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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Disappointment of the year with awful kisses on top

[This was actually a pretty long rant, but I had to remove 2/3 of it because MDL limits reviews to 10 000 characters]

Started well, then turned into a crying fest, then went back to what it should have done from the beginning but in such an unearned, nonsensical and jarring way, that this supposed 'rom com' turned into a parody of its genre : Terribly formulaic, no satisfying closure to any of the conflicts raised and a final cop-out twist in episode 13 that definitely cemented this drama into the mediocre and forgettable category.

Final ratings 4.

My love for both leads saved me from giving less. The show was weak but the performances were strong but alas my frustration level got so HIGH and the over-the-top “fake sweetness” of the last episodes prevented me from giving this a passing grade. In fact given how annoyed I got… had it been other actors, I’d probably would have given less.

When a show is not consistent with itself, that’s were I draw the line.

But let’s start with the good... err 10 000 characters limit so let's forget it, there's plenty of other reviews for that.

Now..

On to the long rant (sigh...)

This show doesn’t know what it wants to do. Is it Melo, Slice of Life, Rom’ Com? Choose what you want to do and stick to it. You want realistic problems with realistic solutions ? Sure. Then follow through with all characters.
Every single problem these characters faced apart from Seok Ryu’s were magically resolved overnight.

Absentee parents ? No problem, let’s all hug, and over 30 years of neglect are swept under the rug. Estranged couple with NO COMMUNICATION whatsoever notably because of the assumption that one is cheating the other ? No problem ! The dude with whom she is supposed to have cheated is gay. So all of these years of not talking disappear overnight after some dramatic night in the forest !
Also the husband who has been shown to always be busy because of his work at the hospital, has now all the time in the world to get drunk literally everyday with Seok Ryu’s dad. Makes no sense, but since these two were the only ones that truly made me genuinely smile/laugh by the end of this drama, I’ll give them a pass.

Children are not stupid, if they see your careers are more important than they are in your eyes, they learn the hard way to become indifferent very early in life. Seung Hyo caring about your divorce?At 34? Seriously? As if! If he even cared about the both of you at that point that would be short of a miracle.

Ah… but it’s a rom com’, why so serious? Why? I don’t know, ask the show. They went into a full cancer nightmare, work harassment, blaming shit, crying fest and so on and so forth for more than 6 episodes, so I feel entitled to get the same amount of care for issues foreshadowed since episode 1. Is that too much to ask?

Wife gas-lighting her husband literally every day ? Let’s put some drama in so that she makes a grand declaration because even if she gaslights him, she’s got his back so everything is forgotten. She doesn’t need to change because « her heart is in the right place ». And I’m not even talking about her hitting literally everything that moves.

Little Brother is spoiled and want easy money. Got scammed one more time, made his parents loose some money AGAIN, but poor dude is crying because he’s just a victim of circumstances. Big sis is doing a small talk and we’re all back on good terms ?
NOPE. Doesn’t work show.

Journalist’s got a daughter so you can see how Mo Eum and him can’t be a couple because of South Korean’s society… BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUT NOPE. Plot twist, his daughter is actually his niece so there’s no longer any real obstacle because this show HAS NO BALLS !!!

But we do need to have the mother opposed to it for I don’t know why, because there’s 3 episodes left, and by God do we need to fill the minutes… with these overly long-ass episodes.

As for the romance…. My God, let’s just forget how it started. I don’t even know were to start, and this review is already too long…

The good : Seung Hyo and his ex. That was actually a pretty satisfying and realistic part of the drama. Not overly dramatic just pretty natural and nice. Gotta give praise where it’s due.

The VERY bad: Seok Ryu, her ex and her present


The ex comes to visit South Korea and win Seok Ryu back. At that point, Seung Hyo is not yet going out with Seok Ryu. Yet, he feels entitled to act jealous, is extremely rude to her ex who HE DOESN’T KNOW, acts like he’s got dibs on her when she hasn’t even agreed to be with him.

WHAT.A.TURN.OFF

But it’s Jung Hae In, he’s the male lead so we’re supposed to give him a pass. So Ok. I’ll give a pass to this MAJOR RED FLAG.

Any man acting in such an overbearing way when you’re not even going out together yet is to be fled from immediately. You can be sure it’s gonna be worse once you get together. In fact, you can smell the wife’s beater from miles away.

He’s not like this because he likes you. He’s like this because you’re his thing, and you need to stay in line.

