A new fave
This will now be one of my absolute favorite dramas! It had suspense, love, tears, relationships & a family oriented show.I don't write many reviews bc most others have said what I agree with. But this drama gave me the "good feels!"
The story started out with family issues & dreams of overcoming those dynamics.
Ki-ho & Mok-ha survived 15 years without each other both missing the other.
Both grew & their story wasn't the only one for the show. Many side stories with complications but the ending was appropriate & the ending I wish had a little more but seriously what can ya do.
I wonder if I can buy the soundtrack but will definitely be a favorite that I watch again.
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Beautiful and heartwarming
Happy endings are the best endings, and this was one of them. I have so many things to say about this beautiful Kdrama. From the first episode, I fell in love with the story, the characters, and the music.All characters were well-written, and the support roles are included. The actors did so well bringing their characters to life, and the two actors portraying the young version of Mokha and Kiho are such good actors.
Mokha and Kiho were so cute together, always supporting each other ♥.
Kiho: "What kind of lunatic searches 15 years for someone he's uninterested in”
Mohka: "What kind of crazy woman would worry for a man for 15 years without any feelings”.
Their love is so beautiful♥
Kiho is such a walking green flag. He waited 15 years for Mohka, even prepared everything for her, and always supported her. I'm not going to lie, I'd have loved some more romance just to feed my hunger for it lol, but this was perfect anyway. It was about her journey, and her desire to become a singer.
Kiho and Chaeho, my two walking green flags. Ki Ho with his puppy eyes and beautiful smile, and Chaeho with his bright personality. I'm glad this didn't turn into a love triangle although my poor Woohak/Chaeho suffered a little.
The main topic of the drama is domestic abuse, and let me tell you the father is so scary and annoying. He remained a coward and selfish until the end, even using his own death to hurt and harm those closest to him. I'm glad he couldn't keep hurting them. At least this family had the happy ending they deserved.
The OST is just soooo beautiful that I couldn’t stop listening to it (and I think I will listen to it for a long time). Park Eunbin’s voice is like honey. Her singing was a blessing to my ears. It's so amazing when a non-professional singer sings so well. She really is a great singer and a great actress.♥
Side note: The only thing that bothers me about the story is the time she was on the island. I think 15 years is too much, and she was in good health? her skin, hair, and everything was healthy. How is that even possible? that makes no sense lol. Despite this, I really loved this show.
I like the ending, it was also so balanced. Not rushed or too draggy, Just perfect and beautiful. I cried so much while watching this, and they even played 'Someday' at the end of the last episode only to make me cry even more. I'm going to miss this drama so much 🥺
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Enchanting Echoes: A Love Letter to Park Eun-Bin's Voice in 'Castaway Diva
I have fallen deeply in love with Park Eun-Bin's voice in "Castaway Diva." The series, while not necessarily emphasizing romance prominently, has left an indelible mark on me, and I truly believe that no amount of kissing scenes can surpass the sheer brilliance of her voice. Throughout the entire series, I found myself experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions—crying, feeling sad, and getting excited in equal measure.
If there were a voting system in place, I would wholeheartedly cast my vote for "Castaway Diva" as a top K-drama for 2023. Park Eun-Bin's performance, coupled with the overall emotional depth of the series, has truly resonated with me. It's not just about the romantic elements; rather, it's the raw and authentic portrayal of emotions that has left a lasting impact.
Sharing my sentiments about the series and Park Eun-Bin's exceptional voice is something I am eager to do. Even without a formal voting system, expressing our appreciation for such outstanding performances is essential. Whether through social media or online forums, discussing and recommending "Castaway Diva" can potentially connect me with like-minded viewers who share a similar passion for quality storytelling and remarkable acting.
In conclusion, I wholeheartedly endorse "Castaway Diva" as a top K-drama for 2023, and I encourage others to explore this captivating series, not just for its romantic aspects but for the rich emotional tapestry it weaves, brought to life by the incredible talent of Park Eun-Bin.
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WHat a story.
Perfect story to tell and perfect cast to act. Love their chemistry. A always, the FL is the best to portray any character she was in. Love her in the series "Hello my Twenties". she is just amazing. Nothing bad to stay. A must-watch series.This series makes me smile in every episode. Love the way the writers shows that even in a bad situation, you can do it as long as you want it and supported by your loved ones. Love also the way the manage to show the love and concern of the ML. He is truly a green flag. knows how to show his love. love his smile..
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Plucky, down on her luck girl makes good.
