Love Next Door

It was promising until it wasn't

The series started quite promising - the actors managed to bring us in and believe their past, their friendship and also their complicated feelings for one another. With the mystery surrounding the female leads happenings in the US, and the explosive nature of the relationship of the leads, there was enough to keep us wishing the next episodes would be released sooner. Until there wasn't.
A lot of what happened throughout the 16 episodes was either too obvious, lame, or unsurprising. The biggest downer was the drama of the cancer diagnosis of several years back - yes it is horrible to go through, but making such a dramatisation over 2 episodes then dropping it for the rest of the series? Unbecoming.
The chemistry between the leads was severely lacking. The ML accomplished filling the obvious gaps that the FL left. However, her "wake up" in the last 2 episodes where she supposedly recovers her outlook on life (and is finally thankful for the ML) somewhat compensates for the dreadful 14 previous episodes of her expressionless gloomy existence. Watching their final kiss scene it was (again) painfully obvious that the FL can't kiss to save her life - what a disappointment. Unfortunately, the series did not live up to the hype.
The secondary couple's story, development, romance and chemistry were much better than the leads'. And the highlight of everything was the vegetable fight between the women.

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A drama with good potential

The drama started on a good note, the premise was exciting and the chemistry between the characters was undeniable. All the actors do a phenomenal job in pulling us in. The dynamics of not only the lead couple but the second leads and the family made the drama all the more endearing. More than the typical rom com , it leans more towards slice of life. It delves into the lives of the leads , what they went through , their relationship with friends and family. It was good to see other side characters' lives as well . The childhood best friend to lovers trope was done well but I needed more tension and angst. The second couple was my favourite. They were the reason I continued with the series. In the end it became a little bland. Nonetheless, it is one of the good dramas of this year.

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Is it really worth it?

First of all, I really like this drama. It gives me a bitter sweet vibe.
The rekindling of the feeling of first love, the friendship,the family dynamic is so interesting.

I will say my favourite character so far is Jang Mo-eum. She's has a very charming personality. She's kind and brave, she knows what she wants, she the best friend you could ever wish for. She is very supportive of her friends,she seems to be open-minded too. Their friendship is so precious!

Baek Seok-ryu is strong and independent. She works hard, even when she was trying to find her dreams, I would say she is very dedicated. Her family dynamic is pretty interesting.
I wouldn't say her mother is a bad person but she really did annoyed me in episodes 7 and 8. What does she mean her life is a failure, and want Baek to live a successful life. The father too thinks he's a failure. When Baek confesses she wants to cook, that it was her dream, both her parents were furious. The father and mother is projecting their life experiences on Baek.
I feel like they don't say what they really want to say and are just be passive agressive with each other, it's just building hatred.

I don't understand why her mom wants Baek to get back with her ex. Like Baek can live a successful life in Korea too, why would she return to the US and relive all that stress. I really don't love the parents much, they are kind of annoying.
I mean I feel like Baek dealt with her sickness alone because she felt it was no big deal. She could handle it because it's always been like that.
She is unable to show she is hurt and suffering, even with the ex, she refused to explain the reason why they broke up. She doesn't know how to rely on someone or ask for help, maybe she did with her ex before he cheated.

I really understood Choi, imagine finding out your closest friend had to suffer alone as she was ill. She should have told her family and her friends about her illness. And why the heck did she tell her ex to hold onto her and not Choi. Why must she bear all the hurt and suffering alone, she doesn't deserve that.
I hope she learns to lean on her friends more, forget about the parents, I don't think she'll ever lean on them.

But at the end of all the characters are very complex and have their flaws. Let the miscommunication and misunderstandings marinate and spice their lives up!!

