What in the melodrama has this show become? Why are these people making this about themselves? They're madder about Seok-ryu not telling them than they are sad about her having cancer. Seung-hyo reading her medical diagnosis was an invasion of privacy.

It sucks because I actually loved the beach scene (minus Seung-hyo not hugging her while she was breaking down). Seok-ryu enduring everything on her own and not sharing her burdens with her family and friends because she didn't want them to worry is so relatable, but did the drama really need to give her cancer to drive home the point? Depression would've been enough (although that'd be like Doctor Slump).

Who tf kisses someone when they're crying over their DEAD WIFE?! I hate the second leads' romance so much. Why is Mo-eum so obsessed with Yeon-du? Not wanting to wake her so she can stare at her more while asleep and wishing she were her daughter. Why does Mo-eum call herself "unni"? Like Yeon-du told In-sook, "You seem more like a halmeoni," Mo-eum is an imo. Why is Yeon-du only five years old? The child actress is miscast.

Why do they keep getting poor Seung-hyo's dad's hopes up just to crush him? Does Seung-hyo know that Mom didn't/isn't cheat/ing with the vice minister because little Seok-ryu told him, "Your mom's going to work," but then why does he keep having nightmares of that night? Why does this show keep misleading its audience with characters being cheaters like Seok-ryu's ex-fiancé? I've read the theories about Mom being sick, and I hate it. As if one terminal illness in a ROM-COM wasn't jarring enough.

The first two minutes of Episode 9 of Hyun-joon's marriage proposal was the sweetest scene of the entire drama. Way to sabotage your own OTP, writer-nim. I really liked Hyun-joon and believe he and Seok-ryu make a better pair. Where does Seung-hyo get off, dictating what they can and cannot say to each other and whether they can shake hands? They were engaged to be married. They're closer than you who ignored his best friend's phone calls and texts for three years because you were upset that she had moved on. Hyun-joon is definitely the bigger person.

SIGH, the amount of unecessary meandering and filler in these two episodes is crazy. They didn't need to be an hour and a half. The writer could have literally done all of that in one episodes or two 1 hour episodes. The length wouldn't bother me if things were happening, but they aren't. It is as if we are stuck in an awful time loop of nonsense.

That being said I actually sided with Seok Ryu's parents, girl tell your parents if you have cancer. I cried when they cried too, I can only imagine how terrible they must feel.

I have no idea why the writer reduces all their characters to children when they like each other. What in the headbutt hell? What was the point of that? Why? Also Seung Hyo's parents, y'all are adults, SPEAK to each other. It is silly at this point, smh.

Still love it and enjoy every episode. And there is definitely something going on with his mom, isn't it? I fear we are not done with health scares.

Thanks for the recap, @Missvictrix

“I never thought to fall down with you.”
Caretaking is hard. I really liked the Hyeon-jun story arc. I’m glad they didn’t resort to “cheating” as an easy explanation for the end of their relationship, but something that is more complex. Hyeon-jun isn’t a bad guy, but caretaking IS really hard. I feel like Hyeon-jun and Seok-Ryu was a typical Korean power couple, but her illness was perhaps one of the greatest tests of the strength of the relationship . He seemed much more capable of supporting her during the cancer, but completely lost at sea with her depression. They slid back easily into their routine when her stomach gave her problems, but his insistence for her to apply to the CIA just showed that he was still on that same trajectory of wanting her to become part of the power couple again rather than considering how her dream might not fit into the vision he has for their life. It isn’t unreasonable for Seok-Ryu (or anyone) to want someone who will stand by them through both ups and downs, but not everyone can do that. And that is a perfectly acceptable reason for them to part ways. I like that he realized that in the end, and gracefully bowed out.

”Do you want some ramyeon?”
HAHAHAHAHA! Was I the only one who thought “Oh snap, are they really going to get it on right now?!” I’m quite invested now in Seo Hye-Suk and Choi Kyung-jong’s marriage! I loved the slow-mo hero-twirling-the-heroine-out-of-danger motif for this seasoned, married couple. And even more the unexpected “Do you want some ramyeon?” It’s so typical of shows to focus on these little flutter moments during a courtship, but marriages also need those flutter moments to keep the passion alive - or in this case, to rekindle the love. I’m sad we took a step back in Episode 10, but I think that’s also realistic. You can’t just fix a marriage which has been broken for several years with just one moment.

