Bae Suzy and Yang Se Jong’s “Doona!” continues to gain popularity and even entered Netflix’s ranking despite viewers’ mixed reactions.
‘Doona!’ Makes Debut on Netflix’s Top 10 Most-Watched
The highly-anticipated work of Suzy along with first on-screen partner Yang Se Jong finally hit the small screen on October 20.
“Doona!,” which was originally adapted from the webtoon “The Girl Downstairs,” follows the romance story of an ordinary university student Won Jun and retired K-pop idol Doona, who end up living under one roof.
The nine-episode series, which premiered on the online streaming giant Netflix, immediately proved its popularity and entered Netflix Korea’s most-watched Top 10 lineup.
“Doona!” earned the second spot following Lee Yu Mi’s “Strong Girl Gang Namsoon,” which topped the list.
Overall, Suzy’s romance series is estimated to be #8 on the Global Top 10, showing that it is a hit drama around the world.
Suzy & Yang Se Jong’s ‘Doona’ Receives Mixed Reactions
However, despite the achievement, “Doona!” also sparked debate online for various reasons and garnered conflicting reviews from viewers.
Some enjoyed Suzy’s return to the small screen and witnessed her newfound chemistry with Yang Se Jong, while others were disappointed about the drama. A particular scene that caught the audience’s attention was when Suzy’s character was smoking.
Others commented that it would be better if Han So Hee played the role of Doona, escalating another debate among K-Netz.
Here are some of the conflicting reviews shared by K-Netz online.
- “I don’t know. It was a lot less than what I expected.”
- “I don’t like the female lead’s personality. There’s something unattractive about her.”
- “I am watching this for Suzy, but I can’t get myself to focus at all. I don’t think the female protagonist is for everyone. The first few episodes don’t do the best job at selling the character to the audience.”
- “It drags in the last remaining episodes. I only liked the first few episodes.”
- “I loved the kiss scene of Doona and Woo Jun. No. I loved all of the scenes!”
- “It gets better with each episode. If you’ve stopped watching the first few episodes, please give it another chance.”
- “Suzy is so pretty, and Yang Se Jong is hot!”
- “The final episodes are intense. The drama is well-produced.”
- “The lead characters have amazing chemistry.”
Regardless of the mixed reactions that the drama received, one thing seems certain is that Suzy’s comeback series is attracting more viewers both in Korea and abroad.
As global interest continues to arise, “Doona!” is expected to maintain a spot in Netflix’s Top 10.
These stars, known for their unmatched popularity, stable acting skills, and explosive star quality, are releasing their new leading works simultaneously. While they have previously showcased their versatility by exploring various genres, their upcoming projects all share a common focus on romance.
YoonA, who achieved box office success last year with the comedy movie ‘Confidential Assignment’ and the mystery drama ‘Big Mouth,’ continues to make waves by portraying a cheerful hotelier in JTBC‘s ‘King the Land.’ Her sweet romance with Lee Junho, who plays the selective hotel heir, has become a major highlight, contributing to the rising viewership ratings. YoonA’s natural acting in foreign languages such as English, Japanese, and Chinese adds to her portrayal of a professional hotelier, making the drama a true “Cinderella Story.”
Thanks to the overwhelming response, the drama’s popularity has been steadily growing, starting with a 5.1% viewership rating and reaching a peak of 12% last week. YoonA’s chemistry with Lee Junho has propelled them to the top spots on the drama cast’s topical chart, according to Data Corporation. The drama has also gained global traction through its streaming on Netflix, ranking first in weekly cumulative viewing rankings among non-English speaking countries from June 26 to July 2.
Suzy, too, returns to the romance genre with the Netflix drama ‘Doona!‘ Following her successful image transformation in the mystery drama ‘Anna‘ last year, anticipation is high for her acting in the romance genre after a considerable time.
Based on a webtoon of the same name, the drama revolves around Doona (played by Suzy), a retired K-pop idol, who encounters Wonjun (played by Yang Se Jong), an ordinary college student, at a share house. As soon as character posters were revealed, Suzy’s uncanny resemblance to the webtoon character sparked anticipation and much discussion in various online communities.
Suzy is also set to star in the upcoming work ‘Wishes Granted by Genie‘ (title subject to change),’ written by Kim Eun Sook, the renowned writer behind hit dramas such as ‘Goblin‘ and ‘Descendants of the Sun.’ This fantasy romance depicts the passionate love story between Genie, the spirit of the lamp, and Gayoung, who releases the genie from the lamp. Suzy reunites with Kim Woo Bin, her co-star from KBS’ ‘Uncontrollably Fond‘ in 2016, after seven years. The drama is slated for release next year.
IU, known for her diverse portrayals in films such as ‘Broker,’ where she played a single mother, and the sports movie ‘Dream,’ is also returning with a Netflix romance drama titled ‘You Have Done Well.’ In this upcoming film, she shares the screen with Park Bo Gum. The script is penned by Lim Sang Choon, the writer of ‘When the Camellia Blooms,’ while the directing duties are handled by Kim Won Seok, known for his work on ‘Misaeng‘ and ‘My Mister.’
Regarding her role in the drama, IU expressed, “Among the characters I’ve played so far, this one resembles me the most.”
Overall, fans can eagerly anticipate the success of these three acting idols as they embark on new projects that showcase their exceptional talent and charisma.
