Castaway Diva || Kdrama Review + Spoiler-y Discussion

I just finished watching Castaway Diva for the second time and it reminded me of why I wanted to write a review on it the first time I watched it. I procrastinated writing a review then but not this time. It's a charming drama that deserves some buzz.

In this post, I'll be sharing my thoughts on Castaway Diva and will be discussing a few things in the spoiler section. If you haven't watched it yet, maybe this will convince you to give it a shot too.

what is Castaway Diva about?

Seo Mok-ha hasn't had a great life but she dreams of so much more. Blessed with an angelic voice and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, she runs away with the help of a friend. Unfortunately, her father catches her on the way and she jumps overboard a ferry, eventually waking up stranded in a deserted island. 15 years later, she is rescued by a group of volunteers cleaning the island.

The Kdrama follows Seo Mok-ha as she returns to society (which is far different from how it was 15 years earlier), and tries to fulfil her old dreams (meeting her singer idol Yoon Ran-joo and becoming a singer). She also looks for the friend who tried to help her escape, even though it seems like he vanished into thin air.

Castaway Diva is an emotional story about people chasing their dreams and finding family along the way. Starring 3 main characters and following stories of a handful of secondary characters, it reminds us to be hopeful and follow our dreams.

my thoughts

Castaway Diva is shorter than most Kdramas with 12 episodes, each just over 1 hour long. I appreciate that the writers did not try to stretch it to fit the usual 16-episode length. 12 was a good length for this story. It could have been a couple of episodes shorter too, if a few secondary things were cut out.

It also follows the trend of adding clips at the end after credits, although they're not added for all episodes. I believe I did not notice the clips the first time I watched it so it was a delightful surprise during my second watch.

the plot

While the storyline is being setup, the drama feels plot-driven because things happen to the characters and they don't have a lot of control. However, after that setup is done about 75% through the first episode, the drama is completely character-driven.

Everything happens because a character is feeling some way or thinking something. I can think of 2 scenes which, honestly, did not make sense plot-wise because they didn't do much and seems random but they totally make sense character-wise. The characters had such strong feelings about something that they took decisions without thinking and it did not go well.

The drama is so character-driven that it makes for a slow-paced drama. A lot happens in 12 episodes but it mostly feels slow because we're always focused on the characters at the moment on the screen. The emphasis is on how they're doing and feeling, not the plot overall. The plot and pace pick up a bit about halfway through the drama, but it's still slow.

I really liked the storytelling in Castaway Diva. I love character-driven stories and this embodied that totally. I loved how the emotions came through the screen even when the characters weren't saying anything. It was like I could feel their emotions with them. Seo Mok-ha (played by Park Eun-bin) has a very expressive face so it's easy to connect with her at any time.

The drama gives us just enough about the characters' pasts and clips of Mok-ha while she's stranded before moving on to her return to society, so that we have context for the main timeline. Whenever it was relevant, there were flashbacks to the past to give us more context instead of dumping things at us before.

I appreciated the details in the story which enhanced the emotion a lot. Like Mok-ha clinging to old and worn out shoes from 15 years ago because her friend gave it to her or the usage of coloured balloons in concerts to appreciate singers. There were many tiny details or scenes which really added to the story.

However, sometimes, the plot tended to lose the plot, especially towards the end. Kdramas tend to show backstories or a little more about prominent secondary characters too which I like. This drama took it a bit too far, though. We saw way too much about Seo Mok-ha's favourite singer/mentee Yoon Ran-joo even though she's a secondary character. We even saw her mom's story at one point. That was totally unnecessary considering Yoon Ran-joo was not one of the main characters. The drama could've been 10 episodes long if a these irrelevant backstories that took more than 5 mins were cut.

The scenes from the high school days were done really well. We see how Mok-ha and Ki-ho bonded after a few initial hiccups and how their connection became so strong that it set the base for their relationship well into their 30s. They see things differently but the root of their emotions and dreams are the same—dealing with and getting away from their abusive fathers. The scenes of their attempted escape was so high with emotions that my heart was beating overtime just watching it. I'm glad that we got to see enough of the old days in the beginning. It sets the stage for their actions in the future.

