K-DRAMA RECAP: “Love Next Door” Episodes 3 and 4

Unemployed life might not be for everyone, as our heroine soon starts fidgeting around looking for something to do. Boredom has her rushing into finding a new job, but is that really what our heroine wants to do or is she just pushing through without thinking things over?

Luckily, with some help from our male lead, our heroine musters up the courage and returns to being the spunky girl from before. It might take some time but our leading lady will do some pondering and figure out her dream. Moreover, we get a not-so-surprising reveal regarding where our male lead’s heart lies.

Love Next Door Episodes 3 and 4 Highlights

We open this week with flashbacks to the year 2007 when Seung-hyo was participating in an important swimming competition through which new members of the national team were selected. His parents were too busy with work to show up. But Seung-hyo had a cheerer-upper rooting for him in the form of bubbly and chaotic Seok-ryu.

Luckily, not only did Seung-ryu secure a spot on the national team, but he also came in first. Seok-ryu sees him off on his first day, gifting him a towel embellished with cheering words. Yet, unfortunately, on his way, Seung-hyo got into an accident and was severely injured and had to quit swimming as a result, getting him heartbroken.

The sentimental look on Seung-hyo’s face while immersing his hand in the pool and how he prioritizes a competition regarding the remodeling of his high school gym (where he used to spend most of his time) over a high-budget project speaks volumes about how much Seung-hyo misses the old days. But unluckily, we can’t turn back time or change the way things turned out.

Meanwhile, Seok-ryu experiences some hardships of her own. At first, Seok-ryu was excited about taking a break and experiencing the unemployed life for the first time. But sooner than expected, this excitement fades off and is replaced by boredom.

Also, it doesn’t help matters that some people think Seok-ryu still works for her old company and is only in Korea on a break. Since correcting them will take a lot of work, Seok-ryu just plays along, though she is uncomfortable about lying to other people.

Boredom and anxiety push Seok-ryu into trying to land a job quickly, though it is palpable that this line of work isn’t what she wants to do. Seung-hyo confronts Seok-ryu about it, urging her to follow her dream instead of doing a job she doesn’t like. Yet, Seok-ryu hurts Seung-hyo’s feelings, claiming that only those privileged like him can pursue their dreams and do what they want. Thus, rubbing salt in his wound.

Back during their high school days, our trio of childhood friends wrote letters to their future selves, put those letters in a time capsule, and buried them in the school garden, promising to dig up the capsule after 10 years. That deadline is way behind them, yet the time capsule is still buried.

Hoping the letter she wrote back then would help her figure out what to do, Seok-ryu tries to dig up the capsule but Seung-hyo beats her to it. By the school pool, he reads Seok-ryu’s letter out. When caught, Seung-hyo jumps into the pool, trusting that Seok-ryu won’t jump after him since she is scared of water. Which marks the first time Seung-hyo entered the pool after his accident.

Seok-ryu tries to apologize to Seung-hyo. But instead, he reminds her of one of their memories. After he quit swimming, Seung-hyo cooped himself up inside his room, but Seok-ryu kept dropping by no matter how many times Seung-hyo kicked her. If he shut her out, Seok-ryu would enter through the window. Seok-ryu even kept cussing until Seung-hyo started talking to her. A chaotic yet lovely nutjob indeed!

//말빨전쟁// 정소민, 방에 틀어박힌 정해인에 애정 듬뿍(?) 쌍욕 박기 #엄마친구아들 EP.3 | tvN 240824 방송

In an attempt to motivate her, Seung-hyo argues that being lively and energetic is what suits Seok-ryu best. So, she should stop being a coward and return to her old self. Seung-hyo’s words move Seok-ryu deeply that she disregards her fear and jumps into the pool, getting us treated to a mini swimming training session and a sincere conversation regarding dreams.

Seok-ryu admits to having wanted to quit, but the “wrong” belief that she would amount to nothing without her global corporation position has always stopped her. With some nudge from Seung-hyo, Seok-ryu decides to muster up the courage and try something new, just like he did. (I am relieved studying architecture was Seung-hyo’s newfound dream and not a path he was forced upon.)

