Movies

When Life Gives You Tangerines: The Bittersweet End of a K-Drama

BBG News

In the last episode of the Netflix K-drama “When Life Gives You Tangerines,” the main character Ae-sun, portrayed by Moon So-ri, tells her daughter Geum-myeong, played by IU, as they reach their 70s and 40s respectively: “Aging isn’t anything remarkable. On the inside, you still feel the same, but when you gaze into a mirror, you see an old woman. That’s all aging really is.” As a standalone quote, it holds a poignant truth that many can relate to. However, in the final scene of this series that chronicles 70 years through 16 expertly crafted episodes, this statement carries a profound and heart-wrenching weight.

Through our shared experience of living those decades with Ae-sun, we can confirm her words are genuine. The captivating K-drama that has stood out this year deftly wove together threads of Korean modern history, Jeju culture, and the heartfelt aspirations of a single family in its poignant finale.

Does When Life Gives You Tangerines have a happy ending?

In the last installment of “When Life Gives You Tangerines”, the profound pain of existence is underscored through the passing of Gwan-sik, a cherished figure portrayed primarily by Park Hae-joon in these final episodes. Gwan-sik was Ae-sun’s husband and father to Geum-myeong and Eun-myeong. Over the years, he stood by Ae-sun’s side since they were young, providing her with fish from his family’s table when she was neglected. Together, they endured the loss of a child and raised two more into adulthood. They are grandparents, respected members of their community, and partners in every sense.

In my opinion, as the character Gwan-sik lay on his deathbed, he expressed remorse for not being able to alleviate Ae-sun’s hardships. However, Ae-sun gently consoled him: “Because of you, I never felt lonely for a single day.” Despite her brief youthful engagement to Bu Sang-gil (played by Choi Dae-hoon), she had no regrets about choosing Gwan-sik instead.

In the series, we encounter two men, Sang-gil and Gwan-sik, both abundant in resources yet differing significantly in loyalty and affection. Sang-gil’s wife, Yeong-ran (Jang Hye-jin), left him once she gained financial independence, having raised their four children together. On the other hand, Gwan-sik stands as a devoted husband contrasting Sang-gil’s philandering ways.

While Gwan-sik sells his boat to save his son from jail, Sang-gil fails to attend any of his children’s school events. However, it is later in life that Sang-gil starts to mend his ways, whereas Gwan-sik appears to have been caring for those he loves for decades.

In a society where men like Gwan-sik and Sang-gil held power over their families, Gwan-sik chose love over control with Ae-sun. For Ae-sun, this story culminates in a joyful conclusion. Though every love must eventually come to an end, Ae-sun does not regret her decision to hold onto Gwan-sik’s hand throughout their journey together.

Who does Geum-myeong marry?

In contrast to the typical K-drama narrative of a single soulmate, the series “When Life Gives You Tangerines” challenges this idea by portraying Geum-myeong’s romantic journey differently. At Seoul National University, Geum-myeong encounters her first love, Park Yeong-bum (played by Lee Jun-young). They fall for each other, date for seven years, and even plan to marry. However, the union is called off when Geum-myeong realizes that Yeong-bum’s mother disapproves of her due to her working class background. This treatment deeply upsets Geum-myeong’s parents, who have made significant sacrifices for her education and opportunities abroad in Japan. Ultimately, Geum-myeong ends the relationship, causing pain to both herself and Yeong-bum.

Afterward, Geum-myeong encounters artist Park Chung-seob (Kim Seon-ho) again. Their first encounter took place when Chung-seob was dating the daughter of Geum-myeong’s landlord in Seoul. During this period, Chung-seob secured a part-time job for Geum-myeong at the movie theater where he worked on poster designs. It was apparent that Chung-seob had feelings for Geum-myeong, but she was already committed to Yeong-bum at that time.

After Geum-myeong’s split and Chung-seob’s discharge from military duty, I found myself pursuing Geum-myeong, even catching up with her on a bus. Our connection blossomed into love, leading to our marriage. “The magnitude of the love wasn’t altered,” Geum-myeong reflects in voiceover, drawing parallels between her past relationships. “What changed was the warmth. It was the warmth that allowed me to be true to myself. I’ve found my prince.

The real history in When Life Gives You Tangerines

When Life Gives You Tangerines narrates a single family’s journey, yet it also encapsulates Korea’s transformation from the postwar era to the present day. This captivating series, penned by Lim Sang-choon and helmed by Kim Won-seok, is richly infused with precise historical facts across its episodes.

As a movie critic, I must say that the filmmakers of “When Life Gives You Tangerine” have done an exceptional job in weaving historical context into their narrative. However, to fully appreciate and understand the storyline, one should possess a fair amount of knowledge about Korean history. Namhee Lee, a modern Korean history professor at UCLA, echoes this sentiment when speaking with TIME.

