Oh Ae-Sun and Yang Gwan-sik have finally grown up, entering their teenage years on Jeju Island in When Life Gives You Tangerines.
In Episode 2, we see a determined Ae-sun, with her head buried in her books.
She dreams of a life beyond the island, aspiring to attend college, become a poet, and marry into wealth in Seoul.
Meanwhile, a young Gwan-sik, hopelessly in love with Ae-sun, continues to support her ambitions (though not the part about marrying someone rich in Seoul).
He works at the market, selling cabbages, while she studies alongside him.
Cute Ae-Sun and Gwan-sik moment
After taking her to the fields, the Ae-sun and Gwan-sik share a heartfelt moment.
As we can remember from the first episode, a hardworking Gwan-sik always gave Ae-sun food whenever she was down. However, he admits that he hasn’t given her fish for ten years because he felt sorry for her. Ae-sun, in turn, confesses that she’s longed to kiss him, and they finally lock lips!
However, when Ae-sun returns home, she realises how alone and unwanted she feels after her stepfather moves on with another woman.
Feeling lost, she goes to her uncle’s house. He suggests she work in a factory to pay off his late brother’s debt, crushing her dreams.
With few options left, the bookworm teeneger runs back to Gwan-Sik, who suggests that she return home. But when they realise she can’t stay with him due to his disapproving family, they decide to run away together.
Ae-sun returns home and steals clothes and jewelry from her stepdad’s new wife. Meanwhile, Gwan-sik takes his mum’s beloved treasures.
While they get on a ship to start their new lives together, they are spotted by a ship worker who asks for their IDs. But Ae-sun and Gwan-sik manage to stubbornly get out of the situation.
However, they have just as much bad luck when they look for a hotel to stay in, begging the husband and wife who own the motel in Busan to shelter them.
Thankfully, the wife is more considerate after Gwan-sik tells the couple they are newlyweds. But as all is going well, during the night, their clothing and previous items are stolen.
Realising their items have been taken by the old couple, they get into a brawl and end up calling the police on Ae-sun and Gwan-sik.
Elsewhere, Gwan-sik’s mum had been looking desperately for the pair and saw them at the police station.
She angrily tried to take back her previous jewellery item, but the business owners cunningly convinced the police of their innocence, leaving them to continue on with their scheming ways.
The episode ends with Ae-sun returning to the model to return their belongings while the couple is asleep, but they’re caught and have to fight them off.
Episode 3 of When Life Gives You Tangerines Kdrama Recap
After returning home, Ae-sun is tragically expelled from school. Gwan-sik’s mum then gives her some sad advice, leading her to break up with the teenager.
She then agrees to marry an older man who says he will pay for her to continue studying. Meanwhile, Gwan-sik heads to Seoul to pursue his athletics career.
Unhappy with where her life is heading, Ae-sun runs to catch up with Gwan-sik before she leaves, and thankful just in time, he spots her and jumps off the ship.
The pair eventually gets married and has children.
Overall thoughts
These episodes were an emotional rollercoaster, showing us the journey of Ae-sun and Gwan-sik, from childhood sweethearts to a married couple.
The first episode sets the stage with a tragic death that continues to haunt Ae-sun, weighing heavily on her throughout the story.
I loved watching her transformation from a stubborn, headstrong schoolgirl to a more gentle, multi-dimensional character who reveals new sides of her emotions.
The same can be said for Gwan-sik, who goes from being a shy, timid boy to a confident young man. The episode is full of emotions, heartfelt moments with laughter, making it an enjoyable watch.