Love Next Door (2024)

My first Ever Review, Take it from someone who has been with this drama from the casting news

I may not be a writer so I cant tell how good or bad the writing is but I do know that the Show gave us exactly was promised
Frienship☑️
Family☑️
Healing☑️☑️
Romance☑️
Love☑️
Comedy☑️
They managed to pull all of that off so to me that's good enough .
My major problem is how they hardly used the OSTs for some reason, the OSTs were actually very good but it seems they didn't want to promote them well in the drama.
The dynamics between the characters were wholesome , the chemistry between the lwads were on fire ??. the characters were realistic and it is amazing how they made them stay true to the characters mannerisms throughout the series to the end (Applaud them for that)
It is the kind of drama you can watch with your family , I am actually planning to rewatch the whole series with my family and I can see myself coming back to it time to time
I wanted to give it 10/10 so bad because, it has been long since I got so attacehed to a show
Anyways, Please watch this show on your own accord without any external influence , that is the only way, you will enjoy it , put your expectations outside and just enjoy the journey , laugh, cry , jump and love with the characters and I promise it will be fun....

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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.

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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.

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More Than a Rom-Com: A Deep Dive into Love and Life

*Love Next Door* is the kind of drama that sneaks up on you. You start expecting a light-hearted rom-com, ready to be charmed by the bickering "friends to lovers" trope, but what you get is a deep dive into complex family dynamics, existential questions, and a side of free therapy. ? It's the type of show that gives you butterflies, a touch of annoyance, and maybe even a few "I need to rethink my life" moments. And, oh boy, did it deliver all of that and more.

At first glance, it seems like a simple slice-of-life rom-com, but beneath that cozy exterior lies a drama packed with introspection and emotional weight. The story beautifully explores the scars of growing up neglected, feeling the pressure to succeed, and the awkward art of rebuilding relationships that never really took off. It asks questions like, "Can I ever be more than my parents' pride and joy?" and, "Why do dreams feel like luxuries for the privileged?" In other words, *Love Next Door* doesn’t just aim for your heartstrings—it goes straight for your soul. ?

Now, let’s talk about the characters. On paper, Seung Hyo and Seok Ryu sound like your typical K-drama leads—she’s ambitious and independent, and he’s a little self-centered and emotionally closed-off. But the writers took it a step further by giving them real flaws that affected their relationships in ways that felt... too real. Seok Ryu’s fierce independence is admirable, but is it always a good thing? And Seung Hyo’s tendency to view everyone’s problems through how they affect *him*? Oh, we’ve all been guilty of that at some point. ?

Admittedly, Seok Ryu's journey was more fleshed out than Seung Hyo’s. It felt like *her* story, and while he was important, he wasn’t always the star of his own show. It's a common K-drama imbalance, but it didn't take away from the overall experience—it just made Seok Ryu's arc feel more impactful. Still, I wasn’t fully sold on their transition from friends to lovers. One minute they were bickering, the next they were in love, and I couldn’t help but think, “Wait, when did *that* happen?” But hey, maybe I blinked too long during a lip-biting scene. ??

Speaking of lip-biting... Jung Hae In. Need I say more? If watching him swim, bite his lip, and navigate complicated emotions doesn’t get you hooked, I don’t know what will. His character may have been a bit whiny at times, but let’s be real—JHI could probably make even whining look charming. Meanwhile, Jung So Min was equally compelling, despite her character’s tendency to yell a bit too much for my taste. But in the end, her relatability and depth stole the show for me.

Now, let's throw some love to the supporting cast because they truly *made* this drama. The parents? Their stories were just as captivating as the main leads. In fact, I found myself more invested in their complicated relationships at times than I was in the main romance. The subtle friendship between the mothers? Chef’s kiss. ?‍❤️‍? And Jo Han Chul’s portrayal of Bae Geun Sik? Well, let’s just say I cried when he cried and laughed when he laughed. That man deserves all the awards. ?

But hey, it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. The drunk scenes and occasional over-the-top yelling took up a bit too much screen time for my taste. And let’s not forget the friendship dubbed “lavender,” which was honestly a bit unbearable to watch. Thank goodness for the younger generation’s far more lovable and heartwarming friendships—they saved the day. ?

