Reviews

'' There is no wall in this world that can stop the sun from rising. ''

After more than a month I could not finish few dramas that I started (which I had alot of interest in them at the beginning but all of that wane away when I reach middle 2/3rd of the story) , finally kudos to myself for being able to finish this one successfully. The fact that this drama only has 24 episodes does help I think.

My thoughts:

✅️ Cinematography & fighting scenes : 10/10. I loved the extravagant setting and how each scene were artfully filmed . Even if the story's bit lacking I was busy eye feasting with the beautifulness present in every scene.

✅️ OST: 10/10 . It was the best! While I usually enjoyed only one or two songs from a drama , I enjoyed all the songs here. Probably this become my favorite cdrama OST of the year. That song that has 'ge' in it was often played in Gong Shang Jue and Gong Yuan Zhi scenes really suited these two brothers relationship. Both since young have lost people dearest to them but later find solace and support in each other's arms. It does have a beautiful lyric.

✅️ Costume , hairstyles and visual : 10/10 . Everything is beautiful except I noticed one flaw that disturbed me for awhile while watching . They blurred hairline for all male here probably don't want us to notice how unnatural it look like lol .

☑️ Plot : 8/10 . Interesting beginning, a bit dragging in the middle but exciting ending. This drama surely have a lot of talking ,scheming scenes with non ending poetic languange in it script which definitely make you feel bored if you like more action in your drama. I remember being mildly bored and became instantly elated when a fighting scene is about to start lol. I think you need to be patience while watching all the talking scenes in order to understand the story better. About that ending scene. I am not even surprised anymore . Cdrama just love to have such an ending huh. Actually it was kinda expected because when we reach the last episode, Gong's mission to eliminate Wufeng still not achieve yet. Thus, 24 episodes is not enough to do it all. However I would not hold my breath waiting for season 2. Read somewhere that it is probably not going to happen.

✅️ Acting : 9/10. I think my most favorite character in this drama is Gong Zi Shang. I was never bored watching her dramatic antic. She was adorable to the max . While everything else in the story is dark and bleak she brings the sunshine into the story. I enjoyed all her scenes with Jin Fan. I'm happy she got her HEA. I think the main leads down to supporting characters did great in their given roles. While I did think that something is lacking in FL's character. I feel that her background story was not shown better . Other than her connection with Yun Que and Han Ya Si we know nothing else about her . Yes she talked about it with Gong Zi Yu but I prefer telling with showing rather than just telling only. Thus we inevitably feel detached with her character. Heck even Yun Que and Lady Wu Ji 's background stories was shown better than our FL. While everyone in the page comment section praises SFL for her performance here I have a different opinion . Something in the way she talks irritating me . It was the way she articulates each word looked and sounded greasy to me lol.

✅️ My Overall rating : 8.5/10

MJTY to me is like a beautifully wrapped -limited edition- candy with chocolate filling. You will feel good while eating it but after that it will leave you yearning for more .

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Watch this of course for Xing Fei & Xu Kai Cheng. One drama that sweet at first but become boring at the end.

Kinda agreed with Grumpy Witch, this should be end about 20-24 ep, that's gonna be the best. But they must continue until 32 ep. And that's just d*mn too long....

Funnily, also kinda agreed with Grumpy Witch when they wrote: 'Once the Zhou Wei (?) villain situation was “resolved”, I thought “finally!”. But no! The drama had more plans in store for us.'Haha... Yeah... After the drama with Zhou Wei done, it's just feel they kinda prolong the drama with more issues.

Although the drama with An Jing Ling kinda interested, but i think they can merge it together with zhou wei time. So everything kinda happen together & gonna resolve more quickly...

The chemistry between Xing Fei & Xu Kai Cheng also feel a miss. I know they try to looked intimate with the jelaous, clingy & sulking like couple used to do. But the connection is just not there...

Overall this quite unique story, but everything feel kinda out of place...

