Love Next Door

Disappointing

I feel like I had a different experience watching this than many other reviewers did.

At the start, I did enjoy parts of the show, even though it was a bit more 'slice of life' than I usually choose to watch. But then the cracks started to appear.

The FMC's mother annoyed me. It was distracting and frustrating how calluses, controlling, shallow and unsupportive she was. And the show moved on from that pretty quickly.
The romance felt one sided. I didnt feel a lot of chemistry coming from the FLC.
The MLC's mother could have had an interesting storyline with early dementia. But instead they showed her being "forgetful" and then didn't mention it again, like it had cured itself.

There were probably highlights and good moments but by the end it just became a drag watching this. I had to force myself to finish the last few episodes.

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Have a good story, but keeps being a rom com

I LOVED IT SO MUCHH! a lot of people said that didn’t liked but I loved, the story is very entertaining, have some good plots that keeps your eyes on the drama, the couple is perfect, is a friend to lovers drama which follows their story from their childhood to adulthood, the ML is a TOTAL green flag, and the little secrets they keep gives a touch of tension in the drama, but it keeps being a light and funny drama, you laugh so much while watching it, and the secondary couple completes the group perfectly, in the end you wants to be their friend, my confort drama forever!

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Not your average rom com, Thank God!

Even there are some weaknesses in the writing and in the directing in my point of view the overall message of this series is very beautiful:
If you are stuck in your life or face some real hardship, look for a new path. Dare to fail. Dare to accept help. Dare to be honest. Dare to love and live with those around you.
For me this was funny, very deep and also light in a good way, realistic and very touching .

Personally, I loved that things moved on at a very realistic pace here, the exes aren't crazy, and that a romcom can also involve deeper emotions and genuine pain points in life.

The chemistry of the main leads is wonderful, they definitely bring out the best in each other and all the actors here are doing a very good job.
So loved it, but hey don`t take mine or anybody else's word here.
Go and watch to find out what it is for you!

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❤️ Love Next Door ?

Eomma Chingu Adeul is a multigenre drama that does justice to each and every genre it tackles. It incorporates some of the most used cliche tropes of 2024, yet they are executed and concluded in a highly satisfying way, delivering meaningful life lessons. Whether its the terminal illness trope, quitting a job due to depression, the childhood friends-to-lovers arc or the exes storyline, each one is handled in a gratifying manner. Many shows i have watched this year that use these tropes tend to disappoint but this drama managed them far better.

The chemistry between the leads is exceptional. From the very first scene, they felt so natural together, as if they truly were childhood friends, the kind of vibe that made their bond believable. As the episodes progressed, their connection only grew stronger. There were plenty of ups and downs in their relationship but everything was justified. The progression of their relationship felt smooth. While some might say Seokryu jumped into a new relationship rather quickly after her breakup, i think the buildup was convincing, so it didnt feel strange at all.

The acting was phenomenal, especially from Jung Somin. She was incredibly natural in every scene, whether it was emotional, happy or sad. She absolutely killed it. Other actors like Jung Haein and Kim Jieun also impressed me. The supporting cast, who are veteran actors, delivered solid performances as expected. I never got a fake or forced feeling from anyone’s acting.

This slice of life drama excellently portrays the different phases of life in a highly believable way. Each storyline is given proper buildup and a satisfying conclusion, all while teaching that life is about growth. Every character has their own story to tell. The leads and secondary characters are depicted with their flaws, just like real people. I appreciate that the drama didnt idealize the lead characters like many others do. Here, they are shown with both their strengths and weaknesses and every action they take has a reason behind it. The more you try to understand things from their perspective, the more you will enjoy their stories. Whether its the parents, the brother or the leads themselves, each one follows their own moral compass. At times, you will see the parents at fault, while at other times, you will understand that Seokryu made mistakes by not being honest with them. Once you grasp where they are coming from, the show becomes even more meaningful.

Friendship and family are the highlights of this drama. Whether its the bond between the four neighborhood ladies or between the three leads, these relationships are cherished, though they also go through their ups and downs. The same applies to family dynamics.

The slow burn romance is executed perfectly. Waiting 10 episodes to finally see the leads romance unfold was worth it. Their sweet relationship, which began after weathering the storm, made it even more enjoyable. The show does an excellent job of handling the angst between episodes 6 and 10 and then giving plenty of time for their relationship to flourish from episodes 11 to 16, with plenty of sweetness. Most romance dramas fail at this, introducing conflict in the last two episodes, which often results in a rushed ending. But here, it doesnt feel that way at all.

I have watched plenty of romance or romcom dramas this year but honestly, this one has the most meaningful script. While there are a few romance/romcom dramas i liked more, i cant deny that this one has a solid story and script. There is so much depth to the characters and the story that the more you think about it, the more fresh perspectives you gain on various aspects of life.

