Learning to shine bright in ‘Twinkling Watermelon’

Two brothers are ordering drinks in a cafe, staring hard at the menu behind the counter. The cashier asks what they would like to order, but the two look at each other, and instead of speaking to each other, they sign with their hands. The employees look on nervously at the two and debate about what to do until one of the brothers speaks up normally and pays for their drinks. 

“Twinkling Watermelon” is a 2023 K-Drama romantic comedy about Ha Eun-gyeol (Ryeoun), the boy who orders the drinks in the opening scene and is the only one who can hear in his family. 

While he is a hard-working model student during the day, he is a prodigious guitarist who plays in a band at night. Not long after, his double life is discovered by his dad, who is against him playing in a band. An argument erupts, and Eun-gyeol runs away. Then, he stumbles upon a mysterious music shop and sells his guitar. Upon leaving the store, he discovers that he is in 1995 and runs into his 18-year-old father, who can hear.

This time-traveling drama portrays the complicated web of family, friendship, love, and music. Through its characters, “Twinkling Watermelon” teaches its audiences to live their lives and persevere amid hardships. 

Ha Yi-chan (Choi Hyun Wook), the 18-year-old version of Eun-gyeol’s father, represents the bright optimism of youth. He is viewed as childish and immature by many people as he does not study at school, rides a skateboard to rehearsal, and attempts to woo Choi Se-kyung (Seol In-ah), an icy cellist, by making a deal to earn her heart by starting a band for her. Although he is brash and reckless, his goal is to spend the last days of his childhood to the fullest and shine brightly while he can. 

Yi-chan’s attitude towards his life helps audiences reflect on their youth and learn not to waste these precious years. This outlook is also emphasized in the lives of his son Eun-gyeol and the cellist Se-kyoung, as they had no chance to live their lives for themselves, whether due to focusing on achieving a high academic performance or moving from one concert to another. 

“Twinkling Watermelon” emphasizes parents and their role in their children’s lives. Both of Eun-gyeol’s parents appear in the show, as does Se-kyoung’s relationship with her mother. Ultimately, both of them learn to pursue their paths and live life in the direction they want to go. 

Despite the struggles the protagonists face throughout, the show demonstrates that to shine bright, one must persevere. Eun-gyeol also meets his mother, Yoon Cheong-ah (Shin Eun-soo), as a 19-year-old in the past. Cheong-ah is a talented artist but a lonely girl who is bullied at school and at home; she is forbidden from using sign language in her house and lacks a way to converse freely with others. Despite her lonely life, she dedicated herself to learning sign language after meeting Eun-gyeol and decided to make friends and pursue her love for Yi-chan. 

In one scene, she shows Yi-chan Frida Kahlo’s famous painting of watermelons, and Yi-chan asks her why she likes it.

She replies, “Because [Frida Kahlo] was strong. She was beautiful in the midst of pain, and she was strong to the end. Life endlessly tormented her, but she used this painting to retaliate at life.” She then shows Yi-chan the words inscribed on one of the slices of watermelon in the painting: “Viva la vida.” 

“Twinkling Watermelon” also perfectly balances its seriousness with witty lines and comedic scenes. For example, when Eun-gyeol first meets the younger version of his father in the 1990s, his eyes widen in shock, and he immediately begins squeezing his father’s face, repeatedly questioning if it is him and how he can speak. The comedy continues when Yi-chan cries, “It’s a UFO!” and escapes Eun-gyeol, who chases him through the streets.

Arguably, the most hilarious scene is when the two scream at each other, each grabbing each other’s shirts, and Eun-gyeol shouts, “You’re supposed to be in love with Yoon Cheong-ah!” while Yi-chan hollers back, “Who is Yoon Cheong-ah?!”

“Twinkling Watermelon” gives the audience insight into how they should spend their youth and never lose hope, even in the face of loneliness. The repeated motifs of “shining” or “twinkling” show the audience to follow their own path as brightly as they can, and “viva la vida” is a message for the viewers to persevere through life. This drama criticizes parents’ high expectations on their children and how it can negatively affect them throughout their lives. Additionally, “Twinkling Watermelon” scorns the stigma of disabilities in South Korea through the struggles of the deaf characters in the story and creates a heartfelt romance to depict the emotions and hardships of the characters. 

“Twinkling Watermelon” is a must-watch for those who enjoy hilarious situations and witty lines with a side of deep life lessons. Filled with warming friendship, family, and love, this drama immerses the audience in the characters and the music, making them want to live their youthful years again.