Love Next Door

Excessive. Lacking. Draggy. A big disappointment.

NOTICE; MY REVIEW IS A BIT LONG, BEAR WITH ME. ALSO, I'M NOT HERE TO ARGUE WITH ANYONE, JUST STATING MY OPINION.

I won't bother on wasting anyone's time by stating the obvious about the overview. Obviously, it something everyone know. I'll only say so little about it. Love Next Door tells the story of the reunion of two childhood friends.

Love Next Door is one of my most anticipated drama of the year. Also, I had high expectations for this mainly because of the casts. Jung Hae In, Jung So Min, and Kim Ji Eun were the ones who got my hopes up. I've seen Jung Hae In in many dramas, and those dramas were interesting and engaging. Same goes for Jung So Min, I was utterly impressed with her role in Alchemy of Souls. There's also Kim Ji Eun, I loved her role as the cold, yet kindhearted woman in Branding in Seongsu. Just as I was anticipating these actors next project, the news of Love Next Door came along. Thus, I got my hopes up. When this finally aired, I was impressed with the premise, but only to be disappointed as the drama unfolds. Honestly, "disappointed" is not the right word for this, I'm "exasperated" about how this one turned out.

Yes, there are things I liked about this drama, but my dislikes outweighs my likes for this. But I think it'd be unfair to only list my dislikes, without saying a single thing about the ones I liked. To be fair, I'll list my likes and dislikes, even though I'm "fuming" over how this drama turned out. I'm not sure I have that much likes about this, but I'll list them before I mention how "discontented and enraged" I am with how what could have been, but turned out to be something else.

LIKES

The premise of this drama drew me in, the first episode was really great. It's like a unique start. The introduction of the characters also seemed great. During the premise, I got to withness the chemistry of the first leads, "Choi Seung Hyo and Bae Seok Ryu." I said to myself then, "this is going to be fun." From the premise, I got to see two friends who seemed like enemies meet again. Although all that is common when watching a drama, I still loved it regardless.

The flashbacks of when Seung Hyo and Seok Ryu were kids. How they grew up together, down to when they became high school teenagers. It's really nice to know their history, how they protected each other when they're kids. How they're there for each other during the happy moments, and of course, the sad ones too. It's really nice to watch their embarrassing moments which they'd rather forget when they're kids. I laughed upon some of those moments when they're kids. I mean, the funny ones.

Also, Jung Hae In and Jung So Min, their chemistry was really great during the first few episodes. I loved their interaction which seemed like bickerings. It's really great to see. From the first episode, to about the seventh one, they had this unique and nice chemistry. There were some scenes I love because of this two. For one, that pool scene.

Jung Mo Eum and Kang Dan Ho also made me laugh at some points. There's this scene when there's only a drink of a particular brand that remained, and it just so happens that these two have the same tastes. It's funny to see them quibbling on who touched that drink first. There's also another scene which I liked. It's when Mo Eum and Dan Ho were in the car and she told Dan ho her crush was "Mudflat Man." In that instant, she realized the shirt he wore was the same one her secret crush had on that day, even though she didn't catch a glimpse of his face. Then and there, she knew Dan Ho was Mudflat Man all along. The awkwardness.... That scene made me laugh.

Another thing I liked about this drama is when the misunderstanding of Seung Hyo's parents were cleared up. They finally reconciled after so long. I almost forgot, there's this scene when Seung Hyo was going to propose to Seok Ryu, but nothing was going his way. When he wanted to propose at a restaurant and was carrying a cake. However, that cake was crushed when he tripped and fell. That scene was so funny.

Ah, without excluding when Seok Ryu finally found her dream. It's good to see her dream after having searched for it for some time. In my opinion, a dream doesn't have to be something grand, or something big, just as you find happiness when pursuing it. That's all that matters. I loved it when she finally pursued her dream, even though her parents were against it at first. I also loved some scenes of the "Lavender" Sisters, formerly the "Suk" sisters.

I think that's all about it. All that'll follow is my "dissatisfactions". They'll sound harsh, but I just have to say it.

DISLIKES

The duration for the episodes is excessive. They went overboard with it. The first episode was around 66 - 67 minutes. It'd have been nice if they continued with that, but they just had to increase the duration. I started to see 80 minutes, then 90 minutes. 16 episodes is too long for such a plot and storyline as is. The least Netflix could have done to prevent audience from getting tired/bored of the drama, is to keep the episode duration at a maximum of nothing more than 60/65 minutes, but what did they do? Each episode's duration kept on increasing, till I almost got fed up. If you eat too much, you get indigestion. If you drink too much, you'll get a hangover. In other words, moderation is best. But in this one? I didn't see that moderation, all I saw were padded episodes.

