Lee Doo Na! (2023)

I dont get it

I feel like i was way too hyped because of the first two episodes and expected way too much from this drama. I dont even know what i was expecting but it delivered absolutely nothing. Did it make me happy? No. Did it make me sad? No. Did it make me emotional? No. It made me frustrated.
The scenes just felt like they were thrown there in a rush, sometimes is hard to follow what is even happening. Important stuff that woild add so much to the plot are brought up and "solved" in 5 seconds. Like Jinju family situation, it had so much potential because honestly it semmed like a terrible and traumatic household, but its just brushed up in a minute of flashback. Doonas manager or whatever that man was, i was totally up for doona going back on stage and being happy but i didnt want it to be with that guy, he clearly didnt treat her well as well as her agency didnt treat her or the other members of her group well, that becomes clear when her member meets up with her and says that if doona hadnt stopped singing she would and even with all that happening - and alot more stuff that we have no idea about because the script is way too ambigous - doona still goes back to the same place.
I wanted character development and what i got was absolutely nothing. The whole drama i didnt feel doonas feelings for wonjun at all. Most of the time it just felt like she was going after him cause she was lonely and that its brought up a couple of times but they dont ever really talk it out. I wanted confrortation. Conversation. Development. And it just didnt happened, the only time i felt like she had a little bit of feelings for him was in the last episode when she cried and went to confront him about it but even when i thought we were finally going to have a good conversation abiut their relationships and feelings the said two words for each other and hugged. TALK ABOUT YOUR FEELING FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. Explain to each other why you did what you did. I dont know if the confusing and ambigous feelings are the concept of the drama but it didnt match with me.
The secondary characters had potential and it was just thrown away. If youre gonna show me a second couple then show me a second couple. I dont need them to become the main characters or anything but i feel like they dont even have full five minutes of sceen time together and they look like they would had such good couple shenanigans. I didnt feel like i would like them as a couple cause when ira first came i found her a little annoying but she grew into me and she clearly had a good couple dynamic with her boyfriend which we see for two minutes of them getting ready to go to work together in the last episode and just that made me want more from them. I wanted to see them grow into a couple and to go from like to love. It could be quick scenes but i just wanted SOMETHING.
I feel like such good casting was wasted. Their acting was good but the script was a let down. In my opinion it didnt have enough depth. It feels like the wanted to do so many good things but it all ended unflavored.
Also that ending sucked ass

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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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Frustrating and Predicatable

Television screens are delicate things. I tend not to throw things at them. I cam close with this KDrama. This series started well but you could see the inevitable frustrating ending looming early. The premise is fun and probably a bit of a boys-own fantasy. Ordinary lad finds himself living with a celebrity K-Pop idol. No spoiler it it is in the official description. He can't avoid her and she really makes it difficult to do so. It's not remotely realistic but it is at the same time.

Doo-na is damaged. Won-jun, the 'ordinary lad' has the repair kit though he doesn't seem have the whole instruction manual. Intuition isn't not his forte. Won-Jun bumbles on like a Ron Weasley. Doo-na is no shrinking violet. She is presented as a femme fatale but she is actually quite straightforward and honest. She craves love. Won-Jun falls in love but he is also a coward. He plays it safe. He has already botched one relationship due to projecting his own insecurities onto he situation instead of getting his facts right.

The process by which Won-Jun tackles this relationship in his predictably annoying way is morbidly fascinating, and achingly frustrating, and I eventually jumped from episode 7 to halfway through episode 9 to satisfy my pessimism. I was disappointingly right. I hoped to be wrong but I wasn't.

It is well acted and the romance between the two main characters has all the ups and downs and miscommunication of any good relationship worth having but the Director bottled it. The ending is open only because it is lazy and as cowardly as the male character.

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Like the title character at the beginning, it doesn't know what it should be

"I can't sing" says Doona when asked why she stopped performing but it's obvious that the issue is NOT that she can't sing. It's that she doesn't know WHY she is singing. And that after the years of training and performing, she's lost any meaning to what had once been her dream.

That much is clear.

