Twinkling Watermelons: Spoiler-Free Mini Review

10 hours ago
2 min read

Title:	Twinkling Watermelons
Platform:	Viki, TVING
MDL Rating:	*9.2* *(The second highest rated show on MDL)*
Genre:	Coming of Age, Youth, Time Travel
Episode Count:	16
Parental Guidance Rating:	PG-13: Minor swearing and violence. I'd say on the lighter end of TV-14. For more info: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27446493/parentalguide/
Staring:	Ryeo Un (Weak Hero Class 2) Choi Hyun Wook (Twenty One Twenty Five) Seor In A (Business Proposal) Shin Eun Soo (Light Shop)
RBTS Rating:	4.45/5 - *I recommend!*

Synopsis:

In 2023, high school student Eun Gyeol, a CODA with a passion for music, leads a double life as a model pupil by day and a guitarist by night. When he discovers a mysterious music store, he's unexpectedly transported back to 1995, where he meets his father, Ha I Chan, as a high schooler. I Chan doesn't recognize him and is infatuated with a cellist, Se Gyeong, not Eun Gyeol's mother, Cheong A. To set things right, Eun Gyeol joins a band led by I Chan, hoping to reunite his future parents and return to the present. @MDL

Stay Tuned: Full Review Still to Come!

Spoiler-Free Mini Review:

Twinkling Watermelons was a rollercoaster! The first 2 episodes took some time to get into, but it was paid off becuase once the peices were in place it was full speed ahead! The is like a more youth focused, family driven version of Lovely Runner, and like LR, the "magical" element is really never explained. But expect comedy, romance, melodrama and some seriously good acting.

Sign language is incorporated, but not the main focus of the show. That being said, it was so sobering to learn about the difficulties the deaf population faced in the 90s, as well as incredibly moving to watch Yun Cheong A overcome them. Shin Eun Soo (Yun Cheong A) slays everytime.

The friendships were the star of the show, but the romances were adorable extras. I did have a few critiques for the drama: Ha Eun Gyeol (ML) was a little too mature in his character for his age, but I think it was done for the sake of portraying how fast a CODA has to grow up. I also did not care for the end. It didn't ruin the show by any means... but... you'll get there and you'll know what I mean.

Lastly, The title Twinkling Watermelons is still inexplicable to me after watching the whole show, but I think it would make a great lotion name. Bath and Body works this is your chance.