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My Roommate Is a Gumiho: Episodes 5-6 Open Thread

Are they or aren’t they? We get a fun week of push and pull between our gumiho and his college student roommate this week. As the two grow more attracted to each other, they work doubly hard to hide it, ignore it, or flat-out deny it.

 
EPISODES 5-6 WEECAP

Yay, we get to return to that super swoony moment that ended last week’s episodes, and I don’t mind watching that scene play out again. They even close the scene beautifully, with Woo-yeo gently ending the moment by suggesting they head out. Swooooon.

But My Roommate is a Gumiho is not a drama that merely doles out swoons — in fact, in this week’s episodes most of our swoony or almost-swoony moments are riddled with humor and hilarity. Or, they’re blatantly undercut with those infamous “record scratch” moments that kill whatever was in the air. Luckily, our drama knows how to balance the right amount of humor and romantic entanglements.

For the record, can I just say how I love that Dam finds herself attracted to Woo-yeo, knows she’s attracted to him, and that amongst all the reasons she tries to snuff it out, the fact that he’s a dangerous mythical beast is not her main objection LOL. That’s okay, Dam — when I see the way Woo-yeo looks at you in those hidden moments, I also willfully forget he’s not human. Hence the joy of this drama.

After that romantic dinner moment, both of our characters seem to have an increased awareness of each other. Dam tries to brush it off, but she jumps at a ride home from Woo-yeo — and he just as readily jumps at the opportunity to pick her up. Neither are where they say they are, and both fib to get this adorable ride happening, and I have no complaints. Also, Woo-yeo drives a pick-up truck?! This might be a dramaland first!

Even cuter than the actual ride together is all the excitement beforehand. Even when Hye-sun appears and tries to throw a spanner in the works and reveal her identity to Dam, Woo-yeo won’t let it happen. This scene is hilarious, as is his unbridled desperation. He eventually resorts to using his magic to teleport Hye-sun right out the truck so Dam can take her spot without any awkward moments. Squee!

But sadly, squees quickly give way to misunderstandings. Both Woo-yeo and Dam conclude independently that they need to squash whatever is blossoming between them. For Dam, it’s most just awkwardness and discomfort and the knowledge that it’s impossible, and the Beast would never care for Beauty. Woo-yeo, though, has deeper reasons for putting up his wall.

As Hye-sun likes to remind him, their relationships with humans do not end well. The fox bead slowly drains the life force right out of the women he has given it to — that’s the very premise of how gumihos become human.

Of course one glance at Hye-sun tells us she didn’t have a problem sucking the life (literally) out of the men in her past, but Woo-yeo? We know he’s different. And that sunset scene with Dam is enough to give you goosebumps.

Dam is more than a little confused about what’s going on (I do love this about her), so after an episode of experiencing this “some” relationship, the two have a little heart to heart on his front steps. She says that he’s special to her and she can’t pretend otherwise; he says the same. Except he then expounds to say that she’s like family to him — like a niece. *Record scratch*

Ah, Dam, she wears her heart on her sleeve in the most endearing way — I actually like her as much as Woo-yeo does at this point. She’s royally pissed that he sees her as a niece, and snarkily starts calling him uncle (samchon) instead of the formal oraeshin (elder) that she had been using.

Woo-yeo knows something is wrong, but can’t really find a way to placate her, so they continue to dance around each other. To the shock of her besties, in her outrage, Dam agrees to go on a blind date. It’s so tropey and fun the way this plays out — from Dam all dressed up for the date and Woo-yeo trying not to be affected, to the coincidence that Woo-yeo is sitting at the next table from her and her date. Poor Dam can’t reclaim the dignity that she felt she lost, but she’s also a little too near-sighted to notice that Woo-yeo takes some petty revenge on her assy date for how he’s treated her.