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Like Pizza Delivered Upside Down ~ Could Have Been ⤴️ But It's Just ⤵️ °4.6° °Poor°

I tried to roll along with BIOG, I really did. When watching fiction - especially fantasy - we must hold our suspension of disbelief in order to go along with the show and enjoy it. It's more relaxing to be on the generous side of the issue. Each time we have to dismiss inconsistencies, errors, a clumsy cadence, stupid dialogue or other disappointments, it's like a pinprick. At some point blood starts to gush and one can't let it go anymore. Then almost everything posi+ive drains dry, which is what happened here. This show just doesn't work; it's lifeless. Inconsistencies kept that "little ✒pinch" feeling going. For instance:

✒Can people see ghosts, or just evil spirits? It's unclear. We are told that seeing ghosts is something only a few people can do, but as the show goes on, more and more people are seeing ghosts. The viewer can make some guesses as to why this happens, but we shouldn't have to guess. The rules of this world should be explained and then adhered to. Or it hurts.

✒Hyun Ji's wardrobe, and how she is able to obtain, wear and change clothes is inconsistent. Her clothing is a plot driver in some episodes, yet rules about wardrobe laid out early on are bent, broken or tossed out altogether later. While I'm on the subject of costume, when Hyun Ji is wearing black she should have had spike-heeled boots on, not the frumpy-dumpies she wears. How kick@$$ing could she be when wearing them? They only could have helped.

✒She gets wet when it rains but her hair is dry when she comes out of the lake(?)

✒Why don't people see the forks and knives moving and the glasses being raised when ghosts are eating?

✒The police investigate a buried body in the woods and declare that it may not be a natural death? Possibly. What made them think that? Oh, right, the body was BURIED.

✒I'm almost shocked that the two seniors, In Rang and Cheon Sang, who only want to film ghosts in the beginning of the show, seem to forget all about it, and their youtube channel, as the episodes go on. The writer and director just let that aspect float out there and never used it. Letting something so important to the characters just fall away with no reason provided is downright lazy plot and character development.

✒We aren't told how technically skillful In Rang is, early on, so when he magically displays prowess later, it seems to sprout from nowhere.

✒Do we know the monk's actual relationship to Bong Pal? He seems to be an uncle, but if that was stated I missed it. We shouldn't be left to guess.

✒Do we know if Hyun Ji got all of her memories back from her time with Park Bong Pal?

✒What's going on in ep16 when they claim they don't need money and they have to be convinced to earn some? Bizarre.

It's as if they mixed scenes together like four and water. They don't have the sugar and the eggs, so no cake. It's gloop. Instead of a cohesive product that works, they just have a pile of separated scenes that don't combine for a better whole. On top of the inconsistencies and general sloppiness, the soundtrack and sound effects are lackluster.

The acting was fine. The actors suffer from bad directing. It doesn't seem like it's their fault. There appears to be a lack of chemistry, but it's probably a lack of good direction. Joon Hwa Park has a great lineup as a director. Hopefully this is an outlier. Conversely, one of the best things in the show is an incentive twist. That was a pleasant surprise. The villain is well done also, but none of that can bless this offering.

IMHO…

Directing 4
Acting 7
Romance 5
Flutters 4
Thought provocation 3

Age 13& up.

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A Convoluted Mess!

Hometown starts fantastically and jumps the rails around episodes 5 and 6. The crew from writing to directing did not have the skills to pull off the myriad of genres they tried to push into the story. After episode 4 it becomes plodding and slow. Had they stuck with the psycho-thriller/serial killer aspect and dismissed all things paranormal, it would have been better. I'm not saying this because I couldn't figure things out. I'm saying it because I lost complete interest in doing so.

Have you ever watched or read something that annoyed you because you could see the lost potential to the point where it bored you? Or you started re-writing it in your head to make it better? If so, then you'll understand my feelings about Hometown. It's boring. Straight up. No chaser. Boring. The crew couldn't bring it home. The lacked the ability to weave a cohesive story and make it entertaining. Instead they went for the WTF. They probably wanted the "mind blown" WTF but what they got was the "WTF happened" WTF.

