Twinkling Watermelon

Twinkling Watermelon (2023) is a 16-episode South Korean television series directed by Son Jeong-hyeon and Yoo Beom-sang, and written by Jin Soo-wan. The story follows Ha Eun-gyeol (Ryeoun), a high school student born to deaf parents who possesses an extraordinary musical talent for the guitar. Living as a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults), Eun-gyeol acts as his family’s sole bridge to the hearing world, bearing heavy emotional responsibilities. Torn between his family's reliance on him and his hidden desire to pursue music, a heated confrontation with his father pushes Eun-gyeol to sell his guitar at a mysterious instrument shop named La Vida Music.

Upon walking out of the shop, Eun-gyeol discovers that he has been transported back in time to the year 1995. There, he encounters his father, Ha Yi-chan (Choi Hyun-wook), as a boisterous, hearing 18-year-old high school student. To Eun-gyeol’s shock, his teenage father is not in love with his future mother, Yoon Cheong-ah (Shin Eun-soo)—a deaf girl suffering in isolation—but is hopelessly chasing after Choi Se-kyung (Seol In-ah), a popular cellist. Determined to ensure his own existence and protect his father from an impending accident that will cause his hearing loss, Eun-gyeol joins Yi-chan’s newly formed high school band, Watermelon Sugar.

As the narrative unfolds across 1995, Eun-gyeol navigates teenage rivalries, band performances, and family secrets, while unexpectedly encountering On Eun-yoo (also played by Seol In-ah), a cellist who is actually a time traveler from 2023 posing as her own mother. Together, the teenagers learn to communicate beyond words, conquer personal trauma, and fight for their youth, creating a deeply moving intergenerational story of love, music, and self-discovery.

The central message of Twinkling Watermelon is encapsulated in the phrase "Viva La Vida" (Long Live Life). The series asserts that life does not need to be flawless or free of tragedy to be dazzlingly beautiful. Through its time-travel narrative, the creators highlight that parents were once young, vulnerable individuals with unfulfilled dreams, insecurities, and passions of their own.

Furthermore, the show emphasizes that communication and human connection transcend physical senses. Music and sign language are portrayed as equal languages of the soul, proving that harmony can be achieved even amidst silence and pain. The series encourages viewers to embrace both the major and minor chords of existence—the joyous highs and painful lows—and to live passionately in the present moment.

Viewers analyze the series through distinct narrative perspectives:

Aired in late 2023 on tvN, Twinkling Watermelon arrived during a wave of 1990s nostalgia in Korean media. The show received widespread praise from advocacy groups and international viewers for its respectful, nuanced depiction of CODA culture and deaf individuals. Rather than depicting disability through a lens of pity, the series highlighted sign language as an expressive language and portrayed deaf characters as autonomous, creative agents.

The drama became an international sleeper hit on streaming platforms such as Viki, Viu, and Netflix, maintaining top viewer ratings throughout its broadcast.

Audience reception for the show was highly positive:

• Praises: Viewers and critics lauded the emotional chemistry among the core four young actors, the touching representation of deaf/CODA culture, the nostalgic 90s aesthetic, and the uplifting soundtrack. Choi Hyun-wook and Shin Eun-soo received particular acclaim for their standout performances.
• Criticisms: Some viewers noted that the final episode felt rushed, particularly in explaining the exact mechanics of the magical portal and fully resolving Eun-yoo’s updated 2023 present timeline.
• Verdict: Universally regarded as one of the most heartwarming, well-rounded coming-of-age dramas of 2023, boasting exceptional user scores (9.0+/10 across MyDramaList and Viki).