Yumi’s Cells 2: Episode 1
by missvictrix
Yumi’s Cells is back for season 2, and you’ll hear no complaints from me. Our intermission is over, and it’s time to get back to our heroine where we left her: in the aftermath of her breakup, trying to put the pieces together again.
EPISODE 1 WEECAP
I will admit I was a teensy bit nervous about how Yumi’s Cells would handle its second season. I dislike seasons, and the completeness of K-dramas is one of my favorite things about them. That’s why, when Episode 1 opened up and I saw that we were picking up right where we left off — all of my worries faded away. I realized (and I don’t know why I didn’t sooner) that what we’re really dealing with here is a 28-episode drama, not two 14-episode seasons. At least that’s how I’m going to think about it.
As such, we pick up right where we left off: the super sad breakup of KIM YUMI (Kim Go-eun) and GOO WOONG (Ahn Bo-hyun). Just like the first time I saw it, I felt the hurt in the air, as well as this slightly cheated feeling. As we walk through the breakup again with Yumi, the entire scene is faded to black and white around her, and it creates this surreal feeling that’s just perfect for what she’s going through in that moment. Yumi turns to watch Woong walk away, but he doesn’t even look back. Oof. That hurt even more the second time around.
I didn’t expect to spend as much time as we did in the aftermath of Yumi’s breakup, but I’m glad we did. It gave us a closure that we didn’t get last season — and despite the sadness and loneliness that Yumi’s experiencing, her cells, as ever, bring it all to life with a delightful — yet poignant — lightness.
Yumi’s cells have to withstand the crazy storm of her emotions, and they’re desperate to bring her back to normal. Though they think she’s fine when she’s at work, faking normality, at home in the evenings she’s listless and can’t sleep.
Each cell has a different idea for a solution, and they try to bring Yumi back to herself with shopping, which fails, and a late-night movie, which also fails. Their next idea is alcohol, so our depressed heroine chugs back several beers. But the cells didn’t read the possible side effect: singing sad songs haha.
Yumi does just this, getting out her guitar and singing her heart out in the middle of the night. This is the moment where I remembered what this drama does so well: making us laugh with the comedy and wit of the cells and the commentary they provide, but at the same time, hitting us in the feels.
Yumi continues to relive her memories with Woong and mope about — stalking him on social and over-analyzing his caption or facial expression or even status message (#relatable). But while he seems perfect fine, smiling and sporting a new haircut, we see behind the scenes, and he’s just as broken as Yumi is.
I started season 2 all mentally prepared to move on to a new love interest (Jinyoung train, here I come!), but all the reminiscing on the romance with Woong made me genuinely miss them and their story. Is Yumi Are we going to be able to move on?
The answer is yes. Because just when I was beginning to doubt that I could, YOO BOBBY (Jinyoung) pops back into our story and gives Yumi encouragement. And then he lends her a novel. And that’s all it takes; I have officially joined the Bobby fan club with Yumi’s cells. Bring on the Bobby lightsticks!
I loved his character last season (despite being all for the Yumi+Woong coupling), and the connection he had with Yumi seemed to run deeper than what she had with Woong. I’m excited to see how their story plays out — and surprisingly, the drama doesn’t make us wait long.
Yumi might think that Bobby is into the cute office flake RUBY (Lee Yubi), but we can tell a mile away that he’s into her, and seeking her out in little ways. And one by one, this builds up their common ground and familiarity with each other.
Meanwhile in the cell village, there’s a secret Bobby fan club going on, but it’s easy to miss, what with all the fandoms in Yumi’s past (including a hilarious Gong Yoo and SHINee one — ah, meta!). The best part is that Yumi’s guard cell is the secret president of the tiny Bobby fan club. But it doesn’t stay tiny — or secret — for long, and we even get a onscreen counter as his fan club members increase by the second each time he interacts with Yumi.
They’re both into the same ska band, and Bobby asks her to join him for their outdoor performance. She’s being all skittish and confused (again #relatable), and Bobby turns up the swoon. It’s just enough swoon, too — he’s not pushy, but direct. As he tells her later that night after they have a blast at the performance, she has a terrible poker face and he can read her reactions quite easily. That he uses this knowledge to make her more comfortable is the thing that I love most about him.
However, even knowing that Yumi is still all scattered and sad, he ends their night together by asking him to date her. It’s a quintessential K-drama cliffhanger. Yumi’s shock is palpable, but it makes her all the more lovable. And Bobby has never been more appealing IMHO. It’s a bit fast, but we know he’s liked her for a long time, sooo… time will tell. Or the next episode, at any rate.
