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11.14 - Podcast Review of Episode 14 of When Life Gives You Tangerines

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 14 of When Life Gives You Tangerines , the hit K Drama on Netflix starring IU as Oh Ae-sun and Park Bo-gum as Yang Gwan-sik as young adults, then Moon So-ri as Oh Ae-sun and Park Hae-joon as Yang Gwan-sik as older adults. We discuss: The songs featured during the recap: “A Rock that never erodes in the sea of my heart” and “Just be a good son, that’s all,” both by Park Seong-il, whose work captures the sad, wistful tone of the episode. Our guest Kim Soomin from Virginialicious shares her passion for Korean food and the stories behind her food tours. How Eun Myeong’s storyline takes center stage, highlighting the painful dynamics of favoritism, ambition, and parental regret. The cultural and historical context of buncheong stoneware, how Eun Myeong’s life was turned upside by a single buncheon statue. Pawnshops, especially during the IMF crisis in Korea. The heartbreaking reasons Eun Myeong started his business, and his desperate need to be seen and lo...
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11.13 - Podcast Review of Episode 13 of When Life Gives You Tangerines

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 13 of When Life Gives You Tangerines , the hit K Drama on Netflix starring IU as Oh Ae-sun and Park Bo-gum as Yang Gwan-sik as young adults, then Moon So-ri as Oh Ae-sun and Park Hae-joon as Yang Gwan-sik as older adults. We discuss: The songs featured during the recap: “Twenty Years of One Side Love” by Yoon Hyun Kyum and “Third Time’s the Charm” by Judah Earl. How this episode captures the parallel dynamics of Geum Myeong’s marriage to Chung Seob and her evolving relationship with her father, Gwan Sik. The episode’s powerful themes of generational sacrifice, as each generation sacrifices to make things better for their children. The poignant wedding scene, where Yeong Beom watches Geum Myeong from afar; he finally sees Geum Myeong in a wedding dress! The doljanchi (first birthday celebration) of Je Il and the cultural significance of Korean rice cakes and the doljabi ritual. The confrontation between Eun Myeong and his father, revealing resentme...

11.12 - Podcast Review of Episode 12 of When Life Gives You Tangerines

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 12 of When Life Gives You Tangerines , the hit K Drama on Netflix starring IU as Oh Ae-sun and Park Bo-gum as Yang Gwan-sik as young adults, then Moon So-ri as Oh Ae-sun and Park Hae-joon as Yang Gwan-sik as older adults. We discuss: The songs featured during the recap: They Fell Down But Got Back Up Again and Eternal Nostalgia , both by Judah Earl, a non-Korean musician who has contributed to many K Dramas OSTs. The history and use of yeontan (연탄), charcoal briquettes in Korea to heat homes; Joanna talked about how these briquettes are prominent in Reply 1988 . The healing nature of this episode for Geum Myeong, who returns to Jeju a year after her breakup with Yeong beom and is cared for by her parents. The lavish and carefully prepared meals Ae-sun prepares to nourish her daughter, including jangjorim, chonggak kimchi, bibim naengmyeon, and kimbap. A sweet sunrise boat ride between Gwan-sik and Geum Myeong that rekindles their bond and r...

11.11 - Podcast Review of Episode 11 of When Life Gives You Tangerines

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 11 of When Life Gives You Tangerines , the hit K Drama on Netflix starring IU as Oh Ae-sun, Park Bo-gum as Yang Gwan-sik as young adults, Moon So-ri as Oh Ae-sun, and Park Hae-joon as Yang Gwan-sik as older adults. We discuss: The songs we featured during the recap: "Picasso’s Room" by Yun Hyun Kyum and "Geum Myeong is Truly a Blessing to Me" by Chang Hyowon. Joanna’s Korean food tour in Annandale, VA with Virginialicious and tour guide Park Su-jin, and how Korean food has become mainstream in the U.S. Gongjindan, a traditional Korean herbal medicine, and its symbolic role in showing affection and care. The blossoming emotional depth and poetic confession from Chung Seop to Geum Myeong — comparing her to a Christmas tree that sparkles no matter where it's placed. The nuanced reasons why Geum Myeong breaks up with Yeong Beom — not because she doesn’t love him, but because she loves herself, too. Yeong Beom’s powerlessn...

11.10 - Podcast Review of Episode 10 of When Life Gives You Tangerines

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 10 of When Life Gives You Tangerines , the hit K Drama on Netflix starring IU as Oh Ae-sun and Park Bo-gum as Yang Gwan-sik as young adults, then Moon So-ri as Oh Ae-sun and Park Hae-joon as Yang Gwan-sik as older adults. We discuss: The featured song during the recap: “Theme of Ae-sun” by Park Sung-il, the musician who also wrote “Theme of Gwan-sik,” “Spring in a Heartbeat,” and “Two Faced Summer” from this OST. The Baeksang Awards wins for this show—Best Drama, Best Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Supporting Actor—and how validating it feels to have picked a gem for Season 11 of our podcast! How this episode focuses on three mothers and their powerful love for their children: Ae-sun, Yeong-ran, and Chung-seop’s mom. The symbolic and cultural significance of white rice, and how Bu Sang-gil uses it as a weapon in his drunken tirade. Oh Seong’s boiling anger against his father and sister, and his tragic learned behavior from witnessin...