Too Many Messages That Want to be Conveyed.
From what I know, when we create a story, we should include messages that readers can take away after reading it. But we shouldn't tell readers what they should take from our story.This drama explicitly teaches viewers what message they should take away after watching it.
That's what makes this drama quite awkward to watch as the final episodes approach. They want to convey so many messages and lessons that the flow of the story becomes rushed in their attempt to deliver these messages.
Honestly, the acting and chemistry of the cast were quite good in episodes 1 to 8. But as the end approached, the performances of the main characters JSM and JHI felt very awkward and forced. It even seemed like it wasn’t well written. They appeared to be acting, presenting disjointed scenes that seemed created just to convey specific messages.
Among all the characters, the second couple had stronger character development. Their arcs flowed well, and their story is what kept me engaged in finishing this drama. Honestly, the character with the weakest writing in this drama is Seok Ryu. His character seems not fully developed, making me, as someone who has watched JSM since "Playful Kiss," feel that his acting here is quite poor. It lacks naturalness, is overly exaggerated, and looks like acting. He has always succeeded in portraying characters well in previous dramas. JHI’s acting also felt very awkward; I've seen her perform several times, but here, her performance is the weakest compared to her previous dramas.
And the most disappointing thing is that, despite having four main characters in this drama, the first couple and second couple do not have a strong enough bond to portray a 'friendship' among the four of them. This is very different from watching dramas like "Fight My Way" or "Because This Is My First Life."
For this drama, I genuinely regret the writers and director for creating something like this. Both are quite well-known for producing quality dramas, so my expectations were high. Additionally, the genre doesn't fit the drama. I couldn’t find the romantic comedy elements in this show. Romance might be seen at the end of the episodes, but where's the comedy? This drama should have been labeled as a slice of life.
This drama actually has the potential to be good. The side character stories are well-crafted and not boring to watch. The issue lies in the main characters' stories, which are the most tedious, even though they are the core of the drama. That's what makes this drama less engaging.
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If you don't like the first episodes, just DROP IT
The headline is the advice I give you which is that I wish I had received before watching 14 episodes out of 16 of this overhyped and over praised smoking pile of annoying illogical characters, clichés and plot convenient coincidences. I've watched more than 850 Asian dramas and this is one of the few times I'm writing a review just to say...if you feel like you might not like it from the go, just skip and watch something better instead. It's really boring and contributing nothing to your life.Was this review helpful to you?
Love next door
I love this drama because the crew are skillful. The four mail cast are good together and perfect acting, plus they’re cute together. They act the literal meaning of situations and story . Their acting is super. Their acting brings out perfect chemistry. I love this show they will go places.????Was this review helpful to you?
Such a disappointment of a potentially good drama.
You know what’s crazy I know these actors can act. I’ve seen Jung Hae In provide a stellar performance before, and I’ve watched Jung So Min have so much chemistry with Seo In Guk in The Smile Has Left Your Eyes that they make guest appearances together in new shows years later. But this isn’t hate toward the actors, it’s hate toward the script or directors because the episodes are just too long and too slow. It feels like nothing is happening and everyone is running around in circles. We got so much of Seunghyo’s pov so we know how much he likes Seok Ryu. But we hardly get any perspective of Seungyho from Seok Ryu’s pov.I’m pretty sure we are shown one glimpse of her when she was a kid saying that she liked him, but that is genuinely it. Like their confessions lacked sincerity and if you’ve watched enough dramas I feel like you can tell they’re just following a script if that makes sense. There’s no casual skinship that a normal real couple would have. And jumping to marriage when we’ve barely even seen them date just feels jarring. It looks like Seok Ryu is just reluctantly accepting his feelings and only confides the truth when something huge happens to Seunghyo or when it’s convenient for her. Like her confession to this boy that’s been in love with her for years, is simply “I realised I’m bored without you for like a day so we might as well date”. And just the main thing is NOTHING IS HAPPENING IN THIS SHOW. The plot doesn’t move forward and no one learns from their mistakes. The two dads have the most chemistry out of everyone.
