This has extremely high production quality. so so so good. Feels more like a movie than a drama at times. The lighting has remained top tier & so has the styling. The richness of the environments & sets are above & beyond....it becomes more obvious how much better this show is made(technically) when watching multiple dramas at the same time. This story is NOT going to be for everyone. because the production is so high quality the reality of the character's circumstances becomes even more intense. So heavy trigger warning for those who struggle with violence against women. The acting & direction are so good that you will be in your feels quickly. So please keep that in mind when starting this show. Only 8 episodes in & I'm just loving the overall quality, not only visually but writing as well.
Jesus, the long essay again! Okay, let me answer one by one. 😅 1. This wasn't a big deal for me, but I would…
Sorry I'm a yapper. So the whole talking about him dying. It's only after Sun Jae says it first that she's able to talk about it and even then she doesn't go into detail. I would have been curious if she had sung his song before he wrote it if time would have stopped. Speaking of the time stopping...my BIGGEST(that's yelling) dropped ball in the production is that she didn't use her time stopping to get out of situations other than when his dad was about to catch her in the house & I think at school once. Because it proves that when time stops she can move through the space and isn't like snapped back to the starting point. (You know what I mean?) Like I'd be saying all the future shit I could as loud as possible and Quicksilvering that shit Home Alone style. This ability is first brought up within like the first or second episode so I feel like it could have been utilized more.
Castaway Diva did have top tier OSTs and score. I think I also enjoyed the call backs to other media with OSTs/scores playing in the background or just like a quick clip of the sound. The show overall for me was very nostalgic and didn't take itself too seriously.
An aside(I'll mark the whole comment as spoiler so it can be collapsed instead of making people scroll for their life): For all the shows I watch I have a physical notebook/journal that I keep track of my progress and write my thoughts down as I'm watching through a series or movie. I also have different criteria I rate within a show. ex. Female Lead, Male Lead, Chemistry, Supporting(characters/actors), Storyline, Writing, Music/OST/Score, Hair & Make-up, Costumes, Set Design, Cinematography, Production, Visual Effects, Stunts. I have an overall score for the show and then a more "vibes" score of the show. So that I know when looking back to see if I want to rewatch or recommend to friends or family I can be specific in why I think they will or wont enjoy the show. I even have a key/ledged for my episodes (I use a dot journal so I make a grid for the episode count and highlight the ones I've watched) so I can look at a glace and remember "okay there was a murder/death in this episode" "that episode was really sad" etc. My physical copy is probably the main reason I don't have very many reviews on MDL. I think I just have 2 positive and 2 negative atm. Reading over some more of your reviews you don't hold back/sugar coat things, but you're never cruel or dismissive so, respect.
a 2 sentence line in the last few minutes of the final episode. which if you were just listening to could be interpreted two different ways leaving it more ambiguous unlike how the translations were shown which...was a...choice...
Who knew fast forwarding through about 5-10 minutes of the show makes it so I have no clue what the hell is going…
Also after reading further into the comment section I found out that I was listening to the show and not reading the subtitles so people are up in arms about what appears to be a mistranslation...still not 100% on what sent the hate parade.
Just a reminder, caps mean italic not yelling. 1st reason: I personally never really found that to be an important detail to be filled in. I think that it kind of left it up to dealers choice. Was it a higher power, was it grandma...idk...honestly didn't even care or think about it, just the method on how it was possible.
