Suzy successfully showcased the best performance in her career through “Doona!”
Following the success of “Anna!” with a dark story, Suzy presented a brand new image through her comeback drama “Doona!”, which introduces a familiar love story of young people and the life of celebrities behind the stage. Despite that, the singer-actress still captivated viewers with better acting and a more beautiful appearance.
“Doona!” begins when Lee Doona (Suzy), a female idol who enjoying the heyday of her career, decides to admit that she can no longer sing after suffering from anxiety due to malicious comments, discords with members, pressure from her agency and family, etc. Not knowing what she should do to her life while desperately wanting to be recognized, Doona eventually retires.
Returning to being an ordinary person, Doona finds it hard to adapt to normal life and she doesn’t have any friends until Won-joon (Yang Se-jong) appears. Won-joon is a college student who is one year younger than her and has a naive look. Doona’s life changes after she meets him. Won-joon comes to Doona’s life and saves her from depression.
“Doona!” story flows with a moderate pace without developments that are too dramatic. It focuses on the complicated inner worries of Doona and her desire to be loved and recognized. However, this pleasant drama ends with an open ending, leaving viewers confused with various questions and interpretations. Perhaps that’s the purpose of the production team to make viewers remember the drama a little longer.
Well-developed characters
Many viewers draw comparisons between “Doona!” and “Nevertheless” because both depict young people’s romance. However, in reality, the love portrayed in these two dramas couldn’t be more different. The ambiguity of Doona’s emotions is easy for viewers to grasp and empathize with. As you watch the show, you can’t help but appreciate how skillfully the script delves into the emotions of the main character. Doona’s attempt to find solace in a new friend to escape her personal crisis is what makes “Doona!” different.
Through a few brief flashback scenes, viewers catch glimpses of Doona’s troubled past. Even during her grandmother’s funeral, her mother was preoccupied with work phone calls. Her grandmother, the sole beacon in her life, is no longer around, leaving Doona as a lonely child constantly yearning for recognition, understanding, and salvation.
This is precisely when Park In Wook enters the picture, Doona’s older cousin, who discovers her hidden talents, provides training, and transforms her into a top idol. He understands that, in the eyes of this lonely child, he isn’t just a manager but the only family she has left, someone Doona loves, even though he remains skeptical of that affection. It’s only when Doona declares she can no longer sing that Park In Wook fails to comprehend. To him, she still seems like a rebellious, attention-seeking child.
Although these flashback scenes are brief, they effectively illustrate how the relationship between Doona and Park In Wook began. They allow viewers to clearly visualize Park In Wook’s significance in Doona’s world. He knows her vulnerabilities and, when she claims she can’t sing, he punishes her by pushing her into isolation.
Little did he know that in this solitude, Doona would cross paths with Won-joon. He’s a radiant young man, who shines light into Doona’s otherwise dark life and makes her fall in love once again. The only difference this time is that Doona doesn’t need to rebel or beg for attention. She effortlessly finds love and acceptance.
The love story and the challenges that Doona faces are depicted in a rather subtle manner, free from excessive drama. Yet, through this storytelling, viewers can genuinely connect with the character’s emotions.
Consistency with the original work and excellent chemistry of the cast
While the screenplay has some issues that might leave viewers unsatisfied, the performances of the cast members truly impress viewers. Suzy has shown remarkable progress in her acting since “Anna”, completely shedding her idol image from the past. Her performance, especially in emotional scenes, is outstanding. Moreover, her appearance perfectly matches the character from the webtoon. Without a doubt, Doona is the most beautiful image Suzy has presented on screen in recent years.
Yang Se-jong also makes a commendable return after his military service, delivering an outstanding performance as Won-joon. He certainly fits the image of Won-joon, although it is a bit regrettable that he appears somewhat older than Suzy, given that his character is younger than Suzy’s. Nonetheless, his emotionally charged acting garnered viewers’ affection, particularly through his sorrowful and tearful eyes at the moment when it seemed he had lost his love.
The supporting actress Ha Young is another highlight of the work. She plays the role of Jin Joo, who is Won-joon’s first love. Both characters have feelings for each other, but when Won-joon confesses his feelings, Jin Joo lets this love slip away due to psychological trauma that she cannot share with anyone. Jin Joo has an overbearing, strict and abusive father who tightly controls his children. In parallel with Won-joon’s journey of being gradually conquered by the mysterious Doona, there is the regret, longing, remorse and ultimately the letting go of Jin Joo. Ha Young portrays all these emotions convincingly.
Every actor, whether in a leading or supporting role, performs their part very well. Moreover, they exhibit excellent on-screen chemistry with each other, which is particularly crucial for the success of a romantic work. Suzy and Yang Se-jong enchant viewers with their kisses and portrayal of youthful journeys.
Scoring: 3/5
Overall, “Doona!” is a purely entertaining work, not intended for viewers seeking profound or overly complex stories. The drama features a gentle pacing, picturesque setting, emotional music, and most importantly, the fantastic interaction among the cast members. These elements, combined with Suzy’s beauty and fame, contributed to making “Doona!” popular.