When the two finally have another heart to heart, it feels like all is right in the world again. Dam sees how much he really does care for her, and her ire is cooled. Woo-yeo teleports them into a museum for an illegal visit, and they not only bond, but share another charged moment when they have to hide in a dark corner from the security guard.

At the end of our episodes this week, we do get more insight on Woo-yeo’s troubled romantic past. His first love from his Joseon days died tragically because of the fox bead. It’s a lovely sequence, made even better because of the fun Jung So-min cameo, but it also leaves us with a lingering sense of worry. Woo-yeo has some heavy duty stuff to deal with. The more he admits to himself that he’s falling in love with Dam, the more he struggles with what her fate will truly be.

Heavy as that is, the drama doesn’t linger on the tragic doom, and instead it’s continually bright and funny — the perfect balance, I think, of romantic comedy/antics, and this deeper thread that keeps it from becoming too silly.

And speaking of silly, I love the whole escapade with Dam’s mother. She appears out of the blue, tricks her daughter, and winds up on Woo-yeo’s doorstep. Dam is horrified and begs Woo-yeo to use his magic on her mother — but in a great twist, her mind is too strong for him to manipulate. But fear not, this mother doesn’t seem to care at all that her daughter is living with a sexy older man. The family motto reigns supreme.

Before I close this weecap, a word on the poetic turn our drama takes with some of its more serious moments. They won me over last week with the beautiful dialogue in the dinner scene, and they did it again this week with more of the dialogue between Woo-yeo and Dam.

The first example of this was that moment where he tells her, “I thought you were just a passing shower, but somehow I’m still in the rain.” Kyaaa~ Jang Ki-yong’s delivery here elevated this from cringe territory (how it might read on paper) to this moment that made me hold my breath.

The second example was when Woo-yeo and Dam are at the pocha. Woo-yeo kindly lets her drink, and as she chugs back bottle after bottle (my stomach hurts just watching her), we get a hilariously edited display of Dam’s drunken behaviors. But we also get this moment where Dam is unloading about her feelings for Woo-yeo and what it’s like to be in his presence. “It’s soft and hot. I can’t either swallow it or spit it out. That’s how much I’m in love.”

I love everything about this explanation, and how we consistently get these very real explanations of Dam’s feelings. We are left to linger on it for a moment and enjoy — only to have it undercut in the next scene. Woo-yeo, we learn, thought she was talking about the steamed eggs she was staring into while drunk and confessing, hah! This show is definitely having fun. And so am I.

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...and then... did Wooyeo teleport to support Dam's head?
(Swoon 💕)

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Yes and was it not just so sweet!

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I just love this show so much, I don't understand how the ratings for this show are going down! Each week I can hardly wait for the next episode or recap. I am eating up each segment, they are so delish! I hope we will see Bae-In-hyuk again soon.

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Thank you missvictrix for this weecap! So many reviews of episodes 5& 6 I've seen have been complaining about the pace of these two episodes, but by focusing on the plot, I feel like they're missing what makes this show so good -- namely the delicate push/pull that Dami and Wooyeo experience as they unravel their feeling for each other and try to decide how to respond to them, interspersed with some truly LOL moments. I continue to girl-crush on Dami and after being introduced to her mom, and we see where Dami gets her no-BS attitude. Mom is totally Team Wooyeo too, which cracks me up.

As an aside, I really don't understand how people can say that Hyeri can't act after watching her in this drama. That scene where she asks Wooyeo to erase her mom's memory -- you can see the flash of regret in her face followed by panic as she realizes that it hasn't worked. And the scene where she's drunkenly describing her love to Wooyeo -- beautifully done.

FYI, Hyeri's latest vlog on youtube has her give an interview from the perspective of Lee Dam if anyone is interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv72aIrk-GU

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I love this drama!

Though I don’t get the bead situation even after this weeks lovely explanation.

Why does he have to wipe the persons memory after he takes it out? Isn’t he just doing that so they don’t know he’s a gumiho and that he used them? Seems to be very solvable by confessing what he did.

