MaryMeKpop

We’re finally here. We’ve reached the beginning of a new chapter for our characters. In the past 15 years, there were concerns and uncertainty. But now, our characters can put all those worries behind them. They’re safe now and they’ll be together as a unit for a very long time.

Note: I just want to thank everyone who joined me in my recaps for this drama! I know I was a bit late for the two final episodes but I hope you all enjoyed this drama and the recaps nonetheless. It was fun recapping another Park Eun-bin drama and there were definitely some heartwarming moments in the show. Until next time, please take care of yourselves and stay safe! Happy holidays everyone!

Castaway Diva Episode 12 & Final Recap: Coincidence vs. Fate

Daddy Kang is transferred to the ER. Woo-hak updates the rest of his family on the urgent situation and they all hurry to the hospital to reunite with him. Ki-ho’s father returns back home after stabbing Daddy Kang and he pens a suicide letter. He’s jealous and upset with how isolated he was from his family; he understands that his time is up. If he can’t be with his family, then neither can Daddy Kang. Ki-ho’s father is eventually discovered dead when detectives arrive at his place. On the dining table sits his suicide letter. Since Daddy Kang never officially registered his marriage with Bo-geol and Woo-hak’s mother, Bo-geol and his family will have to live under their father’s surname. Bo-geol is devastated and heartbroken after reading a letter from his stepdad that was dedicated to him and his family.

Woo-hak, Bo-geol, Mommy Kang, and Mok-ha each take turns visiting Daddy Kang who’s unconscious on his hospital bed. They all plead and hope that he’ll wake up and stay alive. Mommy Kang is reminded of a particular moment in their relationship when the two were pretending to be a couple. They took a photo together as evidence so that Mommy Kang’s goal of escaping her abusive husband could come true. She realized afterwards that she didn’t want the marriage to be fake anymore and that’s how the two eventually became partners. In the present, she pleads for her husband to wake up. Just a few seconds later, Daddy Kang does just that and he’s alive!

So both parents eventually register their marriage and apply for a marriage certification to make things official. Daddy Kang grew up as an orphan and was eventually blessed with a family. In the end, it was Daddy Kang who created beautiful memories with his family while Ki-ho’s father was the one who passed away with no surviving family or friends.

Things shape up well for our Lee family as well as Mok-ha. She works at a warehouse to bring in some money for the family who has supported her and taken care of her this entire time. Meanwhile, Bo-geol and Woo-hak are hired again at their workplaces, respectively. The difference this time? Their employee badges include their stepfather’s surname, Lee, and not their biological father’s surname. Woohoo! Mommy Lee and Daddy Lee help quiz each other in preparation to apply for a new license for their salon.

Ran-joo and Manager Park meet with his cousin who’s a lawyer to discuss the overseas export invoice that they discovered the other day. Ran-joo debates on whether she wants to sue CEO Lee or not but they learn that it might take up to a decade for things to unfold and that the battle won’t be easy. It doesn’t help that Ran-joo’s already signed the termination contract as well. Things continue to worsen when Ran-joo and Mok-ha learn that Mok-ha’s song for the upcoming concert was given to Mo-rae. Ran-joo storms over to CEO Lee’s place to confront him. CEO Lee attempts to defend himself but Ran-joo’s not buying it. She also shows him the invoice document that her mother had hidden for years. CEO Lee reveals the truth about the document and claims that her mother was the one who shredded the document. She kept it a secret because she didn’t want her daughter to become the president of an agency. She wanted her daughter to continue to be a singer. So CEO Lee makes another bet with Ran-joo: if Mok-ha’s new song that originally belonged to Mo-rae doesn’t top the charts, he’ll give up his shares and leadership position in the agency.

Speaking of Mok-ha, she and Mo-rae find out (through some fighting and bickering) that CEO Lee switched up both of their songs. Mo-rae’s song was given to Mok-ha and Mok-ha’s song was given to Mo-rae. The two bond even further over listening to each other’s songs that they’ve now been assigned and unlike what they expected, they actually like it. Mok-ha shares this sentiment with Ran-joo when they reunite later on that day. Mok-ha likes her new song that originally belonged to Mo-rae. That’s not quite the reaction that Ran-joo was expecting from Mok-ha.

Mok-ha and Woo-hak go out for some dinner together and they chat about Mok-ha’s situation with the switched songs. Woo-hak looks out for Mok-ha and suggests that she move forward with having both songs on her albums. Her kindness might get taken advantage of especially in the entertainment industry. While the two chat it up, Bo-geol and Dong-min show up to the same restaurant but they quickly turn around and leave. Bo-geol spots his brother having dinner with Mok-ha so he avoids them. Mok-ha hands over an envelope full of money to Woo-hak that she had saved up from her job. It’s her way of expressing gratitude and appreciation to Woo-hak and his family for taking care of her but there’s no need for the money. Bo-geol and Woo-hak are working again and their parents are re-opening the salon soon. But Mok-ha doesn’t want the money; instead, maybe Bo-geol can have the money since he was the one who pitched in for the security deposit for the place that she’s staying at.