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childhood friends to lovers; bland, but perfect ending

i waited for it to finish before finally watching it. i went into this as a fan of both jung somin and jung haein, so i was able to finish it despite being slow in the middle.

i also spoiled myself a little about how it ends, because fans have been theorizing that bae seokryu was probably gonna relapse and it's not gonna have a happy ending. fortunately, they gave this a good ending.

i was surprised and very satisfied with episode 16. most dramas struggle to end a good storyline, but this one has the perfect finale. heavy spoilers below:
1. bae seokryu and choi seunghyo - these two deciding to postpone their marriage in the end made me happy. it made sense that they wanted to focus on their careers first, and to wait for their best friend to come home from her work overseas. contrary to popular comments, i liked it better that they didn't rush their marriage. i hate it when all k-drama writers think that marriage of the main couple is the only recipe to a happy ending. IT ISN'T. i also felt disappointed that choi seunghyo wanted to get married almost immediately after they got together, but the plot between them communicating each of their perspectives about marriage is perfect so they were able to write it off great
2. jung moeum and kang danho - their love story is so cute! i think it's general consensus that in most k-dramas, the 2nd couple almost always have the more interesting storyline compared to the main, and i have to agree. these two are just so cute! esp when they're all bonding together with yeondu
3. the lavenders (the neighborhood's moms) - i normally hate it that k-dramas focus more on the side characters than the leads, but this wasn't it. i loved the dynamic between the moms. they banter, hang out together, and are there for each other when they need help. i also like how they handled the end, where two of them are fighting, and they tried to resolve it among themselves
4. the dads also forming a friendship lmao so cute
5. bae seokryu taking over her dad's restaurant. this was hinted in the last episodes, and i was gonna be heavily disappointed if they didn't pursue this plot. i theorized that choi seunghyo was gonna buy and build the restaurant for bae seokryu, but i loved it even more that it was the dad's idea. it made it more special

i debated not finishing this drama a couple times, especially in the middle where things felt really slow. but the cast is star-studded and full of talented actresses and actors (esp the main leads who are two of my most favorites in the industry) so i had to see it through. i'm glad i finished it. it's definitely not rewatch material, but i loved the last few episodes.

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Amazing growth and friends to lovers trope

I didn’t expect to like this show as much as I did, I thought the character development was well done, they added a lot of individuality to the characters and gave them many opportunities to grow. I found myself being able to relate to the characters and being able to understand the characters that were frustrating. I do agree that at times the episodes felt dragged on and some parts of the story could’ve been written better but overall the show is able to draw you in, the friends to lovers trope is done well, it does a good good at portraying how such a long time of friendship being challenged by romantic feelings can affect the couple and the fear of ruining that relationship imposing on the timing of confessing those feelings. I would definitely recommend this to others and would only say that if your not someone who enjoys a slow burn type of romance that is more focused on developing its characters and dynamics before getting into the romance then this isn’t something you’d probably like but I do recommend giving it a chance.

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Extremely Endearing Characters

I finally finished Love Next Door after hearing people called boring day and night, and I have thoughts. Let’s start with the biggest crime of all: where was the wedding?! Like, come on. They built up the romance, gave us all these heartwarming moments, and then just… left us hanging? Not even a single frame of the ceremony? Not even a glimpse of Danoh and Moeum’s reunion in the South Pole?? We deserved those crumbs! The audacity!

But okay, let’s rewind a little, because this drama had me feeling things along the way. First off, let’s talk about Seokryu’s entire situation, because it was honestly frustrating in the best way. Her ex-fiancé coming back was already bad enough, but the fact that her own mother was trying to push them back together?? After everything he did to her? After he hurt her so much that she literally had to run back to Korea?? It was insane. And her mom wasn’t even trying to look out for Seokryu’s happiness—she just wanted to parade her daughter around like some trophy for the sake of appearances. It wasn’t even about going back to an “original” life; it was about forcing Seokryu back into a fake life just because it looked better to others. The lack of support, the pressure, the complete dismissal of what Seokryu actually wanted—it was so annoying.

