Castaway Diva: Episodes 3-4
by quirkycase
Our lovable singer is quite the busy lady. Not only is she readjusting to society, living it up with her beloved unnie, and taking up a job, she’s also still trying to find her long-lost friend. But her search results in some unwanted attention and unexpected consequences. Meanwhile, our reporter finds himself growing more attached to his possibly-old-but-maybe-new friend and is more confused than ever about his past.
EPISODES 3-4
I just love the budding friendship and camaraderie between Mok-ha and Ran-joo. While their circumstances in life have been wildly different, they both intimately understand loneliness and loss. Having been abandoned by even her most ardent fans, Ran-joo does not take Mok-ha’s love and unwavering support for granted. She’s appreciative and respects Mok-ha, truly seeming to like her.
Mok-ha, of course, is on a high after being able to save Ran-joo’s performance and be so near to her precious unnie. Her dramatic yet sincere fawning over Ran-joo earns some major eyeroll from Woo-hak, but Ran-joo, a drama queen herself, is delighted. What really makes Woo-hak do a double-take is learning that the most famous pop star of the current era is merely Mok-ha’s replacement all those years ago. He’s now determined to make sure Mok-ha earns her spot back, although Mok-ha is more concerned with spending quality time with Ran-joo.
Ran-joo is so broke and neglected that she doesn’t even have a ride back, so she hitches a ride with her new bestie Mok-ha and Woo-hak. Back in Mok-ha’s attic room, the girls have an adorable dance party with the vibes of a high school girls’ sleepover. Ran-joo opens up to Mok-ha and shares a secret she’s never told anyone: she lost her voice due to nodules that even surgery couldn’t cure. All the smoking and drinking came afterward.
Mok-ha shares some memories from her time on the island, confessing that she lost hope at one point several years in. She went so far as to jump from a cliff into the ocean, but a cooler floating in the water caught her eye. Inside were ramyeon packets. That was enough to reignite her hope that if she waited, something good might come her way. Ran-joo sweetly designates Mok-ha her cooler full of hope.
As the night progresses, they get drunk on sponsored wine. It turns out Ran-joo is very generous when drunk, and she dubs herself Mok-ha’s sunbae, promising to help her become a star. When Ran-joo sobers the next day, she’s horrified to remember that she called her agency RnJ’s president LEE SEO-JOON (Kim Joo-hun) to demand he audition Mok-ha. To her credit, she doesn’t renege on her promise and convinces him to listen to Mok-ha sing.
Seo-joon agrees but immediately dismisses Mok-ha on sight for being “too old” and blasely suggests she become Ran-joo’s manager instead. At first, Mok-ha is rightfully upset, but then she realizes that something is amiss. Ran-joo is being subtly pushed out of the company. Ran-joo told Mok-ha that she gets half the company shares if she sells 20 million albums in total, and she’s not even 100,000 shy of that target.
Mok-ha agrees to be Ran-joo’s manager and shares her insight with Ran-joo: Seo-joon is trying to cheat her out of what’s rightfully hers before her contract ends in six months. The women realize this is their chance; if they can swing it, Ran-joo will get half the company and then she can ensure Mok-ha gets her chance to be an artist. The women prepare for a fight, and Ran-joo officially declares war on Seo-joon in front of major investors.
As expected of Mok-ha, she dives headfirst into her new role with nothing but enthusiasm and grit. She may not have an email address, phone, driver’s license, or industry knowledge, but that doesn’t stop her optimism. Her (unavoidable) unprofessionalism rubs Bo-geol the wrong way, making him even colder toward her than usual. It’s a complete 180 from how kind he was to her when they first found her. Now it’s Woo-hak who chides him for being inconsiderate of Mok-ha’s situation. (Is someone afraid she’ll lead Woo-hak to the truth of the past, perhaps?)
The new manager/artist duo’s first order of business is capitalizing on Ran-joo’s sudden popularity wave. As luck would have it, the most popular variety show is about idols getting another chance to prove themselves after their prime. And even more luckily, Bo-geol is working on that program and biting at the bit to cast Ran-joo. The only problem? She’ll have to sing live. The premise of the show is pitting the singer’s current performance against their past peak performance.
Mok-ha is hesitant to deceive everyone again by singing for Ran-joo, but she does agree after Ran-joo says they can use it to find Ki-ho. Come to find out, Ran-joo met Ki-ho soon after Mok-ha went missing. He approached her and gave her a picture of Mok-ha, begging her to remember Mok-ha – to hug her and help her if she ever comes to find Ran-joo. Oof, this kid. He made such an impression on Ran-joo that she wrote a song about them, and now she wants Mok-ha to sing it on air.
Both women are nervous leading up to the live show, but all goes well. The episode is a smashing success in more ways than one. Mok-ha again does an incredible job and wins Ran-joo more fans. Ran-joo, as promised, delivers a message to Ki-ho on air on Mok-ha’s behalf. And it appears to work. Someone sends flowers to Woo-hak for Mok-ha, claiming to be Ki-ho and asking to meet.
If that seems too easy, that’s because it is. Ki-ho’s abusive father JUNG BONG-WAN (Lee Seung-joon) saw the broadcast and hopes to use Mok-ha to lure Ki-ho out of hiding. He got Woo-hak’s business card from friends on the island, which is how he knew where to send the flowers. Suspiciously, Bo-geol goes running the minute Woo-hak tells him Mok-ha is on her way to meet “Ki-ho.”
Meanwhile, a loud sound triggers a memory flash for Woo-hak. A memory of screaming and terror that clearly shows Bong-wan’s face. AHA. He then recalls that the man who delivered the flowers had that same face, and he too goes running to find Mok-ha.
As the brothers separately rush to stop Mok-ha, Ran-joo visits Seo-joon. She and Mok-ha have been suspicious of how nicely he treated her after she got cast on that show. And their instincts were on point. Seo-joon made his first move, and it’s a doozy. He pulled all Ran-joo’s albums, preventing her from being able to sell a single new copy. Seo-joon felt bad for totally tanking her career, hence the supportive act.
Elsewhere, Mok-ha shows up at the meeting spot with high hopes, only to be terrified when she recognizes Bong-wan. She runs and he gives chase. She’s saved by a man in a raincoat who hides his face. Once they’re safe, she eagerly asks if he’s Ki-ho. Then, he removes his hood – it’s Bo-geol.
Okay, if he claims to be Ki-ho, things are going to get really messy. I hope that’s not where this is going. Despite all the family dishonesty, which we’ll come back to, I like the brothers and don’t want their relationship ruined. They regularly wear matching pajamas, for goodness’ sake! You can’t ruin a relationship that involves matching pajamas.
I can’t tell if the drama is trying to get us to think Bo-geol is Ki-ho, but that just doesn’t feel like a fit, especially after Woo-hak’s memory flashback. What makes the most sense is that Woo-hak is Ki-ho, and his whole family is hiding it from him. Woo-hak told Mok-ha that his family felt like strangers when he woke up after his head injury, and he couldn’t look at old pictures because they all burned in a (conveniently timed) house fire. My guess is his current mom is his biological mom, and they’re all trying to protect him from recalling the trauma of his youth. I can understand the instinct, but lying about someone’s identity for over a decade is bound to backfire.
I do think Bo-geol might be in touch with some people from the island, though, who knew Ki-ho. A couple of Ki-ho’s old school friends caught wind of Bong-wan looking for Mok-ha and discussed warning Ki-ho. The way Bo-geol immediately knew Mok-ha was in danger after hearing someone claiming to be Ki-ho wanted to meet with her made me think he must’ve gotten a heads up. I guess, for the sake of argument, it’s possible that he’s Ki-ho and knew what kind of trick his father would pull. Whatever the case, I think we’re in for some identity angst in the coming episodes.
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Tags: Castaway Diva, Cha Hak-yeon, Chae Jong-hyeop, Kim Hyo-jin, Kim Joo-hun, Lee Re, Moon Woo-jin, Park Eun-bin
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1 Kurama
November 6, 2023 at 11:48 PM
I'm really interested by BG's point of view because I think we will discover he did a lot things to help MH like the island cleaning or saying the opposite of what he wants to his brother to let MH living on the rooftop. It would be interesting to know the brother's past. BG's attitude seems to be a way to hide and protect his family from his father. But behind his coldness, he still cares about people like when he went to eat with his brother because he doesn't like to eat alone.
I was sure that BG was the one running in the stairs with MH and not WH like they tried to make us believing in the teaser. I find funny that WH buys the same clothes than BG but wears them in the same time too. They always wear matching pyjamas 😂
I loved MH and RJ's scenes. But the lypsyncing needs to stop and RJ needs to show some efforts on working on her voice.
