Doona! Review: A Toxic Relationship Wrapped in a Cinematic Distraction
Doona! had every chance to be a meaningful story about healing, fame, and love—but instead, it turned into a shallow, directionless relationship drama that never figured out what it wanted to say.
Drama Name: 이두나! (Lee Doona!)
Where To Watch: Netflix ← *Click for direct link*
Average Rating: 7.7/10 (Mydramalist)
My Rating: 4.0/10
One Sentence Description: A drama so underdeveloped it feels like a prequel to a show that never existed.
Trailer:
Disclaimer: This review is 100% my opinion — I’m not here to hate, just to share my thoughts! Also, SPOILERS AHEAD, so proceed with caution if you haven’t watched yet. Watch it, come back and let’s see if you agree. Let’s keep the discussion respectful and fun! 💕
Simple Description
Doona! follows a former idol on hiatus, caught between the quiet normalcy of everyday life and the glittering chaos of fame. During her break, she meets a university student, forms an unexpected bond, and finds herself torn between love and the career that once consumed her.
⚠️Length Note: This post includes a detailed (and long) story breakdown. Want to skip straight to the review? Jump to the Review
The show opens with Doona performing on stage, surrounded by cheers until she suddenly falls off into a body of water and lets herself sink. Then… she wakes up.
Meanwhile, in another part of Korea, we meet our male lead, Lee Won Jun, who’s heading to Seoul to be closer to his university. He’s thoughtful and quiet, asking his friend to look after his mom and sister, who’ve recently been hospitalized. When he arrives at his new shared apartment, he meets Doona — cold, distant, and clearly not interested in small talk. He meets his other roommates, settles into his room, and starts advertising himself as a tutor to help cover expenses.
A few days later, Won Jun gets a call from the same friend, who’s distracted by his favorite girl group, Dream Sweet. It’s then that Won Jun realises the aloof girl he’s been living with is none other than one of the group’s members. To make matters worse, he’s been wearing their hoodie all day. Mortified, he quickly takes it off, but Doona catches on immediately and accuses him of being a stalker. Embarrassed and frustrated, he denies it and escapes to his tutoring session.
Afterward, he unexpectedly runs into an old high school classmate, Jin Joo. The two catch up over drinks, and when he returns home, he finds Doona outside, shivering and crying. She warns him never to sing her song again before collapsing in front of him. He rushes her to the hospital, where the doctor tells him she’s suffering from low body temperature and needs to eat warm foods and wear socks to regulate it.
In the following days, Doona begins to take a curious interest in Won Jun. She follows him around, invites him to eat with her, and tries to spend time together. But Won Jun, feeling uncomfortable and overwhelmed, avoids her and even changes his schedule to escape her presence. When she shows up pretending to be one of his tutoring clients, he loses his patience and tells her off for turning his real-life struggles into a game. He reminds her that not everyone can afford to sit around all day, and his words cut deep. Hurt, Doona backs off and ignores him completely. It’s only later, when he tries to apologise, that they slowly make up and he allows her to call him in case of emergencies. It’s a fragile truce, but it marks the beginning of something deeper.
We start to learn more about Doona’s past. She quit performing after collapsing on stage, overwhelmed by the pressure of it all. Back in the present, Won Jun’s tutoring job falls through, so he starts working part-time—coincidentally, at the same place where Jin Joo works. Through flashbacks, we see that their connection goes back to high school, where they constantly competed for top grades. He had a crush on her then, and they became close after she asked for help with a math problem.
At home, Doona ignores calls from her mother but desperately tries to reach someone saved as “P.” The call goes unanswered. In a brief flashback, we hear a man’s voice—presumably “P”—warning her to stay quiet, keep a low profile, and avoid any unnecessary trouble.
The following night, Won Jun heads to a welcome party for the Civil Engineering students while Doona stays home, lost in memories of her idol days and how much she struggled behind the scenes. Feeling overwhelmed, she calls Won Jun. But when some rude guys pick up and start threatening him, she bolts out the door. She finds the party, smashes a wine bottle over one of the guys’ heads, and in the chaos, Won Jun gets cut. As she treats his wound, he asks her to control her anger. It’s one of the first moments where their emotional baggage collides.
On their way home, they run into Jin Joo, who ends up coming back with them. The three drink together, and Jin Joo eventually passes out, leaving Doona and Won Jun alone. In a rare moment of vulnerability, Doona admits she’s jealous of his relationship with Jin Joo. They almost kiss — but don’t.
