DNA Lover- Episode 5

Telepathy

Episode 5 kicks off with a tense shift to Yeon-u’s perspective as he recalls how he instinctively knew to save So-jin. His gut told him something was wrong, but what he doesn’t realize is that someone else is quietly following him. The episode circles back to the cliffhanger from the previous episode, setting the stage for more drama.

Yeon-u leans in to kiss So-jin, but their romantic moment takes a funny turn when she accidentally hits him on the nose. Meanwhile, Gang-hun is on a mission of his own. He calls the police, getting Sang-min arrested, and takes So-jin home, asking Yeon-u to wait for him at a restaurant. Gang-hun’s protectiveness reveals a deeper concern—he sees So-jin as family, but could his feelings run even deeper? He’s desperate to keep Yeon-u away from her, but Yeon-u stands firm, telling Gang-hun to stop meddling in his life.

Elsewhere, the sparks continue to fly between Jung-tam and Sung-mi. He’s smitten, frequenting the gym in hopes of running into her. Though their meetings seem accidental, it’s clear Jung-tam is learning her routine to “coincidentally” bump into her.

The next day, So-jin confides in A-ri about her almost-kiss with Yeon-u, and her curiosity about how he appeared just in time leads her down a rabbit hole on telepathy. As she dives into her research, A-ri volunteers at the local church and uncovers more about Father Andrea’s tragic past, including a mysterious affair involving his late mother, who owned a flower shop.

Meanwhile, Mi-eun releases a new book on relationships, but the talk of the town is her polyamorous lifestyle, sparking controversy. She faces judgment from all sides, and things get tense when a perverted fan pushes her limits at a book signing. She puts him in his place, but his aggressive reaction leaves her shaken.

Back in Yeon-u’s world, he goes above and beyond to see So-jin. Volunteering to help Jung-tam, he makes his way to the research center, where he finds So-jin under attack by a furious news anchor who didn’t like the test results. Yeon-u comes to her rescue and later takes her to karaoke to lift her spirits. Joined by friends, the group sings and enjoys a lighthearted moment—complete with a fun Super Junior reunion cameo.

Later, Yeon-u drops So-jin off and subtly gives her the green light to continue their experiments together. A-ri invites So-jin to dinner, but Yeon-u tags along, much to her annoyance. Sitting at a separate table, he eavesdrops as they discuss Father Andrea, fueling So-jin’s curiosity about telepathy.

The following day, Yeon-u buys So-jin a bouquet, unaware of her pollen allergy. Hilariously, So-jin starts sneezing from miles away, suspecting their connection might be stronger than she thought. He tracks her down at her old high school, surprising her with the flowers during a lecture. So-jin’s mind races as she links her sneezing to the moment Yeon-u bought the flowers, convinced telepathy is at play. They visit her old lab, and she shows him a time capsule she made in high school, including a song she’s saved for her soulmate. When her old MP3 player doesn’t work, Yeon-u secretly takes it, determined to fix it.

As they head to lunch, both simultaneously crave mandu soup, further convincing So-jin that their minds are in sync. They talk about the Sang-min incident, but Yeon-u insists it was all just a coincidence, not telepathy.

Meanwhile, Jung-tam crosses paths with Gang-hun at a restaurant. Gang-hun is irritated when he learns Yeon-u is still pursuing So-jin and tries to warn her about Yeon-u’s player reputation. But So-jin dismisses the warning, believing their telepathic bond is real. Frustrated, Gang-hun takes a walk and randomly encounters Mi-eun, who gifts him a book. However, things quickly sour when she talks about her polyamorous lifestyle, and Gang-hun accuses her of being like Yeon-u—selfish and hurtful.

At work the next day, Gang-hun seeks advice from Sung-mi, who suggests he should help So-jin avoid bad men. Jung-tam also drops by So-jin’s office, curious about her telepathy research, wondering if he could experience it with Sung-mi. Their conversation shifts to Yeon-u, and Jung-tam assumes they’re dating, though So-jin denies it, explaining they’re just working on an experiment.

Yeon-u gets a surprise family dinner invitation from his aunt, who’s visiting after a decade. So-jin spots him at a flower shop and calls to propose a quick experiment—picking two locations and seeing if they’ll telepathically choose the same spot. So-jin heads to the Han River, while Yeon-u goes to Mount Nam. They end up missing each other, but Gang-hun unexpectedly shows up to meet So-jin, while Yeon-u bumps into Mi-eun at the tower. The episode ends on a cliffhanger, leaving us wondering just how deep these connections really go.

DramaZen's Opinion

Let’s get real for a moment—DNA Lover started off with an already far-fetched premise, but now with telepathy thrown into the mix, it’s pushing the boundaries of believability a bit too much. The concept feels like it's trying too hard to make things "quirky" and "mystical," but instead, it's making the show hard to take seriously.

The characters, unfortunately, aren't doing much to help. So-jin, for instance, is laser-focused on finding her DNA match, so much so that she’s oblivious to the things happening right under her nose—like the possibility that Gang-hun could actually be the one for her. Will she bother to investigate why Gang-hun just “coincidentally” appeared at the Han River? Or will she stay fixated on Yeon-u and his no-show, completely missing the real connection?

And speaking of Gang-hun, is he secretly in love with So-jin? His obsession with keeping Yeon-u away from her seems a little too personal. Either he’s deep in denial or hasn’t come to terms with his feelings yet. Whatever the case, it’s time for him to either step up and join the race or bow out before things get messier.

Then there's the whole Mi-eun plotline, which is another frustration. The show can’t seem to stop harping on her polyamorous lifestyle like it’s the most shocking thing ever. It’s not that deep—she’s allowed to live her life the way she wants. But come on, writers, give her some depth! Isn’t she more than just a polyamorous woman who talks about relationships in her books and shows? There’s potential for so much more with her character, but right now, she’s reduced to a single, overused talking point.

With all these missed opportunities and exaggerated plot twists, DNA Lover feels like it's losing sight of what could make the story truly engaging. Here’s hoping the show finds its way back before it completely derails!