Playing a game of hypothetical questions, Seung-hyo asks Seok-ryu if she would change her mind about breaking off the engagement if given another chance. And when Seok-ryu assures Seung-hyo that isn’t the case. The look on Seung-hyo’s face changes, as if relieved from a heavy burden or excited about something.

[심쿵엔딩] 정해인, 불안해하는 정소민에게 건넨 응원 (ft.타임캡슐에 봉인된 비밀) #엄마친구아들 EP.3 | tvN 240824 방송

Through a flashback to when our trio of childhood friends wrote the letters, we learn what Seung-hyo wrote. High School Seung-hyo wonders in his letter if Future Seung-hyo confessed his feelings to Seok-ryu. So, she was indeed his first love, yet he chickened out and couldn’t tell her about his feelings.

So, the drama indeed went down this path, having Seok-ryu as Seung-hyo’s first love. Given the hints from last week, I am not the slightest bit surprised by this turn of events. Still, it would have been refreshing had Seung-hyo regarded Seok-ryu as just a childhood friend but viewed her in a different light after her return. “He fell first” trope is nice and all, but I wanted the drama to take a different approach.

Back to our leads, having changed into some dry clothes, they finally sit down to check the letters. But it seems like Seung-hyo has already forgotten he mentioned his feelings for Seok-ryu in his letter as he gets shocked and makes a run for it before Seok-ryu can catch him and read what he wrote. A flustered Seung-hyo trying to convince himself that those feelings have faded away long since is a treat to watch.

Another trouble for Seung-hyo is that Mo-eum peeked into the other two letters while digging up hers. She pretends not to remember what was written in Seung-hyo’s letter. But it is clear that she remembers everything but plays dumb on purpose, leaving her two friends to sort it out themselves.

//이불킥 각// 정해인, 정소민에 대한 마음이 있었는데 없습니다(?) #엄마친구아들 EP.4 | tvN 240825 방송

Meanwhile, Seung-hyo’s firm receives an offer to make a design for the Korean branch of a major global corporation. The catch: it is the company Seok-ryu used to work for. So, one can only imagine how downcast she is to learn that the company is branching out in Korea shortly after they chased her out.

Prioritizing her friendship with Seung-hyo, Seok-ryu offers to help him with the project since she knows a lot about that company and Seung-hyo reluctantly agrees. Still, I have to give Seung-hyo due credit, as he was initially against that idea since he knew it would hurt Seok-ryu to deal with those people again.

Things were going pretty smoothly until Seok-ryu accidentally overhears that it was only a formality. The company has no plans to pick out Seung-hyo’s firm as they have already settled to go with a bigger firm.

Seeing how hard Seung-hyo works to prepare for that project to the point of skipping his meals, Seok-ryu can’t help but tell him the truth. This doesn’t change anything for Seung-hyo, though. Even if things were already decided, he will do his best till the end. Which gets Seok-ryu frustrated and has her storm out.

Though still mad, Seok-ryu joins the meeting as a part of Seung-hyo’s team. But coming across a familiar face has her turning pale and spilling her drink. It is an obnoxious colleague of hers, who pretended to be nice to Seok-ryu to exploit her and make her do his work for him.

Not only that, but he also gossiped about her with the other team members, made them exploit her too, and revealed a secret regarding Seok-ryu’s private life to them. Seeing how nervous Seok-ryu gets when that man brings up that matter, it must be something big. But for now, all we get is that it concerns the reason Seok-ryu took one year off from work. (Was she pregnant or did she have depression?)

Spotting the obnoxious man harassing Seok-ryu, Seung-hyo steps in and grabs him by the collar. He can put up with the meeting being perfunctory, but not with this. Not willing to cause damage to the firm, Seok-ryu quits on the spot, asking that man not to drag the firm into this. But he is brazen enough to demand Seok-ryu plead with him. But what he gets is a punch and a kick before Seok-ryu storms out.

