Season 1 – When Life Gives You Tangerines

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1:22

Mar 2025

Romance

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

9 Reviews

98%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

In Jeju, a spirited girl and a steadfast boy's island story blossoms into a lifelong tale of setbacks and triumphs - proving love endures across time.

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Sherin Nicole

RogerEbert.com

03/07/2025

Our Stalwart and Sassy Couple has a long way to go...The labors Ae-sun and Gwan-sik endure are bittersweet. I cried as much as I giggled, and I hope it’s the same for you.

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Stephanie Morgan

Common Sense Media

Mar 25

3/5

Moving through the decades from a changing island village to an urban city, this stoic romance offers moments of both humor and genuine tenderness.

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Jan Lee

The Straits Times (Singapore)

Aug 14

5/5

With IU playing not one but two central characters, the series’ success hangs on her performance and she more than lives up to the task.

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Radhika Menon

Decider

Jun 24

This slow-burning love story told over seasons of life is worth tuning in for.

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Jae-Ha Kim

Jae-Ha Kim (Substack)

04/27/2025

4/4

"When Life Gives You Tangerines" reflects on what it means to be a woman in South Korea. IU and Park Bo-gum star in this nuanced slice-of-life K-drama.

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S. Poorvaja

The Hindu

04/16/2025

When Life…is one of those rare shows that stays with you much after it has ended. There is much that is compelling about this bittersweet, profound life, where the lows are low, and the triumphs bring so much joy.

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Vanessa R

@RT39407246 5d

I watched w my mom and we both cry a looot

Len B.

@zwfriv Jun 2

I watched this entire series with my mom, and we both cried a lot. I think it brought us closer together.

Michael B.

@KVD1969 Mar 4

Set against the rugged beauty of 1950s Jeju Island, the series follows the spirited and rebellious Ae-sun as she dreams of a life beyond her humble circumstances despite not being able to attend school. She is supported by Gwan-sik, a quiet and hardworking young man whose unwavering, "iron-like" devotion to Ae-sun serves as her anchor through decades of hardship. Spanning their entire lives from ambitious youth to reflective old age, the story chronicles their enduring romance and the small triumphs found within the changing landscape of Korea.

Chad G.

@metalfacechad Feb 27

Possibly my favorite Kdrama. Character development is otherworldly. Found myself heavily invested in the show and couldn’t put it down once I started. Loved it!

Zoe C

@ZoeCC Jan 30

Outstanding. I just finished watching it for the second time and the tears are still drying on my face as I write this. In addition to the poetic writing and unforgettable performances, the art direction is beautiful. The casting is excellent, the costumes were perfect, even the hair and make up helped articulate the story perfectly. Masterful storytelling. I saw one negative review in which the author admitted to not finishing the first episode and watching it dubbed. I don’t recommend watching anything dubbed, the voice is equal to facial expressions in an actors work. Better to focus on whatever literacy issues are preventing you from being able to watch something with subtitles before getting a rotten tomatoes account. Unless you are a sociopath you don’t need to know a language to infer emotion from tone. This is an incredible, must-watch series. A jewel in the crown of South Korean media.

Kelly C.

@KOCossa Dec 14

I won’t ever forget this show, it will be a memory within my own life.

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Lee Ji-eun

Oh Ae-sun

Park Bo-gum

Yang Gwan-sik

Moon So-ri

Oh Ae-sun

Park Hae-joon

Yang Gwan-sik

Yeom Hye-ran

Ae-sun's Mother

Oh Min-ae

Gwan-sik's Mother

Episode 1

Aired Mar 7, 2025

Spring in a Heartbeat

Raised by a tenacious mother, a young, bright-eyed Ae-sun has dreams bigger than her village, until an unexpected tragedy changes everything.

Details

Episode 2

Aired Mar 7, 2025

Sassy First Love

As love blossoms between Ae-sun and Gwan-sik, they make their first bold move together; but their romantic adventure hits a snag.

Details

Episode 3

Aired Mar 7, 2025

Yesterday Was Your Spring

After a dramatic rescue, Ae-sun and Gwan-sik return to Jeju; Ae-sun resigns herself to a sad fate, leaving Gwan-sik devastated.

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Episode 4

Aired Mar 7, 2025

The Blazing Summer Sunshine

Summer brings joy as the newlyweds start a life together, but living with Gwan-sik's family tests their happiness.

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Episode 5

Aired Mar 14, 2025

A Midsummer Night's Full Nets

Gwan-sik faces unemployment, causing Ae-sun to worry; a sudden opportunity emerges, bringing hope; Ae-sun then sets her sights on greater aspirations in Jeju.

Details

Episode 6

Aired Mar 14, 2025

Life Goes on and On

Ae-sun and Gwan-sik enjoy their newfound happiness; a sudden summer storm disrupts their lives, challenging their resilience and determination to persevere.

Details

Episode 7

Aired Mar 14, 2025

A Fruitful Fall

The village chief election nears; Ae-sun confronts corrupt rivals; Geum-myeong grapples with an ethical dilemma after receiving an unusual request.

Details

Episode 8

Aired Mar 14, 2025

The Moon Wanes, Yet the Young Heart Remains

Geum-myeong gets an opportunity to study in Japan, inspiring new dreams; Ae-sun and Gwan-sik face a difficult decision about their family's future.

Details

Episode 9

Aired Mar 21, 2025

The Wind Goes Whoosh, My Heart Goes Boo-Hoo

Life in a small apartment tests Ae-sun and Gwan-sik as they struggle to parent Yang Eun-myeong; Geum-myeong juggles love and life in Seoul.

Details

Episode 10

Aired Mar 21, 2025

The Storm Sweeps My Heart, the Love Rocks My Heart

While Geum-myeong grows closer to her quirky colleague, Ae-sun's troubling dreams stir real concerns; do they hold any meaning?

Details

Episode 11

Aired Mar 21, 2025

My Love by My Side

As Geum-myeong's engagement moves toward marriage, her heart fills with doubt, will her first love story find its happy ending like her mother's?

Details

Episode 12

Aired Mar 21, 2025

A Glistening Winter

Back in Jeju, Geum-myeong mends her heart in familiar surroundings; Ae-sun treasures sweet moments with her loved ones.

Details

Episode 13

Aired Mar 28, 2025

Such an Uneven Love

While facing a career setback during an economic downturn, Geum-myeong encounters a familiar face, sparking an unexpected new beginning.

Details

Episode 14

Aired Mar 28, 2025

Spread Your Wings and Fly

Ae-sun and Gwan-sik grapple with Yang Eun-myeong's misfortune, sacrificing everything they can to help him; Eun-myeong's self-confidence takes a hit.

Details

Episode 15

Aired Mar 28, 2025

A Spring Every Day

Between new business ventures and career changes, the family faces separate hurdles on their paths, drawing strength from their bond to press ahead.

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Episode 16

Aired Mar 28, 2025

Here's to All You've Been Through

As the Yang family finally enjoys the fruits of their labor, sudden agony strikes, testing their resolve and the strength of their enduring love.

Details

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When Life Gives You Tangerines: Season 1 Volume 4 Trailer

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When Life Gives You Tangerines: Season 1 Volume 3 Trailer

1:15

When Life Gives You Tangerines: Season 1 Volume 2 Trailer

1:24

When Life Gives You Tangerines: Season 1 Trailer

2:00

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Director: Kim Won-seok
Screenwriter: Im Sang-choon
Network: Netflix
Rating: TV-14
Genre: Romance, Drama
Original Language: Korean
Release Date: Mar 7, 2025

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Season 1 – When Life Gives You Tangerines

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