I thought I was too old to watch a kdrama with cartoons but the premise of the animation in this show is so witty that I zoomed through two episodes in one sitting.
The chain of events is easy to understand. It goes like this: Yumi is 32-year-old accountant. She was recently appointed to assistant manager because of her dedication to work. She has all the time to focus on her work because she hasn’t dated in three years. She’s been a bachelorette all this time, because of her trauma from her bad breakup.
But what makes the drama funny is how the events are explained through the perspective of her brain cells. As you can imagine, her brain cells are ready for a change after three years of singlehood.
So when a handsome officemate named Wu Gi asks, out of the blue, where she lives, her normally quiet cells are suddenly energized and clamoring for action. Even Yumi is bewildered with herself when she went in search of Wu Gi to ask him why he was interested to know her address.
Yumi: What’s the big deal? Just to ask that right now?
Rational voice: That’s right, it’s not a big deal. Work is important right now.
Emotional voice: What do you mean? Maybe Wu Gi was sending a signal! Who asks about where someone lives first thing in the morning? This is definitely flirting.
Rational voice: Flirting?
Emotional voice: Yes! Flirting!
At this precise moment, we see her two brain cells. They’re presented as an animation.
Her rational voice is called Reason, a male cell, and her emotional voice is called Sensitivity, a female cell. Yes. Yes. I’m aware of the sexism in the story…but I’m to give it a pass for now.
As the story progresses, more cells arrive in the picture. For example,
the Anxiety Cell who worries about projecting a loser image,
the Hunger Cell who bullies everybody when it demands to be fed, and
a Minion of Cells who are Yumi’s # 1 supporters.
There’s even a Detective Cell who processes all the data from her encounter with Wu Gi. He informs the other cells that Wu Gi wants to work overtime with her. When his conclusion proves wrong — Wu Gi actually wants to give Yumi a ride home — the cells gang up on Detective Cell for his miscalculation.
I wouldn’t have laughed if this aggression had been done for real. But since this was animation, I thought the message the Yumi was beating herself up over her mistake came across very well.
Yumi realizes that she’s lost her touch. She’s lost her touch and her “hunches” or instincts.
Reason: Did I take a break from dating for too long? No, it’s because there isn’t a love cell. Three years ago, on that day (i.e., the day of the break-up) On the day that Yumi’s tears flooded the village. Although rumor has it that the Love Cell was swept away by tears and died, she didn’t die. But she has been in a coma for three years. Yumi lost her touch and hunches. Her passion and desire for dating have disappeared too. Maybe Yumi will really grow old by herself….(then Wu Gi reappears)…It was at that moment when Love opened her eyes, after three years.
As it turns out, the comatose Love Cell is Yumi’s “prime cell.” It’s her dominant cell which defines her. Other people may have a prime cell for romance, shopping spree, ambition, nosiness, etc. but she has a love cell.
Reason: Yumi’s prime cell was love. It was amazing. It was the only one that control Hunger. It spreads magic that can make the coldest winds warm. Whatever crappy situation it was in, it was able to make happy memories. The cell of all cells. It was the star.
Finally, Love Cell reappears to the rest of the Minion Cells on the day that Yumi goes to the Flower Festival with Wu Gi. Together, they cheer for Yumi.
But Love Cell’s stay is short-lived. Yumi suffers another heartbreak, and the cellular village is again flooded by her tears. This time, Love Cell along with True Feelings Cell, are declared lost along with a total of 389,210 cells.
Unknown to them, she’s swept away to an island with True Feelings Cell. (Uh-oh! If her True Feelings is missing, does this mean she’s going to fake her feelings, then?)
Love Cell determines that it’s better if they’re exiled since every time they show up, they only make Yumi sad. She said, “It might be better for Yumi to live without love or sincerity.”
Meaning, whenever Yumi loved and showed her real feelings, she just got hurt. See that? It sounds cheesier when said without the animation.
And with her love cell missing, Yumi isn’t expecting to find love when she goes on the blind date which the handsome Wu Gi set up for her. (The blind date plus Wu Gi’s confession that he’s gay caused the tsunami of tears.) Nevertheless, she goes because she agreed to.
With the gadget controlling Yumi’s facial expressions ruined by the recent flooding (aka heartache), Reason Cell and Sensitivity Cell decide to use a “Reaction” Doll to control Yumi’s expressions. They know that Yumi can hardly show up with a glum face, so they force her to put on an act with the socially expected reactions.
Her blind date is a 32-year-old game developer named Goo Wung (GW). Wu Gi had been trying to set him up with Yumi and he agrees to it. To be honest, I suspect that he went along with blind date just to agitate his female officemate. He didn’t prepare for the blind date. He certainly didn’t dress to impress. He wore ratty t-shirt, gym short, and flip flops.
Remember what I said about meet-cutes?
