love stories though this drama can be sad at some point it is a must watch !!Was this review helpful to you?
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Loved Loved
Kids will be kids…. I loved twinkling watermelon. It was a great drama drama that made me cry laugh and get angry. I was a little upset that he did try to stop his father’s accident, but his father ended up still deaf, but I did like the fact that he didn’t pity yourself because his son came and kind of changed his perspective on what happened to him. I do like the fact that the mother of the male lead did men her relationship with her father and the future did somehow change, so that was nice that the whole drama wasn’t for nothing.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
I might collect pointers of my previous comments and write a better review tomorrow (said 8 months ago)this filled my days with sparkle when i needed it the most, thank you writernim for not creating another repetitive, i mean, thank you for creating a beautiful experience and remind me of the reason i love kdramas
It’s heartbreaking , I need to continue in a world without anymore watermelon sugar
This was like a healing medicine in my worst times this year, 16 days of a beautiful warm hug
I’m always disappointed in dramas I look forward to but I’m always pleasantly surprised by dramas I’m not looking forward to
Easily num1 drama of 2023 for me and will definitely be in my ult tops along with their characters
I would say the perfectness of it all, is too much
Their sadness and life made them who they were, eungyeol was so empathetic and in tune to people’s emotions cuz of his upbringing
Though yes, he suffered and carried too much burden but he grew into an amazing person
But then again, life sucks so might as well get a beautifully wrapped up drama, and yes I hate sad endings so give me all the rainbow sugar and twinkles of the world in my drama, happy happy happy
I’d like eungyeol to “remember” his new life, I’d also like to see how eunyo’s changed and I’d love to see those 28 years of growth and hard work
And I’d want to see their reunion
Yechan went to the same university, so I’d guess after highscool ended cheongah or even her dad, brought yechan to the same university
All in all, life’s a journey, everyone has their own and everyone has the same “weight”, my life isn’t harder than yours, it’s not a competition. Every hardship has the same equal effect and one must understand how others are going through the same
Burdening oneself with other’s hardships isn’t the answer but not acknowledging them is as bad
I'll add the rest as ep reviews
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100% watch this if you havent
It’s been a while since I watched a serie that had me hooked. After finishing this series I noticed that there were some scenes or plot twists that shouldve been fairly obvious and easy to figure out but for some reason I could never manage to guess just what would happen next?. I finished this serie in less than 2 days, I pulled an all nighter to finish but it was honestly worth it in the end. I started this serie because of an edit I saw on tiktok and I really didnt expect to like it this much. I’m definetly rewatching this soon.Was this review helpful to you?
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Everything is a 10/10
Everything is a 10/10I love how serious and cute at the same time the actors are. Love te leads chemistry and the plot line. It has been a while since I could honestly say I love this show. The music is fascinating and I am in love with the color palette of this movie. The director better not break my herat and give a sad endinv because then it will be more sad than the 2521 ending. The leands and secon leads have chemistrywith each other and I really hope we will get two happy endings................................................................................
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A lose Korean adaptation of Back to the Future
It has very similar tones and style to Back to the future with the story and the male protagonist, but I like that the characters feel like they represent young people well from that time period and even though he meets his parents in the past when they're young, at times it doesn't feel too strange or awkwardly executed.Was this review helpful to you?
A touching comforting story without those typical overly dramatic annoying kdrama scenes
I’m the type of person who often skips a lot when watching kdramas that are overly dramatic. Reply 1988, Hospital playlists are amongst those I barely skip any scenes. Now Twinkling Watermelon is added to my top list of dramas that I watch through the whole thing. And Ryeoun, where do I even start… I fell in love with him, I admire his talents, from playing the guitar to portraying the complicated emotions and even the ability to use sign language comfortably and fluently. Watching him was such a joy to my heart. When I watch the behind the scenes series, it amazes me even more to find out how hard he’s been practising playing guitar. He’s going to make it big one day, hopefully very soon.Was this review helpful to you?
