"Castaway Diva" tells the story of a musically talented young girl with a very deep passion for a particular South Korean singer and her nationally acclaimed songs. “Castaway Diva” also tells the story of a lifelong childhood friendship.

The plot summary implies a survival challenge with the promising scenario 'lonely girl for 15 years on a desert island'. Survival challenge may be the topic, but as far as the protagonist´s years alone on the island is concerned, the KDrama spends only a comparably short time on that aspect. It is rather about the (lifelong) challenge of ´some´ to survive their family burden...

'15 years on a lonely island' (however - don´t be mistaken - not in the South Seas or anything like that...) is a nice, original hook that once again introduces us to an attractive side of South Korea (in you like, there is a see side note below). Those years on the island basically form the cleverly knitted background for a firm, characteristically differing profile of a young woman who is intelligent, but comparatively not as consistently socialized in South Korean society and its strong traditions as the rest of the population. Due to her youth, which was for 15 years free of parental upbringing, school instruction and social comparison, yet inevitably well-grounded in everyday survival in the great outdoors, the protagonist brings refreshing clarity, simplicity and directness back to the modern lives of those around her in South Korea 2023. With her almost at the same time naïve and outrageous freedom in thinking and acting, the FL conveys independence and self-reliance in the midst of a society dominated by class, hierarchies and patriarchal family structures. In the midst of modern South Korean society, she hasn´t lost her authentic, creative spirit along the tiring path of competitive education while growing up. She is not, like so many others, gagged by acquired decency, and certainly not disillusioned or frustrated. She impulsively acts on instinct and follows her heart. This has worked for her so far, e.g. surviving her time on the island (and largely overcoming her childhood experiences, too.)

Within this framework, the KDrama is embedding the issue of domestic violence. In fact, this unfortunately still quite widespread, extremely sad problem is dramaturgically tackled in a resolute, rather offensive manner. This topic in its frighteningly powerful might is actually the source of the story´s suspension that runs through all 16 episodes in a tirelessly consistent, incredibly sticky manner…

And the music... yes, the music... This always becomes a balm for the soul. Even if competition in the music business might interfere here and there, music as such inevitably brings heart and soul together. The music brings light into the darkness. For the story overall it becomes the source of life force and healing, too. (Regardless, whether I personally dearly like the songs or not.)

So actually, “Castaway Diva” has quite something to offer. A KDrama that (for a change) isn´t set within the world of the fashionable upper class, and doesn't target the usual RomCom style (however, doesn´t dare to do without it either... well.). Instead, “Castaway Diva” is facing common life with its socially problematic issues in a fairly grounded way and in the process tells a likeable, bright story.

In would recommend "Castaway Diva", if you do not want it to be that intense, yet nonetheless some (easy to digest) profoundness is desired, too. Despite the commotion, with this KDrama an overall positive radiation prevails, i.e. thanks to the consistently positive charisma and straightforward demeanor of Park Eun-bin (- as well as Lee Re as young FL.)

I consider the heartfelt development dynamic of the relationship between the two women - the fan and her star – to be quite felicitous. As is the affectionate patch work family vibe. And always inspiring, the cheerfully thrown in bits and pieces of wisdom that life in nature (as opposed to school education) has taught the FL...

Overall, a balanced mix of pleasant feel-good with sad life challenges and social grievances.










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SIDE NOTE:
--- Stranded on one of the 1,000 islands in the southwest of South Korea (and NOT somewhere in the South Seas...) ---

In the Yellow Sea in the southwest of the South Korean peninsula, there are well over 1,000 islands of different sizes. Many of them are downright mini and not even inhabited. It might happen that no one sets foot on one of them for decades.

In recent years, between some of the larger inhabited islands bridges have increasingly been built. Yet, many of them can still only be reached by water. On the islands you can find an ecosystem with virgin forests, wetlands and mudflats that has remained largely untouched by modern human life to this day. Accordingly, this region of 1,000 islands, which extends to over 3,000 km², is now listed as a UNESCO biosphere reserve.

Life between ebb and flow is determined by agriculture and fishing. Thus life is simple, slow, and for some people rather boring. Accordingly, the young are leaving... and the region is overaging.

However, the gifts of nature offer pure abundance. Fishing is often done with bare hands. Mussels and crabs can be collected from the mudflats. Mung beans, soybeans, sweet potatoes, rice, chili and sesame grow abundantly. There are also a variety of findings you can collect on the beaches. You might literally stumble upon small and large treasures. For several centuries, trade with the West took the route through the Yellow Sea. After heavy thunderstorms, many ships have capsized over time up to this day. This is why the maritime region has now been officially listed as a historical site. Deep sea diving for treasures from the Song and Won dynasties of the Chinese Empire, which have been well preserved in shipwrecks in the salty mudflats, has therefore become quite popular. (The FL in "Castaway Diva", however, is more interested in the very mundane, modern flotsam that keep washing up on shore after thunderstorms...)