In 1995, he encounters his 18-year-old father, Ha Yi-chan , who—to Eun-gyeol's shock—is not deaf and is a vibrant, bumbling teenager obsessed with forming a band to impress his first love.
The "cello goddess" of the school, who brings a touch of romance and complexity.
The central fantasy trope—meeting your parents when they were your age—is a powerful narrative device. Eun-gyeol goes back intending to "fix" his father. Instead, he learns that his father was once a scared, hopeful, and cool teenager. He realizes that his parents’ lives existed before him, filled with their own romances, heartbreaks, and dreams. This journey allows him to forgive them and himself[citation:3][citation:8].
Determined to secure his own future existence and protect his father from a tragic accident that he knows will cause his father's future deafness, Eun-gyeol joins forces with his teenage dad. Together, they form a youth rock band called "Watermelon Sugar". Twinkling Watermelon
The story follows , a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults) who is a model student by day but a gifted guitarist by night.
A small roadside stall at dusk, lanterns humming low, sits at the edge of a sleepy town. The air is warm, sweet with summer, and a patchwork of insects provides a distant percussion. On the stall’s wooden counter rests a single watermelon—round, strangely luminous, its rind patterned like an old map. A soft, pulsing gleam comes from within.
Time travel is one of the most overused tropes in television history. Yet, every once in a while, a series comes along and breathes magical new life into the concept. In late 2023, the tvN drama Twinkling Watermelon did exactly that. Directed by Son Jong-hyun and written by the brilliant Jin Soo-wan (the mastermind behind Kill Me, Heal Me and The Moon Embracing the Sun ), this 16-episode masterpiece captured the hearts of global audiences. It seamlessly blends music, family dynamics, disability representation, and youth nostalgia into a beautifully orchestrated symphony. In 1995, he encounters his 18-year-old father, Ha
While the title might evoke images of a lighthearted fruit salad, the series is actually a deeply emotional exploration of family, disability, dreams, and the unbreakable bonds between parents and children. It masterfully uses the tropes of time travel and band culture to tell a story that is as refreshing and sweet as its namesake, yet complex and layered enough to leave a lasting impact.
If you want to dive deeper into this drama, let me know if you would like me to analyze the , break down the symbolism of Frida Kahlo's art in the show, or provide a complete tracklist of the OST . Share public link
Known for his roles in Taxi Driver and Twenty-Five Twenty-One , Choi Hyun-wook shines as the 18-year-old Yi-chan. He is a bundle of chaotic, golden-retriever energy. His transformation from a rebellious teen to a caring young man who learns sign language to communicate with Cheong-ah is the dramatic highlight of the series[citation:1][citation:7]. Eun-gyeol goes back intending to "fix" his father
The mature, anxious protagonist who hides his immense musical genius out of duty to his family. His desperate attempts to protect his teenage father drive the plot's emotional urgency. Choi Hyun-wook
The drama centers on Eun Gyeol, a high school student living a double life. Born to deaf parents, he has grown up as the family’s "ears" and voice, interpreting for them in a hearing world. To manage the pressure, he secretly pursues his true passion—music. He is a talented guitarist in a band, a fact he hides from his father who fears music will lead him away from a "stable" life.