Love Next Door

Another potentially nice Kdrama spread out over to many episodes.

In episode 9 finally some interesting things start to happen. Up till then not bad but way to slow for me.

Annoying again are the hysterical parents, interfering in the life's of their more than adult children.

Why I stay tuned? Basically it's a nice romcon to watch when you want to relax. I like the korean life style, their food and fashion.

But most of all I really love the acting Jung Hae-in. And his great charm and smile off course 😀 . He is improving his acting more and more, really good to watch.

So now I just fill in the last required words...

This is in many ways a typical Korean romance, with two attractive actors beset by barriers as they stumble toward their future. The various obstacles serve to provide sufficient impetus to justify most of the 16 episode running time.

There are moments when the drama grasps at something more impactful. The travails of the heroine do carry some emotional weight, struggling as she is with illness and an overly desperate mother.

But at the end of the series much of this impact had dissipated and I was left with a moderately enjoyable romance. If you enjoy such things, as I do, then give it a go.

This series is my saving grace this 2024!

>>>> Eomma chingu adeul allows me to experience a roller coaster ride of emotions, and I couldn't think of any other kdrama that made me feel this way (in this era). I seldom get invested in any drama because I tend to wait for the finale episode to be aired before I binge-watch the entire series, yet in this case I always look forward to the coming of weekends and wait for every single episode to be aired.

Life as it is in my current situation is not full of colors. I'm in a sort of slump, and LND brought me out of that slump. As an adult trying to figure things out, I can definitely relate to Seokryu's struggles and how she's trying to make a fresh start. I empathize with her as she tries to smile despite the chaos that she's feeling within. She is such a strong character, and I love how she remains optimistic despite all the hurdles she's been through, and having Seunghyo in her life is such a wonderful plot twist into it. I may not have that kind of best friend/lover yet knowing that there is someone (aside from my family) who will always be rooting for me in every step of the way, a person who will support and scold me (if needed be) in whatever decision I will be making about life is such a gift that I will forever cherish.

As I immersed myself in this drama and experienced different emotions, I really learned a lot about life and how wonderful it is to dream, to feel, to laugh, to cry, to be angry, to be silly, and how amazing it is to love and be loved.

Love Next Door, you will forever be in my heart.

The title "Love Next Door" sounds like a typical sweet romance story. But the Korean title, which translates literally to "Mom's Friend's Son," hints at something more.

In Korean culture, it's an expression that's commonly brought up when mothers are comparing each other's kids. Children of Tiger moms are well familiar with how their achievements would be compared to those of other neighborhood kids. The status-seeking parents, of course, only showcase their achievements.

Initially, the outrageous actions of the parents could be off-putting, but the ridiculousness (and resulting caricature) is intentional. The director, screenwriter, and main leads are known for hard-hitting stories, sometimes with profound social commentary. While competitive ethos and a culture of comparison can spur achievements, might they push some individuals to the brink?

There is plenty of eye candy to enjoy. Beautiful actors. Good music. And a meaningful story, to boot.

It's suitable for working people. This series touched my heart. The pressure at work, family, close friends, and lovers, finding one's own dreams, going back to being a teenager, the age of dreams and starting everything. The plot is very good.

Including the relationship between the 2 main characters, Seung Hyo and Seok Ryu, they made me believe that they are close friends who are like a family. Bickering, sympathy, caring and protecting each other, it slowly seeps into their hearts. They slowly fall in love and change with age. I love their acting. It looks natural, believable, and has incredible chemistry.

Jung So Min is the best actress. She has great acting skills in all aspects. She made me laugh and cry with her. She conveys emotions well through her facial expressions and eyes. She deserves an award.