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This show is soo adorable and makes me so happy each week!Love the push and pull between our Fox and our awesome Dam soo much!!!Really like that we take our time with their development and how they react to each other and how Woo-yeo starts to experience so many new emotions and be on his own journey to become human rather than just imitate them...Woo-yeo is soooo swoony,no wonder Dam fell for him after saying he wasn't her type jajja
After the swoony leads we have the amazing friends that Dam has and that i adore so much!!! That stick to her like how Jae-jin did when he found out about the bet or when he said he will wait for her to tell him when she is ready...Hye-sun is sooo adorable especially in her relationship with POX...Mainly this show is full of likable characters with very few exceptions but that dont really bug much...
Quite curious about the serial killer as he clearly is a mystical being as well,don't know if he is truly a gumiho as well even if all the details point to that but curious what's his beef with Woo-yeo...Curious if it's a female gumiho who takes his looks as it was mentioned that male gumihos are rare...
I even considered his first love or one of them to be after him because she wouldn't stand being dumped lol considering all the victims were women...

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I was really cracking up seeing Hye Sun saved Woo Yeo's number as "POX", LoL.

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That POX make me cracking up to. 🤣🤣🤣

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The POX part is one hilarious second. I laughed so hard. Airheaded Hyesun is beyond adorable

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So much warm and sweetness and charm with this drama! Dam is so relatable and love all the little life lessons like "Food eaten at 3am should be considered breakfast. And mom says I should eat a good breakfast".

The whole drunken confession/steamed egg thing was LOL. Woo-yeo's expression when he "realized" she was talking about the egg was so funny. The way his ears drooped when Dam's mom was like "I'm Dam's mom" was hilarious too.

Woo-yeo pulling out his powers for all sorts of stuff that week. Teleporting Hye-sun away (but how cute was her little shoulder dance when she suggested they tell Dam she and Woo-yeo knew each other from clubbing?) Tripping the "as a sunbae in life, let me give you some advice" blind date guy (why do I feel like he was based on someone's real life blind date experience?). Popping up at Hye-sun's without notice when he found out that Hye-sun met up with Dam for flirting lessons. And then trying to wipe Dam's mom's memory.

Not looking forward to the supernatural serial killer bit...

Hyeri's comedic side in this drama reminds me of Lee Yi-kyung. Would be hilarious to have the drama where the 2 play siblings.

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I notice his ears too (when he met Mom)! So cute! At first I thought, would she be someone he knew before...fortunately no.

He must have powerful teleporting ability to be able to teleport to where Hye Sun is. But that could be dangerous... what if she's in the toilet or something... lol

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The paternalism is still there and I really wish they would kill her calling him Orishin because outside of that, they are Adorable together.

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Yeah! I am worried about how they will come out of the uncle/niece zone now! Awkward!

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One of my favorite shows now. I cannot wait until the next episodes come out! Thank you for the weecap!

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Exactly my feelings. It really makes me laugh and fear and swoon so badly!
Cant wait for wed and thu this week! 😅🙋😅☺

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The past story is kinda weird. He watched the woman whom he loved dying because he didn't want her to forget him?

I don't like how he didn't tell the whole truth to Dam.

What's the point to be a human, if he is not interested in human life? I mean he already lives like one for now.

Sir or Uncle are not really sexy in the context... I hope they will find something better to use.

The Museum date was so weird. She's a student in HIstory, she should already have been in every big musuems and don't touch anything! But the idea was good. He cares about her and know what will make her happy.

The writer is good with the humor and the director with the CGI.

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Omg our girl got niece-zoned and it was hilarious. Also now I really want to try steamed eggs. Other than the OTP, it is the friend circle which has my heart. The way they respected her boundaries, or fought for her when they got to know about the bet, they're really precious. I'm glad Dam has such a solid support system. Also the way Woo Yeo spread the blanket on the seat for Dam, his smile was adorable. Also Jae Jin and Hye Sun need more scenes. I find them adorable and I need them together.