But it’s a K drama so don’t worry, once he gets the girl, he’s gonna turn all nice. And you bet he is going to get her because at some point after having declared his love, he tells her  « I don’t do friendship with you no more » meaning if the dude can’t be her boyfriend… he’s decided he’s going to put an end to their 30+ years of friendship.

Another Minus for the Emotional Blackmail.
Also, INCONSISTENCIES anyone ?

Wasn’t the reason why you didn’t want to say your feelings in the first place was because you were afraid of losing your FRIENDSHIP ??? Why are you so willing to flush it down the toilet now ? Are you 13 ? I don’t mind the childish banter but at some point a 34 years old do need to show the maturity of a 34 years-old WHEN IT COUNTS.

Ultimately Seok Ryu gives up Mister Green Flag for Mister Red Flag because of… K Drama. She cries at the airport and I wonder why.
Either you still have some feelings and you cry because you’re realizing what a gigantic mistake you’re making or you don’t.

It wouldn’t have been nice for the fiance to say : " I realize you never loved me as much as I did. I supported you through your darkest time, put my career on hold for a year, you threw me away for one dispute, I crossed a whole continent to win you back, only to realize your heart never truly belonged to me. It’s a good thing we broke up. I deserve better".

But it’s a K drama so, we can’t make the FL look like she acted terrible towards a man who’s only crime was to love her so he apologizes for "not helping her the right way" and "realizing she needed other people by her side". And I’m not saying he didn’t make mistakes, but it takes two to tango, and he was the only one who tried to dance.

The truth is, you never loved him enough, you didn’t want to live in the US, you hated your job, you missed a certain someone that wasn’t your fiance. You had plenty of reasons to go back to South Korea, but show decided to put the blame on the break-up YOU initiated instead of on all the elephants in the room.

As far as feelings go, I was never sold on her being with any of them.
It’s difficult to sell a couple when one party was, until recently, engaged with another man who supported her through her cancer ordeal, who she had a five-year intimate relationship with, and who cried crocodile tears when said man left. Obviously you need all these EXTRA SWEETER THAN SWEET scenes to make you believe this relationship is more solid than the one the FL left behind ( THE CRINGE is through the roof)

It was too melo before so by episode 11 it’s in sweet overdrive – to the point of turning the show utterly ridiculous, boring and cringe. As soon as our lead are together they sleep together. As soon as they sleep together, we’re speeding to the marriage proposal??? Girl got engaged after ¾ years of dating with Saint Ex, but not even half a year has passed since she broke off her marriage that she already has another dude’s bracelet around her wrist. .

It would have been good if all that sugar had been peppered throughout the whole show instead of drenching viewers in it for the last episodes... Also since they need to make us feel some empathy for the other characters we get all the conflicts I talked about above, resolved in speedy, unsatisfactory and ridiculous fashion. Even when there was supposed to be legitimate issues, the show treated it as a 'non problem' and I would have given an example if there was no 10 000 characters limit.
This writer needs some fake dramatic plot device such as: husband being scammed by V-tubers, Little bro being scammed by fake protein company, Mother who thinks she’s got Alzheimer and gets lost in forest, Seok Ryu breaking his arm and so on and so forth... in order to get some great empty declaration of love or other BS, so that the conflict is resolved.

The drama concludes with a very neat (and predictable) but dissatisfying little bow. I slugged my way to the end, only managing to finish because I cut each episodes in 4 to 5 parts alternating with more engaging shows or surfing online.


Last but not least… WHY do I have to commit to 3 HOURS EACH WEEK for a ROM COM’ ?!
A FUDGING ROM COM DOESN’T NEED 3 HOURS A WEEK!!!
ARE YOUR DRAMAS ANY BETTER ‘CUZ THEY’RE LONGER?

NOPE. THEY.ARE. NOT!!! WHY TVN WHY?

So please, for the love of all Drama gods Past , Present and Future, STOP THIS INSANITY!

