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From its title to its trailer, we knew Love Next Door will be pulling all stops around the much-seen-before trope of childhood-friends-turned-lovers sharing the same wall. The latest K-drama did not really break a lot of ground about its core plot. It was “been there, done that” from the word go. BUT that’s about it!
Love Next Door: Bachpan ka pyaar and best of K-Dramas plots
Jung Hae-in as Choi Seung-hyo and Jung So-min as Bae Seok-ryu play the lead pair giving us all the feels of bachpan ka pyar, heartbreaks, reunions, realisations and changing dimension of their relationship. Most of this is probably a favourite format in Korean shows – lead returning to their roots after professional slump (Hometown Cha Cha Cha), “he fell first but she fell harder” (Lovely Runner), fighting an ailment together (Queen of Tears) and many more. Love Next Door smartly picked the best of all the love stories. But, there’s more to what met the eye.
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Dysfunctional families who eat together, fight together
Love Next Door went beyond just being the story of two childhood buddies who fall in love. It is actually about three families who hold onto each other through thick and thin, laughter and tear. Taking its cue from the “Lavender” gang, we had Seung-hyo’s side and Seok-ryu’s side – both as different as chalk and cheese, yet keeping the same soul of finding strength back home. The third family belonged to the lead pair’s school mate and best friend Jeong Mo-eum (Kim Ji-eun), who finds a soulmate in single father (uncle) Kang Dan-ho (Yoon Ji-on). Dan-ho, in return finds a home and family for his daughter Yeon-du. The three households are the safe havens for every character. And that makes the show standout.
Second lead as good as first
Love Next Door had chaotic homes, bragging and nagging mothers, messy actress and steady man, and all this with dollops of comedy, tears and heartwarming moments.
It wins for adding special spices and mixing the same old ingredients with freshness, a la Seok-ryu's kitchen. Most definitely, the chemistry between its main couple is the highpoint. But the second leads Mo-eum and Dan-ho had their moments too, sometimes even better! Their graph was as emotional and dramatic as any lead pair. They can easily have a spinoff of their own (current favourite flavour post Spice Up Our Love!)
ALSO READ: Jung Hai-In Says Working With ‘Star’ Son Ye-Jin Was ‘Intimidating’ In Something In The Rain
Supportive exes who don't force their love
Brownie points for giving great tracks to the exes. Both Jang Tae-Hui (Seo Ji-hye) and Song Hyeon-jun (Han Joon-woo) only helped Seung-hyo and Seok-ryu in deepening their love. They weren't toxic at all. They only encouraged, making the leads realise several things.
Love Next Door ended on its highest ratings. We aren’t surprised. It played its cards right. It gave audience a breezy show that was a stressbuster after a hectic week. It has emerged as one of the biggest hits of 2024. Fans are happy. We are happy. Every next door is happy!