Love Next Door

Difficult to review this one

Things I loved:

1 The scenes from the past. They were well done and the little children were adorable. Their relationship was great.

2 The little girl, the niece of the 2ML. Great actress and such a cute child. The character as well was great.

3 The friendship between the FL and the 2FL. It felt real.

4 The last episode. I think it was one of the best along with the one titled sweet love. The ending was moving and funny and rewarding for those who spent so much time watching this long series. I loved how they gave us a glimpse of everyone's future and current life.

5 The partner of the ML in the architectural firm. I loved his character. He was necessary to break some over the top seriousness sometimes.

6 The actress of the ML. What a beautiful woman and good actress. Actually I liked most of the acting. I think they were all quite good.

7 The will of the male leads and the partner to help the old lady with her house and then preserve the neighborhood.

Things I liked:

1 Even though the women could be annoying and their fight were sometimes ridiculous, I think their friendship was great. When needed they were there for each other.

2 I also like the siblings relationship. I have two sisters and two brothers and we love each other to death but we can fight and their relationship reminded me especially the one between my younger sister and younger brother. They don't hit each other but they can tease each other mercilessly.

3 I liked that she changed careers and went for what she dreamed.

4 I liked the ex of the FL. He was a kind person and I was sorry he had to go through all this.

5 I liked the relationship between the brother and the girl from the firm. It was sweet and I'm happy to imagine them together in the future.

6 I liked the ex of the ML. Beautiful and poised and also a decent human being.

7 I liked the second couple, I just didn't love it. But compared to other series where I don't care at all for them there it was quite good.

Things I disliked:

1 The clothes the ML wore. What the heck? Sometimes he looked like a child in men's clothes. So distracting and stupid to overlook this. Don't they have eyes?

2 The relationship between the fathers was over the top sometimes. I mean I understand the drinking, but what the heck? Almost every encounter between them was around a bottle of alcohol. Their reactions were more ridiculous than endearing sometimes.

3 The scarce the mother of the ML had. It was underdeveloped and frankly idiotic. It was an insult to those who truly have issues actually. They should have found something else to write about.

4 The fights between the women. Over the top as well and so unnecessary. Drama just for the sake of drama.

5 The nonsensical theme of the restaurant that never had any clients and yet he's supposed to have enough money to support his family. That didn't make sense from the start.

6 I hated that the FL wasn't playful enough, that she didn't show how much he loved him. We saw some glimpses but it was mostly him and that bothered me. I don't know. Sometimes I felt they had chemistry especially when they saw something from the past or when they bickered at the beginning but it never really felt like they were crazy in love and that's important to me when there's romance. So I don't know what to think about their chemistry.

Things I hated:

1 That it was advertised as a rom com and that it wasn't. I hate when I start a series with certain expectations to get disappointed and this one disappointed me even though it was well done. It still wasn't a rom com.

2 The cancer story. Too heavy and although emotional and had its place in a drama it hadn't any place in a rom com.

3 I hated with the passion of thousand suns the words the NL led used before they had sex. I hope it was just the translation because if he really referred to having sex and especially with someone you're supposed to be in love for thirty years as unhealthy thoughts and bad thoughts, they all need to see a psychiatrist. I don't see the need to use such vocabulary. I may not care to see explicit scenes in a series but for heavens' sake behave like adults. There's no romantic relationship without the need to be physically with someone you love. Otherwise it's called friendship. There's nothing unhealthy, bad or I don't know what other stupid word he used to describe how he felt.

4 I also hated the way the main couple but also the second couple in some way behaved. We are talking about people who are 34, not 15, not 20, not 25. 34. And they can't talk about their relationship as adults? They can't express how much they want each other and how much they love each other as adults? They behave as if the were 15. Lamentable. This is the first series in which the couples were so old and behaved so juvenile.

5 I hated that the series made it sound like the parents could ever have any saying in the relationship of their 34 year old children. I get the families that are close and that are interfering in each other's lives but here ridiculousness reached a new height. And really for a year after they got together they didn't live together? What the heck? That's why I said it's difficult to review this series. So many things I liked but also so many I disliked. It started well but got lost somewhere on the road.