The premise is so wildly implausible that it seems like there is no way they could make it work, but Castaway Diva is a very pleasant surprise. It is every bit a showcase for Park Eun Bin and she pretty much knocks it out of the park--and this right after her star turn in the remarkable Extraordinary Attorney Woo. (Kudos to her management team!) The supporting cast is quite good too--especially Kim Hyo Jin as mentor Yoo Ran Joo. The plot has some pretty glaring holes, but just go along for the ride. It's worth it. Good, not great, but definitely worth a watch for fans of "plucky, down on her luck girl makes good" kind of dramas.Was this review helpful to you?
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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Their relationship / friendship is the main plot, but their romance is a subplot
==Breakdown==Background plot- 70%
Romance - 15%
Misc comedy - 15%
Background plot - Good
Romantic chemistry - Excellent
Misc comedy - Good
Production value and direction - Good
The relationship of the FL and ML was the main story, but their romance was not part of the main story The FL and ML sold the romance, but the writing of it felt a bit forced , like the writer originally wrote it with no romance, but was forced to add a romantic relationship because they were told to do so. (You'll see what I mean if you watch it).
Basically, if you're wanting a romance, this is not it. You could have replaced the romance with a deep friendship and the story would have been exactly the same. Since I went into this drama expecting a romance (because it's labeled as such) I was left disappointed with this element of the story, which is why I rated it 9 instead of 10.
However, if you're wanting a fun, entertaining, and sometimes suspenseful story about two people who are fated to be in each other's lives as good, loving friends, this is definitely the show for you.
Things that are fantastic about this drama: the music, the child actors (THEY WERE AMAZING!!), the overall message and how the story was both fantastical and realistic, and the adult leads (FL and ML) both separately in their own stories and together as deep, close friends.
The writing and direction were also very good.
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This review may contain spoilers
Could be better but still great nonetheless
Story:
The story revolves around Seo Mok-Ha, a 31 year-old who's pursuing a singing career and just got stranded on a deserted island for 15 years. As she goes to Seoul and settles there, she faces many hurdles to reach her dreams. There are several main problems in the story, but as the story progresses, those problems become more and more intertwined.
The story shows the complicated nature of humans' interactions in which a lot of clashes between the main protagonist and other casts are shown. I personally love the relationships between Mok-Ha and Ran-Joo, her childhood idol and later becomes her mentor, as it shows that two people with different "ideology" can still be as close as they are. For me, it is the main highlight of the story. On the other side, she also has "familial" issues, especially regarding her love interest's family (Ki-ho's).
Surprisingly, even though the story seems to have two main plot lines, they're blended well. My main criticism is the lack of main protagonist's "character moments", whether they are about her and her love interest, her and rising fame, etc. Especially about her as "diva", unfortunately, we only get those at the end. This would be better as 16 episode series.
Cast:
Park Eun Bin can never cease to amaze me with her act. Her expression and mannerism brought Mok-Ha as a character to light. Also, as the "prodigy" diva of the series, she must ensure that her singing is up to standard and she delivered big time. It also helps that her smile is full of charm, so it perfectly fitted the cheerful nature of Mok-Ha.
Kim Hyo Jin's Yoon Ran-Joo was also great. Her acting as the once-loved-by many-but-have-fallen veteran diva was surely one of the hightlights of the story. Especially her complicated thought as someone that has been betrayed couple of times, she ensuresd that Ran-Joo doesn't come up as a shallow person.
Other casts also did well. Cha Hak Yeon did amazingly well as Woo Hak and the character was well-written. Chae Jong- Hyeop seemed to have the weaker performance amongst the main casts, but I'm pretty sure it must be because his character. The supporting casts also did tremendously well.
Special mention to the young actors of Mok Ha and Ki Ho, Lee Re and Moon Wo Jin. Their early presences, while short, was memorable. They did well to establish the bond that Mok Ha and Ki Ho had in the past.
Music:
As a story about diva, they must deliver well in this part and fortunately they did. The songs are great and easy to listen. Eun Bin's soft voice also match perfectly with all of the songs she sings. I've put them on my playlist.
All and all, the story is well presented, just a tad disappointment in my part regarding some things that seems to be missing. The acting is just almost perfect.
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This review may contain spoilers
Should have been 16 episodes but I will forgive them since they gave us a good ending.
Since the first episode, there hasn't been a moment that I have not been in love with this drama. I watched every single episode within hours of release which is a feat for me who likes to watch both of the week's episodes at once.No character was twisted to fit the plot or their circumstances. Everyone lived to their wishes even the villains of the story didn't just serve the purpose of the villain but were their humans, from Mok-ha's father down to Ki-ho's.
