bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Pierce Conran

This article contains spoilers.
4/5 stars
Over the past month and a half, Yumi’s Cells has been an engaging romantic comedy putting a fresh spin on commonplace, relatable situations. But while it has featured rather low stakes, even for a romcom, something unexpected happened over its last two weeks.
Yumi (Kim Go-eun) and Woong’s (Ahn Bo-hyun) relationship reached a real crisis point and suddenly the romantic threat posed by Bobby Yoo (Got7’s Jin Young) became palpable.


Having a charming and sweet secondary lead appear before the heroine is a common trope in Korean romantic dramas. Usually, this romantic threat is mitigated by the comforting foreknowledge that in the closed-loop of a one-and-done Korean drama, this screen gentleman will merely be an obstacle to overcome, and consequently serve to strengthen the relationship between the leads.
Compared to its peers, however, Yumi’s Cells has a crucial difference: it went into production as a multi-season project. This variable adds a great deal of tension to the final episodes of the season. Much as in real life, uncertainty clouds each moment, each decision.
Yumi’s Cells midseason recap: a refreshing K-drama romcom
Despite an awkward start to their very first date, Yumi and Woong have got on fantastically, with the latter proving to be kind and thoughtful, not to mention good in a crisis. A few tiffs brewed here and there, notably whenever Woong’s colleague Sae-yi (Park Ji-hyun) entered the picture, but for the most part, their relationship has been all smooth sailing.
But the devil is in the details, and when the couple swiftly approach their crisis point, we realise these problems have been there all along.
After showing up unannounced at Woong’s place, only to discover that Woong had neglected to tell her that Sae-yi had moved into the same building, Yumi once again gives Woong a surprise visit only to get a nasty shock.

This time, Woong isn’t home, even though he claims to be there. We learn that he’s sleeping at his office. In fact, he’s been doing so for a month after having sold his apartment to finance his struggling business.
Unperturbed by Woong’s financial struggles, Yumi invites him to live with her and after initially balking at the idea, Woong relents. What follows is an almost idyllic period of cohabitation, their love seemingly growing as they shop and cook together and share intimate moments.
On the surface, eluding any mention of his new neighbour Sae-yi seems like the bigger problem, but it is behaviour we can understand. Woong, who had no control over that turn of events, knows it will upset Yumi. He is unwise not to say anything, but it is realistic behaviour.
9 new Korean dramas to look out for in November 2021
On the other hand, not telling Yumi that he sold his apartment turns out to be a much more serious issue. This, as well as earlier moments in the show, highlight Woong’s pride problem. We know that it is he and not Yumi who tops the priority list in his mind’s “village”, and his prideful behaviour illustrates that to a tee.
Woong is an obsessive cleaner, which at first delights Yumi when he moves in, but this trait is also a manifestation of his pride. His seemingly carefree attitude masks a need for things to be in their right place. His proud behaviour sees him make sacrifices for his company, but when it comes to his relationship, his priorities aren’t as clear-cut. Yumi learns this the hard way when she blurts out the question of whether they should get married on his birthday.
Hearing a non-committal response provokes a change in Yumi that brews over the coming days. The very next day she starts her job in the marketing department with Bobby at her side, who soon gets callously dumped by his girlfriend, with Yumi by chance sitting in the same cafe, overhearing their conversation.

A break-up piñata appears in Yumi’s village and some of her cells try to break it open whenever Woong does something wrong or annoying. The piñata proves remarkably resilient but even after Woong moves out, it’s only late one night when Woong pithily responds to Yumi’s thoughtful goodnight text that it suddenly breaks open – it’s the straw that breaks the camel’s back.
Yumi asks for a timeout and with things headed toward disaster, we wait for either Woong to emerge with a big gesture of love or Yumi to have a change of heart. But in the show’s closing moments, they both decide to call it quits. Separating at the fountain where they first met, a tearful Yumi walks to the camera and Woong’s silhouette shrinks in the distance, and suddenly the season ends.
It’s a wrenching emotional moment and though this isn’t the end of our journey with Yumi, the suddenness of the season’s close gives us an opportunity to savour the highs and lows of their relationship and consider what went wrong - and, of course, what will happen next. Is Bobby destined to take a bigger role in Yumi’s life? Will Woong finally pocket his pride? Or will something else enter the picture?

