Ilha 2 (2023)

When the Devil Waits for the Beloved

Important! It is better for the audience to be fans of Kim Nam-Gil, Lee Da-Hee, Sung Joon or Cha Eun-Woo before deciding to watch the Korean drama "Island". Especially fans of these 4 actors/actresses, because they will be satisfied to enjoy their faces.

On the other hand, don't get your hopes up with the story of the Korean drama "Island". The twelve episodes of this drama are like fragments that are not connected seamlessly. The bridging hangs.

The screenwriter seems to be engrossed in composing horror after horror. Failed without bridging and too much. Like the white-robed Baek Gyo sect, their existence does not affect the whole story of the Korean drama "Island".

What's worse, the existence of Pastor Johan, played by Cha Eun-Woo, becomes meaningless. The scene of spraying water while praying at Tamra High School students who are in a trance becomes even more ridiculous.

What does it mean to do water healing? If so, Van, don't intervene. What is the use of a religion that is believed to worship a God who is feared by the devil.

As a result, the existence of Pastor Johan and Pastor Parker became a boomerang. The sacred religion feels neglected. Even without religion, the devil can be defeated.

So, back to the initial sentence, if you are not a fan of Kim Nam-Gil, Lee Da-Hee, Sung Joon or Cha Eun-Woo, you should not watch the Korean drama "Island". I'm afraid I'll regret it and mess it up later. 😀😀

Oh yeah, maybe someone is asking, is it possible to watch the Korean drama "Island 2" without watching the first one? It can't really, maybe marketing reasons have made this drama divided into 2 seasons.

The next review can be read here: https://www.maria-g-soemitro.com/2023/03/island%20review-drama-korea.html

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This was one of those dramas that I added and removed a couple of times before actually giving it a try. The reviews steered me away and I was nervous about what I was getting into, but I'm honestly glad that I gave this a watch. While I can agree that splitting the show into 2 halves was not a good idea, especially where they broke the season in two at, but other than that I felt that it was a really good watch.

The writing and overall plot reminded me a lot of Goblin and I think that's why I felt a pull towards it. While it's not something new and not seen before, I felt it was written out really well although predictable. There was only one plot twist I didn't see coming, but I was overall satisfied with how the story played out. I do wish we could've gotten more exorcisms and "cases" like Lee Seo-Ryeon. The religious aspects and backstory interested me a ton and I wish that it was explored more throughout the two parts.

Action is not really my thing, but I can appreciate it every now and then. This drama nails it, in my opinion. Watching the fighting scenes, especially with Johan involved were really exciting and I loved the CGI effects in them. It added another aspect to the show that made it look really good.

The acting is incredible and it really adds a layer to the main characters. I absolutely loved all 3 of the leads and they all had captivating performances. Lee Da Hee really nails the rich-girl turned soft-hearted character and has such amazing chemistry with Kim Nam Gil. I loved watching the characters of Van and Won Miho slowly open up to each other and realize their affection for one another.

I'm excited and hopeful for a 3rd season so I can see how these characters and new plots all play out.

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More than just any other drama. New fantasy world brought to life in the right way from a webtoon

Binged watched both parts in one day without any expectations or spoilers previously.
If you like comics, webtoons, anime...etc. with thriller, fantasy, horror and action as themes than this drama is made for you.
Do not expect a typical drama.

Acting was excellent. There was no boring moment or episode. Many exciting and visually beautiful actions scenes.

More than any other thing, I loved the whole atmosphere of the show. It really gives a "watching a webtoon becoming a movie" kind of vibe. So many moments and scenes felt like they were filmed just the way they were drawn and I had to replay them to enjoy their beauty. (I love comics and webtoons and haven't seen this one before but I know that kind of scene when I see one)

The story progressed in a steady and exciting pace and it was very easy to enter this new fantasy world together with FL.
New elements, discoveries, background stories were added one at the time so they would be both exciting and easy to understand. There were two moments when I felt the story is somehow disconnected but I quickly realized that things like that are exactly what happens when you read a webtoon and ended up liking that disconnections b/c the whole vibe became stronger.

There was no reason to split this one in two parts and it really should be rated as one 12 eps drama here.
One background story remained a mystery and there is hope for part 3 or a separate drama.