MH talking about suicide like this was kinda dark but I'm happy they adressed it. 15 years alone is not a short period, everybody would become crazy.
I'm delighted to see MH reclaim her own life.
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🌸 Seeker 🌸
November 7, 2023 at 8:06 AM
Agree with you on all points.
The lip-synching is a very sore point. You are so right Ran-joo needs to pull up her socks and practice her singing.
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ar_arguably romantic
November 7, 2023 at 4:21 PM
WH's obsessive need to buy the same clothes as BG (down to even underwear...) and him even working at the same tv station as his brother...I wonder what caused him to have this sort of weird syndrome.
The lipsyncing needs to stop too, partly because RJ needs to make an effort and partly because I find them getting away with it in this day and age quite unbelievable.
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2 geminirat
November 7, 2023 at 12:08 AM
Thank you, @quirkycase, for the weecap! I find it interesting that Mok-ha's perception of people is better than Ran-joo's. She immediately understood that agency director is trying to renege on the promised company shares, and yet, she was out of society for 15 years! The fact that she was barely a teenager when she left, I find it a little confusing how she could mature so fast in just a couple of days. I hope she and Ran-joo open their own agency with her as the star.
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RenOIshi
November 7, 2023 at 3:43 AM
Shouldn’t she been in therapy? I waited for her to have some sort of ptsd at that sea food restaurant in the second episode but nah. Nothing.
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Kafiyah Bello
November 7, 2023 at 4:06 AM
100% she should be in therapy, not even necessarily for the abuse she suffered. She seems to have managed that well before she got to the Island, but for the 15 long years of isolation, she should have therapy, but it is a kdrama, so not going to happen.
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vienibenmio
November 7, 2023 at 7:32 AM
From a trauma psychologist perspective, people are remarkably resilient; most people naturally recover and trauma in most cases won't cause PTSD. Mok-ha did have a lot of time to herself, which she could have used to process her trauma (avoidance is what we think impedes recovery from trauma and leads to PTSD). I also could see how 15 years on a desert island would "supersede" everything else in terms of making the childhood trauma less salient.
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Kafiyah Bello
November 7, 2023 at 4:05 AM
She understand negative people. Ran Joo is cynical and drunk half the time, so her mind is a little muddled. Mok Ha meanwhile is used to adults not being kind, so her summation that he was after something else makes sense to me.
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Lelly19
November 7, 2023 at 5:10 AM
I thought the same thing about Mokha! With her experience both with her father and KH's father (also a policeman!!) it's not surprising she'd be weary of certain people.
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Lelly19
November 7, 2023 at 12:55 PM
I wanna also add to this: Mokha has still that typical idol's fan mentality, especially teens, where she puts all the blame of Ranjoo's career troubles on her company (so her current CEO too).
There were a few instances (for example, before entering, she saw they were removing the company's old sign) where she cursed at Lee Seojun even before that cancelled/fake audition and what followed.
Very kpop fan of her, just saying xD
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Unaspirated
November 7, 2023 at 4:30 AM
I think that Ran-joo has a history with Seo-jun and that makes it harder to see what he’s up to. She didn’t totally trust him (she went to his house to find out his reasoning), but he had faith in her back in the day, and that might be hard to see past. ALSO, they definitely seemed like they were involved somehow in the past - actual romance or just a fling? - so that could be clouding her judgement also.
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hacja
November 7, 2023 at 8:04 AM
She does strike me as a woman who has been abused by her former partner who she loved and even though she half-knows he's going to abuse her again, she's hopeful he won't. It fits with one of the themes of this show, trauma caused by abusive males.
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rlg07
November 7, 2023 at 11:45 AM
Yes, well, she had a lifetime of living with an abusive person, and no doubt recognized some patterns.
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FlourPower
November 9, 2023 at 4:07 AM
While she would be unfamiliar with many aspects of adult life, the big city, and society in 2023, and therefore would be quite naive in many ways, 15 years of coping entirely on your own would also build its own form of maturity and character strength. And she would have had be quite strong in the first place to survive.
(Of course, the whole premise requires some serious suspension of disbelief, but if you manage to accept it, I guess it also makes sense that she might have developed a certain kind of wisdom and clarity from all that time in silent contemplation or conversations with the seagull?)
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3 emsel
November 7, 2023 at 12:13 AM
I feel the charm from Ep 1 and Ep 2 is wearing off for me. I still love the bits about Moh Ka's survival in the island and using that as a perspective to look at things from different angle, especially that water cooler and eating alone scenes. Those were impactful messages, but I am annoyed by the lip syncing scheme, evil CEO, dad trying to stalk his son etc.,
Moh Ka is doing so much for RJ, but I dont know what RJ is giving back to Moh Ka in current timeline. I did not even enjoy that drinking and partying with parents scene, which I usually love in kdramas.
This show is having so much potential, but it is focusing on bits that don't let viewers connect with the characters.
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loveblossom🌸
November 7, 2023 at 11:27 AM
I completely agree with you.
I usually accept or roll my eyes at any drinking scenes, but this time, I was put off by the fact it was Mok Ha's first time drinking alcohol. They couldn't keep it realistic with 1 or 2 glasses. Instead, she got wildly drunk and recovered perfectly fine the next day.
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pliplipli
November 7, 2023 at 3:44 PM
100% with you.
I feel like if it wasnt park eunbin in this, I would drop it bcs the things I like dont seem to be the focus of the drama and everything I dontreally care - like celebrities stories for example - are at the front seat. I wanted to see mokha adapting to this new world, but she looks perfectly fine for now. RJ is not as charismatic as the character should be to make me care too. and there's not enough smiling chae jonghyup
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latebloomer
November 7, 2023 at 4:23 PM
Pretty much 100 percent scowling Chae Jong-hyeop. Really unfortunate, since his warmth and smile are what I remember about him from past roles.
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4 Mina00
November 7, 2023 at 12:40 AM
I am disappointed with the story. Everything is so predictable ! She is going to sing for her and at the end they will be caught and the crazy father will play cat and mouse game which the actor played same character at He is Psychometric . I liked all work Park Eu -bin did so far and I could not think she would have no chemistry with anyone. She does have no chemistry with the ML leads here :) Hopefully Drama will surprise me next week :)
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5 jillian
November 7, 2023 at 12:48 AM
I adore the budding friendship between Mok Ha and Ran Joo. They are the highlight of the episode. I am worried though about the fallout of their deception. I hope Ran Joo recovers and does not rely on Mok Ha to sing for her. This deception can be used against them by President Lee once he finds out.
My money is on Bo Geol as the real Ki Ho. He must have his reasons for acting cold towards MH. Ki Ho is still hiding from his abusive father and hopefully his father never finds him.
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latebloomer
November 7, 2023 at 4:33 PM
The way Bo-geol ran off to save Mok-ha after only hearing that Ki-ho sent her flowers (NOT a word about asking to meet her or when or where) -- and from that little info knew exactly WHO sent the flowers and what the setup was and what the danger was -- if that doesn't confirm he is Ki-ho, then I don't know what else could. Who else would know the time and meeting place?
It's clear that he is holding back, and it's clear why. Although he let himself be beaten to a pulp for Mok-ha, his new identity and new life involve his brother, mother, and stepfather. He knows better than anyone how dangerous his father is. I'm sure he's holding back to protect his family much more than himself. He has an intense shared past with Mok-ha, but his relationship with her now can't be more important than his family's safety.
The whole premise is so improbable - getting stranded on a desert island for 15 yrs, returning so easily to society, meeting her idol, becoming her idol's manager, ending up in the same house with the boy who tried so hard to save her and set her on the path to stardom. But the characters are so compelling that it's easy to just focus on them instead. I'm not looking forward to the close encounters and final showdown with abusive Dad, but I am looking forward to Ki-ho somehow becoming whole again, not hiding, not fearing, not holding back anymore.
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6 stberry
November 7, 2023 at 12:49 AM
Isn't it pretty obvious that Bo Geol is Ki Ho?
Cause (1) that rude bitch behavior is 100% Ki Ho and (2) he has little screen time, hardly has any interactions with MH and barely has any characteristics (other than the rude bitch attitude and those sorrowful eyes). If he's not KH then this character literally has nothing to stand on. They are doing this on purpose to keep the "mystery" going, showing any more of him would destroy any sense of "mystery" they have.
