Season 1 |
Episode Guide
Episode 1 -| Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 2 -| Review Score – 4/5
Episode 3 -| Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 4 -| Review Score – 4/5
Episode 5 -| Review Score – 4/5
Episode 6 -| Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 7 -| Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 8 -| Review Score – 4/5
Episode 9 -| Review Score – 4/5
Episode 10 -| Review Score – 4/5
Episode 11 -| Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 12 -| Review Score – 3/5
Episode 13 -| Review Score – 4/5
Episode 14 -| Review Score – 4/5
Episode 15 -| Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 16 -| Review Score – 4/5
Korean dramas are notorious for their endings. With 16+ hours to work with, many people grow attached to characters and expectations are always at an all-time high to pull everything off with a triumphant hoorah at the end. Unfortunately for every Crash Landing or Goblin there’s a Vagabond or Graceful Friends waiting to balance out the scales.
And so that leads nicely to Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol. It seems odd to begin a review by talking about the ending but out of all the shows released in 2020, the final 10 minutes to this series are arguably the most hotly contested and polarizing material in K-drama world – outside the current feud in Start-Up. This will ultimately make or break the experience for you, which is a shame because everything leading up to the finale is near pitch-perfect.
For those unaware, Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol is a romantic comedy with touches of slice of life and healing themes integrated. It’s often funny, full of heartwarming and heartbreaking segments and topped off with a lovable, memorable cast of characters.
Fronting the lines are Go Ara and Lee Jae-Wook who portray Ra-Ra and Joon respectively. The former is a rich princess with everything she could ever ask for. After her groom runs out at the altar and her Father suffers a tragedy, Ra-Ra descends down a slippery slope to bankruptcy with nothing but her lovable dog Mimi to her name.
Unsure where else to turn, Ra-Ra packs up her things – and Mimi – and heads off for Eunpo where her secret admirer happens to live. Unfortunately, on the way she hits a boy on a bike called Joon who topples over. That same boy happened to be a runner at Ra-Ra’s botched wedding who tried to help her.
With fate bringing these two characters together, Ra-Ra opens a studio called Lala Land and shows off her talent for piano playing to anyone who will listen. This stems back to her past as specific reference to the title – Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol – references the notes to Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. Indebted to Joon after he helps her get on her feet, the two slowly start to grow closer together.
Lurking in the wings to try and woo Ra-Ra however happens to be Eun-Sook, the resident Doctor in town. His mannerisms are immediately suspicious and it’s only made worse when a stalker crops up on the scene and lurks in the shadows.
This storyline essentially encapsulates most of the first two acts of this drama, intertwined around mysterious men arriving in town looking for Joon after being hired by a stern woman. All of this builds up nicely to the third act where emotions spill over and dramatic truths about Joon are revealed.
It’s here where the final two episodes throw a couple of new curveballs in the mix that almost feel like one twist too many. This is where the ending comes into play too. There’s a lot of theories going around about what’s happening during the final moments of the show but suffice to say, on reflection this is going to make or break the experience for a lot of people.
I won’t divulge what that is here but I can fully understand why people are conflicted. This also shows the power this drama has had too, which genuinely includes a stacked cast full of likable characters from top to bottom.
Whether it be the various colourful residents of Eunpo or the different antagonists that crop up across the 16 episodes, Do Do Sol Sol is wonderfully written for the most part and does an exceptional job bringing to life some of the most memorable characters from any comedic Korean drama this year.
If you can go into this one with a bit of an open mind and expect a polarizing ending from the off, Do Do Sol Sol is well worth checking out. It may not be the best k-drama of the year but it is one of the rare exceptions where everything before the finale is so warm and lovely that it would be a shame to write this one off because of the final 10 minutes.
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Verdict - 7.5/10
7.5/10
I loved the series, just confused by the ending is he alive if so that was so mean to do that to her, she mourned him for five years and he just appears and said he wanted too be sure he would be cured. It wasn’t like she had a crush on him.
I love most of the Korean series that I have seen/
Thank you Korea for quality television.
I love this drama so much and can’t get over it, I have watched it more than seven times and can’t get over the chemistry between the main characters. The story line makes me relate to it so much but the ending made me cry a lot, it might not be hyped as much as other kdramas but it’s more interesting than some fantasy Korean dramas which makes me excited once but can’t rewatch it again and besides jae wook played the teenage character obsessed with an older woman very well. Thumbs up to this series I wish it had more than 16 episodes.
Mostly enjoyed this show except I also can’t imagine loving so much and letting that person go through so much pain and heartache. Ruined it for me.
Been attached to several Korean dramas since beginning of 2020. I cried a lot while watching the end of Mr. Sunshine and thought i would never be that silly again. However the finale of Dodosolsollala had me sobbing even longer and then in total confusion. I know why there is as much debate going on with this as well as with Start Up. Not sure what the writers were thinking. Maybe a test audience was reacting as I did and they wanted not to totally depressed the viewers that had come to love the show as I did. However it came off clumsily and I am confused as to why anyone would stay away 5 years since he had to talk nightly to Ra-Ra during treatment.
Regardless of the last few minutes it was a delight and addictive to watch. As someone from southeastern US we don’t have but a couple of programs that are as addictive, emotional, and well written. Thanks
Is he alive at the end or just in her mind?
I watched it twice, months apart. I loved the piano theme and was in tears over the sorrow that was brought out so very incredibly by our actress..i enjoyed Jun’s unique way of showing his love. Knowing the ending I was not as upset the second time around but truly no one in the real world would do this to someone they loved nor would the person so very loved have such a reaction.
Overall I loved this series
Got a little bored with this series about half way through it just didn’t seem to be moving along and floundering. Out of boredom and in Lockdown, I decided to revisited again to watch the final few episodes, which, surprisingly, I enjoyed..except for the last 10 minutes of the last episode! Absolutely no need for that style of ending. What were the script writers thinking?? As if our main character remains in limbo for the last 5 years and this isn’t enough to recover and move on and perhaps find a new love….. So a tentative thumbs up.. but really – The ending could have been written in a much different way that I am sure, would have left audiences feeling much better than some imagined fairy land tale of a construct.
Heartwarming and delightful, loved from the beginning t the end. Writers could have made RaRa suspicious of Jun’s death years see clues of him watering the lettuce, filling the cooler with juice, replenishing her face cream, mysterious man at Kim’s funeral, and have the tea cup missing. Lastly, no big announcement at the hospital for their only son. This would have the ending would have been more real. But I loved this couple and their immediate connection in the entire series. It reminded me of Chocolate/Korean series Loved, loved, loved it. Good feel series. Thank you.
I loved this series. I thought it was interesting and captivating from beginning to end. The actors were engaging and entertaining! They played their parts well. DODOSOLSOLLALASOL is one of my favorite Korean rom-coms. I would give it a top rating 10!
Totally agree!! “.. it would be a shame to write this one off because of the final 10 mins”
I love all eunpo residents, i love our Rara and Jun romance.. they really good in playing all the drama trope and make it funny and twisted but then they (writer and production ppl) kind a greedy with using all the drama recipe including that unnecessary thing happens to Jun.. and that last 5 mins should be longer.. explain to us using their usual epilogue or make it more sense to the last scene.. I’m angry but I also love this drama.. it was fun ride..
Thanks