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Castaway Diva: Episodes 1-2

The newest rom-com featuring Park Eun-bin as a marooned pop-star-wannabe is here, and it’s off to a strong, emotional start! But be warned: the first episode isn’t for the fainthearted. We’re introduced to our heroine as a teenager, and the story of how she ends up on an uninhabited island is a dark one. Although we start off with a big helping of trauma, things take a lighter, brighter turn when our heroine finds herself reentering society with a new lease on life.

 
EPISODES 1-2

I did not expect such an intense opening! The first episode was surprisingly dark (centering around child abuse), but it blew me away with how emotionally affecting it was. Thanks to the impressive performances and writing, it was impossible not to root for the resilient kids at the heart of the story.

We start off in 2007 on Chunsam Island where we meet charismatic, lovable teenager SEO MOK-HA (Lee Re) whose defining trait is being a massive fan of pop star YOON RAN-JOO (Kim Hyo-jin). She’s beside herself when she gets a once-in-a-lifetime chance to sing on air with her idol through a call-in radio program, but her phone dies. Her tears result in aloof classmate KI-HO (Moon Woo-jin) letting her borrow his battery. However, his goodwill only lasts so long, and after minutes of her sobbing in joy because Ran-joo unnie is talking to her, he snatches the battery right out of her phone before she gets to sing.

Mok-ha’s dreams are dashed — but no matter. She can just enter a video contest Ran-joo is judging, win a contract, meet Ran-joo, and become a star. All she needs is video equipment… which Ki-ho happens to have. Lucky for her, he’ll do just about anything for cash, so she pays him to shoot her audition tape. He softens toward her when he realizes she’s not all talk but can really perform, and they strike up a friendship. They soon learn they have more in common than they thought.

Castaway Diva: Episodes 1-2 Moon Woo-jin

Ki-ho has been doing odd jobs and stashing money for a while, trying to fund his escape. His policeman father is severely abusive, which caused his mom to leave. Ki-ho hides his bruises under long sleeves and a stoic façade. His initial dislike of Mok-ha was due to her sunny, carefree attitude that made her seem oblivious to suffering. It’s not until he sees the cops (including his father) at her father’s restaurant, and the bruises on Mok-ha’s arms, that he realizes how wrong his first impression was.

It’s enraging the way the cops blatantly take her father’s side despite clear evidence – and even his own admission! – that he abused Mok-ha. She’s so terrified of her father she’s trembling and crying, but Ki-ho’s dad makes her hug the abuser and even apologize for calling the cops.

Mok-ha loses all will to audition, but Ki-ho is determined to help her escape and realize her singing dreams. He turns the video in on her behalf and gets a call from the agency: Mok-ha won first place! He’s stunned when she turns the offer down. Mok-ha acts like she’s fine, but then she has a breakdown in the classroom when her peers talk over her. She screams and sobs, asking why no one is listening. Her classmates watch in shock and confusion – all except Ki-ho who understands all too well.

Castaway Diva: Episodes 1-2 Moon Woo-jin, Lee Re

Sweet, wonderful Ki-ho goes all in to help Mok-ha the way no one has helped him. He draws a map to his house and instructs her to find him the next time her dad is violent. No matter when, he’ll leave with her. And he’s true to his word. When she shows up in the middle of the night, he grabs his emergency backpack and hops out his window. He buys them ferry tickets and calls Ran-joo’s agent to set up a meeting.

But they live in a small neighborhood, so of course they’re recognized before they can leave. Ki-ho sees Mok-ha’s dad about to reach the ferry and selflessly stays behind. The child is beaten to the point of hospitalization by Mok-ha’s dad, but he won’t get out of the way. (Why the heck is no one intervening while watching this grown man viciously beat a child?!) Even so, Mok-ha’s dad manages to get on the ferry. Mok-ha has nowhere to run now that the ferry has taken off; she’s so desperate, she throws herself into the water. Her father is horrified and tries to grab her, falling into the water himself.

Mok-ha wakes on the unfamiliar shore of an uninhabited island, shaken but unharmed. Her father, however, wasn’t so lucky. She finds his body on the beach. Meanwhile, with their bodies never found, both father and daughter are presumed dead. As the years go by, an even further traumatized Ki-ho continues going to the spot Mok-ha was supposed to meet Ran-joo at, in case Mok-ha appears.

Before moving into the present, I have to take a minute to give props to the young actors Lee Re and Moon Woo-jin. They both killed it and brought these kids’ heartbreaking stories and heartwarming bond to life. I was almost nervous to have it switch to the adults, even though I love Park Eun-bin! (No fear – it’s a seamless transition). I just want Mok-ha and Ki-ho to live happily, be free, and have everything they’ve ever dreamed of.

Jumping to the present, it’s been 15 years since the accident, and adult Mok-ha (now Park Eun-bin) has been busy. She’s learned to survive on the island by making use of everything she can get her hands on. But her isolated life is about to get shaken up thanks to a volunteer island cleaning crew.

KANG BO-GEOL (Chae Jong-hyeop) does this regularly, but his hyung KANG WOO-HAK (Cha Hak-yeon) insists on joining him this time, despite his hatred of boats and the sea. (Oooh, is this our Ki-ho with a new identity?) Woo-hak uses his drone to locate trash from a lounge chair, but instead it locates a very confused Mok-ha. She’s stunned to see another person and grabs him in joy and disbelief – she’s been rescued!

Castaway Diva: Episodes 1-2 Park Eun-bin, Cha Hak-yeon

Although she’s in her thirties, Mok-ha only has the social experience of a teenager and seems frightfully vulnerable. The world has changed a great deal in her absence, but her upbeat personality hasn’t, so she faces everything head on with a sense of wonder.

Since Woo-hak is a reporter, he’s fascinated by her situation and excited to have the exclusive. He even goes with her back to Chunsam Island when she returns to find out what happened to Ki-ho. After her disappearance, he reported his dad for domestic abuse and got him fired (for which the village folk treat Ki-ho as the villain!). Then, he took off and no one heard from him again.

Mok-ha returns to Seoul disappointed. She credits Ki-ho with saving her life and wants to know he’s okay. Woo-hak finds her baffling, but much like Ki-ho feels compelled to help her. He hides her in his family’s rooftop apartment and gives her his number for emergencies. His grumpy kindness is familiar to Mok-ha who tells Woo-hak he reminds her of Ki-ho.

Castaway Diva: Episodes 1-2 Cha Hak-yeon, Chae Jong-hyeop

Surprisingly, Woo-hak takes that seriously and goes to brother to ask if it might be true. He lost his memories after a head injury (Aha!), so he finds it entirely possible he could be this Ki-ho guy. He’s the right age, personality, and even found a note in Ki-ho’s old room with a favorite saying of their mom’s. Bo-geol rolls his eyes at Woo-hak’s dramatics, but he gets a weird look when Woo-hak seriously asks if he had a different name before high school. No matter what Bo-geol says, Woo-hak is convinced he’s Ki-ho and decides he’ll act like it.

Cue him driving Mok-ha to a festival where Ran-joo is performing. Mok-ha is in full fangirl mode, handing out balloons and being Ran-joo’s one-woman hype squad. Ran-joo is now a barely remembered idol who has wrecked her voice thanks to all the booze and smoking. She can’t pull off a live performance, but lucky for her, her biggest fan is in the house and eager to help.

Mok-ha is ecstatic to finally realize her dream of singing with her idol. Ran-joo switches off her mic and lip syncs while Mok-ha sings flawlessly for her backstage. Her vocal performance stuns everyone, including Bo-geol and his television team who hope to cast Ran-joo for a show about former stars. While everyone stares at Ran-joo, Woo-hak watches Mok-ha from backstage in awe. Both women are in tears as the crowd screams Ran-joo’s name. We end as Ran-joo asks Mok-ha her name and pulls her into a hug. Mok-ha finally feels like her past 15 years meant something.

I’m so happy the adults characters are engaging like their teen counterparts! Park Eun-bin is delightful, as always. She strikes the right balance of naïve and inexperienced without coming off as annoying or dense. I’m already rooting hard for Mok-ha. I just hope she doesn’t get taken advantage of by Ran-joo. Ran-joo has always represented freedom and salvation to Mok-ha, and she’d do just about anything for the woman who was her sole source of hope. I would love to see them become genuine friends and have Ran-joo turn out to be nice and not a selfish diva type.