2nd reason: (If she can't tell anything about the future, because the time will freeze, how did she manage to tell multiple people still?) She is only able to talk about it once the other person knows or comes to that conclusion on their own. Any direct knowledge about the future gets erased. So her telling the cops wear the kidnappers little murder hut is can be spoken about because she experienced it in the past already. Kim Tae Sung knows because he's actually observant and put two and two together, foreshadowing him becoming a detective in the future. He was the first to actually call out the differences between past Sol and future Sol. Everyone else she talks to about the future she is very vague with the language she uses. It's not specific just "a bad thing is going to happen. trust me bro"
Okay so the 3rd reason discussion: (Like, she never tells anything to anyone. Not even her kidnapping. How is that even possible, I don't know. I mean, the police just thought: "Let's not say anything to her family, even tho she's a minor, and a guy wanted to kill her, it's not important!") Past Sol can't remember the abduction happening so for all they know she just got lost in the outskirts of town. When she comes back to the past now in college THAT is when the police are informed that it was an abduction and she is no longer a minor. You are right though, I would think the police would inform the family, but privacy laws in Korea are hella tight so I'm unsure if this wouldn't actually be a scenario somehow.
The only excuse that I personally came up with on why future Sol's acting the way she does toward the end of her time back in college is the built up trauma she is not processing by finding out that surprise the person that you just wanted to help not get depression and self exit is actually constantly being killed because you got off at the wrong stop on a bus and he witnessed a crime against you. (that run on sentence is a lot, but I thought it in one "breath" so it is what it is at this point.)
The dementia plot point was to express that memories don't just disappear they are still within us waiting to be remembered. Dementia can bring a person in their 80s back to a memory from when they are 5. Memory isn't a linear construct. Memory doesn't just bring back an image of something from the past, it can bring back emotions, scents, touch and taste.
What the overall take away for me was that...love, and what we experience while in love, is so powerful that even time can't completely erase it, even when our memories get tangled and you can't pull a perfect image of their face anymore...those impressions still remain a mark on you.
So yeah, a bit of fluffy bullshit, but it resonated with me as my parents get older and I listen to my father's stories from when he was a child, teen...etc. He can't remember much of my childhood anymore because of a few small strokes in my teen years. But every once in a while a sound or smell will trigger a memory from that time. So power of love yada yada...sometimes people just need a stupid show with a fanciful plot to have a good time. PS: Also side eyeing the crap out of you for that 6 on the OST...bops sir, they are BOPS. 😆
Who knew fast forwarding through about 5-10 minutes of the show makes it so I have no clue what the hell is going on in the comment section right now. The second she popped up in the bushes like a nineteen fifties house wife trying and failing to be incognito I was like...imma just scooch on by don't mind me...and pressed play again when Soo Bin and Yeon Seok were on screen together again.
Short little review cause I'm currently at work. If you are debating whether or not to start this, please go into it for a silly goofy time. Keep your logic at the door & just enjoy the lovely chemistry & wattpad vibe. It wasn't my favorite this year, but it wasn't terrible. I wouldn't really call it light watching, but if you love you a classic Kdrama this will be right up your alley.
I say this with no ill will, but why do you continue to watch shows that you know you wont like only to drop them?…
Alright, valid. thanks for replying & not taking my comment in a negative way(there have been misunderstandings recently in comment sections so appreciate the honest feedback)
Kdrama and cdrama writers often disappoint with their endings/last episode, I’ve got a few in mind
top costume/period youth/idol drama from China in 2024 imo. (im being specific because there was a banger of a kdrama & more serious cdramas that I personally didn't watch but really freaking ate in the period genre)
seriously haters can't take a break huh!! it went from 8.9 to 8.8.. .. and here i was thinking it would end at…
I think there is some valid criticism when in comes to the overall production of the show. The characters were enjoyable & the actors did a great job, but I can't fault people for not being able to look past certain aspects. I want people who enjoyed it to continue to enjoy it so Im keeping certain disappointments to spoiler tags & reviews with spoiler listed. I just wish some people were more interested in putting their rants in a spoiler tag so that it doesn't dim the enjoyment of others or people who are looking to the comments for questions they might have. edit: adding that i didn't realize there was a whole other discussion happening around an aspect of episode 12. My thing was the logic of some scenarios. NOT people bringing in what they THINK production meant by certain storylines. sorry just wanted to clarify that.
