After a successful first week with impressive ratings, “Love Next Door” has faced a downturn in its second week. The latest episode, which aired on August 24, saw a disappointing rating of just 4.3%. This marks a 1.7% drop from Episode 2 and is even lower than the show’s premiere rating of 4.9%.
The disappointing drop in ratings could be attributed to the fierce competition from other high-profile shows. In South Korea, the weekend viewing period, especially Saturday nights, is highly competitive with both cable and public channels airing their best content. On August 24, “Love Next Door” faced tough competition, notably from SBS’s “Good Partner”, which scored an impressive 17.2% rating.
While competition is a significant factor, the primary reason for the ratings decline might be the show’s own content. After the humorous and charming first two episodes, Episode 3 took a more subdued tone, intertwining past and present. In this episode, the main characters inadvertently return to their old school and rediscover a time capsule containing a letter they wrote to their high school selves. This leads to a flood of past memories, revealing why Seung Hyo (Jung Hae In) abandoned swimming – he suffered a serious injury that forced him to give up the sport. During his lowest point, Seok Ryu (Jung So Min) used her persistence to help him recover. As for Seok Ryu, she has never fully pursued her own dreams, and her true aspirations remain a mystery.
After Episode 3 aired, the show received mixed reactions. Many viewers have criticized “Love Next Door” for its predictable storyline, with elements like the protagonist’s abandonment of swimming and the time capsule echoing themes from the recently aired “Lovely Runner” on tvN. More significantly, the trope of lifelong friends reconnecting after many years due to unforeseen events feels clichéd on Korean screens. For instance, last year’s “Welcome to Samdalri” featured a similar motif, including the plot twist of the female lead returning to her hometown after career failure and infidelity, mirroring the situation in both shows.
Of course, it’s too early to make any definitive judgments based on just one episode. Whether ‘Love Next Door can overcome its predictable motifs will depend on how the remaining episodes unfold. Only time will tell if the show can break through these narrative constraints.
Source: K14