And then there’s Woo-hak. If he’s not Ki-ho, he’s got that same lovable grumpiness, but there’s a lightness that speaks to a much better family environment. I just love how quickly he decided it made total sense for him to be the long-lost Ki-ho; he’s endearingly ridiculous at times. Even though all signs point to him being Ki-ho, I’m not sure. I had assumed the man who kept visiting the meeting spot waiting for Mok-ha was Ki-ho, and if so, it can’t be Woo-hak since he wouldn’t remember it. So either that man wasn’t Ki-ho, or Woo-hak isn’t Ki-ho. Regardless, it does feel like Woo-hak’s family is hiding something about his identity. I wonder if the brothers’ mom is Ki-ho’s real mom who ran away.

While I expected to enjoy the drama, I wasn’t anticipating how invested I’d feel after one week! I’m already all in and can’t wait to see what this series has in store. Because if it’s anywhere near as strong as its start, it’s going to be a fun, emotional ride.

 
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Apparently I am fainthearted because I couldn’t get past Ki Ho getting beaten up. I will shore up courage and try again later.

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Again, suggest you watch from the last 10 mins of ep 1. Then go back and watch the earlier parts, if required... Aww, come on, you can't miss this!

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Absolutely no plan to watch it later today

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Absolutely plan to watch it later today. Not sure where the “no” came from lol

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I too almost stalked off ... stick it out, FF the triggering parts. I is really worth it.

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Thanks @seeker and @semmavetti for encouraging me to watch this. I did power thru the triggering parts and now I can enjoy Jong-Hyeop. What’s more, PEB is my beloved Ji Won from Hello My Twenties so I am doubly glad I didn’t miss this.

The aerial shots of her village when she goes back there were breathtaking.

Wondering how Ran Joo will react to Mok Ha once reality sets in and she sees her as competition. She seems nice enough now and hopefully that doesn’t change.

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**patting your head lovingly**
Well done Asha!!

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😂❤️

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The first episode hit a lot harder than I was expecting, for sure. But I like that all of our characters have healing to do and journeys to go on. And the teenage friendship/crush born out of adversity was just adorable. The look on Ki-ho’s face when Mok-ha started singing? Kid never stood a chance.

Based on the fanwall, I know a lot of Beanies looove Woo-hak, and he’s definitely growing on me, but I admit I didn’t love his character initially. I know people in real life who are as contrary as he is, and it’s so exhausting. He also seemed incredibly self-centered and slightly predatory when he exploited Mok-ha for her story, and I found that whole section a bit uncomfortable. But I liked him better once they got to the island and he came to her defense against the tattle-tale restaurant owner and his son, and he continued to shape up for the rest of the episode.

I’m very excited to get into the relationship between the two women, and I love the start that they got this week! Mok-ha is such a good fan, and I was just as touched as Ran-joo when she saw all the green balloons waving in the crowd. Park Eun-bin has clearly been working on her pipes, btw. I didn’t love her OST for Extraordinary Attorney, but she’s killing it here.

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Totally with you on your last point - there anything she can't do?! Park Eun-bin is becoming a major girl crush for me, I know they say you shouldn't put your faves on a pedestal but on talent and charisma alone she's one of the best out there in my eyes 🤩

On your point about Woo-hak, reading your observations I do see what you mean about the ethics of his behaviour earlier in the episode! I think, while watching, I took his word for it that he was forced to run the story and I think him trying to draw lines where he could by not revealing full details on the phone and saying something like 'that's personal, I couldn't/didn't ask her about that' made me go okay, he's okay! But that probably speaks to something larger about my expectations being a little warped and along the lines of 'oh but you didn't do this big bad thing at least' or 'it could've been worse' rather than 'are you a good person' or 'do you actually uphold good ethics'.

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That’s so interesting because I 100% did not believe him when he told his brother that he was forced to run the story. It was a great story, so I understand the temptation, but to me it seemed like he didn’t even struggle with that decision. He was filming her (on his phone, which she’s not familiar with) super early on, and it couldn’t have been with her consent. I do like him much better now, and he continues to grow on me, but I thought he was sketchy or worse at the beginning.

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Great start. Both Mok-has lived up to expectations.

Ki-ho setting the fish free was a nice symbolism. Using upside-down umbrellas to catch rainwater was neat, and umbrellas are such a thing in Kdramaland they must have wanted an excuse to insert a bunch.

Girl floated 55 kilometers from the scene. Was she unconscious? Floating face down for hours without suffering any harm is easy in Kdramaland -- leads been doing that least since Time Between Dog and Wolf. If she was conscious and swimming, why not head for some more nearby land? And how did her father end up there if you have to swim to get there? Then there's a clip that seems to show her swimming with a certain (magic??) seagull leading the way. I expect a flashback but for now I'm going with mostly unconscious.

Meanwhile, dentist? Up-to-date vaccinations?

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Film and TV really have me believing that I'll also only look slightly dirty but otherwise perfect in castaway/apocalyptic/zombie invasion settings when in reality I'd be looking like a sewer rat a mere day or two into any of these situations 😂

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Salt water and sunshine, frost, winter storms... Nothing affects the spa skin and the salon hair. Oh well, if we wanted realism, why would we watch kdramas...

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I wanna know how she was shaving her legs. And why she apparently bothered.

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I’ve watched Last Empress where the male lead got shot in the head, fell in the water and found survive on across island and after that I believe his surrounding is forest where he found determination to fulfill his desire of revenge by dieting and voila! Tae Hang Ho transformed to be Choi Jin Hyuk. Thinner, more muscular, darker skin, deeper voice and … taller. So whether swimming or floating 55 km to desserted island and survive 15 years there alone is pretty much common sense in k-drama.

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Í'm v curious how she managed to survive winter! Surely there must be 4 seasons if they are close enough to take a ferry to Seoul or the mainland?

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I'm too tired for another Team this, Ship That, Theory this, Makjang that, Fish this, Bait that.
I'm going back to Meok Ha's Island and stealing her umbrella collection, if anyone needs me.

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Ikr! I have no interest on picking any ship but chose to enjoy whatever the show would throw me.

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I started it it for Pak Eun Bin, had my heart stolen, first by Ki-Ho and then Woo-hak. Aren't they adorable!!! Eun Bin proves again why she is the ace actress today. She blends in the naivity of a sixteen year old with the body language of a thirty year old seamlessly.
What I loved about the series it its pace. It pauses and picks up just at the right moments. This is off to a great, drama packed, emotional start.
I don't know who Ki-ho is, but I am suspecting it's the younger brother. And I can already see my issue - this would mean Woo-hak is second lead, and I am already rooting for Woo hak and Mok-ha.

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'In PEB we trust' was my mantra heading into this drama and she didn’t disappoint! What a fantastic premiere week! That's got to be like one of the best written (directed and acted) first episodes I've seen in a long time.

Firstly the ML thing because ngl after ep 2 this has been occupying the most brain space : I physically sorted out all the signs that point to why either of our MLs could be Gi-ho (including a red herring spiral where I was like 'hmm they're being a tad heavy handed with the Woo-hak and Gi-ho comparisons, so it's got to be a red herring...OR is that what they want me to think 🤔) BUT I just remembered something that I think is almost airtight evidence for why Bo-gul is Gi-ho. End of ep 1 I believe we see Gi-ho waiting outside Old Seoul Station through high school, college and I think military service too (also blink and you miss it maybe, but did it look like he was in navy uniform there? Would be on brand if he did his service with the navy). We know that Woo-hak doesn't have any memories of middle school, so if he was Gi-ho then he wouldn't have known that Mok-ha was supposed to meet the agency guy in front of the station at 10 or whatever. So if Gi-ho waited there every year while he was growing up, he has to be the guy who didn't loose his memories. Also the amnesia thing would explain why Woo-hak doesn't realise that his younger half brother lived as Gi-ho on the island for years before he came to Seoul, and consequently didn't connect the dots when Mok-ha was out looking for Gi-ho.

Either way, two things are evident - I’ll be sad as if Gi-ho is not the ML because this is one instance where I think childhood connection trope should absolutely play out in usual drama style, and secondly I've caught feelings for Woo-hak so if I'm right and he is SML then we're headed for Achy Breaky Heart City on the romance front (which apparently might not be existent I hear?? 🤷‍♀️). But, I'll give Bo-gul the benefit of the doubt because he's been suspiciously off screen mostly this week so hasn't had a chance to woo me with his charms.... (continued in comments)

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Anyways other notes on plot: didn’t know what to expect but wasn’t expecting that for sure - apparently any show that seems beach-y and sparkly has more to it than meets the eye these days. As someone who loves tragic melodramas and rom-coms, my sweet spot tends to be somewhere in the ‘healing rom-com/found family vibes with heart’ area, so I actually like the way the story was set up here. Although it’s dark, I think it wasn’t overly dark or distastefully done (though maybe I’ve been desensitised a little bit to gratuitous drama violence in general, so this is relative).