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So this part 2 did expand the world building and it really do look like the drama was making use of the Jejudo myths, but to what extent I have no idea.
Still, as much as the writing could've expanded better, the plot did progress further and we finally get to see the main villain Gungtan in action. I mean, it would've been lame if the story ended with the main bad guy not really showing his full capabilities.

From the first part we were given a big twist about Yeomji actually allying with Gungtan. And we're finally getting more details on what truly happen in the past and how it could've affected the present outcome. Not to mention we're also given a third party who seemed to have a hand in many things happening... the we never actually get that fair and this plot ended up being open ended.

To be honest, with so many new details it make me wonder if the story could be wrapped up in just six more episodes. But it did and the final episode did provide possibilities for future continuations, should there be plans for it. For a story that was based on a webtoon, I'm happy to see quite a number of pretty anime-ish and webtoon-ish scenes. So in that sense I'm very satisfied. Plus, Kim Namgil plays a half-demon demon slayer, dude... and Eunwoo finally get to have some jedi moments! Rather than dwell on stuff that the drama did not show, one might as well enjoy the pretty visuals we did get.

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Scoring for the acting, characters and feels

I am still completely perplexed as to why they split this drama in 2. Guess we'll never know.
S2 really enhanced S1 and so much became clearer.
I really loved the characters throughout this series and found Mi-ho (Lee Da-hee) far less irritating than I did in S1!
Considering there is actually very little romance per se, the story is still romantic and I found that aspect to be very poignant.
Van and Goong Tan were created against their will, but while one became full of rage and vengeful, the other ends up clinging on to their humanity and living in penance. In many ways, the character of the granny (Baek-joo) was doing the same.
Plenty of action, as in S1, with a number of flashbacks. Some were revisited, which I'm not sure was really necessary, but it didn't bother me.
Loved the SFX and thought the entire series was very well made. Missed Johan speaking Italian in S2 though 😉
One of my few niggles lies, as is often the case, with the ending. Also, a weird and powerful sect was suddenly introduced in S2, but no indication or explanation of what their aim is, where they came from and exactly who they are, was ever given.
Instead of leaving things with the culmination of Mi-ho carrying out her destiny, there is a FFWD... the sect makes an appearance and we're left, as happens with too many K-dramas, feeling like there should be more to clarify, or that another season will follow, which is rarely the case. That actually spoilt it for me.
Still a good watch and a great cast. I would actually watch it again ~ plus there'd be no stupid break now!

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Dysfunctional Characters

The drama kicked off with good modern visuals and an interesting fantasy setting on a mystical island. However, it quickly unraveled. The fantasy elements, though visually appealing, peaked in the first two episodes, while the remainder felt like a rehash of what we'd already seen. It's strange that they revealed all their cards in the beginning, leaving the rest feeling empty. The female lead was sent to the island to work as a teacher, but this plotline was completely irrelevant and didn't last for more than one episode. The direction the drama took with the fantasy story turned out to be quite disappointing afterwards. More on characters, the female lead was an unstoppable cringe generator with her non-serious interactions, especially with the male lead in the earlier parts. It was the writers way trying desperately to build chemistry between the two, but it was impossible without rewriting the characters themselves. However, the character that suffered the most from both the writers' curse and the cast choice was Goong Tan. It doesn't take a blind man to see what was wrong. The drama ended up being this shallow shipwreck of recycled ideas and bland characters.

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The script writing could have been better

I've waited for S1 and now that I watched S2, it kind of felt repetitive. The first 2 episodes of S2 are the things they showed the viewers in S1. It's like they couldn't develop more ideas, so they picked up stuff from S1 to fill it up in S2.
The cast was amazing and the special effects and graphics were great too, but then the perfect ending was not elaborated in S2 either. As they hinted there might be another season because the daggers start moving and the painting is bleeding. What's that supposed to mean? Is Van coming back again?
It just wasn't satisfactory enough. Not as much as S1.

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There will be season 3

It is not end i think there will be season 3...

Actually van can not change our mood like his mood. His mood and feelings are same.. if we look closly he is actually kind of boring.. the reson it is not bother us is becoz of other cast they are actually great.. I really did not feel sad when van died even that time his mood is still same dude why was that... but when last moment. Actully even van's brother is evil when he died his smile made me sad...