We get another flashback to the night Doona collapsed on stage. Her anxiety was unbearable, and no one — not her manager, not her group members — seemed to care. She pushed through until she couldn’t anymore. Back in the present, Doona encourages Won Jun to ask Jin Joo out, even though he’s convinced she wouldn’t like him back. Meanwhile, Doona realizes someone’s been taking photos of her and accidentally locks herself in the bathroom. Won Jun, unaware, goes to ask Jin Joo out and she says yes.
He rushes home to tell Doona the news, only to find her still locked in the bathroom. He frees her and even fixes the lock. Days pass, and while Won Jun and Jin Joo continue to hang out, their relationship doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. Jin Joo questions why Doona is so emotionally dependent on him, while Won Jun is distracted by another guy who seems interested in Jin Joo. Eventually, he catches Doona’s stalker — a young boy from a convenience store. They don’t press charges, but the stalking ends, and Doona and Won Jun grow even closer.
As time passes and Won Jun gets roped into a blind date, ditching the one he was supposed to have with Doona. She finds out, waits for him, and ends up burning her hand with a cigarette. When he returns home, he helps her with the burn and she kisses him.
The next day, he tells her he doesn’t kiss friends and wants something real. Doona insists it was just for fun. Meanwhile, Jin Joo finally admits she has feelings for Won Jun and opens up about her strained relationship with her father. She eventually moves in with Doona after cutting ties with him. She confesses that she was too scared to admit her feelings back in high school because of her father’s abuse, but it’s too late. Won Jun doesn’t feel the same anymore.
That night, Doona returns home from the club, and Won Jun confronts her for brushing off the kiss. She admits she went out to test her feelings—and now she knows she really does like him. When she teases him, reminding him he doesn’t kiss friends, he leans in and kisses her again. This time, it’s different. It’s real. And it marks the start of their relationship.
A few days pass, and Doona’s mom shows up asking her to return to the group. With a new album coming, her mom wants the money — plain and simple. Doona, hurt and exhausted, tells her she gave everything to her already.
Eventually, Doona and Won Jun go on a vacation. She takes him to her grandmother’s old house, and they spend the day together. That night, they go for a walk only to return and find a man waiting. When Doona sees him, she immediately lets go of Won Jun’s hand and walks over .Through flashbacks, we learn that this man is Park In Wook (“P”), the head of talent recruitment at MSA, who discovered Doona when she was a teenager. He was the one who gave her a way into the idol world—and, in many ways, became a twisted father figure.
In the present, she gets into In Wook’s car and drives off, leaving Won Jun behind. On the drive, Doona confronts him about abandoning her. In Wook fires back, saying her career needs fixing before she’s forgotten. He believes her fear of irrelevance will push her to return. Doona doesn’t take the bait and she jumps out of the car, injuring her leg. They argue. She tells him he’s worse than her mom, that he knew she liked him and still left her. In Wook bites back, saying everything was her fault — that she left mid-tour, used him for her career, and now wants to play victim. He takes her to the hospital, but the damage is done.
Won Jun stays at Doona’s grandmother’s house, wondering who In Wook really is to her. Eventually, he returns home and gets drunk at his friend’s place, venting about how hard life has been. Meanwhile, Doona returns to the house and finally sees all the missed calls but she’s more focused on how much she misses being an idol.
A day or so later, Won Jun returns to the dorm and finds Doona waiting. He’s angry and hurt. She’s indifferent. She asks how he feels, and he asks if he even has a reason to be upset. What is her deal? For real.
Won Jun decides it’s time to move out. When Doona finds out, she barges in and begs him to stay. He asks why she left him, and Doona admits she takes things for granted. One thing leads to another, and she confesses she loves him. They spend the night together — finally, fully together.
Over the next few days or weeks, we see them enjoying their relationship, growing closer, and finding comfort in each other. But after attending a concert, Doona ends up singing on stage and something shifts. She realizes how much she misses performing. Won Jun is fully supportive of her comeback, but Doona tries to explain what it would mean for their relationship. He insists they’ll make it work. She keeps trying to explain and we can already feel what’s coming.
Days pass. Doona continues to miss being on stage while Won Jun returns to his hometown to care for his sister, who’s preparing for surgery. While he’s gone, Doona receives a letter from her former label — they’re suing her for breaching her contract. She turns to In Wook, who reminds her that she agreed not to sing anywhere else… but she sang at that concert. His solution? Make a comeback before the company gets serious. The catch? She has to dump Won Jun.
