Love Next Door (2024)

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 ♡♡♡♡

Read More

Best RomCom of 2024 ???

Wow, I can't believe love next door is already over, Honestly, its been a really honour of watching this drama & it has become my comfort drama of 2024. Kudos to all actors and actresses for creating this masterpiece ❤️❤️🙏🙏.

If you a big fan of romance, comedy, friends to lovers, slow burn, friendship, all this elements then you will really love this incredible drama. First of all, Jung Soo min and Jung Hae in a.ka Jung-Jung couple ❤️. These two chemistry throughout the drama was chemistrying like the bickering, their love and their humour was so awesome to watch. Second of all, our second couple Danho and Moeum was really amazing too, like i really love and adore their relationship,they were so funny and wholesome together. I would love to see them in another drama again..
And to the lavender sisters, I really wish i have the type of friendship they have, the bickering between our leads' mums were the best, they bicker but they still love each other like any other friendship and also the dads too aka drinking buddies, they were the best and so cute together. And our cute Yeondu, she slayed her role at such a young age. She is such an amazing actress and have a bright future ahead of her.
And other actors and actresses such as the exes of the leads, the child actors and actresses, all supporting roles, they did so amazing. 👏👏👏❤️❤️❤️❤️


Overall, you will enjoy this drama if you like the elements I stated in the intro, and most importantly enjoy the drama, the chemistry between the actors and actresses were really top notch🤎🔝🔝🔝 so you will love love love it.
Thank you for choosing to watch this if you haven't already and thank you for taking time to read my review. God bless you 🙏🙏

Read More

Starts Out Strong But Tanks in the Middle, Recovers in the End

My thoughts after watching to the end---I have to say that I almost dropped this after the 12th episode. You can read why below. It was slow getting to the end, but I'm glad I finished it. In the end, this is a feel-good story about the importance of family, friends, and community over status and money. Who doesn't love a story with this type of message? If you're going to watch this, be advised that there are moments within the series that are exaggerated, unrealistic, and are frustrating for the viewer. I would say overall the writing of this drama is good, with really bizarre weak areas built in, most likely to get it to 16 episodes. My favorite of the series were the 4 friend/moms. To have such strong friendships throughout your life is truly exceptional and these 4 actresses added so much to the storyline. The FL and ML were nice. I think the writing and the way they acted showed a relationship of two people who grew up together and pretty much knew everything about each other, except that they loved each other. It was not exceptionally romantic, but I'm not sure 2 friends turned lovers would be all that romantic. Lastly, the dad friendship was funny and great. Just 2 bros hanging out trying to help each other understand their wives and children. The supporting female and male actors and their storyline was really precious too. It reminds me of Queen of Tears because there was this dip in the middle where the storyline just got stupid, but it is redeeming in the end. Just beware of this as you watch it.

Watched up to the 12th episode --- I started watching this for the two main leads who are a couple of my favorite actors. It started out strong and promising, but somewhere around episode 8 and 9, it just went off the rails and fizzled. There are some things I'm getting so tired of in Kdramas and unfortunately this had too many of these annoying qualities.

First, the writers forcing adults in adult situations to act childlike. Why are legal consenting adults hiding their relationship from others? Why do they have to come off as so stiff and awkward during a kiss? Do South Koreans have to take a vow of celibacy? Actually, considering the birth rate is so low, I think I just answered my own question.

Second, an adult facing a life altering illness, but telling no one about it. When Soek Ryu is diagnosed with cancer, she tells no one in her family.....really? One of the first things doctors ascertain about their patients when dealing with a serious diagnosis is "do you have a support network around you." This same thing played out in Queen of Tears and it was so, so, so very unbelievable.

Third, lack of communication between married couples, close friends, colleagues, you name it. Everyone just stays silent so misunderstandings abound. Why would a married woman be able to share secrets with her gay boss, but can't say 2 words to her husband?

