Doona!

Phenomenal cast but…

I was extremely surprised when I started watching; I did know Bae Suzy and Yang Se Jong were starring in this drama (as a Temperature of Love fan, ecstatic), but when I saw Kim Do Wan? I was awestruck and then later on Park Se Wan.

This drama is filled with amazing actors and I saw many people comparing it to Nevertheless and granted, I know why. This drama is very different, but doesn’t stray far from the toxic couple trope, that ashamedly I have started to appreciate because some angst is needed in between all the romantic dramas.

I gave it a lower rating especially because of the length of it, I think it missed a lot of depth in the story, especially of secondary characters that were introduced with haste and basically never touched on again, other than existing for the main couple.

To be honest I think I might have given this drama a lower rating if I had not looked into the actual manhwa, after comparing the teo stories, I commend the choices made by the crew to change things like the original ending and the character Ira. I loved her character and her romance with Jeong hoon, it was very short but by far one of the two most interesting characters.

The decision to end it as it did also was kind of, lazy. I don’t really know, I like to believe that directors and writers have a plan to tell a story, and they tell it, and they end it. I believe too many seasons can hurt a good premise but this ending felt, rushed (maybe by the quantity of episodes) but it did feel like the story was told and that there really won’t be a second season (I don’t really think they even could milk anything worth a whole new season from the story).

To add to the rushed aspect, scenes felt short, like they were cut and things would be mentioned and never adressed again.

Overall, a good watch but I definetely don’t see myself tuning in for a rewatch any time in the future.

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Netflix "realism" predominates.

Netflix has a definite style of youthful romance which may not be to everyone’s taste. The characters (not necessarily the plot) are more realistic and less “wholesome” or formal than the one’s coming out of Korean television. More willing to mess with the standard norms and to be concerned with the realities of things like depression. Less afraid to explore the uncertainties of youth, which make it more afraid of the finality of rejection than living with the denial of feelings or unfulfilled desires.

The production style here is more akin to “Nevertheless”, although the storyline is totally different. It has a greater emphasis on showing more realistic reactions and character traits, such as smoking, swearing or anxiety attacks. The characters are often much less sure of themselves and can display behaviour that is obvious red flags, such as a dangerous tendency to want to be violent, or being caught up in abusive relationships. The actual impact that these situations have on an individual is more honestly portrayed. Often K-dramas gloss over the effects of trauma and create miraculous and timely recoveries so that the sense of a moral correctness, or fairytale happy-ever-after can be preserved. Whereas this story takes place amongst the uncertainties and messiness of life.

The director, Lee Jeong Hyo, has a string of hits in the last 5 years, including “Crash Landing on You” and “Romance is a Bonus Book”. Here he has adopted a less predictable style. He likes to observe the reactions on the actors faces and Bae Suzy is well worth looking at as she successfully conveys her inner emotions. Yang Se Jong is less convincing, but his character is lacking light and shade in the writing and it is very much a cypher and a foil for Doona. For me, the ML character is too young to be believable and as a result is played more mature. In general, his circumstances and themes were under-explored. At this length, the drama could easily have opted to focus only on the leads and gone deeper. There was plenty of material, particularly on Doona’s side to do so.

Instead, they chose to introduce secondary characters and subplots that did not hold up particularly well. There was an air of plot convenience about them with insufficient integration between their characters and the lead story. The script for these subplots, particularly between Lee Won Jun (Yang Se Jong) and his old flame, disappointingly often slipped into the banal and trite.

One annoying detail was that the continuity was bad. The weather and costumes were very mixed up. People wearing summer outfits in early spring and full tree foliage with snow. I’m prepared to overlook bright sunshine and rain, as that is often unavoidable due to a shooting schedule. But deciding on the season and dressing appropriately is something that should be unified.

There were some deliberate attempts at stylistic cinematography - especially towards the end. The breaking up the images into multiple rectangles (there’ll be a technical term for this, sorry not really my speciality). The use of a lot of close up reaction shots. It had a modern feel. Slightly smokey images, with the edge taken off by using less saturated colour, and moody lighting, nicely played into the slightly sombre tone of the piece. Greys, blues and browns predominate. The spare use of music carries emotional weight because it is unusual to have no background sounds.

