Love Next Door

Would've been a better 12-episode drama, but no

This drama started out very strongly. The cast is terrific and the chemistry between the 1st and 2nd leads was excellent. The romance element evolved steadily through episode 8, where things took a dramatic and unexpected turn. Unfortunately, after weathering the fallout from that, the drama gradually lost steam before fizzling out to a somewhat trite conclusion.

This drama ran concurrently with the 12-episode drama “No Gain, No Love.” Both dramas had stellar casts, strong production values, and a reasonably good premise. But where NGNL felt tight and refined, Love Next Door felt loose, repetitive, and messy. There just wasn’t enough of a story to stretch it out to 16 episodes. It was kind of disappointing actually. Save this one for a rainy day when you’ve already seen everything else on your list, or you need a Jung So Min or Jung Hae In fix.

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LND

Uhhh non ho le parole giuste per iniziare questa recensione finale...di solito mi si stampa in viso un bel sorriso che conclude il percorso del drama che ho seguito lasciandomi piacevolmente felice...ma a sto giro mi ha lasciato a metà... anzi mi sento come se non avessi visto la fine sconclusionata!

Non volevo finisse così volevo una vera conclusione! E soprattutto volevo vedere l'amica che tornava dal polo sud!!! Per non parlare almeno del matrimonio o della stessa casa che stava costruendo!!

Sono felice solo del ristorante..avevo pensato giusto ma non credevo sarebbe partita dal padre l'idea...dolcissimo uomo fino in fondo ❤️

Dicendo questo comunque il mio voto è un 8...perché? Bhe ho apprezzato tantissimo il valore che hanno dato all'amicizia...e come hanno evidenziato rendendoli veramente reali i problemi familiari che si possono incontrare nella vita, facendoceli vivere in prima persona e coinvolgendoci con le gioie e i dolori dei protagonisti ...

Questi piccoli e significativi momenti sono la parte che ha salvato questo drama per me.

Concordo sul fatto che sia stato più intenso e coinvolgente all'inizio... che la lunghezza infinita degli episodi potevano evitarla e forse tagliare anche qualche pezzo....

Lo rivedrei? No... se non lo avessi visto on air ...non so se lo avrei finito tanto presto ...

End

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What to know before watching this drama

The drama was really good for my tastes. It contained a really story, the actors did an amazing job and it was so funny at moments it had my laughing really loud and so sad and touching i was several times on the verge of tears. Something really good also was how the moment the story seemed like its was nearing its end they found a way to make it so it was interesting and captivating till the end . There were some really good plot twist and some shocking answers to some of the questions, so if you want something funny, serious and cute, then thats the show for you. (For me the beginning of the first episode was i little cringe, but thats something ican look over.)

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The realistic portrayal of adult life struggles

I find the series very realistic especially on the woman's side.
Woman tend to experience more difficulty in life especially if you are the first born (male or female a like) in Asian families.
Some are fortunate enough to have a good life and some have a lot to struggles to be an apple of the eye of the parents.
Gas lighting was also shown here which is sometimes disregarded at our workplaces because we don't want to be involved to the victim.
The portrayal of the family dynamics here shown 2 sides of family, a family with no communication can really destroy the family within and a family that would like to be seen by the society as a good family puts a lot of pressure to the children.
For the love aspect, its the closest to reality but I do hope there where would a real man like the main lead.
The relationship of the best friends going to lovers really happens to some with a good or even a bad outcome. The transitioning of friends to lovers' was well portrayed. Kudos to the actors.

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A Slice-of-Life Melodrama That Could Leave You Feeling Drained and Disinterested

I tuned in expecting a lighthearted romcom about two childhood friends, but instead, I found myself in a slow-paced slice-of-life drama. While the series delved deeply into the characters, the plot often felt aimless, particularly regarding the romantic development between the leads.

The female lead's family dynamics depicted in the narrative added significant depth, especially through the characterization of the female lead's mother. Her aggressive demeanor and high expectations for her daughter, contrasted with a more lenient approach towards her son, effectively highlighted her internal conflict rooted in unfulfilled dreams. This projection of unmet aspirations onto her daughter led to unrealistic expectations that felt burdensome. Furthermore, the daughter’s efforts to hide her illness, coupled with her harsh comments and selective communication with friends and family, hindered empathy towards her character. While this complexity enriches the story, it also creates a barrier to connection.

