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MJ Koontz
Back to being lost in America
Real, intimate, at times devistating, Yumi's Cells is an adult romance take on Pixar's Inside Out.
That isn't to say that the Pixar animated tale wasn't adult in its own right, it very much was, but the story there focused on an adolescent and was the most adult when dealing with the drivers inside of her mind. Here, Yumi is at its most adult when we are dealing with the real world or the grown-up protagonist and, unfortunately, is at its most childish, and disappointing, when dealing with cells and their functionality within her.
If I was honestly going to choose my largest complaint about the series, it is by far the animated portions. The animation itself is subpar, the characters all act like children, and how they handle, respond, and decide to go about things inside of Yumi, and at times Woong (Our Male Lead), is as if it is the first time any of these cells have had to make an adult decision in their existence. The cells are, well, a plot device to try and say this isn't just another romance but something different and basically serve as the comic relief of an otherwise very honest and real tale. I could have easily done without them and at times wish they weren't a part of the story.
That isn't to say they don't add a great way to see some of the inner turmoil of our characters, and is a refreshing narrative approach to keep from having to watch the characters constantly look off to the side while speaking to no one about their desires and feelings as most Kdrama's tend to do. ( This is probably in my top 3 overall complaints of Kdrama's as a medium.) It was nice to just see the actors ACT with their faces and bodies instead of their mouths, as the cartoons took the burden of letting us know their dilemmas.
However, when the story stays in the real world of Yumi it becomes a harrowing journey to behold. So strong, so emotional, so earnest in its take on love and life that it MORE than overshadows any faults that can be found elsewhere. Yumi is as real as a person can be and just as broken. As we watch her navigate her blossoming feelings, and simultaneously come to understand her past and all the baggage that was created getting to this point in her life, we very easily see ourselves, our friends, or our family members.
Kim Go Eun shines in her role. She is beautiful, but still common. Strong, but still unsturdy. Detached, but still warm. The subtleties she brings to our protagonist Yumi is raw, unguarded, and relatable. While you will find yourself frustrated with Yumi as a character at times, especially in the latter few episodes before we reach the end of the series, Go Eun will keep you firmly on her side, and make you understand almost every action she takes.
Ahn Bo Hyun is also winning in his role of Woong. He is equal parts sexy and adorable, kind and selfish, caring and cold. He is arguably the MOST broken of the two leads, and his flaws affect the story and their romance more than hers. That you still like him, care for him, and yes root for him, when there are times he is clearly in the wrong, shows how effective both Woong is as a character and Bo Hyun is in his delivery of him.
All the other characters are very much side dishes. Every single one of them come off just as authentic as our leads, but really only exist to keep the world Yumi and Woong alive and feeling full. The character of Sae Yi has the most impact on our tale outside of our couple. Park Ji Hyun plays her effectively as someone who isn't a villain as much as a person with their own agenda and motives. Sae Yi is almost a female Iago here, her influence on Woong directing his actions more than her outright doing dastardly deeds. She is still a real person and not a cartoon. While you may not find her the nicest individual, you will still find parts of you inside her, and see her as a real person. Something that more often than not is not the case for the enemies in Kdramas.
The series is steady in its delivery and pacing. It doesn't rush to get to plot points and doesn't lag never going anywhere. There is never a time, when watching, you wish that we could just move on. This is taking too long. Or, this is just filler and there could have been less. In fact, in one of the few times watching, I was disheartened there was only 14 episodes instead of the normal 16-20. I would have loved to spend more time here.
Season 2 is already confirmed, and shooting, and yes there are characters you meet in season 1 that seem designed to be dealt with later on in other seasons. Here we meet them, understand their beginnings, and get whiffs of what is to come, but they still remain mostly innocuous for the story of these 14 episodes. This is fine, since season 2 is happening, but would have been a detraction, and a waste of actors and time, if this story was all that ended up being made.
Yumi's Cells will stick with you. It will jolt your emotions, light your anger, spark your desires, and cause you to swoon at its stars and their romance. But it never sugar coats the world and life. People are subjected to societal standards so ingrained in them that they cannot move past the insecurities it causes. People have their own issues brought on by a lifetimes journey and all the pitfalls they have already worked against. People hurt and cause pain and this story runs through the gamut of it all. Undoubtedly one of the most honest tales I've had the pleasure of watching from South Korea. 9.0/A/4.5 Stars, shouldn't be missed by anyone who enjoys journeys of the heart.
