New Delhi: After weeks of dominating Netflix’s non-English TV show category, When Life Gives You Tangerines has officially wrapped up its gut-wrenching journey. The fourth and final volume of the IU and Park Bo Gum-starrer premiered on March 28.

And it is needless to say that the last four episodes delivered an emotionally charged ending that left fans in tears but also with a sense of closure. If you’ve been wondering how it all played out in When Life Gives You Tangerines, here’s a breakdown of the series finale.

When Life Gives You Tangerines ending: Gwan Sik’s final days

Throughout the last few episodes, Ae Sun and her family finally find stability running a successful squid restaurant. Their son Eun Myeong embraces fatherhood. Meanwhile, their daughter Geum Myeong continues to support them financially while carving her own success story. But just as life starts to settle, tragedy strikes. Gwan Sik gets diagnosed with cancer.

Despite his declining health, he remains the backbone of the family. Ae Sun never leaves his side, and Geum Myeong ensures he receives the best medical care. In one of the most heart-rending moments, the cute father and daughter share a night laughing and shedding tears, which marks one of their most intimate scenes in the series.

As his condition worsens, Gwan Sik decides to spend his final days at home, surrounded by his loved ones. Ae Sun, knowing his days are numbered, gifts him a book of her poems, a testament to their shared memories since they were kids. Overwhelmed with emotion, he carries her on his back one last time.

When Life Gives You Tangerines ending explained

In November 2006, Gwan Sik takes his last breath, asking Ae Sun if their time together was good. Her tearful response? Life may have been tough, but she was never lonely. His passing leaves a void, but he ensures his family’s future by saving Geum Myeong’s financial support and leaving behind gifts for his children.

In the present timeline, Ae Sun finds peace in teaching elderly students how to write. Her poetry, once a private escape, finally gets recognition. In the final scene, Ae Sun celebrates her literary success with her daughter. A mysterious woman, who approves her story, reads her work with pride and tearful eyes. To everyone’s surprise, she looks strikingly similar to Ae Sun’s late mother. Eventually, this brief scene hints at a spiritual connection and subtly ties back fans to the show’s themes of love and destiny.

Who does Geum Myeong end up with?

Geum Myeong’s love life was another emotional rollercoaster. Initially engaged to her first love, Young Beom, their relationship crumbles after he fails to stand up for her against his controlling parents. Years later, fate leads her back to the ‘Picasso guy’—a theatre artist who had once introduced her to the world of storytelling. With her parents’ blessing, they have a traditional Jeju wedding and start a new chapter together.

Will there be a second season of When Life Gives You Tangerines?

As much as fans would love to see more of Ae Sun and her family’s journey, When Life Gives You Tangerines was always meant to be a limited series. The show has delivered a satisfying and complete story, leaving no room for a sequel. If nothing else, it reminds us to cherish our loved ones, hold onto our dreams, and always carry a little piece of our past into the future. Just like Ae Sun’s hairpins.