LND lacks greatly as a Rom-Com. It's too overly dramatic. I watch Rom-Coms for two reason. One, for the comedic relief and laughter. Two, for the light-heartedness, but what did I get? A big disappointment. LND didn't feel like a Rom-Com most of the time, it's like a melodrama. Too much emotions. If I wanted an emotional drama, or a melodramatic one, I wouldn't have chosen a Rom-Com, I'd go for a melodrama. What's a Rom-Com? It's simple. A Rom-Com makes you laugh your heart out, it makes you forget about life's problem for a short while. The question is, did LND achieve that? I don't think so. The fact that LND was promoted as only a Rom-Com, without telling fans that's it's infact a melodrama infuriates me. What I saw was 75% melodrama and 25% comedy, and that really got on my nerves. It's just too emotional for a Rom-Com. If you want to watch LND because it's a Rom-Com, then I'd advice you to save yourself from it. Well, the first four episodes were funny, but after that? It's mostly full of melodramatic embellishments. I'm trying to be polite here by calling it just that.

And what's with the whole ex comeback trope? I know it's common in dramas, too common that it's become a cliché. But really, was that whole scenario necessary? Seung Hyo's ex wasn't annoying, she even tried to get him and Seok Ryu together. But Seok Ryu's ex? He's really annoying. For some reasons, he gets on my nerves. Do you know what makes it even more annoying? It's the fact that it took Seok Ryu almost forever to reject his advances, she's even giving him attention. Oh, I can't stand that. The more she gave him attention, the more hubristic he became. When she eventually set things straight between them, I felt it's too late. But it's better late than never. Still, there's no need to keep dragging out what could have been wrapped up in an episode or two.

There's also the romance. It fell flat for me. Yes, it's a slowburn, although it's not promoted as one. I've watched many slowburn romance, and they're not like this. It took forever for the romance to bloom in this one. I waited, waited, and waited again, untill I got tired of waiting. Just as I thought the romance was about to blossom, the whole cancer trope set in. Really? Is this the best Netflix could offer? They kept going around in circles regarding the romance. Seung Hyo and Seok Ryu finally got together at episode 11. I don't know whether it's because it took them a thousand years for their relationship to blossomed romantically, I'm not sure. However, when they finally got together, it's too late that I could no longer feel anything. Let me put it this way. It felt like an adult whom as a kid wanted a particular toy, but couldn't get it, till he became adult. As an adult, she's now in possession of the toy, do you think the toy would still hold the same value/meaning it held years back when she's a kid? I don't think so. By then, the toy would have lost its meaning. Well, it depends on the person. As for me, that's how I feel about the romance in this one. "Timing" is very important. But the romance here lacks proper timing.


And what's wrong with Seok Ryu? What's with the contradictory character? After all she went through while she's overseas, I can't believe she's still thinking about going back there to pursue her cooking career. Some people never learn, do they? I don't know if I should call her a goal getter, overly positive, or plain stupid. She said it herself that she doesn't want to go back, that she won't be going back, but she's going back on her word? After all the cancer, depression, I thought she wouldn't even think about working there ever again, but it appears it's all my wishful thinking. She says one thing, and does another. How contradictory!

When Mo Eum confessed her feelings to Dan Ho, she's rejected. He said words like, "No, we can't. Never." So I wanted to know why he rejected her, why he used those words. Because of a promise? Because of what happened to his family some years back? Till the end, there wasn't really any sort of clarification as regards to why he said that. Nothing. They've got to be kidding me. After all that, how could there be no clarification on that?


Also, what's with Seok Ryu's mother, Mi Suk? She's too immature. She nitpicks over the littlest things. I can't stand her character sometimes. First, it's when Seok Ryu returned, it's as if she's embarrassed to let people know she's her daughter. Two, she tried to get her daughter and her ex back together. And then, the way she treats her husband. There's also her inferiority complex. Throughout the drama, I've never seen her apologize to her husband. Not even once. I thought I'd be seeing some character development, but there's none. And that's really irritating.

