Underwhelming
Honestly cutting the show into 2 parts was so stupid to begin with. It messed up the flow and the narrative of the story. I found part 2 to be bland compared to the first part. The writing became weak and there was also lack of flow with the scenes. The flashbacks became repetitive, like i get showing the backstory and all but most of those didnt explain what was happening.I felt that the characters were underused, there was potential but there was more time spent on useless plot lines. The way the show was wrapped was underwhelming like just ended in a odd place and it didnt feel like a ending at all. There were so many unanswered questions like goodness me...like whyyy. Like what the purpose of the people in white were. The hint at another season was off-putting. The acting and the music was the main reason that kept me going.
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Good Visuals , Somewhat Entertaining but.....
i have never written a review on mdl but for this I had to write one because of the wasted potential. The first half of this show was fine and and not that great on which they could have build something. But soemthing was wrong from the beginning. This series is heavily plagued from bad writing which made the show from great to okayish.Now I will break it down into what was good and what was bad.
The Good :-
1) The cast - The cast is of superior quality and they all have done a fabulous job of what they were given.
2) The basic premise - The premise from the beginning was interesting and worth exploring . It was rich and it really fascinated me what could be done from it.
3) The characters chemistry - The characters were setup great and their interactions were enjoyable and their dynamic was great.
4) The location and Visuals - The place it is set in is really breathtakingly beautiful and the level of CGI they were able to do is unseen in kdrama. Some set pieces were really too good to be true.
So All in all it had the right ingredients for it to be a great kdrama so where did it fail.
The Bad :-
1)The pacing - The pacing was all over the place and I don't know what was happening sometimes . Some moments the story was moving too fast and other times it crawled to move.
2) The action - I don't know whose idea it was to do action in this way but everything was filmed in jump cuts and we could barely see characters fight. Somebody would make a move and the opposing thing would have a reaction and thus it continued . It was so jarring and was really laugh worthy.
4) The Characters Motivation was barely explored on what made them tick. Why they continued to fight and what kept them going.
3) The execution - This really takes the cake on what made it "not great" . They could have done so much with the interesting premise but they squandered it . The scriptwriter had no idea how to write such a epic and often times scenes that played were predictable or illogical. You knew while watching it that it could have been much more grand and of the potential it had. It shows that how difficult it is to write a epic story.
for e.g.. They did not explore the lore in enough detail to make us understand the details behind the power of characters such as Yohan and how he gained sudden powers unexplained before.
So all in all a great story squandered. And honestly after the scriptwriters last drama (Jinxed at First) I was sceptical for Island but I held on to hope. I really wish it could have become the grand story I anted it to be.
Disclaimer :- They review is based on the knowledge of the author and what he felt while watching the drama. He does not claim of being a expert on anything.
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It was such a hyped drama & I was waiting for this drama for a long time but what the hell happened!!!!
I was expecting so much with such great cast. Their acting was really great they portrayed their character well but the story was weird.
The ending was weird will there be an another season?? Also they didn’t need to make it 2 seasons.
Anyways this drama was weird I was expecting soo much I don't know how this drama got such good reviews maybe its because of the cast!!
You know how it actually it feel like I was hungry & ate but still it feels like I didn’t really eat anything!! I mean just understand the point. Anyways good luck to the future viewers ?
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This review may contain spoilers
Very disappointing.
It had everything ... and did so little with it. First two episodes - great. 3 & 4 - okay.It was fine up until the last two episodes.
Plot development was lame. No surprises, no twists, nothing to figure out, just setup, and then failure.
No character development. No new discoveries. The heroine, bless her, never won my respect.
She was a mess, no self confidence, nothing heroic about her. She was a weak character.
Putting the little girl in a compromising position - and the whole cult thing was a red herring. Absolute crap.
Johan's character and background were shamefully underdeveloped.
Poor Kim Nam Gil was forced to just act miserable throughout the series. It's not a wonder he welcomed death.
I wanted to die too. Honestly, halfway through the last episode, I couldn't wait for it to end. But wait ... there's more! ?