My favorite part has to be the siblings. In all K-dramas with a love triangle, not a single "brother couple" was as beautiful as Wohak & Bogeol. Love isn't everything, sometimes some things are more important, and some confessions can be left unconfessed.
If you like picking flaws in dramas, I am sure you'll find a couple here and there. In my case, I can turn a blind eye to the unreal things as a favor to all the beautiful emotions they showed me. Great acting on everyone's part (besides a few very minor characters). I wished that Mok-ha's accent became a little lighter at some early point but it was inevitable given the short time the drama covers.
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Barf
When I watched Memories of Alhambra, I truly thought I’d seen the very bottom of the K-drama barrel. Little did I know there were even more idiotic shows waiting to be discovered—shows like Castaway Diva. I’ll keep this review relatively short.The main plot of this show follows the rise to stardom of a crude, poorly written, poorly acted, and thoroughly unlikeable protagonist, guided by her unbelievably pathetic mentor. Obviously, there’s nothing interesting going on there. The secondary plot centers on characters hiding from a villain who has absolutely no power over them—a villain who could easily be apprehended with a single phone call to the police.
It’s already evident by the end of episode 2 that the writers have used up what little plot they had, yet they stretch the whole thing needlessly into 10 more episodes. And what a drag it is. Conflicts that could’ve been resolved within minutes end up taking months, while problems are exaggerated into something much bigger than they actually are. This just might be the worst Korean drama I’ve watched to date.
To be fair, the cinematography and music are actually good—but that only makes the rest of the show more frustrating. It’s like wrapping garbage in pretty packaging: it might look polished and sound pleasant, but it doesn’t change what’s inside.
The characters are shallow, with their motivations and decisions switching in an instant. The plot depends entirely on these characters being the dumbest, most inefficient versions of themselves—and so they are. The actors, meanwhile, are either doing too much or not enough, and they seem unbothered either way.
Clearly, the writers of this show have no basic understanding of the entertainment industry, law, human psychology, pop culture, geography, memory, survival, or even the fundamentals of storytelling. Now, these aren’t things I expect the average person to be an expert in, but when you’re writing a show that deals with such concepts, you at least owe it to your audience to do some research.
I say this in all seriousness: the writing and character work in Castaway Diva makes Hierarchy look like a masterpiece. Some people simply weren’t born to be storytellers. The writer of Castaway Diva is one of them.
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Lacking logic and chemistry
Firstly, I'd like to acknowledge the superb performance of the child actors. In many ways, they out performed the main leads. Secondly, the music was enjoyable.I found the story to be predictable. I saw the KiHo reveal coming from a mile away because the writers gave it away very early in the story (when he was waiting for her at the station and later when the friends know he's alive and well). So in that aspect, there was nothing gripping me.
I found that the series was mostly focused on the older singer's story. I don't mind that but there was no logic or substance behind her decisions or her plot point. The whole share transfer business was absolute crap. How can you even justify actively plotting against and denying an artist what she is promised? And what was the justification? Her mother didn't want her to be a president and the CEO thought she was too emotional to be on the board. Why? was having them wear a TShirt with "I'm a sexist AH" too subtle? He was more than happy to promise her the shares when he was signing her up. That was the fees she was entitled to at that point in her career. Neither the CEO nor the mother had any right to stop her from claiming the shares. The CEO even tried to justify his stance by claiming the singer was "too emotional". Do you not know that owning shares and being on the board of directors are two separate things? And classic case of sexism, just because a man has a difference of opinion with a woman, it doesn't mean that the woman is automatically more emotional than the man. It's crazy that they tried to normalise the whole foregoing of shares for this reason. What was the point of the show??!!
Coming to the romance, I waited for the whole show for the romance to start. I'm still waiting.
The love triangle and "who will she end up with?" question kept me guessing. And they successfully achieved this by having zero chemistry with either leads.
Overall, I wouldn't watch it again. But if you're not bothered by petty things, you can check it out.
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Castaway Diva is Mostly a Cast Away Series
Castaway Diva is a good story that does a lot of things right, while overlooking and dismissing a lot of things throughout the story. In many cases, a 16-episode story arc can run too long. This is a case where the series would have been better served with 16 episodes rather than 12.The premise is a good one, in which Seo Mok Ha finds herself stranded on an island for 15 years, after trying to escape her abusive father. I didn’t know that there are over 3,000 islands within the Korean Archipelago, a fact that should have been mentioned to give the viewer some idea of why Seo Mok Ha was so difficult to locate.