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The second lead story steals the show again (part- 464661664464)

*The actors and acting*. The FL Jung So Min, I've personally never liked her much and have dropped every drama of hers that I've come across (Because This Is My First Life , alchemy of souls playful kiss) maybe it's because of the characters she's played, maybe I didn't like the story or whatever. However, the ML Jung Hae In I love him and so many of his dramas I think he peaked in Something in the Rain and then in DP but his performance in Love Next Door is disappointing it's not bad but disappointing compared to his other romantic genre dramas He always has flawless chemistry with his female counterpart but it lacked A LOT here. He was cringe and seemed more friends than lovers with her. overall the chemistry was nothing special

*The actual drama*, to put it in one word was cliché and lowkey cringe. The genre is Romcom, there's rom in the story but no com or to put it better there was comedy in the form of dad jokes. the story is nothing new she got tired of her life overseas and decided to go back to her hometown where she discovered and pursued her true passion and also fell in love with her childhood best friend. (This is to all K-drama makers out there please stop using the childhood trope in dramas it has been OVERUSED).Other than that, the romance tropes such as the physical romance parts were especially cringe. Even though the story is simple they could've made it better but it was the same old same old, a homely neighborhood where everyone knows everyone and a school trope. OSTs weren't special either, very forgettable

*The good parts*. The second lead story. it was the best part it made the story interesting and bearable. those two were soooo cute and the chemistry was 100000. I want us all to take a minute and just realize how cute that kid was.
The friendship between the ladies it was very cute and interesting to watch i felt like more things could've been done with that but overall it was a nice spin in the story.

In conclusion, 'Love Next Door' falls short of its potential. While the drama offers moments of charm, its reliance on clichés, underdeveloped characters, and lack of originality ultimately hinder its ability to stand out. The performances by Jung So Min and Jung Hae In, while competent, fail to elevate the material. The storyline is predictable and lacking in emotional depth. While the second lead story provides a welcome distraction, it's not enough to salvage the overall viewing experience. For those seeking a fresh and engaging K-drama, 'Love Next Door' may disappoint. I would probably not recommend this to a friend as there are many other great dramas with similar storylines.

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Watch the show - But just for the second leads next door!!!

Love Next Door started off strong with its realistic portrayal of burnout, sickness, family struggles, particularly the pressure faced by the eldest child—especially when she’s a girl. It really hit home for me, as I could relate to the cultural expectations and emotional weight that comes with those roles. FL is someone who constantly strives to be perfect for her parents, never allowing herself to make mistakes or ask for help even when she's sick, pushing herself to a breaking point, that really felt seeing my own reflection in this aspect of her. But it lost it's charm along the way for me.

What I loved : *SECOND LEADS*. A strong female second lead and such a supporting soul male second lead. Their storyline had depth and the slow-burn friendship to romance? Goals. I was more invested in their story than the main leads, not even gonna lie. Throw in the adorable kid, and you get a heartwarming mix that makes you smile every time they’re on screen. Chef's kiss.

What really sucked : The show did lose some of its charm in the later episodes. The constant arguments felt forced, and I found myself fast-forwarding through parts just to get to the good stuff. The emotional investment in the show started to wane. Also, I just couldn’t vibe with FL’s mom—her character felt a bit too frustrating and hard to connect with.

Overall, Love Next Door had a solid start, and the second leads were the highlight of the show for me. But unfortunately, the later episodes took a toll on my enjoyment. It’s definitely worth the watch if you’re in it for the childhood bffs to lovers troupe, slow-burn relationship, discovering your dream and family dynamics, but don’t expect the charm to hold up throughout. It has it's highs and lows.

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I relate to this drama a lot

To be honest, as a romcom, this series is not a very good one. I enjoyed the second couple more than the main couple.

But this is a quite good slice of life drama. The reason I give it a 8-star rating is because I relate so much to the female lead, Seok Ryu. My life journey and hers have a few things in common. I was kind of a model Asian student and daughter, trying too hard not to upset her parents who favor their son. They’re never satisfied with whatever I do or how much effort I have put. And my mom is very similar to Seok Ryu's mom. It hurt me a lot when hearing what those painful words Seok Ryu mom told her. I also have gut health issues and I had depression for years. Felt like a part of my life was brought to life in this Kdrama. :)

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If you liked Reply 1988, you will love this.

I CRIED TWICE DURING EACH EPISODE I SWEAR!!!!! this drama was so relatable as an eldest daughter with brothers and i saw myself in seokryu's character constantly. the family dynamics in this hit home and made me wish i had a better relationship with my family :') love next door shows that no matter what you say to each other or how far apart you've grown, you can always find a home within your family.
jung somin's acting in this is phenomenal; exactly how i act around my family. she captured being the asian eldest daughter so well. but i wish her kissing was better. i keep seeing her kissing scenes and i'm not impressed.
all the characters and their relationships are shown beautifully; misuk and geunsik, hyesuk and gyeongjong, moeum and her mom jaesuk... all the characters are just written so realistically. this was definitely a feel good, slice of life yet relatable family drama :")
overall, what kept me watching was not the romance but the family relationships between each character and their parents.