A terrible waste of something that could have been a great story, with great actors, in awesome surroundings.
But, unfortunately, the writers were asleep at the wheel.
If they make another one (as they threatened to do at the ending) I won't be watching it.
After all the hype ... there were like 200 monsters at the end, against 5 people. Totally unrealistic. Then, in that already unrealistic situation, they weakened their main character, Van, into a virtual liability.
The best thing in the ending was the old priest showing up with a silver bullet rocket launcher.
Abysmal ending to an okay story.
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Good last episode but same defaults as 1st part, boring with a lot of fillers and flashbacks.
The part 2 of this drama suffers from the same defaults as its part 1. There are some big issues again with the pacing of the show. The last episode is pretty great but it is honestly very boring to get there. Most of the episodes leading to the finale contain too much flashbacks as well as "false" tension. Indeed, each time that a big moment happens it is counterbalanced and slowed-down. The lack of script content and strange screenplay choices are clearly the culprits in the show being so dull and anti-climatic.It is a shame that the screenwriter and director chose to spend time on what feel as "fillers" narrative arcs and repetition of the same scenes from the past rather than moving the plot forward in the present and building and developing the mythology of this universe. For example, the various powers of the trio of characters are cool but would have benefited of more explanations to properly onboard the viewer when they were revealed.
It would also have been better to spend more time with the three main leads in order to deepen realistically the relationship between them. As in part 1, it was very difficult to be emotionally invested in those characters. I'm still not blaming the actors, they clearly do their best despite the lackluster and empty scenario.
Despite the strangely paced story and odd directing choices, I found the photography beautiful, the visual FX very good and the overall production value pretty high; the scenery, the clothes, the weapons, the props and decors: everything is clearly high quality.
I would not necessarily recommend this to people unless they have seen part 1 and like one of the main actors or the main actress (though the three of them have surprisingly what felt like little screen time).
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This review may contain spoilers
Not praising! I like Cha Eun Woo BUT what aBout the Story?
I thought if they part this in 2 seasons maybe they would improve but I was sooo disappointed with the VFX, they didn't improve it! that looks sooo fake...NGL? the monsters look so fake & do they have any brains aside from the Goong Tan?Writers be like: Monsters come to fight with Goong Tan.
Audience: But Why?
Writers: cuz they don't have anything to do, who cares!?
Audience: Okay! But why do they accept a half-human as their leader?
Writers: they don't mind, why do you care?
The whole drama looks like a webtoon (It's based on a webtoon BUT they could have improved it).
The cast was good, and the villain doesn't have any strong motive aside from his personal reasons but the story is not really flowing looks like the writers were also confused about how to drag it... Just because you cast Cha Eun Woo doesn't make it cover for the story!! it would help if you had a good story...
Don't even ask about those repeated scenes from the past... It's so not worth watching!
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A Deep Review <3
I want to be as honest and transparent in this review as much as possible, and tell you why I deeply Love this show, for everything it is, and for everything it isn't. This will be long, but I want to go down the list of everything, to the visual effects, casting, acting, soundtrack, story, and my overall view and meaning of this show, and why it touched me deeply.First off, the visual effects of this isn't trying to be anything other than itself. I don't find it cliche, I don't find the performance of the visuals to be underwhelming either, in fact, I find it simple, which does not necessarily mean bad and or lacking of greatness. Kim Nam-Gil's character Van and his visual performance and fights were top notch, stunning movements, and visuals, that kept me satisfied, and convinced, and that's all I needed. The visuals of the demons, weren't meant to be as top notch as Van himself, when he himself carried the show.
As for the casting, I will say I am very naive when it comes to whom these people were beside Kim Nam-Gil before this show. For the ones I haven't seen in other shows, and have nothing to compare them to. I couldn't say there isn't anyone else I'd rather have them brought in, as the casting and characters, did a good job, and I was pleased with the characters and the people who played them.
