We’ve reached the point in our story where the truth is out in the open. Secrets are revealed, lovers are forced apart, and though they might understand each other, there are still many barriers to their relationship. But thanks to all the people on their side of the court, all is not yet lost.
EPISODES 11-12 WEECAP
As we learned last week, Lala has found out about Joon’s true age/identity, and indeed, told his mother where they were meeting. He’s dragged away (agh, the pain of this twice!), and we jump a month in the future.
Lala has a new sleek hairdo, and is busy eating, dancing, and keeping busy (almost manically), so she doesn’t have to dwell on Joon. Joon, on the other hand, is literally being kept under lock and key by his mother, like a reverse rapunzel, chained to his ivory tower. His elaborate escape ladder from the beginning of the show makes a whole lot of sense now, because that’s actually what it would take for him to get away again. Or maybe an eagle can come and carry him away back to Eunpo? Joon has no phone, he refuses to eat, and he’s steamrolled into being a studying machine, told that his future is on the line.
This month apart is difficult on our hearts, and it’s a rough separation because they never got to talk, Joon never got to tell her the truth himself or explain, etc. After multiple escape attempts, he finally manages to send her a love letter in the shape of sheet music for their song, “The Pleasure of Love.” What a nice touch.
Though this parting and sadness suck, the sweet genius of Do Do Sol Sol comes to our rescue here, and while we’re enduring this pain, we are treated to more of Joon and Lala acting out haraboji’s romance with his wife.
Yes, Show! It’s as if they heard me last week, squealing over what a lovely touch this was, so they decided to continue it just for me — and make it even better. And so, we watch our historical couple fall in love, and even share their first kiss to the meaningful song that haraboji is learning to play. (Lee Jae-wok is so supremely swoon-worthy in this scene! Hang on, I need a moment to collect myself.)
Anyway, this couple also has to endure their own painful parting, and the echo between both storylines is such a nice touch. There’s something about this re-enactment that just makes my heart melt.
Haraboji’s story helps Lala endure her own parting with Joon, and he also assures her of what she already knows: Joon is Joon. She might not have known about him, but she knows who he is. I love this distinction.
Our crew of supporting characters just get richer by the episode, and I flat-out adore all of them. For instance, our thug Min-soo is visiting Sook-kyung’s salon frequently, clearly sweet on her. They’re teased relentlessly by the TWD ladies, and this whole thing is so innocent and sweet – just like the drama itself.
But it’s Seung-gi and Ha-young who are the real heroes this week. They can’t take the radio silence from Joon anymore, and march off to Seoul, intimidated but determined to see him. With their willingness to help, and Joon’s clever plan, he fakes passing out, meets them at the ER, and then has Seung-gi switch places with him for the day so he can escape to Eunpo. It might not be the most realistic of plot devices, but I don’t mind, because I’m definitely not watching this show for realism — I’m watching it for the adorable little world it’s created.
The friendship between Joon, Seung-gi, and Ha-young is even more fun now that they know they’re all the same age, and I needed the giggle from their patient replacement antics, because harabogi’s piano recital and beautiful narration about his wife had me crying. This drama is precious.
Joon is on the run again, and has a one-track mind: Lala. Their swift reunion was satisfying in that it wasn’t drawn out, and they talk, explain, and share everything that needed to be said, from his age, to his inadvertent lie, to Lala being his best friend’s first love. We even get a nice moment for Lala to properly thank Joon for saving her from the insane stalker. But, because all parties are now aware that Joon is a minor, Lala refuses his kiss. Well, it’s implied instead of stated, but it’s clear enough.
Now that they’ve said what they needed to say and resolved their misunderstandings, our couple is at peace. Joon agrees to go back to Seoul and continue his studies, and Lala waits for him at Eunpo. We see a new super-studious Joon, who’s now free to contact Lala since he’s towing the line. But soon, he starts to prioritize her safety over his studies (how dare he!) and Joon’s mother tells Lala that they need to meet. (Aside: Hats off to Seo Yi-sook here — she’s a suffocating nightmare as Joon’s mother, and yet the polar opposite as the warm and intuitive Director Yoon in Start-Up!)
It’s actually a brilliant scene, first with Sook-kyung and the TWD ladies imagining all possible scenarios (from dramas, of course) for this Joon’s mom/Lala meeting. Then, the story goes up another level and actually has them turn up at the coffee shop according to their drama scenarios, and they’re ready to block Lala from glasses of water, kimchi slaps, and the fated envelope of money. I love how the drama makes jokes about tropes, and even though this is a serious scene, it’s funny too, because it’s Lala that passes the envelope of money to Joon’s mother, repaying her debt.
Funniness aside, this scene is crucial, because Lala has to be convinced that Joon is better off without her, at least right now. Part of this is hammered in by the same element having played out in haraboji’s love story, but the other part of it is because Joon’s mom goes from helicopter parent of doom, into an actual mother. And we get a sudden look into her perspective.
There’s the sweetest flashback of her with Joon as a young boy, talking about the joy he brought to them, and how hard it was for her to get pregnant. Okay, I forgive her a little. And I can even understand Lala (a little), and why she’s willing to renounce Joon so he can be “successful.”
Now it’s Lala’s turn to write a letter, and then disappear into the mist. Joon is heartbroken, and I’m right behind him, but don’t worry — we have it as a guarantee from haraboji’s own story that multiple partings don’t mean heartbreak: fate will bring these two soulmates together again.
Dr. Cha is finally growing on me, and he cheers Lala on while telling her that she “healed” him from his unhappiness. Interestingly, he uses a lot of the same language Joon did during his confession, but thankfully Dr. Cha refrains from that angle. Lala thanks him — and then thanks him for being Dodosolsolalasol. Hooray, that identity is confirmed. I’m happy with this low-key confirmation scene, and also the gratefulness between them.
And so, six months go by. Our couple is separated and out of touch, but I know they’ll be together soon. Right? I admit at this point, the pacing of the drama is confusing me at tad: if Joon and Lala are clearly soulmates and know it, what conflict is left to resolve for two more weeks? Dr. Cha/benefactor mystery? Solved. Stalker plot line? Dispatched. It seems the only thing left is just to talk some sense into Joon’s uptight family, and let our lovebirds be the legal lovebirds that they now can be. Because thanks to Seung-gi and Ha-young, we learn that they’re all now legal adults.
So, will our final two weeks be about overcoming the final impediments to our couple being together? I’m not complaining, as I will gladly watch all of these characters just existing for fifty more episodes (and in fact, I almost wish I could) — but it also looks like Do Do Sol Sol has some final pranks in store for us. At least, this jaw-dropping ending had better be a prank!
We see Lala all dressed up for her wedding. All of Eunpo is there, involved, and happily participating… and then Dr. Cha puts a ring on Lala’s finger. OMG! We all know this is 100% impossible, so even though my jaw is on the floor, I’m sure it’s just a trick. Trick me, fool me, prank me, it’s fine. It’s all worth it to see Joon running onto the scene and grabbing Lala for an epic runaway bride moment. I hope they elope. I mean, as long as she didn’t just really marry Dr. Cha.