Love Next Door

Just the romance could have, and would have been enough

This was the drama I've been looking forward to all year, and I was so so disappointed. This drama is what you get when a writer wants to write a rom-com but can't develop it well, so they start inserting random plot points and cute, trope-y moments and just cross their fingers.

I'll be honest. The drama lost me the moment the stomach cancer plot was introduced, for multiple reasons.

From a writing perspective, it just doesn't work. It's a lazy way to evoke empathy and it gave me tonal whiplash — the scenes specifically about Seok-ryu's cancer are well-done and heavy, but the show itches to revert to its light-hearted rom-com moments. It feels like the cancer plot is big for a few episodes and then completely forgotten, save for a few random mentions. The show falls into the unfortunate trap — instead of adding depth, it ends up feeling too light-hearted for such a heavy topic.

On a more serious note, I also just feel like the cancer plot point undermines the commentary on mental health, which I was really enjoying at the start. We have the main character undergoing familial pressure, burnout, and depression — things that are SO relatable to just about every single person — and suddenly the cancer reveal happens, and it's like oh, all those things that Seok-ryu was going through was because of the cancer. Her mother, who just thinks Seok-ryu is going through a phase, suddenly cares because the illness is physical. But the entire time I couldn't help but think it would've been such better writing and so much more touching if there had been no cancer plot and Seok-ryu's mother had grown to understand the importance of mental health instead.

After the cancer reveal, the plot pretty much winds down and starts going through subplots (like the parents' almost-divorce caused by a misunderstanding, and a few fights) that make it feel a little aimless. It's like the drama doesn't really know where to go from there and the writing just takes a steep dive because it never took the time to fully develop either Seok-ryu's cooking journey, or Seung-hyo's architecture company. We only seem to see glimpses of each.

I think the best scenes in the show are actually the flashbacks, where we got to see the chaotic depths of the leads' relationship from each of their perspectives and how it was paralleling present day. The banter that they have is actually pretty fun, but they definitely lose that spark once they get together and just become a very common couple with the common kdrama scenes. The chemistry that had potential at the start isn't there anymore.

As for the second ship...they're fine. They start out cute, but despite the potential of the backstory, I just don't feel like they ever touched my emotions.

Ultimately, I really wish this had either (1) gone full melodrama and given the cancer plot the weight it needed (even the second ship's backstory has a lot of potential for angst), or (2) trusted in the rom-com genre, and that the development between the leads as they followed their dreams together would've been enough to give us an amazing story — without all the extra stuff.

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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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Love next door - Warm moments but Spark never lit

Love Next Door started out as a heartwarming, comfort-watch rom-com, but the execution left me feeling a little underwhelmed. The family scenes, especially with the parents, were completely overboard—what was meant to be comedic often turned excessive and distracting. The romance, unfortunately, fell flat. Efforts felt almost entirely one-sided from the male lead, while the female lead seemed more like she was wandering through the relationship out of sympathy rather than genuine passion. This was disappointing because Jung So-min is such a capable actress—I loved her in Alchemy of Souls—so this must have been more about the writing and direction than her talent. Surprisingly, the second lead couple stole the spotlight for me. They felt fresh, unpredictable, and far more engaging than the main romance. The story itself dragged unnecessarily—16 episodes was simply too long for the plot it had to offer. Overall, Love Next Door had the potential to be a warm, charming drama, but predictable storytelling, uneven character dynamics, and a romance that never truly sparked made it a let-down.

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It melted my heart

It took me a while to decide whether to start this drama, and I can't explain why. The story is simple but so lovely, it also touches on deep themes. I love anything that has to do with recipes and food, and I couldn't wait to see Seok-ryu's dream come true. Thanks to Seung-hyo for never giving up on her!! Dan-ho and Mo-eum, I fell completely in love with both of them, the evolution of their story moved me so much. Geun-syk have a special place in my heart, best dad!! All the actors were excellent and I loved the dynamic between each of the couples. This drama truly warmed my heart.

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I Hate You But Really Love You?

Summary (emotionally intense): This series was unexpectedly lovable and tear-jerking. The witty banter between the two leads and the heart-breaking difficulties traversed by various characters made this quirky romcom work so well. I laughed loudly and cried quietly. I cried so much that I could have measured those tears in a beaker. Lol. I loved the cinematic transitions between scenes. The soundtrack was somewhat different with a jazzy feel to it.

I also loved the creative product advertisements, not blatant like some other dramas. “If only there was a catalyst like this (Chilsung Cider Zero) for you and Seok-ryu… Things would feel refreshing, crisp, and clean.” And how Choi Seung-hyo was loving his bowl of Yangban BIBIMedBAP made me want to try it too! I mean it even comes with its own spoon. XD “[This Eggdrop sandwich] is so good. How do they make this?”

Even though I loved this drama, I probably won’t rewatch it because it was emotionally exhausting for me, particularly the back and forth of whether there was a romance or not between the leads. Or any of the other characters, for that matter.

Details: The interactions between Choi Seung-hyo and Bae Seok-ryu were quite unexpected and the way the storyline unfolded was VERY unexpected. I came in with a certain set of opinions/emotions and that totally changed by the end of the show.