The acting was phenomenal, I have seen many movies with Kim in them, but never realized until now, how much of a great actor he is. He not alone acts with his body to convince the audience, but he acts with his eyes, that convince you of the emotions his character is betraying. I can't quite say, I've seen anyone else convince me of something through their eyes as much as him. Other actors, did an amazing job, I deeply enjoyed everyone's acting, and they did a wonderful job playing the characters they were intended to play.
As for the soundtrack, I must say, with games I am someone who turns music down to zero, and someone who gets annoyed with music in shows and movies, MOST OF THE TIME. Island's soundtrack, is absolutely amazing however. With appropriate sounds for appropriate moments, to volume being adjusted appropriately. I was into it, the soundtrack made you connect and associate with the characters more. For instance as the same song playing everytime Van was in the picture, was great, and connected you to him through the music. That's something Ive never seen before. I honesty never thought I could say, I Loved a soundtrack as much as I did for this show.
Now onto the best part, the story. It was simple, with a sense of distance. I wouldn't say it was overcomplicated, confusing and or shallow and or lacking. To me, it was enough, it was perfect. It filled in gaps, to than lead you to more questions, and I know that may upset some people, as they might think since the show is over we should have all the answers, but that's silly. It lead us to more questions, to seek a deeper part of our human condition, wanting to understand. When we don't we are left with a bit of curiosity and frustration, a perfect mix for a show like this. Island isn't a romance, but It is a Love story, and that to me, is much better than any romance. A story that dives into many things, and one big thing is an Unconditional Love. A deep, timeless, Divine Love. Van and Miho were deeply connected, even despite her not knowing who he was at first, it was sensed, the Love was apparent and obvious, anyone who denies that can't take and read the clues. Love does not equal Romance, but Love equals Love. This story is much deeper than it appears, from the magic marble, and a piece getting into his eye, to the weakness he has when around her. Many metaphors for many deeper things, to the Priest, and his Faith. To the brothers, and everything they represent. A yin and yang almost, a Cain and Abel. Gungtan, holding revenge, anger and hatred in his heart, to Van keeping Love, hope and forgiveness in his heart. To say they were stripped of their human emotions, was an absolute lie, as revenge from Gungtan is as much of a human emotion as Van's Hope within in him.
This show was an absolute masterpiece to me, and it touched me deeply. I think many shows are missing, something that fills a deeper void and hole in our heart, and Island is filling that. I've been happily married to someone I consider my Soulmate, who spiritually we believe we have shared many lives together and will continue to do so. Van's Love, and Miho's Love touched me. Unlike anything I've seen before.
I will say, the ending left me in incomplete, and no show has ever done that to me, and this is why I find that amazing, and upsetting all at once.
We have seen the lengths that Van will go to wait for Miho, and we have seen the lengths he will go to, to save her, it's only fair to wish to see the lengths he will go to, to return to her. <3
I hope for another season, to see the growth of all these characters, and see deep Love again between Miho and Van. <3
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When the Devil Waits for the Beloved
Important! It is better for the audience to be fans of Kim Nam-Gil, Lee Da-Hee, Sung Joon or Cha Eun-Woo before deciding to watch the Korean drama "Island". Especially fans of these 4 actors/actresses, because they will be satisfied to enjoy their faces.On the other hand, don't get your hopes up with the story of the Korean drama "Island". The twelve episodes of this drama are like fragments that are not connected seamlessly. The bridging hangs.
The screenwriter seems to be engrossed in composing horror after horror. Failed without bridging and too much. Like the white-robed Baek Gyo sect, their existence does not affect the whole story of the Korean drama "Island".
What's worse, the existence of Pastor Johan, played by Cha Eun-Woo, becomes meaningless. The scene of spraying water while praying at Tamra High School students who are in a trance becomes even more ridiculous.
What does it mean to do water healing? If so, Van, don't intervene. What is the use of a religion that is believed to worship a God who is feared by the devil.
As a result, the existence of Pastor Johan and Pastor Parker became a boomerang. The sacred religion feels neglected. Even without religion, the devil can be defeated.
