With this being the first chapter, we still have much to learn about the characters. The introduction, however, has managed to pique our interest. This first episode gave us a glimpse into the lives of Doona and Won-joon while also leaving us with a few questions about what led them here. We know Doona is a retired idol singer, and Won-joon is a student struggling to make ends meet. However, we don’t know why Doona quit.
We also don’t know the whole dynamic of Won-joon’s family life. Hopefully, we will find out more in the next chapters.
Exploring the Relationship Between Doona and Won-Joon
As we get to see the lives of two very contrasting characters, Doona and Won-joon, in the first episode of Doona, we found that Doona is almost fighting with her past life. She’s abdicated her performer life and now resides in a rented room, spending her days smoking and musing over it. There is an intense dream sequence wherein she is shown enjoying on stage the thunders of applause, then falls into a water body -a final goodbye to her previous life.
On the other hand, Won-joon, who is a poor college student, reaches Seoul while worried about his mother and sister, who have just been hospitalized. He has been motivated by wanting to work for his bread and butter, and believes teaching will be a viable option for paying his rent and surviving.
On arriving in a newly rented sharehouse, Won-joon comes across Doona, whom he hardly casts an eye on. In the first place, she seems not to take any notice of him. However, once she starts overhearing Won-joon whistling at Dream Sweet.
This brings her face-to-face with him, accusing of being a stalker; however, Won-joon clears himself out but is well aware of his idol past. With such a development in the series, we find some tensions building up between them in specific scenes as Won-joon gets to notice Doona’s reclusive and cold nature.
Later, he also meets another classmate of his at the university, Jin-joo, and spends another evening that is reminiscent but somehow unfulfilling for his sense of nostalgia over the past. He walks home and finds Doona sitting by herself outside in deep thought and sorrow. Avoiding her, he takes notice of her tears falling.
Upon her passing out, he decides to follow her to the hospital as well. He buys Doona some warm socks showing another gentler side of his being. It becomes a turning point in their relationship, yet Won-joon’s life doesn’t rid itself of the influence of Doona’s presence.
A tutoring client cancels his appointment since he has that lingering cigarette smell on him, leading him to believe that maybe Doona is affecting his image.
Though Doona sometimes invites Won-joon to share meals together, he rejects her with the excuse to keep away from her; however, in such involuntary moments of hanging clothes on the rooftop, there is always lingering tension and interest between them.
At one moment, when she almost playfully tells him not to fall for her, a slight trace of humour and vulnerability seemed to creep out while talking to him.
The Surprising Chemistry Between Doona and Won-Joon
And the things get more interesting as, with time, they get to spend more time around each other. Doona goes to Won-joon’s school and remembers a promise he made once to her. They end up having ice cream on both of their hands, while she jokingly says to him that if he loves her, she might call up without any reason. Without any care, Won-joon enjoys the innocent connection that is growing slowly around these people.
By the end of this episode, it’s apparent that these two are from different worlds, yet drawn to each other in an inexplicable way. The contrast between Won-joon’s grounded practicality and Doona’s reflective, enigmatic aura has everything set up for interesting exploration into their connection as they navigate complex emotions.
What’s in store for these two?
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