Netflix’s “Doona!” was released earlier today, here is a recap of its finale and its ending explained!
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Netflix’s “Doona!” episode 9 recap
The episode begins with Won-Jun in bed, he’s sick. He remembers how he told doona he wanted to see her sing.
In voiceover, its as if he’s talking to her. He says he’s moving out of the dorm, and leaves her a message. Doona goes on to become an idol, a famous one, her career is on the rise.
Won Jun seems to be having a difficult time after their breakup. One day, on his way back to his dorm, he sees her. They have a meal.
Doona talks to him as if they’ll get back together, but he’s pointing towards the opposite. He says he’s going to serve in the military. She insinuates she will wait for him, but he meant she should forget about him and move on.
After their meal, angry Doona confronts him and tells him what he could be going through that’s worse than what she’s going through. She says she told her CEO they’re dating and she won’t let go. She asks him if he’s letting go, he says ‘yes, apparently.’ Doona, with tears in her eyes, leaves for the subway. She waits for him to get to her, but he doesn’t.
They both cry as they’re getting on the subway.
A while later
Doona makes a successful debut while Won Jun serves in the military. The sequences show how their lives are so different and how they’ve gone on their own way.
Yi-Ra and Jung-Hoon are happily dating and live together now. Won Jun crashes that night with them and remarks how odd it feels for Jung-Hoon to be living with a woman.
Won-Jun goes back to visit his highschool friend who now has his own shop. He finds Jin-Ju there, she’s back from overseas. She talks about her adventures and shows them pictures, accidentally, she shows a picture with Doona and reveals she’s gone to her concert when she was in Brazil.
More time has passed [its hinted that its been some years]
The entire group gathers at their old dorm, its revealed its now going to be remodeled for the landlord’s son who’s going to live there now. One of the members of the group talks about how this is their last time here and its sad Doona wasn’t there too.
They drink and part ways at night.
Won Jun goes back to get his jacket then he sees Doona. They drink at a bar, but its very awkward between them. Doona then goes back to her place and cries her eyes out.
Angry, she goes back to his new place, she knocks on the door and yells at him. she tells him she’s better now, she has people by her side and its not in pain anymore and she doesn’t need him. he says he knows, but then she asks him to apologize, to say sorry for not holding onto her. They end up hugging and crying in each other’s arms.
Year 2027
Won Jun is taking the civil servant exam. It seems he will pass.
More time later, in Japan.
Doona is there for an event. She’s welcomed by fans. Meanwhile, Won Jun is in the same building, he looks at cake and smiles. He then glances at what appears to be jewelry and goes with his boss. Both Doona and Won Jun cross paths but never meet, Doona glances back to see if its Won Jun, but he’s unaware and goes the opposite direction.
The end.
Netflix’s “Doona!” ending explained- FAQ
Netflix’s “Doona!” episode 9 review- initial thoughts
Before I begin discussing my initial thoughts on the ending, I want to say this….. I may sound confused some times as you read below, the reason is this…
Doona is edited weirdly, its very oddly spliced. Especially for a Netflix kdrama, they usually have a high production quality and editing is usually done well so I am genuinely surprised by “Doona!” editing.
The ending was…. Fine.
The screenwriter behind this drama is a new screenwriter who has no other credit to their name.
According to Namu Wiki, the webtoon had 3 seasons that ran for a couple of years. And apparently, the ending was sort of highly criticized, if I am not mistaken in what I read, Won Jun ended up with I-Ra? If anyone read the webtoon, please comment below and clarify for us because I am hella confused.
The editing feels like you’re in a sort of fever dream, or a state of lucid dreaming. It has a fantasy feel to it in an odd way, and it jumps between takes oddly too. This is very clear with the ending that intentionally does not clarify year timelines which would’ve been helpful.
My issue with such types of endings is how unnecessarily ambiguous they are. Open endings work, but in few cases. In this case, it was leading up to how the couple wouldn’t make it with this industry, the screenwriter should’ve been more frank and gave it like it is, either they break up and find their way back to each other eventually, or they break up, that’s it.
Whats so difficult about giving clear endings like this? The theme itself is not even worth guessing over. Its not like its rocket science or exponentially complicated that a straight answer is difficult to deduce.
My feelings on Doona are complicated. On one hand, I liked the casting overall and the story has many interesting elements, and on the other hand, I feel the drama is missing a good chunk of what could’ve made it special. If that makes sense to anyone reading this.
