bagelbeee

[bagelbeee]

This parallel is melting me into a puddle

Sometimes I stare off into the ceiling and think to myself it's amazing how Seunghyo and Seokryu's story began before they were even born into the world.

When I was eating lunch alone after starting school, you came over to me and said, "I heard your name's Seo Hye-suk. We're short a Suk Sister member. Want to join?"

Their mothers' long-standing friendship is the sweetest thing I've watched. I never seen anything like it before. I'm a pile of mush.

[bagelbeee]

it's really cute that users in twitter have "-next door" attached to their usernames (like, bee next door) to show their support for the drama 🥹

god, i'll miss my hyereung-dong family. ep 15 was so fun and heartwarming. 2 months passed by quickly TT episode 16 here we go~

[bagelbeee]

Choi Seunghyo in a suit? Choi Seunghyo in a suit.

[bagelbeee]

Seokryu's “oh.” moment

EXHIBIT A:

Seunghyo: You did it for me.

Seokryu: That… That’s different. *she trails off as if she isn't convinced by it either*

Seunghyo: But why won’t you give me the chance to do the same?

Seokryu looks at him like she couldn’t believe he’s saying this after she admitted to him that she couldn't bear bringing down the people she loves.

Yet Seunghyo insists on sharing her pain when all Seokryu’s ever known was how to hold her own.

So, he asks again.

EXHIBIT B: “You all did those things for me. Why won’t you let me do the same for you?”

If her eyes could talk, they would say: I did those things for the same reason why I can’t let you do the same thing too.

*whispers* I personally think this swing-set scene (EP 10) was when she saw Seunghyo in a different light.

[bagelbeee]

I loved episode 12 of Love Next Door. One of the aspects of friends to lovers that I wish more media explored is the transition from one kind of relationship to another. Often, we see couples just fall into the romantic relationship without showing the adjustments needed to make that happen.

One of the things that takes up the early days of dating someone is getting to know them. You fill your time together asking questions and revealing your past and yourself to the other person. But what happens when you start dating someone you've been close friends with for almost 30 years? What do you talk about when you already know everything about each other?

I like Seok Ryu asking about Seung Hyo's relationship with Tae Hui, not just because it shows us that she's no longer looking at Seung Hyo as a friend, but also because it's one of the few things she doesn't know about Seung Hyo.

They'd spent the entire episode being awkward and shy with each other because neither of them knew how to facilitate the change in their relationship. Seok Ryu's jealousy and her desire to gain access to this unkown part of Seung Hyo's life was the spark they needed to get the conversation going about their changed status.

I loved Seung Hyo drawing a boundary. He let's Seok Ryu have so much of him, but him being firm about her crossing a line with her questions about Tae Hui was really great.

I also liked the little detail about it being weird to call Seung Hyo "boyfriend". They've been one thing to each other for THIRTY years. It's going to take some time for them to get used to this new layer of their relationship.

The scene in Seok Ryu's room was perfect. They apologize. They acknowledge and talk out the awkwardness of going from friends to lovers, but most importantly, they both reaffirm with words and actions that they are changed. They acknowledge their desire for each other and give explicit and enthusiastic consent to act on those desires. It was beautiful and I can't wait to see what happens next weekend.

[bagelbeee]

Seokryu's mom: I want her to meet someone who's willing to embrace all of her pain. Seunghyo:

Seunghyo's mom: I want to find a nice partner for Seunghyo too. He was lonely for a long time because of me. Seokryu:

I don't think their mothers have to worry about anything :>

[bagelbeee]

I did lean on you.

LOVE NEXT DOOR (2024) | Ep 11

[bagelbeee]

I'm a sucker for A-takes-care-of-B-even-when-they-aren't-in-good-terms trope akjdhskjnsxa. Love Next Door is serving my brand of angst/comfort!!

(bonus points if B ends up waking to find A at the side of their bed sleeping *excited squealing*)

[bagelbeee]

I'm so happy to see this in my feed! I've been looking for the group of critical thinkers to share their thoughts on LND 😭 While Seokryu's history is devastating, it was never unlikely in the first place. I'm glad there are people out here who won't pass their judgement prematurely <3

did u guys watched the same episode as me bc wtf how the stomach cancer is nonsense? the fight with dongjin is literally there

is so obvious that they want to compare seokryu and dongjin and how seokryu had to deal with this alone while her mother baby him even if he's not sick anymore

its not like the stomach cancer came out of nowhere this happened bc of her lifestyle, this wouldn't be happening if her parents supported her like they do with him. they're showing the consequences

and this is just ep 8 like? wait and chill before jumping to conclusions

[bagelbeee]

Oh, I just know the "their story" video edits for Seunghyo and Seokryu will be immaculate. Would 10 minutes be enough to tell their story?