Doona is torn. She takes time to think. Meanwhile, Won Jun returns and, still unaware of the lawsuit, confronts In Wook and tells him to leave Doona alone. In Wook doesn’t back down. He tells Won Jun that their relationship is unlikely to survive. He brings up Won Jun’s military enlistment, school, and lack of resources — painting him as someone who can’t support Doona. He pushes further, saying Won Jun should be the one to walk away so Doona can focus on her career. Now both Doona and Won Jun are conflicted.
Eventually, Doona meets with the president of her label and In Wook to discuss her new contract and freedom. In Wook takes her to her new apartment and tells her to cut contact with everyone she knows. Doona isn’t sure how to end things with Won Jun, but she knows she wants her old life back. We get a flashback to the night of the concert — the moment Won Jun realized things would never be the same. Everyone’s still holding on, but the cracks are showing.
Time passes. Doona makes her comeback as a solo artist. Won Jun moves out. He still texts her old number with updates, but months go by and they barely stay in touch. We get another flashback showing how Doona used to sneak out to meet him. She believed that once she was established, they could make it work and that no one would care about their relationship. But Won Jun doesn’t feel the same. With his enlistment and future plans, he doesn’t think they’ll survive the distance. He ends the relationship.
Years pass. Doona focuses on her career. Won Jun finishes his military service and gets a job. The house they once shared is being sold, and everyone — except Doona — shows up to say goodbye. But when Won Jun returns to grab a jacket he left behind, he finds Doona there. They still can’t forget each other.
They go out for drinks. It doesn’t go well. Won Jun is cold. Doona leaves heartbroken. But she shows up at his house and confronts him. She wants an apology. She wants closure. Won Jun tries to stay distant, but eventually breaks. He tells her how wrong he was to let her go, how much he misses her. They hug. They confess. They miss each other.
So… are they together now?
Nobody knows.
The show ends with Doona and Won Jun continuing on separate paths. They almost run into each other in a mall. Doona looks back.
Won Jun doesn’t.
The End.
The Review
The Good
Visuals That Deserve a Standing Ovation
If there’s one thing this show nailed, it was the scenery. Every location felt like a mood board come to life — soft lighting, cinematic angles, and framing that made even the quiet moments beautiful. The cinematography had this warm, almost nostalgic quality that made even the most random scenes feel intentional. The framing, lighting, and camera movement were thoughtful from start to finish. If I can’t say “well done” to anything else, at least I can confidently say it here.
Chemistry That Didn’t Feel Coerced
I didn’t realise how hard it is for leads to fake good chemistry until I saw leads who actually had it. The actors in Doona! knew how to sell the tension, the longing, and even the awkward silences. Their fights felt real. Their kisses didn’t feel like someone off-screen was holding a cue card that said “NOW.” It’s rare these days to see a lead couple who don’t look like they’re being forced to kiss at gunpoint, so I’m genuinely grateful we didn’t get that energy here.
A Message You Have to Squint to See
Even though the message behind this show was confusing at best, I managed to pull something out of it, and that’s “Life Goes On.” There’s something quietly meaningful about watching two people love deeply, drift apart, and still keep moving. It wasn’t the healthiest relationship by any means, but it did capture that bittersweet truth that not everything or everyone is meant to last forever. It reminded me a bit of Twenty-Five Twenty-One (review here) in that sense: some moments are beautiful precisely because they can’t be repeated. Maybe I’m reaching here, but it felt like the show was trying to tell us that not every love story needs a “forever” to matter.
The Bad
Underdeveloped and Overcomplicated
One of the biggest issues with this story was how underdeveloped everything and everyone felt. It was like watching a prequel to a movie that never got made. Jin Joo’s issues were vaguely hinted at, but instead of feeling like a real subplot, it came off like the writers just needed a reason for her not to end up with Won Jun. Why didn’t she explain herself better instead of ghosting him?
“Doona.” not “Doona!”
Then there’s Doona. A walking storm of unresolved trauma, but none of it is fully unpacked. We’re left to guess that she was probably groomed by In Wook and had some kind of twisted father/boyfriend dynamic with him but that’s just speculation. Everything else we learn about her, like her mom or her idol past, comes from Won Jun doing a bit of casual Googling. Why did her group members turn on her? How deep was her relationship with In Wook? What was with the constant smoking? She clearly didn’t know how to manage her emotions or navigate a real relationship, but what caused that? If she quit because of anxiety, why didn’t we see her seek help? Why did it feel like In Wook was forcing her into a hiatus when she supposedly chose it? What did she actually want? There were so many questions and not enough time or care to answer them. When you cram that many issues into a short series without resolution, you don’t get complexity. You get chaos. And this was a mess.