I didn't want to say this, but I will. What's with Seok Ryu's English speaking? I mean, she lived in the States for over a decade. At the very least, her English should be fluent to a certain point, but it isn't. They should have dubbed her voice out or something. This a Netflix drama for Heaven's sake, so why did they hand us such low quality? I don't get it.

And there's also Seung Hyo's company, Atelierin. That place seem pretty deserted for a company. It's a company with two CEOs, so why are there only 4-5 employees? And to make it worse, it's a company that's been running for years, plus, it has won many awards. So it kept me wondering how they were able to do all that with just four employees when they're in the architectural industry. It just doesn't make sense. At least, if you're going to hand us a load of crap, make it believable. All the flaws of this drama doesn't make it seem like a Netflix drama, not one bit. With all the hype, is this the best they could give?


About the cancer trope. I'm not against it one bit. Why? It's because I tend to believe life come in pairs. I believe we have four seasons for a reason. Also, we all have that winter moments. After all, the reason why she decided to quit her job needs to be a valid one. Plus, the cancer clarified the question I had about why she decided to quit her job back in the states, and suddenly decided to return to her homeland, South Korea. But why? Why couldn't they just end all those emotional moments with an episode? Was an episode duration of over 80 minutes not enough for all that? Why did they have to drag it out? It's really annoying. I only wanted a clarification. Yes, I did get what I wanted, but did they have to go on and on till it got really frustrating and annoying? It just doesn't make sense. Just a mere waste of time.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I'm sorry, but I just can't bring myself to like something just because many loved it. I'm not the type who hypes a drama just because others are hyping it, it just doesn't make sense. If I'm disappointed, I'll say it. If I'm impressed, I'll say it. This is me. I can't call a disappointment, a masterpiece, or intriguing. Not my style. I know this is harsh, but this one is a big disappointment. I just have to say it. I'm enraged with how LND turned out. If LND wasn't my most anticipated drama of the year, I might have decided to cut it some slack. However, it is, so I can't. "To whom much is given, much is expected from". That's what I believe in, you see. The premise is unique and all that, but is it only the premise that makes a drama? The answer is "No". A premise of a drama can only do so much. A drama has to be engaging as it unfolds to be called "a true work of art". Unfortunately, I don't get that feeling from LND. Furthermore, I don't overlook a drama's flaw just because the leads are my favourites. I call it what it is regardless of how much I love the leads.

Did this have potential? Yes, it did. At least, that's what I thought, at some point.
The ending is great, but since it's all predictable, why drag it out? Why make it so frustrating? Why? Just why was a drama that could have been interesting, engaging, one of the best, turned into the frustration it became?

Is this the best Rom-Com of the year? Certainly not. Engaging? No, it isn't? Would I recommend this one? I won't. Is this worthwhile? It's not. Aside from the premise, and some lovely scenes, the rest is trash. LND fell flat as a Rom-Com. It lacks as a Rom-Com. This is not me "fuming," it's the harsh truth that some are ignoring and turning a blind eye to. I'll be the bad guy and call this one what it really is. Three words, "underwhelming, frustrating, and boring."

You can watch it if you're curious though. Who knows? Your opinion might differ from mine, you might actually love it. But as for me? I didn't like it, or shall I say I have mixed feelings?

LND was really great at the premise. Honestly. But what came after was unexpectedly lackluster.

My overall rating is 6.5/10, considering the fact that I enjoyed some parts of it. I'm not rating this any lower because of four reasons. One, the chemistry of the leads during the first five episodes. Two, their lovely moments. Three, because the leads looks cute. Four, the acting of Jung Hae In, Jung So Min, and the other two leads (Kim Ji Eun and Yun Ji On). If not for these four reasons, it deserves lower, considering all the trauma I went through while watching this one. In my opinion, 6.5/10 is still a fair rating, considering how lacking, disappointing, frustrating, and underwhelming this was.

SIDE NOTE;

I stop dropping comments, even though I was dissatisfied with how each episode was unfolding to avoid being called hateful, and all sorts of names for saying how I truly feel. Most importantly, I didn't want to spoil the fun for those who were enjoying the show. I didn't want to be a bummer. I even gave this review a second thought, but decide to write it cause I couldn't contain how I feel about it. So here I am....