For example, I kind of hated Bae Seok-ryu’s umma in the beginning. Even AFTER all the revelations about herself she learned through her family and friends, she still pressured her daughter to do things that Seok-ryu didn’t want to do. Why do Asian parents think it’s more helpful to berate their young in order to inspire them? Lol. And EVEN AFTER her parents found out her dark secret, they still wouldn’t let her follow her dreams. Are you kidding me? (hair-pulling time) It runs deep in the blood… But all the characters grew on me over the course of the series. The drunken photo lesson was hilarious!

Though I liked that the filmmakers spent time to develop character backstories (or front stories), they could have easily ended the series at Episode 11, honestly. But it was nice that there was full development for most of the characters, particularly for Bae Seok-ryu’s family in a coming-of-age fashion. In the end, I was just straight up annoyed at some characters for always going back and forth on their love that I just wanted the show to be over already.

Side Notes:
- Why even start a side story for some characters if you’re not going to finish it? The budding romance between Bae Dong-jin and Lee Na-yun seemed pointless, as it didn’t go anywhere in the end.
- It was refreshing to see a male lead not always sporting the currently insatiable curtain hair style. 🤢 The other show I’ve seen a ML without the curtain was Touch Your Heart and stuff from the 2010s period. It’s one thing when a few people have it but it’s annoying when it’s like almost every show nowadays. Don’t get me started on the hair craze from Boys Over Flowers. Lol

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started out great

love their friendship but i hate how they act like they’ve never kissed a person before when they share those intimate moments JEBAL you are 33…

first half was super good and i enjoyed the drama building up and even the supporting characters’ budding romance with the kid but i took a break for like 4 months bc i didn’t care to finish the last 4 episodes 😅

it just wasn’t giving at a certain point… like the ex-boyfriend coming to take her back was so random and i feel like no one really took her illness that seriously… and the mom losing her memories or whatever HELLO this random ass side plot just to get her and her husband back in love… super random. kind of annoying at times. silly and fun but also wish there was more to it. it seemed like nothing was really important tbh

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A Hidden Gem Worth Watching

I recently rewatched Love Next Door for the second time, and I must say, this drama deserves more appreciation than it gets. When I first watched it last year while it was airing, I was busy with exams and couldn't fully concentrate. But even then, I loved it. This time, watching it again with full attention, I realized just how much depth this drama has.

Many people say it's boring and not worth watching, but I honestly don’t understand why. Love Next Door is a beautifully crafted slow-burn romance, deeply rooted in real life. It’s not just about love—it’s about friendship, family, and personal growth. There are no over-the-top villains or dramatic twists, just realistic and heartfelt storytelling.

I found myself relating so much to Seok Ryu, and I know many girls would feel the same. She’s a character that reflects real-life struggles, emotions, and growth. And then there’s Seung Hyo—a true green flag male lead, but not in an unrealistic, fairy-tale way. He’s written as a genuine, kind, and understanding person, making their relationship feel even more authentic.

While Queen of Tears and Lovely Runner are getting all the hype, Love Next Door remains a hidden gem. The director did an amazing job with the casting, and every character feels perfectly placed.

If you’re hesitating to watch it, I truly recommend giving it a chance. Sometimes, the best dramas aren’t the loudest ones—they’re the ones that quietly touch your heart.

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Romance bloomed. Then logic tripped, stumbled, and sobbed in the corner.

One of my favorite tropes is childhood friends-turned lovers, so this comes as no surprise that Love Next Door would be up my alley. Coupled that with charming actors such as Jung Hae In and Jung So Min, I was highly expecting this drama to be damn good. Where it started strong, especially love the banter and easy camaraderie between Choi Seung-Hyo and Bae Seok Ryo, I thought this was pretty much a done deal: an easy 10 points for me. But sadly, this was not. The drama’s attempts at realism, while admirable at first, became tedious and prolonged, and it’s no fault of the actors.

I get it really: these characters are supposed to be flawed because we know that no one is perfect. And while I commend people by being self-sacrificing for their loved ones, there comes a point where this self-righteousness becomes overbearing. Take in case Seok Ryu’s example. She was adamant about not letting people know that she and Seung Hyo started dating, for reasons she believed their families may not receive the news well. But we see that her parents have loved Seung Hyo and considered him as part of the family already even before they started dating. I don’t see why they would oppose him now that they are. Then she has this inkling that they may not end up together in the future. Now with that mindset, why even agree to be together in the first place, if you already had plans to abandon the person who has loved you for most of his life?

Then only when your partner suffers an injury, that you finally declare your love for him, only to reject him later when he proposes. I find this behavior extremely flaky. Seok Ryu did Seung Hyo a disservice by stringing him along, afraid that she will lose him to an ex-girlfriend who was not even in Seung Hyo’s consideration. Granted, it may be too early for Seong Hyo to suggest the idea of marriage, but can you really blame him? They are both already in their mid-30s, and he has waited so long for her to agree into a relationship, it’s not surprising that he wanted to “seal the deal.”