The cast pulls this story along with sheer will and determination. It's not like they're phenomenal, but they deserve something better than what they received, especially Yoo Jae Myung who played Detective Choi. He was wasting his talent. Three of the 5 stars I'm giving this title are his alone.

The music was ok. I guess. I don't remember it. There's a negative chance that I'd rewatch any parts of Hometown without a paycheck and liquor.

Overall, it's a waste of time. The writing and directing are poor. Don't watch it.

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Supernatural clickbait. Consent has left the room with this problematic kdrama.

Consent seems to be a concept that is giving issues for some kdramas. This is the case for Destined with You.

The series promotes a supernatural themed experience replete with Joseon flashbacks. It starts strong with a visceral curse of a bloody, red hand haunting the male protag and also a haunted shrine to start the ball rolling on events. A couple of episodes later, however, that enticing premise is nowhere to be found.

Lee Hong Jo's character is unlikeable and unrelatable. She is insecure at work because she is not invited to the collegial team luncheons. There are suggestions that she is bullied as well. At first, I thought she might be a low ranking public servant. The synopsis itself says she is a "low grade public servant" however, at one stage we discover that she is in fact an assistant manager, ie the second in charge. At that point, all sympathies for her work problems evaporate. If she's skilled enough to get to that point she should be skilled enough to handle the politics.

Furthermore, we discover that she stole Na Yeon's bf in high school. For some reason Na Yeon chooses to apologise to her for the incident and Hong Jo has the gall to refuse to forgive her. This was quite early on in the series already and had cemented my dislike for this character. But I decided to keep on with the show by switching focus onto the male protag instead. That, unfortunately, also sank like another cement block in the river.

The premise of this show is that LHJ decides to cast a love spell on a crush at work. This distastefully amoral deed, which smacks of psychopathy, backfires and instead (and quite predictably) Shin Yu gets lumped with the spell on top of his curse. I dropped the series at the start of episode 5 when it was revealed that there was no way to break the spell. Shin Yu is stuck with having to feel feelings that he does not have for a woman he had no inkling of having those types of feelings for in the first place. This show became as romantic as watching a guy try to woo a woman he roofied. It's not cool for it to happen to a woman. It's not cool for it to happen to a man too and it was tragically sad watching Shin Yu struggle against being physically gravitated towards Hong Jo and saying things he doesn't want to towards her while the vacuous, insensitive Hong Jo just keeps asking, "why are you here? Why are you staring at me like that? Why did you say that?" etc when he has said, time and again already, exactly why he was behaving like that and has literally begged her to help break this spell just as multiple times.

For the fact that it also became obvious the supernatural themes were just used as clickbait and there's no substance to the characters or the story, it was not worth even a first watch.

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Don't read this if you haven't finished the show!!!

Overall I enjoyed this show a lot, especially because of the main characters. They were very cute together, the development of their relationship was after all really healthy and lovely to watch.
I actually understand the disappointment with the ending, which certainly could have had potential for a better development despite it not being a happy ending. The writing certainly has flaws, and has nothing original, but I think there is something very essential about this type of works. There are many perfect dramas, with a perfect ending. But life is not like this, and as the author wanted to say, make our days count, because death comes like this, without meaning, without prior warning. So even if the ending seems unnecessary or nonsense, well it only reflects what life can be. Life IS nonsense, and it's taken away from us even more easily than it takes to give it to us. Hao Ting's emotional closure, his mother encouraging him to move forward, his liberating cry, everything is a good portrait of what is real. Showing that he hasn't moved on yet, attached to the memory of his loved one, is just the most human thing they could write. His words in the last part of the episode were the perfect way to describe what it feels like when someone you love dies, your life goes on and he's still there, stuck at his age, always the same, forever, and it's really scary to move forward.

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The best revenge is massive success.

