My Rating: 0.5 out of 5.0 stars
Script-writing by committee is a bad idea, especially when producers and studio execs are part of that committee. I don’t know for sure if that’s what happened to “Do-Do-Sol-Sol-La-La-Sol”, but it sure as hell feels like it. At a standard 16 episodes it’s also far too long. That may have played a part in the absolute crime of an ending we get here.
This is the worst review I’ve ever given to a K-drama, and for good reason. The final 15 or so minutes absolutely ruins an overall good story and makes the male lead even more reprehensible than he already was. Sun Woo-joon, played by Lee Jae-wook, is a habitual liar, despite his self-deprecating nature and his genuine affection for Goo Ra-ra, played by Go Ara. He lies to her about his background, his age, his family, and his illness more than once. It’s his final lie that ruins an otherwise decent romantic drama.
Go Ara is a bride-to-be who comes from a wealthy family. After her father is accused of embezzling, she is forced into hiding with little more than her car and a few possessions, to escape humiliation and her father’s debt. She’s a gifted pianist, and eventually finds her own way as a piano teacher. Before that, however, she gets into an accident and finds herself in the care of Woo-joon, who is a big mystery. In reality he’s still a student, but he ran away from home and dropped out of school. I believe he’s 19 so there’s nothing inappropriate about their eventual relationship, but Ra-ra nevertheless is led to believe he’s a single, albeit brooding adult who is mostly solitary. These lies are eventually exposed, but Ra-ra cares for him and she’s able to overlook them.
Woo-joon soon falls seriously ill. I don’t recall what his disease is and I don’t care enough to go back and look at this point, but it’s life-threatening. He hides the illness from Ra-ra initially, but eventually she finds out and is understandably devastated. In the final act of a true asshole, Woo-joon goes to America to receive life-saving treatment, but allows Ra-ra to believe that he has died, even enlisting the help of his mother to confirm his death. For what it’s worth, she’s a real asshole, too.
Lies aside, at this point we still have the making of a decent story. Ra-ra, with the support of her new circle of friends, comes to accept Woo-joon’s death and is ready to move forward with her new life. But apparently someone thought it was a cardinal sin to end the story with the healthy acceptance of loss, and a new level of bullshit is introduced. Unexpectedly, Woo-joon re-appears, back from the dead! Except he wasn’t dead! He was in America getting miraculously healed. His explanation is yet another lie – he didn’t want to worry Ra-ra so he kept it a secret. I guess he thought believing he was dead would be less traumatic? That’s a dick move and it sours the entire story.
I will give credit for a wonderful supporting cast including Kim Ju-hun, Shen Eun-soo, and Ye Ji-won. Their characters play an important role in Ra-ra adapting to her new circumstances. They’re not given a whole lot to do, but it’s a very fun group to see on screen.
Ultimately, though, the ending makes the entire series irredeemable. I can’t excuse the train wreck caused by those last few minutes in which Ra-ra is beside herself with confusion. Go Ara’s performance is that of someone who would be rightly disturbed and angry instead of relieved and grateful, as I’m sure the writers thought she should be.
Skip it. I endured this travesty so you don’t have to. You’re welcome.