On that note, 👏 👏👏 for the child actors - Lee Re I’m familiar with and is a charming force of nature on screen as per usual, but Moon Woo-jin wasn’t on my radar before (although I did just find out today that he’s been in basically every drama out there as a kid, including playing the younger counterpart of PSJ’s character in What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim 🤯)! Was blown away with how well acted the first episode was by those two, I felt a whole rolodex of emotions in such a short amount of time and they did well to make the audience feel emotionally invested in our leads before even introduce their grown up counterparts (more or less).

The island parts reminded me a little of my favourite Barbie movie - Barbie as The Island Princess 😂 So I was a little sad that bit was over quick because I liked seeing how she was living, but I guess the story needed to progress and I suppose and, objectively speaking, it could be boring for some if it was a whole hour of PEB just fishing and doing chores on the island. The second episode gave me more Still 17 vibes, which again is a ✅ in my book because that’s one of my favourite shows, and a fish out of the water story gets bonus marks from me always.

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*I feel like I should add in the footnote that I obviously don't condone violence and abuse, hated the fathers to say the least and I don't see trauma as something 'good' In saying I like how it was set up, I meant that as a part of the plot, I 'liked' the way in which it was navigated and the commentary made about domestic violence and societal reactions to it without presenting it as overly gratuitous or uber depressing just for the sake of being dark & depressing.

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Yes, agree with you here. This was bleak, bleak, bleak, but it felt real. As long as they don't try to make anything "significant" from a detail of it, it feels like they were just holding it up as "This is how it was and this will help you see our characters". Very hard to watch, but I was in it with them, never jolted out of their world by incongruous details.

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Moon Woo-jin has been a house favourite for me too since I saw him in WWWSK! I was so taken by the little boy's performance and I've loved him in everything since. Even the short-lived Joseon Exorcist, where he killed it as a possessed boy.

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He was great in WWWSK - my brain cannot comprehend that he's the same little boy though! How time flies :O

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****forgot to add, my theory is basically the exact same observation you raised @quirkycase!

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If Ki-Ho is a navy officer, then it again points to Wo-hak not being Ki-Ho because he got so seasick in the boat ride!

I know there are desk officers in the navy too, but let's not get too complicated in kdrama world.

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I need to go and watch that scene again to be sure, I'm no expert on military uniform but the coat and the hat seemed to scream navy! Really good point about the sea-sickness though, I didn't even register that!!

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Part of me agrees that I will be sad if Ki-ho is not the make lead, especially as it seems like he has not been able to move on or forget about her all this time. The other part of me remembers the writer/director’s previous work and tries to let go of expectations so that I won’t end up hating the drama just in case it goes the other way.

I suspect that Woo-hak is SML for the reasons you mentioned and many others (which I’m honestly more than fine with) but even if I’m wrong, I only hope that the SML does not become like the one in WWWSK. That man remains one of the most annoying characters I’ve ever seen.

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If Bo-geol isn't Ki-ho I'm gonna be sooo mad, lol

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I have a feeling I will be an outlier in my sour opinion of this one. But why am I negative? The first two episodes were more about the guys than the 2 castaway divas. (the one "castaway" by the business)

We get a fuller back story on all the male characters than the female ones. The hero of the first episode was Ki-ho--all right, that's okay--he was abused himself, showed cleverness and devotion to Mok-ha. BUT the featured character in the second episode was the manipulative, self-centered Wo-hak. There were a couple of times this episode that he deserved a punch in the nose. If he becomes the ML (not sure about this) I'll be looking for Mok-ha to become the heavily smoking, hard-drinking washed up diva, beaten by Woo-hak as she was by her father-- just as "castaway" as her idol was, at the end of this show. In fact, that might be a good twist--ending with Eun-bin smoking and drinking heavily just like her idol was. Plus, it would be a big bonus for the Kdrama production industry,since recent shows demonstrate they eager to rake in PPL money from the cigarette industry and addict young women all over the world!

Fortunately, I actually think the adult Ki-ho was the half-brother, especially because he gave her shoes on her return But if so, why is he remaining quiet? He's a premature noble idiot? All the other minor male characters, with the exception maybe of the manager for Ran-joo, deserved to be thrown in jail.

As for the Mok-ha and Ran-joo. I get that Mok-ha has been away for 15 years, and would be awed by technology. But would she really be so child like? Still totally fixated on Ran-joo? She's a tough island survivor and lived long enough in society, was abused by her Dad, etc. that she would definitely be more adult.

And would, in the climatic scene of episode 2, Ran-joo actually be overjoyed that she can no longer sing and got adulation because of lip-syncing? Doesn't that make her even more pathetic?

As far as I'm concerned, if this show is called "Castaway Diva" then they have to turn the focus on the two women. If they do that, I'll be interested whether they go the "star is born" type of relationship, where a driven Mok-ha supercedes her idol and leaves her behind. (Probably unlikely.) More likely, the narrative will have her remain innocent, saving her idol from her disenchantment with the business. But if Wo-hak continues to be the focus, I won't be able to stick with this show.

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And would, in the climatic scene of episode 2, Ran-joo actually be overjoyed that she can no longer sing and got adulation because of lip-syncing? Doesn't that make her even more pathetic?

Did I see it wrong? There was a scene where she slided the mike trigger from "Off" to "On", so I thought she sang together with Mok Ha.

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Isn't putting the switch down 'off'?

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I assumed it was slide down to turn off but I just checked and it had off at the top and on at the bottom however we never heard two voices at any time and it would not make sense for her to turn her mic on at that point. I was more worried about Mokha still having her mic on and their conversation being overheard when Ranjoo went over to her.

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I kept muttering, aren't you going to turn off the mic, lol.

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I'm with you on this one hacja :)

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I think you have summed up exactly why I was left a bit puzzled with these two episodes. I expected to love this from the get go, but somehow… I don’t … yet?! (GAH!!!) Don’t get me wrong, the actors’ performances were amazing, especially in the scenes of the past. But I was so meh about the focus of the grown-up scenes and found some of it downright unbelievable (amnesia - seriously? *groan*), plus I’m definitely not a fan of Woo-hak…

I guess time will tell with this one. 🤔 I’d really love to see how the relationship between Mokha & Ranjoo plays out. Here’s to hoping the next episodes will focus on that!

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Per your paragraph beginning "As for the Mok-ha and Ran-joo. I get that Mok-ha has been away for 15 years, and would be awed by technology. But would she really be so child like?"

Yes, actually, the isolation would have made her go to her happy points. She 100% would still be childlike and awed by technology. We don't see it because we were alive as the changes were happening, but smart phones are WILD if you think about it. I remember when you couldn't be on the phone and the internet at the same time, lol. There is no reason she would be more adult, the only consistent adult in her life was an abusive POS, she would want to be the the opposite of that. The only adult she admired was Ran Joo, so it made a great deal of sense to me that she would be childlike still.

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As for smart phones, I remember when you "dialed" and had to be tethered to set by a springy cord! But it wasn't the amazement at the technology that bothered me--that's understandable. Its just that she was a survivor, and so wouldn't have been quite so wide-eyed. But, of course, I'm sure that's the character that she is playing, and we'll see her joyful innocence in contrast to the cynicism and corruptions of the music industry. (At least I hope we will--that actually was the story I was expecting.)

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I don’t dislike Woo-hak quite as much as you do, but I totally agree he was not an attractive character to me, especially at first. I’m reasonably confident that Bo-geol is Ki-ho, and I’m looking forward to seeing more of him next week. I’m hoping we also get some reasoning about why he hasn’t revealed himself to her and is hanging back.

As for Ran-joo though - I don’t think she’s overjoyed that she can’t sing as well anymore, but she’s still a proud person and I think she was overjoyed that she was able to recapture the feeling of being a star, even for a moment. And Mok-ha allowed her to do that by handing out the balloons and by being her voice when she really needed someone to stand in for her. I think she is a little pathetic but would obviously rather not be seen like that if she can help it.

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What set me off about him was his willingness to exploit her for a story, and then when he started falling for her, he seemed to trying to manipulate the circumstances, and of course his contentions that he had to be Ki-ho. But really, what I was upset about with episode 2 was that it wasn't almost entirely a focus on Mok-ha, or alternatively, and this would have been great, more of a focus on Ran-joo and what had been happening to her, rather than a quick summary from a side character, while showing her sitting and smoking. I'm sure its all expectations--I wasn't bothered as much by the abuse, but I did want the story from the beginning to be mainly about the castaway diva.