In romcoms, how the main couples meet for the first time is a good indicator of how the narrative will unfold. The couple may start off on the wrong foot, or keep missing each other like the proverbial ships in the nights, or fall in love at first sight.
Source: GO Into Your Heart
In this drama, it’s the “push-pull” scenario again.
As soon as he meets her, he’s instantly smitten (or the “pull”). So smitten is he that his brain cells immediately have stopped functioning. His mind is blank. His cellular village is deserted except for his Reasoning Cell. I like how the mist is slowly rolling into the village which means that GW is experiencing mental fog or a clouding of his consciousness. He’s confused and doesn’t know what to say.
In contrast, Yumi is pushing him away. Collectively, her brain cells gave him the thumbs down.
Reason: Why isn’t he saying anything? Is she an idiot?
Sensitivity: What’s with his hairstyle? Does he think he’s Beethoven?
Anxiety: He has a beard. I hate it a lot.
Fashion: Look at his shorts and flip-flops. Clearly, this man has no manners.
Anxiety: I’m scared of that type of guy. He looks like a bully.
Fashion: But he has a handsome face.
Anxiety: Who cares if he’s handsome? He looks the type who doesn’t shower. His beard is messy.
Sensitivity: There’s nothing more to see. I don’t like him.
Reason: Still, let’s not make it so obvious, for Wu Gi’s sake.
Since Yumi’s facial expression is controlled by the Reaction Doll, all her inner thoughts are masked by her over-the-top enthusiastic reactions. GW thinks she’s enjoying his company when in truth, she doesn’t.
That’s the chief reason I enjoyed watching this Kdrama.
As much as I’m fan of Kim Go Eun (Call her ugly, and I’ll fight you. Ha!),
the brain cells are stealing the show. You see, the cells act like the voice of the audience. They express the thoughts that are running in our heads as we watch the scenes.
For example, when Yumi and Wu Gi accidentally held hands — twice in a row! — the Minion Cells danced in a circle to celebrate. I found this funny because I totally understood their thrill. I too make a big hoopla during an accidental skinship in kdramas, and I keep count of it.
Then, when Yumi ran across the park as if her whole life depended on it, the Minion Cells were chanting, “Love is about winning. Stay strong, Yumi!” I too was rooting for her to reach Wu Gi first, and leave that pesky Ruby behind.
But not only do the cartoon brain cells give me a vicarious experience, they also serve as plot points. The debate about the next course of action among the brain cells pushes the story along and provides the necessary conflict to the plot.
For instance, when Sensitivity Cell decides to stay up beyond bedtime so she can mope, Yumi begins to question her existence and her reason for being. Fortunately, Reasoning Cell comes around to knock Sensitivity Cell out of her maudlin state, so Lullaby Cell can put Yumi to sleep. lol. Essentially, then, Yumi’s real struggle is found within herself.
The writer’s humorous take on Yumi’s thought processes is spot on. I’m definitely looking forward to the writer’s interpretation of the ins and outs of dating life as seen from the perspective of brain cells.
Kalimera @Packmule3! Thank you for writing this!
I wanted to ask, though, may I be with you in the gang who fights those that say that Kim Go Eun-ni is ugly? For me, she is really beautiful and a great actress.
Those scenes where she was changing her facial expressions are pure gold!
The Tv-Show follows exactly the Webtoon, so the sexism regarding the cells Sensitivity and Reason is the webtoon writer’s fault. I would find it smarty, if the Writernims changed it, though, in the tv-show. It would be a new narrative.
That blind date was so funny! I laughed so hard with those brain cells.
Especially with that expression doll…LMAO!
I’m ADORING how the animation works so well with the story. And I am tugged along with them and their crazy ideas which I get worried and excited about. There is something about Kim Go Eun that shines and a cut above the rest.
Following you all here! 😀
😂 Sure, @Cleopatra. Kim Go Eun is cute as a button. Her smile as she told Goblin that she “loved” him remains imprinted on my brain. She beams.
And you’re right. Her repertoire of facial expressions is extraordinary. I can never get tired of watching her.
And that’s why I shudder at the performances of Shin Se Kyung (“Run On” and “Bride of Habaek”), Park Eun Bin (“Do You Like Brahms”) and I m Soo Hyang (“My ID is Gangnam Beauty”). Their stiff cheek muscles look like they been botoxed, and their smiles don’t reach their dead eyes. Seriously, I’d rather watch my roses grow than watch them act.
Oh! @Packmule3 efharisto! 😀
The instant I read what you wrote, I remembered her “Saranghe”! LMAO!
She beams indeed. I am rewatching here and there several scenes from the episodes of TK:EM. She can get emotional in an instant and it looks like a natural thing. One particular scene I always look at is in Episode 6, when LG came back to her, where she was overwhelmed that he came back as promised, that she only nodded to him.