There’s an argument to be made about how Perfect Marriage Revenge had a perfect execution because it was a 12 episodes long drama and didn’t have time for unnecessary conflicts. Everything took its right time and was resolved in a cohesive way with the characters development.

Both leads were compelling and had amazing chemistry, but the secondary characters were equally interesting to watch. All the performances outstanding and you can tell the actors are enjoying themselves in their respective roles.

On a story about a woman looking for revenge against her own family, this kdrama had a perfect balance between makjang and romcom. Making it an easy and fun watch. I highly recommend it!

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( Last Update) Basically A Guilt Love Drama with Side Character becoming Main Lead

I had hope for this but after watch just 3 episode i can see that they fumble on the idea The ML so far checks all the box for me but the female lead on the other hand i like that she has feeling for him but after the confession and she didn't realizing the mood change after she confessed had me like wow not we know most drama when the female is direct it would be cool but am sorry if a guy did what she did the drama would be flamed now at episode she mostly let her feelings get in the way of logic she just assume that her Novel gonna get a movie adaptation so quick but fail to realize that she has be in the industry 4+ years with him and learn nothing and now were introduce to the 2nd lead and tbh its pointless this drama having 24 episode seems like a bunch of misunderstanding and cliche nonsense gonna happen but for now am only continuing because i have nothing else to watch and i had to create an account cause i honestly thought that this would be a mature modern love drama but i a;; got was high school children in adults body only thing i enjoy is the music and thats sad .....
I honestly feel like i know the ending of my review title and its kinda sad that i have to name it that but i hope this drama proves me wrong in the end cause its sad being right and i will spoil my last review after episode 24 gonna be Guilt Love At its best

Its not even the cast fault i was harsh even thoe the sister voice was slightly annoying it became better i don't know how.... the male i understand the concept and after hearing his side i won't lie that's where my name for the last review came from i honestly would have preferred him not chasing her cause he has principle but ohhh boy was i so wrong just like a previous drama i watched this is your typical girl likes guy for years but she doesn't have a reason the way she confessed to me was heart breaking.... some may say its honest but when he asked again it just felt wrong... she got rejected left the company because of that and the plot basically revolves around her novel cause thats the only reason he has any contact with her but haha a next curve ball he likes all of a sudden without no development and all we got was that she unique and different Bro come on how for a character that is said or portray to be straightforward she falls in this regard and don't the pointless jealous scene of ohh she going on a blind date am jealous gotta ruin it this drama honestly if i wasn't committed i would have dropped this since i heard her confession she never consider his feelings just like he said in the elevator and lets be fair if she was like this in any other drama as the childhood friend she would lose to a next female lead that consider his feelings and be honest with him but lets hope that My last review after episode 24 don't be Guilt love at its best cause By Drama logic as long as there are good look with good visual lets forget the story aspect

I Now realize my last review gonna be so sad this Is just Guilt until you love me and its sad but at the same time maybe its not a serious drama and probably just a bubbly one with no seriousness but this drama made me question if we Main Lead truly deserve each other at this point the Female lead is a character with a support character plot put into a main lead role truly sad


Damn i cant believe i was write i know some people gonna give this a high rating because they wont think of the story and just be like awww she fell first and fell harder but damn predicting the ending and everything was sad i was not even surprise this is basically a guilt love Drama with Side Character becoming Main Lead

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I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this.

Slow, pensive, understated shows usually aren't my jam but this one hooked me right away. I was riveted by the first half especially. The show did a great job building the fraught but tender relationship between the leads while gently teasing the mystery of Annie's life and death. I also liked how the writer showed us the leads' self actualization and growth alongside the gradual development of their romance. I appreciated the perceptive treatment of the difficulty of obtaining work/life balance for working moms. The second half of the show was still good but sometimes erred on the side of being too muted and elliptical. In particular I think there needed to be more meaty, dialogue heavy scenes as the marriages definitively broke down and fewer flashbacks, montages, and scenes of the leads staring wistfully into space as ballads drone on in the background.

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From princess to peasant, from playboy to CEO..

