O Amor Mora ao Lado (2024)

Peak romantic escapism

I’ll be honest, this series has me in two minds. There is the critical side of me that see the contrived, cliche plots and then there is the romance drama tragic that lapped up all the swoon-y moments and happily frolicked with the unicorns. It is a tug of war at times but in the end, the drama tragic won and the critic was banished to the naughty corner.

The premise of the plot is the classic BFF to lover trope. Of course, it is a bumpy ride for our besotted leads or it won't be a k-drama. However, it is also less angsty than I expected. It is pretty smooth sailing on the Love Boat for our OTP once they sorted out their feelings. The angst largely comes from the second leads and the parents. Interestingly, they are not the usual annoying, controlling parents. They are decent folks, but the show put them at loggerheads due to some misunderstanding just to create tension and serve up some distraction.

As I mentioned before, the A-plot is quite simple if we pare back the extraneous side plots. What is left is a sweet OTP romance and an engaging 2CP. I'm happy to see the OTP is rock solid after their confession. However, the 2CP is on far shakier grounds. When you throw in a cute little girl into the mix, I’m shipping them big time.

I’m not saying that the OTP is boring. Where the OTP excelled is their chemistry. I think the acting experience of our two senior leads shows. Their interactions feel natural and believable. Their skinship is more passionate as well. The 2CP has their moments but they are a bit awkward around each other most of the time. Not that I’m complaining but there is a clear winner if you put them side by side.

If I release my inner critic, the show would be about 7.5. It is perfectly watchable if you want something that is angst lite and uncomplicated. On the other hand, if I morph into the Romance Drama Tragic™️, then it is an easy 8.5 (9 if you only rate the last 4 eps). You just need to filter out (skip) the noises and focus on the swoon worthy moments, especially during the second half. If I were to rewatch this, I’d start at the end of ep.11 and be a couch potato for the next few hours unto the happy end. I'll have to skip forward a few times but that's par for the course.

Speaking of the ending, it is very sweet but not quite sugar overload and less formulaic than expected. Everyone, and I mean everyone, gets a happy ending. There are minor twists, but the main plot stays the course.

One odd thing though. The budding romance of the FL’s brother and the ML’s coworker. They are obviously the 3CP but somehow their timing seems off. 10 months of close interaction and he doesn’t get the hint that the girl is into him?! I’ll just put it down to an odd slip by the writer-nim.

This show is a guilty pleasure for me. Maybe you will enjoy it too.

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Quietly and seductively steals your heart

Solid script, light soundtrack and a director who knew just the right balance between coziness and a little cross-cultural leavening. Overall not as wildly unpredictable as classic romedies nor as melancholy, but it nevertheless seductively steals your heart. The whole cast were brilliant professionals, wait til you meet little Yeondu! The musical precision with which they hit their marks, neither over-playing nor underplaying their parts, made me so happy.

The joy of watching formulaic drama is watching how the variations are used and guessing what they will be; actually advancing the formula is a long slow collective process but if one person can normalize happy and mildly suggestive scenes in bed it is Jung Hae In. Even his back radiates joy as he disappears behind a kicked-closed door. Anther personal favourites...Jo Han Chul (an excellent villain in other shows) blew my socks off as a true sweetheart dad.

I think an underlying theme of respect for women's career choices and aspirations (whatever they might be) is a key to understanding the script, non-dogmatically. Each person in a brilliantly nuanced way works through various aspects of this dramatic nexus, from the acknowledgement of changes in the arranged marriage trope (usually performed by older women) to undercutting the high-school take on sexuality trope. For ex., the FL obviously weighs changes caused by her health but also her lack of a support network in the USA, and her decision is to return to SK and find a new career, even tho it means facing her mom's fury. In another way, this is developed comically into the amazing and funny devolution of Jang Young Nam, as Seungho's mom, from elegant diplomat back to her roots in the group of high school friends known as Lavender.
Seukryu's mom, played by the great Park Ji Young, is living happily bec of her success in raising a successful daughter, and her stubbornness is a sign of her strength of character, a traditional trope, altho pretty heavy for a western audience. Her character arc as she adjusts to the new family reality is one of the mostheartbreaking if looked at this way. Take a look at all the others....

Two problems for me: I almost didn't make it past poor Seokryu being actually beaten by her mom. Threats would have sufficed for the comic lift. I had also a serious problem with architectural mismatches in shooting locations, which I am not usually fussy about.

