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It's really all about the correct fit, which this did not have
Edit - I recently was listening to a podcast that talked about the current situation in South Koreas for actors. There seems to be diminishing amount of work available even for the best of actors. My review hit Park Eun Bin pretty hard in her portrayal of the FL. One question I kept asking was why would Park Eun Bin take on a role like Mok Ha? Well with the amount of work for South Korean actors decreasing, that answers my question. I hope with the popularity of Kdramas, there will be plenty of work available for these talented actors.In watching this series, I can sum up my impression with one word...disconnect. Let's first talk about the disconnect with the lead role.
Probably like most other viewers, I watched this series for actor Park Eun Bin. Her stellar performances in The King's Affection and Extraordinary Attorney Woo brought me back for more. The expectations were high, maybe too high, as this performance did not deliver like her two previous series. Eun Bin is a gifted and talented character actress, and I'm not sure the role of Mok Ha needed what she brought to it. Maybe that is why I always felt at odds with Mok Ha when watching her storyline unfold. I never really felt there was a good fit between this talented actress and the character she was playing. However, the rest of the cast seemed to gel nicely with their characters. I especially enjoyed the actors who played young Ki Ho and young Mok Ha.
Next was the disconnect between my expectations of the series (based on the marketing) and the reality. It came across as a light-hearted, funny, musical-type of series. But from the very beginning, it had this dark side that carried the viewer through all kinds of torture with hellish family abuse, violence, attempted murder, suicide, business sabotage, and let's not forget trying to survive on a deserted island. I realize this adds layers and complexity to a storyline, but the execution of lighthearted contrasted with violence was a little too extreme for one story, and for me, made it unbelievable. I also had a hard time believing in Mok Ha's journey both on the island and once she was rescued. I know this is fiction, and anything can happen in fiction, but building a hut? How and where did those wood slats come from? The nails? The tools? I remember hearing an interview of Tom Hanks and Robert Zemekis when the 2000 movie Castaway came out in theaters. They spoke how they constantly debated on how far they would let Hank's deserted island character show the utter reality of surviving. If they showed complete reality, it would drive the viewer away as it would be too depressing to watch. I realize that same thing applied to this series, but it seemed they went a little too far as sometimes it just seemed everyday was a great day on the island.
Mok Ha's transition back into civilization was another disconnect. First of all, trauma is her middle name. She has an abusive father, runs away, is chased into the sea by this abusive father, washes ashore, sees her dead father in the waves, and has to survive by herself for 15 years. Yet, with all of this trauma, when she does come back to civilization, she immediately dons her fan-girling hat, blows up balloons, cheers for her favorite idol as the most balanced and stable human being on the planet. It just is way too unbelievable. I also have to say that I find this somewhat offensive. If a person actually went through what Mok Ha went through, there would be years of therapy to work through the trauma and re-enter life. The way the writers completely ignored this is great disservice to abuse and trauma victims. Not only was it ignored, but when Mok Ha is rescued, all the focus goes to the selfish, self-serving celebrity hitting her alcoholic bottom lamenting her lost career, and how Mok Ha takes care of her! This is what I least liked about the series.
My advice to someone thinking about watching this series is to treat it like a fairytale. There is a hero, heroine, villain, and the stuff that happens to them is a bit on the "magical" side, but it's done to get them to that happily-ever after.
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Tissues are required to watch this drama
The first episode was a lot. The characters gave me GOONG vibes - you'd think this drama would be cheesy...BUT IT AIN'T!I did not expect to ball my eyes out in the first episode. The topic of DA really hits me hard. I think the director and actors did well in conveying what some scenarios are like (and how victims may feel/think). It really does suck for Jang KiHo's situation (Father being a police officer - can't really report him with how corrupt the government/society is).
As you go through the drama, some things may seem expected/predictable, but it's still such a well-told drama (so far, as i haven't completed the drama yet). I've cried almost every episode, as each episode brings up different challenges and back stories of each character - the struggles!
I'm such a fan of all the dramas Park EunBin has been in, and her costars are always so amazing (good team work).