And you don't have to ask why they're doing this. Although this is painful for viewers, this type of plot is exactly what drives discussion. Fandom thrives on conflicts, SU blew up so big online because of the shipping war. You can pretend the story about 2 castaway divas is what viewers mainly interested in, but the thing that truly make people invested in is another shipping war disguised as a "mystery" (see Exhibit A: the Reply series). And it works, it has always worked, 90% of the discussion is about who is KH and the rating is rising fast, I have no doubt it will reach double digits very soon.
Sacrifice 1 character/1 actor is nothing compared to the benefits everyone (including the sacrificial lamb) will receive once this drama ends as a successful project (and it will). Last time it was NJH, this time it's CJH. The writer changes her wheels though, because now she's sacrificing the childhood friend instead.
CD won't get as ugly as SU since neither of the MLs is as charismatic as KSH, but it will come very close and I'm dreading the weeks to come.
I'm deeply regretting starting this show now, I'm too invested in Ki-ho to be able to walk away :(( (It's your fault Woo-jin ah T.T).
On another note, the lip-syncing fiasco is making me too nervous, it will blow up in the women's faces so badly. I like both of them a lot so I'm not looking forward to it.
And what is up with RJ and SJ, were they a thing? If yes then why is he such an a**hole to her now? Like not a normal a**hole, he's literally cutting off all of her hopes for a better life? Why so cruel? This is the true "mystery" for me though, cause while I'm confident I can read the writer's moves like a book regarding the Finding Kiho plot, the RJ-SJ thing is what I genuinely do not understand. Does anyone have any suggestions?
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Jingbee
November 7, 2023 at 2:16 AM
The same SU formula for using the most charismatic young version of the male leads is also used here. NDR in SU and now MWJ here.
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vienibenmio
November 7, 2023 at 6:57 AM
Honestly I could see how Ran-joo got exhausting to be around. I'm not defending the CEO but I don't think his asshole behavior came out of nowhere, either
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KAddicted
November 7, 2023 at 8:15 PM
We have no idea what she might have done to him or how she treated him at the height of her fame, and how much he might feel she owes him. He could have saved her from multiple scandals and just maybe they did have a romantic entanglement that ended badly because of her irresponsible behaviour. He has obviously hardened his heart against her and she seems so clueless she probably doesn't even remember why.
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dramalover4ever
November 7, 2023 at 4:11 PM
I agree. BG is going to be KH. The flashbacks are misleading though.
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sumi
November 13, 2023 at 11:15 AM
I wonder if there is also a little bit of WWWSK brothers' dynamic going on here? I do feel like BG is really KiHo, but maybe it was Woo Hak who saved him from the abusive father (I am still not convinced they are true brothers, but maybe half-brothers?), and has taken on the memories of BG to the point that he feels he is Kiho? I wouldn't put it past the writers to try that stunt again!!!
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7 Mrs Buckwheat
November 7, 2023 at 1:21 AM
I find the tonal contrasts of this show jarring.
The episodes open with Ran-joo and Mok ha both contemplating suicide.
Then they are having a dance party/sleepover.
Lots of light fluffy moments.
The show then continues to portray Mok Ha as silly and immature yet she is savvy enough to work out what the agency president is doing.
Then Ki-ho's abusive dad suddenly makes an appearance and the show ends on a sinister note.
How am I supposed to feel any sympathy towards Ran-joo when she is using Mok-ha for her own gain in a way that can only cause more grief and heartache with her deception?
The scene with Mok-ha outside in the corridor listening to the agency president and Ran-joo with the water rising instantly made me think of SYIM19th life and poor Seo-ha in the swimming pool.
Hanging in there for CJH, hopefully he will have more to do in the next episodes.
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8 marblebees
November 7, 2023 at 2:46 AM
The cute matching outfits are going to get the brothers in trouble, aren't they? Woo-hak is also wearing the green jacket and is on his way to the train station, if the father sees him he will think he's Ki-ho (regardless if that's true or not...)
Anyway, i'm glad they focused more on Mokha & Ranjoo friendship and Mokhas time on the Island. It was very cute that things/life lessons that helped her on the island also help in the "real" world. I hope we get more of that!
Unlike some here i don't mind the abusive father/who is ki-ho sideplot, honestly i need something to puzzle/theorized about or i get bored lol. Also i realized that he actor for the abusive father also plays another, even creepier abusive father in He is Psychometric.. He plays those roles well, i got the creeps
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marblebees
November 7, 2023 at 2:54 AM
Adding to that, I still think Bogeol is Ki-ho, i think Woo-hak tried to protect him and then got hurt on the head. I also think it's possible they are in witness protection or the father lost custody at some point, otherwise he could find his children asap.
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ar_arguably romantic
November 7, 2023 at 4:27 PM
Switch to Strong Girl Nam Soon, and that actor is Nam-soon's nice dad. Funny getting him on two shows streaming on netflix with opposite characteristics.
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9 Blue (@mayhemf)
November 7, 2023 at 2:51 AM
I love the relationship between Mok Ha and Ran Joo but the whole lip synching part makes me super uncomfortable. I mean, it’s a perfect set up for angst.
Ran Joo was a fool to put a clause on the contract like that. She was the asset and she already was a star when the manager wanted to start his company. She should have been a partner right front the start or gotten 33% shares since the beginning. Hindsight is 20/20. Even now, I wish she would negotiate a settlement to get a percentage of shares as compensation and leave the company. But she is suffering from other issues so yeah it’s not that easy. For starters she needs to quit alcohol.
Also I don’t know why the CEO is so greedy. I guess there is more to their story.
I am not a fan of this identity angst.
I found Ep 3/4 a little less enjoyable, esp 4. The singing of the same song went on forever. And it dragged in the middle.
I am not sure if Mokha was so perceptive even as a teenager that she sees through the CEO schemes. Felt a little odd for her to be so after being stranded in an island for 15 years. That felt off.
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KAddicted
November 7, 2023 at 8:30 PM
15 years alone on an island should have made her resourceful in practical ways, as evidenced by how she adapted random items to other uses while living there. It would not have made her savvy in the ways of modern business, so the emphasis is on something unbelievable rather than believable. Surely habit would have her making ingenious practical use of everyday items she comes across, a quirk which would be a joy to watch and funny too, but there's none of that. A pity, as it would have given her an element of clever unpredictability that could be of use as the story unfolds.
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10 RenOIshi
November 7, 2023 at 3:34 AM
I am worried that RJ will become that stock character villain where she will take advantage of our MH and end up refusing to help her. Let’s face it. She has finally found all her lost glory. Would she be willing to give it up once again? Who knows?
BY is definitely KiHo. The hyung saw the dads flashback because somehow the evil dad was involved in that accident that they all keep mentioning.
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Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
November 7, 2023 at 3:40 AM
I like that theory as the image of the dad in his flashback was not from a scene that we have seen before.
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11 Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
November 7, 2023 at 3:38 AM
Thanks for the weecap @quirkycase
I struggled to engage with this week’s episodes. I don't like the drunk and happy scenes we get in most K dramas as it implies that drunkenness is the only way to have a good time and although they often show the next day repercussions it’s usually about shame and embarrassment rather than the short/long term physical symptoms.
I was confused why Ranjoo gave their trump card away regarding the shares and the only thing I could think of was to prevent them being sold off to the investors before she could legally access them. It was obvious Seojoon would do something to stop her and I expected it to be the public exposure at the show, so when that didn’t happen and he instead stopped the sales I could see there must be some bad blood between them as she had been his main asset and partner. I also don't get why the manager drove off with her only to return a minute later to say the van was needed by its actual owner. Surely he knew the idol’s schedule so would have known that the van would be needed so he could only drop Ranjoo off but would leave after the performance.
I would have liked for the brothers to be part of the Mokha and Ranjoo Scooby doo crew due to their connections with their roles to help fight the evil villains at the agency. Then the real Kiho come forward and the whole group including the boys’ parents would become a found family for Kiho and Mokha who are parentless.
I think the brothers are real brothers living with their mum and her new partner who was probably her first love or a friend to lover. Both boys therefore have memories of the abuse before the mum left with one of the boys. She was meant to come back for the Kiho but something prevented it. I think Kiho found her when he went to Seoul. After the head injury because Woohak is rubbish at keeping secrets they all kept the truth quiet from him about Kiho’s changed name. I don't know how they kept the friends from school or relatives from saying anything but maybe there are no school reunions or the family are quite isolated from friends and family so built a new identity in their current location after the accident. My guess is a photo will appear at some point, along with Woohak’s childhood memories from a young age when he still lived with his abusive dad.