This drama has its up and down, however it got kinda boring around ep 19...

Female lead Zhen gao gui is a rich princess. She finds out that her mom has gone backrupt so she needs to find a job. She gets a job at a pr company/ marketing , doing advertisements. Male lead is forced to be CEO to take care of his brother's popcorn business. The two leads have meet prior and they become business partner. They work together to make the popcorn more popular and to sell it better.

I like the personality of the female lead. She is quirky, smart and brave. The male lead is a little more reserved but down to earth.

I didnt really like how their romance was such a slow burn... Its like... if you like her then be more bold to confess. Their relationship is too draggy. I havent gotten to their romance and I had to drop it already. I mean the drama only has 24 episode and on 19 ep still no romance..

Also they revealed some unnecessary info about the past of the male lead, which resulted in the female lead losing her dad at a young age... So he feels guilty about that... and decides to hide his feelings even longer.

I like how they work together to overcome the obstacles in their job but still even some parts where kinda slow and stagnate. Like the side character who tried to sabotage the male lead popcorn company, time and time again and the evil dude doesnt get any punishment for it.

I like the lead actress but this drama was not a good one..

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Best Chinese Historical of 2023 and in recent years !!!

Let me preface this by saying that I dont like to reveal spoilers in my reviews so this will be spoiler-free. I would like to first applaud the writers, director, technical team, costume department....all the many people involved behind the scenes who worked so hard to make this drama a success. I love to see people hard work bts rewarded. Now on to the actors. Everyone did an amazing job here. ZhangLihe is a revelation. This is my 1st drama of his and I am now a fan. I loved his acting here and the nuances he gave in his performance. Quite honestly these types of MLs are really not my cup of tea in dramas but I really attribute the fact that I loved his character so much to him, the actor. I havent watched any Bailu dramas since Arsenal Military Academy and she did an amazing job here; I love the myriad of emotions she portrayed as well. The other second male leads and other actors did a great job. The way the comic timing seamlessly blend in a " dark, serious" drama like this is a testament to the actors and also the writing. I love the political intrigue, fight scenes, reverse harem , harem court drama....all of this contributed to make this drama such a good drama. I hope ZLH and Bailu work in another drama in the future because their chemistry in this one was outstanding. I also loved that it wasnt heavily romance focused; dont get me wrong, I love a good romance in a historical drama but I also appreciate the political intrigue. Give it a try, you will love it and I dont even like to follow trends or whatever but the hype that this drama is getting is very well deserved.

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The series has captivated my attention with its compelling storyline and engaging characters. The cast's exceptional performances, particularly the main lead's (ML) acting and voice, contribute significantly to the show's overall appeal. The seamless portrayal of characters by the cast adds depth and authenticity to the narrative.

One of the standout aspects of the series is the chemistry between the ML and FL (main lead and female lead). Their on-screen dynamic enhances the viewing experience, making the plot more immersive. It's evident that the actors have put considerable effort into developing a believable and relatable connection, adding a layer of emotional depth to the story.

A noteworthy element that sets this series apart is the absence of overacting. Each actor delivers their lines and expressions with precision, avoiding melodrama and allowing the audience to appreciate the subtleties of the performances. This commitment to realism is refreshing and contributes to the overall quality of the show.

The music accompanying the series deserves praise as well. The soothing melodies complement the narrative, creating a harmonious atmosphere that enhances emotional moments and adds to the overall viewing experience. The thoughtful selection of music underscores the series' emotional beats, leaving a lasting impression on the audience.

The plot itself is intriguing, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats as the story unfolds. The narrative is well-paced, balancing moments of suspense, drama, and humor. Speaking of humor, some moments in the series provide genuine laughs, showcasing the versatility of the cast in delivering both serious and lighthearted scenes.

Personally, I was drawn to the series because of Liu's involvement. Having enjoyed his previous work, particularly his outstanding performance in the last ballad, I was eager to see him in a leading role. It's gratifying to see him take on the main lead in this series, further showcasing his acting prowess. Liu's ability to portray diverse characters effectively adds depth to the narrative, and his presence is a significant factor in the series' success.