Also, I had high expectations when I saw who the screenwriter (Park Hye Ryun) and Director (Oh Choong Hwan) were, as they have been responsible for many amazing dramas I love.
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Overall bland
Should have been story of stranded girl finding her own way into stardom. But viewers got all the other things instead.Cons:
1) Drama has too many plotlines and almost each supporting characters had a backstory. As a result, i wasn`t invested in each story.
2) Character consistency or logic
Characters changes suddenly without much logic or explanation.
3) It was supposed to be Rom Com but it didn`t do both of these well. Romance was not swoony and comedy was not funny.
Pros:
1) I loved Park Eun Bin`s performance. She sold this endearing character
2) OSTs were good.
3) I loved some of the messages writer was trying to tell
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what did it want to be?
I'll preface my review by stating the obvious, in the hopes that no one gets hateful, this is just my personal opinion. Please take it or leave it alone, agree or disagree, but please respect the opinions of others (and I'm kind of irritated that I even have to say this).There was a lot to like about this show:
Acting. Everyone was really good. Park Eun Bin as Mok Ha was wonderful. I think there were certain mannerisms that we saw that she displayed in Extraordinary Attorney Woo and I think are just part of her DNA, because I've seen them in other shows of hers. However, they absolutely worked here. She was charming and likeable, driven, yet devoted to those she loved. All of the other actors were excellent as well. I especially loved the younger actors, they were the standouts for me. Also, Kim Joo Heon playing a morally gray character, and both Lee Seung Joon as Ki Ho's father and Lee Yoo Joon as Mok Ha's father were surprising. We are so used to seeing them in the role of good guys, their transformations were amazing.
Music. As you'd expect, the OST was wonderful. Eun Bin's voice is sublime. I could literally listen to her all day.
My problem came in with the writing and the way the story was put together. On the surface, or maybe because of the trailers, this was an original premise, with strong possibilities of feeling all the feels. My struggle was this drama couldn't decide if it wanted to be a romance, a drama, a comedy, light or dark. For me, the extremes were too great. I wasn't expecting it to be fluffy, but the darkness was too dark for the rest of the drama, and the flipping back and forth wasn't allowing me to flow with the story. I didn't feel that there was enough of her on the island (a whole episode would have been nice) and the whole thing just seemed too implausible - she was that close to civilization all that time? Then, her reintegration was just too easy. First of all, the voice is a muscle. She would have needed to get used to using her voice again. Add to that, her early life was just trauma. So, she's traumatized as a child and then has the trauma of having been on an island by herself for 15 years, but she comes home and there appear to be no after-effects, just that she's glad to be back home and she immediately gets back on the track of wanting to meet her idol. It would have been so much better if we'd been able to see/feel her struggles with reassimilating into society -- that would have really improved the flow and made it more realistic.
I'd say, if you've actually read this far and are wondering whether to give this show a try, you should, definitely. Just because I'm one of the few outlier people that didn't fall in love with it, you may (and probably will) have a different reaction to it.
