Are you ready for some bubblegum? It’s here with the premiere week of Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol. The drama pulls all the stops to introduce the story of our chaebol princess, who’s sweet, naive, and 100% clueless. When her world turns upside down, she’ll have to rely on the kindness of a (handsome) stranger to help her find her way.
EPISODES 1-2 WEECAP
I didn’t expect this drama to remind me of Shopping King Louis quite as much as it does, but it’s got every bit the same wackadoo sweetness and silly plot. Yay! The drama opens with some quick narration, and wastes no time painting the picture of our piano-playing heroine, GU LALA (Go Ara) and her happy, wealthy, and sheltered life.
Lala studied the piano since she was a small girl, all for the sake of her adoring/adored father — which had everything to do with the memory of her deceased mother, and absolutely nothing to do with any talent she had. Still, our heroine chugs along playing for 20 years, has a heartfelt concert for her graduation, and then promptly quits. Because manicures await!
But the storm clouds start to roll in on Lala and her father’s perfect life, and much like the story of “A Little Princess,” in a mere day, everything that Lala has taken for granted is suddenly gone.
Her father, who had quickly arranged a strategic marriage for her, hears further bad news about his failing company, has a heart attack, and dies. It turns out her family is ruined, her husband-to-be runs off, and Lala’s family mansion (and belongings) are swiftly auctioned to pay off the family’s debt. Then she’s told by a trusted secretary to make a run for it, before she’s held responsible for the rest of the debt. Oh, and all of this is on her supposed wedding day. Let’s explore that plot element for a moment, shall we?
Lala agrees to marry based solely on her father’s recommendation, and doesn’t seem to put two thoughts together about what it actually means to get married. When we meet her on her wedding day, in her bridal glow, she’s more concerned with her father’s tardy arrival to the ceremony than the man she’s about to marry (and the scary future mother-in-law that awaits). It’s while she’s waiting in her bridal chamber that she meets our hero.
That (hot) hero is SUNWOO JOON (Lee Jae-wook), but she doesn’t learn his name for a while. In fact, their first meeting will earn him the nickname “Nosebleed,” and this scene between the two is probably my favorite of the entire opening week.
When we first meet Joon he’s working a hardcore construction job, and heading back home as a sweaty (hot) mess. He’s minding his own business when a flowery delivery person on a motorcycle has an accident, Joon catches the flying bouquet like a storybook hero, and reluctantly agrees to deliver it to the wedding that’s about to happen. Yes — it’s Lala’s wedding.
He’s totally transfixed by her in the most melty way possible, but their hilarious interaction includes him getting too close, a smack to the face, and a bloody nose for Joon which of course drips on her pristine wedding gown.
He’s gruff and acts like he doesn’t care about it at all, but a minute later he’s scavenged the wedding hall for all the tools he needs to tailor her dress on the spot and hide the stain. Swoon! Lala scurries off to run down the aisle and says “Bye,” to him, but Joon ends their interaction with his soon-to-be-signature “Shireo” (a no, or refusal to agree to what’s been said).
Of course there was wayyyyy too much fate packed into that scene for Lala and Joon not to meet again, and when they do cross paths a month later, it’s in the town of Eunpo. Joon has gone there to escape the thugs that are chasing him down, and Lala has gone there because at this point, her life is in ruins. All she has is her dog Mimi, a few suitcases, and her cute convertible.
If we could say the drama has been developing any sort of motif to tie all the crazy together, it’s definitely with the “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” melody — the notes of which are the title of our drama, our heroine’s name, the meaningful melody between Lala and her father, and also, the overall flavor of this very cute and twinkly drama.
So, mysterious comments from a user called “dodosolsolalalsol” on her Instagram make Lala think that someone is trying to send her a secret message. She’s got nothing else to go on at this point, and since living at her parents’ gravesite and surviving on dog food isn’t a viable option (though she considers it), she takes off for Eunpo.
This is the setting where we’ll settle for the rest of the drama, and we meet our cast of supporting characters right when Lala runs into Joon again — and I mean that literally. She causes a huge car accident, which gives Joon some (hot) scrapes and scratches, and Lala a neck brace, and both arms in full casts. Never mind thinking about playing the piano again — right now she can’t even feed herself or scratch an itch.
It’s adorable, silly, and positively K-drama-esque how Joon decides to help her out. They’re so cute together, but also polar opposites — while there doesn’t seem to be a single problematic situation that Joon can’t solve his way out of, for Lala, it’s the opposite: there isn’t a thing she can solve. She can’t even do basic math.
Even though Joon is clearly on the run himself (runaway chaebol vibes, anyone?), he works his multiple part-time jobs, and “lends” Lala endless amounts of money for her hospital bills, vet bills, face cream, taxi, food — you name it. He also stays in the hospital with her, feeds her, keeps her company, and later when she’s discharged even washes her hair (I’m dead). Finally, he offers to put her up in his flower-shoppe-turned-studio-apartment when she has no place to stay. Hijinks. Oh, the (shirtless) hijinks.
If the ground we’ve traveled in our first week of Do Do Sol Sol is any indication, this is going to be a drama full of good, silly fun. But even with the bubblegum cuteness and layer of wackiness, there’s also a backbone to the story. It might be fluff on the outside, but like Shopping King Louis before it, these dramas are interested in exploring stories of clueless, spoiled people who lose their safety net. Like Louie, Lala is forced to learn how to live in the world for the first time, and even though the drama is more dessert than dinner, that doesn’t mean it’s not making a statement.
I really enjoyed the warmth of this drama’s opening week, and the feeling of all the side characters and plots that will come together in fun, zany ways. Also, it’s a happy story, even though our first episode was chock-full of grief and tragedy. It’s almost as if the drama is doing exactly what Lala asks of her doctor when he’s assessing her car accident injuries: “Please only say hopeful things, even if it’s bad news.”
We might not all be princesses who lost their castles, but I love a good dramaland story of hope and resilience (and heroes to lean on), so I’m leaving this premiere week with good vibes only.