In conclusion, this series is a must-watch for its well-executed plot, exceptional cast performances, delightful music, and the absence of overacting. The chemistry between the main leads adds a layer of authenticity, and the inclusion of moments of humor provides a well-rounded viewing experience. For fans of Liu and those seeking an engaging and enjoyable series, this one certainly fits the bill.

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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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A MUST WATCH

I don't know how many times I've watched this series. But I absolutely love it.

1. The personal growth of each of the characters, from their youth to their adulthood, especially our MFL, SJR. The way she turned into an innocent young girl to a strong woman is really interesting. Most important aspect I really liked is how she doesn't turn greedy and keeps this innocence and loyalty she had when she was younger. I like how the MML, XYQ pushes her to become stronger while doing everything to protect and preserve her.

2. I like the political dynamic of the drama. You see the power struggles of each main sects and you even end up pitying the antagonist characters.

3. Like a lot of drama, some characters were frustrating, but surprisingly, I could understand the attitude of the major characters towards them.

This drama is really entertaining, from the constant romance throughout the story to the intense political struggles

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Why it's not perfect?

To answer to my own question, I have no idea!

How should I describe Castaway Diva in a simple way? It's a show about people whom are fighting for their family, their love, their dreams, and never give up! Mokha is probably the most inspiring character I've seen for a long time. Park Eun Bin and the whole cast and crew deserve every award! I don't know if I should've given 10/10 or 9/10 for this show. It feels like I'm nitpicking, but honestly, there were a couple of things in the story that could've been a LITTLE BIT better. IN MY HEART, THIS IS A PERFECT DRAMA, but as a more critical person, it's "ONLY" 9/10! It would be surprising if Park Eun Bin and the crew won't win anything next year. Amazing show, masterclass acting, one of the best written show in 2023, the entire production was top-notch, and probably had THE Best OST too. I don't even remember when was the last time a Kdrama had a perfect OST, not just the songs, but the score too.

Here comes the long part!?

What I LOVED about the Castaway Diva, is that on the surface it's about a girl who idolize a singer, and she wants to be a singer too, just like her Idol. But if you watch the whole show, and you pay attention, you'll see, it's about finding your own path, finding happiness, and that's not fame or money, it's LOVE and FAMILY! Nowadays, these words became cliché, thanks to the souless movies. This show is about REAL PEOPLE with REAL STRUGGLES. Most Kdrama creator don't even dare to put half of what the Castaway Diva creators put in this show. In the past 6 weeks I saw so many comments from people, complaining, when will we see Mokha as an Idol. The sad part in this fandom is that most Kdrama fans aren't used to the real world stories. They want fantasy, and that's okay, but for me, there's nothing more important than learning something meaningful from a show, movie, or a book. A story can be fun, even if the story doesn't make sense at all. Marvel movies proved it for years, but if you're watching the same thing over and over, it will become boring eventually. This Kdrama showed everyone, you can write a fun show even if it's realistic and dealing with many real world problems like, domestic abuse, depression, alcoholism, toxicity, prejudice, or insecurity. Why is it so hard to be an Idol in Korea (especially if you're older than 30) or just being an average person who can't even ask help, because the Korean legal system is messed up so much. What I liked the most, is that there wasn't a single character who was one dimensional or boring.

I'm sure, for most of you, Mokha and Kiho were the best couple, and it's not like I don't love them. Easily one of the best romantic couple of all time, probably! They really fought for each other, especially Kiho, but like Park Eun Bin said in an interview: "That's a fantasy!"? I love fantasy, but what I LOVE THE MOST is when two women don't hate each other, they're not perfect, and don't want to kill each other for the most ridiculous reason.

THE BEST PART in Castaway Diva were Mokha and Ranjoo's sisterhood. Even if some people didn't understand it sometimes, they fought for each other like real sisters, NEVER wanted to betray each other for fame or money. I honestly don't want anything else, but seeing Park Eun Bin and Kim Hyo Jin winning "The best couple" award, because this year, there's no one who deserve it more!

