Watched this just because of Zhang Ling He and his character is already falling fast for the FL in the first episode alone??? 10/10 for me already, no notes!!
I'm confused with all the complaints about it being "predictable" lol. Y'all know there's nothing wrong with being "predictable" and "not new" as long as it's done WELL, right?
Like, if you've been a longtime kdrama fan, you'd know most of these stories use the same cliches and premises anyway; the only difference is in how well the tropes are executed. That largely depends on the writing / screenplay, the direction, the acting, and the cast's chemistry. I'm writing this with only 6 episodes out so I can't give a final verdict, but so far, Love Next Door has been hitting most of those things.
I also think a lot of people haven't realized yet that more than the romance, the central plot of this drama revolves around the Female Lead finding her footing after her world is shattered and looking to live her life for herself after living most of it for others. It's a character-driven show, as opposed to being a plot-driven one. And it's part of the reason why the development of the story seems "slow" (just like how rebuilding your life and finding your purpose again takes an awful lot of patience and time😊)
I'm gonna be totally honest- this hooked me on the first two eps but now I'm on episode 10 and the screenplay gets worse and worse by the minute. Like I get them wanting the story to have multiple twist and turns, but the writer/s really threw logic out the window just to create more drama and impossible scenarios (thus creating more plot holes in the process). The editing makes everything so much worse, too. I'm gonna come back here after I finish this if my opinion stays the same, but uhh...people really need to realize PLOT TWISTS ALONE DO NOT MAKE A GOOD SCRIPT. 🤧
Look, I don't find a lot of young chinese actors particularly good in their craft, many of them I admittedly only watch because they're handsome/ pretty. But this guy...oh, man. Ever since the first drama of him I've watched, I've been consistently shocked by how his acting chops are so light-years ahead that of his peers. He gives brilliant and memorable performances every single time, no matter how lackluster and dull the script or the direction is. And believe me when I say that not many actors can do that, especially in c-dramas where lazy writing or bad editing and directing choices usually bogs down the acting.
So, I really just have to reiterate this even if I know many have already said it before--but Zhang Xin Cheng is literally one of the BEST actors of his generation. He is not someone you watch just for his face alone, but for his incredible skills and how he completely embodies whatever type of character he is playing. I need c-ent to give him projects worthy of his talent and I need the public to really give him the prestige and recognition he deserves. MORE MAIN ROLES AND HIT DRAMAS/FILMS FOR HIM PLEASE!
Ooohhh, I’m excited for this because Joong-Ki in a dramatic revenge plot always EATS! His performance in The Innocent Man for example will always be top tier.
I'm on Episode 6 and it's been alright so far, but there's one thing that's keeping me from fully enjoying this idol drama--THE FEMALE LEAD CANNOT ACT to save her life. She's as stiff as hardened cement, literally. Facial expression is non-existent, body movement is so rigid, and eyes are like that of a dead fish. She's pretty and has quite good screen chemistry with Xu Kai to be honest, but it's such a waste because Xu Kai is a REALLY good actor and she's just...there. It's so frustrating.
Like, if you've been a longtime kdrama fan, you'd know most of these stories use the same cliches and premises anyway; the only difference is in how well the tropes are executed. That largely depends on the writing / screenplay, the direction, the acting, and the cast's chemistry. I'm writing this with only 6 episodes out so I can't give a final verdict, but so far, Love Next Door has been hitting most of those things.
I also think a lot of people haven't realized yet that more than the romance, the central plot of this drama revolves around the Female Lead finding her footing after her world is shattered and looking to live her life for herself after living most of it for others. It's a character-driven show, as opposed to being a plot-driven one. And it's part of the reason why the development of the story seems "slow" (just like how rebuilding your life and finding your purpose again takes an awful lot of patience and time😊)
So, I really just have to reiterate this even if I know many have already said it before--but Zhang Xin Cheng is literally one of the BEST actors of his generation. He is not someone you watch just for his face alone, but for his incredible skills and how he completely embodies whatever type of character he is playing. I need c-ent to give him projects worthy of his talent and I need the public to really give him the prestige and recognition he deserves. MORE MAIN ROLES AND HIT DRAMAS/FILMS FOR HIM PLEASE!