Castaway Diva (2023)

Younger Female Version of Tom Hanks Cast Away?

I will first state I am a big Park Eun Bin fan so there is some bias to the review. She was awesome in King's Affection and Attorney Woo. She gives off Audrey Hepburn vibes and I am sure she will star in many more addictive KDramas in the future.

I will start off with the good parts:

-Park Eun Bin is in this! I don't need to say more.
-The story telling of the tragic back story of the FL and ML's childhood and abusive past is told well and you get a sense that they are holding onto each other as two lonely teenagers in a scary traumatic world.
-Who is the adult Jung Ki Ho? The story tellers keep you guessing. Who should the viewer root for as the love interest? I will take my stand, I am rooting for Kang Bo Geol.

There is room for improvement (there is no bad in Park Eun Bin's dramas haha):

-Her character and behavior is a bit too ditzy, perhaps she didn't get to emotionally develop since she was isolated for 15 years so there's some emotional stunting.
-The aspects of her surviving on the island is unrealistic and how she is still so pale when she is outdoors in the island. Where is the tan or sunburn???
-The two male leads being too helpful too soon to her when they barely know her
-Her relationship and idolization of a faded popular singer who fell from grace.

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Jack of all trades, master of none

If you watched the show because of the official Netflix trailer, then you’d be in shock when you watched the first episode. It has some lighter moments but the bulk of that episode is dark, very dark. It is not until the FL leaves the island when the mood starts to lift but even then, there is a dark undertone that rears its ugly head from time to time and really hits some serious lows towards the end of the run. I’m not talking about drunkenness or bullying but multiple suicides, domestic violence and attempted murders. It is no joke.

Here lies the main problem of this show. The premise of a teenage girl surviving by herself on a deserted island for 15 years is fantastic and if they play it purely as an escapist fair it could work. You will have to suspend your disbelief but with the right cast and a good script, it has a lot of potential. However, like so many k-dramas of late, the writer-nim have to inject darkness into what could have been a light and breezy show.

On top of that, this show put the FL front and centre at the start of the show but then shift the focus onto to the older FL and that changes the tone and pacing of the show. I appreciate the importance of the old FL’s role in shaping the FL but her story as a faded star is much less engaging than the FL's. It is functional but it dips very close to a melodrama when it should have been uplifting and fun. It can hardly be called inspirational.

I understand some dramas are makjang by design while others are psycho thrillers but why do shows need to incorporate elements from several genres. Simplicity and a clear focus might deliver a better outcome. There is a throughline here but sometimes it fades or branches until you are not sure what is the A-plot anymore.

So if we pared back the plot to just the main theme regarding the rescue of the FL and her eventual rise to stardom, it is actually good and wholesome fun. Park Eun-bin played the role with heart. She can be naive one moment and glamorous the next but you can relate to her. Even the simple love story of Mok Ha and Bo Geol is sweet and heartfelt. That makes the padding out of the story feels all the more unnecessary. There is more than enough fuel for a decent 12 episodes run. Rather than watching the growth of the FL into a diva, we ended up with multiple threads pulling in different directions and by the time the spotlight is back on the FL, it is a done deal. We see very little of her “struggles”.

Is it an enjoyable watch? Yes, mostly but it could have been better. As a social commentary, it is stilted and heavy handed. As a fantasy, it feels hemmed in. The constant juxtaposition between the horror of domestic violence and light, uplifting moments can be jarring. Neither theme is helped by the other. It is like watch an unicorn frolicking in the meadows except it also breaths fire and has glowing red eyes!

OBTW, there are moments when I see glimpses of Attorney Woo when the FL looks a certain way. Uncanny. OST is FAB. I believe PEB sang some of the songs. That’s impressive.

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nice idea, poor execution, could be much better

Castaway Diva[2023] - 8/10 -kdrama

I guess I am doing injustice to this drama with mine rating... Its just I see just too much of wasted potential.

From first 2 eps I was expecting drama with very interesting story about woman trying to :return: to society and maybe accomplish her past dream + obtain lower.

yeah all of this is in this drama, but its more like secondary focus? Primary focus is on classic story about family problems and bad past. Which just wastes premise of stranded woman. Drama Thirty But Seventeen was better in this theme.

plot - FL as high school student was fangirl of famous singer at that time, she got family problems with violent father. FL managed succeed in casting and obtained chance to become famous singer, but at way to Seul her father catch up and they both fell into sea. FL survived and lived 15y alone stranded on uninhabited island. After 15 y she was rescued and now she gotta get back into society.

genre - romance, comedy, music

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Perfeito...

Antes de falar do drama, a única coisa que se passa na minha cabeça até agora é PQ EU N VI ESSE DRAMA ANTES?! Quando comecei a assistir não tinha muitas expectativas pela história, mas mordi a milha língua já no primeiro episódio. A história foi bem amarrada e desenvolvida do começo ao fim con personagem cativantes que me fizeram ter vontade de colocar em um potinho e guardar pro resto da vida. Não esperava de forma alguma o desfecho que o drama tema e não vou reclamar. Apenas tenho elogios para fazer a essa obra prima, desde a atuação impecável dos atores (que mefizeram chorar, rir, gritar de desespero, e acreditar fielmente que eles eram uma verdadeira família), as músicas, cenários entre outras coisas.
Apenas vou sentir muita falta dessa família e da energia que esse drama passou quando assisti. Entrou para os meus favoritos da vida.

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A Beautiful Story

When it first came out, i was not really interested because the name sounds weird. Why is it Castaway Diva? What happened? After watching the first episode i was so intrigued. It got me going, and i love it. The story flows so well without them forcing any bullshit tropes. They didn’t add anything more to the story afterwards and kept with the same plot which i feel is excellent.