Fourth, why are the females portrayed as physical abusers? Why are they always hitting everyone around them? Are women in South Korea that mean? And, why are the men forced to act like trained dogs? I really don't think this is how it truly is in South Korea, but for the life of me, I don't understand why people are portrayed as such.

Can't say for sure if I'm going to finish this or not. But for now I'm moving on to something else.

Read More

What to know before watching this drama

The drama was really good for my tastes. It contained a really story, the actors did an amazing job and it was so funny at moments it had my laughing really loud and so sad and touching i was several times on the verge of tears. Something really good also was how the moment the story seemed like its was nearing its end they found a way to make it so it was interesting and captivating till the end . There were some really good plot twist and some shocking answers to some of the questions, so if you want something funny, serious and cute, then thats the show for you. (For me the beginning of the first episode was i little cringe, but thats something ican look over.)

Read More

Would've been a better 12-episode drama, but no

This drama started out very strongly. The cast is terrific and the chemistry between the 1st and 2nd leads was excellent. The romance element evolved steadily through episode 8, where things took a dramatic and unexpected turn. Unfortunately, after weathering the fallout from that, the drama gradually lost steam before fizzling out to a somewhat trite conclusion.

This drama ran concurrently with the 12-episode drama “No Gain, No Love.” Both dramas had stellar casts, strong production values, and a reasonably good premise. But where NGNL felt tight and refined, Love Next Door felt loose, repetitive, and messy. There just wasn’t enough of a story to stretch it out to 16 episodes. It was kind of disappointing actually. Save this one for a rainy day when you’ve already seen everything else on your list, or you need a Jung So Min or Jung Hae In fix.

Read More

The angst made for a relatable and realistic story

Forget all the hate this drama got from people who want to celebrate unrealistic stories because they are afraid to grow with characters by crying and laughing with said characters.The angst and pain served to remind us that though life may serve dose full of pain at us , if we hold on and fight on , the good days will come … we do not need a wedding to celebrate a happy ending, sometimes a happy ending is 2 people promising to devote their lives to one another .LND will make you cry as you relate to the realistic struggles of its characters , but that is the journey of life , just as you are done crying, LND will lift you up with a dose full of love, puppy love, kisses, devotion, passion , laughter and healing.if one thing this drama teaches you , realistically life may tear you down, but if you put on your big boy:girl pants and fight for your happiness, a comforting , realistic happy ending awaits you. LND is not an unrealistic escape , it’s for those who are willing to face the pain and reality of life , face their own demons , to reach for the light on the other side.
The angst and pain taught me to courageously face my fears because through that I may grow… and when the love came, when the passion came , you realize it was all worth it in the end .Lets stop hiding behind unrealistic tales and support realistic dramas that grow us, teach us not to run but to fight for our happiness

Read More

from childhood friends to lovers!

finished 8.5/10 ✨💞
a story where I thought it would be set in a romantic comedy but in the end it turned out to be a family melodrama full of nostalgia and events from the past
Somin and Haein's chemistry is 10000/10000 ❤️
The script for me was the biggest flaw in this drama... from 1-8 and from 9-16 I felt like I saw two completely different stories... everything bad at the beginning and then everything good.
The ending seemed lukewarm to me and with some unnecessary final twists.
Despite everything, it was a project that I was really looking forward to and I enjoyed it despite some little things... it's a drama that's good for passing the time. ✨

Read More

Hit show (Read with an "S" in the beginning)

Love Next Door attempted to blend several genres—romantic comedy, slice-of-life, and even elements of drama—but ended up feeling disjointed. The shifts in tone from light-hearted moments to more serious themes often felt jarring.
Additionally, with each episode running for 1 hour and 30 minutes, the extended runtime felt excessive for the plot being told. The pacing dragged, leading to drawn-out scenes that could have been condensed. As a result, what could have been a fun, engaging story turned into a tedious watch.



First of all, the good point about this drama is its lead actors. Jung Somin and Jung Haein are the only reasons people even fw this drama.


