The drama is a sweet one!
It's enjoyable, worth watching!! If you're more of a fan of mature romance, it might not really be what you're looking for. But if you love melo, childhood friends to love trope, emotional stories, you'll love this!!!It's a drama that's more on the slow, subtle side. No hot, tingling sparks. The message the drama passes is one that might not be understood by fans of mature romance.
The acting is on point, the comedy leaves no flaws too. The cinematography and sound is amazing too. And yes, big credits to their wardrobe, the actors dressing were very nice.
It's a 10/10 eye-soothing drama!
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Nothing just beautiful
The story is about a love hate relationship Between two childhood friends it is a wonderful comfort drama.Not much of emotional scene and not a point in the drama will you be bored.
Various relationships are shown in the drama each very beautiful very beautiful.
My favourite one is the father daughter relationship.
The placements of music is very accurate.
Overall worth watching and rewatching.
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The realistic portrayal of adult life struggles
I find the series very realistic especially on the woman's side.Woman tend to experience more difficulty in life especially if you are the first born (male or female a like) in Asian families.
Some are fortunate enough to have a good life and some have a lot to struggles to be an apple of the eye of the parents.
Gas lighting was also shown here which is sometimes disregarded at our workplaces because we don't want to be involved to the victim.
The portrayal of the family dynamics here shown 2 sides of family, a family with no communication can really destroy the family within and a family that would like to be seen by the society as a good family puts a lot of pressure to the children.
For the love aspect, its the closest to reality but I do hope there where would a real man like the main lead.
The relationship of the best friends going to lovers really happens to some with a good or even a bad outcome. The transitioning of friends to lovers' was well portrayed. Kudos to the actors.
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This review may contain spoilers
Everything feels forced
I was really excited to watch *Love Next Door* because it's by the creators of *Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha*, a drama I absolutely adored. So, I was surprised to find myself struggling to get into this one.Almost every character seems designed to fit into predictable rom-com tropes, making the show feel too manufactured. There are very few moments that feel genuinely authentic. While I really admire Jung Hae-in as an actor, I’m starting to feel like rom-coms might not be his strongest suit—or perhaps it’s the writing in *Love Next Door* that’s failing to showcase his abilities in this genre. I also love So-min, but her characters overuse of bickering and shouting as comedic devices is starting to wear thin.
One scene that unfortunately stood out to me as cringey was when she "discovers" what she wants to do, and Hae-in’s character watches her smile, seemingly realizing he still "loves" her. The moment felt incredibly forced, rather than heartwarming or authentic.
Honestly, everything just feels forced and some scenes are overdramatic for no reason.
I’ll keep watching and hope for improvements, but I’m not feeling too optimistic about it so far, which is a shame.
Edit: I forced myself to finish this drama and wow, what a disappointment. This should have been 10 episodes max, it was too dragged out and boring!
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This review may contain spoilers
Just finished it. Objectivley spoken, it was good and well executed show. But of course, some things can be criticized and could be done way better:
1. The stomach cancer theme. It was unnecessary and way over the top for a show which doesn't focus explicitly on this topic. (like 39 for example)
2. The lavender-gang took too much screen time. Yes, they were funny but they didn't contribute to the overall plot progression and rivaled the 2nd lead couple in screen time.
3. The last episode or better, the ending was needless and not satisfying.
a.) the whole Mo-Eum / Dan-Ho / Yeon-Du part was rushed in the end and the last major scene they got, was the decision making process of Mo-Eum where she was unsure how to tell Dan-Ho they south pole thing. Comparing this to the screen tim, the lavender-gang got, it's kind of underwhelming. I mean, it feels like Mo-Eum / Dan-Ho / Yeon-Du was the support while the lavender-gang was the second lead.
b.) on the last meter, Seok-Ryu and Seung-Hyo decided to postpone their wedding and the final impression is an argument and a walk together. In general, not a bad idea, but the built up to this scene was unfitting. First, the expectation for the wedding was risen (not only in ep16, but also in ep15 AND ep14 (!) where it was the major cliffhanger), then it was dropped and then the lavender-gang had a never ending scene and then, only a couple of minutes were left to set the correct mood. The lavender-gang scene should set the mood, but that works only if the viewer likes them. Usually, the second lead should set the mood and these are also the characters and actors the viewer want to see, not the support group.
The 3rd bullet point is interesting, because they did fairly well on the individual endings and cliffhangers of each episode. I can only explain it that way, that the second leads were really unpopular or the support cast was super duper popular. Or, the audience shifted to a different group. (maybe an older group) It would be interesting, to see statistics about that.
What was good?
The rest. It lives from it's high production standard. Good cast, good music, good settings, good camera work etc. But to be honest, it wasn't exceptional in any form.
I would rate it 8/10.
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Love Next Door means much more than romance-people recovering from emotional trauma, family bonding, and developing their personality. This drama is about flawed people needing to heal with complicated relationships formed by the past they will face in building a new beginning. What sets this drama apart, in particular, is the peacefulness of the pacing, and that may not rush the romance but allow the characters to naturally flow into it.
Some of the most appealing factors of Love Next Door would be how this show is going to air the lead characters' emotional journeys. Their chemistry is organic, building up little by little, not from contrived plot devices angling to make interactions between the leads pop. Refreshing, especially in this genre, where so many authors try to get those sparks flying quick. Satisfyingly, it sustains the interest in its second half without going the melodrama way of surprising plot twists.
We also have a decent ex backstory that adds layers to the narrative and makes the leads' eventual union feel even more earned. The fact that the wedding date was delayed may have been irritating for some, but it really fit with the drama's message about emotional growth. It did make a lot of sense for the characters, considering that they said love is not about timing, but about being in tune, and about their healing processes. And though it felt conclusive, it was also sort of a new beginning, leaving that bittersweet note while hopeful.