As the series progressed, the unique tone I enjoyed in the first two-thirds shifted abruptly to disjointed melodrama. It tackled heavy themes like terminal illness, depression, and alleged infidelity, which overwhelmed me and disconnected from the earlier narrative. Watching the characters grapple with communication issues and unreciprocated love became exhausting, making the series feel like an energy-draining experience. After episode 8, I took a two-week break, unsure whether to continue or drop it altogether.

Things began to turn around in episode 12, with many issues resolved and the drama shifting back to a lighter tone. However, by that point, my interest in the main leads had waned, and the overall story seemed less engaging. Ultimately, I decided to drop it for good.

What captivated me most were the flashbacks featuring the young actors; they were charming and perfectly embodied the essence of the leads' characters. I also appreciated the relationship of the male lead’s parents, who acted like teenagers in love after their marriage problems were resolved.

Overall, while this drama had some emotional moments, it wasn't what I expected. I felt misled by the romcom premise, as it turned out to be significantly different from what I anticipated. As someone who typically doesn't enjoy melodrama, the heavy themes and disjointed storytelling were surprising and ultimately left me disappointed. The charming flashbacks with the young actors were a highlight, but they couldn't fully redeem the series for me.

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First few episodes are comedic. But after introducing their relation the comedy aspect dropped of significantly. Cast was good.
The direction was good. Even gave the side couple adequate screen time and story. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

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Lively start. I love these two main protagonists. One is fantastic as a black panther model, the other "rebel way" with a naive air. Truly a beautiful pairing.
He acts superior but it's clear he cares a lot about her. He advises her, protects her from her mother's blows, meanwhile she is like a wounded, soaked puppy who wants to make it seem like she doesn't feel bad and everything is OK.
Really good tune.
But also their friends and the journalist are good characters too.
The series could have ended with the tenth episode.
First 8 episodes are more dinamic with querrel beetween the 2 old friends than the story become more "serious" with issue like cancer, divorce, rejected proposals...
Then when women push things too hard I get impatient and lower my rating. This poor boy....

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Jung Hae In x Jung So Min superiority!

What a cute show!! This is the first kdrama in a looong time that I found myself hooked on week after week. I lapped up all the bonus Youtube content too (that Elle interview had chemistry off the charts). So Min's "Because this is my first life" is my favourite drama of all time, and Jung Hae In is SUCH a treat to watch in romcoms (One Spring Night is probably my favourite of his).

Strangely, it took me a little while to get to the last episode, which felt like pure fluff. I liked the push-and-pull early on, and I didn't even mind the most melodramatic plot lines (which were usually tidied up within an episode or two, much like an American sitcom). I laughed and I cried, which is all I can really ask for.

I was particularly pleased with the exes in the story — I'm glad that they weren't annoying recurring characters, and the way their past relationships played out felt fresh and mature. I wish Seok Ryu's reason for leaving the US weren't so complex though — the burnout would've been enough, and that would've made for a stronger and more realistic statement than all the other circumstances that were revealed afterwards. Another choice that I didn't love was Dan Ho's family circumstances. This is a drama with Jung Hae In, for crying out loud! Erase the stigma and become more accepting of death, divorce, etc. instead of presenting the most tragic backstories ever.

Another thing that disappointed me (surprisingly!) was the chemistry. There was so much potential early on (that pool scene? omg!), and weirdly, even more chemistry in some of the interviews. But when the love really got rolling, we were treated to some awkward closed-mouth kisses. The teasing and banter evaporated, and was replaced by overly sweet honeymoon-phase talk. At least we got glimpses of the couple coming back to earth by the end.

The set was pretty, and the foreshadowing was good. I enjoyed the drama overall, but I wouldn't call it a memorable, all-time great... which is too bad, since these two actors have the chops to provide that kind of impact. The script was a bit.of a let-down in that regard (or maybe some of the directorial choices were off). Either way, this drama was solid and satisfying, but with minor adjustments, could've soared to another level.

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The drama is a sweet one!

It's enjoyable, worth watching!! If you're more of a fan of mature romance, it might not really be what you're looking for. But if you love melo, childhood friends to love trope, emotional stories, you'll love this!!!

It's a drama that's more on the slow, subtle side. No hot, tingling sparks. The message the drama passes is one that might not be understood by fans of mature romance.
The acting is on point, the comedy leaves no flaws too. The cinematography and sound is amazing too. And yes, big credits to their wardrobe, the actors dressing were very nice.
It's a 10/10 eye-soothing drama!

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