Now, moving on to the relationship dynamics in this show, because wow. At some point, I had to stop and ask—what is Love Next Door’s obsession with rejection first and then acceptance?! Every single relationship in this drama had to go through this formula. Every. Single. One. Seunghyo got rejected by Seokryu twice, then got accepted. Kang Danoh and Jung Moeum’s relationship? Rejected by Moeum’s mom first, then accepted. Moeum got rejected by Danoh twice before finally being accepted. And just when Seokryu and Seunghyo were finally happy with their relationship, boom, their moms had to come in and disapprove. Like, what is UP with this show?? I’m not fully complaining because it still worked in the end, but I am complaining a little because it was so obvious and repetitive. It’s like they were following a strict rejection-to-acceptance rulebook, and it started feeling too much. And while I could somewhat understand the whole rejection-acceptance pattern, and the reasons for everyones rejection, the one thing I could NOT understand was Seokryu’s mother. Like, why was she so against Seokryu and Seunghyo’s relationship?? Something about her worrying about Hye-suk looking down on Seokryu? I really thought that was cheap considering they had been friends for 4 decades, to think like that about your bestfriend does not sit right with me. Even after everything, even after seeing her daughter struggle and finally find happiness, why was she still in denial?! It just didn’t make sense to me.

That said, I really liked Seokryu’s character arc and how her decisions all stemmed from her low self-esteem and fear of failure. She had already experienced so much—her failed marriage, her failed job—so it made sense that she was overly cautious about everything. When Seunghyo proposed to her, her immediate reaction was to reject him, not because she didn’t love him, but because she didn’t want him to end up like her ex-husband. She didn't want to trouble Seunghyo. She was so afraid of abandonment that she shut herself off before anyone else could. That fear of getting sick again, of losing everything, of being left behind—it explained so much about why she was the way she was.

But one of the best parts of this drama was how well it handled the different family dynamics of Seokryu and Seunghyo. Every family here was given depth, and it really made the story feel grounded. Seokryu’s family, despite being frustrating at times, felt so real—I could actually relate to it. Even Dongjin, who honestly had one of the best character arcs in the show, was written with so much care. His whole crashout moment, was incredible. Watching him hit rock bottom and then slowly rebuild himself and his relation with Seokryu was so satisfying. And even though Seokryu’s mother was annoying, she was still understandable. That detail of her playing the drums when she was extra mad? So good. It made her more than just a frustrating character—it gave her personality. Seunghyo’s parents were another highlight—starting off so distant, but slowly coming back together after years of separation. Their arc felt really touching, and the way they reconnected in the end was so well done. Also, the boss suddenly announcing, “I am gay” was so random but so funny. That moment was gold.

Seokryu and Seunghyo had such a mature, deeply emotional relationship that felt so raw and real. Their love wasn’t just about grand gestures but about understanding, about slowly breaking down walls and finding comfort in each other. Leaning on one another in times of trouble, giving each other space when needed but still wanting to be with one another, ah, my heart! And then there’s Danoh and Moeum—THEY WERE ADORABLE!! Every scene with them had me giggling and kicking my feet; their dynamic was just so fun and full of that youthful, almost chaotic kind of love that makes your heart flutter. Though Moeum wanting to be a mom to Yeongdu was pretty jagging, like yes she loved Yeongdu a lot, I mean, who would not, but still it was pretty suprising. And don’t even get me started on Yeongdu—my precious baby!! She was literally the cutest, every time she was on screen I just wanted to squish her!! There’s so much to love about this drama, from the relationships to the little character details that made them feel so real. It just had this perfect balance of warmth, humor, and heartfelt moments that made it so special!

Overall, Love Next Door was endearing, full of fantastic character work, and had a lot of heart. But that ending?? I needed just a little bit more. 8.5/10 because I loved it, but I’m still mad about those missing scenes. And well, at times, yes it was boring! Some scenes definetly felt filler, just there to extend time, but its definitely worth pulling through to see the actual attraction — the endearing characters and family dynamics.

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I LOVE THIS DRAMA.
There is an elegance of the story, smoothly go back and forth from present and past. Adding more layers to the characters. It's like an onion, being peel back layer by layer until we fully understand our main leads. The story about her life in the States is fresh, it's fully relatable of a 30-something high achiever experiencing burnt out. And the family relationship especially the mother-daughter is very real and relatable, I cried at some scene because I had the same conversation with my parents.
Overall, we can tell this drama really refine its script before production. The only minor dislike I might have is on the swift changes of our main leads the moment they got together. I would've prefer they retain some of their bickering and teasing even when they become a couple. But instead, they suddenly being all too nice and shy with each other. Because for me, the best part of falling in love with your best friend is that you can be yourself in front of that person.