For now, I felt it could have been more, there were traces of what could have been great but it misses here and there. More often that I wanted to detect.
My full thoughts and the full review will be out this weekend hopefully, so stay tuned for that.
What did you think of Netflix’s “Doona!” ending?
There better be a season 2 with a happy endi
Eine 2 Staffel wäre auch angebracht. Sie sagte ja das sie diese Karriere nicht für die Agentur oder ihrem Manager weiter führt. Denke sie wollte am Ende keinen etwas schuldig bleiben. Sie hätte nach einiger Zeit ihre Beziehung offen legen können. Dennoch ein sehr gutes Drama. Einzige Makel war das Rauchen, welche Agentur erlaubt das in der Öffentlichkeit? Dann hätten sie auch eine Beziehung zulassen können. Hätte mir ein Happy End für beide gewünscht.
Any chance of having season 2..??? Cause the ending was so not satisfying, before the launch of the movie there were season 1 and 2 shown, oh god i hope there is season 2 as well….!!!
Many individuals hold the misconception that when two people follow distinct paths, they cannot ultimately find their way back together. I believe that to be wrong, because if you love someone deeply you can make it work. Even if you are not at each other’s side. Even though it is hard, even though it think there is no love. if you talk and figure things out and choose to love each other. Eventually, it will all be for the best and all the past misunderstanding, breakups and etc will only make you stronger and bring you closer. For this reason, I believe that doona and won-jun can be together.. I believe that to be wrong, because if you love someone deeply you can make it work. Even if you are not at each other’s side. Even though it is hard, even though it think there is no love. if you talk and figure things out and choose to love each other. Eventually, it will all be for the best.
Similarly, I believe that Doona and Won-jun can find a way to be together. The past misunderstandings, breakups, and other obstacles they may have faced can serve as valuable experiences that strengthen their connection and bring them closer in the end.
Ekrana bakıp kaldım şaşkın şaşkın dedim ne oldu??? Acaba ben bir şey mi kaçırdım diyerek bölüm başında gösterilen tren yolu karşılaşmalarına baktım sonra sonunu tekrar seyrettim ve dedim ki galiba bize bıraktı senarist sonunu seyirci istediği gibi son yazsın diziye diye kısaca dizi bölümlerinin başında hep karşılaşmalar var istediğini hayal et
Terrible ending. They had already expressed their feelings towards each other. Therefore, the episode should have shown them come back together.
Eine 2 Staffel wäre auch angebracht. Sie sagte ja das sie diese Karriere nicht für die Agentur oder ihrem Manager weiter führt. Denke sie wollte am Ende keinen etwas schuldig bleiben. Sie hätte nach einiger Zeit ihre Beziehung offen legen können. Dennoch ein sehr gutes Drama. Einzige Makel war das Rauchen, welche Agentur erlaubt das in der Öffentlichkeit? Dann hätten sie auch eine Beziehung zulassen können. Hätte mir ein Happy End für beide gewünscht.
I totally agree with your ending review 100%. This is to me one of the most disappointing kdramas I’ve seen to think that I was anxiously waiting for it for 2 weeks and finished the entire series in a day! I agree with the unclear timelines and the sudden appearances of characters without proper introduction. The re were a lot of highs and lows that did not build up properly and worst of all, they tried really hard to have an open ending but it failed miserably. It was disappointing to see the main guy did not end with either of the 2 leading ladies! This is a very forgettable series not worth watching again. So sorry for being blunt. I just hope there’s a serving season. It might change my point of view of the show. 2 out of 5 stars.
Yeah, the ending was very ambiguous. The screenwriter should have just left it when they were in the apartment telling each other how they miss each other. The civil service exam and the Japan take were unnecessary. I know each screenwriter wants to be all artistic. Well, could have done better with the ending.
I was so intrigued watching this, it was definitely very different from the usual kdramas I have watched and also brought views on celebrities lives and addressed many issues like online harassment, stalking, but in my opinion it was very conflicting on the characters views, I felt it was very weirdly represented. I felt at the end either won jun and doona should have their way back to each other (if you think about it if won jun regretted his decision and they both missed each other they technically had no reason to go separate ways or a matter of fact cut communication off completely) , ( or they both clarified they missed each other but now doona doesn’t need him anymore, and they just break up, which confused me because won jun is obviously a big part of her life, and she still loved and missed him. So I disagree with that ending I would’ve hoped to see them get together after such rough times in the past years they should finally be happy together, seemed like she’ll fall back into depression again..