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Kafiyah Bello
November 7, 2023 at 4:12 AM
Yes, that makes sense that they are actually brothers and that their mother is their mother. The age thing is the only the thing that puts me off. I know BG is obviously lying about his age, but did they also lie to WH about his age as well, maybe he is the younger also, so they could better hide them from that psycho.
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welh
November 7, 2023 at 10:56 AM
The legal pitfall is Ki Ho was registered as Jung. Both WH and BG are registered as Kang, the man they consider their father. Now, children can change their names but only through a court proceeding and notice to parents. That would mean cop dad would know where mother and sons were living. Further, you cannot truly fake identity in Korea as any HR department (like a TV network) requires state ID, certified family registration in order to be employed and paid.
Yes, mother could have faked all this to protect her sons from biological father but the real world implications don't match how her sons are living. But so far this writer/director have little grasp of the legal implications of this story arc.
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Goyangi and the Camel Crickets
November 8, 2023 at 1:50 PM
Could she have placed a restraining order on the father? Does Korea have something like that?
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welh
November 9, 2023 at 7:02 AM
Yes, but it rarely works well.
Unaspirated
November 7, 2023 at 4:38 AM
“Because Woohak is rubbish at keeping secrets”
😂 😂 I love this part of the theory in particular! This agrees with my theories too though, I think it will be something similar to this.
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Asha13
November 7, 2023 at 7:15 AM
I like your theory. Im gonna go with it
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vienibenmio
November 7, 2023 at 7:21 AM
If Ki-ho had a brother, wouldn't we have seen him in the past?
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Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
November 7, 2023 at 8:51 AM
I have seen way too many dramas where we see one scene and come to one conclusion then they show the same scene later with multiple other people and it has a completely different meaning. So we will see the relevant info re the two brothers soon enough.
The older brother is very clinging and copies his younger brother in so many ways that there has to be something behind it. This would make sense if he was the younger brother or they had been separated as children or he was fostered/adopted and has an insecure attachment or even this brother supported his rehab with the memory loss after the accident etc. currently there are too many question marks.
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Hanamana
November 7, 2023 at 8:13 AM
I don't think they are real brothers because the father is searching for his "son", not "sons".
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Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
November 7, 2023 at 8:53 AM
He is only searching for this son because he embarrassed him by running away several times and then got him sacked. He just wants to finish what he started with the abuse hence getting life insurance for him. The other brother was probably with the mum for years and so like the mum is of no interest to him.
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ar_arguably romantic
November 7, 2023 at 4:33 PM
The only reason I'm not sure if the brothers are fully brothers is because Ki-ho's dad only mentioned Ki-ho when he was buying insurance from Ki-ho's classmate and the classmate is like "you don't have kids" (presuming Ki-ho died) and the dad was like "I have Ki-ho". That is unless, the mom and dad had a parent trap sort of split where they each take a child and weirdly don't miss the other child.
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12 Unaspirated
November 7, 2023 at 4:25 AM
Wow that Agency CEO is a real toolbox. The whole interaction with Ran-joo in his apartment was charged in a way that makes me think they had a thing in the past. If that’s true, it just makes the whole situation stickier. Not that it isn’t plenty sticky anyway. Can an agency CEO recall records like that? I would have thought that those kinds of actions would either have been in someone else’s hands (a distributor or something?) or that there would be a clause in the contract to stipulate that the agency can’t deliberately sabotage one of its talents. Especially with the agreement about the albums. There’s a lawyer somewhere that needs to be fired.
Ran-joo herself is a really interesting character, and one that makes me feel uncomfortable a good amount of the time. Her whole conversation trying to get Mok-ha the audition was so fraught. I know she really does believe Mok-ha is talented, but it still must have hurt to hear Ran-joo ask to essentially hold a fake audition for her. And the whole plan to have Mok-ha sing for her is obviously unsustainable. Doing it at a small event is one thing, but on a huge stage like that is risky but also really unfair to Mok-ha herself. It’s all very Singing in the Rain of them. I’m interested to see how it will progress now that Bo-geol knows the truth.
Speaking of, we got a flash of smile from him this week! And a lot more of him in general, which I am super in favor of. I loved all the moments when we were following Woo-hak around as he discovered things, only to find Bo-geol already there. There is something so swoony about a person who takes care of you in small or behind-the-scenes ways and you only realize it much later.
All in all, still loving this, still absolutely glued to the episodes as they air, still impressed by Park Eun-bin’s voice!
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Midnight
November 7, 2023 at 4:35 AM
I'm not watching, but after what happened to Lee Seung Gi of all people, I now firmly believe that agencies can, and would, do anything to sabotage the poor talents.
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Unaspirated
November 7, 2023 at 4:44 AM
Ugh, it’s so gross. She must have gone with him in the first place because she trusted him and because he had faith in her career, so I hope we get some flashbacks to explain where everything went wrong. Did he just drop her as soon as her voice was in trouble? Did they have a romantic/physical involvement and it ended badly? I’m really interested to find out more of their backstory (so, I guess, good job, Show!).
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marblebees
November 7, 2023 at 5:09 AM
CEO does not know of Ranjoos surgery according to her, i don't think she even told him she had a problem. Maybe that secret was a reason for their falling out/break up?
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Unaspirated
November 7, 2023 at 5:13 AM
Right, I remember that, I’m just wondering if the decline in her voice was the only trigger or if it was in combination with something else.
ar_arguably romantic
November 7, 2023 at 4:44 PM
These idols start really young (Lee Seung-gi debuted at 17 and I'll bet Ran-joo wasn't much older) and these agency CEOs like them that way so that they're more malleable.
Ran-joo's agency CEO even gave a Ted Talk about how they need to always be recruiting for the next young hot thing before the current star "withers". Probably by the time she hit her 30s, he was ready to phase her out.
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Lelly19
November 7, 2023 at 5:18 AM
Yes @ Bogeol's smile!! Finally!! Can't wait to see more ^^
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vienibenmio
November 7, 2023 at 7:14 AM
"There is something so swoony about a person who takes care of you in small or behind-the-scenes ways and you only realize it much later."
Tbh probably my favorite type of Kdrama male lead. That's why I loved My Holo Love. I'm incredibly in love with Ki-ho and I really hope it's BG because, assuming he's Ki-ho, he's doing some very subtle but incredibly meaningful things for Mok-ha. Once things are revealed, I REALLY want an episode from his POV
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🌸 Seeker 🌸
November 7, 2023 at 8:19 AM
"I loved all the moments when we were following Woo-hak around as he discovered things, only to find Bo-geol already there."
You've described it so beautifully. It was really well done.
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13 john
November 7, 2023 at 4:43 AM
Quirkycase, thanks for the recap !
I struggled with this weeks episodes. Fell asleep on E3, not once, twice, which would typically be the Kiss of Doom from me to a show.
PEB ! I tell myself. Singing ! Hwaiting !
I did finish E3 and eventually E4, but by that time I wasn’t paying attention.
I may have to just go with the” lost girl singer found” idea and make up my own story ❤️🩹☹️😟
I dunno, problematic washed up singer ,🥴 scheming manager👹,serial
killerabuser dad ☠️on a search & destroy mission 😵💫In my story, first off 15 years is too long, 5 and we’re done okay ?
She also swims ashore with her guitar case with a 5 year supply of strings 😏
Like Johnny B Goode strumming to the rhythm that the trains made,
Mok-ha strums to the rhythm of the sea and the wind. Singing is inspired by seagulls, 😝 .
She thusly becoming a virtuoso playing and singing a mystical, enchanting style.
Oh, since she led a beachcomber’s life , she hunts fish, possibly like Gollum, the whole time mumbling about her “precious” , it being the audition. So she’s this half wild woman with shaggy hair, weatherbeaten complexion who practices everyday in hopes of auditioning.
That way once she is rescued, she is pumped and ready to go. She has her own unique style. She can still have a conflict getting a contract because you know, the management are still going to be jerks.
The abusive dad is stabbed is stabbed to death by Mok-ha’s fishing spear , (she still likes to spear fish at night ). Pop star, (‘cause she’s rich and famous now😉) , goes on trial for killing serial
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🌸 Seeker 🌸
November 7, 2023 at 8:23 AM
"shaggy hair, weatherbeaten complexion"
I have two words for you - actually one - K-drama. 🤣
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john
November 7, 2023 at 8:29 AM
kdrama shaggy hair = perm
Weatherbeaten complexion = couple of dirt smudges on face .