The acting performances were superb, especially from the lead actors; they created their characters in such a realistic way that it felt like real people evolving on screen. All the vulnerabilities that build to frustration and eventual breakthroughs are told with such nuance that you really can't help but root for them.
Love Next Door is not just about love; it's about family, healing, and finding one's way back toward people who matter. It is a drama that works to the beat of its own rhythm, creating a world that is so real-where every step toward recovery is celebrated and where love finds its way, slowly yet so meaningfully.
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worth the wait
I was really excited for this drama once I heard the storyline. And it was really worth watching it, the second lead couple were amazing and the drama really valued family which was also great! And everything got 10x better once the main leads got together! and there were lots of jealousy scenes! Not to mention the show felt like a mix of doctor slump, lovely runner and queen of tears (you’ll understand once u watch it) unfortunately though the ending felt rushed but overall it was really cute.Was this review helpful to you?
Best watch of 2024
Love Next Door is a masterpiece of storytelling that brings together emotion, depth, and impeccable performances. This drama captivates with its heartfelt narrative and genuine warmth, making it one of those rare shows that lingers long after the credits roll. From the very first episode, it's evident that this series isn’t just about romance but also about growth, connection, and finding hope in the simplest moments.The chemistry between Jung So Min and Jung Hae In is nothing short of magical. Their interactions feel natural, nuanced, and deeply moving. Every glance, every smile, and every tear brings the audience closer to the characters, as if we're experiencing their journey right beside them. Jung So Min, with her radiant yet subtle portrayal, brings a sense of warmth and vulnerability that’s hard to forget. Jung Hae In complements her beautifully, delivering a performance that’s both gentle and intense, perfectly capturing his character's inner struggles and desires. Together, they create an on-screen magic that elevates the story beyond a typical romance.
The supporting cast, 2nd couple, and green flag Ex's also deserves praise, bringing depth and authenticity to their roles. But it’s the powerful storytelling that truly makes Love Next Door shine.
In short, Love Next Door is a must-watch, delivering everything you could ask for in a drama. With its incredible performances, especially from Jung So Min and Jung Hae In, stunning chemistry, and exquisite storytelling, it deserves a perfect 10 out of 10. This is a series that will make you laugh, cry, and believe in love and friendship all over again.
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A delightful watch. Chemistry is wow, Jung so min is so pretty
I just finished watching Love Next Door, and it’s such a beautiful drama with an incredibly heartwarming approach. At first, it seemed like simple storytelling, but the way it weaves Seok Ryu and Seung Ho's friendship is truly lovely. Jung So Min is so beautiful, and I actually started watching Korean dramas because of her. What I admire most is her choice of projects; whether the show succeeds or not, her stories are always thoughtfully chosen. Her performance is outstanding, and Jung Hae In complements her so well. Their chemistry is just incredible, and both of them look stunning together. The supporting cast also did a fantastic job. I absolutely loved this drama and will definitely binge-watch it again—it’s so delightful! Love Next Door has truly won my heart.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
It's a great show, but could be better
I really enjoyed watching this show, Jung Haein and Jung Somin acting got me on a chokehold since the beginning, but the story was slightly meh, I wish we could've seen more of Seokryu traumas to understand the depth of her last relationship and her sickness as a traumatic event, you could interpret her actions through that, but not really understand how much it took a hit on her emotional sometimes, like when she rejected Seunghyo many times because of how her last relationship ended and thinking she would be a burden if she was sick, you could interpret it, but it would be better if they showed it better. Overall it's a great show and I would recommend it to everyone, the cast did an amazing acting, it's what got me going until the end.Was this review helpful to you?
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Healing and Realistic
To be honest, I expected it to be fun and light all throughout but fortunately it’s not. This drama will show you that life is not always unicorns and rainbows, we have to face pain, storms and struggles in life. The darkness in life can’t be avoided but it will become bearable with the right people around you, it became less of a problem if there’s someone who will carry it with you. And I guess that’s the gist of this drama. You are not alone and there are people who care, love and willing to join you in any phases of life. I have to give it a high rating because of what it made me feel, it really hits me to the core. I hope you will feel the same way like I did and will made you realize something.Was this review helpful to you?
Like Seok Ryu, maybe I deserve to cry too, maybe I deserve to heal too
Often times, we live in this world inside a big tall wall that we build ourself. We lock our dirtiest secret, most painful stories, our vulnerability inside of it. I lock the door from inside, then guard the key with my soul. I let nobody peek what I hide inside,But it always harder to hide what inside from a person that lurking around me even before I build that wall. They always accidentally see what shouldn't be seen. They always curious what hidden inside. They always know I inside, and if they care enough, they will knock the door, or in extreme, bam the door, break the wall.
That is a story of Bae Seok Ryu and Choi Seung Hyo. Two person that in one time of each their life decide to break each other wall.
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Review is always subjective in nature, but I always try to put objective perspective and technical perspective as much as I can. But for this one, I'll skip most of it (I believe there is hundreds of review waiting to tell this perspective). I think this story is important to be told even with all the flaws it has.
There is a lot of Seok Ryu exist in this planet. Some of us lucky enough to have a Seung Hyo to break our wall, but a lot doesn't get to be that lucky. Maybe, just maybe, you can consider to make a little window for yourself. Let the sun shining on you. Let yourself watch when the rain pour outside.
And maybe, just maybe, a secret seed inside your heart can grow into a beautiful pomegranate tree.
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