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Reconnecting and Growing from Childhood Friends to Lovers

Love Next Door, the new hottest romcom, isn't exactly a "romcom". It leans more over to the melodrama side, which can be misleading. This features the classic childhood lovers to friends trope. We dive into the main leads' complicated pasts and how they rediscover each other.

The ML, Choi Seung-hyo, is not your classic pure male who's never touched another female in his life. He has past relationships, though it seems like they weren't very deep. However, it's cliche that he fell first, and liked her for majority of his life. His whole family is kind of on the outs, at first. They barely talk to each other so ML ends up spending more time with FL's family.

I believe many people weren't quite happy with the FL, Bae Seok-ryu, at the start of the drama. Don't be discouraged in the first few episodes at the fact she seems so easygoing, and uncaring. It seems to be her coping method. I was starting to not like her, but then a lot was revealed.

She struggled. She struggled so much, always trying to be perfect and never allowing herself to make mistakes for her parents. But it's too hard to always be "perfect". So when she was sick, she couldn't bare her parents hurting because of her. She's one of those people who take on everything themselves, and never ask for help because they don't want to burden, disappoint or hurt anyone else but themselves. That was so relatable to watch because I'm the same. I always struggle with telling people who are close to me about things like this because I don't want to see them hurt and I don't want it to impact their lives so I'll just deal with it myself. Her character was relatable for me, and it was healing when she finally got the support she needed from her friends and family.

She was burnt out and at a loss while other people might just see this as pure "laziness" which was what was depicted in the first few episodes.

It was a really realistic touch to see this portrayed so well. o +1 point. It's very reassuring to see the FL eventually discover her dream and excel at it while being happy. She became my favourite character from this drama.

There's a lot of family dynamics going on in this drama too. Obviously, ML's family heals and everyone's happy lol. The main dynamic, is Seok-ryu vs her mother.


The acting skills are undeniable. Jung Hae-in and Jung So-min, top actor and top actress. Hae-in and So-min can speak through their eyes, and they have diverse ranges in emotions.

The crying, hurt and guilt felt so real? They can really channel emotions into their acting. I think they were the only ones who could've played Seokryu and Seunghyo so well. Honestly, they are perfect for these roles. The characters' interactions all feel genuine.

Kim Ji-eun and Yun Ji-on were perfect for the second lead couple too! Honestly in this drama, everyone was played out their characters quite well. This is an amazing cast with star names! Yeon-du is really cute :).


Seunghyo and Seokryu are the absolute, perfect match for each other. They bicker, fight, but they're the only ones who can heal each other ultimately. They just get each other. They know each other so well, no one can beat that type of relationship. There's metaphors hidden in the show. They're very subtle but they show that no matter what, they're there for each other.

The two leads have great chemistry, imo. I've watched all the cast content and behind-the-scenes on youtube, and honestly they look like great friends IRL and I'm glad this drama brought them together.

I liked all OSTS played in this drama, but honestly "Words I Could Not Say" sang by Jung Hae-in, HIMSELF, tops the cake! His voice sounds so angelic and expresses so many emotions.

DISLIKES:

- The mother was undoubtedly my least favourite character. She really had no emotional growth the whole drama. She has an inferiority complex and believes everyone's making decisions to spite her. There were many chances for potential character development but we never got any. It was like placing a seed, and it sprouts just for it to die before it can grow any bigger. It was just painful whenever she was arguing with literally anyone. It might have been an attempt for a realistic portrayal of an "asian mother", but it was just frustrating when this is meant to be a healing drama and she had literally no character development.

- The SML, is introduced to us as a single father. However, later we learn he's actually the uncle of the child. That was annoying because I was really hoping we could see a single father heal, and open himself up to a new relationship. Though he did lose his whole family and obviously did have to heal from it, it's just not the same yk :(.

- The FL and ML, mostly the ML, did act like teenagers in quite a few of the scenes. They're in their 30s but act like teenagers sometimes. There's a scene where the ML mentions he has "dirty thoughts" that he's not allowed to think of, but he's literally 30? I found it a bit weird, but it's nothing major.

