Netflix’s “When Life Gives You Tangerines” has captivated viewers with its sweeping multigenerational story, but fans have noticed a significant drop in Park Bo-gum’s screen time as the series moves into its later episodes.
A Shift in Focus as the Story Progresses
The third act of “When Life Gives You Tangerines” (episodes 9–12), released on March 21, focuses on the older years of Ae-soon (Moon So-ri) and Gwan-sik (Park Hae-joon), along with daughter Geum-myeong (IU). The drama, which follows the four seasons of life, originally starred IU and Park Bo-gum as the younger versions of Ae-soon and Gwan-sik, drawing major attention for their performances.
The series gained momentum after its first act, with the second act rising to second place in Netflix’s global Top 10 Non-English Series rankings. However, as the story transitions to the characters’ later years, Park Bo-gum’s presence has dramatically diminished, leaving viewers feeling disappointed.
Park Bo-gum’s Near “Disappearance” in Act 3
As the story moves toward its conclusion, the narrative naturally shifts from the younger to the older versions of the characters. While IU continues to play a central role by portraying both young Ae-soon and her daughter Geum-myeong, Park Bo-gum’s absence becomes even more apparent. Unlike IU, whose screen time is sustained through a second role, Park Bo-gum’s character appears only in limited flashback scenes, with almost no presence in Act 3.
Adding to the disappointment, the latest episodes introduce a new romantic storyline for Geum-myeong and her boyfriend Young-bum (Lee Jun-young), while spoilers suggest that Geum-myeong’s eventual husband will be yet another new character.
Was Park Bo-gum Only the Lead for the First Half?
Given his diminished presence in the latter half of the drama, some fans argue that Park Bo-gum was effectively the male lead only for the first act and part of the second act. His role has since been overshadowed by Lee Jun-young and even special guest star Kim Seon-ho, making his initial prominence feel short-lived.
With only a few episodes left, viewers are eager to see if Park Bo-gum will return with an impactful moment in the final chapters of the story. Will the drama give his character a meaningful conclusion, or will fans be left wanting more?
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