All in all, starting season 2 was like picking up a favorite book and remembering all of the things you loved about it. I’m super happy with the continuity in the storytelling, which removes any of my reservations, and if the story continues the way it’s begun, I’m going to enjoy this all the way through.
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Tags: Ahn Bo-hyun, Got7 Jinyoung, Kim Go-eun, Lee Yubi, Yumi's Cells 2
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1 Fly Colours
June 11, 2022 at 9:36 PM
"what we’re really dealing with here is a 28-episode drama, not two 14-episode seasons." I really don't know what direction this drama will take, but taking into account the webtoon, I'd set my expectations for more than 2 seasons. It's a great ride, though!
I usually really dislike the season format too, because in most cases the story starts meandering and the whole thing looses punch but in this case, I trust the drama. There are several interesting character arcs, and the whole plot is leading somewhere
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Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
June 11, 2022 at 10:25 PM
It was a great start to the new season. My understanding is, it’s going to three seasons to cover the 5 years worth of webtoon. I like the idea of them filming it all in one go and cutting it up for us but I wish there was a shorter gap between the seasons. I was desperate for season two even though I have read the webtoon. I looked for it as soon as season one finished because I had to find out what happened next.
I love how they have dramatised this story, it’s so well done that even knowing what happens doesn’t effect my enjoyment.
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peachietime
June 13, 2022 at 11:52 AM
Yumi's Cells since the beginning was only confirmed as a 2 seasons drama :) It was more like what missvictrix was saying here. The director said they only break out the two seasons because it will be harder for audience to connect if we change a boyfriend within the same drama. So they gave the audience a break in between. But it is always a 28 episode drama in mind :)
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Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
June 13, 2022 at 12:17 PM
I don’t know where I read/heard it was a three season show so I can’t go back to check so I guess I must have misunderstood.
I get the reasoning that transitioning from one man to another would be hard although I am sure they have done that in programmes before.
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peachietime
June 13, 2022 at 7:04 PM
Haha, probably. Many rumors thinking there will be 3 seasons since in the webtoon there were 3 boyfriends hence they may automatically decided it's one boyfriend each season lol But yea, this show was never meant to be 3 seasons and the director just wanted to give viewers a good break :)
x
June 13, 2022 at 5:00 PM
Can you give a source please? I can't find this information anywhere
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peachietime
June 13, 2022 at 7:05 PM
Honestly at this point I don't know where were those news and interviews anymore. But it's all in the press cons, news, interviews. They have mentioned many times about this :) I am 200% confirmed and sure about this tho. Cos I heard/read it from the director interview directly haha
Fly Colours
June 14, 2022 at 1:11 PM
Oh, I didnt know that! Thanks for the heads-up, so that means that the story will diverge from the webtoon, right?
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peachietime
June 22, 2022 at 5:19 PM
They never really confirmed it, but from what they said about "will make sure viewers can understand Babi like his friends" and how Jinyoung mentioned he is ready for being yelled at / Babi's reputation will be separated into first and second half. I think the overall frame will stay the same, but they will make adjustments to details. Writer said that before, this is the male leads' rediscovery. Babi's reputation online is "legendary" so she hopes to explain his character better. So - I think the overall frame won't be changed much, but we will (hopefully) be able to see why and what happened and be able to understand Babi! :)
2 Fly Colours
June 11, 2022 at 9:42 PM
Yumi considering throwing away Woong's memorabilia and ending up keeping all the stuff, so relatable 😂 I've literally had that interaction with my Cheapskate Cell, "if you're
keeping a damm t-shirt, you're sure not getting rid of a perfectly good keyboard" (btw, it's a gorgeous keyboard)
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Fly Colours
June 11, 2022 at 9:45 PM
I mean, in my case it wasn't a keyboard, but I really like Yumi's keyboard PPL
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3 RaOnAh loves Jay B 💚
June 11, 2022 at 11:38 PM
Jinyoung is so cute!!! I loved the first season and I'm even more excited for the second season with him as the lead 😍😍😍😍 He's so handsome and sweet and charming. How could any girl resist???
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4 Nefret
June 12, 2022 at 12:01 AM
Having just finished season 1 on Friday, I was able to jump straight into season 2, which follows on seamlessly. The visuals and tonality are consistent with the previous episodes, there is no discontinuity.
Season 1 had a slightly melancholic mood for me, but maybe that was because I already knew beforehand that there would be a break-up. I'm curious whether I'll feel differently about season 2 once Yumi is over the pain of this break-up.
