DNA Lover- Episodes 7-8
Gut Racing, Not Heart Racing
"In my world, there are two types of men: the ones I'm genetically drawn to, who keep breaking my heart, and the ones I'm not attracted to at all—but they’re the ones who save me." Has So-jin just stumbled upon a universal truth? Chemistry doesn’t always lead to happiness, and sometimes, it’s smarter to choose the guy who’s always there to pick you up—like the firefighter.
But, oh, what a dilemma to have! As So-jin mutters this revelation from her hospital bed (thanks to a sudden case of gastroenteritis), her two love interests—her lifelong best friend and her new crush—are competing for her attention at her bedside. Just last week, neither man seemed sure of their feelings, but now? Both are ready to fight for her heart.
So, how did things get so tangled? This week’s bizarre plotline involves “gut germs”—apparently, if two people eat the same food, their gut bacteria will draw them together, like magnets. So-jin hatches a plan to steer her crush, Yeon-woo, away from his old flame, Mi-eun, by getting him to indulge in her favorite convenience store snacks. After all, Mi-eun and Yeon-woo seem like the perfect match because they both love the same fancy restaurants. So if So-jin can get Yeon-woo hooked on instant ramen, their guts (and maybe hearts) will align.
It all kicks off when Yeon-woo invites So-jin on a dinner date, only for them to run into Mi-eun at their favorite posh restaurant. As they sit at the same table, jealousy flares between the women, especially when So-jin learns that Yeon-woo and Mi-eun dated for three years. Their shared tastes and easy camaraderie make So-jin feel like an outsider, pushing her to try her “gut germs” theory. But Mi-eun isn’t backing down—her lingering feelings for Yeon-woo intensify as he drifts toward So-jin.
Yeon-woo, on the other hand, is changing. Once drawn to Mi-eun’s polyamorous lifestyle because it allowed him emotional distance, he’s now falling for So-jin and breaking all his own rules. Mi-eun, sensing this shift, becomes desperate. On her birthday, she shows up at Yeon-woo’s place hoping to spend the night with him, only to be turned away—because he has plans with So-jin. The rejection stings, especially as Yeon-woo grows closer to someone else.
Meanwhile, So-jin’s food-based strategy backfires—literally. After Yeon-woo invites her to a homemade dinner featuring a mix of convenience store snacks and his favorite gourmet dishes, she ends up with severe stomach pains. Too embarrassed to admit it, she bolts for the bathroom, only to call her reliable friend Kang-hoon when the pain becomes unbearable. When Yeon-woo finds out, his jealousy flares. Why did she turn to Kang-hoon instead of him?
Outside So-jin’s hospital room, tensions rise as Yeon-woo demands answers from Kang-hoon. "What are you to her?" he asks, frustrated. Kang-hoon, ever the pragmatic friend, says some people only share their struggles with certain people, but Yeon-woo isn’t convinced. “Are you really okay with only being her emotional crutch?” he presses. Before Kang-hoon can fully process his own growing feelings, the situation takes an unexpected turn—literally.
Shall We Kiss?
After So-jin’s release from the hospital, she clumsily falls into Kang-hoon, landing in an awkward, wide-eyed kiss. While she brushes it off, Kang-hoon is left grappling with his feelings, especially as he can’t stop replaying the kiss in his mind. But So-jin? She wipes her mouth, clearly not as flustered.
The next kiss, however, is far more intentional. While recovering from surgery for a newly discovered growth, So-jin’s hesitation about letting Yeon-woo be her surgeon gives him the opportunity to prove his dedication. Despite an emergency that nearly leaves her terrified and alone, Yeon-woo rushes back to perform her surgery. Afterward, he’s by her side when she has an embarrassing moment—passing gas in front of him—but instead of recoiling, he reassures her.
Moved by his sincerity, So-jin leans forward and kisses him. It’s a tender, heartfelt moment… interrupted by Kang-hoon’s arrival, just in time to witness it, setting the stage for a showdown between the two men vying for her heart.
DramaZen's Opinion
Well, at least our hero is making some genuine strides this week, rather than attempting to trick our heroine into believing they share some mystical telepathic connection. But I still can’t fully get behind him, even if Siwon is doing his best to win us over. Maybe it’s the way he tries to push her into trusting him before she’s ready, which just screams "red flag," or maybe it’s his dismissive attitude toward Mi-eun that really rubs me the wrong way.
Oddly enough, the second leads are far more captivating to me than the main couple. Mi-eun, in particular, is a tangled web of complexity. But here’s the thing: I’m not sure the drama knows what it wants to say about her or the whole polyamory angle. Her and Yeon-woo’s connection revolves around their shared emotional distance, which feels strange considering Mi-eun’s open declaration that she’s in love with multiple people. Does "love" here mean a lack of emotional attachment?
Despite all her boyfriends, Mi-eun finds herself alone on her birthday with no one to truly connect with. Her relationships are slotted into a rigid schedule—so what happens when she or one of her partners craves more? We see the fallout when she shows up on Yeon-woo’s birthday, only to be turned away without a second thought. For him, she’s a close friend (or maybe a distant lover), but it’s clear that her feelings run deeper.
Is the drama steering us toward some profound exploration of the chaos that is love? I doubt it. In fact, I’m starting to worry that Mi-eun’s character arc might take a darker turn. There's a moment where she urges Kang-hoon to act on his feelings for So-jin, telling him not to wait. Is she trying to sabotage So-jin and Yeon-woo’s budding connection? And if so, is this her playing mind games or a sign of her own unraveling?
One thing’s for sure: even if I find myself as emotionally detached from these characters as Mi-eun is from her boyfriends, there’s something about this messy, complicated story that keeps pulling me back in! 🫣