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The 2017 Korean drama starring Baek Jin-Hee as Ra Bong-Hee, Jung Kyung-Ho as Seo Joon-Oh, Choi Tae-Joon as Choi Tae-Ho, Park Chan-Yeol as Lee Yeol, Lee Sun-Bin as Ha Ji-Ah, Oh Jung-Se as Jung Ki-Joon, Ryu Won as Yoon So-Hee, Kim Sang-Ho as Hwang Jae-Guk, and Tae Hang-Ho as Tae Ho-Hang.
Brief summary: Ra Bong-Hee’s adventure as top star Seo Joon-Oh’s new stylist is tragically cut short when their plane crashes, leaving her, Seo Joon-Oh, and seven others stranded on a deserted island. Four months later, Bong-Hee emerges as the first-found survivor, but where is everybody else? An investigation goes underway to find out exactly what happened on that island that Ra Bong-Hee can’t remember. But the strangest thing is that not everyone seems happy that a survivor has appeared...
I wasn’t expecting to like this drama this much. I watched it very much out of curiosity. I wasn’t sure what I wanted out of the drama itself or how to feel about its concept.
This drama is different. It’s structured uniquely, going back and forth between the present investigation and the past events to give you an understanding of everything that is going on and why. The en medias res is strong with this one. For this reason, it can be confusing and it’s probably one of the reasons viewers were initially disturbed.
The ending is a little different, too. But I was so excited that they actually got their clothes dirty because so much of the drama looked like a Tide ad (if you aren’t sure of what I mean, look up “Super Bowl 2018 Tide commercial”)!
The other unique thing about this drama is that the theme is intense, but every so often there’s a bit of comedic relief where we wouldn’t expect it. Such as when Seo Joon-Oh steps on a landmine. Or when Seo Joon-Oh is chasing Jung Ki-Joon around the streets of Seoul to convince him to leave Choi Tae-Ho. You wouldn’t expect it, but there it is. I didn’t mind the strange placement. In fact, I found it interesting and a little relieving because it was so different.
I liked each of the characters. Well, almost all of them. At least every one of the main nine! Bong-Hee was bright, strong, and resourceful. I really liked her as the main leading character! That woman would have my respect and support in a heartbeat! Seo Joon-Oh surprised me. I didn’t really realize going into this drama that there would be a main male protagonist— I thought the drama was all about the girl’s experience. So I was very surprised with Seo Joon-Oh and his enthusiasm! And his ignorance. And his big heart.
Choi Tae-Ho is going on my list of top 10 favorite villains for what I liked to term “being perfectly-creepy.” He shocked me every time! Gotta admire his tenacious will to survive, though...
This drama received a lot of criticism because EXO’s Park Chan-Yeol’s role ended so quickly. I typically expect something to happen to the K-pop idol in any drama (the k-drama world is a dangerous place for k-pop guest star), but this time it was fast (Warning— it’s in Episode 5). But in the grand view, Yeol’s character could have used more attention. By the halfway point his role and demise had already been too little talked about and by the finale we barely remembered that it happened. His murder should have been included in the charges along with Yoon So-Hee's.
Some music sequences sounded like I had heard them before on other dramas, but for the majority of the drama the music was also a unique pick.
Ah. And there is NO KISS between the leads in this one. Sorry to disappoint. Just because you survive a plane crash and four months on a deserted island does not mean you have to date afterwards.
Seo Joon-Oh’s character said something in episode 8 that really made me think. He questioned his situation by saying that the people on the island with him weren’t the people he thought he knew; do people change after such an event, or were they always like that and he just didn’t know? I’ve heard it both ways. “Traumatic events can change people.” But then I’ve heard “People don’t really change.” I am more likely to suggest that both are either correct together or incorrect together. I think that stressful events, no matter how large or impacting they may be, will bring out either the best or the worst of a person. What you see expressed from that individual will be what he or she has already decided to foster.
The final episode brought out some Seo Joon-Oh lines that I couldn’t help but love. “Running for the rest of your life, killing people? Does that make you happy?” And then “I want you to be happy. We can’t go back to the way it was before, but because I’m kind... I’ll stay by your side.” It offers some insight on how to deal with people close to us that may make disappointing or hurtful choices. “Don’t hate the person, hate the crime” as the saying goes. I think this is more applicable than we typically want to think.
This drama definitely had it's weaknesses, but I loved it, regardless. 5/5 stars!
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