My Roommate is a Gumiho | Series Review

Another fun and unbothered drama had ended! I honestly enjoyed watching this fantasy series – not just because of the leads, but also it’s just light! If you’re looking for a fantasy drama that’s full of quirks and will not make you think deeply about anything at all, this is the one for you. No expectations going in, no disappointments going out! Though the resolution in the final moments was a bit questionable, I think I’ll have to ignore that because overall it’s an easy watch!

An oraeshin loves a haksaeng

What I love about this series was the straightforward, no-nonsense take on these two individuals being in love. All the fantasy elements maybe there – magic, forced cohabitation, mythical beings – but the story is as simple as it gets. Lee Dam (Lee Hyeri) accidentally swallows the fox bead/marble of Shin Woo-yeo (Jang Ki-yong), who has been living for 999 years to collect human energy. Before he turns 1,000 years, he needs to turn his marble into blue (it’s red now) to make him human. Obviously, this isn’t as easy as it seems because he has been staying in the human world for nine centuries. Not until Dam enters his life – for once, he saw his marble turn blue inside Dam’s body. This gives him the absurd idea of letting the marble stay inside Dam’s body (while deceiving her that he’s looking for ways to let it out of her body when in fact, he has a hidden agenda). They decide to live under one roof because of the consequences brought by the fox bead being inside a human’s body. And then, the exciting antics begin.

The drama did not really dwell on the main couple being “roommates” because eventually, the heroine had to move out because of the gumiho’s impulsive decisions. The fox bead puts Dam’s life in danger because of the energy it collects. And as Woo-yeo’s feelings grow for Dam, he decided to get back the bead and erase her memories. Of course, this does not go well as planned – Dam’s did not really forget Woo-yeo at all and this event only made them confess their true feelings for each other.

As a couple, there were ups and downs – mainly brought by the idea that Woo-yeo needs to collect human energy to satiate his worsening cravings. But Lee Dam – the real star of this drama – stood her ground and basically saved Woo-yeo in all his dilemmas. Dam is such a great and well-written character, and Hyeri played her really well. Dam may be a college girl who just experiences her first love (oh, what a very complicated first love this is), but she’s more mature than her grampa boyfie. It’s understandable, though, because Woo-yeo can’t think and feel as much as humans do, and that’s what makes them a perfect pair.

Dumb and Dumber

I have seen posts about Yang Hye-sun (Kang Han-na) and Do Jae-jin (Kim Do-wan) being called by netizens the “Dumb and Dumber” couple! Hilarious! But I have to agree ㅋㅋㅋ These two brought the laughs when the main couple becomes too stressed to watch. Kang Han-na nailed this role and it’s so refreshing to see her as an awkward, slow learner gumiho-turned-human in a drama! I’m so used to see her as the alpha character who knows her goals and gets what she wants. In Roommate is a Gumiho, Kang Han-na challenged herself in the romantic comedy genre – and with a love interest! Speaking of, Kim Do-wan is fairly new to the game, but he’s choosing his projects right. He’s been gaining a lot of attention because of his recent dramas and I hope more will come his way.

As a couple, Hye-sun and Jae-jin were perfect for each other. Not only do they complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses, but they also learned how to love together and with each other. Hye-sun was so used to the kind of love that’s shallow because that’s how she received it all these centuries of being alive. Humans never really treated her with respect – they only want one thing, yep, that thing.

Jae-jin, on the other hand, offered his 200% to his loved one. He is the type of person who gives everything and never leaves anything for himself. That’s why when his love fails, he is always devastated. All he was left with are low self-esteem and broken trust. But together, they are a strong couple who can survive anything because they’re willing to grow together and adjust to each other’s personalities.

Mountain Spirit and the Red String of Fate

The red string of fate is an overused trope in fiction, but Roommate is a Gumiho sheds new light on this belief. What differentiates a gumiho from a human? The ability to create their own fate. We’re used to seeing mythical beings in dramas wishing to be humans, but I don’t remember a straightforward answer as to why. It’s always like they fell in love or they need to lift a curse or whatever. But in this drama, the mythical beings aimed at humanity because of the power of choice. The freedom to choose your own destiny. It’s a nice touch that elevates the discussion in terms of fantasy dramas.

I thought Go Kyung-pyo was just appearing for a cameo in this drama. I didn’t know he would be a recurring character. The twist about the gumiho’s marble turning blue was also a nice touch to put into the drama. It’s not the selfish process of acquiring human energy that makes a gumiho turn into a human, it’s the small moments that make one feel real human emotions – joy, sorrow, motivation, and love. Overall, humanity.

Now for the ill-fated red string – to be honest, I don’t feel bad for Gye Sun-woo (Bae In-hyuk), not even a single scene. I always know he’s not for Dam. I admit they had their cute moments, but their start was awful and unforgivable. Placing bets on a woman is never okay, and must never be condoned. Even though the feelings became real eventually, still it’s not okay to treat women as objects. Plus, I see Sun-woo as someone who’ll get over Dam when he arrives abroad. He will consider her as his first love, but she’s not his greatest love, for sure. Dam only helped him realize that he’s a much better person only if he tried. However, I believed Sun-woo’s feelings for Dam were for real even without the red string. They’re just not meant to be.

Grumpy Alley

🦊 Seogwa University’s Kim Tae-hee!! Soo-kyung’s (Park Kyung-hye) arc was a bit well-played, I must say! We were all shipping her with Jung Seok sunbae (Kim Kang-min) – not knowing that her real crush was Dojae 😂 I thought this was an enemies-to-lovers type of romance but all we got was a riotous flashback and awkward aftermath!

🦊 One of the drama’s best scenes was when Dam overheard the male students about their bet. She didn’t back down and confronted the crowd with dignity. “If you were taught well at home, you wouldn’t be here judging people with their looks… I’ll just consider that you had no one to teach you at home.” What a dignified way to deal with the situation!

🦊 Is it just me or Bae In-hyuk looks like Nam Joo-hyuk a bit?