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🌸 Seeker 🌸
November 7, 2023 at 8:54 AM
👍
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Ghost of Tim (eccentric observations from a male perspective)
November 7, 2023 at 9:55 AM
Hahahaha...you had me at "Gollum". 😂
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KAddicted
November 7, 2023 at 8:41 PM
I found myself imagining Janis Joplin from your description and I would have vastly preferred that to all the ballad warbling that had me reaching for the off switch less than halfway through ep 4.
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john
November 8, 2023 at 10:47 AM
Ok, I was confused as to what I did or did not watch. I discovered I had not watched E4 , but have since rectified it.
There are more songs ! Yay.
Why does present day Mok-ha have an accent, when past day Mok-ha didn’t ?
Is it supposed to be a “country” accent, insinuating that she is somehow a country bumpkin amidst the big city slickers ? 🤔
J dramas (historical ones ) will often depict “country” accented characters as a bit rough around the edges, loud or uncouth 😓
If the one kid is having nightmares about Serial
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Lelly19
November 9, 2023 at 1:42 AM
They both have an accent! xD
It's just that they're 2 different actresses, they're bound to sound different ahah!
Like every single other place in the world, South Korea has regional accents and dialects ("satoori" in Korean) too. So yes, Mokha coming from a small island has an accent that is different from the Seoul one :)
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ginkoVal
November 9, 2023 at 3:01 AM
True, teen Mok-ha also had 'country' accent, at the beginning her close friend told her to talk in Seoul accent during the radio call with Ran-joo. Mok-ha and other friends (young and adult) talk in 'satori', only Ki-ho has Seoul accent.
It's interesting that both Ki-ho and his father already spoke in Seoul accent 15 years ago, which suggests they weren't originally from the island. I'm not sure if this detail has any connection to the story.
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john
November 9, 2023 at 4:08 AM
I recall her friend telling to use the Seoul accent, I didn’t notice her accent. It seems more pronounced via PEB
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Annie
November 8, 2023 at 1:58 PM
Let's raise funds and make this k-drama!
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14 FormAnOrderlyQueue
November 7, 2023 at 5:06 AM
Interesting to read other Beanies’ theories about the identity of Ki-ho! My head went to this: Woo-hak is Ki-ho, but he’s going to be the sacrificial lamb (a la Ji-pyeong) and Mok-ha will end up with Bo-geul. I’m assuming Bo-guel learnt about Ki-ho’s background when the latter was adopted or reclaimed (either through the mother – if she is Ki-ho’s family - or maybe the bag that was abandoned on the ship in 2007 made its way back to its owner before he was hospitalised) and decided to do whatever it takes to defend his hyung from his abusive father. I don’t have a problem if Mok-ha ends up falling for Bo-geul and decides she would rather pursue her second rather than first love, but writer-nim better come up with a STELLAR conclusion for Ki-ho…
However, having read the ideas about it still being Bo-geul, that makes a lot of sense too. Happy either way, tbh, and I actually love all the speculation that goes with the drama (minus the brutality of the SU shipping fiasco, please!)
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ar_arguably romantic
November 7, 2023 at 4:56 PM
I love the speculation too! I don't care much which one is Ki-ho, because I don't think it affects who, Mok-ha will develop a romantic storyline with. She wasn't in love with Ki-ho, but he was her closest friend (and loved him as a friend) and her comrade. She just desperately wants to know if her friend, who pretty much saved her life, is alive. As long as Mok-ha can see Ki-ho being alive and well, I'm happy. Though, it seems like it will take many episodes before Ki-ho is safe since his dad is looking for him...and not in a regretful, apologetic sort of way.
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15 vienibenmio
November 7, 2023 at 6:03 AM
I LOVE this drama. I cried during eps 3 and 4. I never cry during dramas. "Night and Day" is such a gorgeous song and its place in the story is heartbreaking. I keep alternating between the OST version and Park Eun-bin's version. They'd better play it when those two reunite. Also, if this isn't supposed to be a romance, they shouldn't have hit these emotional beats because I am shipping it incredibly hard.
My husband was like "what celebrity would want to be on that TV show? It's so mean!" Lol. There are SO many risks they're taking with the ghost singing that it's almost unrealistic, but I'm willing to overlook it.
I am 99% convinced that BG is Ki-ho - see my fanwall for more on this. But, overall, he IS Ki-ho personality-wise. That scene with the grapes was completely Ki-ho. I think the intrusive symptom scene with Woo-hak had Bo-geol behind him (unseen) and he was the one saying "Father."
I may have to check out more from this writer because, Start Up aside, this writing is fantastic. I love the parallels they're making between the present and Mok-ha's life on the desert island. I don't know if I 100% love how Park Eun-bin is playing Mok-ha, it seems a bit like her performance in Attorney Lee, and I don't think the emotional immaturity makes a lot of sense from a woman who was isolated for so long.
I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility that the CEO is gonna have a redemption arc and a romance with Ran-joo. More wisdom from my husband: "He can't be that bad - he has a dog!" Also shout out to him for calling back in ep 3 that the CEO and Ran-joo acted like they had a romantic past.
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🌸 Seeker 🌸
November 7, 2023 at 8:28 AM
👏 for your husband's astute remarks.
I had seen a production still of Ran-joo with the dog and was wondering when we would get to meet him.
When I saw him in the CEO's house I thought he was talking care of the dog for Ran-joo.
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Lelly19
November 7, 2023 at 1:42 PM
So, one thing!! When I rewatched ep 4 earlier today I realized something: I am now like 99.9% sure that who screamed "father" in the flashback was in fact Kiho, and by that I mean his teen version (actor Moon Woo Jin, which I find has a very similar voice to CJH, albeit less deep and raspy..after all he's just 14yo xD)
It's what makes the most sense at this time, imo
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vienibenmio
November 7, 2023 at 1:56 PM
Ahh, that would make sense if the father attacked them when BG was a teenager - he would still have his Ki-ho voice, lol
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Lelly19
November 8, 2023 at 12:30 AM
Exactly! I felt a bit silly for not thinking this the first time ahah!!
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GetawayJunkie
November 8, 2023 at 8:45 AM
Besides Start Up, this writer also wrote
- While You Were Sleeping
- Pinocchio
- I Hear Your Voice
- Page Turner
All of which are pretty good!
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16 welh
November 7, 2023 at 6:09 AM
We get a small glimpse of the island experience in flashbacks that are used to parallel Mok-ha and Ran-Joo’s lives. Both were at the brink until there was an intervening epiphany. But there is a harsh continuity road to overcome. We also see flashbacks of Ki-Ho - - - he has not lost his memory, he is still looking for Mok-Ha five years after she was lost. He is in Seoul and his vengeful father is still looking for him . . . and his childhood friends know where he is hiding. I still wish Ki-Ho is not one of the brothers - - their party parents living room wall only contained pictures of the family with the brothers as adults (not teens or children; the explanation of a house fire is suspect).
I also did not think isolation would make Mok-ha cut-throat business savvy or have the experience to read people like CEO so well. Bo-Geol hiding that he is Ki-Ho would be a terrible revelation to Mok-Ha - - - worse than Ran-Joo having vocal chord nodules that ruined her singing career. But that is more behavioral than reality - - - Cleveland Clinic states nodules improve with voice therapy and behavior modifications alone. Most people don't need surgery. Still, you'll need to learn ways to care for your vocal cords as they heal. Healthcare providers, like speech-language pathologists, can teach you how to use your voice so your nodes shrink or go away. Perhaps the CEO stressed her out to drink and smoke to keep her vocal chords horse so she would not reach 20 million in record sales.
We know directors like to put clues on character shirts to show mood, etc. In Episode 4, it was serendipity, the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way:. Written in 1754 by Horace Walpole, suggested by the title of a fairy tale in which the heroes “were always making discoveries, by accidents and sagacity, of things they were not in quest of.”
The final scene was a rushed rendezvous to meet that quest, but it seemed odd and flat. How did cop dad know about the secret meeting place? Woo-Hak has nightmares of his father beating down his door so Bo-Geol are real brothers. I still would have liked a different person be Ki-Ho. I really did not like the deceptions from the salon family members. The brothers hiding from their father as adults makes little sense - - - even though restraining orders have little force in Korea - - - cop dad was convicted/lost his job because of domestic abuse.
I also did not care for the business deceptions from Ran-Joo and the agency. President Lee’s pulling all Ran-Joo’s albums from sales to thwart her drive to get her shares is not that big of a deal. She now has solid evidence of breach of contract and can get her shares in a court proceeding as damages (just like many artists are getting favorable rulings this year).
I think the slice-of-life aspect of reincorporating the FL lead into society is going to get sidetracked by basic k-drama story filler arcs.