- The writing often relies on injuries/diseases/accidents for emotion breakthroughs and communication to occur.

- The ending was a bit underwhelming, often an issue in kdrama land, I was really expecting them to get married especially cause they built the story up to marriage!


OVERALL:
I really did enjoy this, apart from the cons lol, it's a good watch. It tells a beautiful story, with a lot of healing and growth. I wouldn't list this as a romcom, but more of a melodrama, romance, slice of life with a side of comedy. Overall, it's more like an 8/10, but I gave it an 8.5 because the cast is amazing! I hope you all give this drama a try :). And, let's all remind ourselves that we are all entitled to have different opinions that can coexist.

If you do decide to watch this, I hope you enjoy it!

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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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A Beautifully Written Story That Warms The Heart & Brings Comfort To Those Exhausted In Life

'Love Next Door' or also known by its native title as 'My Mom's Friend's Son' is not your typical romantic comedy k-drama that is a no-brainer and whose plot is only filled with the usual fluff, cliches, and scenes that will make you cringe to the core, while having the typical one-dimensional perfect romcom main lead characters. This drama offers a whole lot more which had completely exceeded my expectations.

The storyline of Love Next Door is simple yet very thought-provoking as it captured the essence of real life in its full color, not just merely black and white, but the greyness of it. It is not poorly written but rather well-written, and should be perceived well as it has a lot of depth to it. The story does not solely focus on the romance aspect alone but tackles real life struggles which most viewers — especially, those who come from an asian family or culture, can relate to. Apart from that, the storyline highlighted the importance of relationships in any forms and how certain life decisions or perceptions greatly affects it. The pace of the storyline might seem slow but it is at perfect temperature which burns the slow-burn romance trope in this drama satisfyingly. This drama will give you the slice of life feels, with some melo and bearable angst that blends together with the romance and comedy in just the right amount. Love Next Door might not fit certain peoples' cup of tea which is normal as everyone has a different taste. Fortunately for me, it filled my cup to the extent it overflowed.

Some of the tropes in the storyline might seem overused, however, this has long been a norm in all dramas and doesn't necessarily equate to them being carbon-copies of each other. The execution of such tropes is what sets them all apart. This is where I would love to praise the writer of Love Next Door because of the way she had used and executed such tropes in a new and refreshing way, it is definitely not lazy writing on her part. The cancer trope which almost everyone had dreaded the most actually turned out to be a cancer survivor trope that adds depth to the storyline, and clearly it stands out differently from all the other k-dramas that had used the same trope in this aspect. For the first time such illness is not being linked to instant death but rather the after effect of it, the impact it had on the lives of both the person who had experienced cancer themself and the loved ones who stood by their side along the battle. Another notable thing which I would praise the writer for, is how the issues or problems aren't dragged all throughout, instead are resolved either by the same episode or the next. They were also not merely just brought up out of the blue, most scenes had already foreshadowed them, the characters dialogues or simply who they are as a character gave the hints away too. The writer laid out certain life challenges as a pivotal element for the storyline and characters development. The neatness in how each loose ends (hardships & struggles) are woven together (resolved) as the storyline progresses leaves a meaningful impact and conveys life lessons, therefore, bringing comfort and healing too.

The characters here are realistic and definitely not one-dimensional, they are all flawed in their own ways. The realism of the characters in the storyline depicted the rawness of human emotions and the different ways certain people in real life deal with life itself. The characters reactions are animated, exaggerated, immature, ignorant and expressive making them very complex with lots of layers. Yes, the characters who are in their 30s had acted immature and this is something which can be considered realistic too. Maturity is not set on age, there is no such thing as the older you get the more mature you become, in reality it has to do more with ones life experiences and lessons, the same applies to these characters. The storyline gave these realistic characters a lot of space to make mistakes, be confused, be miserable, to learn valuable life lessons and grow, while also allowing them to hold on to what they want in life despite not being at their best selves. This is exactly what I found beautiful about Love Next Door, because I was able to find the entire range of human emotions in this drama alone. I was able to relate, understand, sympathize and empathize with the characters. It had also opened my mind to certain things that I might have not known before. Just exactly like what Jung Haein had said, we have to see the characters in Love Next Door as real people not simply as characters. We also have to open our mind and allow ourselves to step into the shoes of each characters in order to get a full grasps of who they are and why they made such decisions in life, because each of the characters here come from a reasonable stance.