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SO MUCH MORE THAN WHAT I EXPECTED ♡
Wow, I cannot believe this has ultimately reached its end, six weeks went by in the blink of an eye. Castaway Diva is so much more than anything anyone expected. Emotional and heartbreaking from the very first episode, it set the tone right and never disappointed once ever since. Even when one thought the main or side story could get messed up or disappoint viewers, it managed to prove us wrong.The characters were beautiful and raw. Mok Ha and Ki Ho left such an impression from when they were school kids on Chunsam Island that it was impossible not to feel for their story and cheer for them to have a happy ending. They both went through so much even as they grew up and as adults, so I was the happiest when they finally managed to let go of their worries and finally be happy together with the people they love the most. Woo Hak/Chae Ho was always such a scene-stealer, his goofy and straightforward personality lit up the scenes in more ways than one. The Kang (or should I say Lee) brothers' love and support for each other and the way they had different ways to express themselves was one of the highlights of the drama. They are so different in personality but that's how siblings are, it was so relatable. They were so funny and adorable and I am going to miss seeing them onscreen together. The supporting cast was brilliant, every character was built on different human emotions, you could understand their motives, fears and moves and that is what made these characters human and relatable. Ki Ho's father is the only character that I despised the most but hats off to the actor, as these feelings only come out when an actor manages to portray them well, Lee Seung Joon is always such a versatile actor. On this note, a big part of this drama was its actors, and Park Eun Bin once again proved why she is the amazing star that she is: I have watched almost all of her dramas and she is such a talented actress, she portrays her roles with such diligence and perfection and this time she even sang so many songs for the OST and this step further made her shine in the role of Seo Mok Ha, as it is her voice and the facial expressions that made it such a delight to watch. I don't miss any of Chae Jong Hyeop's dramas as well and once again he charmed us with his eyes and amazing smile, the best Ki Ho we could have ever gotten. His facial expressions and acting are so captivating and I am so excited to see his future lead roles, he is a fantastic actor. It was my first time watching Cha Hak Yeon and Kim Hyo Jin and now I want to check out more of their works, I loved them so much: they were rash and almost selfish in so many instances but I can't fault them as these actions made their characters unique and real, and as actors, they were brilliant in portraying them.
A special shoutout to the child actors, Lee Re and Moon Woo Jin, they have such a bright future ahead of them, and the level of detail and passion they have at such a young age is commendable. The way they made us cry and love them in that first episode, wow I don't think a first episode ever left this much impact on me. It was like a whole movie, rather than an episode :)
The OST is such a hit, not one song is a skip, especially Park Eun Bin's songs, she surprised me so much, and her voice is so beautiful that I need her to sing OSTs in every drama she does from now onwards.
I have only praise for this drama, and I am happy about it. I enjoyed the last six weeks, waited for the weekend, and rushed everything so I would be sat when the episodes dropped on Netflix. Thanks to the excitement, the whole week would pass in a blur and I just genuinely enjoyed all the beautiful emotions this drama took out of me. I cried, I laughed, I was furious but the next moment I was giggling and covering my mouth at cute and fluffy scenes. This drama is a full package of emotions, so please be ready to feel them all along with the characters and I promise you won't be bored.
Thank you Castaway Diva, I was really happy the last six weeks. Thank you to the amazing cast, directors, screenwriters and all the staff for bringing this absolute gem to our screens. This is a 10/10 for me without even thinking, they deserve it in every aspect ♡
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We're all Castaway Divas
Castaway Diva weaves an extraordinary tale of resilience and the pursuit of dreams that left me emotionally invested from the very beginning.Mok Ha's narrative unfolds as a poignant journey, transcending the conventional boundaries of survival stories. From enduring the solitude of a deserted island during her formative years to re-entering a society that has drastically transformed in her absence, Mok Ha's character resonates with an authenticity that is both heartwarming and heartbreaking.
What struck me the most was her unwavering determination to fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming a singer despite the immense challenges that stood in her way. The series adeptly explores the complexities of social dynamics in the contemporary world, highlighting the stark contrasts between Mok Ha's isolated existence and the bustling, interconnected reality she faces upon her return. As she navigates this unfamiliar terrain, the show skillfully captures the essence of her struggles and triumphs, delivering a powerful narrative that tugs at the heartstrings.
Castaway Diva is not merely a story; it's an ode to the indomitable human spirit and the boundless pursuit of passion, leaving viewers with a resonant message that dreams, no matter how deferred, can be realized with unwavering perseverance.
Really, a must watch – I laughed, I cried, and above all, I found myself deeply inspired by the journey of these castaway divas.
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The Songs! Her Voice!
Park Eun Bin never, and I mean, never, fails to deliver and this is no exception - adding a whole new facet to her talents by having her knocking it out of the park with that stunning voice she has too, alongside her already award winning acting talent.The rest of the cast are great too, of course, and I particularly loved the interplay between Park Eun Bin and Kim Hyo Jin (who played Ran Joo), and Lee Re who played Seo Mok Ha when she was younger was an absolutely inspired choice - the two of them were a brilliant younger/older pairing and so often when watching the older Mok Ha I could see the little twitches or tells that were the same as Lee Re portrayed on the younger Mok Ha - this truly felt like a younger and older version of the same person.