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I relate to this drama a lot

To be honest, as a romcom, this series is not a very good one. I enjoyed the second couple more than the main couple.

But this is a quite good slice of life drama. The reason I give it a 8-star rating is because I relate so much to the female lead, Seok Ryu. My life journey and hers have a few things in common. I was kind of a model Asian student and daughter, trying too hard not to upset her parents who favor their son. They’re never satisfied with whatever I do or how much effort I have put. And my mom is very similar to Seok Ryu's mom. It hurt me a lot when hearing what those painful words Seok Ryu mom told her. I also have gut health issues and I had depression for years. Felt like a part of my life was brought to life in this Kdrama. :)

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Journey of Love, Growth, and Relatable Struggles

ove Next Door was a beautiful and emotionally rich journey that seamlessly blended romance with slice-of-life elements. It told the story of two people navigating love, personal growth, and friendship in a way that felt both genuine and profound. What set this drama apart for me was its grounded and thoughtful exploration of the characters' emotional journeys, making it not only heartwarming but also deeply thought-provoking.

Bae Seokryu, the female lead, felt so realistic and relatable, and her character's journey really resonated with me. I was especially glad that the drama didn’t just focus on her romantic relationship with Seung Hyo but allowed her to have her own growth and personal space. Before they even started dating, Seokryu showed her way of loving Seung Hyo—not just through grand gestures but by being there for him in a quieter, more understated manner. And once they were together, we saw Seung Hyo return the favor, proving that love is not always about grand displays but mutual support and understanding.

Their relationship wasn’t dragged out unnecessarily. For me, the beauty of their story lay in the slow, deliberate build-up, especially in Seokryu’s emotional development. She didn’t just fall for Seung Hyo because he confessed his feelings; it was about her overcoming her past and gradually allowing herself to open up to love and be loved. The show gave us a real, measured depiction of how it can take time for some people—particularly quieter, reserved characters—to come to terms with their emotions. This slow burn felt authentic, and the moment they officially got together in episode 11 felt completely earned.

The ending was truly beautiful. It felt like the beginning of their journey rather than a neat conclusion. I remember hearing the leads mention in an interview that Love Next Door wasn’t just a romance drama, and I’m so thankful for that. It was a story about personal growth, relationships, and finding the courage to open your heart. The dynamic between Seokryu and her brother, Dong Jin, stood out as particularly compelling. Seokryu constantly felt like she was in her brother's shadow, which pushed her to work hard and be independent so she wouldn't burden her parents. On the flip side, Dong Jin struggled with the weight of his parents' expectations, leaving him feeling overlooked and insecure. His attempts to seek validation, even when they didn’t succeed, made him a deeply sympathetic character. I found this sibling dynamic extremely relatable, as it showed how easily misunderstandings can shape family relationships.

While the writing wasn't flawless, it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the show. The characters' flaws made them feel real, and I appreciated how the writer gave everyone, even the parents, their own individual storylines. The portrayal of marriage through the lens of the parents’ relationships added an interesting layer to the overall drama. And for once, the exes didn’t fall into the trope of being villains or overly problematic people—they had their own growth and stories, which added more depth to the narrative.

What really stood out for me, though, was how Seokryu’s way of loving Seung Hyo was portrayed. It was less about grand, expressive gestures and more about the little moments of understanding and support. Their chemistry felt incredibly natural, and I could see how the drama highlighted the struggles of someone dealing with depression and anxiety, especially as the eldest daughter in a middle-class family. Seokryu’s emotional journey felt so relatable that it was as if she was speaking directly to my own experiences, especially when navigating family expectations and personal struggles.

All in all, Love Next Door was a wonderfully relatable and heartfelt drama that didn’t just focus on romance but also on the complexities of life, personal growth, and relationships. It felt like a genuine exploration of how love is not always immediate or perfect, but something that develops with time, trust, and understanding. I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a drama that will make you reflect on your own relationships and personal growth.

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