‘It was a huge hit’… The drama of a lifetime
The Netflix drama ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’, which has captivated the world, is being released in English-speaking countries with the title ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’, conveying the message of overcoming difficult situations with positivity. Photo courtesy of Netflix
The Netflix drama ‘Cheated By Chance’, starring IU and Park Bo-gum, has been a complete success.
The drama, which was released four times a week starting on the 7th, has risen to the level of another ‘life drama’ thanks to its hot and bittersweet storytelling that garnered sympathy. It proved its syndrome-level popularity by rising to 4th place in the Netflix TV show viewing category (according to FlixPatrol) in the first week of its release, then 2nd place and then topping the list.
The drama received immediate responses from all sides after its release, as much as it was a hot topic. Not only the main actors, including IU, Park Bo-gum, Moon So-ri, and Park Hae-joon, but also the supporting actors enjoyed the effect of garnering attention.
From Yeom Hye-ran who played the role of Ae-soon‘s mother, Gwang-rye, who led and exited the ‘1st Act’ corresponding to spring, to Oh Min-ae who played the role of Gwan-sik’s mother, Gye-ok, the innkeeper Kang Mal-geum who gave Ae-soon and Gwan-sik their first ordeal, to ‘nobleman’ Kim Geum-soon, and even Choi Dae-hoon and the late Kang Myung-joo who successfully earned the nicknames ‘Mr. Hak-ssi’, they created perfect chemistry without anyone being left out.
From the patriarchal and indigenous Jeju Island in the 1960s, such as men and women eating separately, to the 1990s ‘University Superstition’, when an uproar broke out over the ‘S’ being taken from a Sonata, the drama increased the immersion by drawing the historical background in detail.
The deep script also played a part in delivering memorable lines that touched the hearts of the viewers.
“If you live, you will survive. There will be harsher days. If you shake your arms and legs like crazy, the black sea will pass and you will definitely see the sky”,”I should have shown my precious child only the precious things. My heart sinks at my child who is like a mirror to me”,”Parents only feel sorry, and children only feel sad”, etc., and they contain passionate love for their family.
It has also attracted attention overseas. The Chinese state-run media Global Times recently ran an article titled ‘The New Whirlwind of Korean Historical Dramas’, saying, “The fate of three generations of women spanning 60 years”, and “It is not the romance genre that has been the main stream of the Korean Wave so far. It has increased empathy by delicately grafting on social changes and daily life in Korea.”
Hollywood actress Sherry Shepherd also said on her talk show, “I discovered a fantastic drama”, and “It is calm, but the story is amazing. He became a hot topic when he said, “You will never be disappointed.”
Reporter Lee Jeong-yeon annjoy@donga.com
This article is automatically translated using Google AI. If you notice any inaccuracies, please let us know at allkstar@donga.com.