Let's say you love a particular brand of drink. One day, you visit a convenience store and discover that only one of the brand remains, but it's past its expiration date. Would you still take it because it's your favorite? I won't.
What I'm trying to say in essence is, you can't force yourself to like something that's not good. That's it.
Well then...
Thanks for reading♡♡♡♡ And for those who want to watch regardless, hope you enjoy it all the same ♡♡♡♡

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this is for slice of life lovers

#LoveNextDoor again and again is not your overly perfect typical Kdrama Series ok! It tackles reality ! The struggles we can possibly encounter in life and it teaches us how to overcome it, Nobody is perfect but I really appreciate how the writer works to somehow write a story +

jungsomin and jung haein did amazing work seriously one of the best on and off screen kdrama couple😍👌 that ep12 last scene i seriously repeating that specific scene 10 to 15 time 🤭. Their acting r top notch, i cried lough in every episode &didnt even skip a scene, coz each their lines is surprising so closed in real life, also this type of drama not as good if all th actor/actress were someone else, plus soekryu line abt surviving cancer just hit th core 👏 😢 i lost my mother cause of cancer can relate life hit hard sometimes we need to accept reality and keep moving forward 😊
thats why its my type of drama

love whole cast specially 2nd lead r so cute, parents frndship bonds r also cute ml parents kind of give of qot ml vibe😂 drama is good i will recommend everyone to watch it
ik many here would cry about storyline don't forgot its a romcom its good in its own way 😁

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Rollercoaster of emotions - from love to lulls

To start off, I wouldn’t say Love Next Door is the best drama I’ve ever seen. However, it’s certainly enjoyable, with some highs and lows along the way.

(MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD ❗)

Likes:

I was initially really excited during the first few episodes, especially with the classic friends-to-lovers trope. Jung So Min and Jung Hae In delivered solid performances that kept me hooked, even when their constant bickering started to feel a bit repetitive (as they're people in their 30s). Their chemistry with each other was very good (atleast for me).

A refreshing aspect of the show was its take on past relationships. Rather than portraying exes as toxic, it showed how some can still be supportive. For instance, Seokryu’s ex remained by her side during her chemotherapy, which added a heartwarming and mature layer to the story. Seunghyo's ex even supported the leads getting together and wished them good luck by gifting Seunghyo her handmade ongi (hopefully the spelling is right).

Despite not being the eldest daughter myself, I really connected with Seokryu's struggles of being the eldest daughter. Her line "It feels like everybody is moving forward and I’m the only one stuck" resonated deeply with me!! As someone who has faced similar feelings recently for so long, this scene really struck a chord :')

Moeum was definitely my favorite character! She embodied strength and warmth, especially in her relationship with Danho and his daughter, Yeon Du. Her scenes brought an extra layer of enjoyment, particularly when she found amusement in the lead couple's bickering and their hesitance to acknowledge their feelings for the past 2 decades. One of the funniest moments was when she opened the time capsule on the same day they buried it, rather than waiting the expected 10-15 years—talk about impatience lmao!!

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NOW, its time to point out my dislikes (it's my opinion so I would appreciate it if someone didn't come to literally fight with me if they read my review)

After Seokryu's fiancé was introduced, the plot felt like it was dragging. At one point, I almost considered dropping the series. I was hoping the romance would pick up between the leads after an ep or two about the ex BUT NOPE they just had to drag it out so much. Seokryu not flat out rejecting her ex's advances again and again had me pissed. Like pls tell him to get the hell out firmly if you don't wish to be with him any longer??

Her mom too became insufferable during this time period, she was already shown as the typical mom who places expectations on her daughter too much while seemingly going easy on her son, because of his illness that he didn't even have a problem with while growing up? But it started becoming more unbearable when she was sneakily trying to set Seokryu up with her ex again just because.

There were moments when the writing seemed a bit off. For example, when Seokryu thought she was being followed late at night, only to discover it was Seunghyo, the scene didn’t play out well. His response felt like victim-blaming, which didn't fit his character.

It would have been more heartfelt if the story had kept Yeon Du as Danho's biological daughter. However, the reveal that she is actually his niece felt cliché, Moeum’s unconditional embrace of her role as a mother figure would have been even more impactful without that twist AND Moeum herself didn't have any problem with it before finding out the truth.

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In conclusion, Love Next Door had its shining moments, but there were also parts where the story dragged. I ended up taking a break until it finished airing (after ep13) allowing me to binge watch the last few episodes. While I enjoyed the finale, I wished there had been more closure, like some wedding scenes or an epilogue scene with both the main and lead couples married ><. Overall, despite its flaws, the drama was nice and i liked it.