Side Characters Who Wandered In from Another Show
And then we have Won Jun’s roommates and friends. Why did they suddenly get their own mini subplot? Why were they getting so much screentime toward the end when the show wasn’t even about them? I’m not mad at the idea of side characters having lives, but when your main character is this underdeveloped, there’s no room for filler. These side stories didn’t contribute anything. And why make Won Jun’s friend obsessed with Doona if we weren’t going to get the payoff — like him finding out they were dating, or walking in on them together? There were so many random threads that went nowhere, I honestly don’t know why they didn’t just make this a movie. At least then the lack of depth would’ve made sense.
What Was That Ending Supposed to Be?
Let’s talk about that ending — or whatever that was. One minute, they’re hugging and confessing how much they miss each other. The next, they’re living completely separate lives and almost bumping into each other at a mall like strangers. Where did they leave off? What was the point of that emotional reunion if they were just going to go their separate ways again? We should’ve just seen them both move on — maybe a quiet moment where Won Jun sees her on TV or hears her song and thinks back. Something clean. Something final.
Instead, we got ambiguity for the sake of being “artsy.” Some people thought they got back together. Others thought they didn’t. And some of us (hi) were just sitting there blinking at the screen, wondering what we just watched. Open endings can work, but only when the story earns it. This show wasn’t strong enough to pull that off. Like… read the room.
Doona Was Just Toxic
I already touched on her issues, so I won’t rehash all of it, but Doona was toxic. The way she treated Won Jun was exhausting. Up until the final episode, it never really felt like she liked him. It felt like she knew this chapter of her life was temporary and just wanted a distraction. She got upset over everything and never explained why. How was he supposed to know what triggered her if she never told him? Everything he learned about her came from Google searches and vague, half-dropped hints.
And then she went to the club to “see if she liked him”? Girl, what? And he didn’t even care? She let go of his hand, got in a car with another man, ignored his calls, and left him sitting at her grandmother’s house like a placeholder. At what point was that supposed to be romantic?
Honestly, they both had issues just in opposite directions. She was avoidant and emotionally unavailable, ready to cut ties at any moment. He was overly attached and way too willing to tolerate being treated like an emotional punching bag. Their relationship was just two people with unresolved issues pretending it was love. I’m fully on board with the idea that they shouldn’t have ended up together.
Won Jun Was Cute… Until He Wasn’t
At first, I thought Won Jun was sweet for fighting for her. But that quickly turned into something else. When his friend told him he was putting too much of himself into a relationship that wasn’t even defined, I wanted to high-five her. It felt like he was ready to shop for wedding rings while Doona was still wondering if she even liked him. I felt bad for him at first, but after a while, it stopped being endearing and just became sad. He had some serious attachment issues and must’ve duct-taped those rose-colored glasses to his face, because there’s no other explanation.
A Show That Didn’t Know What It Was
The biggest issue? This show didn’t know what it wanted to be. Was it a romance? A commentary on fame and burnout? A slice-of-life about moving on? The show dabbled in all of them but committed to none. Like I said in The Good, I was grasping at straws trying to find a message and that “life goes on” theory was me doing mental gymnastics to make sense of it. The story was scattered—one minute we’re dealing with Doona’s trauma, the next we’re stuck in a lukewarm love story, and then we’re back to random side plots.
Doona never worked on her issues. She seemed desperate to get back to In Wook while stringing Won Jun along. Meanwhile, Won Jun’s thing with Jin Joo went absolutely nowhere. The whole show felt like a collection of scenes that were meant to be flashbacks in a better, more cohesive drama. And honestly? I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s exactly what this was.
What I Would Do
A Message That Actually Means Something
If I had to rewrite Doona!, the core message would be simple: Life Goes On. I’d want viewers to feel the same kind of heartbreak they felt watching Twenty Five Twenty One — that bittersweet ache of knowing some of the best moments in your life are just memories now, and that’s okay. The show would emphasise that while you may love someone deeply, they’re not always meant to walk with you into the next phase of your life.
