[Doona! Netflix Review] A captivating love series filled with the charm of ‘Suzy and Yang Se-jong.’

Doona! A Korean Netflix Original series 9 EP based on a Webtoon, where a young student strives to balance his life amidst unexpected circumstances when he has to live under the same roof with a beautiful woman who used to be a K-pop idol.

Doona! Netflix Review

The series, directed by Lee Jong-hyo, the creator of ‘Crash Landing On You,’ features Suzy and Yang Se-jong as the main characters. This series deviates from the typical Korean drama genre and presents a unique romantic storyline. The female lead character in this series is a former female idol who has left the entertainment industry for some reason. She displays a rebellious and rude attitude, smokes, frequently engages in confrontations with others, and has frequent physical contact with the male lead. The series also has an ending scene that does not follow the typical happy ending, as it was originally portrayed in the webtoon.

In this adaptation of the series, the overall storyline remains mostly faithful to the original, but it has been updated to be more contemporary. The central theme of an idol-like female character entering the life of a male student protagonist is retained. The male lead character already has a close friend who has been with him since childhood, creating a love triangle. Initially, the story focuses on their friendship, and the female lead tries to help the male lead achieve his dreams while being incredibly charming herself, which constantly stirs the male lead’s emotions. The series masterfully plays with the audience’s curiosity about when the male lead will develop feelings for the female lead and how the close friendship between them will evolve. At this stage of the story, the female lead becomes a sympathetic secondary character, adding depth to the narrative. During this part of the story, it highlights the close friend of the male lead, who is now portrayed as a sympathetic character, almost as if she were another female lead.

The series tells the story of a love triangle in six episodes, and even though it’s quite long, it’s entertaining. The unexpected secrets of the story are always present. Before the last three episodes, it’s about the ups and downs of the main characters’ lives, and although it’s romantic, the plot becomes a bit slow and stretched. This is because most of the secrets are revealed in the first six episodes, and what remains is just the decision-making of the female lead to return to the entertainment industry. The ending of the series is modified to be different from the original, with a lighter storyline, but it still maintains a melancholic romance as before.

But the real highlight of this series is the actors, especially Suzy, who portrays the character from the webtoon beautifully, looking stunning and charismatic. The romantic scenes with the various male leads are made even sweeter, and her heart-wrenching crying scenes still manage to capture your heart. It’s not surprising that the male leads are charmed by her right from the start. Yang Se-jong, in particular, deserves praise for his performance, as he is older than his character in the story by almost 10 years and has to play a younger college student who secretly falls for the incredibly beautiful idol sister. He manages to portray this convincingly and their on-screen chemistry is truly remarkable.

Furthermore, the story also includes supporting characters who are housemates sharing rent together. These characters add depth to the main character’s story and bring in various colorful elements. They also contribute to the subplot of small romantic stories within the series.

In summary, this Korean drama, adapted from a webtoon, shines even brighter thanks to the captivating performances of Suzy and Yang Se-jong. Their charisma and chemistry elevate the series to new heights. While the storyline remains true to its original framework, it portrays a romantic, melancholic, and bittersweet love story that feels like real life. The series concludes with a non-happy ending, staying true to the original source, but with a unique adaptation that sets it apart.

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