Overall, for me, there was a lot to like about this production regarding the central characters and storyline, but the subplots and details let it down. It was an emotional 8, but a rational 7.5.

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Love vs. Lust

I'm somewhat of a newbie to the K-drama scene and this drama made join this platform to write a review.
First things first, the acting was superb. Despite how I feel about the characters and the plots, each actor committed to their roles and executed them quite well in my opinion. Now, as for the storyline itself...holes on holes on holes. Yes, we all know that relationships aren't perfect and people aren't perfect and relationships take work. Sure. But, WJ and Doona's relationship was giving toxicity - poor communication, neglect, feelings of unworthiness, co-dependency, jealousy, selfishness, and just levels of dysfunction. It's one thing to be young and in love, but these two had some personal issues that when combined just would did produce a healthy relationship. When they did spend time apart and supposedly grew, I didn't think they had anything left to stand on besides chemistry (basically lust) because they still barely knew each other. For what it's worth the chemistry between them made for some good TV, but when you really analyze the relationship for what it is, it just doesn't work. The other cast members were awesome and their side stories diversified the plot and kept the series interesting. There were some good comedic elements that made me lol. Overall, I did not regret watching it, but I also thought leaving the ending open was a bit of a cop out after taking the audience along on such a polarized ride.

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Sizzling Chemistry, Amazing Kisses, Beautiful Cinematography

Subjective Gut Rating - 8.75

Netflix dropped all 9 episodes of “Doona!” and it became a Doona weekend for many, including myself. Maybe because I am in the mood for a melo-healing drama after so many comedies, I really enjoyed this. The initial setup and plot aren’t that unique, but the chemistry makes it worthwhile. Though this is not a perfect drama, it gives me the feels and touches me.

The chemistry between Suzy and Yang Se Jong is sizzling. I LOVE their kisses 😘 and yes, I said it out loud). It’s been a while since I last saw a couple (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, or Thai) who gave so much emotion into these kiss scenes. We have two actors who are not shy and really participate and give me all the feels. I am not just talking about sexy/sexual kisses, but the sense of uncertainty, the should-I-shouldn’t-I type of emotions, and the love they feel for each other. Aside from the kisses, their scenes together are lovely. I really enjoy how their relationship started from strangers, who don't care for each other, to loving each other so much that they beg for the other’s affection and attention.

It takes a man like Lee Won Joon, gentle, adorable and forgiving, to deal with a selfish, emotional and broken diva like Lee Doo Na. The two of them are an odd pair in a way, yet they complement each other so well. Both are flawed (even the adorable Won Joon) and make flawed decisions. But since this is not a romantic comedy, their questionable decisions make this drama even more intriguing.

The acting is pretty good all-around. It probably wasn’t too difficult for Suzy to play a pop idol. But her emotional scenes are done well. Yang Se Jong reminded me of his character in “Thirty But Seventeen” but in this drama, there are more heartbreaking moments. I mentioned earlier about the kisses and there are a few shots where Yang Se Jong/Won Joon behaved shyly and passionately which totally made me fall for his character. I also enjoyed Ha Young’s portrayal of Kim Jin Joo. Under other circumstances, I would root for her happiness with the male lead. I felt for her and wanted her to find someone special.

The cinematography is beautiful and the songs complement the scenes well. I am actually surprised at the lack of songs played during some romantic moments. Oftentimes you would hear loud music blasted on screen for any hint of a romance. But here, there’s a lot of silence in the scenes between Doo Na and Won Joon, and that adds to the emotional impact of their acting.

On another note, I really cannot stand Choi Yi Ra, Miss Brazil. She is so loud and annoying. I wanted to mute her whenever she comes on screen, and especially when she’s with her two friends. I also find her little side romance unnecessary. I would have liked the drama to focus more on Doo Na’s relationship with her manager. Oh, and Hello Lee Jin Woo, you are looking mighty fine in that suit, acting all arrogant and bossy. 😍 The few flashbacks we got of Doo Na and her manager were not enough to tell me why she was so obsessed with him. It has to be more than liking him and clinging on to him as if he’s her only family. I also would like more scenes of Doo Na and Sweet Dreams’ group members (before and after).