Some dramas tend to force the childhood bullshit or anything but not this drama. It has a hint of angst but at the same time, it’s a really beautiful drama trying to tell you not to give up your dreams. The cast fully acted the characters well, especially Woo Hak. He is an amazing second lead. They didn’t drag the Kiho thing too long and it flows smoothly. As a fan of chae jonghyeop, this drama really did him justice hehe.

Overall, i enjoyed the drama and eunbin as Mok ha just chef’s kiss. I recommend this drama to everyone.

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exceeded all my expectations!!

I never write reviews but this is the first time I felt the need to just note something down. I honestly had 0 expectations going into watching this drama. I just genuinely loved Park Eun Bin in Extraordinary Attorney Woo. I just needed more of her in any drama, really.
I'm not sure how helpful my review is, but one thing to take from this.. just watch it if you haven't!!
+ the OSTs are also great!

This popped up on my Netflix a little while ago. I've had it added to my watchlist but hadn't watched it until beginning of this week. I binged the first few episodes and I was just hooked from the first episode onward. I repeat, I had 0 expectations. I didn't even know what this kdrama was about. I loved the development of the story. I loved how the story kept unfolding and how it constantly kept me on my the edge of my seat. This is not your cringey, mainstream, predictable storyline. Was it predictable? Maybe, but for me, this was full of surprises.
This for me, is a drama I wish I could watch for the first time again. I will probably rewatch this one down the line.
I would describe this drama as a wholesome drama with a sprinkle of darkness. (small spoiler ahead)

However, I was a little taken aback and shocked with what was happening in the first episode. I had some issues with the domestic abuse that occurred in this drama. I was in full shock as to why there were no people that offered their help or stepped in whatsoever. I briefly read another review that mentioned this too, and I 100% agree. I won't add too many words about this. I will say that in a way it triggered me in a negative way. I think this part is the only remark/issue I have with this drama.

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Fun Inspiring Main Character

I loved this show. I loved two things the most about it. 1st how resilient Mok Ha was even though her life was basically a dumpster fire. She took everything in stride and compared all the bad things that happened to starving on the island. 2nd, I loved that fact that Park Eun Bin actually sang all the songs herself. Wow, I have seen her in a few shows and she is really talented. I also like that the show was a bit more logical than most. When she ran away to protect her friends they immediately found her because she was famous and people in the street photographed her so everybody knew where she was. The story was entertaining and the acting, music, characters and scenery were awesome. I only wish it had been longer.

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Truly wholesome and inspirational work of art

If you’re looking for themes of hope, inspiration, and harsh realistic lessons of life, then this drama is for you. The music resonates with me so much that a lot of diverse emotions start to combine and create chemistry in my brain, heart, and soul while watching the drama. Ran Joo’s writing is the BEST for me as she is portrayed VERY realistically and relatably as she depicts true human nature where there are times that we have contrasting choices and priorities in life. This drama is the perfect portrayal of “When life gives you lemons, make a lemon juice.”

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One of my new all time favorites. Loved every minute and sad when it ended.

10/10 is my rating. This is a 2023 South Korean Romantic Comedy with 12, 80 Minute Episodes.

First I provide a Unique Synopsis then Review.

Synopsis

Seo Mok ha (Park Eun bin) is a girl on a mission. Her dream is to meet her female idol who made it huge and came from her very same small hometown. If she can just impress her idol with her singing enough, she might get a chance at fame herself and be able to escape her physically abusive father. Kang Bo geol/Jung Ki ho (Chae Jong Hyeop and Moon Woo jin actors) at first thought Mokha was just a frivolous girl without a care. But her happy exterior holds that dark secret and he finds out she is suffering from abuse just as he is. With that common everyday horror, and no adults who believe and support them, he decides to help Mokha realize her dream by videoing, editing and even submitting her work to her idol for a competition. It works and Mokha has an appointment with her idol which is sure to change her life. To get to Seoul, the two plan to run away together but they are separated when their plan is discovered. One battered child is forced to remain on the island and Mokha makes a desperate leap off the ship to escape her abusive father. She comes to on a deserted island and spends 15 years as a castaway who is presumed dead before finally being rescued. She is now a 31 year old who has the social skills of someone in their teens. Is it too late for her to find her lost love and finally realize her dreams?

Review

This goes down as one of my all time favorites. My preference is happy ending, heartwarming romances and this checks all those boxes. I will rewatch this and highly recommend it for anyone that likes happy ending romance, idol stories, and friends to more. It has a dark beginning, with some severe domestic violence so a caution to anyone that might feel trauma from that. Those that do evil in this either get karma served or see the error of their ways.

Spoilers

I have seen other cases where the abuser is a police officer and that makes it really difficult for victims. I felt no sympathy when her father drowned after trying to get to her on the ferry. He may have led a sad life up to that point but others do and they do not abuse other people. I understand why she still felt sad but I was glad she quickly moved on.

I felt like her separation from Yoon Ranjoo (Kim Hiyo Jin) was unnecessarily long. I get that Ranjoo had trust issues but I thought it was unreasonable for her to not even listen.

The dynamics of the boy’s family and how sweet those relationships were made the show even better.A mother or father or other close family member is so much more than just the biology. I was glad the Prosecutor did not prosecute them for identity theft. They really had been through enough being abused and then hiding from, that monster.

I loved that it showed her finally with Kiho and singing for a huge audience.

#CastawayDiva

#ParkEunBin

#LeeARin

#LeeRe

#KimHyoJin

#HanDaIn

#SonYeRin

#ChaeJongHyeop

#MoonWooJin

#ChaHakYeon

#KangTaeUng

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