A fairly significant part of the drama, at least for the first half, is the "Who is Ki-ho?" plotline. When Mok-ha is rescued, one of the first things she wants to do is find Ki-ho. Fairly quickly, the drama signals that one of the brothers who rescued her is probably Ki-ho and makes us curious about who it is.

This is a mystery that is very intentionally created for the viewer more than for Mok-ha. The flow of the drama would have been better if we were given all sides of the story and only Mok-ha had to solve the mystery. Because the show intentionally confuses us about who is Ki-ho, with some creative storytelling that misleads us and cuts out key information until the reveal, the right connection with the characters was lost. There are also character inconsistencies because of this.

However, once the real identity of Ki-ho is revealed, we get the full story without having to wait a while. I appreciated that the drama addressed the missing information and laid everything out so that we understand how everything ties up. I still wish the mystery wasn't for the viewers, though.

While Castaway Diva is set in the real world, it isn't totally real. You have to suspend a little belief to like the story. For example, the fact that Mok-ha has a real shot at being a popular singer despite being 30+ years old (but behaving like a teenager at times), having no finesse, and having a strong rural accent. Ran-joo admits to a huge mistake on a live TV show and isn't doxxed to the point of depression. Seo Mok-ha randomly meets her idol and becomes really close to her overnight. At one point, the law and prosecution were like we wish they were in real life. Some things are a bit too idealistic, and they would never happen to someone in real life unless that person had a lot of money or connections.

That brings me to the golden heard of this drama. Why a lot of viewers love it even though it has a lot of flaws. The main appeal of the drama is the way things work out for the characters. Despite all the trauma and hardship that they go through on screen, it's an emotional feel-good drama. Seo Mok-ha returns to society with no family, friends, or money. Yet, she gets a place to stay. She gets some help and meets her idol pretty soon. She sings with her idol. Then she becomes the idol's manager in a twist of events. The characters hope and do their best and it feels as if the universe responds with good things, even if it's only good people to get through bad things with.

Castaway Diva has a fairly good ending. I genuinely hate watching dramas till the end nowadays because they always start with a great setup and the ending sucks. The main sell about Castaway Diva is that it ends with the villain getting what he deserves and the people we like getting a proper happy ending. Yes, it was stretched a little too much (more than one episode?!) to tie things up neatly, but at least it gave everyone what they deserved.

the characters

Seo Mok-ha

Played by Park Eun-bin, Seo Mok-ha is a headstrong and likeable character. After returning to society, she feels like she's behind on everything due to being stranded on the island for 15 years. We see her struggle with being late and not having anything to show for her age. Whenever she gets an opportunity, even if it is small, she takes it and does her best because she doesn't want to regret not having done it.

I really liked the way Seo Mok-ha's journey and emotions were shown. There is more than enough focus on small progresses and hiccups in her story to truly understand her. When she lives a moment that she dreams of, her open and joyful face captured my heart.

Mok-ha learnt a lot of life lessons during her time on the island which she talks about throughout the drama. Many times, she remembers that she has survived much worse conditions and hence she can get through whatever she is going through now too. Sometimes, the references to the island life can feel like too many but it's the right amount—or lesser—because she spent half her life alone on the island. We, as viewers, don't see much of it other than in the flashbacks.

Mok-ha's character growth was nice. In a lot of ways, she's still a teenager because of her missed years. Because of those lonely years, she doesn't have preconceived notions about being aloof with people and loves without limits. We see her being empathetic and learning from the mistakes she makes when she lets people down. Her journey to becoming a settled person with her place and her people is a lovely one. I liked how she held herself up and loved the people around around with ferocity. We don't see her "mature" into a serious adult but that's her charm in the story.

