Mom's Friend's Son

Unpopular opinion: I thought Jung So Min was okay in Alchemy of Souls but LOVED her in this! Her character is delightful: strong, intelligent, fun, vivacious, and sincere. I love that she speaks her mind and she is incredibly loyal.

This drama was a total hit for me. At first I wasn't too keen on the "Lavender" group but ended up loving them!

The families were amazing and had great chemistry as well as the architect firm colleagues. Great casting all around.

Jung Hae In's character is the heart of this show in my opinion. The actor is so good at bringing you in so that you feel what his character feels. I loved his interactions with everyone.

I loved the storytelling, flashbacks to childhood and the easy and realistic dialogue. The journey was excellent and I loved every minute of it.

Special shout out to the little girl who played Yeon Du - she's amazing!

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.

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.

I really loved the female protagonist " in because this is my first life". So I was excited to find her in this drama, the male protagonist I am unfamiliar with.

I feel like the plot is in the title, and they are taking such a long time to connect the two characters. Meanwhile, we have to endure the lovable but violent parents. There is something on out of kilter in this romcom. I cannot figure out what it is except that it's taking a very long time to bring the two characters together, I want very much to like this, but is not winning me over.

Finally, the ending episodes have succeeded in winning me over and I feel pleased-that I finished the story and hung in there with the characters. Up until episode seven ,Everything else was confusing and too drawn-out for me.

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.