In an initial contest, Ae-sun fails to win the classroom vote not due to insufficient support but because another student, who’s wealthy, distributed sweets among classmates instead. Lee points out that this scene mirrors broader national events, specifically the March 1960 presidential election scandal. Essentially, he suggests a connection between petty corruption within a small group and larger historical occurrences of dishonesty.

In the final episodes, Ae-sun and Geum-myeong’s professional achievements serve as symbols of societal advancement that were painstakingly achieved over multiple generations. Despite being unable to graduate from high school or attend college on the mainland due to circumstances, Ae-sun demonstrates her intelligence and aspirations by publishing poetry in her sixties and seventies. Following her husband’s passing, she dedicates her time to teaching literacy and poetry to residents at a Jeju nursing home. They affectionately refer to her as “teacher,” which brings her great satisfaction.

Geum-myeong, whose loved ones made substantial efforts for her academic success, eventually thrived as a pioneering tech entrepreneur in the early industry. Aiming to provide education opportunities to individuals similar to her mother, who was unable to attend college due to circumstances such as social status and location, she established an online learning platform.

The significance of Jeju Island in When Life Gives You Tangerines

The storyline of “When Life Gives You Tangerines” partially takes place in Seoul, but its essence is deeply rooted on Jeju Island, which is the largest among Korea’s islands and boasts a unique and rich cultural heritage. Notably, Jeju Island has been portrayed in various K-dramas before, such as “Our Blues,” but this work might be the first to present it with such an expansive historical context and cultural precision, according to Lee.

In the last episode of “When Life Gives You Tangerines”, a Haenyeo Museum is opened to honor the culture of the female divers from Jeju Island, which has been classified as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. As Lee points out, “Haenyeo often symbolizes the independence of Jeju women.” This is particularly appropriate given that “When Life Gives You Tangerines” portrays Korean modern history primarily through a female perspective and is set on Jeju Island. In essence, it’s not surprising that this series emphasizes women.

Who is editor Chloe Lee?

In an unexpected turn of events in the climax of “When Life Gives You Tangerines”, the character who edits Ae-Sun’s poetry collection is portrayed by Jeon Gwang-rye. Interestingly, Jeon also plays Ae-sun’s sea-dwelling mother, Yeom Hye-ran, a role that has been deeply missed by Ae-sun since her youth. In the final scene, a 70-year-old Ae-sun calls out to the sea for her mother, mirroring a childhood ritual. She dreams that her mother may have been reborn and now enjoys a desk job, a stark contrast to the perilous life of a haenyeo.

In essence, it’s suggested that the character Chloe Lee might be a reborn version of Hye-ran. Although her identity remains unknown until the final scene, we see Chloe as a child in the series on two occasions. Initially, she appears on TV as the daughter of a couple being interviewed during the Jeju Canola Flower Festival. Later, she and her mother are depicted buying squid from Ae-Sun at the fish market.

The character serves as a stand-in for the viewers, experiencing the tale of Ae-Sun along with us, possibly even shedding tears over it. While Chloe Lee encountered this narrative through a collection of poems and photographs, we are witnessing it via a TV series. Just like her, we are intended to feel a sense of pride that Ae-Sun not only survived life, but discovered joy in it, and that she is now able to share her story with us.

The meaning of When Life Gives You Tangerines‘s Korean title, 폭싹 속았수다

In terms of English titles, “When Life Gives You Tangerines” is a fitting choice. It cleverly references the well-known phrase, “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade,” which aligns with the main theme of the K-drama. Ae-sun’s aspirations often seem unattainable, and she must find ways to make the most of the opportunities that are available to her. The use of tangerines instead of lemons is significant because they are grown on Jeju Island, one of Korea’s iconic exports, with the island producing almost all of the country’s tangerines.

In a different language, the original Korean title, 폭싹 속았수다 , carries a deeper cultural significance, particularly to those who are fluent in the Jeju dialect. Unlike the English translation which could be interpreted as “I was fooled,” in this dialect, it means “you have worked hard” or “thank you for your hard work.

As a devoted movie enthusiast, I found that in the closing chapter of this captivating series, the significance of certain phrases became profoundly moving. In those poignant moments before Gwan-sik’s passing, he was granted the heartwarming sight of Ae-sun’s poem being published. This touching piece, penned with him in mind, offered solace and assurance that she would find peace following his departure. The poem’s final lines, echoing the essence of our beloved series’ Korean title, resonated deeply: “My most cherished one, here’s to all you’ve endured.

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2025-03-29 01:06

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