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Love Next Door: A Heartfelt Slow-Burn with Genuine Relationships

When I first started watching *Love Next Door*, I didn’t have high expectations. I thought it might just be another light-hearted friends-to-lovers story, but from the very beginning, it completely surprised me. What set this drama apart was how effortlessly it wove in deeper themes like family, friendship, and illness, giving the story much more emotional depth than I anticipated.

The dynamic between the characters was especially captivating. The transition from friends to lovers was handled so smoothly that it felt natural and refreshing. Despite their growing romance, the characters never lost the core of their friendship, which is rare in similar dramas. I was honestly surprised when some viewers mentioned they didn’t feel the chemistry between the leads because, to me, it was definitely there. Their bond felt authentic, and the way they supported each other through personal challenges made their love story even more compelling.

The family and friendship relationships were another highlight. They felt genuine, adding emotional layers to the drama that made it more than just a romance. The drama's slow-burn nature allowed these relationships to develop gradually, giving each character space to grow in a realistic way. This slower pacing didn’t drag at all but rather built the tension and deepened the emotional stakes, making the eventual romantic payoff even more satisfying.

As for the ending, I have no complaints. It wasn’t just a happy ending, but one that felt like the start of a new chapter for the characters. It gave me a sense of closure while leaving space for imagination about what comes next. Now that it’s over, I know my weekends are going to feel a little empty without it.

In conclusion, *Love Next Door* was an unexpected gem. It wasn’t just about romance—it was about life, family, and the importance of relationships. Despite its minor flaws, it left a lasting impression, and I’m grateful for the connections I’ve made with others who enjoyed it just as much. Oh, and yes, I even changed my profile picture to remember it!

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Love Next Door

A Slice of Life That is Charming, Filled with Loving Relationships

Love Next Door is heartwarming and delightful; it smoothly blends romance, humor, and drama into one swaddling story. Situated in a quaint idyllic neighborhood, this show reveals the lives of two neighbors who initially despise each other but grow to form an unlikely bond into a multi-layered relationship. What works with this show is its great balance between light-heartedness and deeper emotional beats; that is what makes the character's journey so real and relatable.

The chemistry between the lead actors is palpable right from the start, and their performances add depth to the narrative. Those awkward, hilarious interactions at the very beginning flesh out naturally into a relationship that is so worth rooting for. Not to forget the charm added by the supporting casts to the story, each of whom brought their quirky subplots that enriched the overall experience.

The writing is witty and sharp, full of great one-liners that keep the tone of the show light while dealing with deeper themes of love, trust, and self-discovery. The pacing of the show is also spot on, not lingering on one plot point for too long, yet devoting enough time to certain moments so they can breathe. As each character navigates misunderstandings, vulnerability, and personal growth, it's quickly obvious why Love Next Door strikes such a chord with me.

Visually speaking, the show is very vibrant. The neighborhood setting gives off a very inviting vibe, almost nostalgic. The camerawhots have been great, really capturing poignantly the moments of daily routine; one truly feels a part of this little community. The production design is warm and suits the tone of the show, though it isn't overboard.

But then there is also that strength of this series: its ability to surprise audiences with real emotional depth. What seemed like a pretty straightforward romantic comedy at the beginning slowly revealed layer after layer of character backstory and personal struggle. The story doesn't pull punches-love can be messy, riddled with mistakes and prone to hurt; it also contains moments of hopeful goodness that prove the catalyst for personal growth.

It is not a perfect series, of course; conflicts sometimes seem a bit predictable at times, and one or two secondary plotlines may have been nice to develop further. For the most part, however, these are minor complaints that barely detract from the appealing nature of the series.

But one thing I do not like has nothing to do with the show but with the environment on kisskh: it's when troll accounts show up just to hate on dramas like Love Next Door. More often than not, this is because of biased opinions; it would just push their favorite shows to the top. That kind of pettiness spoils the fun in engaging with the community and undermines genuine reviews.

Conclusion: Love Next Door literally has everything you would need from the genres of Slice of life and Melodrama . Its perfect blend of romance, humor, and slice-of-life moments really makes this a must-watch for anyone looking for a series that will warm your heart . It's that sort of program which feels comfortingly like a hug, offering just the right amount of escape while still punching above its weight emotionally.

