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After three weeks and twelve episodes, it is safe to say that "When Life Gives You Tangerines" has become a renowned success. The drama looks to continue this trend heading into its final week. The relatable family dynamics and portrayal of the Korean experience from the 1960s to 1990s has helped the drama reach critical acclaim in such a short time. It has risen to the top of watchlists everywhere, receiving endless praise from fans and critics alike.
A Series You Won't Soon Forget - Why "When Life Gives You Tangerines" Could Be The Next Hit Netflix K-DramaK-Drama StoriesMar 11, 2025
The Netflix K-Drama is led by a phenomenal cast that features Park BoGum, IU, Moon SoRi, and Park HaeJoon. Their acting prowess, combined with heartfelt storytelling and moving plot, has mesmerized millions worldwide, moving past national buzz and towards worldwide sensation.
While the entire cast has contributed greatly to the drama's success, IU plays a special role as she portrays, spoiler alert, multiple characters: the teeanger/young adult version of Oh AeSun and her daughter, Yang GeumMyeong. Although the two are cut from the same cloth, IU's acting displays such clear differences that set the two characters apart. IU has been such a delight to watch in "When Life Gives You Tangerines", causing the entire globe to tune right in.
The Perfect Comeback After A K-Drama Hiatus
Although IU debuted as a singer in 2008, it didn't take too long for her to be casted into her first role in 2011. Despite being a newcomer to the drama scene, she proved her acting capabilities, making expectations high for whatever acting project she took on next. She continued to build up her repertoire, with every performance doing better than the last. She showed mastery over her roles, but perhaps what has been most impressive about the star is her versatility. She has covered a multitude of different characters portraying snappy yet lovely to more serious and downtrodden.
Considering the impact she left as Jang ManWol in "Hotel del Luna", it's hard to believe that it's been close to 6 years since her last K-Drama. Although she did feature in two films, "Broker" and "Dream", there's a different level of appreciation for her drama appearances. But it seems the wait has finally paid off seeing the success of "When Life Gives You Tangerines" and IU's inherent acting skills. It feels as if she was made for the Netflix drama as she magnificently portrays the complex yet heartwarming lives of AeSun and GeumMyeong.
Netflix
The moment "When Life Gives You Tangerines" premiered, interest towards IU went on a noticeable upswing, as noted by the data from Google Trends. She continues to maintain the momentum as netizens remain glued to their seats, curious how the drama will end. The series has also been featured on Netflix's Global Top 10 Non-English Shows for two consecutive weeks, reaching its peak rating at no. 2. With its momentum, there's a chance that it could take the no. 1 spot on the list. Looking at it all, "When Life Gives You Tangerines" is shaping up to be the perfect comeback for IU and could very well put her in the position to win some major awards once the time comes.
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