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The pick-up truck PPL. That caught my attention too and had to rewind and pause. That must have been indeed a first, but somehow, it made Woo-Yeo / JKY sexier. =)

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haha 100000%

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Me too. 1st time seeing male lead drove pickup truck i have to rewind too. Yup. Sexier indeed.

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Personaly, I really dislike pickup truck in cities. It's useless and is very polluting. For a Gumiho, who should be close to nature, it was a bad choice of vehicule.

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This is my fav drama at the moment where I am actually willing to watch it twice, once during the airing on IQiyi app and the second time in the morning on my computer 😍 I love both Jang Kiyong and Hyeri as Orishin and Dam respectively as these two's chemistry is definitely off the charts 🤩 Dam is definitely my girl-crush as she takes no BS from anyone but at the same time, wears her heart on her sleeve, her honesty is truly refreshing 😍 Looking forward for this week's episode...

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Is it an upgrade or downgrade from Orishin to Samcheon?

And like mother like daughter - it does run in the family, huh!

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This is a sweet drama, but I do feel like these two episodes lagged a bit. I'm also really wondering now what they're going to do with Sun-woo now that they blew that up really fast. I really hope it will be something actually interesting and not some never-ending love triangle push-and-pull, because allowing Dam and Woo-yeo to explore their feelings and relationship in and of itself would be a much more interesting story. That alongside the delicious Hye-sun and adorable Jae-jin!

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I personally hope he will be relegated to comic relief, some thing like the second male lead from Hello? It's Me!, who was completely out of the race but could still deliver some comedy, as well as grow. Or he could die by the murderer, whichever. XD

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... whichever

😂😂😂

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I love that confession scene! And Woo Yeo's subsequent hilarious misinterpretation! Eventually he will get it. For now, I love how off the mark he is. 😆😆😆

Hye Sun is adorbs and hilarious herself. I think I will enjoy her scenes with JaeJin and Woo Yeo. Pox! You got to love her humor 😄

I really like Dam. Hyeri is killing this role. Also got to appreciate her supportive mother as well. Woo Yeo was so nervous infront of her. For someone who is centuries older, I'd expect him to handle that encounter better.

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I don’t know how Hye Sun survived 700years being an airhead gumiho - she literally took off her shoes not understanding Jae Jin’s use of a proverb 😂

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Seriously love her ditzy charm. Woo Yeo may have helped her a lot in the past. 😆

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I feel like if she ever got in trouble or feel too embarrassed, she could just use her gumiho powers to wipe their minds. :) Not sure why she wanted to be human except for bragging rights!

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😄 Something to one up against Woo Yeo can be her motivation.

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I’m pretty sure she did just that! I actually dont understand why they both want to be humans..they have all the magical perks as a gumiho n 1000 years should be more than enough to live.

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I would have like the writer to explain why it's so important for them! Especially that the ML doesn't really want a human life with friends, family etc.

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Hyesun mention that this is last chance for Woo young to be a human before he turns 1000 years old. So it means after that he can't become human?
I also curious why they want to be human. Woo young don't have friends or family and not really interested in human live but why bother to be a human?

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This is my crack drama atm and Hyeri is absolutely adorable! I love that she is not the ‘damsel in distress’ and has a balanced head on her shoulder. I loved it when she questioned Orishin about the bead taking out update! Girl knows what she wants. I also love the cool reserved way she handled the sunbae. I love her.

Like everyone I was hoping they would quit her calling him Orishin and then they dropped the samcheon bombshell! Ugh! How the romance is going to develop from this will be interesting.

I wish they didn’t go though the serial killer storyline. Oh well! I guess you can’t have everything! Looking forward to the next episode!

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But what do you call a kdrama without romance?
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A serial killer movie!!!

