Netflix's Most Popular K-Drama: 3 Reasons to Watch Love Next Door
It is a perfect start for those who have never watched a K-drama before.
In October, the final episode of the k-drama Love Next Door was released. This is a new series from director Yoo Je-won and screenwriter Shin Ha-eun – the authors of another popular drama Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha.
As in their previous collaboration, the creators tell a heartfelt story about the lives of ordinary people and their daily difficulties.
1. The Drama Explores the Problems of the Modern Family
Bae Seok-ryu is the eldest daughter. The girl manages to get into a prestigious university in the US, to become a manager in a big company and to get engaged to a lawyer.
Seok-ryu's mother constantly argues with her best friend about which of their children is more successful. After all, her friend's son, Choi Seung-hyo, is an architect whose projects have won several awards and who is now opening his own office.
While the friends are comparing their successes, Seok-ryu returns to Seoul. She tells her family that she has quit her job and that the wedding is off.
The series touches on the topic of parental pressure and the desire to realize oneself through one's children. Seok-ryu's mother has never achieved anything in her life, so she instilled a thirst for success in her daughter, so that she could be proud and show off in front of others.
She tells her daughter to go back to the US and later discourages her dream of becoming a chef. The poor girl tried so hard not to disappoint her parents that she became depressed.
2. The Show's Creators Remind Us How Important It Is to Be Honest and Sincere
The creators emphasize that even one honest conversation can solve long-standing problems that accumulate like a snowball when kept quiet.
This idea is supported by the story of best friends Mi-sook and Hye-sook. They have been friends for forty years – yet they still argue and fight. Misunderstandings due to their different social status and their unwillingness to talk to each other lead to a big fight.
Hye-sook offers Mi-sook to pay for a cruise so that they can go on a trip together, but Mi-sook takes this as an insult. Only when they show each other their vulnerability do the friends finally reconcile.
3. The Drama Perfectly Combines Several Genres
Love Next Door is filmed in the everyday life genre, which is valued for its simplicity and emotional intimacy. In such dramas, there are no antagonists or shocking plot twists.
But at the same time, the creators successfully weave both family drama and rom-com into the story. The writers skillfully juggle all the components of the genre, harmoniously combining funny and sad moments, light and emotionally powerful episodes.