“Love Next Door” Ratings Drop Sharply as Jung Hae In and Jung So Min Struggle to Enhance Lackluster Script

“Love Next Door” is approaching the most thrilling phase of the series, unveiling several new plot details. However, the standout concern is the ongoing decline in ratings. Episode 7, which premiered on the evening of September 7, experienced a 2.81% dip in nationwide viewership, coupled with a 3.2% decrease in Seoul. This development is disappointing and prompts the inquiry: are viewers disengaging from the show’s light-hearted romantic theme, perhaps seeking something fresher and more captivating?

In Episode 7, “Love Next Door” introduced compelling and eagerly awaited plot developments, featuring the return of Hyeon Jun, Seok Ryu’s former fiancé. This encounter leads her to reflect on the past and makes it challenging for her to absorb Seung Hyo’s heartfelt expressions of love.

An exciting highlight is the much-anticipated meeting involving the “love quadrangle” of Seung Hyo, Seok Ryu, Hyeon Ju, and Tae Hui, which fans have been looking forward to. However, this intriguing plot twist encountered a “dead end” as it was spoiled ahead of time, making the anticipated content somewhat predictable for the audience.

Despite its engaging elements, the ratings for this episode are alarmingly low, marking the lowest in the series’ history. This provokes speculation on whether the scriptwriters have adequately explored captivating plot lines or if the issue stems from the spoilers. Spoiling crucial content to maintain viewer interest is a prevalent trend in TV series. However, if the narrative has left viewers with no new surprises and has laid bare all plot twists, it risks facing a serious decline.

The teaser for Episode 8 hints that Seok Ryu has recognized Seung Hyo’s feelings and acknowledges she was the one who liked him first. Hopefully, this scene will pave the way for more unexpected developments in the forthcoming episode, making it worthwhile for viewers to tune in.

“Love Next Door” is broadcast on Saturday and Sunday evenings on tvN.

Source: K14