Love Next Door

Failed Imitation: A Lack of Emotional Depth in a Series Losing Its Direction.

It started as a failed attempt at comedy and quickly devolved into melodrama.

From the beginning, I noticed a strong resemblance to screenwriter Kim Eun's ideas, especially since the lead actor starred in two of her successful scripts. The plot appears to focus on a woman's supposed growth, with a secondary romantic element to add interest to an otherwise boring and cliché story of achieving the "American Dream."

In my opinion, the attempt to imitate Kim Eun's script failed, as it looks like a weak copy.


One in eight women on average suffers from some form of cancer, yet this fact has no connection to the beginning of the series. In contrast, Kim Eun's scripts intertwine romance with reflections on a woman's status in conservative Korean society, showing her struggle to break conventions. The romance is essential, woven into the dynamics between partners.

Here, The development feels disconnected and lacks the depth of Kim Eun's approach.

Read More

Too Many Messages That Want to be Conveyed.

From what I know, when we create a story, we should include messages that readers can take away after reading it. But we shouldn't tell readers what they should take from our story.

This drama explicitly teaches viewers what message they should take away after watching it.

That's what makes this drama quite awkward to watch as the final episodes approach. They want to convey so many messages and lessons that the flow of the story becomes rushed in their attempt to deliver these messages.

Honestly, the acting and chemistry of the cast were quite good in episodes 1 to 8. But as the end approached, the performances of the main characters JSM and JHI felt very awkward and forced. It even seemed like it wasn’t well written. They appeared to be acting, presenting disjointed scenes that seemed created just to convey specific messages.

Among all the characters, the second couple had stronger character development. Their arcs flowed well, and their story is what kept me engaged in finishing this drama. Honestly, the character with the weakest writing in this drama is Seok Ryu. His character seems not fully developed, making me, as someone who has watched JSM since "Playful Kiss," feel that his acting here is quite poor. It lacks naturalness, is overly exaggerated, and looks like acting. He has always succeeded in portraying characters well in previous dramas. JHI’s acting also felt very awkward; I've seen her perform several times, but here, her performance is the weakest compared to her previous dramas.

And the most disappointing thing is that, despite having four main characters in this drama, the first couple and second couple do not have a strong enough bond to portray a 'friendship' among the four of them. This is very different from watching dramas like "Fight My Way" or "Because This Is My First Life."

For this drama, I genuinely regret the writers and director for creating something like this. Both are quite well-known for producing quality dramas, so my expectations were high. Additionally, the genre doesn't fit the drama. I couldn’t find the romantic comedy elements in this show. Romance might be seen at the end of the episodes, but where's the comedy? This drama should have been labeled as a slice of life.

This drama actually has the potential to be good. The side character stories are well-crafted and not boring to watch. The issue lies in the main characters' stories, which are the most tedious, even though they are the core of the drama. That's what makes this drama less engaging.

Read More

Bland and often boring

I watched this drama because of the leads, but the writing here really didn't give them much to work with. This is the kind of drama that drags a lot, especially towards the end. There isn't much of a plot (which on its own is fine), but it's made worse because the drama doesn't work on an emotional level, and it's not good as a comedy either. It's just not written in a way that makes you feel anything, and for all the talent/charisma that the leads have, they can't create magic out of nothing. Some of that is because this drama is simply too long - there are a lot of filler scenes that feel very predictable and boring.

This is what I imagine eating food without any seasoning feels like.

Read More

One word...DISAPPOINTING

I'll start off by saying this show was such a let down.
The production has the right ingredients( the actors) but cooked a subpar meal.
For some reason the ml and fl seem to have more chemistry off screen while they look so disconnected while on screen. I overlooked that at first when they were friends but it became unbearable when they got together and their interactions didn't get better or have that spark.
There's also barely any build up of the romantic feelings that they claim the ml and fl share especially from fl side. I love the second leads but their love also seems rushed especially from Danho's pov. Regardless i loved watching their little family with Yeondu.
The lack of music in certain scenes and then the wrong music too is disappointing.
The writer tries to be progressive in the multiple issues that they bring up but they some how taking a traditional resolve to it or barely doing it any justice. Their moms are also insufferable and the constant bickering between the leads at their BIG AGE??? Or even the lack of proper communication. The writing is awful and it shows in the way the writer constantly has to invoke a problem( whether is cancer or alzhiemers or cheating or grief)as a way of furthering the plot. Then they make this problem a big issue for like 2 episodes only for it to be Magically fixed withing minutes of the 3rd episode. I dont even want to get started on the ml's behaviour towards the fl. Do they think the constant shouting or brushing over her insecurities is cute? ?Simply tiring

Read More

Not the best but not the worst

I really wanted to like this and had high expectations but sadly, my expectations were not. There isn't anything inherently bad about this drama. I actually really loved the first 4 episodes but it went downhill from there.