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Love Next Door — A Quietly Stirring Drama That Sneaks Up on You

### Plot Summary

**Love Next Door** follows Seok Ryu (Jung So Min), a woman who returns to Seoul after quitting her job, hinting at a complex personal history and emotional burnout. She’s emotionally raw, disorganized, and deeply affected by her past, which starkly contrasts with Seung Hyo (Jung Hae In), who appears distant and emotionally restrained, yet driven by his own quiet intensity. Their reunion brings old memories and new tensions to the surface as they navigate family dynamics, repressed feelings, and unresolved grief. The show leans more into slice-of-life and melodrama than a standard rom-com, weaving moments of sorrow and humor to explore the characters’ inner worlds.

### Character Arcs

Seok Ryu, the eldest daughter from a low-income family, is shaped by pressure to succeed, resulting in perfectionism and emotional suppression. Her burnout leads to a return home, where she seeks solace and begins confronting long-suppressed pain. The drama reveals that beneath her breakup and career shift lies a deeper truth: she has been silently battling cancer, keeping it from those closest to her out of guilt and fear of being a burden. On the other side, Seung Hyo, raised largely by Seok Ryu’s mother due to his absentee parents, struggles with abandonment issues masked by emotional aloofness. His feelings for Seok Ryu are evident but concealed under a façade of coldness, gradually unraveling as their relationship deepens. His seemingly cold demeanor stems from unresolved emotions and past neglect, adding layers to his complicated affection for Seok Ryu.

### Performances & Chemistry

This drama marked Jung Hae In’s refreshing entry into the rom-com genre. While his character may come across as cold or even arrogant, his subdued way of expressing affection feels raw and believable. He demonstrates care through consistent support and quiet acts of service. Jung So Min also delivers a compelling performance as Seok Ryu, capturing her vulnerability and strength. Their chemistry is undeniable, making their slow-burn romance authentic and emotionally resonant. Though the dynamic between them can feel immature at times, especially in their bickering, it’s also part of what makes their connection endearing.

### Secondary Characters & Exes

The portrayal of exes in this drama also stood out for avoiding tired clichés. Seo Ji Hye’s Tae Hui was compelling and relatable—her arc from youthful passion to seeking emotional security as she aged felt honest and grounded. In contrast, Seok Ryu’s ex, Hyeon Jun, was frustrating. His persistent behavior, emotional insensitivity, and inability to support her through her illness revealed a lack of depth in his love for her. He was emotionally unintelligent, and though he stayed during treatment, he failed to meet her emotional needs, ultimately justifying their breakup. Still, their parting was handled maturely, emphasizing growth over blame.

### Thematic Depth

While the cancer plotline provided emotional weight, some might feel it was unnecessary, and that conflict could have emerged through more grounded themes like societal expectations or toxic relationships. Seung Hyo’s confrontation with Seok Ryu for hiding her illness was intense but also valid—his pain and guilt felt real. Her silence, though understandable, left those around her feeling helpless. Her ex’s passive involvement made her isolation worse, showing how surface-level support can’t substitute for genuine emotional connection. The emotional arcs were at times overwhelming but also very human. The drama shined when it showed vulnerability, emotional messiness, and reconciliation.

### Pacing & Writing Flaws

Some aspects didn’t work as well. The early episodes moved slowly, especially the scenes in the architecture firm which felt like filler. Seung Hyo’s erratic mood swings were jarring, and Seok Ryu’s constant apologizing—even when unjustified—was frustrating, especially regarding her illness. Her people-pleasing tendencies were particularly noticeable in her interactions with Seung Hyo’s ex, and her jealousy over his female relationships revealed the deeper emotional connection she felt toward him. Mo Eum’s eagerness to bond with Yeon Du felt rushed, and her jumping into a parental role lacked realism. Additionally, the delay in clarifying Dan Oh’s relationship to Yeon Du was confusing. Dong Jin’s subplot needed more attention, though his emotional breakthrough in episode 13 was a standout. His relationship with Na Yun had potential that wasn’t fully explored.

### Highlights & Direction

On a brighter note, this drama left an emotional imprint. The direction, performances, and cinematography created genuinely touching moments. Episodes 11–15 were especially powerful, delivering everything from heartbreak to catharsis. The pool scene, the bike ride, and the flower field kiss were visually stunning. The evolving romance between the leads was gradual and tender, marked by deepening trust and affection. Small touches, like pet names and callbacks to childhood memories, added depth.