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I hope we won't get a Start-Up's copy. Suzy's character was the less interesting and developped when she should have been the heart of the story.

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Agree about her seeming too childlike, especially as she seemed more grown up before she ran away, but the alarm bells are ringing for me because (as in too many k-dramas) the female characters are more like stupid toddlers than grown women - Ran-joo's drunken outbursts and the pair of them jumping around in the living room of someone else's house squealing, bursting pillows and making a mess. If they did that in my house I'd kick them straight out!

By contrast the men, however violent, unreasonable, manipulative or petty, conduct themselves like adults, so once again it irks me that women are portrayed as clueless juvenile idiots.

The drama I would have liked to see (ignoring trailers and advance publicity) is the one that could have been if all we had was the majority of the first episode to go on ... that Mok-ha's father didn't wake from his drunken stupor and go to the Port, that the kids got away and turned up in Seoul, that even if they missed or failed the audition, they stuck together and found a way to survive on the streets and create other opportunities. I could have watched an entire drama with those teenagers, but instead we get adults acting totally dumb and for me it's not a good replacement.

Since then I've idly flicked through ep 3 and have turned off ep 4 in favour of reading comments and writing this. I thought the premise of this show sounded fun but right now it's just annoying me. I may just follow it in the comments from now on and see where it goes.

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I'm very much with you, and this is after watching episodes 3-4. Like you, I wouldn't have minded sticking a little longer with the child actors, who I agree with everyone were excellent, but I also would have loved to see a story of Park Eu Bin's character making her way in the music business unencumbered by a love triangle based on a first love mystery that could be quickly settled.

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These were the best premier episodes I've seen this year--engaging, heartfelt, perfectly paced--and I'm already dying to see the next set. I'm a little concerned that the "who is Ki-ho?" mystery will go on too long and start to feel as manipulative as the "who is the husband?" gimmick did in the Reply series.

Nevertheless, I'll play along: My gut says that Bo-geol is the real Ki-ho, although his seeming indifference to Mok-ha initially after her rescue gave me pause (even if he is in hiding from his dad and can't reveal his identity for his own and her safety, I can't imagine he'd be that unconcerned about her ending up homeless). But maybe we'll find out later that he was doing some things behind the scenes that would explain this.

The abuse was very hard to watch, but sadly and tragically realistic, especially the way the villagers immediately sided with the parents and assumed any problems in the relationship were/are the fault of ungrateful, selfish children. Another part that got me was those two owners of Mok-ha's father's fish store greeting Mok-ha after 15 years with such suspicion and harassment because of their own greed. This poor girl/woman; no wonder she wanted to leave her home island almost the minute she stepped foot on it again.

I like the two brothers together a lot, although I agree with Bo-geol that two (attractive, even with CJH's terrible hair) men in their thirties sharing a bedroom in their parent's house is a bit weird. I know that we're in k-drama land where young man apparently have no sex drive until they meet their soulmate, but don't they ever want some privacy?

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I think Bo Geol told his brother NOT to help her and he was going to move into the rooftop room JUST to make his contrary brother help her. He has mentioned a few times that Woo Hak is extremely rebellious. So ya, I think Bo Geol is Ki Ho.

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I, as always, don't even know to start. I guess I'll go with "I liked it!" Haha

I was a skotch surprised when Ki Ho had taken his phone battery back because I thought he had his "thunderbolt moment" but I liked how they ended up sharing a genuine connection due to him filming her video. I thought it was really nice and touching.

I actually felt sick over the abusive dads. I *truly* hated that blabbermouth fisherman. And I get from an outside perspective, it would seem totally innocuous and even sweet (the guy was saying he wanted a son who would work so hard to buy him a gift), Ki Ho's desperation was clear as day when he begged him not to tell. That didn't trigger any spidey senses? At first I thought he didn't want his father to know because I thought the father was out of work and would feel ashamed or something like that. The reality was worse and it made me teary. I also thought the assault was being recorded and that's how Mok Ha would find out about it. So I was *not* expecting Mok Ha to also be a victim of abuse. Typically, I can't really get into the happy go lucky characters but for this character I could. Something about how her fangirling was a means of escape and inspiration just worked for me and was quite endearing.

The guy who played Mok Ha's dad was in something else I've seen but I don't remember what it was yet combined with this, he's one of those actors I have a negative association with. He can just look so dangerous and creepy and gross. AHHHH! I think he was the abusive husband in Big Mouth! See, yeah, I just can't with him.
Ki Ho's dad made me sick when he made an abusive father hug his victim even though she had visible bruises as well as was flinching and crying. And then he made her apologize to him! Ugh. See, this is why people can't trust authority figures. When Mok Ha broke down in class, I was once again teary eyed.
Once again I was disgusted by the fact that Ki Ho was the victim and yet he was labeled a bad and ungrateful son because he reported his father for abuse and ran away (stuff like this is why I don't have much faith in humanity).

I thought Mok Ha was gonna survive in part due to the stuff he had in his bag so once again was surprised all that stuff was left behind.

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I seriously don't know how she survived ALONE for 15 YEARS on the island. I really can't even imagine having that much resilence. Then there was all the stuff that apparently drifted onto the island. How did she not go crazy with people seemingly so close yet so far, numerous times?! I am looking forward to more flashbacks or her thoughts on how she survived for so long.

The relationship and dynamic between the brothers and their family as a whole is already interesting to me. I wonder if there is more to Woo Hak's rebellious nature.

I'm gonna miss Mok Ha calling Woo Hak Ahjusshi haha

The final time that I got teary was during Ran Joo's concert. Oh my heart when she was clearly affected by not only seeing people with the balloons and cheering for her but then someone actually knew her song and could perform it just like her. It was SO touching!

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Yes the concert scene got me too! And I was surprised because Ran-joo didn't have a whole lot of screen time - or at least enough for me to develop some sort of emotional investment I thought, but I was wrong. I think through those short scenes but also exposition about her background they used well to colour in her character in as someone who seems cold but more like they're just acting the part and there's deeper layers hidden beneath, because it made that concert scene land well in terms of emotional effect. And of course the acting! Could be easy to play Ran-joo on the more cold/jerk-y end which would've been a bit flat but KHJ did so well to bring that complexity in, even when she's not speaking 😍 👏

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On top of the abuse, that would have been sooooo invalidating

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I was not expecting the dark tone in the first episode. It was annoying that no one helped Ki Ho when he was getting assaulted! An adult man brutally beating up a child in public. Ugh. Then, it was pointless because Mok Ha's father still got on the boat and went after her!

This isn't a makjang so her father's not coming back in the last hour, eh? >_>

I'm excited for the healing vibes and girl bonding. I was quickly touched when Ran Joo perked up and listened to Mok Ha's video with interest (and her headphones. Gotta get the full sound, heh).

I liked the uplifting song lyrics (both songs) despite the weird 'dream us' part. Ran Joo and Mok Ha's performance and their stunned, emotional reaction afterwards made me teary-eyed!

I came into this drama neutral about both male leads. I've seen Cha Hak Yeon in more roles and supporting ones though. He definitely was likeable after a few moves like helping Mok Ha with the restaurant guys and giving her a temp place to stay/sleep in Seoul. And blowing the balloons! His scenes with his father were cute. He's probably putting up a front, hiding behind his quick talk and acting like a rebel to his brother. Part of me wanted him to be the male lead, but I doubt he will be.

I wonder if Bo Geol is Ki Ho and went into producing after producing Mok Ha's video.

I have not watched this writer's previous work Start-Up. I thought it had generally good reviews, I'm not sure. I remember some fans were up in arms about the male leads... I'm not too invested in the male leads for this current drama. I'd rather see Mok Ha and Ran Joo have a good, satisfying story. The romance would be the cherry on top. I would need to see the chemistry between adult Mok Ha and Ki Ho and the gradual build-up of the romance too. I don't ship them only because they were childhood friends. They didn't have a long friendship.

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I raised an eyebrow at “Dream Us” also hahahaha! But honestly kpop uses English in strange ways sometimes, even today, let alone in 2007, so it felt pretty realistic to me 😂

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Haha, you're right. I forgot it was 2007. XD

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Although it's mystifying why Bo-geol didn't seem to react when he came upon his brother and Mok-ha on the island, there is one dead giveaway that he is Ki-ho. Ki-ho said the first thing they would do when they got off the boat would be to buy her shoes, and the first thing Bo-geol did was buy her shoes.

