Edited by Seo Hayne Translated by Kim Hoyeun
Credit: tvN
tvN’s new series Love Next Door paints a story of childhood friends who grew up sharing their embarrassing pasts, now reconnecting at age 34. The drama reunites director Yoo Je Won and writer Shin Ha Eun, who previously teamed up for Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha , creating buzz for this latest project. The premise intriguingly mirrors “the story of a successful woman who leaves the city she was thriving in.” It also drew attention for pairing Jung So Min , a beloved romantic comedy queen who delivered hits like Alchemy of Souls and Love Reset , with Jung Hae In, who is making his rom-com debut after ten years. Known for his endearing younger man roles in Something in the Rain and One Spring Night , Jung Hae In ‘s realistic romance with peer Jung So Min has sparked great anticipation.
The Korean title is “mom’s friend’s son,” a term in Korean society for the “perfect man” who meets various criteria. This reflects parents’ desire to show off or compare their children, highlighting how they are perceived by others. Seung Hyo (Jung Hae In), a recognized head of an architectural firm, is the quintessential “mom’s friend’s son.” As a child, he moved back to Korea from France where he had lived with his diplomat mother and struggled until he met Seok Ryu (Jung So Min), who helped him adapt to the new environment. Now in their 30s, Seok Ryu, who has returned to Korea secretly, bumps into Seung Hyo in their neighborhood, and despite the long separation, they interact as if they had met just yesterday.
Seok Ryu’s current mission is to reboot her glitchy life. For now, she just wants to sleep to her heart’s content. When she opens her eyes, her only task is to take the bus to the last stop and back. Previously, Seok Ryu was the exemplary K-oldest daughter who went to the States on a full scholarship and earned enough to cover all her living expenses. However, life in America did not go smoothly. Not only did she face problems at work, but her fiancé also cheated on her. Desperate for words of comfort like “It’s okay to rest” and “You’ve had it tough,” Seok Ryu eventually chooses to return to Korea.
However, her family fails to understand her feelings. Particularly, Seok Ryu’s mother, who has always boasted about her children, is displeased with her returned daughter. Seok Ryu realizes her mother is ashamed of her being jobless and having broken off her engagement. Seung Hyo is the only one Seok Ryu can rely on. They understand each other without needing many explanations. The two sit together in the rain on a jungle gym they used to feel was too high when they were children. Seok Ryu laments having to be her mother’s “gift wrap” rather than pursuing her own happiness. That’s when Seung Hyo comforts his long-time friend with profound words: “The feeling of relying on someone, wanting to trust, and cherishing them comes as a package. If you didn’t care in the first place, there would be no hard feelings.”
Credit: tvN
That doesn’t mean the two are always 100% honest about their feelings. The drama captures the subtle emotions that come back and forth between them. For instance, at the end of episode two, a moment of teenage infatuation flits between the two now-neighborhood friends. How will these feelings, unrecognized or ignored at the time, approach them now in their thirties?
Seung Hyo’s way of comforting Seok Ryu in a manner that plays to his strengths also stirs excitement. Initially unable to accept her daughter’s current situation, Seok Ryu’s mother eventually has a change of heart and asks Seung Hyo to restore her daughter’s room to its former state. Seung Hyo meticulously recreates everything, including the arrangement of the bed and wardrobe, down to the glow-in-the-dark stars that used to twinkle from the ceiling. The story of comfort and excitement exchanged between two people, who have drifted apart from their past and led busy lives, is eagerly awaited. (8/10)
‘Love Next Door’ Ranks 5th in Netflix’s Global Top 10 Non-English Series
Editor Seo Hayne: I like actors as they faithfully lead through their long running-time. I also like idols who accomplish everything on stage within 3 minutes.
Credit: tvN
Love Next Door has kicked off to a promising start.
The first episode of the tvN weekend drama aired on August 17th. The show premiered to a national viewership rating of 4.9%, and the second episode recorded 6.0%.
In the first episode, Nam Mi Sook (played by Park Ji Young) and Seo Hye Sook (played by Jang Young Nam) were seen engaging in a heated competition to brag about their exceptional children. Seo Hye Sook’s son Choi Seung Hyo (played by Jung Hae In ) is a renowned architect recognized in the field, while Nam Mi Sook’s daughter Bae Seok Ryu ( Jung So Min ) is a talented professional who graduated from a prestigious university working at a global company. However, Bae Seok Ryu secretly returns to Korea after breaking up with her boyfriend, and she unexpectedly encounters Choi Seung Hyo in her hometown before even meeting her parents.
Before they could even properly greet each other, her parents appeared, putting Seok Ryu in a tight spot. She hid behind a box in front of the building, but secrets never remain hidden for long. Seok Ryu confessed her breakup to Choi Seung Hyo, and her parents overheard the entire conversation. Seok Ryu used Choi Seung Hyo as a shield from her mother’s scolding and nagging, even receiving a whack with a bunch of green onions. Seo Hye Suk stepped in to protect her son, and her husband tried to calm his wife, seemingly easing the tense atmosphere. However, Bae Seok Ryu further escalated the situation by saying, “I even quit my job. I’m unemployed now,” leading to a second outburst and causing her and Choi Seung Hyo to flee together.
He took every hit for her, put every effort to renovate her room,put the stars she really likes on ceiling, console her to lessen her pain, shifted his entire house near her house .. Seunghyo didnt raise the standard in men HE HIMSELF IS STANDARD. #LoveNextDoorEp2 #Lovenextdoor pic.twitter.com/2PCuFgamqb — AiSh TLG 🦋 (@MeeeAisha) August 18, 2024
Credit: Netflix
Love Next Door has entered Netflix’s Global Top 10 Non-English series at number 5, marking its domestic and international success.
Currently airing on tvN, the drama follows a woman who seeks a fresh start in her life by returning to Korea. Fate intervenes as she becomes entangled with her childhood friend, with whom she shares a complex history. The show is available on tvN, TVING and Netflix.
The drama made a splash on the global stage, reaching the 5th spot on Netflix’s Top 10 Non-English series in just two days, according to Netflix’s Global Top 10 Non-English series ranking for the week of August 12th to August 18th. It also ranked in the top 10 most-watched series rankings on FlixPatrol in 75 countries worldwide, including major Western countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Canada, and Australia. International viewers have praised the chemistry between the two lead actors and the excellent dialogue.
Meanwhile, the second episode of Love Next Door aired on August 18th, recording an average rating of 6.7% and a peak of 7.8% in the Seoul metropolitan area, and an average of 6.0% and a peak of 6.9% nationwide, according to Nielsen Korea. The show ranked first in its time slot across all cable and general programming channels. Additionally, it ranked second in TV-OTT integrated buzz according to FUNdex in the third week of August. The show’s stars, Jung Hae In and Jung So Min took first and second place in the buzzworthy actors category.
‘Love Next Door’ Episodes 1-2 Recap: Jung Hae In and Jung So Min Have Unexpected Reunion
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