### Supporting Cast & Community

The supporting characters were also a major strength. Their arcs, particularly the parents, added warmth and complexity. The friendship between Mi Suk and Hye Suk and the brotherly bond between the dads were particularly heartwarming. The drama explored themes like friendship, loss, identity, and reconciliation with nuance. The portrayal of a tightly-knit community brought humor and realism, balancing privacy with belonging.

### Symbolism & Music

The symbolism throughout was thoughtful, from Seung Hyo finding Seok Ryu at the same beach she once found him, to the shared time capsules and mirrored moments that underscored their emotional growth. These full-circle moments highlighted the richness of their history and the evolution of their bond. The OST added emotional resonance, with standout tracks like “Wall” by Kwon Jin Ah, “What Are We” by Ha Sung Woon, and “The Truth” by Jung Hae In himself. These songs amplified the emotional highs and lows of each episode, elevating the viewing experience.

### Final Thoughts

In the end, **Love Next Door** was more than just a drama—it felt like an experience. The blend of heartfelt storytelling, complex characters, and emotional realism made it unforgettable. While it had flaws—slow pacing in parts, underdeveloped subplots, and some frustrating character decisions—it delivered emotional depth and relatable truths. The ending, while open-ended, felt honest and hopeful, suggesting new beginnings rather than final conclusions. I would absolutely rewatch it. It’s a drama I see becoming a comfort watch, one that lingers long after it ends. Though a traditional wedding scene was missing, the slice-of-life closure felt more sincere. I’d love to see a spin-off with Mo Eum and Dan Oh or even a follow-up on Lavender’s retirement travels. The idea that understanding matters more than love was a central takeaway. Loving someone without understanding them can only go so far—but to be loved and understood is what truly sustains a relationship. This theme was embodied in the contrast between the leads and their exes.

Despite its imperfections, I’d give **Love Next Door** a solid **8.0/10** for the emotional impact, rich character work, and meaningful storytelling. It’s a show that made me feel deeply, think reflectively, and appreciate the messiness of love and family. A heartfelt recommendation for anyone seeking a drama with sincerity, soul, and something a little different.

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If you endure the first 4/5 episodes that it gets better

I personally don't like very much those dramas where everybody keeps screaming and shouting instead of talking and this drama starts exactly like this. Moreover, the first interractions between the main leads are kinda forced just to portray their love/hate friendship.
I kept watching because I instantly fell in love with the second couple and the friendship of Lavander team. These got me through the first awkward episodes and then I started to really enjoy the show.
The topics treated are many and important ones (even if a few of them have become kind of clichés now, like the theme of overworking and mental exaustion), but too often the actors used exaggerated ways to bring them on the screen.

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Good but too, too long

I'll start with the headline - it was a good drama but the episodes were far too long. Most were an hour and 20 minutes, quite a bit longer than most K-dramas. It seemed endless. Most of this was due to all the story arcs - SFL/SML, the parents, the friendship between the older women, the brother, the exes...on and on. Rather than being supporting cast, everyone seemed to be leads because they all had their own stories.

FL/ML were great although ML was a dope to keep missing his opportunity to tell FL he liked her. I enjoyed their chemistry and their story. My second favorite match up - friends to lovers. My favorite is enemies/rivals to lovers - yeah, I like the bickering if it's witty and not just bitchy, if you know what I mean. I like couples that one up each other, not just bicker because one or both are disagreeable. Well, FL/ML isn't that way. Yeah, she's pretty bossy and aggressive while ML is sensitive, but it works with these two. However, I would have liked to see them get married and have kids. Here they are 34 years old and FL wants to wait a year to get her restaurant off the ground. That will make her 35. It's getting a little late to produce more than 1-2 kids. That's why we have a population crisis in developed countries. Then as a viewer we - like ML - have the cancer threat handing over our heads. Will they make it to old age together? Who knows.

I wasn't really interested in the 2nd couple. That's common for me. I don't care for 2nd or 3rd couples in C-dramas so I'm probably not going to be interested in them in K-dramas. I don't mind a 2nd or 3rd couple getting together but don't spend so much time on them that it takes away from the main couple's romance. SML is a reporter yet we never see him writing. He's also a perpetual do-gooder, and like ML, he's the sensitive one. There is a slight twist in regards to the kid. I won't spoil it for you.

