Love Next Door

What happened?

So, I made it to episode 8, and I think I'm done. What is this? How is it possible to have quite a great cast, huge names, actors I really liked in the past and to eff this up so much?

I normally love Jung So-min, my most favourite drama ever ('because this is my first life') is with her as the FL. I also liked Jung Hae-in in the past, he was great in 'Snowdrop', in 'one spring night', you name it.

But this? Where to begin? I didn't really like the first episode with all the 'funny' farting intro. Not funny. But I kept watching.
There is no, and I mean none - chemistry between the leads. It all seems so acted and cringe, I can hardly watch it.

So we have two mid-thirty people. One is a rich son, with his own business and for Korean standards he looks super attractive. Yet he steadily acts like a 7-year old boy. We are meant to believe that apart from this one relationship he had in the past with this self-confident but oh so friendly and well-meaning ex (unrealistic to the brim by the way) that is steadily showing up for no real reason, he was a virgin-and childlike boy in the body of this now mid thirty man waiting for his childhood girly to return and otherwise staying abstinent? Common. A guy like him, looking like that, being rich and having his own business? He would have lead a very different life if she had been gone to the US for years, and we all know it.

Same goes for our FL. She acts and dresses like a child. Concerning her relationship with the ML she acts like a clumsy little girl that didn't have her first kiss yet, but we do know she lived in the US, and was engaged and thus had an adult relationship with a man, so she knows how things go. Yet, we have this setting in the house of the FLs parents, who by the way are supposed to be poor, while the very rich son of a doctor and a busniesswoman, somehow has lived across in almost the same house? How? These two families are of completely different financial background and they certainly never lived in the same neighbourhood even, also not in the past?

Next thing? I really don't like ANY of the characters, they all annoy the hell out of me. Jung Hae-in? He is not funny, it's not his area of acting, at least not in such badly written drama, no one could make this seem remotely funny. It seems staged and almost exhausting for him to do these supposedly 'funny'lines, it's so obviously not him and it's unwatchable for me as I know he is a really good actor in other settings.
The FL and her constant screaming and nagging and physically attacking everyone? Not cute, not romantic, not anything, just annoying. Same goes for her mother, screaming all the time and physically attacking people.

Then the storyline, was there any way to make this any more unbelievable. Not only does or ML wait until forever for that girl that steadily beat him up and screamed at him, no, when he finally decides to tell her he likes her (again, like two 12-year-old would act, not like mid-thirties), out of nowhere, in exactly that moment, the even more unlikable ex fiancee stands there blablahing something staged about wanting to get back together with the FL. I laughed out loud at that scene, how ridiculous, who wrote this?

Not enough, our FL, who is screaming and attacking people at random all the time does not say anything to anything. The ML confesses - no reaction, no answer. And no, that milk bag scene with the expiry date was not funny. Why not just talk like adults? It's all Kindergarten. Why? It's not cute, it's so annoying. Same with the even worse situations when both men are 'fighting' over her. The ex-fiancee can just stalk her and show up at any time with this psycho grin and she always lets him talk instead of just finally telling him off. She does not decide anything at any point which contradicts the aggressive and loud character she is otherwise supposed to. And now, to add insult to injury they even come up with a cancer story? Come OOOON!

I think this is the worst drama I tried to watch in a longer time, and there were several bad dramas in the past two years as my impression is the quality of storytelling and writing has been going down the drain in the past two years compared to years like 2016, 2017, 2018, where there were several brilliant dramas per year.

So, no, please South Korean writers and drama producers, you can do better. Not even generally good actors help anything if it is just unwatchably bad.
I give the 2,5 instaed of 1.0 for the acting of the FL's father, as I think he is really good and actually the only one I find credible in his role.

Dropped, and I mean dropped out of a skyscraper in this case.

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My own personal, unpopular, opinion

I was fully on board for this one. I love all of the actors in it and was chomping at the bit for a decent rom com. Here's what worked for me -
1) Visuals. All of the actors are just so attractive.
2) Bickering main couple (at the beginning).
3) 2ML's daughter was just precious and not a brat.