In the end, *Love Next Door* is not just a rom-com. It’s a thoughtful exploration of relationships, family, and the messiness of life. It’s not about who’s right or wrong; it’s about combining different perspectives to see the bigger picture. It’s about privilege, setbacks, and fears—real issues that we all face. And even though it might occasionally frustrate you, it’ll also make you think, laugh, cry, and question your own assumptions about people and relationships.

Is it perfect? No. But it’s honest, it’s real, and it’ll leave you with enough emotions to fill a journal—or a long-winded review like this one. ?

So, if you’re looking for something deeper than just a standard love story, give *Love Next Door* a try. Just make sure you’re ready for the feels. ?

A shoutout to @kate and @Jojo for inspiring some ideas in writing this review! Your insights made the experience all the richer. Thank you! ?✨

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Episode 9&10 are Game changer.

Just watched 9th and 10th episodes. The story now makes much more sense. The writers were trying to keep things in suspense until now without revealing too much of the plot/events. Now that things aren't scattered and presumably clear, I feel this drama is making me stay. I've never seen a drama with Female Lead having a very important past relationship. Here she is trying to get over it. Usually Kdramas don't show Lead's love for the Ex, but this one did. Its nice to watch a real case scenario. I recommend atleast watching till 10th episode. Don't know where it'll go but I hope it exceeds my expectations( which are already pretty high).

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Not your average rom com, Thank God!

Even there are some weaknesses in the writing and in the directing in my point of view the overall message of this series is very beautiful:
If you are stuck in your life or face some real hardship, look for a new path. Dare to fail. Dare to accept help. Dare to be honest. Dare to love and live with those around you.
For me this was funny, very deep and also light in a good way, realistic and very touching .

Personally, I loved that things moved on at a very realistic pace here, the exes aren't crazy, and that a romcom can also involve deeper emotions and genuine pain points in life.

The chemistry of the main leads is wonderful, they definitely bring out the best in each other and all the actors here are doing a very good job.
So loved it, but hey don`t take mine or anybody else's word here.
Go and watch to find out what it is for you!

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Skip this, they are so much better dramas than this

I really need to say this; ML parents are literally the cheap copy of ML and FL from queen of tears, kinda the same damn story in an older version.

14 episodes and it doesn't get any better.

I hate that they sold this as a "comedy" episodes 1-5 are boring and no, there is no comedy... episodes 6-8 (the only good thing is the second couple) but yes still boring but on an even worse level, episodes 9-10 TOO MUCH DRAMA and for what lol this stomach cancer trope was so unnecessary, episodes 11-14 finally ML and FL are together but the writing fails because we don't have a POV of FL and that makes it feel forced since in a lot of scenes I don't feel like she's in love... Anyways I'm still watching for the second couple because their chemistry is so much better and their history is so interesting and entertaining

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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

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THE WHOLE DAMN PACKAGE: with a cherry on top? + REASONS YOU MIGHT DISAGREE/ HATE THE SHOW

Love next door is my 1st love of 2024 in drama land. With 2024 being a not so good year for dramas (really) I was almost giving up on 2024 to anticipate 2025. Until this show came into my screen.
I had not much expectations of it while seeing trailers and all. I was like, let's go in and see if we gonna drop this like many 2024 dramas I did. And a part of me felt like I would, but ep1 and 2. I took a seat. In the damn front roll!!

Love next door is a tale that brings together the theme of love, dreams, reality, friendship and family dynamic, comedy and healing to tell an exquisite tale.
One would think at first glance that it's a simple tale of two childhood friends turning into lovers. Like I did, but no. It was more than that. It was a tale that not only examines these two friends journeys to becoming lovers, but it bravely looks around these two. Investigating these two's family dynamics and how these dynamics shape them while also surveying their environments. Past, present and future. It looks at not only the relationship of these two but also the two family's relationship. Not on a subploty level, but on a grander scale.

