As business picks up for our heroine and new students find their way to her, our focus shifts to our hero, and his mysterious backstory. Although we have our regular dose of adorability and humor, Do Do Sol Sol also throws us a curveball this week, and it has the potential to change a lot for our characters.
EPISODES 5-6 WEECAP
The flash of lightning and casual, “Anyeong!” from Lala that triggered Joon’s trauma last week also triggered an OTP-worthy embrace, with Joon seeking comfort from Lala for a few brief moments. When he recovers he doesn’t offer an explanation, but asks her not to say goodbye like that in the future. Lala can be more observant than we realize — especially when it comes to Joon — and after she leaves, she winds up running back to check on him, sensing something wrong. Yes. So much yes!
The two are adorable, sitting in his bed under the blankets (haha okay, Show), and it’s a sweet bonding moment for them. Also, it’s the beginning of the crack in Joon’s facade. We know he’s been hiding a secret, and it’s linked to his friend, but what we learn over the course of this week is what we expected… and so much more.
Ubiquitous Dr. Cha, who seems to find it perfectly normal to follow teenagers around all day, won’t let up on Joon. It’s when we/he finally remembers their connection, though, that we have our game-changing moment. Dr. Cha remembers running into Joon when he dropped something at an event, and Joon handed it to him. A little digging and he finds out that Joon is actually the only son and sole heir of a huge hospital. Oh, also, he’s a high school senior.
Soooo that happened. The runaway chaebol part I got (and we guessed), so that made sense. And getting glimpses of his horrible family life and suffocating/soulless father made his running away completely understandable. Even the reveal around the accident that caused his best friend’s death — that worked too. But I can’t wrap my head around why the story wants him to be a high schooler.
To make this situation even more confusing, while we are getting hints leading up to this reveal, the scenes are intercut with him and Lala. She’s wondering why he’s getting so tall, and is trying to measure his height against their wall. This, of course, gets Joon totally flustered, and this scene is more than clear about his pretty heavy attraction to her. Great, now I can’t fully enjoy their cute, chemistry-filled moment — and Joon leaning in to kiss her before getting head-banged — because I’m worried that he really is only 18 or 19. This is a trick, right?
On one hand, I’m confused and concerned. But it’s always worth playing devil’s advocate a little, so let’s look at the other side too. Yes, their age gap is uncomfortable now, but if they’re only 5-ish years apart, that’s not such a big deal a few years down the road. Also, if I squint really hard, in a way some of it makes sense. When we see Joon alone and free to react to Lala in private, it really does have the vibes of this overpowering and uncontrollable noona crush. He’s a smart boy and obviously very mature, but we also see his logic and reason turn to mush whenever Lala asks him for something — it’s like he’s a captive puppy. So, if you look at it like that, I guess it kinda makes sense?
Poor Joon, though, he knows he’s falling for Lala, and he’s already kicking himself for lying to her for no reason when they met at her wedding. Dr. Cha tries to give Joon some sage advice about lies destroying trust between two people… and then Joon smartly turns it back on him, pointing out that Dr. Cha is lying too (he knows Lala through her fiancé but never told her). It’s the only card that Joon has against Dr. Cha, and it feels like Dr. Cha has so many more against Joon. But, what he doesn’t have is Lala adoring him and depending on him, which she does to Joon, whether she realizes it or not.
Other things happened in the show this week, but they were all overshadowed by the reveal around Joon. And if they weren’t overshadowed by Joon, they were overshadowed by Joon + Lala, because whenever they’re onscreen together I am in love with them and their interactions, and can’t stop smiling.
That being said, I’m enjoying our developing story — and by that I mean the hilarious sprinkling of new characters, whether it’s creepy glue haircut guy, the sweet haraboji getting piano lessons, or our observant, adorable child prodigy. I’m even growing fond of Ha-young and her secret suitor, the drama addicts over at the salon — and while we’re at it, can we get a kimchi pancake shout-out?
Do Do Sol Sol continues to deliver this balance of cuteness, hilarity, and contrived mayhem. It’s all meant to be fun, and that’s why I love it so much. Crazy though it sounds, and stones though you may throw, I almost think I like the drama more after this dramatic curveball, just because it’s so perplexing.
So, between trying to figure out why the character of Joon was purposefully written so young, and that killer cliffhanger with Lala and all her friends awaiting the arrival of her secret benefactor (what a great scene!) — I can’t wait for next week’s episodes. In fact, just picture Lala bursting through the wall between her studio and the salon. That’s the same gangbusters feeling I have waiting for more episodes of this show. Moar! Because there’s got to be a reason for this plot choice, right? Just don’t rain on the cute parade, Show, because I’m counting on our marshmallow and ditzy pianist living happily ever after in Lala Land.