It started out well for me, but slowly but surely went downhill for me. I'm all for a good trope, but this show was just too tropey for me. Some things were good, some just had me shaking my head and talking to the tv. It seemed to me that every episode brought in a trope to further the story.
1) He's loved her for a long time - I'm always in for this.
2) Their bickering was chemistry-ing, but I didn't buy their chemistry once they decided they liked each other.
3) Physically/emotionally abusive parent. I know this is used for comedy, but it was too much and went on too long.
4) Miscommunication - this applied to the main couple, the second couple, and both sets of parents.
5) FL's brother was pretty much a waste of time.
6) Of course, there was a woman that liked him that he worked with. Thankfully, she wasn't overly irritating and realized that she had no chance "They might as well start planning what schools their children will be going to" - what a great line.
7) Ex-girlfriend that wants him back. They redeemed themselves by having her come around to what was going on quickly.
8) Ex-fiancé coming back into the picture. This felt like manipulation to further the story, because why else would he randomly show up out of the blue?
9) "Let's keep our relationship a secret".
10) Parents trying to marry off the kids to others.
11) Parents against their relationship.
12) Parents against her career choice.
13) Secrets - 2ML has a daughter that we don't find out about for a while and then she's not really his daughter. Why?
14) Illness. Cue noble idiocy and not wanting to be with someone to save them from hurt.
15) 2FL going away for a year. A paramedic going to Antarctica for a year?!?!
16) ML's mom is a total bi-atch through the entire show, suddenly we think she has Alzheimer's. But no, her forgetting where she is, that she resigned and where she sent her suitcase is all due to stress?!?!
17) FL wanting to put the wedding on hold because she wants to focus on her career. Women are better than that at multitasking.
18) Wedding red herring. It wasn't the OTP.
19) The leads walk into the sunset, bickering as they go.

I would definitely recommend this show since I'm totally in the minority, but it just didn't work for me.

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Honest and sincere opinion

'Love Next Door' is, without a doubt, the finest drama ever produced. It’s a classic slice-of-life narrative that resonates deeply with everyone—every episode truly hits home.

This series masterfully takes you on a profound emotional journey—from deep sorrow and raw struggles to brightest joy and pure delight, always anchoring itself in enduring hope. These are the raw, authentic emotions we frequently experience in the diverse situations of life, making it universally relatable.

The chemistry among all characters is exceptionally compelling. This is particularly true especially for the main leads; their chemistry speaks in silence—unparalleled, magnetic, and so powerful it defies explanation—truly unlike anything I've ever known. Every scene was so brilliantly and intensely delivered that the emotions hit the core of our hearts. It left a lasting and powerful impression on the audience, even long after its final episode aired.

Though the final few episodes felt a tad rushed, the overall execution remained beautifully connected. Personally, I yearned for a deeper exploration of Bae Seok-ryu's perspective. Yet, despite all of this, the entire drama is exceptionally well crafted.

Honestly, those who might not fully grasp or appreciate its brilliance are simply overlooking its powerful appeal, perhaps even allowing external negativity to diminish its value. But let the undeniable truth be spoken: it stands as the best drama ever made. ‘Love Next Door’ has left a deep mark on our hearts, securing its timeless place within our fondest memories.

Sincerest applause and all due credit go to every individual involved in orchestrating this drama into such a resounding success. Kudos!

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Romcom with emotional trauma, chaos, friendship, family and love

I absolutely loved this show. Even though I was spoiled for a lot of things, I still loved it and enjoyed it. They are the perfect chaotic couple, and I am completely IN LOVE WITH THEM. Friends to lovers, she/he fell first, he fell harder, golder retriever boyfriend, their cute bickering and flirting, I just can't get over them 😭😭😍😍😭🤌😭😍🥺🤭💙

The emotional trauma made me cry. My baby girl went through so much, and even though I found out the truth of her illness before the show, it was still emotional 😭😭😫🥺😭🥺😭 Her family should have been more understanding and not just because of her illness, but the way she was treated before and even after speaking up, my baby was so hurt. I'm still mad at her mother. And I hate the ex.

Her best friend's relationship and story was so cute as well. I definitely didn't expect the plot twist about the kid's family. Also the guy was a coward for so long, I got annoyed but his confession made up for it.

Back to our babies, I loved the flashbacks to their pasts and childhood. I didn't expect the female child actor to be the same as in family by choice, but it was a happy surprise 😍💙 They both missed 30 years and 5 episodes of their dating era wasn't enough. That 10 month time skip was too short. I want their wedding, their house, kids, family, more scenes. I miss them already 😭🥺😍🥺😫💙 I was in tears and blushing and giggling from how cute and fluffy and chaotic and in love they were. I want more!!

