[Ishani's Picks] Kim Go-eun And Ahn Bo-hyun's Latest Romance Drama "Yumi's Cells" Is A Masterpiece And Here's Why You Should Not Miss It

We're 6 episodes into "Yumi's Cells" and it is already one of the best K-Dramas of 2021. Starring Kim Go-eun and Ahn Bo-hyun in the leading roles of Kim Yumi and Goo-woong, this drama tells the story of a woman in her thirties who navigates her life with her help of her very animated cells (pun intended).

Advertisement

Spoiler Alert!

"Yumi's Cells" is based on a highly popular original webtoon of the same name by Donggeon Lee. The protagonist of the story is the eponymous Kim Yumi, an office worker who has locked out the part of her brain that's concerned with love and her true feelings. This was the result of a failed relationship with a disloyal and inconsiderate partner. As much as it is true that Yumi deserved better, she cannot afford to tear down her walls for anyone over again.

This all changes when she starts noticing that her coworker, Woo-gi (played by Choi Minho) seems to have interest in her. Owing to his kind disposition, Yumi finds herself opening up little by little to him and gathering the courage to love again. However, she's let down once more when it becomes clear that Woo-gi's interest in her was purely platonic and all he wanted was to introduce her to his best friend, Goo-woong.

As fate would have it, Yumi hits it off with Goo-woong and finds her true partner in him. He is sincere and has eyes only for Yumi. He is not swayed by stray feelings or outside influences and most importantly, is honest in his expression of love. When they meet for the first time on a blind date, it is love at first sight. However, Yumi starts to grow fond of him when she realizes his genuine nature, much to the contrast of her previous boyfriend.

When put in such a blunt manner, this premise probably does not sound too exciting. However, the subtlety and poignance of the story is exactly what makes it so special. What endears us to the characters are their cells and what makes the cells come alive are their voice actors. It is so thoroughly enlightening and entertaining to take a peek behind the scenes that it makes one wonder about its import in reality. Never before has it been clearer that it indeed takes a village to raise a child. Behind every breath you take, there are a hundred thousand cells making sure you're living your life to the fullest. When you see Yumi's cells cheering her on, you can't help but feel grateful for your own.

As Yumi goes through her romantic relationships, healthy or otherwise, the one thing that becomes more and more significant is the importance of knowing, respecting and loving oneself. Through understanding her own love languages, preferences and boundaries, she starts to realise that the people she has been surrounding herself with might not be who she needs to be the best version of herself.

However, at the end of the day, the drama is a romantic comedy nonetheless. Yumi and Goo-woong are an ordinary couple experiencing extraordinary love for perhaps the first time ever. With the viewers gaining an insight into their inner worlds, we see what they don't. This allows us to infer and chart the trajectory of their relationship with all the clarity we need, something that the characters themselves lack. Despite the ups and downs, we see how both Yumi and Goo-woong want what's best for each other, making us fall more and more in love with their love. The issues that crop up in their relationship might seem petty or insignificant and yet, they're deeply relatable and often overlooked. Addressing such slightest of nuances is what makes this love story so universal. Yumi is so honest with herself and with those around her that it validates the nagging feelings that all of us have encountered and suppressed innumerable times in various relationships. Above all else, Yumi inspires us not to be like her but to be ourselves.

Kim Go-eun proves her mettle as an incredible actress through her role as Kim Yumi and there could not have been a more perfect actor than Ahn Bo-hyun for the role of Goo-woong. As a matter of fact, the casting for this drama is immaculate, to say the least. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that even if one of the supporting actors were to be replaced by someone else, the drama would lose its charm.

Over the years, webtoon adaptations have proved to be quite polarising. However, "Yumi's Cells" leaves no scope for disappointment. This is exactly what I categorise as the best of the best, starring the best of the best.

By Ishani Sarkar

___________

"Yumi's Cells" is directed by Lee Sang-yeob-I, written by Kim Kyung-ran-I, Kim Yoon-joo, Song Jae-jeong, and features Kim Go-eun, Ahn Bo-hyun, Lee Yu-bi, Mi Ram, Choi Minho, Park Jinyoung. Broadcasting information in Korea: 2021/09/17~Now airing, Fri, Sat 22:50 on TVING, tvN.