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Simple, interesting but quite boring
Love Next Door is a story of a woman who lives the perfect life abroad, being employed by one of the best companies in the world and engaged to an international lawyer. She suddenly returns to Korea. Her mom's friend's son, who is one of her childhood best friends, is a top architect in Korea.To be honest I was waiting to watch this drama when I heard about the cast of this drama I got excited. Also the story of the drama was rom-com and I like watching rom-com dramas.
When its first episode released my expectations went way up and with the hype of this drama I was getting more excited with the release of the second episode and I didn't like the second episode, the upcoming episodes also got boring and I was thinking that slowly the drama will get better but it didn't.
I honestly expected more from this drama, I found it quite boring, I didn't see the chemistry between the protagonists, the secondary couple has more chemistry than them, I expected a lot more from this drama. While watching the drama I thought about quitting this drama but there were only 2 episodes pending so I thought let's see what happens in the last two episodes.
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a lot of marketing for nothing!
a lot of marketing for nothing! a boring series with boring and boring protagonists, the main couple didn't even look like a couple, they looked like brothers, they just kept fighting, not to mention they didn't have any chemistry, only the secondary couple that had chemistry and good development, it's not worth wasting time with this boring series!a lot of marketing for nothing! a boring series with boring and boring protagonists, the main couple didn't even look like a couple, they looked like brothers, they just kept fighting, not to mention they didn't have any chemistry, only the secondary couple that had chemistry and good development, it's not worth wasting time with this boring series!
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❤️ Love Next Door ?
Eomma Chingu Adeul is a multigenre drama that does justice to each and every genre it tackles. It incorporates some of the most used cliche tropes of 2024, yet they are executed and concluded in a highly satisfying way, delivering meaningful life lessons. Whether its the terminal illness trope, quitting a job due to depression, the childhood friends-to-lovers arc or the exes storyline, each one is handled in a gratifying manner. Many shows i have watched this year that use these tropes tend to disappoint but this drama managed them far better.The chemistry between the leads is exceptional. From the very first scene, they felt so natural together, as if they truly were childhood friends, the kind of vibe that made their bond believable. As the episodes progressed, their connection only grew stronger. There were plenty of ups and downs in their relationship but everything was justified. The progression of their relationship felt smooth. While some might say Seokryu jumped into a new relationship rather quickly after her breakup, i think the buildup was convincing, so it didnt feel strange at all.
The acting was phenomenal, especially from Jung Somin. She was incredibly natural in every scene, whether it was emotional, happy or sad. She absolutely killed it. Other actors like Jung Haein and Kim Jieun also impressed me. The supporting cast, who are veteran actors, delivered solid performances as expected. I never got a fake or forced feeling from anyone’s acting.
This slice of life drama excellently portrays the different phases of life in a highly believable way. Each storyline is given proper buildup and a satisfying conclusion, all while teaching that life is about growth. Every character has their own story to tell. The leads and secondary characters are depicted with their flaws, just like real people. I appreciate that the drama didnt idealize the lead characters like many others do. Here, they are shown with both their strengths and weaknesses and every action they take has a reason behind it. The more you try to understand things from their perspective, the more you will enjoy their stories. Whether its the parents, the brother or the leads themselves, each one follows their own moral compass. At times, you will see the parents at fault, while at other times, you will understand that Seokryu made mistakes by not being honest with them. Once you grasp where they are coming from, the show becomes even more meaningful.
Friendship and family are the highlights of this drama. Whether its the bond between the four neighborhood ladies or between the three leads, these relationships are cherished, though they also go through their ups and downs. The same applies to family dynamics.
The slow burn romance is executed perfectly. Waiting 10 episodes to finally see the leads romance unfold was worth it. Their sweet relationship, which began after weathering the storm, made it even more enjoyable. The show does an excellent job of handling the angst between episodes 6 and 10 and then giving plenty of time for their relationship to flourish from episodes 11 to 16, with plenty of sweetness. Most romance dramas fail at this, introducing conflict in the last two episodes, which often results in a rushed ending. But here, it doesnt feel that way at all.
