The Princess Royal (2024) EP 23

The Princess Royal 度华年 (2024) • EP 23

Love Next Door 엄마 친구 아들 (2024) Dir. Yoo Je Won – Ep. 10

Love Next Door is so good. I am living for how thoroughly they know one another yet there are also bits of the other that they don't know. I can't wait to see them fill in all the pieces. There is something to be said about childhood frenemies to lovers.

Both of them clearly have some life things that they are going through right now and past trauma. So they are going to heal one another.

It looks like Seung Hyo has been in love with Seok Ryu for a while, though Seok Ryu also has some feelings for Seung Hyo that she's probably trying to ignore.

I kinda hate Seok Ryu's mom. Firstly, it will never not take me out of any kdrama parents hitting/beating their kids well into adulthood. But her mom didn't even try to listen to Seok Ryu, tried to called the ex fiance (which is beyond the pale), and then tried to send her home. All the while Seok Ryu is just begging to her mom to let her rest. She's exhausted and need to live for herself and not her mom.

Still, she did clear out Seok Ryu's room and asked that Seung Hyo redo it so at least she's trying.

I kinda love how Seung Hyo recreated her teenage room down to the glow in the dark stars on the ceiling. I think he knows that her room being the same is something that she needed.

I am curious to know what they each wished for because you know that will come up again.

Finally, I really am obsessed with Seung Hyo pink plaid shirt.

In defense of love next door’s plot

There is no extreme-years-long overworking and stress-induced burnout without chronic illness, without your body failing you! Without severe physical and mental side effects!

People saying it’s an unnecessary/cliche/disrespectful/unrealistic plot point, consider this: it’s accurate to what years of a job like that can do to your body, and it’s also valid to discuss in a show about work burnout and the family pressure to succeed no matter the circumstances.

Source: I worked a high-stress corporate job internationally and had to return home when i lost my access to health care & treatment abroad, which I desperately needed. because! when you work 90 hour weeks in a high stress job and never take breaks, you WILL start having organ failure! And you WILL have emergency surgery abroad. and you may return home both sick and feeling like a failure.

You may have “the dream job” on paper, but you may just be working for a company that is going to run you into the ground. You may feel backed into a corner because you don’t have the money or family support to quit. In fact, your achievements might be all you have. But do not dream of labor! Dream of treating your body kindly and spending your days with joy.

京都の雨の日 ⋆ Rainy day in Kyoto // 김영민