(Joke told to me by my daughter, who all too well knows about walking in the room while I’m watching a rom-com-melo and a corpse is either dead on the floor or is being pulled out of a lake. 😂)

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😂😂😂

Gosh there is almost always a corpse lying around isn’t it? 🤣

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I have never understood the need to insert horrible crimes into a romcom.

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“the fact that he’s a dangerous mythical beast is not her main objection LOL.” In Dam’s book being a gumiho is a plus point 😂

I’m so happy that WY’s past love is not a Dam look-alike, and i don’t think show is going for the reborn first love trope either.
Did i say this show is fun? I’m sure i did and i hope the fun doesn't fizzle as the story progresses.

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I’m so happy that WY’s past love is not a Dam look-alike, and i don’t think show is going for the reborn first love trope either.

Yes! I'm so, so glad they didn't go the Tale of the Nine-Tailed route with the carbon-copy first love.

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My thoughts on these episodes:
- I don't like it that Mom hates lies but she lied about wanting to send Dam something just so she could have her address. That kind of lying is ok...?
- Woo Yeo could have just teleported out of the museum but well, I guess the production just wanted to force in their close proximity scene
- I love Dam's scenes with her friends, especially when they're group chatting!
- I thought Woo Yeo would have given up on cooking!
- I like that they show Woo Yeo's reaction on Dam's confession from both their perspectives.
- I suppose it's acceptable in Korean culture to address the potential lover as Sir as it's a mark of respect. When I first watched K-dramas, I found it weird that when the couple ended up marrying, the lady would still call the hubby "Ajusshi" or by whatever his occupational title is.

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The writer of this series also was a writer on 'A Poem a Day/You Who Forgot Poetry' (2018) so the literary passages aren't a surprise. I didn't realize that series was so long ago. Well, it must've been awhile since I had watched it on Drama Fever.

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Woo Yeo wonders and gets frustrated how Hye Sun becomes and survives as a human with her low IQ and yet, he thinks Dam is like a niece and in love with steamed egg 😂😂
Personally, I kinda like "Orishin". I'm not sure what it really means in Korean language/culture but, in this drama, it sounds personal and feels intimate somehow. I mean, nobody calls somebody Orishin these days, right?
I will not say it's the drama of the year but it's been very entertaining so far.

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Gumiho-nim is preferred name for him, but I also don't mind oraeshin, even though it used for the elderly in a formal way. I feel like it's a less common address so it doesn't make me paint a particular picture in mind. I like how it feels like a distant form of address, but Hyeri says it in such a chipper way.

I prefer that than over Samchon (blood-relation ickiness) and ahjusshi (flashbacks to the annoying bits of Goblin). Both those would give me "friends-of-my-parents"/"pat on the head" vibes. I've seen teacher/seosangnim used for strangers sometimes, but as she is a student, it would be really weird.

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LOVED IT!
Curious. Hye-sun is human now yet she seems to have some powers?
- How did she know Dam was actually Woo-yeo at the cinema?
- How did she know Woo-yeo was at the school?
- How did she detect that a random passer-by was a tiger and move Dam out of the way?
- Also, what happens to the fox bead after a gumiho turns human? Does it disappear after it turns blue? Or does it just stay inside the gumiho-turned-human?
- And are there two kinds of gumiho? The 'good' kind who pass their fox beads to humans so they can turn human and the bad kind that viciously kill humans for their livers?

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What happens if a gumiho fails to become human before their 1000 years are up? Death? Do they become murderous? Or do things just stay the same—without the chance to become human?

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Good questions 🤔

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Do they continue as they are or do they cease to be? I’m thinking the latter, otherwise it doesn’t seem like a true challenge/deadline.

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Why does he need to be a human in the first place? So that he can die?

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I think they die.

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Some stories say they become monsters forever, unable to transform into human form ever.

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That murderer maybe the 1000++ years old fox, he become monster and not able to be a human, so Woo young doesn't want to be that way?
This murderer maybe wants stop Woo Young to be a human so they can be friends in crime XD

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