Love Next Door unabashedly positions itself as a romcom, yet the supposed "comedy" is conspicuously absent. For a drama that claims to reside within the romantic-comedy genre, it displays an alarming deficiency in humor, delivering not even a modicum of wit or levity. The comedic elements—if they can even be called that—are stale and unimaginative, often falling flat or feeling forced.


As for the romantic dimension, it was equally unconvincing. The connection between the protagonists lacked the effervescence and warmth typically seen in successful romcoms. The romance felt stilted, as though the writers were merely ticking off the requisite boxes without any genuine emotional depth or progression. What was meant to be a charming exploration of love unfolded as a mechanical, uninspired portrayal, devoid of the chemistry and playful banter that is the hallmark of the genre.

In Love Next Door, the writers tried to mix a slice-of-life and healing theme into the romcom, but they didn’t create smart or deep characters to make it work. Slice-of-life stories usually focus on real-life moments and personal growth, but the characters in this show felt simple and shallow. They didn’t have the kind of thoughts or emotions that would make these themes feel real.

The brother in Love Next Door was probably the only realistic character in the whole show. He reminds me of my own baby brother—super irritating.

The writers of Love Next Door completely squandered the undeniable chemistry between Jung Somin and Jung Haein. Their natural connection was one of the show’s greatest strengths, but the way the romance was handled left no room for it to fully bloom. By the time the female lead confesses her feelings, there was no anticipation or emotional tension left for the viewers to savor.

Love Next Door - somehow managed to ruin the best friends-to-lovers trope, despite the fact that it’s a genre that’s practically impossible to mess up. This storyline typically succeeds because of the natural, long-standing bond between the characters, filled with history and emotional weight. But the show turned what should have been a compelling transition into romance into a bland and overly sweet narrative that stripped the couple of any real depth.

The second couple had a lot of potential, but the writers seemed to focus too much on making them overly cute. This forced attempt at charm, unfortunately, drained their storyline of depth and left their relationship feeling bland. Their chemistry could have been explored in a more natural and compelling way instead of relying on repetitive cuteness, which, while endearing at first, lost its spark over time.


The mother of FL really does become insufferable as the show goes on. Initially, it felt like her strictness came from a place of tough love when she whooped the FL in the first episode. But as the series progresses, her behavior crosses into petty, jealous territory. She reacts negatively to almost everything, especially when it comes to her daughter’s happiness or independence.


The arrival of both exes, creating a love pentagon, significantly diminished the overall experience, even though the exes themselves were well-written characters. Instead of enhancing the storyline, their presence muddied the romantic focus and detracted from the chemistry between the main couple.

The sole indelible moment in Love Next Door was the poignant flashback of childhood, portrayed with remarkable authenticity by the child actors. Their nuanced performances elicited a sense of nostalgia and depth.

I thought this would be a drama where I would love the main couple but hate the story. However, it was so bad that I don’t even like the on-screen romance now.


Despite securing a prime time slot on tvN, Love Next Door underperformed compared to other dramas in that slot. While it maintained respectable ratings and often ranked first in its time slot, it didn’t reach the high ratings that many prime slot dramas typically achieve.This can largely be attributed to its underwhelming storyline and frustrating character arcs, which failed to engage viewers on a deeper level. The script lacked the dynamism and complexity needed to sustain a prime slot drama, leading to a disconnect with its potential audience.



It wasn’t the worst drama I’ve watched, but it’s definitely the most disappointing. The hype was high, especially with Jung Somin and Jung Haein.
It was profoundly disheartening to witness actors of Haein and Somin's caliber acquiescing to a script as lackluster as Love Next Door when they undoubtedly had more discerning options at their disposal. Their remarkable aptitude was regrettably squandered on a project that failed to exploit their full artistic potential.Ultimately, the writers must bear the brunt of the responsibility for failing to realize the potential of this ostensibly promising premise.

Read More