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Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
November 7, 2023 at 6:52 AM
‘How did cop dad know about the secret meeting place?’👈🏾 I wondered the same thing and also how Bogeol and his brother knew as I don't think it was mentioned in the card or that she said to either of them where they were supposed to meet all those years ago. I may have missed the explanation as I wasn’t as interested in this weeks episodes though.
I am also interested in the similar shots used in different dramas to represent things. People always drift unmoving in clear but very deep water when they are drowning or want to die. The new addition to the list is feeling trapped/overwhelmed being represented by rapid flow of water filling a random room/corridor until it’s over the person’s head.
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vienibenmio
November 7, 2023 at 7:08 AM
IMO more evidence that BG is Ki-ho - he knew both the significance of the flowers and the meeting spot
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Lelly19
November 7, 2023 at 1:04 PM
So, this doesn't come from me, I read a comment elsewhere that pointed out a potential plausible explanation of how KH's dad knew of the meeting spot: when MH and KH tried to escape via boat in ep1, KH (and later just MH) had with himself a small notebook where he wrote down the location where he was supposed to meet with Ranjoo and manager.
His father, being in the police force, might have had access to that and everything else the kids left behind after the commotion.
I think this makes a lot of sense, but at the same time I wonder if the writer thought that far!! xD
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Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
November 7, 2023 at 2:12 PM
Yes I think she left the bag on the chair when she ran away from her dad on the boat or maybe it was found in the water when she jumped.
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Jingbee
November 7, 2023 at 2:22 PM
She left it on the boat. I remember this scene because I was screaming ' the bag! Don't forget the bag!
vienibenmio
November 7, 2023 at 7:00 AM
Yes, I'm a singer and had the same thought about nodes. But then Julie Andrews never really sang again after she developed them (even though I believe she had them treated). Ran-joo smoking is REALLY bad and she needs to stop that if she doesn't want her voice trashed forever. It has this effect where it can be really helpful at first (especially with hitting high notes) and then long-term is just awful - I've heard it called the "kiss of death" for singers
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welh
November 7, 2023 at 1:55 PM
Julie Andrews had a cyst removed and later cancerous nodes. The operations left her with scarred vocal chords leaving her unable to sing. She sued her doctors and settled the malpractice case.
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vienibenmio
November 7, 2023 at 2:03 PM
Ahh, that would explain it. That's really sad
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17 Asha13
November 7, 2023 at 7:02 AM
The challenge of taking it all back from the villain seems interesting. I am looking forward to it.
One thing that bothers the hell out of me. Isn’t it unethical for Ran Joo to lip sync? Wouldn’t this be a scandal if it gets exposed and ruin them both? Since the villain’s minion appears to know about it(he asked her if she plans to sing for her again), isn’t it just a matter of time? Or is that not a thing in SK?
I was so convinced that Bo Gyeol is Ki Ho. But Moo Hal had visions of Ki Ho’s dad, so I am back to confused. LOL
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🌸 Seeker 🌸
November 7, 2023 at 8:41 AM
Exactly that ... totally unprofessional. In Episode 2 when Ran-joo switched on the mic I thought both were singing. Was quite disappointed to know that was not the case in Episode 3. I was hoping against hope that Mok-ha would shut down the idea especially after she displayed that uncharacteristic savviness in calling out the CEO's BS.
Unfortunately this seems to be a regular habit for Ran-joo. In Episode 2 she had asked the secretary to arrange for a backup singer and then we learnt he found Mok-ha.
I want to like Ran-joo and I feel sorry for her being gaslit by the CEO but she is ruining her own life.
Instead of working towards getting better she was fighting with the members of her fam-club who had enough of her and told her to move out if she could not afford the rent.
I feel more sad for Mok-ha - how will she deal with Ran-joo not only misusing her but also being such an unprofessional artist.
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vienibenmio
November 7, 2023 at 10:14 AM
Ran-joo pretty much emotionally manipulated her, honestly (do it for Ki-ho! Don't you want to find him?)
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Lelly19
November 7, 2023 at 1:14 PM
It's very frustrating for me that we don't know what happened to Ranjoo. Yes, she had health problems with her vocal cords nodules, but we don't know everything that happened after, so it's still hard to judge.
She is definitely benefiting the most out of that "win-win" deal she made with Mokha, that's for sure. Though it's not something that can work in the long run, and might have negative consequences later..
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Asha13
November 7, 2023 at 1:22 PM
Right? And everyone was acting like it was no big deal. And I have my knuckles between my teeth
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18 vienibenmio
November 7, 2023 at 7:03 AM
Oh, I have two questions for fellow Beanies:
1. What is the significance of July mentioned in Night and Day? Is that the date when they were separated? I can't remember
2. Who sang for 2008 Ran-joo?
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Britney
November 7, 2023 at 7:08 AM
1: I guess either they ran away to meet Ran Joo in July or Ki Ho came to see her in July. Maybe July just fit the song best haha
2: What do you mean who sang for 2008 Ran Joo? That was Ran Joo
Do you mean someone else is the singing voice for the actress playing Ran Joo?
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vienibenmio
November 7, 2023 at 7:10 AM
Oh yeah, I meant the real life singer. Was it the actress playing Ran-joo?
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Seon-ha
November 7, 2023 at 8:17 AM
July 1 was the date that she was supposed to meet Ran-joo’s agent at “Old Seoul Station” on the compass on the ground…
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19 Britney
November 7, 2023 at 7:05 AM
I said it before but the lip syncing saddened me this time. It could just so obviously be discovered and used against Mok Ha & Ran Joo. Fairly certain Bo Geol figured it out or at least suspects it and that's all I could think about when it happened: the eventual backlash and humilating scandal that could happen. (Maybe I'm just hypersensitive about scandals). Maybe the show won't go that route.
I feel like Ki Ho's father's intentions are some kind of red herring; it so clearly seems ominous but then why was he making Ki Ho his beneficiary? Why does he still hold out hope of seeing him?
The main reasons I think Ki Ho is supposed to be one of the brothers, specifically Bo Gyeol is because Bo Gyeol is the male lead, the kid actor does look a little like him, he's got a similar cold & direct demeanor, and he immediately took off to find Mok Ha after finding out "Ki Ho" asked her out.
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vienibenmio
November 7, 2023 at 7:09 AM
In real life I think people would figure out the lip syncing, especially on a TV performance. Twitter would be all over that
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Kurama
November 7, 2023 at 7:30 AM
Not really, because it's still live singing and not a recording (in the story).
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vienibenmio
November 7, 2023 at 10:29 AM
But the live singing makes it even harder - in real life, Mok-ha's singing wouldn't perfectly align with Ran-joo's mouth placement or expressions. She doesn't know how long Mok-ha is going to sustain certain notes. Even if they both have the songs down pat, every singer will take some artistic liberty. Ran-joo would have to even know when Mok-ha is going to take breath breaks. There are SO many gaps in which there would be discrepancies and the online community, if they analyzed the videos, would spot them.
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Britney
November 7, 2023 at 10:45 AM
I think the point is that she's such a fan of Ran Joo that she can copy or mimic her singing style to an extent.
On Master in the House (a variety show), when they had rock legends on, one of the singers was impressed by how Lee Seung Gi could copy his way of singing (like holding notes or vibrating his voice while they were practicing together; or something like that. I don't have an ear for music so I can't tell that type of stuff)
RenOIshi
November 7, 2023 at 12:59 PM
You know I was wondering if they had some form to device to contact each other just for all the things you mentioned lol!
🌸 Seeker 🌸
November 7, 2023 at 8:44 AM
You mean X 😉
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Mrs Buckwheat
November 7, 2023 at 1:18 PM
It is very obvoius when you watch kpop music shows who is singing live and who is lip syncing. A lot of the younger generations do it but the 2nd generation and above idols are very talented and won't do it.
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🌸 Seeker 🌸
November 7, 2023 at 8:47 AM
It is unprofessional for an artist to lip-synch on stage to their own recorded singing but this is way worse. It is a massive scandal as we all know from RL.
But dramaland 🤷♀️
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Britney
November 7, 2023 at 10:23 AM
Don't musicians nowadays lip sync? Especially kpop idols since they do all that choreography to the point that people make videos about the singers who accidentally proved they could actually sing? I've even seen people joking about whether they would lip sync at a concert or performance.
I think the lip sync in this case is particularly bad cause she's not only lip syncing, she's pulling a Milli Vanilli by doing it to someone else's voice. Someone better. Someone who is a dedicated fan (so the argument will be made that she took advantage of a fan)
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vienibenmio
November 7, 2023 at 10:30 AM
She took advantage of not only a fan but a girl who went through a horrible experience and now has no family or connections
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welh
November 7, 2023 at 11:02 AM
It is well known that on the network weekly music chart shows, the idol groups will lip synch because of the dance routines. Viewers accept it.
