Castaway Diva (2023)

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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