If you keep worrying about the future, then you’ll end up with just as many regrets down the road. From now on, I’m going to do whatever I want in that moment.

Kang Bo-geol

Played by Chae Jong-hyeop, Kang Bo-geol is a music show producer and one of the brothers who found Mok-ha on the island. Although he's not in focus for the first few episodes, he quickly becomes one of the important people in the story. He is the silent broody type of man, steadfast and strong alongside his people but not chatty.

His character had so much potential but it wasn't written or shown well. It's a disservice done to the character, honestly. We lose a lot of opportunities to connect with him because of the way he's portrayed and how he's not the focus until the last few episodes. Honestly, his character could be summed up in 2 things, and that the saddest part. He doesn't even feel like the main character sometimes. The main character wasn't main character-ing.

Bo-geol didn't have any character growth until the 2nd last episode. Considering everything that he goes through, that's a bit strange. I guess it's understandable in a way that he doesn't change until the weight on his shoulders is lifted but it reinforces how he didn't have the main character arc that we expect.

Also, the actor's smile is so charming. Unfortunately, we see it only a handful of times. Bo-geol is frowning and expressionless for most of the show.

SPOILERS

One of my biggest complaints about Bo-geol is how the majority of his actions were in Mok-ha's service. I understand the connection he had with her and how his guilt causes him to do anything he can to find her and help her. However, he didn't do much else. Towards the end, we find out that some unrelated actions were, in fact, intentional and for Mok-ha. When I say that his personality can be summed up in 2 things, I mean Mok-ha and his abusive father. That's honestly it. We know that there has to be more to him considering his passion for videography or how he's a great TV show director but that is, again, always shown as if it is for Mok-ha and not his talent or passion.

Kang Woo-hak

Played by Cha Hak Yeon AKA N, Kang Woo-hak is a reporter and the other brother who found Mok-ha in the island. He is Bo-heol's elder brother. Unlike the super serious Bo-geol, Woo-hak is much more carefree and charming. He takes more risks and thinks about details more too, in line with his reporter profession.

Woo-hak was my favourite character. He comes off as charming and self-centered in the beginning but it's always when there are no stakes. Even though he didn't know Mok-ha, he helped her find people from her old life and gave her a place to stay. His actions throughout the show were consistent to his character and I liked him more with each of them. Cha Hak Yeon played this character very well.

I really liked his relationship with his family, especially how he acts on it. He's openly affectionate with Bo-geol, even insisting on sharing a bedroom even though they're grown adults and buying the same jacket which Bo-geol got. When he find out something about his parents, he makes them breakfast the next morning (out of character) and openly appreciates them. I liked how he took care of Mok-ha throughout the drama as well.

He had a great character growth. We really see how new revelations affect him emotionally and change him. He was definitely a main character.

Yoon Ran-joo

Played by Kim Hyo-jin, Yoon Ran-joo is Seo Mok-ha's favourite star who's standing has fallen considerably over the past 15 years. Although Mok-ha hasn't seen her downfall, Ran-joo's career dip is clearly seen from the moment we see her in the current timeline. When she meets Mok-ha, she's struggling with singing and hates herself for it.

Yoon Ran-joo is a supporting character but the plot focuses enough on her as if she's the main character. At a couple of points, there was more focus on her than Seo Mok-ha! I really question the necessity of her plot at all, beyond supporting Mok-ha's story.

She quickly becomes very close to Mok-ha right from the first day they meet—Ran-joo clung to Mok-ha because she hasn't had a true fan in a long time. Their relationship quickly grows into friendship and mentorship. Ran-joo takes Mok-ha under her wing in many ways and Mok-ha staunchly supports Ran-joo in everything. Their relationship was tumultuous and I questioned a lot of it.

We see a lot about Ran-joo. We find out how her career began and how it took off. We see when it changed and some of her downfall. We even see her mother's story and their relationship. We see her (confusing) relationship with her company's CEO and the person she co-founded it with—which always hinted at more but never explained it, by the way.