PLOT
Plot wise, It's just one word. SOLID. Like I said the drama didn't take a simple ride on the park of turning friends into lovers. But it got brave and ambitious with its portray, and that did it Marvels. The plot could be seen as a slice of life at some level, one that aims at investigating the relationship between two friends, extending it to the families of these two friends and to the friends of these two friends and even the friends of the family of these two friends. The whole damn neighbour is not free from this splendid portray. It navigates the lives of the people involved in our leads lives, telling their distinctive stories, sprinkling realistic lives into them and using these intriguing characters to shape a grand tale. And like I say, we get our childhood friends to lovers as a theme, but also are given the opportunity to watch the tales around these two friends, family, work , friends. And see how these shape them.
With it's premiere, Most were looking forward to this being a typical ROM-COM. A fluff that focuses only on our leads who are friends falling in love. Those cliché. But I'm sorta happy these drama didn't do that alone. Honestly it'd get super boring. I appreciate the bravery of rather setting up a grander view of things with the characters ( leads and support) shaping the natural flow of the drama. It was nice.
I remember when people began panicking at some point of the show, hating on it when it took a rather serious turn and not being their typical ROM-COM. Well, I couldn't relate because that personally shaped the show so well in the drama. At that point, we got a major event that shaked our characters, bringing these contrasting emotions to play and rolled it towards a mutual understanding. A resolution that sent tears into our eyes. I cried indeed haha. And as the show progresses from there and we saw these characters become "one" and "get their healing" I couldn't help but express how beautiful it got. Each ep got beautiful and I cried in some EPs because it was just so beautiful.

CHARACTERS

The characterization in this show was chef's kiss! One of the strongest points to this show and one of my fav part. When I saw it was the same writer as the hit show hometown cha cha cha, I knew we were in for some solid characterization! And it didn't disappoint. Every character in this show stood out. From those with highest Screentime to least, they glowed. The drama dishes out a bundle of characters, solid in their characterization, and experiments throwing them together to make a relatable watch.
I think this drama did something that I really loved ( Although most probably didn't, ahem.. those looking for ROM-COMs lol) the drama didn't only bring characters ,but they brought Flawed characters. No character here is perfect. We're faced with flawed and relatable characters who merged to make a story. I personally loved all characters and related to all. They were written so well, so realistically. No villains, just real humans facing contrasting beliefs and shaping one another. Friends of opposing personalities and beliefs, families of different opposing problems, they merged to create a sense of real people, friends and possibly a heartfelt family to warm one's heart.
The drama throws these flawed characters at us viewers and watches how we, the audience view them. And our views will vary. Because for Me, I loved them. People hates some characters. (no spoilers) But to me that was just how the characters were written. it was serving a purpose and I liked that. Flawed. had their bad sides. Annoying sides, imperfect side

ROMANCE
The Romance was ADORABLE. I couldn't count how many times I fell off my bed giggling and rolling with the sweetness I got from them. Like omg, the sugar was due to hurt. Haein was super adorable here hahaha. It was refreshing to see him in this role.Our leads had that tension! They had that romance! I was rooting for them so bad. And you know slow burns really do burn when they do. Haha. Our 2nd couple were equally adorable omg. Cuties!! And not to mention our lead parents' romances. It was fascinating watching their romance develop after some cracks.

I enjoyed two Ost here. "What are we" and "Leave it all behind" I remember being obsessed with this song like I cry whenever they play it. It's so good!!

WHY YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE THE SHOW??

The show is a slice of life in my opinion. It's Character driven and not Plot driven

( character driven in the sense that The characters are core of the show and they move the show. they are the Plot and their lives are the plot. They influence external activities and it revolves around them While
Plot driven is basically external activities hitting the characters up and down left and right to squeeze out a storyline. Here there's something activity happening to move the show and not the character's characteristics)

with that being said. I feel that it's not for y'all then so perhaps try seeing if you'll like it when watching further or stop. because Maybe slice of life shows isn't it for you. because I've seen Many watch some slice of life and say it's boring. Yes the setup could be boring for most. Because Nothing is literally happening and you watching the characters lives. Thus in such case You'll have to LIKE THE CHARACTERS TO like the show. Because you're literally watching these characters lives. so if you don't like the character enough to want to journey with them for hours then it's a miss for you. you probably won't like the show. Just like here. So some , like me, like slice of life and some good character driven story. So hope this helps.

Overall I'm grateful to LND for bringing such an entertaining tale to our screen. The moments do waiting weekly for episode was a bliss. It really accompanied me through this weeks. and I hope anyone interested should give the drama a go. Irrespective of the negative comments ( which some are clearly forced) and see if they'll like it or not. Because in my opinion it's really a fascinating tale worth being checked out by all. But then again all is subject to their own opinion, so feel free to drop if it's not to your taste.

LND family, I'll really miss y'all.

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