This is a story of people who have lost their way, whether it's in their careers and dreams or literally on an island, and how those people find each other and guide each other to their futures.
The music throughout is spectacular, absolutely my taste and i'll be adding most of it to my playlist on Spotify, wait for the credits at the end of the last episode for a different video to one of the songs too featuring Mok Ha on the island, nice little treat.
Of course aside from Mok Ha on the island, you've got a number of other things at play, from Ran Joo losing her way as an artist, to the other things happening to Ki Ho, Mok ha's friend from home who tried to run away with her at the start that threaten to not just derail their futures but potentially worse.
Numerous times throughout watching this you'll get those big warm fuzzies, or ball your eyes out, depending on how you react - not spoiling anything but... Ran Joo and the balloons, that's all i'm saying. Sorry, i've got something in my eye...
Trigger warnings - abusive parents at the start, pretty tough to watch, but it all contributes to the story I thought and none of it was gratuitous.
I'd happily re-watch this one. The songs, the sights of seeing her grow and sing, the journey the other characters take, I don't think knowing what comes actually diminishes the value of re-watching it much if at all.
Right, i'm off to get a fair-use warning on Spotify for listening to the OST for this too much...
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Another one bites the dust
Another one in a series of shows that started brilliantly but went down quicker than a burnning building.Going to keep this one short. First few episodes I kept thinking, wow finally after a while a really good show that has a potential to go into my Top10. Sure some of the things were a bit ridicculous and far fetched (15 years, found by the brothers etc) but the show had sooo much heart and was so endearing that it outweighted those hickups. Then in the span of literally 5min the show turns into complete diharea. Round ep10. They commited on of the biggest NO-NOs. They went completely against the character. The character that basically made this show what it is: kind, loyal, positive, endearing etc to selfish, ungratefull, unreasonable With no build up or good reason whatsoever. She leaves the family and the ML that basically saved her life on more than one ocasion because of the fear that it might influence here career, but literally 5min later when the shares scandal comes up she’s like: I’m not leaving you unnie. Facepalm. And in the later episodes Ranjoo was relly disgusting and pathetic but they kept pushing her as a good character.
If you are serious about your dramas I suggest you skip this one, because it’s only going to melt you heart and then break it in a stupidest possible way.
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"You were my ice cooler box."
A really great slice of life that could've done without the mystery side of things. The overall story hooks you and has you hooked throughout. I was at the edge of my seat every episode watching Mok-Ha's journey from island to stadium. There are a few downs towards the end, but it picks up in the last 2 episodes for a really perfect ending.The one thing I really enjoyed in this drama were all of the relationships between all of the characters. The friendship between Mok-Ha and Ran-Joo was my favorite and I couldn't get enough of it. I was honestly looking forward to their scenes more than I was the romance. Their blossoming friendship of fan to mentor is really beautiful and I loved the character development it gives Ran-Joo. The romance and overall mystery of who Ki-Ho is was worth it, but wish it could've been resolved a little earlier to get more scenes of the two of them. There are a lot of little details that you can miss with them if you don't pay attention and it really adds to their relationship. Ki-Ho keeps all of his promises.
The music is really great and just helps add to the already amazing story. A feel good drama that has you emotionally invested until the last minute.
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Wait, who is the main lead here?
Castaway Diva stars one of my favorite K drama actresses Park Eun Bin as Mok Ha. However, I am a "story first" kind of watcher. The fact that one of my favorite actors is included is just a bonus to me.When I initially envisioned Castaway Diva, I envisioned it as a story about overcoming trememdous odds. Overcoming enormous mental and physical suffering intertwined with loneliness and personal suffering, while still maintaining the vision, persistence and inner drive to pursue your dreams of becoming a famous singer/diva. It is possible to achieve one's goals even when facing the most adverse circumstances, with determination. Even with the psychological effects of years of isolation and loneliness, and how having a dream can help keep a person motivated even in the most difficult situations.
