Despite a strong start with high ratings in its first week, “Love Next Door” experienced a decline in viewership during its second week. The most recent episode, which was broadcast on August 24, received a lackluster rating of only 4.3%, a decrease of 1.7% from the previous episode and lower than the initial premiere rating of 4.9%.
Despite facing stiff competition from other popular shows, the decrease in ratings can be attributed to the intense rivalry in South Korea’s weekend viewing period, particularly on Saturday nights, as major cable and public channels showcase their top content. On August 24, “Love Next Door”faced strong competition, especially from SBS’s “Good Partner”, which achieved an impressive 17.2% rating.
Despite the presence of competition, the primary cause of the decline in ratings may be attributed to the show’s content. While the initial two episodes were filled with humor and charm, the third episode took a more subdued approach by delving into the past and present. In this installment, the main characters unexpectedly revisit their old school and stumble upon a time capsule containing a letter they wrote to their younger selves. This triggers a flood of memories, uncovering the reason why Seung Hyo (Jung Hae In) gave up swimming after a serious injury. During his lowest point, Seok Ryu (Jung So Min) used her determination to aid in his recovery. Meanwhile, Seok Ryu’s own aspirations and true desires remain a mystery as she
Despite the mixed reactions, the show “Love Next Door”faced after the airing of Episode 3, it has been heavily criticized by viewers for its predictable plot. The abandonment of swimming by the protagonist and the use of a time capsule as a major plot device have been seen as repetitive themes, drawing comparisons to the recently aired “Lovely Runner”on tvN. Additionally, the overused trope of childhood friends reuniting after many years due to unforeseen events has been deemed clichéd on Korean screens. This can be seen in last year’s drama “Welcome to Samdalri”, which also featured a similar motif of the female lead returning to her hometown after facing career failure and infidelity, reflecting the storyline in “Love Next Door.”
As expected, it is premature to draw any final conclusions from a single episode. The ability of ‘Love Next Door’ to surpass its predictable themes will be determined by the progression of the remaining episodes. The only way to know if the show can surpass these storytelling limitations is to wait and see.
K14
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