I wouldn't have minded Ran-joo's story if the drama was her story. Instead we randomly get way more of her than expected after getting invested in Mok-ha's story. It honestly feels like the writers forgot that Mok-ha is the main character and not Ran-joo.

SPOILERS

What was that press conference scene?! Was it to show how Mok-ha keeps supporting Ran-joo but Ran-joo not accepting it? It would make sense if Ran-joo was a main character but she technically wasn't! Why was the focus more on her than Mok-ha? Plot really lost the plot where Ran-joo was concerned. Also, what was with her STAYING at the CEO's home? Is it their home? Did they marry and then divorce? Did they date and live together before breaking up? Did they even break up? Did they even date? But they're living together until the end of the drama. I don't get it!

the relationships

Along with the character-focus, the drama shines on relationships. There are many different relationships shown in the drama and we follow the changes in all of them. There are actually emphasis on a few too many, it could've been cut down, but the ones that shined the brightest were great.

• I liked Seo Mok-ha and Kang Woo-hak's relationship the most. The way it reluctantly started and their friendship bloomed was sweet. It was really nice how she joined him for meals when he felt lonely and how he helped her find Ki-ho and ease back into society.
• Seo Mok-ha and Jung Ki-ho's relationship during their school days was lovely. I loved how their connection formed and how earnest it was through dark moments. Unfortunately, it wasn't really replicated in the current timeline. The charm was in their younger days.
• Seo Mok-ha and Yoon Ran-joo's mentor-mentee relationship had a lot of focus... but didn't do much. I hated how it ended up giving Ran-joo so much screen time. I understand that both of them grew and changed due to each other but halfway through, the drama really messed up their relationship and I didn't care about it after that.
• The Kang family was precious <3 I loved all of them together and in every pair. I especially grew to care for the father Kang Sang-doo for everything that he did and how he loved and protected his family, putting himself in hot water for them again and again. I loved his relationship with his sons, especially when Woo-hak learns some things and grows closer to Sang-doo. I liked seeing the mother do her best to protect her sons. I liked seeing the brothers team up and talk through their feelings in the shared room throughout—how they stayed close even until their thirties. And yes, I loved how Mok-ha folded into the family over time.

An important thing to note: Castaway Diva is low on romance. There is a budding romance growing between Mok-ha and Ki-ho which has potential in the current timeline but it is not one of the major plotlines of the show. No matter which romance angle, the drama doesn't really focus on it. The emphasis is on the characters' indidivudal journeys and the other relationships I mentioned above. I was disappointed that we didn't get to see the growth of Mok-ha and Ki-ho's relationship in the current timeline but oh well.

Check out The Fangirl Verdict's review for more (spoiler-filled) thoughts on relationships.

the ost/soundtrack

Since the drama was already slow-paced, I wasn't really in the mood for ballads and the most important music of the drama are all ballads. Hence, I wasn't a huge fan of the music. However, I do really appreciate that Park Eun-bin sung all of her character's songs and did it really well. In fact, I thought the songs were actually sung by someone else until I looked up the OST to give it a separate listen after watching the drama.

I liked the below songs the most while watching the show:

Dream Us, the song that started it all and the only one that's not a total slow ballad.

discussion (includes spoilers!)

If you don’t want spoilers, click here to skip to the “overall” concluding section.

Firstly, can we address the mystery plot?! I had forgotten the story by the time I watched it the second time and it's no wonder I forgot, it's kind of a ridiculous plot.

In case you've forgotten it too, here's the Ki-ho mystery explained while I remember it:

• It's not shown initially but Ki-ho has a brother. He always had one. This fact was kept hidden from us (the viewers) to further the mystery.
• During another shitty day when their abusive dad was trying to beat them up, the brother protected Ki-ho and got hit in the head with a chair. He went into coma for a long long time. The father got transferred during it and took Ki-ho with him. In this new place, everyone thought they were the only 2 in their family. This is when Ki-ho and Mok-ha become friends and try to run away.
• Later, after Moh-ka was lost at sea, Ki-ho managed to run away to his mother. His mother, with the help of a civil servant who fell for her, assumed identities of a family that had gone missing. Ki-ho's brother had amnesia so he thought those were their real identities. The mother, step-dad and Ki-ho lied.
• Ki-ho is Kang Bo-geol, the stoic music show producer with his love for directing (one of the few things that links him to his teenage self), and his brother is Kang Woo-hak.

