User reviews

As a typical western, and clearly I am reflecting only my point of view, I'm having a hard time keeping track of the Korean names along with the corresponding faces, in most of the kdrama series I am watching..., however, still, I have to say, kdrama is so unique, it covers so many aspects of our universe secrets in terms of love, relationships, mystery, soul purpose, the beyond, life mission, people to people interaction, and in short, it touches and manages to play our souls cords, as if we were an instrument used by a very skilled artist. This series embodies everything mentioned above, as well as a lot of numerous other kdrama series I have binged recently, and the conclusion is, kdrama has a way of reflecting the universe rules and roles for the individual person, which can be described as a devine intervention!!!

This goes not only for this series, but for most of the kdramas series that are out there..., which I strongly suggest all should watch, if the beyond is something you are interested in...

Maybe it's because it is the same actress or production company, but it carries some of the Extraordinary Attorney Woo emotional appeal and vibe.

It starts off a bit slow to establish the basic premise which is, to be honest, like a lot of k-dramas, a bit far-fetched, However, if you can live with the premise, you still get some of the feel-good vibes from Extraordinary Attorney Woo as already mentioned.

So definitely an above-average, feel-good, somewhat inspirational k-drama with a bit of an unbelievable premise.

But until you wait for Extraordinary Attorney Woo Season 2 if ever, this hopefully will help lessen the wait.

There are scenes that remind me of little mermaid. The Kdrama is beautiful and the story is new to me. You may have seen something like it, but I don't. I don't know how it is classified as a comedy .because I cried a lot . I recommend everyone to watch it, and the ost is amazing, and the acting is great. The first episode did not disappoint me at all. In fact, I liked it very much. The rest of the episodes make you feel excited, especially the end of each episode. I am looking forward to the next episodes. I wish if they would Downloading all the episodes in one day, because I can't wait to watch the rest of the episodes.

Park Eun Bin is a very talented and versatile actress. She's taken her roles to new heights and increased her singing talents in this one. I was skeptical at first but she's actually singing. Pretty crazy how talented she is. Beautiful story so far. It starts off a little disappointing but gets better as you continue to watch. Like her other dramas you might be tempted to wait until tge series is done so you can binge this one. Either way should work as viewers wont be disappointed. If Park Eun Bin is in a drama, you just have to watch it. If not to watch her acting skills in action, at least to see her light up a room with her smile. Enjoy!

This Korean drama is a story of resilience, hopes, and dreams. It highlights the enduring spirit of a woman who continues to reach for the stars despite the odds. Mixed in are celebrity drama, family conflict, mystery, and doses of rom-com.

The series is the third collaboration of writer Park Hyeryeon and director Oh Choonghwan, after Start-Up and While You Were Sleeping. They masterfully interweave humor with depth of emotion. The female lead, Park Eunbin, of Extraordinary Attorney Woo fame, brings quirkiness and charm, not to mention some impressive singing. The plotline is at times whimsical and imaginative. The visuals, sound, and design are polished, as to be expected from Studio Dragon.

Pacing is dynamic. Each episode generally contains some balance of serious problems and inspiring moments. The writer excels at portraying heartwarming friendships and is known to keep you guessing about who will end up in a relationship with whom. There are mystery elements here, and you're drawn in rooting for their dreams to come true. There is some rewatch value as you can notice the crumbs and intentional miscues throughout the story.

Parts of the first episode could be difficult to watch due to scenes of physical abuse. But I recommend you stick to it to watch a beautiful and inspiring story showcasing the struggle and merits of chasing your dreams and the value of loving family bonds.

This series dropped at the time when I started working for my dream really hard and it is made by my favorite korean director. Is this a coincidence?

Like other series directed by Oh Chung Hwan, 'Castaway Diva' is more than what you see, because it has so much meaning attached to it, and that's why I like him (and the writers he collaborates with) so much.

'Castaway Diva' is not just about a singer chasing her dream, it's a dose of motivation for everyone who dreams of achieving something. Every episode is a lesson, whether it's about career, family or life in general.

Honestly, this drama opened my eyes to many things and made me continue working on my dream with even more passion and dedication.

I think 'Castaway Diva' will remain in my heart along with 'Hotel del Luna' for a very long time, that's why they're the only 10/10 series for me.

Hope everyone reading this review keep working on their dream! I'm sure it will come true one day... in an unexpected way :)

Summary: We really like this show and recommend you watch. Overall an 8. Good but not great

We watched this because of Park Eun-Bin who was so great in Attorney Woo. It turned out that Chae Jong-Hyeop, from Love All Play, stared as well and we really like him too.

The Good Stuff:

• Beautiful actors
• Really good casting and acting
• Interesting story
• Most of, but not all, the serious trauma is in the beginning, but it doesn't drags the whole series down
• Some great songs for the OST
• Ms. Park - beautiful and so talented. Watch it for her smile.

