I feel like Park Hye Ryun‘s last drama Start-up, which I loved but ended up being so polarizing with viewers due to the male lead ship wars, made her next drama Castaway Diva turn out so uneventful. This weekend the drama finished it’s short 12-episode run averaging around 7% ratings through its entire run which I attribute to Park Eun Bin‘s wonderful and warm acting and a compelling family abuse story. Her being lost on an island for 15 years was dealt with in such a fairytale way (even her island set up was so twee and cottagecore) that the real trauma was around male lead Chae Jong Hyeob‘s story with his father’s abuse of the kids and their mother. There wasn’t any love line shipping and the romance was so sweet and caring but ultimately not a lot of fireworks. I wanted more from this drama so it didn’t fully engage me but I appreciated a well-written and emotionally sincere story albeit with lots of logical leaps that were noticeable without derailing the ultimate message about persevering through adversity.
I LOVED Castaway Diva–it goes in my top drawer of favorite dramas.
The drama itself and both leads (Park Eun Bin, Chae Jong Hyeop) topped Good Data Corporation’s top 10 list of most buzzworthy dramas for the week, so I’m not the only one who has felt this way. So, so enjoyable to watch!
I loved it too! The ML will stay with me a long time, what a steadfast devotion, and yet what a fun dry character.
I felt I did see quite a lot of SLS, as the ML’s brother was a more outgoing character and the story did play with a love triangle. I wondered if the loveline was downplayed to avoid the bad feelings of Start-Up while keeping the interest of a love triangle, yet at the same time the writer learned her lesson as regards male characters and their childhood first eps…
Regardless, I loved the drama, its emotional reality while being somewhat fantastic, the richly drawn supporting cast and the lead romance even though I’d have enjoyed seeing more of it (and more kisses, though the one they got was great!) I was already likely to tune in for Park Eun Bin’s next drama but now I’m likely to tune in for Chae Jong Hyeop’s as well.
Agree with you on every count Koala. I liked the show and all its heartbeats. I feel that PEB can do anything she wants and I will love her. Somehow this show missed a vital thread. It was getting too twee near the end but used a street attack to make it gritty. I felt manipulated. Hopefully, “just say what is in your heart and on your mind” is this show’s legacy to K-drama writers.
Songs were nice. Esp those sung by PEB herself. She’s truly an all-round talent. But the chemistry of the main couple lacks a lot, that the whole loveline actually dampens the story. I can’t even watch last ep because I’ve lost interest and actually just putting off the last episode..
I love this drama to pieces so far. I binged 7 eps this weekend to get rid of stale tiredness from watching several empty gimmicky dramas (from both C- and K- dramas so I’m not biased LOL). The ideas of blending in the survival experience of the castaway heroine with the real world encounters are so surreal yet brilliant ! I’m hooked to the story and surely will feel a bit lost when I finish watching the whole series. Acting-wise, Park Eun Bin in both Extraordinary Attorney Woo and Castaway Diva is top-notch. Plot-wise, I consider Castaway Diva more captivating and creative. Great jobs the writer and the PD ! Also the ML’s subdued disposition is quite attractive though. He’s got my attention. LOL. Without reading spoilers, I can already tell he’s the boy whom Mok Ha has been looking for. His obvious introversion is quite consistent with the younger self. No mystery here. LOL. I’m just amazed how the casting director found so much resemblance in the acting between the child actors and the adult versions. It’s ridiculously consistent. LOL
The director performed alchemy of souls to get that, lol. Seriously, it’s the best child to adult actor handoff I have ever seen. Not just the looks they were born with, but their acting is so, so consistent. I look at the adult actor and see the teen one at the same time.
I love Castaway Diva to pieces. Writer Park Hye-ryun never disappoints me. Castaway Diva has become one of my top 5 favorite K-dramas of all time (I’ve been watching since 2007), and that says a lot. It give me all the feels, it’s a perfect blend of emotions, strong childhood bond, an inspiring storyline, nuanced yet deep and longing romance, and fantastic chemistry between the lead couple. The exceptional acting from the young and talented Lee Re and Moon Woo-jin, along with the adult leads Park Eun-bin and Chae Jong-hyeop, supported by a stellar cast, adds to the show’s brilliance. I love The OST and keep playing it daily, I admire the incredible talent of Park Eun-bin and her voice. And I can’t wait to watch Chae Jong-hyeop’s next projects, at least two are coming and I’m thankful for that.
I am still waiting for his drama with KSH. That drama sounds right up my alley. Really wish they would announce the release date sooner.
The last K- drama I posted on my IG was Crash Landing on You & Castaway Diva was my recent one so it’s been ages when I’ve been swept up by a show; this one with only 12 episodes. Chae Jong Hyeop is my new fave – actually nice to see a manly ML for once; no offense to Cha Eun Won & Song Kang. And CJH’s chemistry with Park Eun Bin was so good … that rooftop kiss bathed in sunlight … looking forward to another project with these two! I will continue to rave about the younger KiHo & Mokha – these two stole my heart in the first episode. Last, but not the least, the music, with a song in almost every episode, something I’ve not seen in a drama before. ❤️ Castaway Diva!
Totally agreed. I also love Crash landing on You that I’ve just watched recently. Sure CJH looks more like a real man than flower boys CEW and SK. No comparison! LOL
I liked this drama for the relationship between Ki-Ho and Mok-Ha. The childhood scenes were the best part and I was very happy excited to see them reunited and healing from their father abuse.
I started well with Ran-Joo but after her story was too disconnected from the rest.
CHJ is cute but he looked way too shy with Park Eun-Bin, she’s a sunbaenim but it doesn’t mean she’s not accessible.
A perfectly well casted drama, we don’t see the actors but the characters . It’s how good they were . A drama about societal problematics but treated through the character of a girl untainted by the society as she was isolated from , during 15 years . She allowed all the persons around her to give the best of themselves and to live through the light and not the fear of the human darkness . She was a solar character . A drama which give us a positive and warm vibe . Much needed nowadays .
Woohoo! I just binged and finished the drama. So well said. I so much love the surreal arcs of the castaway life. It’s very inspiring and thought provoking. It’s nice to see how Surrealism was masterfully employed by the writer and the PD to blend in very powerful story telling and by that the messages were cleverly delivered, turning very dark sides of this society into bright hopes.
My girl PEB is a queen of talent. She lived in her characters. No instruments or singing or any challenges could prevent her from being so convincing with her acting. The whole cast are amazing too. This is one memorable drama for me.
Left it at episode 9 x
I actually found the most compelling storyline in this drama to be that between the aging star Yoon Ran Joo and Seo Mok Ha. I really though their story was great and also different from most similar set ups in the past in that no one stabbed anyone in the back and they both helped and lifted each other up. Even the other young singer in the end straightened up and it was just a positive experience for all of them. Since there is normally so much back-stabbing in dramas with idol characters this was just really nice to see for a change.
tbh I am kinda disappointed by this drama (mostly due to heightened expectations I guess). the cast was excellent, PEB is great as usual, the two brothers and parents heartwarming, Yoon Ran Joo and the CEO both were great, even the villain was done well. However, the overall story and plot were…. meh. the title was castaway/ desert island diva, but Seo Mok Ha’s time in the island doesn’t seem to have any major impact on the story (not to mention no explanation on how she survived there for 15 years by herself). OTOH, if they dispense of that gimmick, it’ll be just another mentor-mentee + coping with family abuse story.