In When Life Gives You Tangerines, viewers were captivated by the profound love stories that span generations. Fans particularly noted the striking parallels between the relationships of Chung-seob and Geum-myeong and that of Gwan-sik and Ae-sun, highlighting how enduring love manifests across time.
The show narrates the stories of two couples really well, showing how their lives are connected. Both Ae-sun and Geum-myeong deal with pressure from society and their roles in their families, but they have partners who believe in them and always have their backs.
Gwan-sik's quiet strength always kept Ae-sun's world safe. Meanwhile, in When Life Gives You Tangerines, Chung-seob's patience and love provided Geum-myeong with the encouragement to chase her dream and start her own business.
Viewers noted how Chung-seob was exactly like Gwan-sik in terms of loving their respective partners. Gwan-sik jumped off a ship and swam to the shore when he heard Ae-sun scream his name from the shore. Likewise, Chung-seob ran after the bus twice for a long time to get a chance to meet Geum-myeong again.
Gwan-sik made sure Ae-sun's seat was warm, her chair was sturdy when she was selling fish in the market, and more. Chung-seob made sure that Geum-myeong was okay on the boat, irrespective of him being severely seasick. He followed her to the washroom to see if she was fine and hadn't fallen down due to the boat's movement.
Viewers mentioned that love should feel "this easy" or else it is never the right relationship. One fan said that "the right person" shows up at the right time.
"Their love story reminded me of how the right person turns up at the right time. you know it to be because it is calm, harmonious, & consistent. the quality to seek for isn't because it's easy, convenient, or that it's out of nostalgia of your long, first love," a user wrote on X.
Viewers expressed their wish to find a partner like Chung-seob and Gwan-sik, who would love and care for them exactly as shown in When Life Gives You Tangerines.
"Love should be easy. Yes, that's the whole point," a fan wrote.
"She wanted someone like her father and fate, it seemed, had conspired to bring him into her life," another fan wrote.
"And its just right that it wasnt youngbeom as her end game. She was happy yes but it wasnt the same love as her parents but with chungseop it was easy. It was accepting. It was freeing," another fan remarked.
Others echoed similar sentiments and commented that everyone deserves someone like Gwan-sik and Chung-seob from When Life Gives You Tangerines in their lives.
"Every 'i can do it my self girl needs her' 'i know you can but let me help you' boy," a fan said.
"If one day, I ever remarry, I want someone like Mr toto, who can make me be a lil girl despite all my life being raised as 'I can and should do it myself'," a fan shared.
"We all deserve someone like Yang Gwansik and Park Chungseob," another fan added.
When Life Gives You Tangerines: A testament to timeless love
Set in 1960s Jeju Island, When Life Gives You Tangerines follows Ae-sun, played by IU, and Gwan-sik, portrayed by Park Bo-gum. Ae-sun is a smart and driven young woman who wants to attend college and become a poet. But traditional expectations and family duties hold her back.
Gwan-sik, who is always there for her, helps her through life's ups and downs. Their friendship grows into a strong love that lasts over time. Even when they face tough challenges, like family opposition and money issues, their connection stays unbreakable, showing what real love is all about.
The story shifts to the next generation, focusing on Geum-myeong, Ae-sun and Gwan-sik's daughter. She's determined to make her own way, so she goes to school and lands a good job. Along the way, she meets Park Yeong-bum, played by Lee Jun-young, who comes from a rich and powerful family.
Their relationship hits some bumps due to class differences and what society expects from them. Yeong-bum's mom doesn’t like Geum-myeong's background and tries to push her to give up her career dreams for a more traditional role at home. But like her mother, Geum-myeong stands her ground, refusing to give up on her dreams just to fit in.
In When Life Gives You Tangerines, Geum-myeong goes through some tough times in her life when she meets Chung-seob, played by Kim Seon-ho. He's a mysterious artist with a lot of passion.
They first bump into each other at her rented apartment when the landlord's daughter forcefully opens Geum-myeong's door and pushes Chung-seob into her room to hide him from her dad.
This meeting sparks something between them, and they grow closer as they find comfort in each other. Chung-seob is always there for Geum-myeong, much like Gwan-sik was for Ae-sun, which creates a nice parallel between their stories.
Fans noticed that Chung-seob's feelings for Geum-myeong remind them of Gwan-sik's love for Ae-sun, showing that true love seems to stick around through the years.
When Life Gives You Tangerines offers a rich, intergenerational exploration of love, resilience, and personal growth. The mirrored relationships of Ae-sun and Gwan-sik, alongside Geum-myeong and Chung-seob, are one of the main cruxes of the story.
When Life Gives You Tangerines is currently streaming globally on Netflix.