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DEF MUST WATCH perfect balance of melodrama and romcom, The actors chemistry carried this drama

so, i just finished the last chapter and here are my thoughts.
chemistry of absolutely all the couples on the show: 10/10 (ofc, the main couple is superior).
Story and direction: 8/10, the story is certainly not innovative but it is well executed, important themes are touched upon and you can be quite familiar with the dynamics of a Korean family, the problems that there are in real life, good slice of life.
My biggest criticism will be that when the main couple is official, the fl feelings are somewhat ignored, we don't know much about what she thinks or feels, they focus more on the ml being a loser in love,Many times the FL is seen as someone cold who doesn't care that much about the ML (you'll notice in the small details) it would have been nice if they showed more from her POV not only through the diary they published on social media showing her thoughts, a casual viewer will never know about that, I think we can def only see way more of her in the last 2 chapters.
The direction was very well done, the shots are very good and aesthetic and focus on small details, there are many references to past situations between the protagonists, The way they played with the chapter names was very creative, they gave them a good meaning (wordplay in Korean, hard to keep in translation, Netflix really did a terrible job, they missed a lot of details because of this).
characters: I think the characters are REAL, there is not only black and white, there are grays, and that is something that I think many of you do not know how to accept, if it bothers you it is because clearly there is a good job involved, I think they all had a good development and a realistic ending
The actors were excellent, there was great casting work and clearly great chemistry between the entire cast (Somin and Haein mentioned it a lot)Haein's acting never disappoints, he is one of the few actors who can convey everything with just one look, Somin also excelled, although she is an expert in romcoms, I think she stood out in scenes of drama and angst, and they were both a very funny duo, I think someone who didn't know them from other projects would think that they had actually been friends for a long time in real life
I personally liked LND a lot, you can resonate with some of the the topics that are discussed, you can laugh because even though many try to say otherwise this is ROMCOM, of course it has some melodrama, but it is necessary for development and a "happy" ending
I still think that a better job could have been done from the writing and direction, but it is a kdrama that is totally worth it, It's a solid 9/10, healing drama, one of my favorite kdramas this year, along with Queen of Tears, Lovely Runner and The Atypical Family (do you notice anything in common? Yes, fools in love are the trend🤭)

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The Story Did Not Deliver

Originally, I had planned to watch another drama, but that one did not have any official streaming platforms where I could watch it, so I decided to join dusty on her journey. I had also promised Jojo I would watch it and well, two birds, one stone. I also remember all the hype surrounding this drama, so it couldn’t hurt to try it out, right?

I was wrong. Tell me wHY THIS DRAMA IS SO UNNECESSARILY LONG? WAE??? Some of the episodes were 1.5 hours and for no reason. Love Next Door had no business having sixteen episodes that were all over an hour. The story could have been nicely wrapped up in 10-12 episodes. Would I have given it a 10 at that point? No, I wouldn’t have, but it wouldn’t have left such a negative impression on me. The drama has no substance and is overrun by extended filler scenes, ridiculous and too long mini subplots, and extended flashbacks. I get it. They have been friends for over thirty years. It has been established, move it along! By episode 11, the drama had become a chore and this was extremely disappointing. Why didn’t I drop it? I couldn’t since I watched it as part of a challenge.

To add insult to injury the main male and female characters are extremely unlikeable. They are both whiny, sulky, immature pseudo adults who lack communication skills. Actually, most characters were unlikeable and served no purpose to the story other than to extend the runtime and test my patience. This did not change much as there was little to no character development throughout the show. The drama could have had a nice ending at around episode ten. But no, there were six more super long episodes which were filled with more nonsense. Another thing that did not work for me was that after such a perfect ex-boyfriend, they took him away from me and I was back to facing a bleak, romance-less viewing. Jung So Min had so much natural chemistry and great on-screen chemistry with Han Joon Woo. Their scenes were incredible; whether they were cute or heartbreaking. This was the point where I was most invested in the drama. So, it was really hard for me to believe that Jung Hae In and Jung So Min made a convincing couple since their chemistry, as lovers, was practically nonexistent. Anyway, I hope Hyeon Jun is living his best life after leaving South Korea. He deserves it.

I cannot comment on the OST because I honestly cannot remember a single song, not even the instrumentals. This has no rewatch value for me. I never want to talk or hear about this drama again. I’ll stop here.

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A fun journey in which we cherish the friends we made along the way!