So, back to the initial sentence, if you are not a fan of Kim Nam-Gil, Lee Da-Hee, Sung Joon or Cha Eun-Woo, you should not watch the Korean drama "Island". I'm afraid I'll regret it and mess it up later. ??
Oh yeah, maybe someone is asking, is it possible to watch the Korean drama "Island 2" without watching the first one? It can't really, maybe marketing reasons have made this drama divided into 2 seasons.
The next review can be read here: https://www.maria-g-soemitro.com/2023/03/island%20review-drama-korea.html
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This review may contain spoilers
This was one of those dramas that I added and removed a couple of times before actually giving it a try. The reviews steered me away and I was nervous about what I was getting into, but I'm honestly glad that I gave this a watch. While I can agree that splitting the show into 2 halves was not a good idea, especially where they broke the season in two at, but other than that I felt that it was a really good watch. The writing and overall plot reminded me a lot of Goblin and I think that's why I felt a pull towards it. While it's not something new and not seen before, I felt it was written out really well although predictable. There was only one plot twist I didn't see coming, but I was overall satisfied with how the story played out. I do wish we could've gotten more exorcisms and "cases" like Lee Seo-Ryeon. The religious aspects and backstory interested me a ton and I wish that it was explored more throughout the two parts.
Action is not really my thing, but I can appreciate it every now and then. This drama nails it, in my opinion. Watching the fighting scenes, especially with Johan involved were really exciting and I loved the CGI effects in them. It added another aspect to the show that made it look really good.
The acting is incredible and it really adds a layer to the main characters. I absolutely loved all 3 of the leads and they all had captivating performances. Lee Da Hee really nails the rich-girl turned soft-hearted character and has such amazing chemistry with Kim Nam Gil. I loved watching the characters of Van and Won Miho slowly open up to each other and realize their affection for one another.
I'm excited and hopeful for a 3rd season so I can see how these characters and new plots all play out.
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More than just any other drama. New fantasy world brought to life in the right way from a webtoon
Binged watched both parts in one day without any expectations or spoilers previously.If you like comics, webtoons, anime...etc. with thriller, fantasy, horror and action as themes than this drama is made for you.
Do not expect a typical drama.
Acting was excellent. There was no boring moment or episode. Many exciting and visually beautiful actions scenes.
More than any other thing, I loved the whole atmosphere of the show. It really gives a "watching a webtoon becoming a movie" kind of vibe. So many moments and scenes felt like they were filmed just the way they were drawn and I had to replay them to enjoy their beauty. (I love comics and webtoons and haven't seen this one before but I know that kind of scene when I see one)
The story progressed in a steady and exciting pace and it was very easy to enter this new fantasy world together with FL.
New elements, discoveries, background stories were added one at the time so they would be both exciting and easy to understand. There were two moments when I felt the story is somehow disconnected but I quickly realized that things like that are exactly what happens when you read a webtoon and ended up liking that disconnections b/c the whole vibe became stronger.
There was no reason to split this one in two parts and it really should be rated as one 12 eps drama here.
One background story remained a mystery and there is hope for part 3 or a separate drama.
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Still, as much as the writing could've expanded better, the plot did progress further and we finally get to see the main villain Gungtan in action. I mean, it would've been lame if the story ended with the main bad guy not really showing his full capabilities.
From the first part we were given a big twist about Yeomji actually allying with Gungtan. And we're finally getting more details on what truly happen in the past and how it could've affected the present outcome. Not to mention we're also given a third party who seemed to have a hand in many things happening... the we never actually get that fair and this plot ended up being open ended.
To be honest, with so many new details it make me wonder if the story could be wrapped up in just six more episodes. But it did and the final episode did provide possibilities for future continuations, should there be plans for it. For a story that was based on a webtoon, I'm happy to see quite a number of pretty anime-ish and webtoon-ish scenes. So in that sense I'm very satisfied. Plus, Kim Namgil plays a half-demon demon slayer, dude... and Eunwoo finally get to have some jedi moments! Rather than dwell on stuff that the drama did not show, one might as well enjoy the pretty visuals we did get.
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