As far as Woo-hak's amnesia goes, it's really convenient that he can't remember Bo-geol wasn't there all the time he was growing up.

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The mum seemed to be walking with a limp so was this caused by domestic abuse from Kiho’s dad or an accident that lead to Woohak’s memory loss. If she is the birth mum of both boys how old was Kiho when she left him and how did she have an older child with someone else? How did Kiho find her and become integrated into such a loving family unit? Most K dramas the child is not accepted see Healer, Love in contract. I am interested in how they managed this integration as his dad is a police officer so would be able to track them down if they didn't change identity.

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"....how did she have an older child with someone else?" - Great question, I didn't think about this but now that you've brought it up it does throw a spanner into things. Unless they did a Secretary Kim style lie to the kid who has memory loss, and have told him he's the older brother when he's actually not? Is that a stretch? OR they're actually full siblings but the mum managed to escape only with the eldest kid somehow.

I'm with you on feeling like there's a lot of question marks around how Ki-ho found his family again, if that's the case, and am very eager to see how they reveal the story there. Hoping it's done well & isn't dragged out too much (but honestly, I thought initially the direction they'd go is Mok-ha hiding her identity and not revealing her link to the island or Ki-ho and have the secrets dragged out that way, but that was all laid out on the table within seconds so I have hope that the writer won't unnecessarily drag things out where they don't need to be).

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Wo-hak may not be her biological child? Maybe both mum and dad are single parents?

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Interesting idea and could explain why Womack presents as clinging despite being the oldest in a family that’s presents as really loving and together. I was also thinking foster/adoptive parents although Kiho is quite old to have been adopted but it can happen. The parents reminded me of Woong’s parents in Our beloved Summer.

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Woong's mum in OBS is also the same actress right? I find her v familiar but couldn't really place her.

I came to this conclusion because there is a certain closeness than Wo-hak and Dad has with each other that clearly Bo-Geol doesn't... and the age gap is too close to make sense either.

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I'm getting foster/adoptive parents too.

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Good catch re the actress playing the mum in OBS as well. You may have recognised her as the male leads horrible politician mum in My lovely liar 😱

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I think we are assuming Bo geol is actually younger, if he is Ki Ho then he could have just lied about his age so his dad couldn't find him. Change your name and age, it makes you harder to find.

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I agree about the lack of reaction by Bo-geol. If he is Ki-ho (which he most probably is given the waiting-on-Sundays montage), his lack of reaction to seeing Mok-ha alive is ridiculous. The boy who spent literal years waiting for her...

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I think they will show some missing scenes in later episodes where we do see Bogeol’s reaction.

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This drama reminds me a lot Still 17, with the FL being stuck at the age and the ML feeling guilty for what happened even if it wasn't his fault.

Bo-Geol didn't smile or seemed happy in the second episode.

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Yes, you are right there is a similar theme of guilt if he was hoping against hope that she had survived but as the years past with no show. He probably had just accepted that she was dead because he placed her on the boat and couldn't stop the dad from chasing after her. So mixed feelings great that she is alive but guilt about how hard those 15 lonely years must have been for her.

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I don't think he accepted she was dead. I think that's why Bo-geol was taking trips to clean up islands. Hoping he would find her.

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We definitely know it isn't Woo Hak because the boy who waited at the train station had on an army uniform, you join the military after high school, so it automatically rules Woo Hak out. I honestly hope it is some random guy because if it is Bo geol his non reaction is the WILDEST thing in the universe, unless he too has some form of amnesia.

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I felt for young Moo-hak and Ki-ho. And the scene where Ki-ho's father brushes off the abuse as 8th grade syndrome was infuriating. Also I know it is the premise for Moo-hak to live alone on an island, but I really hoped they would make it to Seoul safe and sound. The annoying man blabbing his mouth off ruined everything both for Ki-ho before and for Moo-hak.

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How has nobody brought this up yet:
Park Eun Bin’s voice!
When she sang Ran Joo’s song.
If that is really PEB singing- holy 🐮. That gave me shivers. I teared up by that unfriggingbelievable performance.
🙇🏻 🎤.
I thought PEB’s song in Attorney Woo was just okay, but this is next level. So much talent packed in that little body.

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Did she actually sing, though?

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Looks like YES! Spotify gives credit to the song Someday to Park Eun Bin on the Castaway Diva OST. Just added that song to my playlist.

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I thought she was fantastic and I am very, very picky about singing

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WOW, the first 2 episodes just hit it out of the park! The 2 young actors, Lee Re and Moon Woo Jin, were brilliant. PEB, well, I ran out of superlatives re this lady long ago. N was fun. Lee Seung Joon is taking turns playing nasty and nice in dramas, and he is convincing either way. Chae Jong Hyeop has not made much of an impression, but he is the best contender for Ki Ho as of now. Can't wait for next week!

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Glad you're watching this one and enjoying it too! Not sure exactly how many of the DWY gang has crossed over into this one (I feel like I vaguely remember @attiton making a straw poll in a thread somewhere to see how many beanies were planning on watching this show - hopefully they are watching!)

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Do I count? In that case, I'm here. I'm here. But barely, as I'm mired right now in the drama that's the My Dearest recaps. 🤣

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Of course you count & glad you're also here!! Oh gosh My Dearest though....I've no energy to go back to those recaps lest I'm reminded of the journey so far 😮‍💨 😪

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For something more fun, PMR has seen some funny posts on the fan wall. Seon-ha, @darkcc and @CecilieDK and others. I think Episode 1 made it hard to go light on Castaway. (I liked it.)

But there's also Matchmakers and that other new time slip revenge drama (with reincarnation too!) and the Netflix one too. I think attention may be spread thin.

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I think I'm a member of the DWY gang? and I'm watching this one! Was not expecting it to be so angsty, but so far I'm loving it.

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Thank @lapislazulii! @vienibenmio, @indyfan, looking forward to fun discussions!

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The first episode was perfect, and honestly, I'm not expecting any less from Park Hae Ryun, I always cry watching her dramas' first episode.
I don't know who is Ki-ho growing up, I'm not even gonna try to guess, cause I hate the stupid guessing game and I'd like this trope to die forever. But if Ki-ho doesn't get the happy ending he so terribly deserves, I will personally find Park in Korea and give her a piece of my mind.
(Also, I wanted to kick myself when I did not recognize that was Moon Woojin as Ki-ho the whole time. It only dawned on me when he took his glasses off during the train station montage. My god, he's grown so much, where did the time go??)
 
Of course, PEB is perfect and I can't wait to see how her relationship with her idol unnie develops. I desperately need it to be a positive one. I love that, contrary to how media generally portray fangirls as crazy and rabid, so far the drama has been looking at Mok-ha's fangirling through a sympathetic lens, letting us see and understand how much Ran-joo means to her, not only as a favorite singer but as the only ray of happiness she had to hold on to during her traumatic childhood. This is one aspect of fan culture that I'd like the media to understand, that sometimes an artist is not only a favorite to someone, but they could mean so much more than that.
 
I find myself not liking Woohak very much. Big part of my dislike for him is his insistence on doing exactly the opposite of whatever his brother's asking him to do. I just don't get it, both of them are in their 30s, so why does he insist on sleeping in one room? And the pettiness is highly immature.  But whatever, I was going to give him a pass and go with it if his issues stayed within the family.  And then he went and ran Mok-ha story when his brother specifically asked him not to? He said he had no choice, but considering his behaviors until then, I highly doubt it.
I'm not going to write him off yet, since this is only the 2nd ep and he was getting less annoying by the end of episode 2. So I guess we'll see how it goes.
 
I don't have much to say about Bo-geol cause he barely had anything to do in the 2nd episode. There's one thing I'd like to point out: I think they purposefully hid his reaction to finding Mok-ha on that island, there's just one shot of his face with some sort of expression, so, if he turns out to be Ki-ho, I think we will be revisiting that moment at some point.
 
I liked the first week of Castaway Diva so I want to keep watching it, but since the incessant "team this, ship that" mentality that seems to start popping up, I'm not too optimistic. The pointless shipping war is the very reason I dropped Start Up. Is there any hope that CD won't go down that bad??

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"This is one aspect of fan culture that I'd like the media to understand" - great point 👏 👏 👏 totally agree that media and also just general societal narrative sometimes does like reduce fangirling as cheesy, over the top, immature, and vapid/shallow so it's nice to see a more sympathetic and earnest portrayal of how meaningful music and artists can be for people!