Some suspension of disbelief is required for this aspect of the series. Unlike in the movie “Castaway,” which was well researched by Robert Zemeckis, Seo Mok Ha has suffered no psychological effects from being isolated. She isn’t suffering from malnutrition, and her teeth are perfectly white. Also, that far north, Korean winters can bring cold weather, even on that island, and yet, she somehow survives this without any ill effects as well. It plays out more like a Disney movie than anything resembling realism. And yet, despite all of this, I was interested in seeing more of “island” Seo Mok Ha and some explanations about how she survived and got through a day. The series spends little real time on this aspect.
We know from the beginning that Seo Mok Ha has aspirations of being a famous singer, just like her idol, Yoon Ran Joo, going so far as to send Yoon Ran Joo a demo with the hopes of taking her first step toward a possible singing career.
One of the themes of this series is child abuse. It’s a disturbing crime, no matter the form it comes in. It was difficult to watch Jung Ki-Ho holding off Seo Mok Ha’s abusive father, as he’s being pummeled on the dock. It was far worse seeing people standing and watching while doing absolutely nothing about it.
Jung Ki-Ho relates to Seo Mok Ha’s plight as his own father—a police officer—is even more sick and abusive. 15 years later, we find that Jung Ki-Ho, along with his mother and brother, have found a way to live a new life away from Jung Bong Wan (their father) with the hopes of escaping the abuse.
There are many parts of the series that work well, but there are also many parts that are severely overlooked or just don’t really work at all. It was as if the writer had either forgotten or simply didn’t take such logic into account. As a result, the story suffers.
I was waiting for a conversation between Seo Mok Hal and Jung Ki-ho after his identity is finally revealed. I was waiting for Seo Mok Hal to ask him all about what happened on that fateful day on the dock; to find out what had happened to him, and all of the questions a close friend would have had running through their minds. No conversation takes place. They move on as if nothing had happened.
Jung Ki-ho goes to great lengths to expose his father for the abuser that he is, including setting up equipment to use as evidence against him, particularly when his father beats him yet again. And yet, when the evidence may be crucial in bringing Jung Bong Wan to justice, or at the very least, used to demonstrate to the prosecutor the nature of Jung Bong Wan’s character, the evidence is suddenly nowhere to be found, nor is it ever mentioned again.
Also, with the number of charges brought against Jung Bong Wan, how is a man like that allowed to roam freely? No explanation is offered regarding this either. It was as if the writer chose to dismiss these things in order to make the plot work---which is always a mistake, by the way.
I love Eun Bin Park. I think she’s one of the best young actresses in the business, but after “Age of Youth,” Hot Stove League,” and “Extraordinary Attorney Woo,” this is my least favorite performance of hers. It was as if she couldn’t find the balance between the innocent, young girl stranded on an island, and the driven young woman striving to fulfill her dream! In short, she often overacts in a number of scenes, and at times when it’s just not warranted at all. It sounded forced. I like that Seo Mok Hal is a strong woman who is loyal, but her transition from stranded island girl to an ambitious singer was so fast that it was as if she’d never been on the island at all!
Another problem is that the chemistry between Eun Bin Park and Chae Jong Hyeop is literally nowhere to be found. The little “romance” never took off at all, not only because the two actors had no chemistry, but also because the amount of screen time devoted to them together was miniscule at best. There was nothing built up, nor was there anything taking off from when they were in middle school together. Frankly, the chemistry between the two actors portraying Seo Mok Hal and Jung Ki Ho in middle school was far more appealing!
Also, there are just too many times when characters quickly dismiss a conflict or problem and then it’s just magically resolved. The biggest glaring example of this was between Seo Mok Hal and Park Yong Kwan. They have tremendous friction between them, and he refuses to let Seo Mok Hal use his song. But suddenly within the space of a day, he does a one-eighty.
The songs are well sung in this series, but frankly, none of them caught my ear. That’s always been a thing about basing a movie/show on music. If the music doesn’t work, then it hurts one of the key elements. I can’t think of any musicals that I liked when I didn’t care for the songs or find them appealing.
Castaway Diva is not a bad series, but it’s not a great one either. Its sloppy writing and lack of chemistry prevented it from being a great series. There was more chemistry between Seo Mok Hal and Yoon Ran Joo. Perhaps if the writers had focused on that aspect more, the series would have been much better. If you spread yourself out too thin as a writer, you end up coming up short on all of your storylines. Castaway Diva is a perfect example of this.
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