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A Slice-of-Life Beyond Expectation: Love Next Door Delivers by Surpassing Them

Love Next Door did not disappoint; it turned out really great and became quite a decent melodrama with elements of a slice-of-life drama. Not everyone might like the story since some people could expect something else from the genre, but I was deeply satisfied and grateful for what this drama got me through.

The actor played the iconic role of the father to Bae Seokryu. I just couldn't help but cry in so many scenes because he acted so well. His naturalness and well-acted performance gave so much weight to those emotional moments in the show, much like the theme itself-a truthful theme in general. This is quite a drama that heavily relies on realism, and given that, it's bound to receive a mixed bag of opinions-some good and some not quite as great. However, I definitely stand on the positive side here, since the strengths of the series far outweigh its flaws.

But while it may prove slow for some viewers, the slow-burn romance develops organically and further adds to the drama's feel of realism. The way Seokryu and Seunghyo transitioned from childhood friends into something more flowed naturally and paralleled the subtlety of real-life relationships. It is a very realistic tale of family dynamics, friendships, and all those little yet strong moments that mold our lives.

There are those, of course, who would have liked a more conventional ending, but for me, this open-endedness worked. It allowed the characters to move on from what we had been seeing on screen. For anyone who can appreciate a drama that actually focuses both on emotional growth and subtle, significant moments, Love Next Door is rewarding.

Ultimately, it is a series of delicacies regarding everyday life, emotions, and personal ties. Although it may not be up to everyone's standard, the positives surely outweigh the negatives in this beautifully portrayed story.

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Achieving Your Dreams while Benefitting Others

Love Next Door isn’t just a love story between the leads, but also a touching exploration of love and compassion for others. Lifelong friends finally find their way to each other after 30 years of missed opportunities. Choi Seung Hyo, the male lead, achieves great success as an award-winning architect, though it wasn’t his first dream. His passion for swimming was cut short due to an injury, but his resilience and determination led him to a different kind of fulfillment.

The female lead, Bae Seok Ryu, lived most of her life chasing her mother’s dreams, leading her to a personal and emotional breakdown despite achieving "success" in the States. Returning to Korea, she seeks to discover her own dreams and break away from her controlling mother. I loved how her childhood friend Seung Hyo supported and guided her toward her true passion—cooking.

However, I was upset when the writers introduced a stomach cancer storyline for Seok Ryu, which added tension to the rest of the drama. Though I was relieved there was no relapse, I found myself worried until the end. In the end, though, it became a meaningful reason for Seok Ryu to create healthy food for others who might face similar health challenges.

Ultimately, the dreams of both leads evolved into something bigger than themselves—doing good for others. Seung Hyo turned down big corporate projects to focus on architectural work that revitalized his older community, while Seok Ryu chose to cook healthy meals for everyone. The positive message that came through—that personal success is best when shared with and benefits others—is one that the world truly needs to hear.

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It's been a long time...

It's been a long time since I wasn't hipped with the drama like Love Next Door (since the disaster of Lovely runner...)

How to start... It is simple: I loved this drama with my heart: it has everything ... trauma, fear, love, dreams...
It is very realistic, a simple story and I loved how they overcome everything at the end. The sickness and depression topic are well developed which made the drama even more touching.
All the characters were well written and had their own stories and I loved them all. You could really see the improvement of each one at the end...

I loved it .... And the chemistry between the ML and FL? WOW, I still replay the love scene in my head even today, I never felt that.. Jung Hae In will always be my favorite. I fill a void now that I finished it .. It was my comfort show for weeks.
Bref. If you're hesitating: JUST WATCH IT. You will not be disappointed.

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Decent storyline with wonderful chemistry

Tbh I was very excited and had huge expectation from it since "FRIENDS TO LOVERS" trope is my fav type. Moreover, im a huge fan of JHI. But I wasn't happy after the way story took turns with ex. However, kept trust in JHI's words and didn't drop. Now Im quite satisfied but not fully. Keeping aside storyline, the chemistry between both leads was very solid and organic. Usually i don't get too much invested in second lead's story and in 90% cases, my priority and loyalty always remain with main leads. But this time the story progression (better than main leads' story) and chemistry of second leads were really good. From ep 11, the pace and buildup of story was good including many heartwarming moments which made me forget the ex fiasco. The transition of two friends to become lovers has been portrayed very beautifully. I liked how they bicker and tease each other in their dating period (exactly like their friendship period) but when they had arguement, they solved it with maturity and proper communication like a proper couple should do. They are childish yet sorted, matured. It made me realize that if SH were in SR ex's place, SR never had fallen in depression or they might not get broken up. SR's ex was a good person. But sometimes two perfect people can't be perfect for each other. They might have tried to give best to their relationship but they weren't good/ made for each other. Finally i convinced myself with this narrative and overall im happy with it. At last but not the least, it's not a ROMCOM. It's a whole package of slow burn romance, comedy, melodrama, feel good, healing drama. Romance part is more in comparison to others, but u hv to wait a little bit to reach that point. But i feel u won't regret it.

