tvN Youth and Music K-drama Twinkling Watermelon Wraps with Satisfying Ending Becoming One of Fall 2023’s Surprise Wins

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• Loved this show.

  • After learning ASL, I thought it was really cool to see the difference in Korean sign language! Seeing that "dongsaeng" uses the middle finger was a bit of a culture shock, haha.

  • I know! Love this too!

• yay, finally a post about Twinkling Watermelon. I didn't think much of this drama at first but it ended up being my fav drama this year. The parent's couple chemistry got me kicking my feet and blushing every episode.

• I ADORED this drama!

• Yay!! Glad to know you watched this little gem. Definitely one of my favorite this year.

• This is refreshing to see Koala, I always thought you don't check out these kind of dramas unless they are recommended but am happy to know that you don't only watch the ones with the big name actors but you do try these dramas too (in your free time I guess).

  Honestly though, Twinkling Watermelon is one of the few dramas I'll watch from the beginning till the end feeling very satisfied. The focus on issues of CODA, the time travelling, the acting even was very good. Kudos to Production crew for creating a beautiful drama, you don't need a big budget to visualise a good story.

• This recommendation just came in the right time. I'm looking for new K dramas to watch after Moving. There are quite a few good surprises from K-ent after I took years of hiatus and then picked up again this year, e.g., Extraordinary Attorney Woo, Anna, Arthdal Chronicles 2, Crash Landing on You, and of course Moving, to just name a few. I did not expect these dramas other than AC 2 to be soooo good since the genres aren't my favorite. My favorite is ancient fantasy like Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings. But these K dramas that I didn't watch until 2023 were so satisfying and addictive.

  Yes, I'm looking for more of good script writing and directing rather than big name actors in the cast. Kill Me Heal Me and The Moon Embraces the Sun were among my favorite K dramas. I did not watch the other two dramas mentioned in the blog. Perhaps I should check them out???? But I will check TW first.

  • Chicago typewriter was so good! A mix of everything! It’s about a writer getting entangled with his past life when korea is still colonized by japan. He met a ghost who claims to know him in his previous life and help him to finish writing the book he wrote in his past life.

    • Thanks. I'll save CT in my to-watch list.

• Sorry, completely out of topic but this summer's Killing Vote...has anyone watched it? Is it good?

  I am enjoying Twinkling Watermelon, it is interesting and I love the name of the drama and Poster!!

  • My honest opinion is, no. I could ignore any logic in romance or comedy, but not in crime thriller. The premise is interesting but the execution is so bad. You’ll keep noticing the plot hole and illogical actions of the character. Well you can test the water by watching some episodes. You’ll know what I’m talking about.

    • Thanks @Yuhyi!!!

• I didn't specially like this drama. I loved Yi-Chan and Chung-Ah but not really the leads. They shouldn't have time travelled to solve their issues. The ML needed just to speak to his parents, shared his feelings but in the present not with his father in the past. The FL needed to address her own depression not her mother wounds, the conversation with the shop owner was out of place. The end was so disapointing. They're rich so no more issue.

  • Sayaris, write exactly my point of view of this drama . From the writer Of Seoul of scandal and Chicago typewriter which both were riveting dramas, this one was just average . I 'm also disappointed with "Moon in the day", i dropped Strong girl, and " a good day to be a dog" is losing me too . I like Castaway diva for the interaction between the characters as the story is rather simple .Vigilante is about the same thematic as The killing vote . But for the first time since years i'm enjoying the silly "Perfect marriage revenge " which it's not the kind of dramas i used to watch . My brain cells may be out of order !!!

    • This year wasn't great for me . I enjoyed some dramas but there wasn't one which made me angsty for the next episode .

    • Moon in the Day could be good in the actors were good. They should have chosen older actors. None of them can sell the angst and the attraction to make this drama working.

      Strong Girl 1 worked because of the chemistry of the couple, Strong Girl 2 is just bad.

      A Good Day to be a Dog is cute but a little bit bland.

      Castaway Diva is well written and I totally watch it for the future romance :p

      I love The Matchmakers! The PD did such a great work to film it, every frame is so beautiful. The story is light with some Palace intrigues. There is a lot of humor and romance!

    • I'm watching and enjoying " Matchmakers" too, i have a soft spot for Ro Woon, i think he is good in comedies , he has the right timing to make us laugh and i like the 3 sisters too . The drama is not bland and entertaining . Women for once are the ones who run the world . I must say that i 'm disappointed with the leads of Moon in the day . I like Pyo Ye Jin in Taxi driver, but in this drama her acting is bland as for kim Young Dae, it's the same as in "Forbidden marriage " which i dropped too !

    • I watched the first 2 eps of Twinkling Watermelon yesterday. The topics are something I'm interested in. But I'm not sure if I'd like to proceed. The start was a bit tepid for my taste. But I will stick to this drama to see the part of back in time.

      I also dropped Strong GL 2 right away and A good Day to Be a Dog after a few eps. The latter isn't a genre for me.

      BTW, are you French? Then you may know an old classic, Three Colors trilogy? My dad recommended this classic to me since he's a psychologist. This is the one French movie most impressive to me. I forgot some others recommended by and watched with my dad who's a European movie fan.

      Do you know Isabelle Huppert? I watched her film, The Knitting Girl, in the setting of Switzerland. I'm impressed and like her so much. There're many good European classics per my dad's recommendation. He doesn't watch Hollywood films although he received education in the US. LOL.

    • I think vigilante was a bit of disappointment when the guy got found out so easily, I was expecting the focus to be on morality of the killing itself but turns out it’s about copycat

    • Yes @Somebody , i'm french which explains my "skills in english" LOL ! i known the trilogy that you mentionned , but i'm more into movies a la Ken Loach or Hollywood classics . I know very well Isabelle Huppert i watched a lot of her movies since her debut , but she isn't my fav , your father may have seen the movies with Isabelle Adjani , the incredible Romy Schneider ( one of the best actresses who died a long time ago), Simone Signoret, Annie Girardot ,Miou Miou( in the 70's 80,s), , for actors he may know Patrick Dewaere who began at the same time as Gerard Depardieun but was a better actor , Depardieu himself recognize it, Daniel Auteuil , Philippe Noiret. But he commited suicide 40 years ago , nowadays the actress in high demand is Virgine Efira and Pierre Niney, Vincent Lacoste , both great in their movies . Your father mmust like directors as Chabrol, Tavernier, Techiné, Blier, Miller,...I know all theses movies and the actors as they were part of my cinematic education ! French actors may not be beauties but they convey a lot of emotions and a kind of charism .

  • @somebody, I think Cahill is French, I'm Swiss but from the part who speaks French :p

    I don't know this trilogy, but being honest, my knowledge in cinema is close to nothingness.

    For Twinkling Watermelon, there are a lot of touching and funny moments. But overall, the writer forgot the message she wanted to share with this drama.

• It started out really strong for me cause it made me root for the main lead knowing the responsibilities he carries at a young age by being the only one who can hear in the family. The teen mom and dad story is really sweet too and I wished they had more screen time. I am a bit annoyed by Seol In Ah's character and haven't finished it.

• I adored the bromance of the father and son duo. Never seen Ryeoun before this, but now I look forward to his future projects. He acted his character in such a warm and charming way. Definitely get Park Bogum vives from him. The chemistry between young Yichan and Chungah was very sweet as well. The only negatives for me were the rushed ending. I also could not warm up to the female lead (the character, not the actress), but otherwise this was definitely in Top 3 of this year together with Moving and A Daily Dose of Sunshine.