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DNA Lover: Episodes 7-8

Feelings take shape, jealousies abound, and kisses are a-comin’. At this point, all four of our leads have made up their minds about where their hearts lie, but unfortunately these feelings don’t align on all fronts. As much as our characters try to control their emotions, I see some non-genetically determined hurts in their futures.

 
EPISODES 7-8

“In my world, there are two types of men. The ones that I’m madly attracted to genetically but that keep hurting me. And the ones I’m not genetically attracted to at all but that keep saving me.” Is it just me, or has our heroine hit on a basic life truth? Chemistry doesn’t always lead you in the healthiest direction. And sometimes you should just pick the firefighter.

But anyway, what a problem to have, right? So-jin utters the above quote to herself as she’s laid up in a hospital bed with sudden gastroenteritis — while her new crush competes with her life-long best friend to stay by her side. While neither of these men were totally sure of how they felt about her last week, they are very certain now, and even ready to act on it.

So, how did we get here? Well, this week’s genetic nonsense has to do with gut germs. If two people eat the same foods, the germs that develop in their guts will attract each other like magnets. (Or some such “scientific explanation.”) The plot point here is that our leading lady decides that the reason Yeon-woo and Mi-eun seem like such a perfect match is because they like and eat the same (expensive) foods. And so, if So-jin can get our hero to scarf down the cheap convenience store stuff that she loves so much, their stomachs will soon be exerting a gravitational pull toward each other.

This plan comes about when Yeon-woo asks So-jin out on a dinner date to a fancy-schmancy restaurant that he frequents — and the two run into Mi-eun with one of her many men. This isn’t so strange because it’s a place that Yeon-woo and Mi-eun go to regularly together, and they both love it. The two pairs end up sitting at the same table and both women are instantly jealous.

So-jin learns that in the past Mi-eun and Yeon-woo dated for three years, breaking up twice and getting back together. So-jin witnesses their similar tastes and their easy manner with each other, and starts to think they have everything in common, while she’s on the outside. She wants to develop the same kind of kinship with Yeon-woo that Mi-eun has — hence, the plan to get their gut germs hooked on the same instant ramen.

And on Mi-eun’s side we’ve got some development this week as it’s revealed that her feelings for Yeon-woo are stronger than what she feels for any of her other partners. Even when they’re broken up, it feels to her like they’re still dating. Or, it did until So-jin entered the picture.

We learned last week that Yeon-woo liked dating Mi-eun precisely because she was polyamorous. In Episode 6, he said he liked the “comfortable distance — a relationship that’s not too far and not too close.” So, the player and the polyamorist worked out well when they were both distant and staying within the bounds of their lifestyles.

However, we’ve got problems on both sides now. Yeon-woo appears to be changing up his game for So-jin (and Mi-eun recognizes this). And the fact that Yeon-woo is actually getting close to someone triggers Mi-eun’s jealousy and makes her want him more. At one point, she’s says she knows “it’s not right” to want him for herself — given her philosophy on relationships — but the hurt and rejection she feels seem to be changing her attitude.

The worst of it comes on her birthday, when she drops by Yeon-woo’s apartment hoping to spend the evening with him, and he turns her away without a thought because he has plans with So-jin. Mi-eun’s feelings increase the more he distances from her and pulls toward So-jin — despite the fact that our heroine’s food-matching plan fails!

So, what the heck is going on with Yeon-woo? While last week’s strategies struck me as manipulative inauthentic, he’s letting his genuine feelings shine through in these episodes. He asks So-jin to dinner, wants to get to know her for real, and also feels bad when he learns that she was trying to develop a closeness with him through food, and he didn’t even try the foods she recommended.

To make up for it, he invites So-jin to dinner at his house, where he cooks for her — combining convenience store ingredients with his own favorite delicacies. And of course, that’s how she develops the gastroenteritis.

But even with a stomachache that’s causing her to sweat, she’s so worried about making a good impression that she doesn’t mention it to Yeon-woo. Instead, when he invites her to cozy up on his couch and watch a movie, she sternly tells him that she needs to go home. Afterward, she darts to the nearest public toilet — and calls Kang-hoon to the rescue when she falls on the floor in pain.

Yeon-woo learns about this when he calls So-jin to alert her that she left her jacket behind. Kang-hoon answers the phone and says to meet them at the ER. This prickles Yeon-woo given that he’s a doctor and his crush just ran out in pain and called another man for help. But also, he has questions about the relationship between Kang-hoon and So-jin.