Shin Se Kyung is not a bad actress, I have watched both those series.
She seems to not let herself “being ugly”. I think that she will find it though.
I haven’t watched any of the other two series, but If you say so, then you are right. What an awful thing not to be able to use your cheek muscles. I dread the day where people won’t smile at all, because their botoxed faces will be like stone…
I was also laughing at the breakup scene with her ex. The guy said he wanted to break up with her to make her happy, and she replied that she was already happy as they were. 🤪 Then he ran away from her like she was some scary monster!
I wonder who that ex was. His face was kept hidden.
Correction: One particular scene I always look at is in Episode 6, when LG came back to her as promised, and she was overwhelmed that she only nodded to him, before she run to hug him.
The first time I watched SSK was in Blade Man with Lee Dong Woo k (the Grim Reaper in Goblin). I thought she was good.
But then I watched her in The Girl Who Can See Scents and it dawned on me that she was RECYCLING her facial expressions. When she has to look surprise, she has a “stunned” face ready. When she has to look in love, she has the same “stunned” face. When she has to look confused, she also looks “stunned”. When she looks overwhelmed with emotions, she looks “stunned” again. 😂
Why, my emoji has more variety to depict happiness. 😀😃😄😁😆😅😂🤣🥲☺️😊😇🙂🙃😉😌😍🥰😘😗😙😚😋😛😝😜🤪
Meanwhile, she has one go to face for a variety of emotions. That stunned, blank look of hers.
If the “saranghae” face of Kim Go Eun is iconic for me, then the blank look of KSK is iconic for me, too. I’m still grimacing at the memory of her face as she was free-falling down a tall building in Bride of Habaek. 😖
Yes. I know that scene, @cleopatra. I was glad that she didn’t overact that scene and showed us a contorted face with quivering lips, blinking eyes, and crinkled nose.
Btw, I read that Kim Go Eun is offered a role in the Korean adaptation of “Little Women,” Louisa May Alcott’s work. Oooh. She’ll be good as Jo. (I hope she’s Jo.)
But gosh darn it! I’ll have a second lead male syndrome for whoever is cast as Laurie.
@Cleo well…when the FL for The Kind Eternal Monarch was announced…lots of LMH fans were up in arms about the choice. And many called her “plain”…and some went as far as to call her “ugly”. KGE has something about her that’s mesmerising. I love how she can play your girl next door. And be absolutely convincing at it. I never have troubles trying to figure out exactly what her character is thinking or portraying. I can literally “see” all her thoughts with all her micro expressions. So I can totally get how this drama fits her to a tee. Haven’t started. I have too many. 😂. I can only watch 2 at a time. LoTRS has my attention so I am keeping that. Dali and the Cocky Prince I just started. If I start this I may have to drop Dali. 😂
@Packmule3,
I am amazed with the simplicity of her acting. I am glad as well…
Jinja? That sounds interesting! I will be waiting for news about it!
Hey dear @nrllee,
I have found out myself what happened after I watched TK:EM.I agree with you about KGE that she has something that is mesmerising. Even now, when I am reading bad comments for her, I feel that people must be blind.
Take your time, it will have multiple seasons and we will be talking about it for some time! LMAO!
I will try to watch Dali as well. I have read that they are funny together. 😛
@Packmule3,
You made me smile with that “stunned” face! And I neeeded a laugh!
I can use emojis only on my phone! I have plenty as well!
I haven’t seen those shows, but I have heard about them.
We should also be iconic, as Alanis Morisette sings “Is it ironic?” LMAO!!!!
Count me in a KGE fan and I think she is beautiful! She is a different persona in every kdrama I’ve watched her in. There’s something about her acting that is luminous and she is the perfect actress as Yumi. The variety and breadth of emotions she displays here are so fun to watch while interspersed with cute animation as “explainers” why she is reacting that way.
The downside to this though is that the plot seems to be slower than the normal pace of the story if without the cell explainers in background. Like WG in a fog when he met Yumi – too long to snap out of it. Or the coffe/break room scene where the flower festival invitation happened became extended versions and seemed to be in slo-mo. I hope they pick up the pace a bit now that they’ve explained how the cells react inside and connects with what the person shows outside.
LOL! I like the concept of someone knocking down some cells to sleep if they become troublesome. I wonder what my dominant cell is? I’ll keep watching with you!
I know what my “dominant” cell would be, @Janey. Dominant. Bitchy. Cranky. It will come with a whip and cookie. 🙂
@PM3 – and with killer shoes to go with the whip and cookie! 😉 I can picture your cell clearly! LOL!
Hahaha. Killer shoes. Right. I was laughing when Yumi jumped over the hedge and rolled on the ground like a gymnast. Then, to avoid the frisbee, she slid on the ground like a baseball player. All while wearing chunky heels.