Doona and Won Jun would want to be together, but the reality of her re-debut, his military service, and their diverging paths would make it impossible. Their first goodbye would happen at the train station. The second would take place years later, in front of the house where they first met — a quiet, final moment where they acknowledge that the love will remain, but only in their memories.
Growth Over Chaos
I’d also rewrite their relationship to be less toxic and more transformative. Their time together would be filled with healing, laughter, and genuine connection. Won Jun would learn that happiness is possible despite his family struggles, and Doona would discover that not everyone wants to use her and that she can be loved for who she is, not just as an idol. He’d help her heal, take her to therapy, cook for her, and they’d go on that trip together.
And yes, I’d keep the infamous In Wook scene but with a twist. Doona would go with him, realizing she’s not over the fame life. The difference would be that It’d show her realizing the difference between conditional love (what In Wook offered) and unconditional love (what Won Jun gave). When she comes back, it wouldn’t be out of loneliness, it’d be because she finally understood who she could trust. She’d regret leaving Won Jun, but instead of just drifting back to Seoul, she’d show up at his house to apologise — not for choosing her career, but for not being honest about what she needed.
A Goodbye That Feels Like Closure
The show wouldn’t be a back-and-forth mess. It would be a story of two broken people learning how to live again. Their relationship would be a pause — a beautiful, necessary pause — in their chaotic lives. And when Doona performs on stage for the first time and Won Jun sees her happiness, he’d be the one to encourage her to go back. In the final scenes, we’d hear his voiceover: “If I knew convincing her to go back would mean the end of our relationship, I’d still do it. Not because I stopped loving her, but because I understood where her true passion lies.”
He’d love her. He’d miss her. But he’d be proud that he helped her find herself.
A Final Scene That Actually Lands
The show would end with Doona returning to the idol world and Won Jun continuing his own career path. But this time, they’re not broken or bitter — they’re more grounded in who they are. Doona isn’t just performing for survival, she’s doing it because she loves it. Won Jun isn’t just drifting through life, he’s found purpose beyond being someone’s emotional anchor.
They don’t end up together, but they don’t end in pieces either. When he sees her picture or she hears his name, there’s that quiet kind of bittersweet—like remembering a version of yourself you’ll always care for but don’t need to return to. It’s not painful. It’s reflective. They remember what they had, and they’re grateful for it.
It’s not a tragic ending. It’s a mature one. A soft, silent nod to the fact that some people come into your life to help you grow and once you’ve grown, you let them go.
Final Thoughts
In the end, this show was a waste of time. I used to think shorter dramas meant faster pacing and better flow, but I’ve been proven wrong — again. Doona! lacked depth, a coherent plot, a meaningful message, and anything remotely interesting beyond its cinematography. The characters had so much potential that it felt like we were watching a prequel to a better show or a flashback montage meant to support a story that never arrived. If they had cut some of the filler scenes with side characters and given the leads more time to actually develop, maybe we’d be having a different conversation.
But instead, we got a cast full of unresolved arcs, especially Doona — the one character who desperately needed growth and got none. And then came the ending. An ambiguous, interpret-it-yourself finale that could’ve meant a dozen different things but ultimately felt like a shrug. No clarity. No closure. Just vibes.This show was all over the place but nowhere at the same time, and that only left me more confused and disappointed. Next time, save us the trouble and just make it a movie, name it “An Idol, a Guy, and a Toxic Relationship”, and call it a night. I’d rather waste two hours instead of nine to ten. Lesson learned— on my side and theirs.
And done! I’ve been in the mood to review shows I watched awhile ago and I don’t know why. I’ll also be reviewing some shows that I didn’t rate that highly for the next few weeks simply because I have more to say.
What did you think of “Doona!”? Based on the comments I’ve read, I think most people agree on at least one thing I’ve said, do you?
Anyways, next week’s review will be on a movie I watched a while ago and was actually pretty good. I also realised I’ve planned to review movies for the next three weeks so be excited for that. At least there will be less to read, loll.
See you next week! 💕
Find Your Next Watch!
Main Cast
Bae Suzy as Lee Doona
Yang Se Jong as Lee Won Jun
Ha Young as Jin Joo
Lee Jin Wook as Park In Wook
Themes/ Genres
Fame and emotional isolation, First love and emotional awakening, Identity and reinvention, Trust, vulnerability, and boundaries, The tension between public persona and private self, The bittersweet nature of timing and choice
Romance Drama, Slice of life, Coming-of-age, Melancholy romance