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The Feeling
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A week has gone by since the finale of the drama has aired and I have a bittersweet memory of watching this drama throughout its entire run. I started watching it when it had already aired 6-7 episodes and was getting all the buzz from viewers and rightly so. A heartfelt Rom-Com with great cast is a sure shot success these days at least internationally.

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The Phases
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Now, coming back to the drama, it can be divided into 2 phases. The first phase comprises of all the episodes till end of Ep 11 where a major conflict is resolved and all build up tension fades away and the second phase is all about the remaining episodes from Ep 12 till Ep 16. Fortunately the best phase of the drama from narrative and drama point of view is the former one that lasted longer than the weaker latter phase of the drama which only had fluffy romance and felt like a epilogue of some sort.

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The Title
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The drama superficially might look like as the title of the drama suggests it is "Love Next Door". But I can assure you that its more deeper than that. Currently, in India I live with my college friends in a high-rise apartment having 10 floors in which I don't even know about who lives next door. This is in stark contrast to my family home where everyone knows everyone and are deeply involved in everyone's lives to the extent that all trials and tribulations are faced together in the society.

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The Setting
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Similar to what I described above, at the very start of the drama we are introduced to a bunch of women who live in the same neighbourhood and have been friends for last 40 years. Not only them, many of their children went to the same school and are really close friends for past 30 years as well. Mainly we focus on the trio of childhood friends :-
a) "Seung Hyo" played by the very handsome Jung Hae In who is an lead architect in a start up
b) "Seok Ryu" played by the gorgeous diva Jung So Min who is a project manager and I can't tell further without going into spoiler territory
c) "Mo Eum" played by my current crush Kim Ji Eun who is a paramedic and works along side firefighters. Apologies in advance as I will not be able to give objective views when it comes to her as I am currently completely floored and enamoured by her beauty, sassiness and personality in all of her recent dramas.
Latter a fourth character "Dan Ho" also comes into the picture who is played by Yun Ji On and works as a reporter for a major Korean media outlet.

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The Plot
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The plot is a good one actually and you will be at the edge of your seats in certain moments and episodes praying for K-Drama Gods to save the day. I don't want to give any spoilers regarding any specifics but I will say one thing : there are many serious emotional themes and issues that are dealt very maturely in the drama which could trigger some strong response from the viewers. So keep that in mind that its not only about the 2 couples and their fluffy romance and waiting for when they will end up together. Its also about some issues we are facing as a society which we all need to work together to solve and make it a better place. Show some empathy and support your closed ones in their darkest times.

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The Jobs
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All 4 leads have different kinds of professions and due to very solid writing, we are able to deep dive into what motivated them into taking up that profession and we are also given first hand knowledge of how a normal day goes for them. I already knew much about the profession of news reporter, paramedic (from other K-Dramas) and project management (I work in the field of Computer Science) but this drama gave such a great portrayal of how architects work and the thought that goes into their creativity and theme of their designs. Its such a cool profession and the writer did a good job at peeking interest of the viewers into something which may look very mundane from outside but which is actually very challenging and interesting from the inside.

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The Chemistry
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Main Leads : Its not as explosive and electrifying as you want it to be. Its subtle at the start and slowly and slowly blooms into a mature flower which then blossoms as if its spring season. There is one swoon worthy scene in which the level of intimacy is severely levelled up for a K-Drama and for obvious reasons none of the viewers complained about it. The drama showcases the beauty of a childhood friendship that always had love and care embedded into it. Where 2 individuals support each other in their darkest as well as the brightest times together unaware of the fact they have always felt for each other but didn't bother to give a tag or name to this relationship and feeling.

Supporting Leads : They are hella cute together and their back and forth with each other complements the show so well that sometimes we as viewers are more interested in their relationship than the main couple for the reason that they form a bond from scratch in front of us and didn't had any past between them. As I told before, I am currently simping for Kim Ji Eun and can't take my eyes off her when she is on the screen and Uff! her personality as a paramedic is so likeable and respectable that in real life I would have completely devoted myself at her service as soon as we became friends. Apologies for the corny lines. Yun Ji On is one lucky MF who gets the chance to romance her on screen. I can't write good stuff about my love rival anyway. Ha Ha :-)

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The Family
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To be honest the USP of the drama is the relationship dynamics between the main characters and their family. Everyone playing the parents are veteran actors and they did their work wonderfully. The arguments, the quarrels, the drama, the making up after a verbal fight feels closer to my heart as it reminded me of my own family especially my parents and my elder sister. The strong bonds within a family and sometimes the situation when everything is pretty loose and tied by a thin thread of trust which if broken could lead to irreversible damage leading to collapse has been captured beautifully by the writer Shin Ha Eun.