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I have a mix of admiration and frustration when it comes to the writer.

This drama is absolutely worth your time, though it’s important to note that it isn’t a typical romcom. It’s more of a melodrama with elements of slice of life, and a dash of romance and humor. While no work is perfect (at least for me), I found it enjoyable. It made me both laugh and cry, and gave me plenty of those heart-fluttering moments. The beautiful promotions and the charming off-screen interactions between Haein and Somin only enhanced the experience, making it even more memorable for me as a viewer.

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But I have to be honest, the writer seems lost here. It feels like she's wandering aimlessly, much like a person stumbling down a path without clear direction. I respect her attempt to make things relatable and realistic, but when it comes to the core element "romance" she completely missed the mark. The unnecessary twists she introduced really hurt the development of the main couple's relationship. Thier love story had so much potential but would have been more impactful if we also got her perspective, like when she began to fall for him or when she started seeing him as a romantic interest. Her love for him feels underdeveloped. Her actions alone aren't enough to convey that connection to me as a viewer; something crucial feels missing.......HER FREAKING POV, DAMN IT.

I don’t mean to sound negative, but I’m a bit let down by the writer. There were so many wonderful opportunities she could have explored, like the big event for the award and his injury. It would’ve been nice to see something like her shaving his face or a similar sweet moment. I’m just feeling a little frustrated!

On the other hand, his perspective is one of the most captivating in K-drama history. His character completely won me over; I especially appreciated how he had realistic layers, with his own flaws rather than being purely fictional. However, it was his actions and words towards her that were crafted so beautifully, and Haein’s brilliant performance elevated it even more.

● Note : Haein and Somin's authentic performances and incredible on-screen chemistry truly carried this show. While no disrespect is meant to the rest of the cast, it's undeniable that they were the key factor in its popularity.

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slice of life with amazing chemistry must watch ignore haters

seriously i literally dropped most of kdrama this year so i wasn't excited about lnd too ?

but i just start watching bcoz of somin i loved her old shows ik she is not going to dissappoint me

this show mix of all genres angst, slice if life, romantce, comedy, healing. story line us kinda slow but u r going to relate to each and every character. specially both fml i really loved their story. this show is about life is not always full of rises and star but everyone have their flaws how they recover from it

really really loved somin and haein chemistry they both literally carried this show with their on and off screen chemistry i seriously want to see them again in another drama they seriously look hot together

last its not typical kdramas full fake fantasies but more focus on real life struggle i kinda enjoyed it its in my top 3 in 2024 fav. drama
i hope somin and haein won best couple

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LND

Uhhh non ho le parole giuste per iniziare questa recensione finale...di solito mi si stampa in viso un bel sorriso che conclude il percorso del drama che ho seguito lasciandomi piacevolmente felice...ma a sto giro mi ha lasciato a metà... anzi mi sento come se non avessi visto la fine sconclusionata!

Non volevo finisse così volevo una vera conclusione! E soprattutto volevo vedere l'amica che tornava dal polo sud!!! Per non parlare almeno del matrimonio o della stessa casa che stava costruendo!!

Sono felice solo del ristorante..avevo pensato giusto ma non credevo sarebbe partita dal padre l'idea...dolcissimo uomo fino in fondo ❤️

Dicendo questo comunque il mio voto è un 8...perché? Bhe ho apprezzato tantissimo il valore che hanno dato all'amicizia...e come hanno evidenziato rendendoli veramente reali i problemi familiari che si possono incontrare nella vita, facendoceli vivere in prima persona e coinvolgendoci con le gioie e i dolori dei protagonisti ...

Questi piccoli e significativi momenti sono la parte che ha salvato questo drama per me.

Concordo sul fatto che sia stato più intenso e coinvolgente all'inizio... che la lunghezza infinita degli episodi potevano evitarla e forse tagliare anche qualche pezzo....

Lo rivedrei? No... se non lo avessi visto on air ...non so se lo avrei finito tanto presto ...

End

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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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