This season, I find Bobby much more interesting and sympathetic than in the previous one. So I'm all in for him and Yumi becoming a couple.
Ruby continues to be very annoying. I can't understand how men can put up with that.
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wapz
June 12, 2022 at 2:15 AM
Damn, am i jealous that you get to watch both seasons back to back.
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Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
June 12, 2022 at 3:30 AM
Key point men don’t! That’s why Ruby keeps failing to get a boyfriend but she doesn’t get the hint.
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5 ladynightshade wants her own ryu sunjae
June 12, 2022 at 1:46 AM
I usually dislike the season-format for dramas too, but I think in this one case I’m okay with it. As @missvictrix puts it, it seems more like a long 28 episode drama (betting on a third season, so more than 28 eps), than two separate seasons. Also, the continuity is strong and the story seems to be confident in the direction its taking - no doubt a result of having a finished source material, something I find that most season-formatted dramas to lack.
Yumi acting normal in public while being severely depressed privately was very much my experience with breakups. I never went as far as drunk-singing at 2 in the morning (living with others has its downsides), but girl I get it. Never had a bookworm guy with a literal idol’s face be into me though. I think Yumi’s going to do well for herself, no offense to Woong. I’m already a goner for Babi. Also, don’t throw away the keyboard! Woong may be gone, but that keyboard will stay beautiful forever. Or at least until it stops working.
The Gong Yoo and Min-ho fan clubs were ripped straight from my subconscious. This is plagiarism and I demand compensation lmao.
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peachietime
June 13, 2022 at 11:54 AM
I laughed so hard at this: Never had a bookworm guy with a literal idol’s face be into me though <-- for real. First of all, a guy like that is unreal, second, a guy like that won't be into most of us lol
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6 Kurama
June 12, 2022 at 2:09 AM
The format with many seasons makes sense in this drama. I like the fact we can follow her daily life and her different relationships. It's very realistic. The Cells are there to give the funny and inside view touch.
I liked the idea of the fan clubs, Naughty Cell has the best taste! :p
I'm curious about her relationship with Ba-Bi, will it be just a transition or a real one?
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7 Jezz
June 12, 2022 at 2:12 AM
@missvictrix I loved your first impression on first episode of second season of Yumi's Cells, I'm always loved the seasonal format of Kdramas like this one, and for me, I completely watch not only the first two episodes of second season of this Kdrama but also it's the 15th and 16th overall episodes of this Kdrama. So while I'm so excited waiting for Yumi's Cells 2: Episodes 2-4 weecap next week, here's my funniest highlights from episode 2/16th episode:
[SPOILER]
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Jezz
June 12, 2022 at 2:29 AM
...and I still tagged Ruby as a villain and as a loser.
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bbstl 🧹
June 13, 2022 at 7:41 AM
Ugh, Ruby. Every time they’re together, I think that Yumi and her office friend are saintly to be able to hang out with Ruby and take her seriously. I couldn’t do it.
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8 wapz
June 12, 2022 at 2:23 AM
Agree with everything you said missvictrix. I hoped the show would continue from a time jump. After all they've given us time to forget Woong. However, they didn't. And i was back to shipping Woong and Yumi. I found Yumi very guarded around Babi last season so I couldn't root for them. But then, this show always puts us in Yumi's shoes unless we know about the male lead's cells too. So like Yumi was guarded around ba bi last season, she opened up here since the first episode and so did I. I joined Babi's fan club immediately and I'm staying here for the run. I had no doubts that this show would do well in a seasonal format because it is a 28 episode drama and may be more. Already jealous of those who may be waiting for all of it to end to watch together. Lucky folks. But i can't wait. Small pieces of wisdom such as the whethering the storm by staing in a boat rather than getting swept by it like last tome is what I like about this show. It's profound, funny, light hearted and heart fluttering. I can't believe I didn't like Babi last season. All I needed was to watch 2 episodes of this season to convince me otherwise.
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Fly Colours
June 12, 2022 at 3:55 AM
The cells not getting washed away by the storm this time (only Hunger Cell, but they recovered fast, lol) because they learned from the previous breakup is a nice touch. I also liked it that drama shows that grieving (for whatever, in this case a breakup) is never lineal... Yumi thinks that she's all good for a moment, but then small things send her back on a loop. It takes time to heal
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tabong
June 12, 2022 at 9:39 AM
"I can't believe I didn't like Babi last season. All I needed was to watch 2 episodes of this season to convince me otherwise."
