Actor IU and Park Bo-gum star in the Netflix drama series 'When Life Gives You Tangerines,' which has gained popularity since its 1st act (spring episodes 1-4) was released on the 7th. Set in Jeju Island during the 1960s, it portrays the lives of the main characters Aesoon (IU) and Gwan-sik (Park Bo-gum) as a metaphor for the four seasons, receiving positive reviews. The title is derived from a Jeju dialect meaning 'thank you for your hard work.'
"Aesoon, your mom is poor, not you. Don’t get frightened. You should live plentifully."
Aesoon's mother, Gwang-nye (Yeom Hye-ran), who lives a tough life as a Haenyeo (sea woman), raising her three children after the death of her husband, dies at the young age of 29 due to 'decompression sickness.' She speaks to her dream-chasing daughter Aesoon, telling her, 'Don’t lose your dreams.'
"I will definitely marry a guy from Seoul," said the ambitious Aesoon, but her life unfolds far from a Cinderella-style romance. Though Gwang-nye’s wish for her to avoid becoming a Haenyeo comes true, Aesoon ends up living with Gwan-sik, the son of a fishmonger who always shadowed her, becoming entangled in a difficult situation.
Aesoon, who once said, 'One day, I will attend a university in Seoul,' sets aside her dreams to dedicate herself to her daughter Geum-myeong (IU, playing two roles). She remarks, "I hope Geum-myeong can live a better life rather than just setting the table."
What sustains the cycle of poverty that spans generations is love. In an era when men and women had separate meals, when Gwan-sik finds barley beans that were not suitable for his daughter Geum-myeong's share, he sits down with a generous bowl of barley to return to the women's table. Gwan-sik also supports Aesoon as she confronts her grandmother for suggesting, 'What kind of bicycle is a girl (Geum-myeong)?' with the intent to make Geum-myeong a Haenyeo.
In response to Geum-myeong's argument of not wanting to live like her mother, a scene emerges with Aesoon sitting in front of the small kitchen stove. Aesoon waves and smiles brightly at Gwan-sik, who leaves to work as the head of the household, while Geum-myeong rides her bicycle in the yard.
Though a girl, Aesoon's hope for her daughter to grow up freely is captured entirely in one scene. Just like her mother Gwang-nye did, Aesoon wishes to give her daughter a slightly better life. In that patriarchal era, the presence of Gwan-sik becomes a strong support for Aesoon to continue living.
The 2nd act (summer episodes 5-8), released on the 14th, centers around Aesoon and Gwan-sik's journey to parenthood, featuring more mature emotions and realistic concerns, indicating its potential for continued success. IU's challenge of playing both the young Aesoon and her daughter Geum-myeong while delicately expressing the emotional differences between generations is also a point to watch.
'When Life Gives You Tangerines' is the first work on Netflix to be released in four acts throughout the four seasons. Aesoon's life is divided into spring, summer, autumn, and winter, showcasing four episodes every Friday for a total of 16 episodes in a long-format series.
Can our daughters, and the next generation of daughters, advance further than we did? The drama expresses not only the commitment of grandmothers and mothers but also hopes for the future. Caution is needed when binge-watching in public places like subways, as tears may flow 'like a river.'