As for the shipping stuff - I'll sheepishly put my hand up and say for me at least it's just a bit of fun and just a habit to 'pick teams' when there's two potential love interests anyway! But also from what I've seen that seems to be the overall sentiment on DB when shipping & OTP discussions do come up? I think? Or I hope at least! I'm not sure what it was like here during Start Up, but hopefully it just remains jovial (even when in SLS angst territory) and doesn't delve into genuine arguments or bring negativity to discussions!

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Agree. Not like our lives depend on the ship, just a bit of fun.

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Strong agree about all of this! I was feeling like a crazy person for finding Woo-hak tiring and unethical, so it’s nice to have some company.

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You're not alone, he exhausted me with his behavior :p

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You two aren't alone! I felt the same way (but as you may recall, I am predisposed to dislike 2MLs)

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I posted about this, too. I find him annoying -a classic 2ML who decides for the FL because of hero syndrome. I also wish they would not focus on romance and this shipping war too much. I dropped SU because of the shipping war too, though it did make me a Kim Seon -ho fan.

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he was super annoying. I hope he tones down now that they are already forming a relationship

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This Moon Woo Jin was that kid from Beauty Inside, apparently? He has grown up. But what a performance, huh?
Woo Hak reminds me of my sibling, whom I love very very much but is a contrary cuss, so I do like him.
But ye, I most look forward to Mok-Ha and her Eonnie's mutual healing.

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both of them are in their 30s, so why does [Woo-hak] insist on sleeping in one room?

My money's on childhood trauma, even though he doesn't remember it consciously. He's scared to sleep alone.

I thought Woo-hak's contrariness was partly the typical exaggerated character-establishment that happens in first episodes and gets toned down later. And I'm indifferent to shipping or shipping wars and am most interested in the divas and their diva-ing together.

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I really like your theory of "exaggerated character-establishment". Very helpful for us to not judge / pre-judge a character before we get to know them more closely.

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I liked the both episodes.

The child counterparts were great. I really want them to be happy.

I don't really care who is Ki-Hoon N or CJH, I just need more Potato Boy on my screen! And his smile...

Personnally, I didn't specially like Moo-Hak's behavior, he never listens like a kid. Clearly, Bo-Geol needs his own space. Like I already said, Moo-Hak reminded me the brother in What's Wrong Secratary Kim.

When I first read the plot, I always thought it won't be a real survivor story on island. So I don't really care how she did it and how romanticized they will explain it. At least, she didn't loose anytime to meet her idol and try to get back her life in the same time.

I'm not sure how making your idol a fake one is a good idea. I'm pretty sure that any singer that needs to lipsych because they can't sing anymore doesn't feel good about it if they have a professional conscience.

I was very surprised by PEB's voice. She never was so strong as singer. So I guess there was a little bit of magic in the postproduction. But she sounded very beautifully.

I'm very excited to see their friendship.

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I do not think Ran Joo lip synced. I remember the scene of her turning "ON" the mike and singing together with Mok Ha.

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In live, their voices wouldn't have blended so well in the soft parts. She didn't think at the beginning, her mouth didn't move when Mok-Ha started.

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Woo-Hak's behavior*

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I think I will be in the minority for this one, so skip this if you only want feel good vibes :)
Okay, so this was the weirdest first two episodes of a kdrama I have ever watched .
I did not expect the childhood abuse and the darkness of the first episode.
The writer, I felt, didnt need to go there at all and was lazy, couldn't think of anything else for a traumatic backstory so we had two kids suffer the same abuse to make them bond. Really, it seemed like overkill.
But wait there's more, because one of the parents that is abusing one of these kids is also a police officer. Sigh, this has been done before.
The younger actors were excellent though.
Then the second episode is all light, fluffy, fairy floss.
The female lead is made out to be a ditzy character, a 16 year old in a 30 year olds body but somehow she has managed to keep herself alive for 15 years, stuck on an island.
I think she would have to be pretty savvy, resilient and more mature than most 30 year olds to actually do that.
It feels a bit condescending.
Also the SOS on the shore, I find it hard to believe that it was never seen for 15 years and yet suddenly a whole bunch of people turned up to pick up rubbish on a random island.
Sorry, I know this is a tv show and I should just go with it, don't think about it.
I'm here for Chae Jong Hyeop and his dazzling smile.

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The bit that took me out of the drama was the elaborate water collection system and a house with so many items in working order umbrellas especially washed ashore! I had assumed the island was a nature reserve and that some of the equipment was left there for periodic visits but due to funding they had not returned for a while.

I also wondered if it is possible to learn to hold her breath and dive like the Haenyeo and know about taking something like a knife to cut out the abalone and escape from nets etc.

What left me feeling sad is how easy it would been for them to have done their job and left without bumping into her if the drone had not been used. It was interesting to see the work being done to protect the 2000 islands around Korea so I hope like the subtle insert of people recycling PPL into most dramas they continue to emphasise the importance of reducing the negative impact on the environment.

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Yes, I agree it was really odd and jarring seeing all the umbrellas. They all looked to be in such good condition as well.
Also it’s a bit much to ask me to believe the shoes she went overboard with and clothing were still intact ( with a few holes) 15 yrs later when she was having to wear them everyday.
You made me laugh with the reference to the Haenyeo 🤣

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I thought both the umbrellas and the highly technical diving were a little bit played for laughs. Especially the umbrellas.

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“Sorry, I know this is a tv show and I should just go with it, don't think about it.” --> LOL, yes, I will just do it.

Watching Park Hye-run’s scripts has taught me one thing: to cast aside our conventional sensibilities, logics and initial discomfort during the first few episodes and instead, just immerse ourselves entirely in the powerful emotion she evokes. Writer Park has consistently sold her initial episodes with compelling pilot episodes and talented child actors portraying childhood counter parts, making it impossible for me not to be drawn into her stories. I remember when I watched ‘I Can Hear Your Voice’ during it run, I dropped it at episode 4 because of the ridiculous legal scenarios and the self-centered actions of the adult FL Hye-sung. It was only after Pinocchio that I decided to give ICHYV a second chance and this time I was spellbound. I love all her works.

So yes, with Castaway Diva, I expect nothing less than inspiring, heartwarming and family-loving tales (with ‘family’ here not necessarily bound by blood ties). I signed up for Castaway Diva primarily due to the magic of Park Hye-run’s pen and because I have faith in Park Eun-bin’s script selection. Yup, the first two episode did not disappoint. I’m not watching this show to pick up survival tips on a deserted island ^ ^ but to enjoy the emotional roller coaster and character growth, which is writer Park’s strongest prowess.

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I really wouldn't have gotten onboard this drama if they had started with PEB because the kids were the one who sold the drama with their incredible acting. Both Lee Re and Moo Woo Jin were wonderful and I can't wait to watch them grow and lead their own dramas along with "Yuna" from "The Kidnapping day".

The abuse was hard to watch, but the worst was the police asking Mok Ha to hug her dad and apologise. I want him to serve jail time. Kdramas always used to show village as a clean, happy place and villagers as nice people, but this drama proved otherwise. I am so glad that both escaped from the hell of a place. How could not one adult come forward to protect the kids? Shame on them.

This writer always writes the best SML and no wonder I am starting to feel attracted to Woo Hak. Intentionally, she did not give both the MLs equal opportunity in the initial episodes, so one character appears to have more screen time than other. This is a criminal under use of the lovely Chae Jong Hyeop and his contagious smile. Someone mentioned that "romance" tag was removed from the MDL site for this drama and I hope it stays that way and spares me from any dilemma. I would be content with just the sismance between Mok Ha and Ran Joo and friendship between the brothers and Mok Ha.

I agree with the complaints that Woo Hak did not get permission to run Mok Ha's survival story, but clearly knowing that his brother is a rebel and would do the opposite of what is being said, I can't help but feel that Bo Gyeol is egging him on. I have a nagging feeling that he found out about Mok Ha's existence, planned to rescue her and provide her boarding at his house by using Woo Hak, so that Bo Gyeol does not have to reveal his real identity.

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WOW! Brilliant idea about Bo-gyeol knowing about Mok-ha being alive. Honestly it was weird that they went on cleaning up the deserted islands and I thought it's just a plot hole. But it makes sense now.

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About the abuse and witnesses' lack of reaction to it: it's 2007, the era when actress Choi Jin-shil was vilified, lost commercial endorsements, and was sued (ultimately successfully) for going public about being a domestic abuse victim. A culture of victim-blaming and of minimizing abuse is both historically accurate and common to this day. Why does no one interfere with Mok-ha's dad beating Ki-ho? Onlookers would likely assume they are father and son - and that the parent has the right to discipline his child.