I also thought the “fishing” cell was cute, too. It was totally fishing for a date.
Since I didn’t read the webtoon, I’ve no expectation of this drama. That explains my predisposition to be pleasantly surprised. I don’t want to read the webtoon now because I know I’m just going to start comparing it with the drama.
@Packmule3, I read KGE will play first daughter, and second daughter is Nam Ji Hyun (I think this is Jo, right?), the female lead in 100 Days Prince. They are still casting the 3rd girl.
@Packmule3,
Me likes the description of your Primary Cell! Also, @Janey added the right accessory that you shouldn’t forget! *grins*
@miracle23 O so KGE is Meg? And NJH is Jo. My favourite has always been quiet Beth (who I always thought had a secret crush on Laurie). Amy was my least favourite…and she married Laurie 😑.
My two cents on Kim Go-eun-she is a phenomenal talent whose face seems to change depending on her role. She can hold her own with the likes of the fantastic! KIM Hye Soo in the tragic Coin Locker Girl, shows her superior skills compared to Shin Hyun Been in Sunset In My Home Town, is so sweet with Jung Hai In In Tune In For Love. Her versatility makes her very different from other actors in that she isn’t type cast. And I think her beauty comes from her expressive face. If I were to compare her to an American actor, I can see her being like Meryl Streep, an uncommon beauty of great talent who inhabits her roles. She is chameleon like.. I’m happy to see her in a more light hearted role in Yumi’s Cells.
O it doesn’t sound like a remake of Alcott’s Little Women. Just 3 sisters.
https://www.soompi.com/article/1490020wpp/kim-go-eun-and-nam-ji-hyun-in-talks-for-new-drama-by-vincenzo-director
@packmule3 You post kept reminding me of another movie with the same concept that I had watched, and I was trying to remember what it was. I have it now, it was an English animated movie called “Inside Out” by PIXAR. It was hilarious – like Yumi’s cells, the concept is built around the different emotions inside a little girl – joy, fear, anger, sadness. I think the writer-nim of this kdrama may have been inspired by that movie.
Here are 2 trailers from that movie to give you all an idea:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRUAzGQ3nSY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HFv47QHWJU
I remember that the movie was a lot of fun. So I may decide to watch “Yumi’s Cells” too, maybe after HTCCC and LoTRS are over (like @nrllee I too can only watch 2 at a time!)
@Phoenix – yes the concept is similar to “Inside Out” but Yumi’s cells are more in number like a community hence a bit more dynamic. The writer is definitely taking a lot of creative liberty with what’s going on behind the scenes (behind the cells) to explain Yumi and WG’s personality and reactions. It’s very refreshing and funny!! KGE’s acting is on point with many nuanced facial expressions.
Totally with you, @Janey, @packmule3 and everyone here on KGE’s acting skills. I was very impressed with her in “Tune in for Love”, “Goblin” and TK:EM. She gets into the skin of a character and becomes one with the character, instead of remaining as KGE. She may not go with the Korean high ideals of beauty but I think she is pretty and her face is memorable. I do wish I can find time to watch “Yumi’s Cells” too.
The drama is full of little truths about what many people think in all kinds of situations. So it easily reaches the audience. Anyone can tell themselves that they are not alone in thinking or reacting like this. Depending on the individual, these inner monologues are either conscious or unconscious. Rather unconscious in the case of Yumi. But of course conscious in the case of the writer, who certainly analyzed her own reactions or those of people she knows. This makes a good vein of ideas to exploit. Despite this, I didn’t find the few episodes I saw particularly captivating. It wasn’t boring, but rather something that was easily watched without much involvement. Half an episode before going to sleep was my viewing experience.
@WEnchanteur, For me part of the charm of this show was its visuals-both filmed and animation. The tones were pastel. The animated characters were sweet/friendly Kim Go Eun and Ahn Bo-Hyun were styled very differently. I was happy to immerse myself in the visuals because they were not typical of k dramas. I had meant to comment on this when the drama first aired. 8 think the production designers did a great job.
@AOL, yes of course, the visuals are great and it’s the first time we see that in a drama. I was less receptive to it because I read several episodes of the webtoon and I already knew what it would be made of. The choice of SJJ as a screenwriter is quite logical because it’s a story with two interdependent worlds, which is a kind of specialty of the screenwriter. But here, a skill used to translate and improve already existing content rather than to create her own universe. With two other screenwriters, it’s like a reunion of friends having fun and writing together, a bit like a vacation. So the drama is light and fun, with a good, pretty and experimented main actress.
@WEnchanteur, Thanks for the behind the scenes fun. The writers became a smaller version of the v American writers’ room. This was an adaptati9n, so I guess the writers had some fun.
@wenchanteur 👋🏻👋🏻👋🏻I’ve no comment on yumi but was happy to see your name in the recent comment section. I’ve missed hearing your input around here