DNA Lover – K-drama Episode 9 Recap & Review

Bad Timing

DNA Lover episode 9 starts with Mi-eun looking at her photos with Yeon-u and wondering about the timing of their relationship and her recent feelings for him. Meanwhile, an oblivious Yeon-u is happily planning a date with So-jin and enjoying the relationship. On the other hand, Gang-hun realises he likes So-jin and maybe he missed his timing with her.

On her discharge day, So-jin receives a pair of shoes from Yeon-u and she gives him a bracelet set for couples. Yeon-u is not the kind of guy to do cheesy things like wear couple items but he lies to So-jin that he likes it. She asks him to always wear it. Gang-hun arrives to help So-jin and tries to act casually. He is dying inside but figures he should try to be happy for So-jin.

Elsewhere, Jung-tam volunteers to be part of the gym photoshoot promotion with Sung-mi. Sung-mi agrees and promises to help him achieve the perfect body by the time of the shoot. However, working out continuously becomes a burden to Jung-tam. He confides in Yeon-u, who advises him to be honest with Sung-mi. He argues if Sung-mi likes Jung-tam, she would understand him.

As the days pass, So-jin and Yeon-u continue to develop deeper feelings for each other. They keep flirting on the phone, planning dates and being lovey-dovey. Yeon-u proves to be a good boyfriend. He focuses his energy on So-jin and even decides not to RSVP to one of his friend’s wedding shoots. Mi-eun had expected to see him there and feels disappointed when he hears he won’t attend. 

As So-jin gets more busy with dating, she mixes up the dates and forgets Gang-hun’s memorial service. She only remembers it at the last minute and hurries to pick up flowers and head to the cemetery to meet Gang-hun and his dad. She ends up cancelling her date with Yeon-u and he decides to attend his friend’s event. 

Coincidentally, the shoot for Yeon-u’s friends takes place at the same venue where Gang-hun’s dad took his wedding photos. They decide to visit the spot and Gang-hun’s dad asks for some privacy. Gang-hun and So-jin end up going on a walk alone and run into Yeon-u, Mi-eun and his other friends. 

So-jin tries to play it cool, but she is pissed that Yeon-u and Mi-eun are wearing the matching Hanbok sets. She is even more angry when she sees Mi-eun help Yeon-u remove something on his head.

At the same time, Yeon-u is surprised that So-jin cancelled their date for Gang-hun’s sake. However, he tells Mi-eun that he is not bothered. On the drive back home, So-jin admits she is bothered, but she trusts Yeon-u since he is her DNA lover. 

The next day, Mi-eun and Gang-hun run into each other at the usual food stall. Mi-eun advises Gang-hun to confess his feelings for So-jin before it is too late. Simultaneously, So-jin starts to worry more after seeing more women are attracted to Yeon-u during one of their dates. She is convinced that his Indecent Octopus gene is to blame and is in a constant state of fear. She is so distracted, she barely listens as he invites her to a movie date. 

As for Mi-eun, she also can’t stop thinking about Yeon-u. She makes a consultation appointment with So-jin. After the appointment, she offers So-jin some advice. She starts by pointing out how well she knows Yeon-u. In fact, she is wearing a similar shoe to the one Yeon-u got So-jin. She adds that she has a deep connection with Yeon-u and knows he should never be chained or pushed hard in a relationship.

Mi-eun’s words and So-jin’s worries over Yeon-u’s cheating genes overwhelm our scientist. After talking to A-ri, she gets an epiphany and decides to make a serum to improve Yeon-u’s genes. In particular, she wants to weaken his cheating genes and awaken his monogamy gene. She later gives him the serum and asks him to always spray it. 

They end up going on a movie date and So-jin. So-jin mistakes Yeon-u’s move and thinks he is about to make love to her in the car. She is always embarrassing herself in front of him. She is so funny. Jung-tam and Sung-mi are on the same date and end up arguing about the lack of Sung-mi’s sensitivity. Thankfully, it is not a big fight, just an observation made by Jung-tam.

We circle back to A-ri, who heads to the church after work. She confesses to Father Andrea about her trauma. Back in high school, A-ri and her friend, Yoon-hye, used to be bullied a lot.

One night during a school trip, the bullies attacked Yoon-hye and took her to the rooftop. Out of fear, A-ri hid in the closet. In the end, the bullies killed Yoon-hye that night. A-ri blames herself for not getting out of the closet and saving Yoon-hye. However, Father Andrea tells her it was not her fault and asks her to try to be happy.

In the meantime, Yeon-u’s dad officially breaks up with his mom. Jang-mi tries to beg him to stay, but he refuses. He suspects her of killing his mistress and unborn child. Jang-mi calls Yeon-u to tell him this when he is wrapping up his date with So-jin. So-jin notices the change of demeanour in Yeon-u, but he tells her everything is fine. However, he goes to Gang-hun’s dad’s restaurant and drinks as he tells Gang-hun his troubles. 

Yeon-u acts like he is fine with his parent’s divorce but he is still hurt. His heart was broken by all the trauma he watched his mom go through at the hands of his dad. He thinks divorce is a good thing for his mom, but still, it feels strange. Gang-hun comforts him and is moved when Yeon-u says he doesn’t believe in destiny, but he wants to make So-jin his destiny.

The following morning, Mi-eun takes a drastic step and drops by Yeon-u’s house. She finds him getting ready for the day. He invites her in since she brought some abalones for him. Mi-eun is there to confess to Yeon-u, but their conversation gets interrupted when an excited So-jin video calls Yeon-u. 

So-jin wanted to invite Yeon-u over to have some breakfast she cooked with Gang-hun. She is surprised when Mi-eun shows up and greets her. So-jin pretends she is okay and immediately hangs up, saying she has to go on a run. A-ri and Gang-hun grow restless.

A-ri questions why Mi-eun would be at Yeon-u’s house so early in the morning if she didn’t sleep there. Of course, So-jin defends Yeon-u, but she can’t hide her anger. She rushes out for her run and it starts reining. Gang-hun follows her, but Yeon-u is also on his way to So-jin. She keeps ignoring their calls and turns off her phone.

Somehow, Yeon-u spots her first and runs to her. She vents out her anger, and he promises to explain. He asks her to trust in his feelings for her. As they embrace, Gang-hun spots them and feels dejected.

This is the third time that Yeon-u has gotten to So-jin before him. He starts to realise he is always late when it comes to So-jin. He regrets it but doesn’t think anything will change if he confesses. He ends up getting drunk and visiting the park they met at as kids.

The Episode Review

This episode was certainly better than the last two episodes. It was sad to watch Gang-hun realise his feelings for So-jin. In a way, I feel he is a better match compared to Yeon-u, but the heart wants what it wants. For So-jin, that is Yeon-u, who she has decided is her DNA lover, but is he? 

Secondly, what is going on with Jang-mi and her husband’s mistress? Did she kill the lady? I get that her husband’s betrayal drove her into a dark place, but murder is a whole new level. After learning the dynamics in Yeon-u’s family, it makes sense that he is scared of commitment. To him, commitment is the beginning of the end. 

Lastly, Father Andrea’s warm words to A-ri were so comforting. He listened, never judged, and gave her the peace of mind she had been looking for. It was never A-ri’s fault and, unfortunately; she carried this heavy burden of guilt for all these years. If she can put this incident behind her, will she have a real chance with the cute priest?