When johans brother died the way johan cry, he made my tears,come down too.. dude that is what called acting...
If , for the van's character actor changed the feeling also could have been very different.. but what to do we didnt get to feel that way..

Any Way overall cool drama not boring at all.. i am waiting for next season

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An emotional journey of two wandering souls.

(Honestly, I was disappointed with the Part-1 of Island’s series which had a jumpy plot and inconsistency dynamic of pace with 6 episodes alone failed to elaborate on the main characters’ backgrounds, leaving the viewers confused with a lot of things and I was hoping that director and screenwriter would fix the mess they had made in Part-1 of Island in this part-2.)

FORTUNATELY, the second part did justice (maybe tenfold if not less). While the plot of sleeping Wonjeong keeps draggy but the rest of the underlying plots give the viewer the real scenarios of what had happened and would happen in the future, unlike Part-1 of the series.

The relationship between Van and Miho has improved and their chemistry can pull a thin string at the heart of viewers with their secret silent banters. Their souls’ relationship is beyond friendship would describe. It’s something deeper, more sacred than we think they had in the past. It’s an emotional journey once Miho understands the pain, the loneliness, and the timeless bond Van had sealed because of the promises they had made in the past.

Van and Miho’s bond can be described as a timeless, unfaded, and unbroken relationship.

Romance isn’t Island’s genre but the thin layer of romance between Van and Miho could lead to something positive about it, although the original manhwa, they are just two souls bound to meet and become close friends but an angst ending is highly predictable from this rollercoaster journey action thriller.

The dynamic of the relationship between Yohan and Van is fun to watch too. They are a perfect team against the evils. In the past, they bickered a lot but now they are on the same page and pace. Van, although always seems emotionless with those people around him, he does care about the young priest well being, besides Miho.

Part-2 of the drama also did justice to the main villain, Guntang. Sungjoon portrayed a demonic Guntang really well; it sends chills down the spines every time he launched his strikes. I need to compliment their action scenes. It’s amongst the highest quality from Studio Dragon. The fantastically choreographed action scenes and magical touch of CGI made the drama look like those highest-quality film scenes.

I would recommend those who haven’t watched the series to marathon Part 1 and Part 2 so you wouldn’t get too frustrated with earlier episodes.

(Extra fun facts about Island; While Kim Nam Gil rejected the offer from Island’s producer twice because he was worried he couldn’t do justice to Van’s character, Sungjoon, and Lee Dahee on the other hand, joining the Island because Kim Nam Gil is in it)

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seriously what happened?

is season 3 expected ?!! that ending ?!!!! :0
I first would like to start talking about how much I balled my eyes out in the last episode 👍🏻 i feel so horrible for Van !! besides what is going with that cult ? there is very little backstory to that, I almost didn’t understand a single thing about that last few bits. Johan’s scene also made no sense and I also wish that there was more of light shed on his background (his character development was great throughout the entire show though so I’m not really complaining!! Eunwoo acted really well for that role).

the ending was very unclear so I’m hoping for season 3 🙏🏻

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Os reels do Insta estragaram-me a vida!

Fiquei desiludida, tenho de admitir. Tinha um hype GIGANTE, uma razão perfeitamente ÓBVIA para gostar do drama, e ficou tudo por terra. O plot é muito confuso, há demasiados pormenores desnecessários e não consegui criar uma ligação com nenhuma das personagens!

Apesar de ter grandes nomes (como Eunwoo, Sungjoon, Go Dusim, Choi Taejoon e Kim Sungoh), estava à espera de mais! A primeira parte estava ótima, esperei que a segunda superasse, não o fez. Senti que era desnecessária, podiam perfeitamente ter feito mais 1 ou 2 episódios e juntar tudo.

Curiosidade: Pensava que era o primeiro k-drama que eu via com a Lee Dahee, mas afinal ela apareceu no I Hear Your Voice (que já vi em 2015 e sinceramente não me lembro minimamente de nada ^^'')
Conclusão: Nem um padre, bom como o milho, de TRONCO NU, salva um k-drama!

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