전직장 동료의 선 넘은 무례함에 폭발한 정해인X정소민, 살기 띤 경고 #엄마친구아들 EP.4 | tvN 240825 방송

Giving her some space while still wanting to check on her, Seung-hyo follows Seok-ryu quietly until it seems fine to join her. Sadly, Seok-ryu blames everything on herself though she is a victim and the one in the wrong is that obnoxious man who bullied her and took advantage of her tenacity. Thankfully, she has Seung-hyo by her side to remind her that she did nothing wrong and help her blow off steam.

On a satisfying note, Seung-hyo’s firm gets a shot at designing a flagship store for that company. It might not be the main building, but it is still a victory for Seung-hyo, who earned this chance through his hard work. Better yet, the company hears of all the illegal acts the obnoxious man committed and he is going to get fired.

Hearing this news, Seok-ryu gets ecstatic, and she is happier for Seung-hyo than about getting her revenge, and giving him a big hug to celebrate. Poor Seung-hyo is holding back, though he wants to take Seok-ryu in his arms and hold her tight.

[허그엔딩] 정소민의 포옹으로 '그때 그 감정'을 다시 느낀 정해인💙 #엄마친구아들 EP.4 | tvN 240825 방송

In another flashback, we learn Seok-ryu had an exam on the competition day but prioritized rooting for Seung-hyo over taking the test and getting a new phone if she comes in first. Who needs a phone when Seung-hyo gifts her his medal, having realized his heart lies with her? Since this is K-drama land where all sorts of coincidences happen, Dan-oh was also present and captured that moment in a beautiful photo.

Unluckily, Seok-ryu was too slow to realize Seung-hyo’s feelings, and he wasn’t brave or confident enough to confess to her and just kept putting it off. Still, better late than never. So, let’s hope our leads get together soon and make up for all the lost time.

소꿉친구 정해인, 시험까지 포기하며 응원하러 온 정소민을 보고 깨달은 마음💗 #엄마친구아들 EP.4 | tvN 240825 방송

Love Next Door Episodes 3 and 4 Musings

This week’s theme was about dreams and pursuing what one truly wants. For Seok-ryu, she kept moving forward without taking a break to ponder if that was the path she truly wanted for herself. If not for coming back to Korea, Seok-ryu would have kept pushing through and leading a successful yet unhappy life. So, I am glad that she made up her mind to do some self-exploration and find her passion.

On the other hand, we have Seung-hyo, a guy whose dream was shattered in an instant after getting into a tragic accident. But instead of giving up, Seung-hyo found a new dream for himself. And seeing how invested and focused he is while working inspired Seok-ryu to do the same.

On a lighter note, we get a little process on our second lead couple. After she refused to tell him her name last week, Dan-ho kept searching high and low until he learned Mo-eum’s name and sent her rice cakes to express his gratitude for how she handled a drunk man and made sure no one got hurt.

Though they aren’t aware of it yet, Dan-ho and Mo-eum are now next-door neighbors after the former moved into the neighborhood. They also share the same unique tastes and get into childish fights at the convenience store because of it.

After helping secure a path for the ambulance to transfer an emergency patient, Mo-eum developed a crush on that mysterious helper, “Mudflat Man.” And guess who it is! Right, it is Dan-ho. For now, the drama keeps dropping hints that Dan-ho is a single father and his “daughter” just happens to be on the same wavelength as Mo-eum.

While I have faith in Mo-eum not holding it against Dan-ho, it is her mother I am worried about since she didn’t seem fond of the idea of matchmaking Mo-eum with Dan-ho though he looks like a catch in her eyes. Still, we are only in week 2 so let’s keep being optimistic and enjoy the ride.

[5화 예고FULL] "내가 만만하냐?" 정소민 향한 정해인의 의미심장한 고백(?) #엄마친구아들 EP.5

Photos and Videos: tvN Drama