RandomThe light pattern of that Christmas tree bothers me so much. Bless her heart lol
i need a bts just to see if it was a man who put up the prop. because...no....just no way did a woman see that & go...perfect yes let's go with this design
the only thing that im complaining about is that girlie literally fell from a cliff in that one episode but didnt…
the suffocating to death with an oxygen tube still in the nose also didn't give you pause? Production was like "why take two seconds to remove the tube before putting the pillow over his face when we can focus on making the alarms as loud as possible in a VIP ward & have not one soul rock up to check on him instead..." 😑 😒
All they had to do was replace the Argan military scenes with a healing scene, wedding scene, working day and…
I had to FF most of the Argan scenes because i was getting second hand embarrassment from some of the production choices. Home girl rocked up with a scarf and I was like lets just skip whatever is about to happen here until I see them both on screen again.
Okay, not only was a man suffocated with an oxygen tube pumping air into his nose, not only did an alarm blare…
We saw a Korean civilian out maneuver a soldier during the recent protests while holding onto his cellphone in the other hand, because every able bodied Korean man serves in the military, and they have to regularly go back for training after their 2 year service is complete. I need the characters to start acting like who we have been told they are...specially trained hostage negotiator with special forces training on top of it. Don't tell me a character has skills and then when the time comes to showcase said skills nothing happens. Like some of the episode was really well done but yeah...i'll wait to see if we are missing any other context in the last episode as there is still time to show the in between point a and b. but...side eyeing the house down at the moment. Also because they want to have the viewer in suspense some of the editing choices have been questionable imo.
2 
This story is NOT going to be for everyone. because the production is so high quality the reality of the character's circumstances becomes even more intense. So heavy trigger warning for those who struggle with violence against women. The acting & direction are so good that you will be in your feels quickly. So please keep that in mind when starting this show. Only 8 episodes in & I'm just loving the overall quality, not only visually but writing as well.
So the whole talking about him dying. It's only after Sun Jae says it first that she's able to talk about it and even then she doesn't go into detail. I would have been curious if she had sung his song before he wrote it if time would have stopped.
Speaking of the time stopping...my BIGGEST(that's yelling) dropped ball in the production is that she didn't use her time stopping to get out of situations other than when his dad was about to catch her in the house & I think at school once. Because it proves that when time stops she can move through the space and isn't like snapped back to the starting point. (You know what I mean?) Like I'd be saying all the future shit I could as loud as possible and Quicksilvering that shit Home Alone style. This ability is first brought up within like the first or second episode so I feel like it could have been utilized more.
Castaway Diva did have top tier OSTs and score. I think I also enjoyed the call backs to other media with OSTs/scores playing in the background or just like a quick clip of the sound. The show overall for me was very nostalgic and didn't take itself too seriously.
An aside(I'll mark the whole comment as spoiler so it can be collapsed instead of making people scroll for their life): For all the shows I watch I have a physical notebook/journal that I keep track of my progress and write my thoughts down as I'm watching through a series or movie. I also have different criteria I rate within a show. ex. Female Lead, Male Lead, Chemistry, Supporting(characters/actors), Storyline, Writing, Music/OST/Score, Hair & Make-up, Costumes, Set Design, Cinematography, Production, Visual Effects, Stunts. I have an overall score for the show and then a more "vibes" score of the show. So that I know when looking back to see if I want to rewatch or recommend to friends or family I can be specific in why I think they will or wont enjoy the show. I even have a key/ledged for my episodes (I use a dot journal so I make a grid for the episode count and highlight the ones I've watched) so I can look at a glace and remember "okay there was a murder/death in this episode" "that episode was really sad" etc. My physical copy is probably the main reason I don't have very many reviews on MDL. I think I just have 2 positive and 2 negative atm.
Reading over some more of your reviews you don't hold back/sugar coat things, but you're never cruel or dismissive so, respect.
1st reason: I personally never really found that to be an important detail to be filled in. I think that it kind of left it up to dealers choice. Was it a higher power, was it grandma...idk...honestly didn't even care or think about it, just the method on how it was possible.