For the answer to those questions and more, we’ll have to wait until next year, when this charming and disarmingly effective drama returns.
Yumi’s Cells is streaming on iQiyi.


Disney+ K-drama Gangnam B-Side review: crime thriller chooses gore over good characters

Netflix K-drama When the Phone Rings preview: Yoo Yeon-seok, Chae Soo-bin in absurd story

Disney+ K-drama Love Your Enemy: Ju Ji-hoon, Jung Yu-mi in light and engaging romcom

Netflix K-drama A Virtuous Business review: comedy drama sidesteps its cheeky premise

Korean drama reviews

K-drama review: Yumi’s Cells – relatable romcom brings first season to surprising and emotional close

Kim Go-eun in a still from Yumi’s Cells.

Kim Go-eun in a scene from the engaging K-drama Yumi’s Cells.

Kim (left) and Ahn Bo-hyun in a still from Yumi’s Cells.

Kim in a still from Yumi’s Cells.

Ahn (left) and Kim Go-eun in a scene from Yumi’s Cells.

Netflix K-drama Reflection of You: Go Hyun-jung stars in moody melodrama heavy on style but light on story

Go Hyun-jung in a still from Reflection of You.

Shin Hyun-been (left) and Kim Su-an in a still from Reflection of You.

Shin Hyun-been in a still from Reflection of You.

K-drama Jirisan: Jun Ji-hyun’s mountaineering action drama, featuring Kingdom co-star Ju Ji-hoon, gets off on the wrong foot

Jun Ji-hyun in a still from Jirisan. Photo: iQiyi

Jun Ji-hyun in a still from Jirisan, one of the most anticipated K-dramas of the year. Photo: iQiyi

Ju Ji-hoon in a still from Jirisan. Photo: iQiyi

Sung Dong-il in a still from Jirisan. Photo: iQiyi

Jun Ji-hyun (left) in a still from Jirisan. Photo: iQiyi

Oh Jung-se in a still from Jirisan. Photo: iQiyi

Squid Game’s Wi Ha-joon courted for Little Women; Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha’s Shin Min-a to star opposite Lee Byung-hun; big-budget Netflix series eyes Kim Nam-gil – K-drama casting latest

Shin Min-a in a still from Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha.

Wi Ha-joon from Squid Game has been courted to appear in new K-drama Little Women, one of a number of new major Korean series in the pipeline. Photo: Netflix.

Lee Seung-gi in a still from Mouse.

Lee Jae-in in a still from Racket Boys.

K-drama review: Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha – Netflix’s charming romcom, despite hokey finale, gives fans what they were waiting for

Kim Seon-ho (left) and Shin Min-a in a still from Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha.

Shin Min-a (left) and Kim Seon-ho finally admitted their love for each other in K-drama romance Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha.

Kim (left) and Shin in a scene from Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha.

Lee Sang-yi in a still from Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha.

A still from Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha.

K-drama review: My Name – Netflix gangland revenge drama starring Han So-hee spins its wheels after promising start

Han So-hee in a still from My Name.

Han So-hee in a scene from Netflix gangster-revenge drama My Name. Her character survives many against-the-odds fights, but they tend to run into one another as the narrative peters out and turns in on itself.

Park Hee-soon in a still from My Name.

Han (left) and Ahn Bo-hyun in a scene from My Name.

Han in a still from My Name.

Lifestyle

K-Pop

K-drama

Entertainment

Arts & Culture

Culture

Film & TV


The relationship between the leads has been the main focus of Yumi’s Cells, with the pair working through some testing times to keep their love life going
But cracks soon begin to appear in their relationship as the series reaches its finale, and a traditional K-drama ending proves not to be on the cards



Engaging Korean romantic comedy Yumi’s Cells takes a surprise twist as lovebirds Kim Go-eun and Ahn Bo-hyun’s perfect relationship starts to hit the rocks.


K-drama news

What's hot in Korea

South Korean celebrities

Fame and celebrity

TV shows and streaming video

iQiyi

An assessment or critique of a service, product or creative endeavour.  Film reviews, restaurant reviews, reviews of art exhibitions. (Eg. Crazy Rich Asians: an important film, yes, but a good one?)


Review

Review | K-drama review: Yumi’s Cells – relatable romcom brings first season to surprising and emotional close