I'm very glad we're past that part of the story for now, although I'm sure we'll see flashbacks and repercussions.

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So I looked up Choi Jin-shil, and wished I hadn’t. A bone dry Wiki entry made me sad. Her whole life was such a tragedy. But, regarding the domestic violence, this managed to surprise me:

Supreme Court censured Choi for coming forward and declaring herself a victim of domestic violence, saying it constituted a failure to maintain proper "social and moral honour"

The law was undoubtedly representing the views of many in the population.

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I looked her up too and geez, what she went through in life and death. Sigh.

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Park Hye-ryun is clearly following Reply 1994, and not Reply 1988, i.e., it's obvious who the husband (Ki-ho) will be. But what I'm really NOT looking forward to is the shipping wars of Reply 1994 plus Reply 1988 multiplied by the shipping war from HELL of Start-Up.

The premiere was unexpectedly heavy. When Ki-ho wore his winter uniform the morning after his father beat him, I thought, "We know why he wears it, but why does she?"... until we found out. I cried when Mok-ha broke down in front of their class, and Ki-ho shed tears while watching her, knowing her secret to be saved.

"Come to me. No matter what. I'm a very light sleeper." Damn, this kid is a heartbreaker. There was just no way that they could run away on a small island since someone was bound to recognize them. If Ki-ho had told Mok-ha about her father being at the port, then I know that she would've stopped him or gone out herself, but I wish that he had told her, "I'll meet you in Seoul" before getting off. Ki-ho was a transfer student and has a Seoul accent, so he must be from Seoul and could just run away again, but he did leave her his tin of money.

I was screaming at all those onlookers watching a child being beaten by an adult, yet no one called the police. How did Mok-ha's father even get on the ferry? Did he buy a ticket? I wish that Mok-ha hadn't dropped Ki-ho's backpack because it had food in it. I was terrified that her father had also drifted to the island, which he did, but a teenager having to bury her father alone is tragic.

The one saving grace of our annoying Guess-the-Ki-ho mystery is Bo-geol and Woo-hak are brothers, so regardless of which team you're on, you can't really hate the other guy. However, dare I say, the first episode will be the best episode in the entire drama because no matter who Park Eun-bin ends up with (it was Chae Jong-hyeop's silhouette), they will never be able to beat Lee Re and Moon Woo-jin's chemistry.

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When Ki-ho wore his winter uniform the morning after his father beat him, I thought, "We know why he wears it, but why does she?"... until we found out.

I too noticed that only these two had different uniforms in the school from others. The summer/winter uniform did not strike me, so one applause for the attention to detail by the drama writer/PD/team.

Yes, I too agree the first episode is the best and the adults can beat the kids' chemistry. I mentioned in my comment that the kids were the selling point for this drama.

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I missed this detail too until now.. ouch.. double ouch.

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I'm such an airhead. They even said "in that hot summer...we were living in our own different seasonWHILE highlighting they are in long sleeves!

I just do not pay attention to things haha. When I initially saw that choice, I just thought they were highlighting these characters are important (I started this drama without watching any trailers or teasers so I knew nothing about it except for Park Eun Bin's participation)

If I had actually registered the significance of that, would I have connected that with child abuse? Hmm, probably not. I didn't even notice that the Netflix tag said child abuse until after I watched the episode.

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I didn’t bat an eyelid at their different uniforms because the range of styles within the uniforms on offer in most school dramas surprises me; girls wearing tracksuits under ridiculously short skirts, and boys with their shirts unbuttoned. On the Watermelon show a couple of the extras in one scene were wearing full length dresses in the school colours!

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I guessed the abuse part when they showed the two kids' uniforms while mono-chroming everyone else and he said "we were the only ones in a different season". Very powerful scene.

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Loved episode 1! And so clear that this is the writer of Start Up - she knows how to get viewers invested in record time, and that it no easy feat. I'm pretty sure Bo-geol is Ki-ho and I really don't need a shipping war (interesting that this writer wants to keep playing with this idea after SU, but maybe she has her eye on the ratings!), but I NEED CJH to start smiling and I'm slightly worried that Ki-ho had, and has, little to smile about - abusive background, having to stay hidden to avoid detection etc. If they keep him moody till almost the end, that is a travesty. I love PEB's performance, but I wish they would show 31y.o. Mok-ha as more savvy - yes, please indulge yourself in returning to your fan-girling, but she's singlehandedly survived alone for 15 years and that makes her smart and capable in a thousand ways. It feels somewhat dissatisfying to bin all of that and make her a naive, exploitable adult (which was suggested in ep2). Hope we get past that quickly, but I have high hopes for this drama.

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I suspect the reason Bo-geol was going on island-cleaning trips was to look for Mok-ha. Her disappearance must have been weighing on him all these years. Now that she's been found and is under his family's care, hopefully his heart can take a breath. And when she starts to flourish, hopefully he will allow himself to be happy.

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I think that's also the reason he brought up Ran-joo for the show

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I hope this doesn't focus too much on romance and instead the relationship between the characters and how they have changed in the last 15 years. I am also hoping for a Mok-ha & Ranjoo friendship, some trailer scenes showed them getting along and becoming friends, i really really hope that holds true. The actors are all amazing so far, can't wait for future episodes! I do hope the younger actors get another time to shine, even if i don't like (too many) flashbacks all that much.

I don't think N's character is Ki-hoon, i think he is a red herring and it's his younger brother instead. Especially since they made it clear that Woo-hak doesn't remember his past but the Ki-ho we saw clearly goes to the train station every year or at least has done that for a few years. It's also interesting that Ki-hoon said he would buy Mok-ha new shoes as soon as they meet again and Bo Geol did just that!!

But it would be pretty funny if it IS him though. i don't think i've seen a role of N that doesn't have some kind of childhood trauma or other traumatic experience lol.

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Thanks @quirkycase for a great weecap.
I love a drama that starts well and is complete in that I can enjoy the episodes but have questions that make me want to continue watching. This drama started really well and the child actors definitely need recognition. Child actors these days are being exposed to some really heavy material and I do hope they are supported with it so they don’t grow up too quickly and end up suffering the consequences of the show business life.

In the UK they have messages before programmes saying some scenes may be upsetting for some viewers and after the programmes that show abuse, drug use etc they provide details of appropriate helplines, I don’t know if they do that in South Korea and it’s just we don’t see it on the international release.

I am always caught out when I see excessive abuse without the warnings when I thought I was watching a rom com. Domestic violence and child abuse are prevalent in all societies and therefore multiple members of the audience are likely to have had or still be living in those circumstances. When there is no info in the previews or written material and it suddenly appears on the screen it does not allow them an opportunity to make an informed choice about whether to watch it or avoid watching in certain company. When the main message is that no one will help you and it’s ok to do this if the child’s behaviour warrants it, then a short shot of a man losing his job but not having a criminal record that does not encourage anyone to seek help or any abusers watching to reflect on the potential consequences. I know it’s entertainment but if we can have PPL on the benefits of recycling and drinking tap water I think there is some responsibility to address these issues in multiple ways too.

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Netflix in my region rates this show R21 (asked me to enter my R21 password) which took me aback when I eagerly clicked on the first episode on the release date. But still, I did not expect such heavy domestic violence. I'm sure on their TV running they will have warning messages before playing the show.

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I guess I am the only one who felt the fist episode was too long. I liked the first two eps, but that first one, woof, lol.

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Episode one was totally not what I expected. I would have never guessed the reason for her becoming cast away. The abuse was a tough watch but I really loved how it anchors the two characters for the reminder of the show.

As always, Lee Re was brilliant and I could have watched the entire show with her. The other boy did well too, looking at his MDL I see how much he has grown!

While watching Ep 1, I was half expecting Ran Joo to steal her song. Sorry! It’s years of seeing and hearing awful things about the entertainment industry that made me this paranoid. So I loved how this turned out to be. Not sure if the title is meant for both our female singers. Castaway Diva RanJoo and/or a castaway becoming a diva?

I wish they had spent a little more time on her being cast away. I would have liked to see her practice her singing, have imaginary concerts etc. I felt that part was rushed.

Also, I hate the whole ‘who is Ki Ho’ plot. It reminds me of all the ‘who is the ML’ in reply series. Not liking it one bit. I already feel like Bo Geol is the one with the new identity, he knows who she is but chooses to keep his identity hidden for good reason. He also told her to hide her identity when she leaves to Seoul so it makes sense he would have done the same.

