Tamra the Island: Progress Update

By Doozy

I’m up to episode 13 and with each episode, my affection for this drama and its characters grows stronger and stronger. Tamra also has one of the cutest opening sequences, with the pop-up book theme and animated character cardboard cutouts.

Tamra the Island Opening Theme

(Special thanks to thduddbals for uploading the clip.)

You know, the more I think about it, the more I’m glad to have come across Tamra at just the right time. Otherwise, I would have missed out on this gem of a show.

Thoughts on its main characters

I still can’t believe I’m saying this, but Seo Woo is doing a winning job as Beo Jin. Although she does cry a tad too much for my liking, I find her utterly adorable as Beo Jin because she’s genuine, whether she’s with William or Park Kyu or anybody else, Beo Jin is always being herself, never putting up front to pretend to be someone else.

William is growing on me as well. I’ve come to care for his character so much that I’m alternately shipping Beo Jin with William and Beo Jin with Park Kyu because William’s love for Beo Jin is so pure and unwavering, I don’t want to see him get hurt. And whenever there’s talk of the possibility of William’s impending doom, I would be nervous. Also, I am amazed at the speed at which William is able to learn Korean. He must be some linguistic genius! *jealous*

Although to a much lesser extent, I like the Yann character too. Together, Beo Jin and him make an odd but hilarious pair of traveling companions.

And gawd, Park Kyu… Because your character is of the serious, stoic type, the complete opposite of Beo Jin who wears her heart on her sleeve, your smiles and tears are that much more precious. When you smile, I smile. And when your eyes well up with tears and you muffled your cry so that the girl you love can leave with another man on the path that you think is her happiness, my heart breaks with yours. Members of Team Park Kyu, I now know what you guys were gushing about. I totally get it.

Favorite scene

Tamra is putting me on one of the most memorable emotional rollercoasters in my drama watching experience to date. It’s making me bite my nails with worry one minute and squee with delight the next, sob silently and then laugh hysterically, sometimes in the same scene! And even though it’s doing a number on my emotional state and sometimes makes me feel I like have a split personality, I love it all the more because Tamra does a really effective job at executing its heartfelt scenes while injecting levity at the right moments.

My favorite scene, thus far, took place in Episode 10. The gifting of hat and goodbyes. This one got me good because it was such a heartfelt, bittersweet scene between the villagers and Park Kyu, showing poignantly how much Park Kyu meant to the villagers despite his initial sneering and grumblings, and how much he appreciated their hospitality and sincerity.

William – Tamra the Island OST

Sir. This is for you.
It’s a hat made with the best horsehair in Tamra.
We can’t wear them, but we make the best in Josun.
Wear this for us in the Capital.

As they teared up, I teared up along with them. There were not even one dry pair of eyes in the house. And then, I saw Keut Boon wearing her newly acquired headgear and just like that, I was chuckling amidst the tears.

See what I mean! An emotional rollercoaster, of the best kinds.