Bae Seokryu is the character whom I relate to the most in this drama. She is a character written to be the 'eldest-daughter of an asian family household'. She had always been ambitious ever since she was young and she takes pride in her achievements. She values her mother's opinions and had always tried her best to be a filial daughter to her family. She is strong-willed and had shown her mature side since she was young. The flashbacks when they were children had shown sides of her maturity with how she takes care of Choi Seunghyo. She is an extremely selfless person who cares too much about her loved ones to the point she often neglects herself as an expense of trying to carry everything around her shoulder for the sole purpose of not becoming a burden or worry anyone whom she holds dear to her heart. Her questionable and easily misunderstood life decisions at certain times are due to her selfless-ness. Her cancer, workplace bullying and depression which she had suffered from made her hit rock bottom. It was an awakening for her that finally made her realize that she wasn't truly living for herself. To Bae Seokryu who fell into a slump, Choi Seunghyo became her compass that helped her navigate to the new life she had decided to live for herself. For Bae Seokryu, Choi Seunghyo is the rainbow in her life. Choi Seunghyo on the other hand is a character written to be the complete opposite of Seokryu. He has his own selfish side and may have had flaws due to his abandonment issues. He lacked familial love but still was able to grow up successfully into a kind and loving person. He isn't a completely immature character, he has his mature side too which he often brings out when him and Seokryu have their serious moments, away from the banters. His character never once annoyed me. Instead, I felt for him. While he might not have been the typical romcom male lead, he is a green forest in his own way I must say. To Choi Seunghyo who lacks familial love as a child, it was Bae Seokryu who helped him get through life as she was always there for him in his sickness and important life events. For Choi Seunghyo, Bae Seokryu is the gold medal in his life.

Their love story had never felt one sided to me as I was able to understand where both of them was coming from and how they both have a completely different way of loving. Seunghyo is more expressive with his love and Seokryu is the silent lover type. Seunghyo is willing to go through rock bottom with Seokryu no matter how uncertain their future is, while Seokryu is willing to carry all the pain to lessen the damage for Seunghyo, both are very selfless acts of love. The resilience of Seunghyo's love for Seokryu that withstood all the storms truly speaks volumes of how he is the right person for her. Seokryu's braveness to open the doors to her heart to allow love in her life again despite her past traumas and fears tells how Seunghyo really means to her. No love outweighs the other. Sometimes when life knocks you down, it isn't about who pulls you back up, it's more about who stays with you in the dark, who lets you cry and rant and rage. Accepting you in all your life's phases, even the ugly and worst one but still wholeheartedly loving you in every way. Sometimes love isn't only about building things up but about gathering the broken glass and making sure none of the pieces get lost. Their love story and many of their moments will surely remain unforgettable for me.

The transition of their romance from being childhood friends to lovers was done smoothly in a well-detailed manner. I love how it wasn't rushed and they showed the awkward phase in their relationship. They gave justice to the childhood friends to lovers trope by giving it a proper execution. Although they had a rough start due to certain past misunderstandings and the unresolved traumas each of them still carried. What I love even more about the development of their relationship is the fact that they were only brought together when they are already in the phase of healing rather than hurting. Their relationship wasn't always smooth sailing, through the moments of their arguments we got to see them slowly growing and showing maturity with how they handle their problems together as a couple. I especially love the way Seokryu and Seunghyo had both professed their love to each other. It was done in a unique way that is tailored for the two of them only, the details to their confessions makes it even more romantic. Their confessions sounded so poetic and the fact that their token of love for each other weren't merely wedding rings but things that connects to their childhood and holds sentimental value to them. I cannot pick a favorite dialogue or scene from their confessions, as I love everything including the banana milk expiration scene.

This is Jung Haein's first romcom k-drama and I have so much praise for the spectacular performance he had delivered. His micro expressions and how his eyes act alone is enough to move me. It is so refreshing to see this new side of him and this will definitely go down as one of my favorite roles of his. I would absolutely love it if he ventures more into this type of genre. Jung Somin gave a wonderful performance too. I love her. They both did great at bringing life to their characters as Bae Seokryu and Choi Seunghyo respectively. Without a doubt the two of them had delivered the childhood friends to lovers trope convincingly. Their chemistry is truly insane and the best of the best, either on or off screen. As for the heavy and emotional scenes, their performance and ability to portray a wide range of emotions didn't fall short and surely left an impact as they stirred up my emotions too and made me cry with them. Every other actors in this drama are deserving of praise too. I am so thankful that Jung Haein and Jung Somin were casted in this drama.