In reality, we got a story about child abuse on two fronts, one involving Mok Ha, and the other with Kang Geol. Both grew up in hardship caused by their fathers. Mok Ha escapes on a ferry. But after her father miraculously appears on the ferry she jumps off not far from the mainland and ends up on a deserted island where no one finds her or the island for 15 years.
In her now adult years, the time quickly passes past her teenage years (where many definite trials of survival were omitted). An abundant supply of washed up trash, combined with a variety of items that are good enough to get her by, eases the perceived hardship. She looks a little dirty and her clothing is worn. That's all the evidence we have of 15 years. A flashback shows her attempt to end her life, only to be saved by seeing a floating...cooler. Her mental state is worn a bit.
I'm not being overly critical here, these are things that actually happened. In EPISODE 1, she is rescued. My first thought was that they might be able to fill in many things through flashbacks. Furthermore, I felt the studio did not want to lose audiences to a drawn-out survival story and it would press Park Eun Bins' range once again, but I think her fans would like to see her in a different, more fairytale setting. Anyhow...
Adopting back into society is a breeze. The doctor has marked her health as good. Her skin, hair, and teeth are all in excellent health. In terms of body weight, she is in proportion to any other woman her age. It's all going well! It would have been better to just have her run away instead of having her be a castaway. With an abusive father and his death, her isolation and loneliness on a deserted island at 15, Mok Ha has been through a lot mentally. Despite this, she immediately finds strength to support her idol, Ran Joo, and launches a campaign to encourage HER comeback. It's not the other way around. In this story, Ran Joo takes center stage with Mok Ha supporting her as Ran Joo overcomes odds.
Wrapping up, overall it was a good production. Of course we have Bo Geol and Wook Hak's loving friendship and the psychotic father story. The main disappointment for me was not all the little issues as mentioned, but the fact that the ML took the role of the support person. Those who think otherwise would be fooling themselves. I just wish most of the focus was on ML.
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Very shiny but without much charm
Honestly, I think 7.5 might be too generous?? idkI genuinely had so many hopes for this drama. I’m a big fan of PEB and was holding my damn breath until this drama would be released because it sounded soo interesting. Unfortunately, at least in my opinion, this drama ended up giving too much screen time to subplots that I did not care about whatsoever (RJ shares, Ran Joo’s mother, and most of all the stupid abusive dad storyline) and not nearly enough to the parts that actually mattered and most of us came here for (helloooooooooo? romance? literally where).
This is a drama that genuinely had so much potential and had all the right tools to become successful, but it completely fumbled the execution and left me feeling quite disappointed. Couple of upsides: love love LOVE the SML, honestly he had more chemistry with PEB than CJH and was honestly just the best boy all around. So devoted to Seo Mok Ha from the very beginning, was literally fantasizing about being her childhood first love to have an excuse to be with her like cmon the flag doesn’t get any greener than that. Music was simply amazing, no doubt about that. My Spotify playlists will be blessed with many new additions. Park Eun Bin slayed as always, I will always watch her in anything and everything.
Now for biggest pet peeves: Although I enjoyed the character development of the ML, they just didn’t give him enough time to develop as an individual and then as a love interest for Seo Mok Ha, they just kind of slapped them together at the end and called it love (even when we get past how insta-lovey their childhood story was). Because of this the chemistry was just so off and I couldn’t root for the main couple since they gave them nothing to work with besides a crush from 15 years ago. Like I said before, the inclusion of many uninteresting (to me) plotlines made the plot drag so much and genuinely just made for a very dull viewing experience. I quite frankly didn’t come here to watch a batshit crazy police officer chase his family across all of Korea, I came to watch Park Eun Bin become a singer and maybe fall in love, so the fact that such a large portion of the story was focused on stalker daddy disappointed me pretty immensely.
All in all, not a terrible drama and may be a worthwhile watch, just maybe not for me. Blame my sky-high expectations or the marketing, but this drama just didn’t live up to what I had imagined in my head. If you must, at least stay for Park Eun Bin’s music. Or find the Spotify playlist, that works too lol.
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