However, concert goers will not accept lip synching at live shows.
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🌸 Seeker 🌸
November 7, 2023 at 11:21 AM
Absolutely, the logic is if I have to listen to recorded music I can do so in the comfort of my home, why should I spend so much time and effort and substantial money to do so.
Britney
November 7, 2023 at 10:35 AM
@seeker lip syncing scandals have actually happened in kpop?! And it was big thing?
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🌸 Seeker 🌸
November 7, 2023 at 11:15 AM
@Britney @vienibenmio
Lip-synching is a scandal worldwide and unfortunately doesn't seem to be going anywhere.
The poster for Castaway Diva has the following line - A surreal drama for those who are tired of reality.
It is simply baffling as to why the writer put in such graphic instances of abuse by parents, CEO, K-Pop scandals if all these are intended to viewed as surreal.
I'm confused it is a "real" social commentary or a "surreal" one.
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Seon-ha
November 7, 2023 at 1:53 PM
Oh, I can't resist dropping in this track from one of the most infamous lip-synching scandals of the 1980s...and y'all of a certain age already know who I'm talking about. Yeah, it's Milli Vanilli.
This isn't the fail that happened to them on stage, although you can easily search that up yourself...this is one of their songs, which was--apparently--worth all that lip-synching trouble:
https://youtu.be/JhyzGDPwmYU
Y'all who don't know, CLICK and listen to the awesomeness (and watch the amazing dancing--BTS has NOTHING on them).
...and then you can imagine all of Gen X dancing to this song at dimly lit high school dances.
Mrs Buckwheat
November 7, 2023 at 4:44 PM
I'm confused as well :)
The tone is very dark with child abuse, suicide and a sinister, stalker father. On top of that we have a k pop scandal waiting to explode which would lead to the cancellation of that person, ruin their career forever and drag everyone down around her.
I think we are supposed to feel sympathy for the character Ran-Joo but for me personally it has backfired, stay away Mok-ha, that person is toxic.
Overall I feel like the dark elements are being used as a vehichle for emotional manipulation as the contrast to the light fluffy fairy floss moments wierd.
Sth Korean idols/ performers have to have a squeaky clean image and are not forgiving at all unlike in the west.
This doesnt feel like " a surreal drama for those who are tired of reality" .
Maybe my expectations were wrong as I expected this to be a light, fun watch.
🌸 Seeker 🌸
November 7, 2023 at 6:55 PM
@MrsBuckwheat it is really worrisome that in the preview Mok-ha says that she will be the "voice and armor" of Ran-joo.
Apparently, Mok-ha has
acquired "all kinds of know-how while living on the deserted island for 15 years" - how, why - easily explained by plot armor. I have discussed the context and its impact on the drama on my Fanwall.
For a moment even if we go along with it, on one side we have Mok-ha's (a) display of emotional maturity in her dealings with Ran-joo, (b) her instantaneous psychoanalysis of the CEO and empathy with Ran-joo that she doesn't even recognize / acknowledge being manipulated / abused / gaslit bt the CEO. On the other side we have Mok-ha's blind faith and trust in Ran-joo and her total inability to recognize or call out Ran-joo's BS.
Again, we can't have both either Mok-ha has plot armor near supernatural level analysis skills or she doesn't.
🌸 Seeker 🌸
November 7, 2023 at 7:19 PM
@MrsBuckwheat all of us were indeed looking for "a light, fun watch" thanks to the (mis)leading advertising as pointed out by @hacja
pliplipli
November 7, 2023 at 4:02 PM
The main reasons I think Ki Ho is supposed to be one of the brothers, specifically Bo Gyeol is because Bo Gyeol is the male lead
I have been saying this for a lot of people. and if he isn't kiho, I think MK and kiho wont be end game. with all due respect to my dear vixx member N, but CJH is obviously the male lead in this drama lol tbh I would love if MH and kiho stay as friends and she can have a diff love interest, but I do think the drama is making pretty obvious that CHJ is the young kid.
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20 Slice-of-Life Dramatics
November 7, 2023 at 7:10 AM
I'm going with BG being Ki-ho:
(1) He was the one who has been consistently island-hopping all these years, doing volunteer work. That was surely to find MH. And surely he couldn't have been doing this for Woo-hak's sake if Woo-hak was Ki-ho?
(2) BG bought MH a pair of shoes first and foremost immediately after they rescued her off the island. She was in dire need of clean clothes too etc, so why did BG get her shoes first ahead of everything else, if not for the fact that he was Ki-ho?
(3) Ki-ho knew immediately that the bouquet of flowers was NOT from Ki-ho, and where to go to find MH, convinces me that BG is Ki-ho.
(4) When everybody is giving shout-outs to Ki-ho, looking to find Ki-ho etc, BG is the one who keeps reiterating to everyone -- "has everyone considered that perhaps he does not want to be found"? This seems to be a perspective which only Ki-ho himself would be able to articulate.
(5) Ki-ho is still in touch with his old friends (the guy who presented those insurance policy papers to Ki-ho's dad + his wife). If Woo-hak were Ki-ho and he had lost his memories, he would not be in touch with these friends.
The memory Woo-hak had of Ki-ho's father could simply be because he was present (and likely got hurt) when Ki-ho's father was on one of his rampages?
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vienibenmio
November 7, 2023 at 7:19 AM
YES to all of this. In addition to what you said, Ki-ho kept waiting for Mok-ha after his military service, which is presumably after Woo-hak would have lost his memories. Also, BG acts much more like Ki-ho and scenes between him and MH are paralleling scenes between KH and MH. Additionally, they are having BG present in scenes that don't make a ton of sense otherwise (why did he show up for MH's audition? Even if it was to see RJ for the TV show, why that particular day and time? And why did he go out and listen to her singing looking iNCREDIBLY emotional, arriving even before MH did?)
Sorry, I'm very invested in this, lol
I think BG was in the closet with WH hiding from BG's (KH's) father, and that's how WH got injured and lost his memories.
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Slice-of-Life Dramatics
November 7, 2023 at 7:54 AM
Yes indeed, the most glaring point is that Ki-Ho kept appearing at the meeting spot year after year. Could not have been Woo-hak since he had lost his memories.
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LaurenSophie
November 7, 2023 at 7:25 AM
I was surprised to read that quirkycase seems convinced that that flashback must negate BG as Ki-ho and that it's Woo-hak instead.
I know the writers can disregard all of the specific reasons why it's more likely that Ki-ho is BG that you gave if they want, or provide alternative explanations, but if BG is *not* Ki-ho then his whole purpose on this show is just to make us think he is so we can be surprised when he's not. That doesn't seem plausible to me.
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pliplipli
November 7, 2023 at 4:07 PM
you nailed it.
and if the drama decides to go with WH being kiho, I think the love interest won't be the childhood friend then.
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Asha13
November 7, 2023 at 7:34 AM
"If Woo-hak were Ki-ho and he had lost his memories, he would not be in touch with these friends." -- very very good point
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Slice-of-Life Dramatics
November 7, 2023 at 8:01 AM
Another point is that BG did not know that MH was singing on behalf of Ran-joo at the village festival; he was watching from the front stage and thought it was Ran-joo herself. Yet on the music show, after Ran-joo declined to rehearse live, BG was able to put 2 and 2 together immediately and realized that Ran-joo was lip-syncing, only because he knew what MH’s voice sounded like and was then able to realize immediately that it was MH singing. He could not have known it was MH singing if he were not Ki-Ho.
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🌸 Seeker 🌸
November 7, 2023 at 8:51 AM
Bo-geol heard Mok-ha singing on the terrace and that is how he knew.
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RenOIshi
November 7, 2023 at 1:04 PM
Also RJ asked if she had met BG somewhere as he looked familiar. I am thinking she did when he was KH.
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pliplipli
November 7, 2023 at 4:10 PM
your 5th point is a big point imo and something not a lot of people are mentioning. their old friends KNOW who kiho is as an adult. they are in touch with him, even if its not in person. how can it be WH if he doesn't remember anything?
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GetawayJunkie
November 8, 2023 at 8:21 AM
I missed this point - was it mentioned anywhere that his (Ki-Ho's) old friends were in touch with him? I only recall adult Yong-Joo wanting to inform Mok-Ha on meeting Ki-Ho's dad.