Same. Babi had a really good introduction this week. I totally forgot that I didn't like him last season. I'm just part of his club.
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9 Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
June 12, 2022 at 3:24 AM
Thanks for another great recap @missvictrix.
It was so nice to be back with the cells and Yumi for the next instalment. I am loving that OST has kept a lot of the songs from season one as I now realise I saved more of these songs on my K dramas playlist than I thought.
Be Melodramatic has ruined me, because every time I see someone with a guitar I am laughing whatever the context.🫢
Looking forward to the next episode.
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10 Pan cake
June 12, 2022 at 5:42 AM
As soon as I saw Jinyoung in season 1, I realised right away that they gonna break up hehe. It's a good thing though that relationship got mixed up with lies and lack of communication and assumption so good it is ended.
I hope Babi will be a more transparent person than wung, not to suffer our Yumi and their extremely cute cell. Actually, I am in love with the choice of blue colours and the background of cells since season 1, it is exceptionally beautiful.
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11 PChun
June 12, 2022 at 8:25 AM
I must be alone in my bittersweet feelings while watching the new episodes for season 2. Yumi reminiscing about her relationship with Woong, trying to get rid of the tokens of love they shared was tough for this fan to watch.
I found out half way through season 1 that their story was based on a webtoon I knew nothing about. By that time I was hopelessly in love with this couple and watched in denial of what I read would eventually be their demise.
Babi? I didn't like him. He seemed like a player who gave off the wrong signals, who was sly in his interest in Yumi all the while harboring a girlfriend. I must admit in season 2 he seems a lot better and does bring a different aspect into Yumi's life.
BUT...the writers did too good of a job of playing out Yumi & Woong's sweet romance as did Kim Go-eun & Ahn Bo-hyun. Their chemistry was off the charts and that is why I find it so hard to move on.
Babi is nice and understanding toward Yumi but I don't feel the connection yet, or see them physically attractive as a couple. I totally admit to being biased and that my loyalty to Woong is fatal to Yumi's future but I can't help myself.
If there is no season 3, I'm hoping we see Woong come to a better understanding of what he needs to do to win Yumi back and they reconcile toward the end of season 2.
I can dream can't I?
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peachietime
June 13, 2022 at 12:00 PM
I hope as the show went on, viewers who are new to Babi's character will learn more about him. He wasn't being interested in Yumi when he was still dating his ex-girlfriend. He actually did almost everything he could to hold onto his ex but she didn't take it. And Babi is a person who is overly friendly to both guys and girls. He was merely being friendly in S1 before he broke up :)
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12 CharmingKey
June 12, 2022 at 8:48 AM
A great start to Season 2! It felt like putting on your coziest sweater after not wearing it for some time. I kind of ignored Bobby in the first season since I was more invested in Yumi/Woong. This episode did a great job of highlighting his charms. Add me to Team Bobby!
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13 gadis
June 12, 2022 at 2:56 PM
I can't believe I forgot how realistically Yumi's Cells portrayed its romantic story until I watched this eps. Then I realized how much I've missed this unusual romcom (and am glad to know that it delivers just as well as the 1st season).
I just soaked up all the nostalgic feelings this introduction eps gave me. The painfully accurate way it showed the stages of grief as Yumi went through the aftermath of her breakup. The craziness of our subconscious mind. The fickle nature of decision based on feelings.
I just. Adore. Everything about this opening eps. I hope they keep up the good work for weeks to come.
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14 WEnchanteur
June 13, 2022 at 3:52 AM
It's unfair to rate a drama before it fully starts, but with such writers and good season 1, it was obvious that season 2 would be flawless too.
For once, the season format is well used, as the season 1 could be Ok to watch as a single one.
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15 bbstl 🧹
June 13, 2022 at 7:51 AM
I love the way they showed the breakup scene again only with Woong and the world around them in black and white and only Yumi in color. Because Woong and their world together was now part of the old times, it’s from history like a b&w movie. Yumi is the life force that goes forward. Well done.
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16 Mike
June 14, 2022 at 12:03 PM
I agree that episode 1 wasn't a particularly good 'premiere episode' but it was a very good mid-season episode (after a 1 year hiatus). K-dramas are not very good at multi-season shows. Them treating this as a single very long series gives me hope.
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17 Nal
June 16, 2022 at 6:18 AM
Team Yoo Babi 😆
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18 alex
June 18, 2022 at 2:08 AM
does anyone know the title of the book that bobby lends to yumi?
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