Here are seven reasons why Netflix’s “Doona” is worth your time.
1.) Seeing Bae Suzy “on-stage” once again as a “K-pop idol.”
Suzy plays Lee Doona, a “retired” K-pop girl group member. In the series, however, we see glimpses of Suzy singing and dancing on-stage with her fictional group, Dream Sweet. There are also scenes of Doona filming music videos, and such. Hence, the series is a treat for those who missed seeing her perform.
2.) This is Yang Se Jong’s comeback drama after his military service.
Enginering student Won Jun is his first acting role after 3 years since “Doctor Romantic” season 2, and will probably be his last time to portray a character who is in his 20s—as he said during his press conference for Netflix.
3.) On-point casting to match the Webtoon’s visuals.
The drama really felt like the characters from the original Webtoon, “The Girl Downstairs,” jumped out of the screen. The casting director, actors, and stylists did such a good job bringing these characters to life.
4.) The changes that make the adaptation worth watching.
“Doona!” really kept the core and soul of “The Girl Downstairs”, but most of the noticeable changes were actually satisfying and made the series easier (on our hearts) to watch.
5.) The second lead couple.
The choice to add this to the series is actually one of the best production decisions for “Doona!”, as viewers would most likely want to see more of the cute couple—which felt like a breather in-between the angst stemming from Doona and Won Jun’s complicated yet engrossing relationship.
6.) “He was sunshine, she was midnight rain.”
It’s actually unusual to see the typical Korean drama roles somewhat reversed, as we often see male leads more similar to Doona’s personality and female leads with characteristics a lot like Won Jun’s . It’s simply refreshing to see an assertive female lead, in contrast to the male lead’s more docile temperament.
7.) An ordinary love story with an extraordinary premise, directed by “Crash Landing On You” director Lee Jung Hyo.
“Doona!” is not just about a celebrity and a regular student falling in love. It’s simply just about two people who fell in love.
All in all, “Doona” is a relatable coming-of-age story that humanizes a storyline that felt like it would focus on glitz and glamour, while still showing its entertainment-industry angle. The series is a romance drama that mainly revolves around young love—all-consuming and harboring intense emotions—between (just) a man and (just) a woman.
“Doona” is now streaming on Netflix.