And, the truth is, Kang-hoon has some questions about that himself. He’s been pushing down whatever he feels for So-jin, so that not even he was fully aware it. But his attraction to her is rising to the surface and jealousies are developing on the men’s side as well.

By the time he and Yeon-woo are both standing outside her hospital room, Yeon-woo wants to know: “What are you to So-jin?” Why would she call him when she has a crisis? Kang-hoon is very pragmatic saying there are people you want to share struggles with and others you only want to share good things with. He tells Yeon-woo not to mind him. But Yeon-woo replies, “Are you okay if she only runs to you with her struggles?” Kang-hoon, dependable friend that he is, says yes, he’ll stick by So-jin no matter what.

But that’s before the trip-and-fall kiss. When So-jin is released from the hospital and back at home, Kang-hoon drops by with porridge. As he’s leaving, she chases after him to give him a bundle of parsley, trips down the stairs, and lands atop him in a wide-eyed kiss. They stay mouth to mouth, blinking a few times, before she starts enquiring if he’s okay. He is, but also, is she going to get off him?

The fact that she’s not disturbed by their closeness is a bad sign for him, considering how uncomfortable he is in the situation. Another bad sign? Afterward, he touches his lips with his fingertips, like he’s re-feeling the kiss — and she wipes off her mouth with the back of her hand. (Yeah, our firefighter is about to get his heart trampled.)

The next kiss that comes about is far more two-sided and happens when So-jin is in the hospital again. While she was getting her gastroenteritis treated, they discovered a growth in her uterus that needs to be removed. Immediately, Yeon-woo wants to be her surgeon, but So-jin is hesitant. She seems to be worried about keeping up a good impression. However, Yeon-woo really wants her to trust him, like she does with Kang-hoon (and this is the drama’s way of giving her a reason to).

And so, Yeon-woo will be her surgeon and Kang-hoon will be her guardian at the hospital. Both of them promise to be there from start to finish. As it happens, Kang-hoon gets called to a fire emergency before she goes into the OR (and leaves while she’s napping, poor thing). And Yeon-woo is called into an emergency surgery. So-jin is alone, terrified, and almost in tears on the operating table before Yeon-woo makes a last minute entrance to perform the surgery.

Later, in her room, Yeon-woo is also there to take care of her. When he leaves to get food, she tries to pass gas to make sure everything is normal post-surgery. Just as she does, he walks back in and smiles happily, saying she seems to be doing just fine. Lol. She’s totally mortified, but he uses it as an opportunity to show his sincerity. He’s not the kind of guy that cares about that and he was really worried he’d miss her surgery. As he talks, she leans toward him on her hospital bed and kisses him. He kisses back, and Kang-hoon arrives just then to witness it and end our episodes.

Well, on the upside, our hero is putting forth some genuine effort this week rather than trying to dupe our heroine into believing they have a telepathic connection. But for some reason, I still don’t really like him (Siwon notwithstanding). Maybe it’s the way he tried to pressure her into trusting him before she was ready, which screams red flag to me, or maybe it’s the way he dismisses Mi-eun that’s really bothering me.

The second leads are definitely more interesting characters to me than the main leads. And Mi-eun in particular is complicated, although I’m not sure the drama knows what it wants to do with her or say about polyamory. In all the discussions between Yeon-woo and Mi-eun they relate over their emotional distance in relationships. I find this strange on Mi-eun’s side, given that she’s said aloud that she’s simultaneously in love with multiple people. Does love mean no emotional attachment?

Mi-eun has many boyfriends and no one to spend her birthday with. That is, she has no real connection or companionship. She fits her partners into a fixed schedule — so what happens if she (or they) want to see each other on an off-day? We see the outcome when she tries to meet Yeon-woo on her birthday: he turns her away without even considering her disappointment. He sees her as a close friend (or distant lover), and she’s clearly got strong feelings for him.

Is the drama headed for some very profound take on the messiness of love? I don’t think so. And I’m even a little worried that we might see our polyamorist shifting stances. Or even, being vindictive. There’s a moment when she realizes that Kang-hoon has feelings for So-jin and tells him not to wait, but to act. Is she trying to drive a wedge between So-jin and Yeon-woo? And if so, will it make her question herself or become even more steadfast in her beliefs? All I know is that even if I feel as detached from these characters as Mi-eun is from her boyfriends, there’s something in this story that I can’t turn away from.