Now the parents - I can truthfully say I detested FL's mom. She was overly sensitive to how people saw her and her family, she had an inferiority complex because she ran a snack shop and therefore unsuccessful in her mind, and she was always trying to tell FL what to do with her life. Fortunately, FL was as strong willed as her mother and wasn't having any of it. Even though ML's mom was rather cold, I preferred his family to FL's because it was calmer and quieter. At the end, I was beginning to think the dads were becoming alcoholics because they were constantly getting drunk together. I supposed when you're married to women like these two, you could be drive to it. Also, WHERE THE HECK DID THEY GET THE MONEY TO RETIRE? Supposedly, they weren't as well off as ML's family but they could retire from the snack shop business at the end. And what the heck were they going to do in retirement? Neither one had a hobby. And while we're on the subject, who was supporting FL after she came home? Did she have savings from when she worked? Wouldn't medical expenses have depleted that? Nobody was in dad's shop so how were the parents supporting FL & her brother? Sorry, these are questions that I asked myself about this family.

The exes - ML's ex was reasonable and quickly realized that getting back together with ML wasn't on the cards. Thank goodness! I hate the clingy ex-girlfriend trope who is a borderline psycho. FL's ex turned out to be the clingy one, but actually, I think the dude got a raw deal. He went through the cancer with FL, taking care of her, etc., yet because he needed a break while she was going through depression, he got disqualified and cast aside like a worn out shoe. I felt sorry for him. Who doesn't need a break after caring for a sick person - that's why they have respite care services. I just don't think he did anything worthy of being rejected. It would have been better for the writer to make him a cheater since FL was always intended for ML.

The cancer arc - if you're going to use cancer as a story arc for one of the leads, please use a cancer that's curable or has a higher survival rate than stomach cancer. Yeah, it was stage 2, but still, it's stomach cancer. For a FL, use breast cancer or thyroid cancer or even Hodgkin's Lymphoma. I really hate when the writer uses cancer for a young person. There was other serious illnesses out there that aren't death sentences yet still needs attention and management throughout life if they needed that 'curse' to bring about angst and resistance to marriage.

Finally, the music was utterly forgettable except for when we got a warm moment between ML/FL. It sounded like the beginning of a Disney princess animation movie. I expected woodland creatures to gather or Sleeping Beauty to float by while dancing with Prince Philip.

Overall, it was a good drama and worth watching (if you have the time), but beware of 1) FL's mother and 2) the episodes were too darn long.

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Not perfect, but I fell in love with these charachters

I really liked this drama. I went into it with high expectations and it didn't disappoint. Is it a perfect and flawless series? Absolutely not, it certainly has some. It's full of cliches and unnecessary drama, I wouldn't even call it a comedy as it's classified. Above all, it started very well, towards the middle it got lost, but luckily in the last few episodes it went back to being even more beautiful than at the beginning. I fell in love with the characters, even with their flaws, and it seemed like a realistic series, in its own way, because life isn't perfect.
The love story is super cute (I love friends to lovers) and the second couple is gorgeous. I LOVED THEM SO MUCH!😭❤️
So, Love next door isn’t perfect but it's worth watching, and laughing, crying, suffering and falling in love with these characters. I’ll miss them.

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this was such a coy watch i loved it. i havent watched a slice of life drama in so long this was just the thing i needed, only the episodes were a bit too long ngl
the story was so good i do not remember the last time i had watched a childhood frieds to lovers drama and this delivered the tropes so well. the way she only saw him as a friend up until he confessed and she started rethinking all her life choices. i also love how their exes were such support systems throughout the drama supporting them in whatever they did without tearing the whole city apart. there was no silly break-up moment or anything i just loved everything about it. this is nothing exceptional and could be watched at a slow pace just to cleanse one's palletes
i loved somin and haein sm. haein really needs to do more work like this i love his smile sm. they were such a visual couple and their smiles oh my god. they were the perfect match for this drama. i wouldnt say they were like "i could not picture them with anyone else after this" but they had such exceptional chemistry it just made it feel right.
i will miss them sm, all of them, the mothers, the siblings, the couples, yeondu, everyone. this was such a cozy drama aaaaaaaaaaaaa