Inversions and Full Circles
I also love how we are coming full circle in some of the motifs we were introduced to in the first eight episodes:

(a) The Sea reflecting the Sky: Seung-Hyo finding Seok-Ryu at the same beach she went to when she ran away from home. But, this time it mirrors Seok-Ryu climbing into Seung-Hyo’s bedroom when he was the “bear in the cave” and she brought him back out. It’s now his turn, but I liked the more complex element to the situation. He had to apologise, because he did fail her: he failed to read her signals for help and left her in her own cave. But, he came back, he went after her (like in high school) but now to bring her out like she did for him.

(b) The Jungle Gym - but this time Seung-Hyo is the one who is bearing his feelings, and also owning them. It was completely appropriate (and mature) for him to acknowledge that he can’t make her like him if she doesn’t, but that she still has no right to tell him how he feels. He’s willing to name...

Fell asleep during both last episodes. I guess this is it for me.

I dropped this one, but Reddit comments are making it sound like this drama has an incredibly unrealistic depiction of cancer treatment and work conditions in the USA

It was not cheating by Hyeon-Jun, it was the post-diagnosis depression that changed Seok-Ryu because other people were treating her different. Hyeon-Jun was a good, supportive and caring BF/fiancee. His actions speak louder than any words Seung-Hyo could say. The contrast between the two was day and night. It made Seung-Hyo more shallow, selfish, obtuse and naive. It calls into question how “really” close SR and SH were/are during the last ten years. Young SR took care of SH like a de facto mother. Clearly, he relied on her too much in covering up his quasi-abandonment issues toward his real mother. SR was in the US for 10 years so her childhood friendships would have drifted toward the background of her life as it does for just about everyone. After 7 years in the US, she has a great job and great boyfriend until cancer. She only has a 33% five-year survival rate; she has never been or wanted to be burden to anyone; she solely wants to end her last life chapter on her own terms. I think the illness plot is here to stay.

That is why at end of episode 9, she has rejected both HJ and SH. She had lived the best times of her life with HJ, and she does not want to live the worst time of her life with SH. SR friend-zoned SH harder than a truck of doom because she still admits seeing him as a needy child.

It irked me to no end SH invading her privacy to find her secret and then to dump it on her family in the most basic k-drama way. I do give credit for SR’s mother’s reaction - - - the missing hug from a parent missing in all the main characters young adult lives.

Episode 10 goes through the most Korean k-drama way of navigating family grief at the upper end of the decibel range. But the real issue in this episode to me was the denigration of Hyeon-Jun’s role in SR’s life, especially by SH macho-peacocking that he will now protect SH. But past actions speak louder than words; SR now knows HJ was also alone during her post-surgery depression. And a part of her does not want to let him go. HJ has had the best character growth arc in the series but it overshadowed by the sledgehammer notion that women need to be protected by men who demand submissiveness in return. SH’s mother’s personality of being “a know-it-all” pushes to the surface once again when SR is still trying to navigate and come to terms with her emotions. SH still has no idea of boundaries: SR wanted to be alone and mediate, but he encroaches on her privacy and throws her into the sea (what for? to wake her up from what?) I guess one could argue this is the gray area between friendship and selfishness.

There was a lot of material packed into this weekend’s 3 hours, but none of it translated to chemistry between the leads. It is like watching two magnets with like-poles point together, that naturally should push apart (repel each other). The only good foreshadowing I see from The Illness is Dad self-esteem lifted by becoming successful selling high quality Joseon Gungjung...

I loved these episodes. I don't need all my rom-com full of comedic sounds, a lot of jokes, etc. I think the issue is to put dramas in categories like Cinderella at 2am, it's funny but the theme of abuse is pretty strong. For me, rom-com is more a romance with a happy ending. Cancer being in the top of causes of death in Korea, I don't think it's so strange theme and this drama is about family, not only romance.

I liked how the characters were raw in their reactions of her past illness : worried she's still sick, sad she was alone during her treatment, angry because she could die without them knowing about her surgery, angry because she didn't trust them.

There is no villain in this drama, just human beings with their flaws but it doesn't lack love between the characters. We really can see how they cared for each other.

SR is ready to start a new phase in her life, she found her dream. She's liberated from her big secret. She understands she can accept help and love from people who loves her.

My favorite moments :

- SH imitating Han Suk-kyu. It was quite close to the original.
- SH with the pomegranate tree.
- SR saying how she felt at the beach. She always disregarded her own feelings.
- I like SH and ME's friendship. It wasn't just SH and SR on one side and SR and ME on the other. The 3 of them are friends.
- The family diner with her father's speech.
- My stomach will explode 😂

Wait, your telling me Hyun Joon didn't get at least three meals and a few drinks for taking care of their daughter for so many years? He only got... a handshake? And one sponsored by SH?