 
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Thanks for the recap @dramaddictally

This drama was my low key ridiculous watch of the week, so of course they have to add the arson/murder/stalking/past trauma storyline. I have had flashbacks to the original Star Trek where a random crew member appearing usually signalled they were the collateral damage in the next alien fight scene. In this show it’s being the pregnant woman that leads to a near death or murder experience. It seems an odd choice to make pregnant women victims when the underlying theme in most K dramas these days is the not so subtle promotion of cute babies and children.

I am still holding out for the silly and hoping the dark elements are cleared up soon cue cute side couple awarded to Doctor and boxer. Can you even get through the initial training to be a doctor if you faint at the site of blood?

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Also, the head nurse is too well-known of an actress to have such a small role halfway into the drama.

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Almost every character has scars from the past and has an emotional baggage to carry. Seeing how differently they deal with the emotional rejections or their demons from the past is what makes this drama so entertaining.

I understand that FL's need for love is caused by her mother's emotional neglect. I feel very sorry for her, yet I often find her very exhausting. But if this doesn't bother ML and he thinks they can be happy together, I wish them all the best.

But if I were ML, I would have a problem being with someone who I don't know if she loves me because of my DNA or because of my personality.
But in the end, it will probably come down to FL realising that there was a DNA mix-up, but she stays with ML anyway because of her feelings.

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Thanks for the recap, @dramaddictally. This show is so great. I love how this show centers around themes and uses them in different ways. For example, the theme of eating was explored on the surface to develop the gut biome of the ML. But, it becomes a vehicle to show similarity in life, differences in the ways people see the world, an opportunity to develop intimacy, but also a way to criticize the communication style of the 2FL. Yeon-woo wants to introduce So-Jin to some nice food because he is worried that she doesn't have nice things. Mi-eun tries to force her preferences on Kang-hoon through food. But, she ironically wonders if that is what Yeon-woo is doing to So-Jin. Meanwhile, our heroine wants to develop intimacy through food via gut biomes. But, in a sense of self-awareness, it is the intimacy that is the most important thing her not the pseudoscience as the experiment she tries is a total flop. The experiment is very entertaining as it takes the form of a mukbang and involves the 2ML who has the same preferences as So-Jin. dun dun dun. I have a suspicion that the writer has another thing in mind. As So-Jin says, the convenience store is a great place to people watch to stop her from being overwhelmed by life. In my experience, eating convenience store food is what neglected children do when they don't have parents around to take care of them. This seems like it might be another scar that is left on So-Jin's heart and that watching happy people might be a way for her to escape her reality.

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She was asked to think of fond memories and she replied that she had none.

On the other hand, she asked Yeon-woo about his family and he changed the subject.

Parental neglect is the one thing they have in common.

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Do you think she might actually end up with Kang-hoon? If this weren't a kdrama I would be thinking so...

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it is a very real possibility. It depends on how they develop Yeon-woo. You can interpret his actions as being pity for this strange enthusiastic girl. Pity in kdrama land is often mistaken as love, but is not love. Or as someone who is equally broken reaching out to someone who might accept him and love him.

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I think Yeon-woo likes her, but I don't think it's very deep. I think she and the 2ML would be a much better fit and have more depth to their relationship.

Isn't it extremely unlikely, almost impossible, that the FL will end up with the 2ML, though?

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I can't think of an instance where it happened in a drama. But, the writer is doing a lot of interesting drama bending. So, it isn't impossible.

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For me, episode 7 was the worst of the season. I've embraced the "pseudo-science of the week" theme and I'm going with it, but I can't stand stupid characters.
Being intolerant to some food and still eating it and then having a medical emergency and not seeking help from the doctor you are seeing (WHO IS UPSTAIRS!!!) and instead calling someone who might be on duty and not be able to answer is just too stupid to stomach - no pun intended.

Episode 8 is so much better, and what makes it better is that So-Jin just acts like a grown-up for once.

So-Jin's mother is awful, she has absolutely no empathy for her own daughter but is so warm to her "social daughter". her sister is also such a bad person. they both get the worst family member award.

I still think that Yeonwoo wasn't manipulating So-Jin. Giving her the headphones during the exams and playing the song from her high school mp3 was so sweet, as it was the "care package" he gave her.
Note the contrast between his (a mix of practical things that were on her list and "cheer up" things like the funny sleeper he got her) and KangHoon's: food and more food.