The Sub-Optimal Stuff:

• Somehow the story did not draw us in and get us as emotionally vested as the best series do.

• Not enough romance between the leads. Their relationship is caring and sweet, but lacked passion. It was fine for this story, but was a bit too low key for us.

• Pointless love triangle-ish setup. Why do KDramas insist on this plot device?

• Pretty predictable story. Enjoyable, but you'll know where it is heading most of the time.

It's worth the time. A memorable production is the work of the actors, guided by the director and enhanced by the cameramen, sound engineers and editors, both they and the story. And here, that's what we have. The first episode is a kind of bibimbap, a mixture of fragments, which put me to sleep. Apparently, episode 2 is just as bland... until PARK EUN BIN starts singing. To be honest, I had already given up after the first episode and a half, the time of transmission in Europe contributing to that. After the music appeared on YT, I resumed watching and discovered that what seemed boring at the beginning begins to connect starting with episode 3, scene by scene. In short, the scenario is risky as a format but brilliant in how the crescendo format attracts your interest. After only 6 episodes, although transmitted gradually, 2 episodes per week, it is already in the top 10 worldwide on Netflix, competing with fully released productions. Without being anything ultra-original, it's a good work, for which everyone deserves thanks.

I've been looking for a decent kdrama for a while and I'm so glad I stumbled upon this one.

The first episode was perfect. I loved the multi-layered conflict and the unique bond the two leads formed. I was hesitant that the rest of the drama would uphold as well, and unfortuntely I couldn't finish it.

In the beginning, the tension and suspense was done incredibly well, by withholding details from not only the audience but the characters themselves. I was dying to know who Ki-ho is. But the it was drawn out a bit too long and I lost interest.

It's a sweet drama with small-town / big dream vibes and the characters are very tangible. Also shout out to Cha Hak Yeon because his acting skills really shine in this show.

But unfortunately the editing and timing decisions were not the best. I find myself having to skip through too many flashbacks and recaps and couldn't stay interested.

I just finished watching Castaway Diva and thoroughly enjoyed it. I was especially moved by the performances of Park Eun Bin, Cha Hak Yeon, Chae Jong Hyeop and especially Moon Woo Jin as young Jung Ki Ho. Though the show had some dark moments with vivid portrayals of child abuse, the overall theme was of resilience and hope. The actors were first rate and I was awed again by the talent of Park Eun Bin. She also has a wonderful singing voice. I would like to see her and Cha Hak Yeon in more roles as I think they are very talented actors who become immersed in their parts. I think Kdramas are getting better all the time with quality acting and wonderful and imaginative stories.

I would be happy to watch pretty much anything starring Park Eun-bin, and whenever she's on screen, she is never less than compelling and highly watchable. And a very decent singer as well!

Plus, the rest of the cast is also very good - especially the girl who plays the younger version of Park Eun-bin's character, she is excellent in the role.

And yet ... the story is simply not as strong as it could be. For example, far too much time is devoted to the secondary plot concerning the identity of her childhood friend, his relationship with his abusive father, and the rest of his family. To be honest, this was all too convoluted, and didn't always make much sense.

Equally, I was disappointed that more time wasn't given to Park's time on the desert island. We get a few tantalising glimpses in flashback scenes, which were always great fun, and I would have been happy to have one or more full episodes of these. Given the series' title, and the way it was promoted, I really would have loved to have been served a full female-led version of Castaway.

As for the main plot about Park's character's attempt to build her own singing career, there were definitely high points - especially in her relationship with her idol - and the singing scenes themselves. But as well as there being too many distractions from the other plot threads, I might have liked more of a sense of her having to work and struggle at becoming a great singer, rather than just being completely amazing from the outset.

So, yes, for fans, this is an enjoyable series - but if anyone else had been the main star, I'm not sure I would have kept on watching.

This drama was a very interesting experience for me.

Was inspiring, emotional, impactful...

It will move your soul and will make you cry and smile. It will show you the darkest sides of human nature but will be hopeful and will show you the brightest ones as well.

The plots weren't all that, and were a bit lacking somehow but the drama shines through an extraordinary and uplifting script and amazing original soundtrack ( take a moment and read each of the lyrics as well).

The acting of the cast was magnificent, generally the chemistry was great, except for the main couple unfortunately, which I thought they acted more like friends than lovers.

I loved the first few episodes with the emotional and gripping backstory and the two young main leads ( it's shocking how Moon Woo Jin is growing up so much already)

Park Eun Bin owns this unique character showing the wide range of her abilities as an actress playing it and how impressive it is that she is the one actually singing all the songs in the series, what a voice, what a performance.

The acting of Chae Jong Hyeop was great and loved him in a more dramatic role for a change as well, he has the capability of acting by being quiet and just gesturing and gazing, he is such an expressive actor, can't wait what comes next.