The audacity of this drama to paint the ex-fiancee as the inferior suitor. I’ve got to laugh.

I mean, this guy spent at least 3 years of his life being FL’s sole caretaker during cancer treatment, no breaks with seemingly no support system on his own, never give up, never complain, but one bad outburst and the drama deemed him an unsuitable partner.

What pissed me off the most was that the drama made him go through this “epiphany” that he “did not love her the right way” after witnessing the ML YELLED at the FL for not sharing her burden or something like that (while he’s the one who’s ignored her messages back then). BITCH WHERE?? 3 years is a long time; the ex was all alone caring for her, respecting her wishes of keeping the illness a secret, realising he’s messed up, and travelling all the way to Korea to apologise and win her back! He’s basically an angel, especially compared to the ML. This guy only knew about FL’s illness for a few days, long after the fact, and he’s already yelled at her several times. And I’m supposed to believe this one is the right one for her to spend the rest of her life with, in sickness and in health, through exhausting years of cancer treatment and depression? Really ??

I also find it weird that none of her family seemed to reach out to say thanks or something, the only one thanking him is the male lead, which is done begrudgingly and condescendingly at that, like he was doing Mr. Ex a favor. Honestly, who does he think he is?

It's honestly kinda frustrating and confusing to me how they've used the ex fiance. First they made it seem like he's a cheater and then have him come back in the picture to be met with hostility by her parents only to then have the mother try to help him get Seok Ryu back. Then he acts like he's still Seok Ryu's guardian. Only to then end with "I wasn't what you needed but at least we had good times".
Seung Hyo's weird entitlement isn't any better to me. I think one of the more frustrating is Seok Ryu not clarifying anything but I also get that she's supposed to be kinda overwhelmed. It's still frustrating though.

I don't know if it's the cultural difference or it's a me thing but I really & truly can't stand the parents. I wish Seok Ryu would just move into her own place.
And also, Seok Ryu is in her 30s! How are they saying whether they'll allow her to do anything? She's not even financially dependent on them (especially given her big corporate job in the states for a decade or however long it was)

Sigh, I'm not a fan of how the relationship between Seung Hyo's parents played out. The mom KNOWS she wasn't around for his childhood or are we to believe that she revised it in her memory? The mom and dad had little to no interaction and now it's supposed to be heart fluttering that he cleaned broken glass and stopped her from walking on it? Sidenote: why was she even trying to walk barefoot around broken glass? And then them having ramen and reminiscing just felt forced and out of nowhere to me. It feels like I'm missing episodes or moments in between only to go right back to the dad assume the mother is having an affair.

Ahhh, so the fiance could "handle" the physical illness but not the mental illness? Hmm.
Not to diminish how mentally exhausting it can be to deal with someone who is going through depression but this is also why it would've been beneficial if they let others into their world; people like her trusted friends. Even if she couldn't get in touch with Seung Hyo, why not reach out to Mo Eum?

And once again the kdramaverse is more forgiving than I am.

I almost dropped the show after last week, but this week brought me back a bit. I guess her illness was the catalyst needed to kick the other character’s (namely her family and Seung-hypo) into proper self-reflection. I also appreciated how it was an important part of the strength of her and Hyeon-Jin’s relationship and also its demise. I was ready to kick his character to the curb last week but was truly sad to see him go this week. I somehow ended up with EFS—ex-fiance syndrome 😂 I was never really on the Seok-ryu/Seung-hyo ship.

I’m not sure about these final weeks and what they’re going to cover. I was invested in Seung-hyo’s parents’ relationship but their lack of communication is just irritating now. Plus the show hinting at his mom in early stages of dementia is just 🤦🏻‍♀️😩🤬 Like, we just got through stomach cancer. You’re really going to “heal” another family with potential terminal illness? There’s so much wrong with the writing for this show I can’t even.

I came to the show for a cute friends-to-lovers rom-com but am now just watching it for Seok-ryu’s journey of self-discovery and growth. I’d be perfectly content if Seok-ryu just Julie & Julia’d the rest of this show. In fact, I’d prefer it.

This show is infuriating. This show thinks it's so smart by not showing us the full scene, or let us know certain stuff, only to then later reveal it in a "surprise" twist. No, show, this doesn't make you smart. The trick is so darn obvious and the whole thing feels so cheap that it just makes you look pathetic.