I have watched plenty of romance or romcom dramas this year but honestly, this one has the most meaningful script. While there are a few romance/romcom dramas i liked more, i cant deny that this one has a solid story and script. There is so much depth to the characters and the story that the more you think about it, the more fresh perspectives you gain on various aspects of life.
All things considered, i would give this a solid 9.5/10. It satisfied me from start to finish and i even enjoyed the angsty phase between episodes 6 and 10, which was disliked by many viewers of this drama
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This review may contain spoilers
Illness as the redemption arc
"Love Next Door" follows the story of two best friends, Seok Ryu and Seung Ho, who grew up together. However, as life became busier, they gradually distanced. Their paths cross again when Seok Ryu returns to the country, rekindling their connection.My review is kind of a reality check because Oppa couldn't distract me this time xD
How illness was magical bandage to all the problems:
1. Yeon Du gets a fever and collapses, and suddenly Dan Ho realises his mistake and responsibilities.
2. Poor Seok Ryu has to go through cancer just for her family to finally notice her and have their big emotional redemption arc. It’s as if a regular sickness wouldn’t have been tragic enough to get them to care. It had to be something huge.
3. The younger brother gets priority treatment because he was sick as a kid, and that status never seems to expire. It's not wrong but neglecting the other kid ain't fair either.
4. Then there’s the ML’s mom, whose short-term memory loss from stress is what finally forces them to have a real conversation about marriage. Because talking it out normally? was difficult for the writers:D
5. And, of course, the ML has to get injured at work for the FL SAY OUT LOUD her true feelings.
It’s funny how illness and injury are like the secret sauce to fix everything in this drama.
Things that consistently pissed me off?
1. Her mother. There's a fine line between suggesting a career path and straight-up forcing someone to return to a place they've repeatedly said, in language clear enough for even a toddler to get, they don't want to go back to. But no, she just had to be so persistently annoying about it, like her hearing was selectively off every time Seok Ryu said, "No thanks."
And as if that wasn’t bad enough, we get one episode—one—where she magically redeems herself, only to snap right back to her old ways immediately after. Classic. She continues treating Seok Ryu like she's a clueless 18-year-old, completely ignoring the fact that her daughter has probably figured out a thing or two about life by now. But nah, in mom’s eyes, she's still too young to know anything worth listening to.
The father was the only sane person in her family, but overly dramatic but I guess it was needed for his character.
2. Okay So I love Jung Hae In but his character, UHMMM, I'm not really a fan.
The first incident, when he was walking behind her and she started running because she thought she was being followed by a stranger—why was his response, "You should've looked back"? BROTHER, YOU COULD'VE SAID IT'S YOU OR CALLED HER NAME! What's with the victim blaming? ?
Then, when Seok Ryu was sick, she tried to reach out to him sooo many times. Forget friendship, it was basic human decency to pick up at least once. Like, they've known each other for at least 10 years—what kind of dickhead behavior is that? I'm sorry, but if you were her friend, you would've put aside your feelings and at least reached out to her once. I SAID WHAT I SAID. They weren't even on bad terms! She has a boyfriend; I will never understand this kind of ghosting. It's not like she was even aware of his feelings, wtf. FELT SOO IMMATURE and then he hits you with a "I should've reached out to you sooner" shit smh.
3. Seok Ryu's ex coming back was the worst and most saddening thing for me. Like, what was even the point of him? I honestly felt bad for the guy. He wasn’t wrong to feel what he felt and to be in that depression mode—he was taking care of everything alone. Her family had no idea, but he was there, and it’s sooo pathetic how at the start it almost leaned toward him cheating on her. Messed up. And then Seok Ryu keeps him around without giving him a proper rejection or any real confrontation.
Things I liked
1. Seok Ryu sucked at being honest about her feelings and emotions, which is sooo relatable as the older sibling. I literally cried for her :( I liked how she finally found her dream.
2. Mo Eum? She’s soooo straightforward and easily the vibey person throughout the whole show—I loved her! Her bond with Yeon Du, I lovedd it so much.