Moreover, I also felt that the anxiety and panic attacks that Doo Na was experiencing were swept under the rug. Aside from being abandoned in a house alone, there was no talk of therapy or help. Did she miraculously heal by being abandoned, sleeping and eating a lot? Did love heal her? It seems too easy for her to set foot on stage again.

As for the ending, I want to believe that it’s a happy ending. I want to believe that after the emotional reconciliation 4 years later (and I love that scene), they came to understand each other again. That the very last scene is a very discreet way for them to meet in Japan for business individually, and having secret dates after work.

I definitely recommend this drama if you are looking for a melo-healing romance with sizzling chemistry. Fans of Suzy and Yang Se Jong should not miss it as well.



Completed: 10/22/2023 - Review #369

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Higher expectations for the conclusion of the story.

Doona" tells the story of a girl who was a K-pop idol but left the band due to health issues and started living in solitude. One day, a boy moved in next door to her in a building where the neighbors share a common yard. Living a solitary life, she often found herself in pain, and the boy would always help her. Gradually, she began to feel a sense of closeness toward him, and their love story began.I was eagerly anticipating a scene where he would stop her from smoking. The drama beautifully portrayed the internal struggle she felt about her feelings, which made her hesitant to open up to him. In one scene, she left him to be with another boy right in front of him, ignoring his calls and not returning for many days. His anger and frustration were understandable. Although they eventually reunited, the ending was ambiguous, leaving us to speculate that they were together and continuing with their lives. However, I had higher expectations for the conclusion of the story.

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While Suzy's acting was great as always, unfortunately, this did not help her career. I don't want to say that the story was bad because I haven't read the original material this live-action adaptation was based from. I think the problem was the execution of the live-action adaptation. It was everywhere and nowhere.

They could have had focused more in building the main character instead of showing the other relationship of the other characters, then what Doo Na's going through would be more impactful instead of lacking. You know, it's there, the audience understands what she is going through, but there is no emotional attachment to it.

The show, “Castaway Diva”, with a similar celebrity whose career ended, actually have a better introduction and background build up. Both characters want to die. Both characters were pushed to their limits. Both characters made mistakes. But there is no emotional attachment with Doo Na and there is with the other character with a parallel story. It's one thing to “know” and it is totally another to “feel”.

Watching Doo Na was like having a discussion, from a logical and objective perspective, of a celebrity's life in a classroom. They should have chosen a real-life story and created a documentary, which would be perfect for this kind of execution or production.

I actually stopped watching at episode 06. It took a few weeks before I was able to force myself to watch the last three episodes, and that's coming from a big fan of Suzy.

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Patience is a must!

A story about two significantly different worlds colliding together and taking an attempt at combining them.

I was very excited to see this come out as I was waiting on it for over a month after seeing it be revealed. I was not let down in the slightest! This drama does indeed have its moments that made me want to pause it and walk away, but as I became more patient I slowly started to realize that was the point of most of it.

Doona is a character that comes from a long line of emotional troubles stemming from people she has encountered to even her own family. Being a K-Pop idol may seem like such a loving job but sometimes that may just be the view from surface level. Doona experienced lots of troubles from being lonely while still being surrounded by people. I think this is something a lot of people, including myself, resonate with in present day due to how disconnected a lot of people have become from society and normal human interaction that is fulfilling. That being said I think from what made me so annoyed at the beginning, started to make more sense as time went on.

Romance stories such as this one are hard to digest because it leaves you wondering what the character is even thinking to make a decision like they did. This story in particular leaves a lot to be questioned especially the ending. If you pay close attention however, you realize a lot more than what is said at the end. The random scenes that were shown had lots of connection to the overall story and it made me appreciate the story a whole lot more than I did when I first was getting near the ending of this series.