I don't think anyone can write a review about a show with Park Eun Bin being the main lead, without mentioning the fact that she proved over and over for more than 20 years now, her versatile skills as an actress. Every time she's on the screen, the viewer is either crying or laughing, or both.? I honestly think that there's nothing she can't do. She was a wife and mother who fought for her family in a Joseon dynasty in 'Hur Jun, the Origin Story'. She was a troubled young adult in 'Age of Youth', a fierce warrior "King" in the 'The King's Affection', and a brilliant lawyer with ASD in the 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo', and now: She's literally debuted as an Idol, and proved to everyone that she can win a Grammy for her singing skills too. If someone only watched Castaway Diva from her, I'm 110% sure, they will think, Park Eun Bin was an Idol first and became an actress later.

I have to mention the other actors too, especially the two young actors: Moon Woo Jin (as the young Kiho) and Lee Re (as the young Mokha), because without them, I don't think this show would be this good. They're THE MAIN REASON the 1st episode was PERFECT! Having acting skills like they have at a young age is probably a talent they were born with. Being kid actors is always hard, especially in Kdramas, but being in the same level with the adults is a talent that not everyone has.?

Chae Jong Hyeop and Cha Hak Yeon proved again, they're not just pretty boys. The nuances in their acting, not something you can learn easily. A writer can write the best script in the world, but if the actors are not good enough, it's going to be a disaster.
The same goes for Kim Hyo Jin and Kim Joo Heon. Like I said, the characters aren't one dimensional, that's why sometimes you can hate them and a couple of minutes later you love them again. Especially after you realize why they're doing what they're doing.

I'm glad Hyo Jin's Ranjoo wasn't just a simple mentor or a finished article who's jealous of Mokha or Eun Morae. There's a good reason, Ranjoo was my favorite character after Mokha. I love characters with flaws, with real problems, and Ranjoo had everything. She proved that she's not a finished article, she was the best mentor and friend that a real fan like Mokha could ask for. Her story with her mother and with her mentor, and to be honest, a second dad, was the cherry on the top. Like I said, masterclass acting and writing! I don't think I will forget the scene where Ranjoo singing for her mother.

If we say, Kiho is the best boy that a girl can ask for, or as kids say it nowadays, a walking green flag, Daddy Kang was a whole forest with his forest fairy, Song Ha Jung. ? Daddy Kang (Lee Joong Ok) and Song Ha Jung's (Seo Jung Yeon) love story could probably top even Mokha and Kiho's. I don't think there's too many people who can endure the amount of pain and misery that they had to deal with. Living in fear for more than 15 years, raising two kid, dealing with judgmental people and still love each other and don't run away, instead fighting for their family. There's nothing harder than that.

Lee Seung Joon as Jung Bong Wan won't go down as the best person in the history of Kdramas, but the fact is that he's one of the best written antagonist. He wasn't a typical evil person who would do everything to achieve his goal. I don't think there will be a single person who will sympathies with him, but his character is a great example, what happens when you have too much power and freedom to do whatever you want. Even tho, he loved his family in his own way, it was one of the best representation of a toxic relationship, and they showed us why is it hard to leave people like him, even after so many years.

I have to mention the director and the writer too. Park Hye Ryun (writer) and Oh Choong Hwan (director) worked together once, but this time, in my humble opinion, they made something really SPECIAL that people won't forget for a very long time. I hope they will win something for their work, because they deserve it, BIG TIME!

I could talk about the Castaway Diva for a week, why everyone should watch it, but I don't want to waste your time with reading my novel, so just go, and watch Castaway Diva!?

I'll end my review with my favorite line from the show. There were MANY, but this is probably the most meaningful of them all!

"- I guess it’s true that givers create takers. You were the one who was the giver, and I was the taker.
- Why are you a taker? You’re a gift."

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