Speaking of flaky, Kang Dan Ho is no better. And it’s this so-called self-righteousness again that is at play. First, he claimed to be too good for Mo-Eum, then later revealed his affection for her in front of Mo-eum’s mother while Mo-eum was intoxicated. Is he hoping she will forget his momentary weakness when she sobers up the next morning? He then later backtracks at the slightest provocation that Mo-eum’s mother is against their pairing.

I’m not too sure what these characters are playing at, but if they were young, in their adolescent years, perhaps I will have forgiven them for their immaturity. But they are not. I could overlook their indecisiveness if it didn’t affect others, but it does. You can’t just have everyone agree to your terms alone, especially if you are in a relationship. There should be at least a semblance of balance between the giving and the taking. Just because you suffered a great deal more doesn’t give you the right to play victim all the time. You can only use this card a few times, but there’s a point when it loses its effectiveness.

When Seok Ryu points out to Mi Suk that Dong Jin is banking on their mother’s blatant favoritism, it’s the same concept. Her parents gave her brother many chances to screw up, and they excused his failures because of his childhood illness. But because Seok Ryu was always an excellent student, they demanded more from her. And then when Seok Ryu comes home after “failing” (losing her job and fiancée); instead of saying it’s okay, they will be supportive, their parents tried to kick her back out. Only when they found out about her sickness did they capitulate. Why does it need to take someone to be sick, for you to be supportive?

We can apply the same scenario to Geyong Jong and Hye Suk’s relationship. For the most part of the show, it looks like they could hardly stand each other being in the same room. Eating separately, sleeping separately. It’s no surprise that the path will lead to divorce. But it turns around only when Hye Suk goes missing and could have a probable memory loss.
I’m struggling through the second half of the drama, with all these curve balls thrown in to make the plot more dramatic, but it’s not making the show more endearing. In fact, the more I watch this drama, the more frustrated I get. And to think the show tried to liven things up, by inserting comedic elements that frankly fell flat. They were trying too hard to be funny that they’re really not.

There are a few redeeming points going for this drama. The message of friendship, family and love is well-meaning; in fact, this show excels in juxtaposing the different bonds. The fact that being brought up in better circumstances did not necessarily guarantee a happier life, or vice versa. The show also highlights the characters’ emphasis on “putting on a brave face” and the importance of “face,” arguing that these shouldn’t outweigh family and genuine friends. They are there for you to lean on when times get rough, the same that Dan Ho and Seung Hyo like to help those in need.

While it has its moments, Love Next Door is just a waste of the cast’s talents that could have been better utilized in another drama, given the right script. It tried to wrap up loose ends too quickly after dragging on others. There were an excessive amount of drunken scenes, over-the-top yelling, and contrived angst just to fill in long episodes that could have been better edited for length.

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Awesome

Love Next Door

I really don’t have much to complain about with this one! I loved it! The characters were three-dimensional, believable, and interesting! They made you care about them all, including the side characters! The acting was fabulous, the romance cute and sweet yet not superficial, and the stories engaging. I stayed interested and invested all the way through! Some people might say it lagged toward the end, but even though it was slower toward the end, I found the characters and their relationships so interesting to watch that I still quite enjoyed it without boredom or clock-watching. I rarely rewatch an Asian drama, even if I like it, but I’ll probably revisit this one in the future!

Also, some of the typical Asian drama BS that no one likes didn’t happen! No really stupid misunderstandings that go on forever, no really bad love triangle (there was another guy and another girl, but used well instead of stupidly/badly), no dumb long-standing break-up for dumb reasons followed by an extended seperation before reunion.

But one thing did surprise me–there was a lot more drama in the middle than I was expecting from such an otherwise light-hearted show! But they didn’t drag things out too much. This show really gives you the feels! ALL of them! Humor, love, angst, heartbreak, healing, warmth, joy, and fun. Multiple great kiss scenes, too! (The bed kissing scene was one of the best I’ve seen, imo)

The only “complaints” I could think of were that the secondary couple of the 2FL and 2ML was, in my opinion, a little rushed and the guy was a little bit weird in some ways. I didn’t understand his initial strong hesitation or why it suddenly changed. Also they didn’t get enough proper screen-time to make the depth of their feelings 100% believable, but you just have to assume a lot happens off-screen. Their chemistry was good (although that said, I thought they could have given us a better kiss than what we got, my opinion) in any case. The only other “complaint” is that the reconciliation of another couple could have been made a little more…rewarding? Technically dramatic though it was, in my opinion it lacked…something. I’m not sure what exactly I wanted or what I thought was missing, but…there was a lot of build-up and the reconciliation wrapped up so fast it made my head spin. I think I would have liked a slightly longer scene. Maybe more hugging, and a little more discussion.

But those two “complaints” are very mild, and did not detract from my enjoyment of the show. Also, they are just MY opinion, and you may not see those things that way at all. So don’t let my slight “grievances” with the show deter you! Add it to your watchlist now!

Oh, and it has a happy ending! (Though I would have liked to see the wedding/s and maybe even a time-skip to the kids in the future, but that’s just me being greedy :) )

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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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