Anyway, we've also gotten to the point where literally every character in this show is more tolerable than the male lead, so congrats on that one, show. This guy is just simply infuriating. He's jealous, petty, immature, selfish, mean, childish, hypocritical, and a bunch of other things. Can someone please explain what I'm supposed to see in this guy? Flawed characters are great, but this show only treats him as a flawed character 5% of the time, and then proceeds to pretend he's perfect for the remaining 95%, even when he's so obviously not. Everyone is more tolerable than him simply because this show knows that they are flawed, and writes them as such. Flawed characters don't work when you literally ignore the flaws. The only time this show has actually treated him like a flawed character is when Seok-ryu finally called him out (after multiple scenes where the only thing he does is yell at her), and that's literally the bare-minimum and lasts like 2 minutes. I get she should've told you about the cancer, but also... stop making this about yourself? Yeah, you were hurt, I get it, but last I checked, you weren't the one with cancer, so shut up and quit it with your holier-than-thou attitude. Literally everybody else managed to hug her after 2 minutes, so why on earth should I care about him hugging her hours later? Oh, and who do you think you are setting "rules" for the last meeting of Seok-ryu and her ex? Seriously what gives you the right?

Anyway, I think it's pretty clear I'm just angry at this show right now. I'm probably just going to skip scenes or use the 1.5 speed button, because I can't do this anymore, but I also don't want to drop it because there are still some thing I like.

I can't ever make out or hear the Greip english scenes but do people really gossip about people having cancer like that? I don't know what else was said but it seemed mocking

Since melodrama is Jung Hae In's wheelhouse, it's not totally surprising that the drama has taken this turn. I would think this is probably a good chance to take a mental note that if Jung Hae In is in it as a main lead, it will be melodramatic at some point.

Wow, this made me think of Ji Chang Wook because I wondered if when you see him that means he will be kissing someone at some point. Not necessarily that it will be romantic but sensual or tension filled.

I have no problem with a show mixing light and dark elements and I actually think the second couple storyline is doing this well (though Moeum's obsession with the kid is OTT). The problem with lnd is that it's a badly written drag.

Is it just me or did we have about 15 mins of scenes in the architectural firm about someone objecting to building a house? That was so boring!

It's striking to think back to the first two episodes and how far we've veered from the initial premise and set up. Seok ryu is a totally different character now - even if she was to an extent putting on a brave face in the earlier episodes, she has been dragged around by the ex fiance and ML these last four. Her character as initially set out would balk at all this rather than timidly accepting it.

The show is portraying complex characters and themes (asian parenting, burnout) but completely failing to instil confidence that it's interested in actually exploring them beyond a trite wrap up. The family resolution at the end of ep 10 was so unsatisfying.

The flashbacks and omissions are too clever by half and I have no idea why some characters do things. Why does the surgeon dad want to reconcile with his wife? At the start of the show they had a cold relationship and it seemed this impacted on our ML. What changed for him? Why should I root for them to reconnect?

I thought Seung Ho had some actual realisations about his behaviour at the end of Ep 10, and Jung Hae In can really sell those and his agony. But I agree with other commenters that other aspects of his behaviour are so off the mark and the drama seems to want us to see them as endearing.

Onto next week I suppose! Maybe it'll turn a corner?! The definition of insanity after all..

These episodes dragged for me. I really didn't like the way Seung-hyo consistently ignored her boundaries. Of course we are supposed to see this as the catalyst she needs to have an emotional breakthrough. But in what universe is it okay to look at your friend's medical paperwork?! Or forcibly drag her into the ocean? Does she even like him romantically? I haven't seen much evidence of it.

On the other hand, I think Mo-Eum and Mudflat Man are super cute. In their relationship, you can see the chemistry that is lacking between the main couple. My favorite scene is the one where he talks about the gift of time with someone you thought you had lost.

I don't know that the biopsy was normal? I only know that she talked to the doctor and said out loud in front of Seung-hyo that it was normal? Or did I miss something?

The name they should have given this show is... "When Keepin It Real Goes Wrong" and billed it as a hard core drama. I had such high hopes for this show when it started with the FL, ML, and SL being close friends and the witty banter of the FL with the ML providing the romcom. There are too many threads in this show that veer off where I think most of us thought it would go. For me, the charm of these Korean romcoms is the hyperbole and the need to suspend reality. In attempting to show realism of reactions, the writer has gone off the romcom reservation.