It makes me laugh that all we see of the kiss in the final scene is from Kang Hoon's perspective. Both this and the "trip and fall kiss" usually happen with the ML. If this wasn't a kdrama but a turkey's dizi, I would almost expect our FL to end up with the SML... I'm almost sad that's not going to happen.

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I don't think he's manipulating her at all, but I'm not convinced his feelings for her are any deeper or longer-lasting than they have been with other women

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I think the writer has her do this to show how much of a people pleaser she is. She harms herself to receive the love that she desperately wants. I actually like how she does this showing how little self-worth she has, and then, at the drinking party, her sister explains her earlier behavior.

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First, I've had the surgery that So-jin had (assuming it was a laparoscopy) twice. It was interesting they wheeled her to the OR in a wheelchair versus transferring her to a gurney. I was very happy for her when she passed gas because 1) that's an important check they do after the surgery and 2) the gas pain after a lap is UNREAL.

Okay, now onto the drama itself. As I mentioned on my fanwall, I feel like this drama is making a very strong case that the 2ML is more compatible with So-jin and the 2FL is more compatible with Yeon-woo. I wouldn't call this SLS, because I actually like Yeon-woo better than the 2ML. But, that doesn't mean I'm convinced he's a good romantic fit for So-jin, especially for a lifelong relationship like she wants. The only thing the 2ML has going against him right now is that he took years to recognize his feelings. Not great, I admit, and it makes me feel bad for So-jin... but that alone is not enough to make me think the FL would be a better romantic fit for him long-term. I also just don't think they've done a good job showing that Yeon-woo has lasting feelings for So-jin. In addition, they seem in entirely different worlds, not just food-wise but also when he's dealing with some really terrible problems (death of his patient, his mother's unstable mental health, his dad's affairs) and in the meantime she's crying because she can't get him to eat the same foods as her. I know that's how she copes with her own problems, but it's making them feel even less on the same page to me.

Also, I'm sorry, but it does not seem okay for a doctor to operate on his kinda-girlfriend if they're in a big hospital where other staff could easily do it. Total conflict of interest.

Finally, I want them to release that OST track from the end of ep 8! It was gorgeous.

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I guess the writer completely forgot, but if the basketball shirt she stole wasn't Yeon-woo's, then Kang-hoon *is* So-jin's predestined mate.

I'm still waiting for the song at the end of ep 3 (i think).

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Yeah, I've thought of that, too. I wish we'd find out whose shirt it was already. I just don't believe that Kang-hoon would have the promiscuous octo gene. Helper gene, absolutely.

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She also eats the night before her surgery, which struck me as being unusual.

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Oh, yes! In fact, I had to do a GI prep the entire day before so I was only allowed to have clear liquids. Shudder.

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As a side note, the plot had a real turning point this week. The DNA obsessed FL had a dream about her father, the forensic scientist. He tells her that her destiny/DNA are fixed. But, So-Jin responds that she is against this destiny, because it took her father away from her. In fact, in her dream she is all alone, her greatest fear. I feel like this might be foreshadowing her going against her DNA obsession in the future, which makes the SML (her true DNA lover) unlikely to succeed. Dreams in korean culture are often linked with the supernatural and divination. Here the trope is turned scientific and instead of foretelling, the FL plans to fight against it. Will this turn out to be a Greek tragedy?

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I also really enjoyed all the scenes showing the scars of past trauma. Again, the writer really has a great familiarity with these subjects and it hits me in the heart. A-ri's hiding away from her past abusers reveals a deep connection to Father Andrea. His choice to join her in the armoire highly suggests that he has experienced the same trauma because he knows exactly what she needs. It feels like the writer is drawing from personal experience.

So-jin's terror at being in the hospital is linked to her past experience in hospitals where her father died. Again, this sense of fear and abandonment and shame feels so real. As if the writer has experienced it as well.

Also, the lack of happy memories really resonates with me. I really thank the writer for including this in the drama. I feel like it is very validating to hear because I never see it in dramas. I often feel like when other people make statements such as suggesting that everyone has happy memories, it can make you feel further alienated from the world. I also feel for Yeon-woo he pretends like everything is fine with his world, but So-Jin's words cut him to his core reality, that his family life is also not very cheerful. (Both his parents are so manipulative and not loving) This makes So-Jin's character even more remarkable, instead of pretending to be ok or being jaded, she is actively striving to live a pure and cheerful happy life. Her inner strength is very attractive.

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