I did not like some of the family dynamics and the romance. Obviously, we all know that the FL's mom is kind of abusive to the FL. Like the way she repeatedly got mad at her daughter for decisions she made without even listening to any reason made me mad for the FL. Also, throughout the episodes, we clearly saw moments where it showed that the ML was in love with the FL but I feel like we never got those moments from the FL. We never saw moments where the FL started to realize that she saw the ML as more than a friend. Their romance was just not convincing enough because of this.

I loved the FL. I think she is a great character who loves and cares for her family and friends so much. She especially cares for the ML, someone who she grew up with and is like family. I think all the decisions she made in the drama were what she thought was best for her family and for herself. I don't think anyone should judge her for those decisions especially if they didn't go through what she went through. A lot of people in the comments mentioned that they didn't like that the FL strung the ML along after his confession but I think it was the opposite. It seemed more like the ML did not want to get rejected and was just delaying it by saying that she can respond to him by the milk expiration date.

I did not like the ML. Some people love the ML and hate the FL but for me it's the opposite. I did not like how he started to act cold to the FL after overhearing that she still loved her ex especially since he only heard part of it. I get that he wanted to protect himself but ignoring the FL and blaming how upset he feels on her was not it especially since they were just friends at that moment. I think he could have said he just wanted some space in a kinder way. Also the way he reacted to finding out her secret was absolutely horrible. How he questioned whether he was truly a friend to her for keeping such a big secret was just so irritating. The secret doesn't involve him at all and the FL's first thought in that type of situation was probably whether or not she would survive. If I found out my best friend went through something like that, I would just try to be there for them and make sure they knew that instead of making it about myself. I especially hated that he thought he could be mad at her for not telling him when he literally ghosted her because he saw that she had a boyfriend. He apologized for everything but I still think the ML is an immature and petty person. I just can't like the romance because I don't like him.

I also did not like the ML's parents all that much. They're in their 50s but still couldn't have a proper conversation. Their misunderstandings could've been resolved so much faster if they just talked to each other. Also, both of them are pretty bad parents. Misunderstandings a huge trope in this drama because the FL's parents also went through some. I think I liked the FL's dad the best. He was at least a bit understanding.

In regards to the second couple, they were definitely better than the lead couple. I loved watching them both realize they had feelings for each other. Also loved how the SFL was such a good friend to both the FL and ML. The SML is such a kind and caring guy to the SFL. I love the family they both created with each other.

Overall, I did not like this drama as much as I would have liked. The way everything was handled in this drama was just not how I would have liked. I think some people would absolutely love this drama but it's just not for me. Beware that this drama has melodramatic parts to it so don't go into this thinking it's a light and breezy romcom.

Read More

MDL inflated rating

Where can I start with this mess?

- Watch it if you want to see Jung Hae In doing acting acrobatics, trying to make something out of nothing.

This is an example of a K-Drama that needed to be 10 episodes, not 16. There were many storylines, and some of them ended messy, and some others were wrapped up in a hurry. I think it is worse than Love Alarm.

Maybe I am missing more cultural context, but FL and her mom's relationship never made sense to me. She is a beautiful lady, but this is the character that needs a whole re-write.

I didn't think there was chemistry between the main characters.

If the whole message is to pursue your true life interest and leave behind a stressful job, the way this was presented at the end was underwhelming, because the scene immediately after focused on a silly lovers' spat.

The cancer and the dementia never made a point, and they were just devices to move on the story, but in a sloppy way.

Read More

My first Ever Review, Take it from someone who has been with this drama from the casting news

I may not be a writer so I cant tell how good or bad the writing is but I do know that the Show gave us exactly was promised
Frienship☑️
Family☑️
Healing☑️☑️
Romance☑️
Love☑️
Comedy☑️
They managed to pull all of that off so to me that's good enough .
My major problem is how they hardly used the OSTs for some reason, the OSTs were actually very good but it seems they didn't want to promote them well in the drama.
The dynamics between the characters were wholesome , the chemistry between the lwads were on fire 🔥🔥. the characters were realistic and it is amazing how they made them stay true to the characters mannerisms throughout the series to the end (Applaud them for that)
It is the kind of drama you can watch with your family , I am actually planning to rewatch the whole series with my family and I can see myself coming back to it time to time
I wanted to give it 10/10 so bad because, it has been long since I got so attacehed to a show
Anyways, Please watch this show on your own accord without any external influence , that is the only way, you will enjoy it , put your expectations outside and just enjoy the journey , laugh, cry , jump and love with the characters and I promise it will be fun....

Read More

Childhood to Adult

There were spots or scenarios where the writers could have been more creative with this version of Friends to Lovers. The major surprise midway with the FL and her previous boyfriend was done well because I would never want my daughter to stay with someone who stayed with me primarily out of guilt or pity even though he seemed to think he loved her. They could have dove into more on why young adults make choices based on their parent's dreams instead of theirs. All characters did well especially the mothers. They are so funny as long-time friends and when they fight you will take sides because it's so believable. The ML and FL are absolutely perfect from the standpoint of chemistry, fit, and how they slowly acknowledge their love for each other that had been there for a long time but avoided or didn't understand their feelings. Love this drama!

Read More