If im not giving a higher score is because I believe the series has added too many subplots and elements to the mix that has made it a bit chaotic and didn't leave enough room for some of the main stories to be properly developed. There's a lot of potential in a few storylines that were left almost untouched and that was very frustrating.

Overall it is still a very enjoyable series to watch, with very different genres, no predictable plots or cliches, a lot of good music and a satisfying ending. So watch it, you won't regret it.

There I said I didn't like the direction the show was taking, and it was getting bogged down in standard K Drama tropes such as "we have to go our separate ways, you/me are holding me/you back", among others. And then, to close the show out, it would give the fans about 7 minutes of singing.

Well, I pretty much nailed it. Though I don't think we got the full 7 minutes.

It is unfortunate that this show decided to be more about the legal system, domestic abuse, and contract issues, rather than the development of the lead character as she "learns" the business and works her way up. Instead, we get a constant barrage of side stories and tragedies that distract from why most of us came to watch...to see Park Eun-Bin rock in all her glory.

Again, unfortunately, she takes a back seat to a lot of unnecessary situations and shenanigans (for instance, the love triangle that isn't a love triangle that could be a love triangle that doesn't want to be a love triangle that ends up being...what? I don't know WTH it ends up being). And then there is the sheer stupidity of someone caught on tape committing attempted murder being deposed and investigated but allowed to remain free despite being a clear and present danger to those around him. I live in Korea, and this gentleman would have been locked up in pre-trial confinement on day #1. But we had to have him inexplicably out, roaming free, wreaking havoc, simply because....again, why? To add a "horror" component to a show that should have been an underdog story about overcoming adversity, filled with the "feels" and music. Just another example of a limited series trying to do too much and be too many things without sticking to its core message.

I give it 7 stars because of the acting, which is phenomenal across the board. And the songs, though few and far between, are enjoyable as well.

This is one of the nicest K-dramas I've had the pleasure of watching. It has a gentle flow, and an incredibly loveable female lead, along with some beautiful music to boot (I can't believe Eun-Bin sang all the songs herself AND that she wrote them, WOW)! I cried numerous times at Mok-ha's story and everything she and Ki-Ho had to endure. However, there wasn't a single character I disliked, which is rare in itself, and it didn't feel like it was dragging at any point, as a lot of series have a habit of doing. My fiancé and I both agreed this has been one of our favourites that we've seen - Eun-Bin's portrayal of Mok-Ha was so endearing, it's impossible to not root for her to make her way to stardom! I watched this while recovering from major surgery and it legitimately stopped me getting too depressed while I was housebound - the ending made me feel genuine happiness. Mok-Ha is a pure, gentle, selfless main character that you can't help falling in love with and Ki-Ho was just as loveable...not to mention so many others characters like Ran-Joon etc. I think if you are looking for constant action and gripping scenes, this isn't your cup of tea - jump on board with Castaway Diva for poignancy, warmth and justice for the downtrodden!

10 minutes into first episode, my wife and I could not stop binge watch and finish this show in 2 days. This KDRAMA only has 12 episodes with TVMA rating. Didn't know Park Eun-bin could sing with a lovely voice. Thank you NetFlix for choosing this drama to let people enjoy. Castaway Diva has great support casting and storytelling. I couldn't run away from abuse both parent when I was young teenager. After seeing this show, I wished I would have. I'm not encouraging anyone to run away. Maybe seek help from abusing parent, plenty of help available now a day.

Another must show to watch!

Thaiguy2504.

No surprise: a next fine K-Show and a next wonderful performance by Park Eun-Bin (one of the greatest actresses of our generation).

But all things considered, the quality of the Show is - allthough the rest of the crew made a good job too - not quite as well and brillant as in Parks last two Dramas 'The King's Affection' and 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo'.

Perhaps because of the hasty introduction in Episode 1 (it dims, needlessly, the empathy for her misfortunes a little bit), perhaps because of the predictability of the story.

But the show is definetly worth to see (and hear). Warm Greetings and all love from Stuttgart, Germany.

Throwing all your regular clichés a twist. Very well written and Park Eun Bin shines again.

I really really loved this drama for checking all the emotional boxes!

My only complaint would be that the domestic violence was rated TV MA while the romance was rated TV G.

Don't get me wrong. It was miles better than the awful dead fish eye lip press kisses we sometimes wait 20 episodes to suffer through. All adults behaved like adults and expressed their affection normally. But I was screaming for more couple time with the OTP. And Sometimes I was like "a little less inspirational and a little more ROMANCE please."

So it's losing 2 stars only because such a fantastic backstory of love deserved so many more coupley romance scenes.

That said, I'm sure after begging for 4 more episodes of lovey dovey time we'd all be complaining that the show dragged on for too long. Kudos for keeping it every episode interesting!