2nd reason: (If she can't tell anything about the future, because the time will freeze, how did she manage to tell multiple people still?) She is only able to talk about it once the other person knows or comes to that conclusion on their own. Any direct knowledge about the future gets erased. So her telling the cops wear the kidnappers little murder hut is can be spoken about because she experienced it in the past already. Kim Tae Sung knows because he's actually observant and put two and two together, foreshadowing him becoming a detective in the future. He was the first to actually call out the differences between past Sol and future Sol. Everyone else she talks to about the future she is very vague with the language she uses. It's not specific just "a bad thing is going to happen. trust me bro"
Okay so the 3rd reason discussion: (Like, she never tells anything to anyone. Not even her kidnapping. How is that even possible, I don't know. I mean, the police just thought: "Let's not say anything to her family, even tho she's a minor, and a guy wanted to kill her, it's not important!")
Past Sol can't remember the abduction happening so for all they know she just got lost in the outskirts of town. When she comes back to the past now in college THAT is when the police are informed that it was an abduction and she is no longer a minor. You are right though, I would think the police would inform the family, but privacy laws in Korea are hella tight so I'm unsure if this wouldn't actually be a scenario somehow.
The only excuse that I personally came up with on why future Sol's acting the way she does toward the end of her time back in college is the built up trauma she is not processing by finding out that surprise the person that you just wanted to help not get depression and self exit is actually constantly being killed because you got off at the wrong stop on a bus and he witnessed a crime against you. (that run on sentence is a lot, but I thought it in one "breath" so it is what it is at this point.)
The dementia plot point was to express that memories don't just disappear they are still within us waiting to be remembered. Dementia can bring a person in their 80s back to a memory from when they are 5. Memory isn't a linear construct. Memory doesn't just bring back an image of something from the past, it can bring back emotions, scents, touch and taste.
What the overall take away for me was that...love, and what we experience while in love, is so powerful that even time can't completely erase it, even when our memories get tangled and you can't pull a perfect image of their face anymore...those impressions still remain a mark on you.
So yeah, a bit of fluffy bullshit, but it resonated with me as my parents get older and I listen to my father's stories from when he was a child, teen...etc. He can't remember much of my childhood anymore because of a few small strokes in my teen years. But every once in a while a sound or smell will trigger a memory from that time. So power of love yada yada...sometimes people just need a stupid show with a fanciful plot to have a good time.
PS: Also side eyeing the crap out of you for that 6 on the OST...bops sir, they are BOPS. 😆
If you are debating whether or not to start this, please go into it for a silly goofy time. Keep your logic at the door & just enjoy the lovely chemistry & wattpad vibe. It wasn't my favorite this year, but it wasn't terrible. I wouldn't really call it light watching, but if you love you a classic Kdrama this will be right up your alley.
tbh I was goolge searching to make sure Aragan wasn't an alternate name for a real country because yeah...that was a trip...
I want people who enjoyed it to continue to enjoy it so Im keeping certain disappointments to spoiler tags & reviews with spoiler listed. I just wish some people were more interested in putting their rants in a spoiler tag so that it doesn't dim the enjoyment of others or people who are looking to the comments for questions they might have.
edit: adding that i didn't realize there was a whole other discussion happening around an aspect of episode 12. My thing was the logic of some scenarios. NOT people bringing in what they THINK production meant by certain storylines. sorry just wanted to clarify that.
Times Hui Ju almost gets killed: 8
Production was like "why take two seconds to remove the tube before putting the pillow over his face when we can focus on making the alarms as loud as possible in a VIP ward & have not one soul rock up to check on him instead..." 😑 😒
I need the characters to start acting like who we have been told they are...specially trained hostage negotiator with special forces training on top of it. Don't tell me a character has skills and then when the time comes to showcase said skills nothing happens. Like some of the episode was really well done but yeah...i'll wait to see if we are missing any other context in the last episode as there is still time to show the in between point a and b. but...side eyeing the house down at the moment. Also because they want to have the viewer in suspense some of the editing choices have been questionable imo.