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[Another episode by episode review/reaction] [spoiler warning]

[Another episode by episode review/reaction] [spoiler warning]

ep1// So cute! I love the childhood friends-to-lovers trope and these two are so fun to watch together!

ep2// They're cute but I'm a little confused about the timeline. So they met as kids, and then started having crushes on each other in high school but never confessed/pursued anything and now they're falling in love again?

ep3// So he had a crush on her in HS but we don't know what she felt yet. I like they're rebuilding their friendship for the viewer first instead of immediately pushing for a romantic storyline. It makes it feel a lot more realistic/happier.

ep4// I love how they're all such close friends. I love seeing friendships like this on screen.
Awww they're so sweet together!! I hope this is a situation like "he fell first, but she fell harder"

ep5//The journalist guy is crop circle kid's dad, his mom helps take care of her, and her mom is out of the picture.
ML realized he still loves FL, now to see if/how he pursues it. And when she starts to like him back.

ep6// I'm glad they all act like adults even when they know they have competition. They're in their early/mid-30s in this series. I would be so irritated if they acted immaturely like how romance leads/characters usually do.
She's starting to realize he likes her! The cringe/secondhand embarrassment is getting to me a bit though. Also, why is he a tsundere?

ep7// Ok, the 2nd hand cringe is hurting my soul but it's ok.
The romance between the journalist and the paramedic is finally starting! They're also really cute.
The ex-fiancé came back but she's not taking him back. I'm glad this show doesn't do the whole 2nd ML trope and instead focuses on 2 different relationships to provide a varied dynamic.
ML's dad thinks mom is having an affair with her boss. I already saw this spoiler so I know the boss is gay and they're just friends.
ML finally confessed!!

ep8// ML is such a green flag now that he's gotten over the communication error!! The way when the FL was having an argument with her parents he didn't try to butt in and instead silently supported her and stopped her brother from talking over her. Normally MLs try to defend the FLs even when they can and should fight their own battles. But he recognized that it wasn't his place and respected her decisions.
FL used to have stomach cancer and that's why she took off from her job for a while 3 years ago. She didn't tell anyone so the only person in SK who knows is her ex. And that's why she pushed away the ML when they were going to the hospital, because she didn't want him to find out.

ep9// Weird situationship phase. He's also not really taking no for an answer.
They finally found out she had stomach cancer.

ep10// I feel kinda bad for her ex. They were a good couple and probably would have stayed together if she'd reached out to her family after she got cancer. He was taking care of her himself and got burnt out and that caused them to fall out, but they really did love each other. It's a realistic story. There is no bad guy. I hope he also finds someone nice again to fall in love with.

ep11// Woo rollercoaster! ML's parents aren't getting divorced anymore and are finally talking about their feelings. But the mom might have a brain/memory issue.
FL finally realized she likes ML and confessed and they kissed! Did not think that would happen so quickly but I'm glad he dropped it after the "expiration" date and instead, she was the one to confess this time. They're a very cute couple. I did have to pause for like 5 mins once I realized she was confessing though; the cringe was killing me. But they're cute. I was sorta right before with the trope but it was more like "she fell first (and then forgot about it for a while), he fell harder".
Also, the paramedic got the job position at the south pole she'd been dreaming of! I wonder how/if her relationship with the journalist will continue; maybe a long-distance relationship for a while?

ep12// Paramedic confessed to journalist but was rejected and now they're awkward.
ML and FL are a very cute couple. I think the only conflicts left are the paramedic/journalist and what happens when the main couple's parents find out they're dating.

ep13// FL's brother ended up falling for a scam product. Wonder what his ending will be. Looks like they're setting up a relationship between him and the ML's employee who had a crush on the ML. Ok, so he's back to working at the gym, he's gonna get his trainer certification, and actually get a job now. Nice!
Paramedic had a friend/mentor who died saving kids from a fire.
Journalist's daughter isn't actually his bio kid?? My heart dropped when she said "Hi Dad" oh my god. She's actually his niece and her dad was his brother?? His entire family died in the car accident??
Thank god they didn't do the "one of them gets physically hurt while they're separated/fighting" trope. I would've rioted.

ep14// They haven't even told their parents they're dating yet and he wants to propose?? What?? I'm not surprised she said no, I'm more surprised he thought she'd say yes. Especially since it took her so long to agree to even date him.
I'm glad the employee got over her crush though. She's very mature.
The FL's parents are still having money problems and decided to close the food shop. I wonder how they're gonna get money now.
Lmaooo ML trying to get dating advice from the journalist. Blind leading the blind.
I'm glad the paramedic's mom finally supported her relationship with the journalist. Still confused why she said no in the first place. Was it cause he already had a kid? But she wanted a grandkid anyway?
And now the moms are fighting for petty reasons lol
Oh my god, the parents finally found out!! ...And I've caught up so I need to wait a few more days to see the next ep aww.
From the ep preview it looks like their parents (more like just the moms) will be against the relationship because of their current fight. I think this is the last bit of drama before it gets wrapped up. I can't think of anything else that's in conflict right now.

ep16//
Happy ending for everyone! Everyone got what they wanted and more and everyone's happy.

