Twinkling Watermelon Review

: Cheong-ah is the "ice princess" of her art school—a congenitally deaf teenager who is cold to the world as a shield against the cruelty she faces. However, she secretly dreams of a brilliant, shiny life as an artist. Shin Eun-soo spent much time learning sign language for the role, and her performance portrays Cheong-ah's strength and vulnerability with breathtaking sensitivity.

After a fierce argument with his father, Eun-gyeol stumbles upon a mysterious music shop called "Viva Music" and is magically transported back in time to the year 1995. There, he encounters his father, Ha Yi-chan (Choi Hyun-wook), as a spirited and boisterous 18-year-old who can hear perfectly. To his horror, he also discovers that his father is infatuated with a cello goddess named Choi Se-kyung (Seol In-ah), not the woman who will become his mother. Adding to the confusion, a girl named On Eun-yu (also played by Seol In-ah) is also transported from the future, setting up a complex romantic dynamic. Twinkling Watermelon

Eun-gyeol’s future mother in 1995. She is a deaf artist portrayed as a "cold and haughty ice princess" who is deeply isolated and mistreated by her family. Shin Eun-soo learned sign language for the role and delivers a moving performance as a character whose silence speaks volumes. : Cheong-ah is the "ice princess" of her

: The anchor of the emotional narrative. Ryeoun brilliantly portrays the guilt, love, and immense pressure felt by a CODA child. His transition from a dutiful son to a passionate bandmate drives the plot forward. After a fierce argument with his father, Eun-gyeol

: Eun-gyeol is the emotional anchor of the series. As a CODA, he has always shouldered the weight of responsibility. His journey into the past is not just about changing destiny but about understanding his parents as flawed, vibrant individuals, not just the authority figures he knew in 2023.

The series aired on cable channel tvN from September 25 to November 14, 2023. It consists of 16 episodes, released every Monday and Tuesday at 20:50 (KST). It is also available for streaming on platforms such as Netflix, Viki, and Viu in selected regions.