Love is an intricate emotion and thing that exists in our world but in this drama it is depicted quite while in a unique setting between two distinct worlds. It does an awesome job at painting this picture of people in their early 20s becoming more mature and developing their own lives and having to make sacrifices. Trying to better oneself can sometimes be painful, and that is a hard thing to swallow. Even seeing it from an outsider perspective is hard at times.

This drama is amazing and I think anyone that is looking for a quicker than usual romance experience then this is definitely worth a shot, just have patience and also an open-mind. Pay attention to scenes that may not seem important.

(The OST is absolutely amazing as well!)

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A whole premium ballad music video

The concept is actually nothing new but it does have the ability to uphold a high production value, despite it being quite a typical kdrama for most of the time. The cinematography is amazing, which looks like some really premium ballad music video, the calm and soothing feel is the whole highlight of the drama. The storyline has good direction but basically the logical sense can be ignored for good, fortunately it was able to capture the essence of how a public figure has to sacrifice their private lives in order to maintain their image for business. The ending is so heartfelt and realistic for both of the leads, which is intensely intriguing and delicate.

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When all is said and done, grief is the price we pay for love.

First . I might as well tell if you the drama is worth watching or not. Yes! the cast is incredible with amazing acting skills and the music is pretty good as well , the story is simple and realistic rather than trying to skyrocket the romance just to gain more likes from people who only care about "happy happy romance". Hence yes definitely worth a watch.

Honestly speaking, the first episode was really good , but I already expected that the ending would be sad. Now when I say sad . I was expecting the female lead to die due to some cause , maybe suicide. As we get to the last episode , I realize how the ending is much more realistic.

I'm focusing on discussing the ending because many people are leaving a bad review because they can't handle a realistic and bittersweet ending. The female lead had really different things going on, she didn't have time for the boy (not saying it's her fault , i know it was her team not letting her date and talk to her bf) but sometimes when someone doesn't get even a little amount of love and support , they fall , fall to a place where there's a 50:50 chance of being happy with the relationship. In the end, the male lead didn't feel happy and I can't blame him as he needed her at the time and must have felt abandoned. Although , I don't understand what he was expecting , he was the one who told her to get back to singing and said he would support her no matter what, she warned him about the consequences and he should have expected that he would feel lonely for quite a long period of time. This was the right thing for him to do though, he loved her and wanted her to be happy and knew this would make her happy , so I can't blame him too much. At the end of the day , I honestly think he should have just continued dating her after she was properly established but I understand.

In the end, "Doona!" is a remarkable K-drama. It doesn't provide the expected happily-ever-after, but it leaves you with a sense of introspection about love, relationships, and the choices we make.

This was my first time writing a review , so if its bad , sorry and yeah , have fun watching!

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Enjoyed every second

I finished this drama in one day and it was really one of the most beautifully shot dramas I’ve ever watched. It’s been awhile since I’ve enjoyed a slow paced slow burn type drama.

Although the drama may seem slow each scene and interaction was purposeful, the focus on the main characters and how they slowly developed their relationship really took me on a journey and resonated with every single one of their emotions.

At first I was a bit confused about the ending as I felt like it might’ve seen like it ended on a negative note but upon further inspection we know that from the opening scenes of Ep8 and ep 9 won joon is wearing the same jacket and suit he was wearing at the end of the ep9 and we know from the buildings and train tracks that they were in Japan. Letting us know they they were able to continue their relationship and finally be happy together.

Overall this drama definitely surprised me because I saw some mixed reviews but mostly watched it for Bae Suzy but it was amazing and she did an amazing job with the drama and acting and I loved all her outfits!

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Been there, watching Doona again.

This is the second time I've watched Doona and I've also watched My country. I thought Bae Suzy did well with her part and after I've seen Yang Se-jon in other dramas it changes my perspective on him. Clearly here he was directed to be a rather young, immature student and I liked his acting.
I recommend you to watch this all through, even if you've seen negative reviews. There is no need to like or dislike their characters and if you can't stand the script, watch something else. I didn't like the screaming girls but apart from that I thought watching it again in 2024 was an interesting illustration that in reality, big companies are still exerting great pressure on their idols and actors, female and male. The public have not changed their behaviour much in the last couple of years and it is we who drive the striving for perfection.

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