Castaway diva is a very comforting and delightful kdrama to your heart. If you're looking for a heartwarming watch that celebrates resilience, dreams, and the power of music, this one's for you.

The story follows Seo Mok-ha, an aspiring singer who spends fifteen years alone on a deserted island before embarking on a remarkable journey to fulfill her dream of becoming a diva.

The heart of the show lies in the relationships between the characters..(Seo Mok-ha) Her determination and resilience and positive attitude towards life even she has a age factor are so inspiring. We witness her growth from a young girl with dreams to a strong woman who faces unimaginable challenges. Her friendship with ki-ho is the emotional anchor of the series. Both suffered from childhood trauma so they can relate to each other..ki ho always cared for her and was ready to go any limits to protect her. He is strong and practical.

Mok ha 's connection with the star Ran joo add depth to the story. They supported each other like real sisters. Also kiho's older brother woo hak is my favourite character in the series..he is a caring brother, son and a good friend..his bond with seo mok ha from the very beginning showed that true friendship can form even in the most unexpected circumstances. I watched this drama recently and i loved it so much so i am writing a review.. definitely worth watching.

I really was looking forward to what this show had to offer, especially with Park Eun Bin as the female lead. I would that as far as kdramas go, ep 1 got me very excited, meaning I was bawling and crying my eyes out from the onset(which says a lot because most of the main characters don't appear until later).

However, after that, it seems the show loses its touch. For a show that's supposed to be based on fl navigating through life 15 years later and growing in her singing career, it doesn't do a great job of showing that growth and instead, skimps through this main plot. As a substitute, they get into this weird territory with Yoo Ran-joo, the fl's fav singer, where the plot begins to feel very muddled and it becomes obvious that the writing isn't very thought out. I also find Yoo Ran-joo to be a frustrating character (SHE'S SO ANNOYING).

I didn't really have a problem with the child abuse subplot as that was the premise of the first episode and I was really looking forward to the crazy father getting the karma he deserved. But JEEZ, was I frustrated! First of all, I kept waiting for Ki-ho to refer to the tapes that he had in the first ep but he never does(at least at ep 10). Then, he gets more incriminating evidence against the man but he doesn't take it to the police nor does it give him any form of backbone in confronting him. Third, the family lives in fear for like most of the freaking plot (which i guess in a way is understandable because of their own 'crime') and at a point, it becomes silly compared to the man's crimes(stalking, abuse, INTENDED HOMICIDE!).

Now, don't get me started on the romance subplot. The writers, I guess as a way to confuse viewers, do this weird thing with the appearance of the boys when they're younger vs older(it's not a big deal but still noteworthy). Then, they try to do this other weird thing where they're egging on a love triangle that never fully blossoms. On this, I would to say that you would probably be rooting for the unofficial second male lead just as must as I was and I would die on this hill: the only reason why mok-ha and ki-ho end up together is solely because of the past. They don't share any chemistry about anything other than their tragic past while we see mok-ha and second-ml grow ACTUAL CHEMISTRY.

To conclude, it seems like the writers were trying to do a lot and failing rather miserably at it. I came for a feel-good kdrama but ended up getting a bundled mess with some good moments.

If you want to watch this series please take your brain out. I watch this series only for park eun-bin and she acts fine but the script writing is without logic that you think some time what they want to show. First episode is very good but after that it became bad to worst. No character building, comedy is lame and script is illogical. For first five episode male lead don't look like main lead even his expression when he found mok-ha (park eun-bin) whom he search for 15 years is like he found stranger. They show two stories, one about how mok-ha struggling to become singer and another is about domestic violence and they failed to show both stories and didn't look any story promising. Only good in this series is park eun-bin efforts, she is really fine actress.

I didn't have high hopes for this drama at first. I assumed it would be a cheesy comedy geared towards teenagers, but I was proven wrong in the first episode! This drama tells a beautifully intricate story with an incredible ensemble cast. Seo Mok-ha may have been trapped on an island, but that part of the story is shown very little. Instead it's focused on the events leading up to her being stranded, her life after, and how it has effected not only her life, but the lives of those around her.

Trigger warning: this show contains a lot of scenes with domestic violence. Nothing graphic, but can be upsetting for some.

In all honesty when i first saw looked at the trailer and front page for this kdrama i didn't have high standards at all, i genuinely believed i wouldn't like it but i gave it a chance. The first episode left me in tears, if episode 1 was its own movie i would be happy purely because of how well the teenage actors were for the main characters. Also the story in the first episode was so different compared to the rest of the kdrama but at the same time it was so realistic and wholesome, the chemistry between the two was so pure. Obviously there was a clear antagonist but some of the other characters in the show were made to be hated at the start of the show, but throughout the drama their characters grew and became likeable which I also liked. Once again i'm showing my love for episode 1 because it was honestly so touching, cute and sad at the same time.