I loved the series! I was hoping the ending was different, but in real life things don’t work out. Sometimes you have to let go to keep living, to be happy. I felt in my mind, after they grow older, when she ends her career, they can live in that house in the country side like he wanted.
Being away from each other kills a relationship. So let go, and come back to each other when you can spend time together. That time will be the right time.
I was so intrigued watching this at first , it was definitely very different from the usual kdramas I have watched and also brought views on celebrities lives and addressed many issues like online harassment, stalking, but in my opinion it was very conflicting on the characters views, I felt it was very weirdly represented. I felt at the end either won jun and doona should have their way back to each other (if you think about it if won jun regretted his decision and they both missed each other they technically had no reason to go separate ways or a matter of fact cut communication off completely) , ( or they both clarified they missed each other but now doona doesn’t need him anymore, and they just break up, which confused me because won jun is obviously a big part of her life, and she still loved and missed him. So I disagree with that ending greatly, I was so saddd to see them grow apart I would’ve hoped to see them get together after such rough times in the past years they should finally be happy together, seemed like she’ll fall back into depression again.. without won jun, he says to her she was born to sing but was she really she’s only human she has feelings and can date too.
1. If we noticed all the little details, they are actually together. Before explaining, remember in Episode 8, her manager outlined their time-frame: he had military school, he had college, then he would be able to get a real job. She also needed time to get her stardom back and repay for all the financial damage she caused. If you noticed, a lot of years have past in Episode 9.
2. So finally, look at how episode 9 STARTS. He’s wearing the exact same time, shirt, and jacket that he was earing at the ENDING of the show. And if you look at his face, he’s smiling. Time-frame wise, based on his clothing…the beginning of the episode is actually the real ending….the whole thing is just fluffing out the details.
3. One last detail, the name of her recent released album in 2027 is “Under-Cover.” We can’t get more explicit than that…DooNa looking at Won Jun connects us back to the BEGINNING of the episode…where he is smiling. It’s just a whole symbolic way of saying they couldn’t have an OPEN relationship due to her career, but we all know they both love each other, so being Under-Cover was the way to go…and at that point, both of their careers were solid and she’s probably paid back her debts because we had a scene where she was able to finally use her cell phone again…and we know her manager wouldn’t let her use it unless he felt she was THERE professionally and a relationship wouldn’t derail or damage her career at that point.
I saw that too. He was looking at the cake, as if he was going to get that for them when they met in Japan. She already knew she was going to be in Japan before she met him. I feel she must have told him. I also agree with you in regards to the phone. I think they knew she needed to keep in touch with him so not to give up again.
I really do think they were going to see each other when they could. He looked too happy in Japan.
She told him in some years, she would be finished, free. Love true love is worth fighting for.
Love, true love, covers, endures all things
Sure, this is only fiction, but who needed another LaLa Land downer? This should have been an antitode to that. So, in my mind, they recognized their love was unbreakable and they were soulmates who married, had 2 kids, and were sure to be there for each other forever.
I am so tired of kdramas that seem to be trying to be literary by having bittersweet endings. The world is uncertain enough that it helps to see something that works out. Older kdramas gave satisfaction but I leave these series with a slightly broken heart to confront a broken world. This drama was interesting and different but I could see the writing on the wall and I’m not sure I want to invest in this relationship.
I loved the series! I was hoping the ending was different, but in real life things don’t work out. Sometimes you have to let go to keep living, to be happy. I felt in my mind, after they grow older, when she ends her career, they can live in that house in the country side like he wanted.
Being away from each other kills a relationship. So let go, and come back to each other when you can spend time together. That time will be the right time.
My overall impression of the series is that they were created specifically for Suzy – to let her sing and dance, play someone looking cool with cigarettes and showcase her beauty. Because the story and ending lacks meaning and depth otherwise.
I saw that too. He was looking at the cake, as if he was going to get that for them when they met in Japan. She already knew she was going to be in Japan before she met him. I feel she must have told him. I also agree with you in regards to the phone. I think they knew she needed to keep in touch with him so not to give up again.
I really do think they were going to see each other when they could. He looked too happy in Japan.
She told him in some years, she would be finished, free. Love true love is worth fighting for.
Love, true love, covers, endures all things