3. One of the things I also liked was the ladies' group. That was one wholesome friendship, and all the ladies were so cutesy.
Honestly, the last few episodes were a bit of a dud. Nothing really happens! And that unnecessary fight between the aunties? Like, WHY was that even a thing:d
Overall, nothing stood out to me. Sure, the corporate culture and work-life stress were highlights, but beyond that... meh. The leads are cute, but that's about it.
Thank you for reading my review:D
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SOMETHING IS MISSING
The drama started well, but after the halfway stage, it always left you wanting more.There was practically no proper character development in this drama which is quite surprising as a viewer.
And the writer tried to hide this by shelving some scenes from the past, back and forth to the present, using tragedy tag as a way to engage emotion which was feint.
The acting was phenomenal, and the casting was outstanding but something felt missing.
The 2nd couple felt wasted.
The 2nd MC was mostly a robot.
The always I'm a good person thing of his irritated me the most.
I would go on and say the writer lost the plot, the actors and the director filled it.
This drama relied on side characters more than it should've.
I can bet if they rewrite this script, it will do better than what it did this time.
The potential was immense.
The romance was left out too long to be explored.
Overall it's decent to watch.
Just grab your popcorn tub, binge it and sleep.
Just the right kind if that's what you're looking for.
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In the abundance of roses, you're my sunflower!
Childhood friends to lovers bickering story done right. From the announcement to the release, it was much hyped and created a lot of anticipation among the drama fans. Was it worth it?Definitely worth it. It is a family-orientated love story with which everyone can relate. What makes it different than any other drama is its's dynamics of characters.
✔️Likes:
• spotless chemistry between the leads. Single-handedly, they hold the series together.
• Sismance! Lavender Group's friendship is something we all aspire to. From school friends to neighbourhood moms, they've always stayed together and supported each other.
❌Dislikes/Room for improvement:
•The episodic length; oh my my... 1hr 20mins X 16 eps?! That's too damn long! I had lost all my patience waiting for it to finish.
• Resolving problems because of medical conditions. I know they love their family to death, but was illness the only thing that could vanquish all their problems and unite them again? Even if it was, then when they were so sick, why put so little importance on it? The issue came up all of a sudden and resolved too quickly.
Sometimes the characters were too childish and selfish at times, but I get it. As an adult, you think you can fix all your problems on your own without any help, but sometimes a reassurance is all you need to carry on in life.
It wasn't something phenomenal and over the top, but something you watch when you're craving some fluff with a lot of angst and adults whining like children in frustration. It was not bad not good either, but just ok.
I think for me it comes once in a while that I fall in love with the rom-com kdrama; unfortunately, this is not the one.
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Lovable characters —lackluster story
I finally finished love next-door and I had high hopes for this one and unfortunately it disappointed me. I’m sorry please don’t hate me but I think I’m only gonna rate it a 6.5-7 out of 10.The storyline was dry. I felt like they could’ve done a lot more with the characters. The only saving grace was the second couple and the writers didn’t even flesh that out as much as they could’ve. The finale was completely drawn out for no reason because it was very anti-climatic.
Don’t get me wrong this story had some
Lovable characters (Dan Ho, Mo- Eum, yeon du, the lavenders, the dad ?) it’s just the story could’ve been better.
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Mediocre drama
this drama is so overrated like seriously I started watching it because of all of the hype from TikTok to ended up watching boring show with a pathetic ML and FL seriously a 34 dude acting like teenager.. getting angry for nothing ( you don't love me than fine don't talk to me than I can't response to your call ? ) a FL is so immature and hella loud she's not better than him .... even if you're childhood friends we don't Bicker like this is not even funny it's childish... for someone who have in family with stomach cancer and has removed a part of it it's impossible that she can eat that much .....i skipped alot of it i was dying from bordioum one of the worst drama this Year! Mediocre drama...and the fandom is so pathetic anyone who doesn't like the drama are their enemy ...I said I don't like the ml acting they strated to attack me like their Life depand on it ?. ..you have the right to love it as you like and I have the right to hate it as much as I want...Was this review helpful to you?