All things considered, i would give this a solid 9.5/10. It satisfied me from start to finish and i even enjoyed the angsty phase between episodes 6 and 10, which was disliked by many viewers of this drama

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Thoughts up until ep 9

Current thoughts by ep 10:
The male lead is super whiney most of the time he is on screen with the female lead, seems to me like he was signed onto the project for his emotional acting saying every scene hes in is emontional as hell.
The female lead is either doing a great job playing something who hasnt fully coped with situation or just isnt great at doing emotional scenes. Ive felt in the past two episodes her acting has not matched the story of whats happening to her but again it could be that shes playing the role of someone whos lost and depressed super duper well.
The reporter and paramedic I find a lot more interesting
Idk if you are suppose to hate the ex, but after watching this ep I would argue he hasnt really done anything wrong
The parents hating the cooking thing I still dont understand, im assuming its got something to do with the dad
For most kdramas there is usually one major trope that drives the story, and the one for this was faked out with the stating that one of them cheated but in reality its something else that is introduced halfway thru. I dont have a problem with this but it makes hard to hate/dislike the ex, saying it seemed like he did everything well in regards to the issue.

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The plot wears off quickly. Lack of deeper storyline and character connection.

"I've seen it thousand times"..
The beginning is promising, I thought "This might be the best one this year actually"..
Around 8th or 9th episode you notice how they lack ideas and innovation, as if they took 100 other dramas and took parts of it and tried to adapt it to this series. It doesn't go well together, 99% of characters are over 30, they all act if they have an teenage alter ego. It doesn't fit when it comes to serious scenes because you can't take them seriously. They threw scenes one after another, but gradually deepen the plot and having a rich ending was not an option. As if they didn't have ideas or material for continuing the original idea (the first few episodes). The drama is alright, but it reminded me a lot of many (seriously, many) things that I've seen already. I'm used to typical k-drama acting and some repetitive scenes, but this was too much.
The acting was fairly good in general.
Since it's a series I can't really comment on how realistic some situations and facts are, they could have been made more accurate, but it was okay without getting too much into facts.
For me personally, I've seen better.

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ROMCOM???? WHERE?

THIS IS NOT WHAT A ROMCOM IS.
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I wanted fluff, not misery and heartbreak with a dash of fluff!!!!!!!








That's it, that's the review.

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Heartwarming Romance and Endearing Characters Make Love Next Door a Must-Watch!

"Love Next Door" is a refreshing and heartwarming romantic comedy that brings charm and humor in every episode. The story revolves around relatable characters, making it easy to get emotionally invested in their lives. The chemistry between the leads is undeniable, and the subtle moments of romance and tension are beautifully executed. The supporting cast adds depth and warmth, making the neighborhood feel like a character in itself.

What really stands out is the balance between lighthearted moments and meaningful lessons about love, friendship, and personal growth. The pacing is perfect, keeping you hooked without dragging the story unnecessarily. It’s the kind of drama that will leave you smiling and wanting to see more.

Though it follows some familiar tropes, "Love Next Door" puts a fresh spin on them, making the series feel original and full of heart. A must-watch for any K-drama fan looking for a feel-good, romantic escape. 9/10!

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The Boy Next Door

While I am not a big fan of the ML, I watched him in "Something in the Rain" and quite enjoyed watching him. He's very easy on the eyes to be sure. :o) I liked FL in "Because this is my First Life" and so, I thought I'd give this drama a shot since I had pretty good impressions of them.

No regrets watching this drama but it doesn't stand out as supremely outstanding for me.

What I Liked:
- ML is definitely easy on the eyes. He's, certainly, a lovely boy to have next door. :o)
- The cast was generally esteemed. The veteran actors really rocked their roles and I especially liked the characters Jae Suk and Hye Suk. They acted so well. At the end of the drama, I remember these two characters the most.
- I also liked the character Myeong U. He managed to stay pleasantly cute in this drama from start to end. I quite enjoyed his moments on screen.
- Because the cast was great, they managed to carry the whole 16 episodes from start to end.
- A happy enough ending while quite rushed.

What I Considered "Meh":
- I didn't like FL's best friend, Mo-Eum. I found her acting stilted and rather unnatural. She came across as trying too hard to perform well. The love-line between her and Mr Mudflat Man wasn't anything exciting or touching IMO. I fast forwarded their moments together.
- I read that another reviewer found the premise that rich ML would be staying next door to very poor FL rather unbelievable and I found that this reviewer had a good point. This part didn't make much sense but I guess we have to suspend disbelief. I also didn't like FL's mother whom I viewed as quite mad and bipolar. Why would someone create such a ruckus in the streets and wallop one's daughter for all and sundry to gossip about? It seemed very illogical. It was also quite odd for her to be drumming her frustrations away.
- The love that FL had with her ex-husband-to-be wasn't romantic or exciting either.

In all, I found this drama just an okay watch. It wasn't full of riveting moments and nail-biting tension. I watched it because of ML. Luckily, the veteran cast carried things through quite nicely from start to finish.

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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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