If I was honestly going to choose my largest complaint about the series, it is by far the animated portions. The animation itself is subpar, the characters all act like children, and how they handle, respond, and decide to go about things inside of Yumi, and at times Woong (Our Male Lead), is as if it is the first time any of these cells have had to make an adult decision in their existence. The cells are, well, a plot device to try and say this isn't just another romance but something different and basically serve as the comic relief of an otherwise very honest and real tale. I could have easily done without them and at times wish they weren't a part of the story.
That isn't to say they don't add a great way to see some of the inner turmoil of our characters, and is a refreshing narrative approach to keep from having to watch the characters constantly look off to the side while speaking to no one about their desires and feelings as most Kdrama's tend to do. ( This is probably in my top 3 overall complaints of Kdrama's as a medium.) It was nice to just see the actors ACT with their faces and bodies instead of their mouths, as the cartoons took the burden of letting us know their dilemmas.
However, when the story stays in the real world of Yumi it becomes a harrowing journey to behold. So strong, so emotional, so earnest in its take on love and life that it MORE than overshadows any faults that can be found elsewhere. Yumi is as real as a person can be and just as broken. As we watch her navigate her blossoming feelings, and simultaneously come to understand her past and all the baggage that was created getting to this point in her life, we very easily see ourselves, our friends, or our family members.
Kim Go Eun shines in her role. She is beautiful, but still common. Strong, but still unsturdy. Detached, but still warm. The subtleties she brings to our protagonist Yumi is raw, unguarded, and relatable. While you will find yourself frustrated with Yumi as a character at times, especially in the latter few episodes before we reach the end of the series, Go Eun will keep you firmly on her side, and make you understand almost every action she takes.
Ahn Bo Hyun is also winning in his role of Woong. He is equal parts sexy and adorable, kind and selfish, caring and cold. He is arguably the MOST broken of the two leads, and his flaws affect the story and their romance more than hers. That you still like him, care for him, and yes root for him, when there are times he is clearly in the wrong, shows how effective both Woong is as a character and Bo Hyun is in his delivery of him.
All the other characters are very much side dishes. Every single one of them come off just as authentic as our leads, but really only exist to keep the world Yumi and Woong alive and feeling full. The character of Sae Yi has the most impact on our tale outside of our couple. Park Ji Hyun plays her effectively as someone who isn't a villain as much as a person with their own agenda and motives. Sae Yi is almost a female Iago here, her influence on Woong directing his actions more than her outright doing dastardly deeds. She is still a real person and not a cartoon. While you may not find her the nicest individual, you will still find parts of you inside her, and see her as a real person. Something that more often than not is not the case for the enemies in Kdramas.
The series is steady in its delivery and pacing. It doesn't rush to get to plot points and doesn't lag never going anywhere. There is never a time, when watching, you wish that we could just move on. This is taking too long. Or, this is just filler and there could have been less. In fact, in one of the few times watching, I was disheartened there was only 14 episodes instead of the normal 16-20. I would have loved to spend more time here.
Season 2 is already confirmed, and shooting, and yes there are characters you meet in season 1 that seem designed to be dealt with later on in other seasons. Here we meet them, understand their beginnings, and get whiffs of what is to come, but they still remain mostly innocuous for the story of these 14 episodes. This is fine, since season 2 is happening, but would have been a detraction, and a waste of actors and time, if this story was all that ended up being made.
Yumi's Cells will stick with you. It will jolt your emotions, light your anger, spark your desires, and cause you to swoon at its stars and their romance. But it never sugar coats the world and life. People are subjected to societal standards so ingrained in them that they cannot move past the insecurities it causes. People have their own issues brought on by a lifetimes journey and all the pitfalls they have already worked against. People hurt and cause pain and this story runs through the gamut of it all. Undoubtedly one of the most honest tales I've had the pleasure of watching from South Korea. 9.0/A/4.5 Stars, shouldn't be missed by anyone who enjoys journeys of the heart.
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