I noticed that there was no preview at the end of the last episode. I was hoping for previews that show that the show will start to focus on the ML and SL's romance finally. I did see a review on Youtube and then I see that now ML will be faced with DIVORCE of his parents!??!!

I didn't understand what some of you call "hate watching" meant but now I know.

I've said before that I prefer the english title of Love Next Door because it seems more fitting of the overall concept and what actually happens in the show. This week's episodes once again solidified that point to me.

From what I understand, "mom's friend's son" is supposed to be like this exceptional guy who is the gold standard that others' kids are compared to and is oh so admirable. The first episode said that but ever since, it's just been informed ability without showing ANYTHING. I don't know much about business but he doesn't seem particularly good at his business. He isn't a particularly good friend. He wasn't a particularly good boyfriend.

It seems like false advertising to make *him* the title character.

Seung Hyo is the nice guy from my nightmares. The type of man that believes his kindness must be reciprocated with love and attention. If not, he will drop you like a hot potato, call you ungrateful, and cuss you out. Clearly, his kindness is transactional. Yet, I cannot pin-point one thing that he has done for the heroine that deserves praise; she’s always the one taking care of him. She sacrifices her time to give him encouragement while he’s a happy recipient.

Honestly, Seung Hyo’s pretty useless and acts as though his level of maturity hit a plateau two decades ago. How dare this man see his “best friend” 🤡 looking like a shell of herself and walk away because he didn’t like who was holding her hand? What if she was being abused? Is it not common decency to at least check in? What, she isn’t allowed to have a life separate from yours? Give me a break! Instead, he dodged her calls for 3 years. 3 YEARS. 🤡🤡🤡 Be so for real right now. I completely understand why Seok Ryu told Mo Eun not to call him when they were on the roof earlier in the show – she wasn’t sure that he would show up! Trying to save face, she didn’t want to look pathetic by calling him, only to receive no answer. What even is this show? The com is not coming and the rom has run for the hills. If they’re trying to give me reasons not to root for the main couple, they’re succeeding.

Meanwhile MudflatParamedic are single-handedly saving this drama. I love these two. Otherwise, no one is worth the headache that Trauma Next Door doles out.

I told @hopefulromantic I was sticking with this to the end but... I'm out. Right, wrong, or otherwise, I'm not enjoying this drama at all and beanies' comments about this week's episodes (which I didn't watch) have only reaffirmed my decision. I stuck with a few too many shows this year that I ended up regretting, so I'm reclaiming my 8... er, 10 hours back.

I'm enjoying the family melodrama (with the older actors giving some wonderful performances) since the drama wasn't doing that well on the rom-com front. Even if they added more rom-com scenes, it could have ended awkward like some of the Mo-eum x Dan-ho moments. They have chemistry, but some of the lines and moments feel cringe (like Mo-eum's weird obsession with his daughter and the kiss).

I can understand where Seung-hyo is coming from and he does repent and apologize, but I just can't trust him with Seok-ryu's heart. Seok-ryu was looking thin and ill and she kept on calling him. He couldn't even send an emoji because he saw her with her boyfriend? Seung-hyo is too much like his dad. Seok-ryu deserves more. And I don't think Seung-hyo really understands Seok-ryu like the drama is trying to tell me he does.

I can see why Seok-ryu endured her cancer without others knowing. She was known as a tough cookie, the protector, and someone who you never had to worry about. Also when my friends, cousins, and I got into our 30s, the roles with our parents switched from them taking care of us to us taking care of them and worrying about them (and irritating them with our worries), so it was interesting to see that transition and tension here.

One thing I'm really bummed about with this series is how Dan-ho isn't integrated with the friends group. I'd love to see a Yeon-du + Seok-ryu interaction.

Sad to see the best character (imo) aka fiance Hyun Joon go. You did your best HJ-ssi. Being a caretaker is hard and you did it so well for years. Having an outburst is human. Don't think you didn't give it your all. Both of you needed a bigger support system to go through what you've experienced. Hopefully you'll find someone better and bring out the best of each other and also has a less-yelling more close knit family.

Bye2 HJ~ you'll be missed.

-----

It would be easier for me to root a ML like fiance over ML like current ML. Drama writer should have swapped the roles if they are so insistent to have JHI as endgame with JSM.

Omooo this recap is so on point, i wonder Where is the Love Next Door? My favourite scene was at the beach when SR yelled at SH cos it was about time he got told off for always yelling at her. I guess next week’s crisis will be the parents divorce..i hope that doesn’t take 3 freaking hours!