There are so many things going on here. Yes, it ties up fairly neatly in the end, but it feels like someone wrote the plot of Mok-ha not knowing who Ki-ho is when rescued and then worked on why that came to be. It feels like they created the problem and then the backstory to it. This is the one part which is very plot-driven and, in my opinion, had mixed payoff.

I really liked the journey that the family went through together. The step-dad was a class A good guy who did his best and raised the boys as his own. Ki-ho lied for his brother and pretty much suppressed himself to live the lie. Since the brother lost his memory of the bad times and bad father, he became an upbeat person. Ki-ho became much moe withdrawn. Which led the me to confuse the two brothers when we see them again.

So much plot was wrangled to make the mystery work. The emotional part of it was Mok-ha trying to find him. But, once Moh-ka finds out who is Ki-ho, they barely get any focus?! We got that one camping trip. That's it. Their bond was so good during high school days and we got pretty much nothing from the current timeline. To be honest, by this time, the story seemed to favour Ran-joo more so this thread was dropped.

Let's also talk about Ran-joo and CEO Lee's story. They live in the same house for a good few episodes at the end despite having a huge fallout and her losing trust in him. Why? Is it her house too? It definitely looked like they dated a while before breaking up (although we don't get to know when or how it happened) but why live together again when clearly they're not on the same page?

CEO Lee's (attempted) redemption arc at the end sucked. It felt like the drama was trying to give everyone a happy ending unless they were the main villain. In case you missed it, CEO Lee is alluded to have acted in Ran-joo's interests when he pulled out all the stops to not let her get half the company's shares. Apparently the mother shredded an important invoice and CEO Lee was the one who taped it up together—so the mother didn't want her daughter to be CEO. Why? Is it because Ran-joo is more emotional and less level-headed? The scene is used to prove why CEO Lee is a good CEO. What was the point if he undercuts someone apparently he cares about so much and hurt her self-esteem so badly? I already didn't get why we saw so much about Ran-joo. Tacking on her and CEO Lee's relationship was too much.

A lot of supporting characters' focus was not what it should've been. Ran-joo's should've been half of what we got. Ran-joo's mom should've gotten even lesser. Eun Mo-rae got too much considering all we found out was that she's an insecure brat. Eun Mo-rea's manager's story was ok since it added value but it didn't end well—he should've tried being a songwriter again. His ending as Mok-ha's manager did nothing to his story.

Ki-ho's mom and stepdad should've gotten way more focus. We knew a little about the mom from her actions for her son. We knew nothing about the step-dad—his story, personality—until the last few episodes. The focus was very imbalanced compared to Ran-joo's.

I left the drama feeling glad about the happy ending but also dissatisfied because of the scattered spotlight.

overall

Castaway Diva a good feel-good Kdrama to binge. If you watch it slowly, you will definitely get hung up over the flaws and plot wanderings. Bingeing it helps to gloss over or skip the parts you don't like and get a more satisfying happy ending than most Kdramas. The drama gives you hope too. If the characters went through all that and came out hapy, there's a good chance you will get through whatever you're going through too.

The drama is for you if you like character-driven stories with emphasis on individual stories and platonic relationships with less romance.

The drama is not for you if you dislike slow-paced dramas that sometimes lose the main plot. It's also not for you if you want a good romance.

If you wish for something with all your heart, one way or another, it’ll come true one day. And it’ll happen in an unexpected way.

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let's chat!

Have you watched any shows or movies with a lowkey ridiculous plot that probably, most likely, wouldn't happen in real life?