Mok-ha’s comment gets Woo-hak thinking and the two brothers talk it out that night. Woo-hak questions whether it was really a coincidence or fate that he was the one who discovered Mok-ha on the island. Bo-geol admits that it wasn’t a coincidence; it was fate. He searched a whole decade for Mok-ha but it was Woo-hak who was the first person to find Mok-ha on the deserted island. Woo-hak grows frustrated because it’s obvious that his brother has feelings for Mok-ha. Maybe Bo-geol should be a bit more expressive and transparent with his feelings and thoughts. How else would Mok-ha know how he feels?

Mommy and Daddy Lee open up their salon and are greeted by their neighbors who stop by for some business. In a voiceover by Mok-ha, she dedicates another message to him saying,

Ki-ho, what you said to me before I became stranded feels different when I think about it now. In the past, ‘if you wish for something with all your heart, one way or another, it’ll come true one day’ was the part I liked.

But now, ‘it’ll happen in an unexpected way is the part I like the most.’ Having gone through it now, I learned wishes don’t always come true right away. They don’t come true when you want them to. They take a long time. You forget about them and then suddenly they come true. So don’t cut ties just because you don’t like them. And don’t give up even if it gets tough. Stay strong, endure it, and hang in there. And then one day, your wishes will come true in an unexpected way.

Mok-ha spends some time that night on the rooftop writing some lyrics in her journal while listening to some music. Bo-geol joins her and he teases her about her journal. Woo-hak and his stepdad witness the special moment on the rooftop between the two childhood friends so they step away to give them some privacy. This is yet another confirmation for Woo-hak that it’s always been Bo-geol and Mok-ha (AKA it’s over for him). Mok-ha and Bo-geol continue to bond over Mok-ha’s dreams of becoming a singer. Just like they did when they were younger, she envisions herself on a grand stage in a grand venue. And better yet, Bo-geol could help as a producer and support with all the camera shots behind the scenes. Bo-geol’s also curious if it was a coincidence that he found Mok-ha after 15 years and Mok-ha answers that it wasn’t. It was fate. It was meant to be. His efforts were rewarded and it paid off in the end. The two sit closely side by side next to each other. They continue to bond over their memories and experiences. It’s clear that the connection between the two hasn’t wavered over the years.

Mok-ha shares her lyrics to her new song with Ran-joo. Ran-joo likes the lyrics but she’s still concerned about her bet with CEO Lee. What if Mo-rae’s song ends up as a huge hit? Won’t Mok-ha regret it? But Mok-ha has no regrets. Speaking of Mo-rae, she enters the room where Mok-ha and Ran-joo are located and requests that Ran-joo help produce her song for her. Though Ran-joo initially declines at first, she’s reminded that she can cash in some coins if she’s listed as a songwriter for Mo-rae’s song, lol. So the recording for their songs unfold and Ran-joo is there to support, mentor, and assist Mok-ha. Both songs are released and Mok-ha makes her grand debut.

Mo-rae’s song tops the chart but Mok-ha isn’t upset or frustrated. Even though she’s not at number one, she’s just happy to be on there at #31. Woo hoo! Baby steps! Meanwhile, Manager Park joins Mok-ha and Ran-joo for Mok-ha’s gig that day. She has a performance at the same venue where Ran-joo performed for the village festival (AKA the day that her career was revived thanks to Mok-ha). Manager Park was granted approval by CEO Lee to switch to Mok-ha’s team. It’s about time he also has some fun. So he transports both ladies to the venue.  Just like Mok-ha did for Ran-joo, Ran-joo blows up some balloons and Bo-geol and Woo-hak are also there to assist and show their support. They all pass out the balloons to attendees and instruct them on what to do during Mok-ha’s performance.

Ran-joo has a talk with Mok-ha in the waiting room right before Mok-ha’s performance. Mok-ha isn’t worried about her song on the charts or Mo-rae’s success. She remains optimistic and confident that everything will work out. It did for her back when she was on the deserted island and she filled up her time by taking things one day at a time. Sometimes, there aren’t answers to those burning questions and there’s nothing you can do about it. She realizes that her debut song reminded her of her strength and positivity that she inherited back when she was on the island. Shortly after her conversation with Mok-ha, Ran-joo calls CEO Lee to update him on their bet. She requests that they wait a little bit longer. Mok-ha’s confident she will become successful with her debut song.

It’s time for Mok-ha’s performance and she steps out onto the stage, surprised at the beautiful sight in front of her. The audience is waving balloons to show their support. Her second family, Ran-joo, Manager Park, Bo-geol, and Woo-hak, stand together to watch Mok-ha. Mok-ha sings her heart out on the stage. She’s stunning. She’s beautiful. She’s happy. And it doesn’t end there. Mok-ha’s dream of performing at a large concert venue comes true and she sings in front of thousands of fans. And sure enough, Bo-geol is also there working behind the scenes in the monitor room as the producer. Mok-ha soaks in the grand moment at her concert and makes sure to cherish this very precious experience. Dreams do come true.

Epilogue

Even though she’s become a successful singer, Mok-ha makes sure to not forget her roots. She joins Bo-geol and his family for some food at their house. They all get along and joke with one another and continue to create great memories together. The house is full of beautiful photos and memories. There’s also a few awards that Mok-ha earned that sits proudly around the house. Mok-ha and her second family may have experienced challenges and struggles throughout their lives but they’re in a much better and brighter spot now. Things are going to be okay.