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Mediocre drama

this drama is so overrated like seriously I started watching it because of all of the hype from TikTok to ended up watching boring show with a pathetic ML and FL seriously a 34 dude acting like teenager.. getting angry for nothing ( you don't love me than fine don't talk to me than I can't response to your call 😒 ) a FL is so immature and hella loud she's not better than him .... even if you're childhood friends we don't Bicker like this is not even funny it's childish... for someone who have in family with stomach cancer and has removed a part of it it's impossible that she can eat that much .....i skipped alot of it i was dying from bordioum one of the worst drama this Year! Mediocre drama...and the fandom is so pathetic anyone who doesn't like the drama are their enemy ...I said I don't like the ml acting they strated to attack me like their Life depand on it 😒. ..you have the right to love it as you like and I have the right to hate it as much as I want...

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Simple, interesting but quite boring

Love Next Door is a story of a woman who lives the perfect life abroad, being employed by one of the best companies in the world and engaged to an international lawyer. She suddenly returns to Korea. Her mom's friend's son, who is one of her childhood best friends, is a top architect in Korea.

To be honest I was waiting to watch this drama when I heard about the cast of this drama I got excited. Also the story of the drama was rom-com and I like watching rom-com dramas.

When its first episode released my expectations went way up and with the hype of this drama I was getting more excited with the release of the second episode and I didn't like the second episode, the upcoming episodes also got boring and I was thinking that slowly the drama will get better but it didn't.

I honestly expected more from this drama, I found it quite boring, I didn't see the chemistry between the protagonists, the secondary couple has more chemistry than them, I expected a lot more from this drama. While watching the drama I thought about quitting this drama but there were only 2 episodes pending so I thought let's see what happens in the last two episodes.

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Such a disappointment of a potentially good drama.

You know what’s crazy I know these actors can act. I’ve seen Jung Hae In provide a stellar performance before, and I’ve watched Jung So Min have so much chemistry with Seo In Guk in The Smile Has Left Your Eyes that they make guest appearances together in new shows years later. But this isn’t hate toward the actors, it’s hate toward the script or directors because the episodes are just too long and too slow. It feels like nothing is happening and everyone is running around in circles. We got so much of Seunghyo’s pov so we know how much he likes Seok Ryu. But we hardly get any perspective of Seungyho from Seok Ryu’s pov.

I’m pretty sure we are shown one glimpse of her when she was a kid saying that she liked him, but that is genuinely it. Like their confessions lacked sincerity and if you’ve watched enough dramas I feel like you can tell they’re just following a script if that makes sense. There’s no casual skinship that a normal real couple would have. And jumping to marriage when we’ve barely even seen them date just feels jarring. It looks like Seok Ryu is just reluctantly accepting his feelings and only confides the truth when something huge happens to Seunghyo or when it’s convenient for her. Like her confession to this boy that’s been in love with her for years, is simply “I realised I’m bored without you for like a day so we might as well date”. And just the main thing is NOTHING IS HAPPENING IN THIS SHOW. The plot doesn’t move forward and no one learns from their mistakes. The two dads have the most chemistry out of everyone.

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Its like eating a communion wafer

This is the most Bland drama that I've watched this entire year.

There are multiple plot twists that have no payoff and hold no bearing over the story.

You'll be told the most sad or depressing thing about a character only to find out in an episode or two they'll be fine and it never really mattered anyways.

Its strange.

Relationship takes FOERVER TO GET GOING. Too much back and forth and the side stories were not compelling.

I feel like the show would have felt fresh and mature maybe like 10 or 20 years ago.

But we know how childhood romance dramas go, we've seen a hundred and this was one of the blandest.

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Lovable characters —lackluster story

I finally finished love next-door and I had high hopes for this one and unfortunately it disappointed me. I’m sorry please don’t hate me but I think I’m only gonna rate it a 6.5-7 out of 10.

The storyline was dry. I felt like they could’ve done a lot more with the characters. The only saving grace was the second couple and the writers didn’t even flesh that out as much as they could’ve. The finale was completely drawn out for no reason because it was very anti-climatic.

Don’t get me wrong this story had some
Lovable characters (Dan Ho, Mo- Eum, yeon du, the lavenders, the dad 🥹) it’s just the story could’ve been better.

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