There are scenes in the drama in which parents and their child are fighting over career decision and it is very similar to what we face on day to day basis in middle class Indian households. Even in India, stability of a conventional job after college takes priority over unconventional jobs that passionate kids want to pursue which leads to struggle between parents and their rebelling kids.

Shoutout to both Park Ji Young and Jun So Min for their stellar and heartwarming acting while performing as mother & daughter in some scenes where we as viewers were so engrossed in the drama feeling for both sides.

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The Shortcomings
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The longer length of the episodes (almost all are 80 min) is a serious issue here as in most of the cases you feel that the episode drags on unnecessarily and it would have been prevented by either chopping off the runtime of the episode or by recompiling the drama into a 21-22 Ep series each having 1 hour episode. The pacing is an issue and since this is a slow burn romance for the majority, the longer length will make you impatient quite a few times.

As already mentioned the first phase of the drama is superior to the second phase as the latter phase has no major conflict to resolve so it just becomes a feel good slice of life drama in the last few episodes barring few scenes. So, if thats your cup of tea then you will not mind but seriously for me it was too much. They could have structured the story in a better manner for the latter half in my opinion.

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The Review
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Overall its a good one time watch, nothing special about it apart from the family dynamics shown in the first 11 episodes and for people who likes romance its a stellar drama having great character writing which guarantees all the feels and swoons you expect from K-Dramas these days.

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really boring

nothing to add to other not so good reviews, and sorry for the actors and their good acting, but frankly this is not a good drama, really really boring at its best.....there are serious communication problems in these drama scripts (is it done on purpose?) hopefully in the reality this shouldn't be like that. Had to skip episodes to expect something interesting to happen, but no....nothing going on except for the usual boring lines, easily expected. Terrible chemistry among actors, though they were good in their roles and can be forgiven...music was nothing special either

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strong leads, entertaining drama

With the 2 leads from 2 of my favorite shows of 2023, Alchemy of Souls and DP, how could I not watch this one? The premise of Love Next Door is very common these days: two childhood friends ultimately end up together. The strength of this show is in the story & the acting.

What sets this drama apart is that it pays more attention to the secondary story arcs. It gives almost equal weight to the families & friends, as aspirations & hopes intertwine between generations. Parents project their dreams onto their children because they feel they have no control over their own lives. Children are afraid to disappoint their parents. Are happiness & success the same? The cast made their characters captivating to watch.

The leads didn't disappoint as they delivered almost Queen of Tears level performances. However, unlike QoT the families are more down to earth & don't have members who end up in jail. And after all the drama, the story didn't hold any surprises. The final episode is all feel-good vibes & happy happy, which made for a rather boring ending. The show overall was very entertaining based on the performances.

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Best watch of 2024

Love Next Door is a masterpiece of storytelling that brings together emotion, depth, and impeccable performances. This drama captivates with its heartfelt narrative and genuine warmth, making it one of those rare shows that lingers long after the credits roll. From the very first episode, it's evident that this series isn’t just about romance but also about growth, connection, and finding hope in the simplest moments.

The chemistry between Jung So Min and Jung Hae In is nothing short of magical. Their interactions feel natural, nuanced, and deeply moving. Every glance, every smile, and every tear brings the audience closer to the characters, as if we're experiencing their journey right beside them. Jung So Min, with her radiant yet subtle portrayal, brings a sense of warmth and vulnerability that’s hard to forget. Jung Hae In complements her beautifully, delivering a performance that’s both gentle and intense, perfectly capturing his character's inner struggles and desires. Together, they create an on-screen magic that elevates the story beyond a typical romance.

The supporting cast, 2nd couple, and green flag Ex's also deserves praise, bringing depth and authenticity to their roles. But it’s the powerful storytelling that truly makes Love Next Door shine.

In short, Love Next Door is a must-watch, delivering everything you could ask for in a drama. With its incredible performances, especially from Jung So Min and Jung Hae In, stunning chemistry, and exquisite storytelling, it deserves a perfect 10 out of 10. This is a series that will make you laugh, cry, and believe in love and friendship all over again.

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