While watching Love Next Door, you have to completely allow yourself to be immersed in its storyline. To sit back and enjoy the flow of where the story is taking you, not where you want the story to be taken. Which I am glad I did because I was fully able to appreciate and enjoy watching this drama. The storyline might have some minor flaws but the amount of good qualities it had made me overlook such flaws. I love almost every single thing about this drama. From the story about their families, friendship and neighborhood to the wholesome friendships portrayed here between Seokryu, Seunghyo, Moeum, Danho, Yeondu...their dads and the lavender group. There were so many memorable and note-worthy dialogues and scenes that easily became my favorite. It is sad that the nuances in most dialogues had been lost with translation errors because it definitely has a deeper meaning in Korean. The title and its changes after each episode is something which I liked too but again, lost its deep meaning due to translations. The ending might have been left open-ended which I usually don't prefer, but for the first time I found myself satisfied as it was meaningful and very SeungRyu coded. A heartwarming happy ending indeed. This drama left a deep emotional impact and valuable message about ordinary human life through each of the characters experiences.

Overall, Love Next Door is the best romcom k-drama that had been released this year for me. The amount of happiness, comfort, tears, healing and warmth it brought to me with its beautiful storyline makes it all worth it. I agree when Jung Somin said that there is something heartwarming about the way the writer sees people. I don't think I will ever get this attached to a drama ever again. It will be so hard for me to move on from this. I wish Jung Haein and Jung Somin could reunite in another drama again and maintain the friendship they have. I have so much love for Love Next Door.

˖ . ݁❅𝜗𝜚❅. ݁₊

"Just find what's valuable to you in your life. That's more than enough" — Bae Seokryu

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forever in love with the childhood friends to lovers trope...

I was completely hooked. As someone who started watching the drama because of the OST (huge zerose here!), I was pleasantly surprised with how many wonderful emotions Love Next Door made me feel. In full honesty, the plot isn't perfect - there is the use of common plot tropes that I won't get into here for the sake of spoilers, but once you watch you'll know what I'm talking about - yet despite this, I enjoyed the drama so so so much. It's tagged as a romance and a comedy, but I think the comedy aspect isn't as prevalent, so that might turn some people away, just a heads up. However, I personally really liked that it didn't focus as much on the comedy but instead on the slice of life part (IDK if this is the right term, sorry I was originally an anime watcher). There are lessons to be learned within the simple interactions between all the characters - moments that caused me to reflect on my view of my own life, especially the relationships I have with my friends and family. Life isn't perfect, yet despite this, it's important to keep going, and to constantly chase your dreams. This drama emphasizes that fact in a wholesome and realistic manner, and I will truly miss it. Now onto a few specific likes and dislikes.

LIKES -

THE CHEMISTRY AND THE ACTING!! All of the characters on the show, not just the main leads, have so much chemistry with each other, and I loved the acting of everyone! They truly bring the show to life, and everyone nailed their part with their expressions, subtle dialogues, and so much more. I'll definitely keep a look out in the future for them! P.S the child actors in this show are soooo adorable.

THE MUSIC! Like I mentioned above, I started watching this show because ZEROBASEONE sang the OST for it, and I'm a huge fan of their music, so obviously I have to give the music rating a 10/10! However, in addition to ZB1's OST, the rest of the music is quite good as well, and the music is used in nice moments for the show.

THE PLOT! Yes I acknowledged earlier that the plot isn't perfect, yet the main trope of it (childhood friends to lovers), I'm such a sucker for, and it met expectations! The use of the flashback scenes were so well done and I felt that there were no major plot holes when the drama finished, so that's a win for me.

DISLIKES -

I genuinely didn't dislike anything with the drama which I know will be slightly controversial but I did rate it a ten so it's to be expected that I think highly of it. I suppose here I'll just acknowledge that I never rewatch dramas hence the rewatch score but if you are someone who does, it might not be one to watch again since it leans more towards the longer side of episode length (and normally I hate things that drag out so it's a miracle this one managed to hook me that well).

TLDR - GIVE IT A CHANCE! Maybe you'll fall in love with it like I did, or maybe the trope/style of drama isn't for you, and that's okay too! But whatever you do...listen to the OST!! :)

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