And equally clear is that a kpop idol interacting with Yang Se Jong's Won Joon is like a plunge in to an ice bath. He's such an opposite of her. He's beyond his years in maturity. He doesn't smoke. He's a rule follower. His emotions are as grounded as a concrete block building foundation. C'mon, he's a civil engineer. As a romance? Legitimately, there are some terrific, compelling scenes between Won Joon and Doona. But this is not a show where any rational viewer is expecting a fairy tale - they get together, leave the world behind and live happily ever after. Immediately upon solidifying their relationship, the clock begins audibly ticking before their troubles as a couple will consume them. Regardless of whether or not the lovebirds find a way to be together, the main issue that is dramatized is whether Doona falls for Won Joon because she needs someone and he's the one that happens to be there or is he legitimately her soulmate? But somewhat ignored is why has Won Joon fallen for Doona as a person? Clearly he's a straight male and she's stunning and seems interested in him and that should obviously be enough for a brief infatuation. It's not enough, however, to explain how he overlooks all the negatives (and there are many) in her and she becomes the only woman for him. So the romance is intermittently great but, in totality, is more just going where it was pretty expected it was headed from before the first frame hit the screen.

Moreover, the secondary storylines have promise. Park Se Wan and Kim Do Wan are a fantastic pair. Won Joon's got a potentially colorful hometown connections subplot. Ha Young's Jin Joo has a troubled family life. But the shorter episode run times and 9 episode duration don't give these diversions ample space to really fulfill what could have been. Park Se Wan, in particular, is wild and colorful but shows up halfway just as things in the main plot are gaining serious traction. Even just a single additional episode could have allowed more screen time to cultivate what were some potentially entertaining developments.

Where "Doona" really hits (and, in a way, misses) is that Doona herself is this fascinating, complex, damaged and brilliant character in the midst of discovering herself and her passion for music. And, for as much as no other man but Won Joon can make her happy, the reality is that not even he can come between her and who she is as an artist and a singer. It's her journey from being a woman in crisis to finding what within her gives her a purpose and meaning that captivates. How it misses is that it is clumsily obfuscated by the demands of the industry that she return to settle her contractual obligations and the effect that her return to singing has on Won Joon. These are certainly points worth noting in her growth, but they overwhelm what could have been a better exploration of her personal awakening, finding meaning in songwriting, realizing what she loved about performing and that a life without music, for her, would be a life without meaning. Instead, her internal development is captured in only brief moments. It's a pity.

Recommended but with forewarning that "Doona" isn't what it could be.

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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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Good Enough

Korean Drama '' Doona! '' is a romantic melodrama about a troubled celebrity who meets an ordinary man who seems to not know who she is.

The drama starts off pretty great, with the story being intriguing enough to make the audience want to know more about Doona and her past as she struggles with her relationship with her ex agend, her family, her career, and her current loneliness, as she is only now starting to get to know who she is really as a person and not as an idol persona. So, her story was interesting and nicely presented, as it shows the dark side of showbiz.

On the other hand, the romance was boring. The pace of the love story was all over the place, the story too basic, and the ending more or less predictable. However, it was interesting to watch how the couple help each other grow and change.

Finally, the performances were all great by everyone in the cast, especially the main leads. The cinematography was impressive as well.

So, overall, five out of ten.

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WHO TF LET THE JAPANESE IN HERE

No seriously who let the japanese in here. The story has a structure reminiscent of your avg slice of life anime and manga down to a T. The drawn out silence during intimacy, letting the love the two characters have for each other be what’s loud and in your face is so reminiscent of japanese cinema it’s insane. This was good and certainly above average compared to your typical drama. I love how alluring Doona was and the air of mystery and mystique around her character. You’re drawn in from the get go and her relationship with Won-Jun is the backbone of everything. Won jun is the first real connection Doona has ever had and Doona brings him a sense intrigue and wonder. And while that might be the initial reason they grow close you see a subtle shift as they slowly start to depend on each other, influence each other and without noticing it, they reach a point where they aspire to be what the other needs. Together there’s a sense of completion which makes the ending all the more heart breaking.

overall great watch. Don’t let the weebs or japanese write for dramas cause my heart can’t take it.

