Aside from recognizing a few names/faces in the cast list, I went into this show blind. The time jump was a fun surprise. I was already interested in the different storylines then the connection between them was revealed and it set the hook in me. I’m eagerly awaiting the next episodes to see how all the pieces moved around to get to present day.
I’m assuming the lady who gave Eun Gyul the guitar is the grown up version of the girl who played the cello in the past. I think she said something about moving to the states after/during high school, so I wonder how that fits into his parents love story. Did she leave before or after his dad became deaf. Did he fall in love with the deaf art student (I’m assuming his mother) before or after she left? before or after he lost his own hearing ability?
Now that he’s in the past, is he there to stay or will he go back and forth between timelines? Will he fall in love with the daughter who saw him cry outside the music store when he was younger and who was practicing/rebelling in the other room while her mother gave him the guitar? Will she look exactly like her mother did in the past? I could check the cast list names and answer a few of those questions but that feels a bit like cheating.
It was nice to see his relationship with his brother was pleasant and not filled with bitterness.
I liked how the instructor explained playing the guitar is speaking to it with your hands, its own sign language.
Bonus points to the actors for taking on the roles and learning to sign along with it. I actually think Ryeoun’s acting has improved since he added signing as a layer. In the one other show I’ve seen him act in, I wasn’t impressed because it seemed the widening of his eyes was the only way he could show any change in emotion.

Aahhh @Birdie and anyone watching… it’s a relief to find a good, quick recap of these 2 episodes in Dramabeans. Saves the time doing a rewatch and explains the past-present characters and relationships. Thanks to Dramaddictally for a great recap!

https://www.dramabeans.com/2023/09/twinkling-watermelon-episodes-1-2/?_kx=wueU2oBhe2WpR0jpyfnjbbIkY__T0v0agusIwJPh7v99V6UE0HUjZmG43HS-wiy2.MQHthJ

@Snow Flower, I agree. I’m not sufficiently in the know to tell how one band might be judged against another, or whether they are indie or mainstream in the music they make, but we only got to see the one band and are to be convinced by the actors that it was one that was above the rest.

The takeaway for me from the first two episodes is the discrimination that the disabled suffer, the over-reliance and undue pressure on the hearing child and the blessing of having a good mentor.

@Snow Flower, I only got exposed to the hearing impaired in dramas through the jdorama ‘Silent’ and to a very small extent in ‘First Love’. In Silent, the protagonist could have spoken if he wanted to, but chose not to because he found it upsetting to not be able to hear himself speak. He only spoke a little to family and to one friend, but not even to the girl he cared for.

In this show, we are assuming that Dad Yi Chan is on the same timeline as teenager Yi Chan, so he should have been able to speak. We are therefore heading for a lot of angst when he starts to lose his hearing. 🫣 😣

Hi @Cleo, I’m doing a surface watch, meaning that I may not do any rewatch or take much notes if at all. I did find a bit off-putting, the interspersing of past and present scenes without enough differentiation that we were watching a different time but the same set of people.

The Dramabeans recap sorted that out so I didn’t have to rewatch.

I hope to just watch it without stress as it goes on. These episodes were more serious as set up for the rest of the series, but the trailer made it look comedic, therefore I’m waiting to see the funny parts.

Read you again!

Kalimera Everyone,

As it seems in Episode 5 we have a newcomer!

Seol In-A plays a dual role. She plays Choi Se-Kyung in 1995 and her daughter in 2023 that goes back in the past like Ha Eun-Gyeol. We still don’t know her name.

So far, I am not impressed by the daughter. I will wait for tonight’s episode to say more about her.

Kalimera @SnowFlower,

I think she definitely is the daughter and not her Eomma / Ahjumma. Her personality is completele different. I understand that she is dealing with family problems as well. But she came with a vengeance and doesn’t care for the consequences of her actions as well. That’s my problem in this one.

I will write some more on another comment for Episode 6, so I don’t talk about the same things twice.

What a show! The most interesting and refreshing drama we are watching this year!

I love their interactions so very much!

Am waiting to watch last two episodes and, of course, wondering what ultimately might have changed in 2023 because of the time travel.
Just a few comments for now…I love the youthful exuberance, and emotional honesty of teen age Yi Chan. CHW does great job with this part, and I love his grandmother who provided a sense of family for him. Also appreciate the importance of good parents and family demonstrated in this drama. More than ever, emphasis on their importance needed now for goodness to overcome evil in today’s messed up world.

Hello Everyone!

Although, I was not that much active on this thread, I enjoyed “Twinkling Watermelon” so very much. It was a coming of age, time travel show that had everything.

The fact that it was talking about a CODA and the relationship that boy had with his parents was so beautiful written and portrayed.

All the cast did an amazing job bringing those characters to life!

I think I feel in love with:

Choi Hyun-Wook and how he portrayed Ha Yi Chan. His loud demeanor was so beautiful written. He was loyal, a good friend with a heart full of gold! (Yes we know him from 25-21, but in this one he truly shined!)

The star of the show: Shin Eun-Soo who played Yoon Chung-A. She was my favorite person from the start. The way she incorportated silence in her acting, it was so beautiful and captivating to see!

Ryeo Un who played Ha Eun-Gyeol. It is hard to be a CODA. Although, it was hard for him. He shined so brightly and loved so intensively his parents and protected them at all costs.

As for Seol In-A, what can we say? She made us get angry with first, and then love her for all that she had to understand and live a shining life too!

I don’t want to forget the “Watermelon Sugar” Gang, nor Yi Chan’s Halmoeni, along with Hyung Lee Suk-Hyeong.

These people found each other in their youth, shined brightly and chose to love, comfort and protect each other!

That is all I have to say for now…

I won’t say goodbye to this show. I think I will return from time to time, to see them again with sparkling eyes!

VIVA LA VIDA!

Viva la Vida indeed, @ Cleopatra! This was a youth drama that managed to stick the landing. It is my favorite drama of 2023 so far.

This is really strange. I posted a comment which appeared in this thread and has now disappeared. I’ll see if it reappears before re-drafting anything.

Just to say @Cleo – that I loved this show. I’ll add more later. Very moving final episode.

@Cleo, @Kate, @Snowflower, Agreed, this drama was way more than I expected. Many positive things that have already been said here about the actors and the characters they played, the narrative, the music I heartily concur with. Even the balance of romance with life events is just right! One of my favorite characters was Yi Chan’s grandmother who provided the love denied to him by his parents. Scenes containing her were usually very positive and heartwarming, two of the qualities pervading the entire drama. Qualities and behaviors necessary to live a good and meaningful life are what this show is all about.
TW was able to capture the essence of youth and draw me in emotionally. Definitely one of the best K drama endings.

@SnowFlower,

I agree with you! It is on my Top 3 list. It had so many beautiful messages to convey!