Exploring Love and Resilience in IU’s Latest Works
On March 10, 2025, fans of IU eagerly noted the striking similarities between her new drama, When Life Gives You Tangerines, and her 2024 music video, Love Wins All. Both narratives delve into enduring love that flourishes in challenging circumstances, sparking discussions about the strength of human relationships in the face of adversity.
A Deep Dive into When Life Gives You Tangerines
Launched on Netflix on March 7, 2025, When Life Gives You Tangerines is a romantic drama set against the backdrop of 1960s Jeju Island, South Korea. The show follows the life of Oh Ae-sun, portrayed by IU, as she navigates her formative years and her significant connection with Yang Gwan-sik, played by Park Bo-gum. The series poignantly emphasizes the challenges they confront together.
The Dystopian World of Love Wins All
Released earlier on January 24, 2024, Love Wins All, featuring IU alongside BTS’s Taehyung, transports viewers into a dystopian setting. Directed by Um Tae-hwa, the music video unfolds a chilling narrative in which the protagonists must elude terrifying entities referred to as “Nemo.”Their love story offers solace as they share their final moments together, emphasizing the importance of connection even in the bleakest circumstances.
Fan Reactions and Connections Drawn
Online discussions are buzzing with fans pointing out the converging narratives of both works. One user expressed their emotional response on the platform X:
“This is making me cry again”
Others have articulated how both the drama and the music video serve as profound commentaries on resilient love.
“I do agree, I’ve been thinking of Love Wins All when I saw every cut video of WLGYT. Like, why isn’t Love Wins All the OST for WLGYT?!”
Fans further recognized thematic overlaps with IU’s track, Shh.., noting its focus on women’s empowerment across various generations.
“I’ve been listening to Love Wins All since finishing When Life Gives You Tangerines. I immediately connected the song with their story.”
Delving Deeper: Thematic Parallels
When Life Gives You Tangerines offers a profound exploration of its characters’ growth amid socio-economic challenges, illustrating the evolution of the bond between Ae-sun and Gwan-sik over time. Despite their hardships, Gwan-sik’s life is centered around helping Ae-sun fulfill her aspirations, despite societal constraints limiting her dreams.
Character development is slowly unraveled through slice-of-life storytelling, revealing how Ae-sun sacrifices her ambition to become a poet, ultimately settling into a domestic life due to the period’s gender norms. In parallel, Gwan-sik gives up his dream of becoming an athletic star to support their family, highlighting the selfless nature of their love.
In contrast, Love Wins All portrays Ji-hye and Tae-joon as a couple grappling with their disabilities in a troublesome world. As they seek refuge from impending doom, they find temporary escape through a camcorder that shows a life free from their physical limitations, allowing them to experience love without barriers, albeit momentarily.
Conclusion: Love in All Forms
Both narratives emphasize the transformative power of love, showcasing couples who endure life’s trials together. While Ae-sun and Gwan-sik combat societal norms, financial struggles, and personal sorrow, Ji-hye and Tae-joon face existential threats in a deserted reality. They find strength in each other, illustrating the uplifting message that love can transcend even the harshest conditions.
When Life Gives You Tangerines is currently available for streaming on Netflix, with episodes 5 to 8 slated for release on March 14, 2025. Meanwhile, Love Wins All can be found on IU’s comeback album, The Winning, and is accessible on YouTube.