Cha Hak Yeon is absolutely delightful here! And I hate that they are setting up his character this way. Prove me wrong show. Nah. Whatever.

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She was covering RanJoo’s song to begin with, she couldn’t have stolen it :) we hear it on TV when Ki-Ho comes to visit her at her dad’s restaurant. And it was a fan video contest, I don’t think any of the songs were supposed to be original anyway

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Ah!! I would never have caught that. Makes sense. I wasted my emotions worrying unnecessarily 🙃

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This was SUCH an amazing first episode (but, then, so was Start Up). If Ki-ho isn't Bo-geol (who I am assuming is the ML) I'm gonna break stuff, lol. There are a lot of reasons that I think he is (see my fanwall for more specific thoughts), so I'm not too worried. I also didn't really like Woo-hak because he's so oppositional. I personally don't think Woo-hak can be Ki-ho because it's too early to show their cards on that. Also, as others have mentioned, Ki-ho clearly didn't lose his memories, unless he kept coming to the station and not knowing why. Additionally, I don't think that Woo-hak acts like someone with an abuse background. Even with the loss of memories, he would still have some conditioned behavioral patterns.

That island is awful, and why does it not have like any women? Do they all leave (who could blame them)?

I was so impressed by Lee Re's and PEB's singing.

Does anyone else think that the show was perhaps hinting at Mok-ha also having been sexually abused by her father? The way that he was trying to open the door so forcibly made me wonder.

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The first episode was strong until the end. I was expecting a Tom Hanks “Castaway” story but we suddenly saw an unexplained Disney theme park Tiki set with brand new umbrella rain water collection available at the gift shop. It made no sense that a deserted island would have Amazon deliveries wash ashore on a weekly basis. Ocean debris is not pristine. Also, she would have been seriously tan after 15 years exposed to the elements. Then, the quick drone rescue meant that the castaway part was only a cut-away. It really torpedoed the fine build up and acting of the two teens playing the leads.

Episode 2 started off unexpectedly as well. She survived 34 miles in the open sea to “barely” survive for 15 years alone? The core premise was revealed that she is 31 but inside she is still 16. Why are we getting so many references to other k-drama shows? Are we supposed to make comparisons? There is an old adage that one should never meet your idol (you are bound to be disappointed.) But when Mok-ha meets Ran-Joo, it was a cathartic moment.

But I do not like the set up that Woo-Hak has a matter-of-fact amnesia trope when Mok-ha is going to search for Ki-Ho, who apparently has his own 15 year disappearing act. But we don’t know if he is alive or dead since his revengeful ex-cop father was on his trail.

I really don’t like the lack of social net on Mok-ha’s return to society. She was released from the shelter with zero money? Orphans who age out at 18 are given $5K. Then she goes back to find her home taken over by squatters claiming they are the true owners. Both the reporter and the occupants (and the writer) fail to clearly grasp the legal situation.

Korea follows a Torrens system for registering real estate ownership. Under the law there are only types of adverse possession:

A) The occupant is the registered title holder at the Real Property Registry, has occupied the premises for at least ten years and took possession with the intention of owning the real estate. The occupant must take possession peacefully and publicly, and with the belief that it has the legal right to possess the real estate. If, however, the occupant mistakenly believes through negligence (for example, by failing to check the Real Property Registry upon occupancy) that it has the legal right to real estate, it may not take adverse possession.
B) The occupant has peacefully and publicly possessed the real estate for 20 years with the intent to own it and with the belief that it has the legal right to possess the real estate, and after the 20- year period, it has registered itself as the owner.

Mok-ha has no money, so why would she naively give up her home for nothing? Why did she not start the inheritance process to collect any assets of the father? The show needs to give us a reasonable basis for her existence in the real world. One hundred percent charity is unrealistic.

And perhaps that is the point . . . the show is banking on being unrealistic.

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It is emphatically unrealistic! Nevertheless, I enjoy your explanation of how adverse possession works in South Korea.

I think the reason she doesn't go after the inheritance is that she is still 16, and doesn't realize that she could do so without having to stay on the island. Also, she might feel some guilt about her father's death. Also, she tells Woo-hak that she intends to live impulsively because of her experience on the island. It's not realistic but it is, I would say, internally consistent?

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@latebloomer findind her alive? Or her remains?

The chances she survived so long were minimal. Her father died after all.

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Just want to mention I liked the Pinocchio callback with Woo-hak being a 'YGN News' reporter. Love these little titbits Park Hye-ryun always throws in.

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Maybe I should rewatch because I certainly didn't notice the different uniforms or him being a light sleeper being related to his abusive household.

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How can any of them be Ki-ho? I want to enjoy this drama without thinking much about that but the comments regarding this are making me curious. They can't be. Even if we ignore the fact the boy has a new face, let's do that, he would have to have amnesia and people would have to know about that. They never said anything like that. In fact I have no idea why WH was going on about being Ki-ho. The brother was completely distant even when nobody was looking at him, he can't be anyone other than regular Bo-Geul.

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I agree. There is no reason to have either brother as Ki-Ho. Korea has a very strict citizen ID program. You cannot live or work without a valid ID number and family registry. Why would this couple adopt a 16 year old boy when they had a 15 year old son? Koreans have a tough time adopting infants so older children do not get new homes. Besides, Ki-Ho's father would never consent to an adoption.

You can keep Ki-Ho in Mok-Ha's memory as a comparison on how she reacts to how men treat her - - - and how she needs to move on with your "second chance" at life. Or you can keep him in the writer's back pocket - - - have a brotherly love triangle until she makes a big singing debut and stardom - - - then Ki-Ho finds her in front of all of them to complicate her relationship decision.

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One beanie (I forgot the name, Elinor I think) had a theory. That when the mother left the abusive husband (plausible since her leg seemed broken) she managed to take one child and not both. The boy she took lost the memory. Then Ki Ho escaped his father and went to his mother and lived with his mother and sibling.
So no adoption was involved, just name changes.

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Except: there was no mention of mother divorcing and remarrying; there was no mention that Ki-Ho had a brother; there was a discussion that the brothers have been inseparable during their childhood.

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Exactly! They talked about high school together! Later kept talking as if WH could still have amnesia, the whole conversation was pretty crazy.

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The likely story is mom taking one of the boys when leaving the abusive husband, and it’s always Ki-ho’s plan to re-join the mom and hence, his money grabbing by all means. Mom’s saying - keeping faith and things would come round unexpectedly - was what kept him afloat. And he shared that saying with Mok-ha who in turn passed it onto Woo-has in the present day.

That saying has also been what the two brothers’ mom preaching to the two brothers - and prompted Woo-hak to think he’s Ki-ho.

So, the possible scenario would be Ki-ho rejoining his mom in Seoul who by then had a new partner living together with Woo-hak with the boy suffering from some illness/injuries with memory loss. A lot is at stake for Bo-geol to hide his real identity and that of his mom as the biological father is still hunting them down - hence, his apparent indifference but he did buy the girl a new pair of shoes (as promised by Ki-ho).

Whatever the story maybe, we can surely enjoy the story as it is without thinking too much but this scriptwriter has a knack of developing such plots.

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The boy we knew as Ki-Ho would never not greet his friend who has just spent 15 years alone on that island.

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That would mean BG lost his memory and later KiHo escaped and also lost his memory??? That would be crazier than any makjang. Besides they talked about school.

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Wasn't there a part in one of the two episodes where Ki Ho mentions a brother who had died?

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That's a solid theory. I forgot mum was alive an well somewhere. Here a question though, mum may have fled in the night, but Dad( the actor they chose for dad is breaking my heart! In his roles he usally a sweetie now I have to dislike him 😭)would never divorce her. So how does that factor in your theory? I guess she could have also changed her name and appearance and remarried as a seemingly single mother. 🤷🏾‍♀️

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I think we know Ki-ho will come back to this at some point. He was too important early on and this is kdrama after all, you can't just forget first love, and if any first was meaningful was this one! But I just don't want him to be any of the brothers because it would be insane and absurd.

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I don't think it was far as first love, maybe first accomplice.

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Certainly two strong opening episodes with an unexpected backstory. It’s hard not to be moved by the ending of Ep 2.

It gives me a strong 30 but 17 vibe - not a bad thing. And I’m quite sure Bo-geol is Ki-ho (with Woo-hak’s memory loss a convenient excuse for the guessing game). Just wish we don’t have a shipping war which is among the reasons my dropping Start Up.

A drama to keep, for now.

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