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O romance entre uma idol e um anônimo é um caso de amor fadado ao fracasso. A aproximação dos dois protagonistas foi despretensiosa e vê-los se apaixonando à revelia tornou o sentimento mais intenso. Apesar daquela cena onde a Doona "abandona" o rapaz lá na casinha no meio do mato para voltar para Seul com o agente, sem nenhuma explicação para o rapaz, foi realmente enervante. Mas entendo que diante do agente ela se tornava uma criança vulnerável. O problema não foi nem ela ter ido com ele (pois na verdade ela queria resolver as pendencias com o agente), mas ela ter ido sem nenhuma explicação.

O final do drama em si não foi ruim na minha opinião. Nem toda história de amor é para sempre, aliás, me pergunto se existe alguma que seja. E a história deles, como disse antes, estava fadada ao fracasso desde o início. As escolhas de vidas deles eram muito opostas, manter um relacionamento minimante saudável ia exigir a anulação profissional de uma das partes, então não vejo como eles poderiam dar certo naquele momento. Com o final em aberto a gente pode especular se talvez um dia eles se reencontrem.

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For the most part it feels really realistic, and IMO worth the watch!

I won't elaborate too much because most of the other reviews have covered it.

I'll say that I agree with others that it's an overall happy ending if you pay attention to certain things, it is implied they do end up together. My issue with that is... I'm not entirely sure it had to be made a secret to the viewers. I see the "art" in making it a bit of a secret for the viewers. I get that since the couple themselves have picked to be in a relationship in secret, whether because her agency won't let her or simply to avoid the drama of openly dating, they've chosen to also make it a bit of a hidden relationship to the viewers. It's neat... but sometimes you just want to be able to enjoy the "post-story" happy moments of a relationship and we didn't get to see that.

I had major second FL syndrome, Jin Ju is adorable and I can't help but wish they had leaned into the soulmates bit and gone with that twist. I would have been content with the story being about our ML helping our FL past her demons and helping her towards a positive path in her life but them not ending up together as he reconnects with Jin Ju.

I've read some comments about there being toxicity and that really feels like a stretch. If you want a "nothing but perfect people making perfect choices" and dealing with their pasts in the absolute healthiest way possible, the dramas are out there for you. However I reserve a word like toxic for genuinely and consistently shitty relationships marred by people who abuse the love they are given and convince themselves or their partners that they've done nothing wrong or that the person deserved it. That doesn't happen here, there are choices made that hurt someone but there is reason behind it as well as genuine remorse, not followed by repeatedly making the same choices.

This is not a great review I must admit, I'm kind of throwing things at the wall and saying random things, to get back on point:
The drama had a sense of realism, with people making real if not ideal choices in certain moments, and with some good chemistry and acting. I don't think too many will watch this and feel they've wasted their time, but I also don't think it's a "must not miss" watch. It was good, it was entertaining, and although I would have liked a bit more substance at the end in terms of elaborating on the couples final standing, it was a good ending overall.

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A Subtle Change of Atmosphere

Admist all the hustle and bustle in the world, we all need some tranquility once in a while.

And who would’ve thought that a miniseries like Doona would be the embodiment of just that. Doona! Is the type of film you’d watch on a downcast day, socks off, on the couch while you’re stuck inside admist a huge downpour. It is a healing, serene, and realistic film unlike any other dramas I’ve seen so far. It is unconventional, and surprisingly, some aspects of it are even thought-provoking.

Compared to CLOY, I found that the director experimented with Doona a bit. Still retaining his own unique, creative flair, the film had many "silent" moments— that is, moments that had no on-cue soundtrack placement, since it’s just background noise. Although it did feel awkward and a bit of getting used to at first, I later realized how songs that were used in the drama were so strategically placed. Although silence is there for a majority of the film, I find that the background noise is what sets the films tone. In a way, it allows one to interpret the scenes better.

Acting-wise, you really can’t go wrong with Yang Sejong and Suzy. Although an unexpected duo, these two had insane chemistry that completely swept me off my feet. Characters were dimensional, fun, and flawed. The characterization in this drama was great, and it was only made possible by the actors portraying them.

All in all, Doona! is a really good drama if you’re looking to find something to munch on. It’s may be a mini-series, but the production of this drama is actually really good— as expected from the same director of CLOY, and the plot gives some nice food-for-thought.

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