Love Next Door Episode 5 Review: Rekindled Connections and Hidden Desires

Love Next Door Episode 5 Review | Leisurebyte

Director:
Yoo Je-won

Date Created:
2024-08-31 19:00

In Love Next Door Episode 4, the viewers saw how Seung-hyo’s feelings for Seok-ryu haven’t faded a bit. With Seung-hyo trying to hide his time capsule letter where he has confessed his feelings for her to the end of the episode where her hug makes him melt, it’s evident that the man loves her. Seung-hyo bags a job at Griep and Seok-ryu is the most happiest given she has always been next to him at crucial moments. Likewise, Seung-hyo has also in the past travelled to the US to meet Seok-ryu, proving they both have always made efforts to take care of each other.

Starring Jung Hae-in and Jung So-min, the series is helmed by director Yoo Je-won and penned by Shin Ha-eun.

– Spoilers –

Love Next Door Episode 5 Recap

The episode kickstarts with a flashback to Seung-hyo’s early days in the United States, where Seok-ryu discreetly lets him stay in her dorm room because they’re both struggling students. One morning, Seung-hyo inadvertently sees a text on Seok-ryu’s phone, revealing that she’s in a relationship with a Korean-American named Brian. This discovery shatters Seung-hyo, who has secretly harbored feelings for Seok-ryu for a long time.

The narrative then transitions to the present day, with Seok-ryu and Seung-hyo returning to his home after buying groceries. Seok-ryu is determined to celebrate the successful Greip deal with a nutritious home-cooked meal, but as they enter the house, she slips and Seung-hyo catches her in a dramatic, almost romantic, fashion. Seung-hyo is pleasantly surprised when Seok-ryu’s cooking turns out to be delicious. Shortly after, Mo-eun joins them, and when Seung-hyo steps out to buy drinks, Seok-ryu shares her pre-wedding photos with Mo-eun, admitting that she still harbors feelings for her ex-fiancé. Unbeknownst to her, Seung-hyo overhears this conversation, leaving him conflicted and upset.

The next morning, Seok-ryu, Seung-hyo’s mother, and some friends visit a Buddhist temple to pray for their children, hinting at a troubled past between Seung-hyo and his mother that she hopes to mend. Meanwhile, Seung-hyo is in a foul mood after overhearing Seok-ryu’s confession. When Myung-u requests Seok-ryu’s help on the Greip project, Seung-hyo bluntly refuses, but later, out of concern, he chastises Seok-ryu to pursue her own dreams, as she had once promised him. In a parallel storyline, Mo-eun assists Dan-ho in finding a four-leaf clover for a mysterious woman.

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While Seok-ryu is in Seung-hyo’s office, his ex-girlfriend, Jang Tae-hue, arrives. She is a skilled onggi artist seeking Seung-hyo’s opinion on her designs for a collaboration with a global firm. She invites everyone to visit her workshop. Through Seok-ryu, we learn about Seung-hyo and Tae-hue’s intense relationship during their college years, including an awkward moment when Seok-ryu once caught them kissing in a car during a visit to her family in Korea.

That evening, Seung-hyo and Seok-ryu’s father share drinks and agree that Seung-hyo can stay in Seok-ryu’s brother Dong-jin’s room. Unaware of this arrangement, Seok-ryu attempts to wake Seung-hyo the next morning, leading to a comical yet compromising situation when Dong-jin walks in on them. Later, Seung-hyo accidentally stubs his toe, requiring a hospital visit, where he is given a leg cast for a week.

Due to his injury, Seok-ryu drives Seung-hyo to Tae-hue’s workshop. As they wait for others to arrive, Tae-hue reveals that her father is a master of doenjang (soybean paste) and that she helps run the family business, using her onggi to store the paste and assisting local women in making it. Tae-hue hints that she still has feelings for Seung-hyo, despite being the one who ended their relationship for another man. Seok-ryu, who witnesses their interaction, feels increasingly uncomfortable.

Thankfully, Myung-u and the others arrive just in time to assist with the soybean paste and soy sauce-making process. Unfortunately, Seok-ryu trips while carrying a large onggi, breaking the pot and spilling the paste. Seung-hyo, frustrated, scolds her in front of Tae-hue. Meanwhile, Mo-eun receives a distress call from a little girl she met earlier, Yeon-du, who is promptly taken to the hospital. It’s revealed that Yeon-du is Dan-ho’s daughter, leading to a tense confrontation where Mo-eun scolds Dan-ho for leaving the child alone, only to be reprimanded by Yeon-du herself.

Back at the workshop, Seok-ryu changes into clean clothes and prepares noodles using the remaining soybean paste. Everyone is surprised by how delicious her cooking is, but Seung-hyo is noticeably absent during the meal. Tae-hue eventually finds him and confronts him about his lingering feelings for Seok-ryu, acknowledging that she saw how he looked at Seok-ryu, realizing he still has feelings for her.

Later that night, Seok-ryu notices that Seung-hyo has washed her clothes. She then goes searching for the 100-year-old soy sauce pot, which holds special significance. Seung-hyo finds her in the process, and as they locate the pot together, Seok-ryu has an epiphany: her true passion lies in cooking. At the same time, Seung-hyo comes to terms with the fact that he is still in love with Seok-ryu.

Love Next Door Episode 5 Review

Episode 5 of Love Next Door skillfully balances the tension between past relationships and present emotions, offering a deeper exploration of the characters’ complex dynamics. Seung-hyo’s lingering feelings for Seok-ryu come to the forefront, particularly as he grapples with the knowledge that she still loves her former fiancé. The episode cleverly uses a blend of humor, nostalgia, and subtle drama to build on the characters’ evolving relationships, especially in the poignant moments where Seung-hyo is forced to confront his emotions. The reappearance of Seung-hyo’s ex-girlfriend, Tae-hue, adds another layer of complexity, as her lingering interest in him reignites old wounds and unresolved feelings.

The episode also showcases Seok-ryu’s growth, as she begins to realize her passion for cooking, symbolized by the ancient soy sauce pot she and Seung-hyo discover together. This revelation is crucial, as it hints at a potential future where Seok-ryu pursues her dreams, independent of her past. The subplot involving Mo-eun and Dan-ho, while seemingly minor, adds a touch of warmth and community spirit to the episode. Overall, this episode effectively deepens the narrative, highlighting the intricate web of emotions that bind the characters, and setting the stage for further developments in both their personal and professional lives.

Love Next Door is streaming on Netflix.

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