Actually I wouldn't think Ki-Ho would keep in touch with his friends, if he were to heed his own advice to forget everyone he met on the island and start a new life...
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Lelly19
November 8, 2023 at 8:42 AM
I went back and rewatched that bit because I was curious..so, after he talked with KH's father, Daewoong (KH's old school friend), while on a call with Youngjoo, explicitly says: "should we tell Kiho about this??"
So yeah, it seems like they know who he is and where he is, they have a way to contact him at the very least.
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GetawayJunkie
November 8, 2023 at 8:49 AM
Oh okay. I must have remembered wrongly. I do think it is somewhat out of character for him to keep in touch considering he is so desperate to keep his identity a secret.
pliplipli
November 8, 2023 at 11:29 AM
its a bit out of character, but maybe he just kept in touch through the phone or something, they don't know a lot. just enough so the friends could tell him if the dad did something or if MK reappeared. like an emergency contact, totally out of his current life and family.
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Lelly19
November 9, 2023 at 1:45 AM
That's what I thought too, like an emergency contact, some backup of sorts
21 Pan cake
November 7, 2023 at 8:31 AM
I have never completely watched Park Eun Bin drama after Brahms, somehow I dropped it in the middle. The drama she chooses has good writing but somehow after a few episodes it becomes super boring(like Brahms) and very hard to finish and I am getting same feeling here also.
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RenOIshi
November 7, 2023 at 1:05 PM
Brahms was so boring that I died watching.
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vienibenmio
November 7, 2023 at 1:58 PM
I found it immensely frustrating and it's one of the few dramas where I actually didn't want the couple to end up together (they were both SO passive I didn't think they'd work out long term)
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Lelly19
November 7, 2023 at 1:49 PM
I loved the soft and mellow vibes of Do you like Brahms? and didn't find it boring at all, but I can totally see how others might have felt that.
But with Diva it's so different??! At least for now, a lot of things are happening, no?
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Goyangi and the Camel Crickets
November 8, 2023 at 3:14 PM
I loved DYLB too. As an introvert myself I like the quiet personalities.
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22 hacja
November 7, 2023 at 8:41 AM
I was disappointed last week that the show focused so much on the men in the story, rather than the titular women who had been cast away. Episode 3 remedied that somewhat, but what episode 4 brought out is that the main subtheme, besides Mok-ha's singing dreams, is childhood abuse and the trauma it causes. In fact, it occurred to me that the whole castaway part is a metaphor for her trauma and recovery from her abusive father. So the brothers are going to be a major part of the story and not just in love triangle terms throughout. Also, Ran-joo was clearly manipulated and abused by her manager.
I was relatively enthusiastic about a story of an older woman overcoming her past and the age bias to become a pop star, and then too an aging star making a comeback, but that story is going to be so encumbered with the abuse/male trauma theme that I'm not
I'm really not sure I need to watch.
I just don't like either of the MLs--Woo-hak is way too cocky and assertive in a juvenile way, Bo-geol is the classic silent and arrogant type who doesn't even bother to be pleasant to people, and because both are good looking, you are supposed to choose "sides" and be on teams. Probably the most irritating to me, Bo-geol could clear up any mystery about identity immediately if he wanted too, but I'm sure there will be some convoluted reason involving his father or protecting people that the show will invent for him to keep it secret until episode 10 or something, and then there will be the revelation, who really is Ki-ho.
So I'm on the fence about watching this further. Also, right now I'm not totally in love with the character Park Eun-bin is playing anyway. But she is such a good actress that I'm sure by the end we'll see real development, so I might stay with the show for that.
I do find it interesting, though, that kdrama writers often can't help themselves in featuring abusive males and the trauma of males who are abused, even in a fantasy story about a woman who lived on a deserted island for 15 years!
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Mrs Buckwheat
November 7, 2023 at 5:15 PM
Well said hacja.
I would've thought after the initial set up of the show, the focus for an episode or two would've been on the 15 years spent surviving on an island and how that has impacted the character in various ways but it has been dealt with very superficially. Why name the drama Castaway Diva if it's not explored.
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Nomorelisa
November 7, 2023 at 8:24 PM
I do agree that fast pacing the 15 years alone on the island as though it was 15 days only too convenient. The elaborate scenes of the abuse culminating in her landing on the island was half her life while the other half living and surviving on the island was glossed over. In this day and age, it is hard to believe no one step foot on the island for 15 years but whatever.
She was about 16 years old spending 15 years alone on an island. It is a miracle that she can survive but as this is a drama I suppose we should ignore all that as the drama prefers viewers to focus more on the main story.
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23 bunnylita
November 7, 2023 at 9:06 AM
I'm enjoying this show a lot. It's very different than what I imagined, but I like it. Being a kpop fan, I'm not really upset about Mokha singing for Ranjoo. In real life these "live" shows sweeten the vocals, use mics with autotone, and loud backing tracks as it is. I'm just hooked on Mokha and Ranjoo's friendship, and I'm ready for whoever bumpy the ride will be. The only thing that's bugging me is the Kiho mystery. It's so obviously Bogeol, and I want them to just get on with it already. Hopefully it will wrap up soon. There's so much other stuff going on as it is.
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Britney
November 7, 2023 at 3:53 PM
Yeah, since mics nowadays have autotune, I do get curious about singers' actual ability.
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24 🌸 Seeker 🌸
November 7, 2023 at 9:14 AM
Whatever the writer is trying to achieve by the "Who is Ki-ho" gets overruled by the fact that Mok-ha will leave a buffet in Jeju Island to come and eat with Woo-hak. And we all know what eating together means in a K-drama. 😉
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25 too_much_tv
November 7, 2023 at 9:26 AM
I was eagerly awaiting the recap, and you didn't disappoint! Neither did the show.
If Bo-geol isn't Ki-ho, I'm going to be very surprised. Bo-geol is the one with Ki-ho's personality. It seems possible to me that Woo-hak was beaten up by Ki-ho's father because his parents were sheltering Ki-ho. That would explain why Bo-geol is protective of Woo-hak, even though he's grown up to be an irritating younger brother. But they both sincerely love each other, which makes me like them a lot. Maybe neither is actually Ki-ho. I don't really care whether the FL winds up with the hero from the first part of the story. It's OK with me if a lot of people love her and want her to be happy.
Somehow this drama is ringing all my chimes. I love the relationship between Mok-ha and Ran-Joo. I love the warm family of the two brothers--the brothers but also their lovely parents. I listened to both Lee Re and Park Eun-Bin's songs from the soundtrack, as Youtube keeps recommending them to me. Wow, they sound so great. I'm still finding the drama unrealistic but internally consistent? It's not important whether the story is technically possible--I believe in the emotions, and that's what I'm here for.
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Lelly19
November 7, 2023 at 1:21 PM
"unrealistic but internally consistent" YES!!! this is exactly what I was thinking but you said it in the best way!!
It is indeed fairly unrealistic from the start imo (come on, the whole surviving for 15y on a deserted island isn't the most realistic set up ahah), but I feel like it's working well within its own definition of what can be considered "realistic" in that specific drama world.
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26 Ghost of Tim (eccentric observations from a male perspective)
November 7, 2023 at 10:06 AM
I just caught up on everyone's comments here, thanks for sharing them (and thanks to quirkycase for the recaps).
My feelings are the same as many of you expressed here. After a great start, I am not thrilled with the way the writing is now unfolding. The whole "Milli Vanilli" theme is undermining my ability to empathize with our two heroines. It seems inevitable that they will eventually crash and burn, like those two guys did back in 1989.
I suspect we may see some low points coming up for Ran-joo and Mok-ha. I just hope the writing can hold together enough for us to stay along for the ride.
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27 rlg07
November 7, 2023 at 11:44 AM
Eh, see, I think 100% BG is Kiho. I think the show is trying to pull you off track by showing Woo Hak's memory like that. I think he could be a friend who helped KH escape, and in the process, got whacked by dad, so they both went on the run. Because BG knows a LOT more than he's saying (he just RUNS as soon as he hears she's going to meet "Kiho," because he knows who KH really is and knows the real KH did not send that message--AND he knows where she'll be and who else will be there to threaten). He bought her shoes when she got to Seoul, just as KH promised. And without talking a lot, he instinctively knows where the dangers are and is trying to protect her in her new life. KH was like that, too. He didn't parade himself around like WH. He was quiet, almost gruff, and at first you'd think he didn't like her. BG is like that in the present. I think it's him, and the rest is meant to confuse the viewer.
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vienibenmio
November 7, 2023 at 11:54 AM
Yes, I don't think memory loss would completely change someone's personality