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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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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.

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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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Vibe killed by overlong episodes and inflated runtime

Bae Seok Ryu and Choi Seung Hyo are played by very pretty people, but attractiveness alone is not enough to keep the sizzle going for these characters. Their lack of romance had been drawn out for decades already up to the point the show starts and continued to drag on for weeks and weeks of the 80 something minute episodes. They don't have the type of relationship with any kind of spice or sweetness to sustain interest for them as potential couple for that long. In the meanwhile, it's the family and family friendship lives that are explored in depth and the emotions of those storylines overshadows and engulfs all the screen time. It's relatable, but still ill balanced to the detriment of what should be the core relationship of the show. I do give the show props for the very believable reason to hide their relationship being their loving, but suffocatingly nosy collective family that will keep them on such a close watch and infantilized that they can't actually function as a couple of consenting adults. The second couple didn't take that long to get together, but they suffer from the very odd decision the show made to introduce them in a weird scene where the hot, amazing, adventurous, confident paramedic Jung Mo Eum grabs a drink from the shop freezer like a normal person only to have it yanked in her hand by the reporter guy who felt entirely entitled to take a drink out of a woman's hand when she already took it first fair and square. It's nonsensical and the show builds him up as a amazing guy that would help divert traffic for the ambulance and raises his niece who is the sole survivor of his entire family dying in an accident, but that kind of rude behavior is just too off putting to over look and I want Mo Eum to just keep going on her adventures rather than to obsess about that weirdo no matter how otherwise virtuous he seems. Let her be free.

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Love Next Door – A Heartfelt Romance That Feels Like a Warm Hug

Review: Love Next Door

I came across Love Next Door* while casually scrolling through Netflix, and something about its premise caught my attention. A successful project manager leaves her cushy job to return to South Korea, only to reconnect with her childhood friend—now an accomplished architect. Right away, I was hoping for a romance I could root for, one that would make me swoon and vicariously live through the love story (because, let’s be honest, I’m single).

Characters and Chemistry
Bae Seok-ryu stole the show for me. I could relate to her in a lot of ways—her struggles, her mistakes, and the way she handled things, even when she messed up big time. She was rough around the edges but still had a huge heart, which made her character all the more endearing. And the chemistry between the leads? A solid 10/10. You could feel it in every glance, every lingering moment. The only downside? It took way too long for them to get together. Between the denial, bad timing, and unnecessary obstacles, I found myself wishing they’d just get on with it. I wanted more swoon moments, more romance—just more.

Themes and Emotional Impact
The show touches on unrequited love, closure, and the need to step back from the chaos of work, and it does a great job with these themes. Episode 10, in particular, hit me hard. From discovery to closure, the whole arc had me feeling deeply, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t get emotional watching it.

Pacing and Execution
The pacing was slow, but in a good way—it was like a slow-cooked meal that gets better with time. I was always eager to see what happened next, and the dialogue was top-tier. If I could change one thing, I’d add better communication between the characters. It was already good, but I just wanted more depth in those key conversations.

The Ending and Final Thoughts
Episodes 9 and 10 threw in some surprises that I didn’t see coming, which kept things exciting. And the ending? Super satisfying. A well-earned happy ending that left me feeling content, though I do wish we got to see more of the couple’s life together after they finally got together.

Would I recommend Love Next Door? Absolutely. It’s for anyone who needs a good, cathartic cry or who knows the pain of unrequited love. If you’re in the mood for a heartfelt, slow-burn romance, this one is worth watching.

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Good but could be better if we had-

I lovee the leads they have good chemistry on and off screen. Second couple was also very cute. Now, for the plot sometimes it feels slow but the leads chemistry and acting carried the show. Loved the childhood friendship trope, it was done very well and also the family core in this show was very touching. It had everything that I loved, the yearning, the comedy, the angst and the drama. But what kind of upset me was the constant absurdly done plot twist just to add drama to the show, which felt unnecessary. Because both the leads were already going through stuffs but the writer wanted to 'makjang' it so i felt annoyed lmao.

And the ending really made me upset. I know a number of people are too lol cause we had a really dedicated community for this show. Because we were so sure that Seunghyo and Seokryu was gonna get married after the multiple attempts at proposal only for them to postpone it?? and have Seunghyo's parents re-wed(?) instead, it was so baffling I'm avoiding Shin Haeun's drama forever. I was waiting for the wedding for so long, It could've been the perfect ending for the childhood lovers but they decided to add another final plot twist which adds absolutely NOTHING to the show. Ending really left me with a bitter taste

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