[bagelbeee]

Seunghyo's right.

Bae Seokryu's eyes do sparkle, and she excitedly stomps her feet when she's eager to do something. It's so loveable TT

"You think I don't know you? When you want to do something, your eyes light up and stomp with excitement."

And don't get me started with the way they're all domestic at the start of the episode with Seokryu cooking a warm delicious meal after the whole ordeal with Greip and Chris. No wonder Seunghyo's looking at her so fondly.

[bagelbeee]

there's a line from an old jesse mccartney song that perfectly describes the last few minutes of ep 4: "but nothing's greater / than the rush that comes with your embrace / and in this world, alone — in this i see your face... /"

the inherent romance of seok-ryu hugging seung-hyo for all but one second; how that's more than enough for his mind to be instantly flooded with memories tinged by her touch, saturated by her smile: lit by her laughter.

the wide-eyed look of wonder in his eyes as she embraces him, the way his pupils grow impossibly large — as if to say: "she's touching me. my god, she's really touching me. she's really real."

how that one hug is enough to remind seung-hyo of every single time she's ever put her arms around him — how he's frozen within that moment, wishing that the warmth of her skin against his could last forever.

how his hand flexed and fisted (darcy hand flex! darcy hand flex!) when seok-ryu fell against his chest during that flashback — as if he might shake apart with the force of his feelings for her. with the effort of keeping still when all he wants to do is hold her.

how even after their argument earlier in the episode, he still stooped to water seok-ryu's plant: because she lives and breathes and grows stronger in every aspect of his life. because it was something she'd given him — and he can't help but treasure it.

how the episode title changes from "past perfect" to "present perfect continuous" — because seok-ryu isn't just a memory of first love anymore for seung-hyo. she's tangible. she's touchable. she's real.

she's hugging him, and for once all the parts of his innermost self — the awkward teenager, the smitten twenty-year old, the careful adult; are in perfect agreement: each are in love with seok-ryu. they always have been. 🤍

[bagelbeee]

langston hughes once wrote, in the poem 'harlem'— "what happens to a dream deferred? / does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? or fester like a sore, and then run? /"

this episode is all about dreams — seok-ryu's dreams, unrealized and unthought of. seung-hyo's dreams — given up on, and formed anew. how, from past to present — from dreams broken and built again: they're still at each other's side.

love next door captures with such beautiful fragility the reticent hope tinting our adult lives — crushed by the corporate grind, the endless race from job to job to stultifying job: can we truly rise above the numbness, the wasteland of our everyday, walking home on wistful feet — and blow the dust off of our dreams? touch the stained gold of our longings, still buried beneath the bone-deep weariness? do we not owe it to our younger selves, still glistening with the dew of possibility — to at least try?

what does freedom mean to you? what does the ability to dream mean to you? this is what love next door asks of its characters, and of us — with so much empathy. so much warmth.

i can't stop thinking about how seung-hyo put his hand in the pool water with such infinite gentleness — as if the current could carry him back to the past where anything was possible. the water a conduit to wonder — to youth.

water in any form is rebirth, redemption — and the fact that seok-ryu jumped into it for seung-hyo, that he held her in his arms, suspended in the pool: indicating that they will reaffirm their dreams together. rebuild them side by side.

this is what i love about k-dramas: they make the mundane sacred. they infuse so much intimacy into the most ordinary of things — and love next door is such a fine example of it. the parallels to lovely runner were so precious to me — swimmers headed to the olympics, thwarted by unforeseen circumstance — hopelessly in love with their neighbors.

while lovely runner was for the hopeless romantics, the purest of souls for whom love is as concrete as their own heartbeat — love next door is for the burnt-out gifted children, the disillusioned daughters: bitter but still carrying a burgeoning hope that something might change. that love might be lingering where it's least expected.

[bagelbeee]

i think i've finally found a drama worthy of similar, if not the same — immense love i gave #lovelyrunner.

LR was a beautiful dream; incandescent and pure — Love Next Door is bittersweet reality; shot through with tentative, bruised hope. both are so precious in their own ways.

simone weil once said that "attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity," and i think that applies to seokryu & seong-ho's relationship so well. he sees her — despite the bickering, the surface animosity, the childishness they pull out of each other — he really sees her. this is the power of true, unfeigned witness — to know when seokryu really wants to cry even though she's laughing. to give her the space to do so — the fact that she feels safe enough with him to instantly succumb to tears. to recognize her heartbreak enough, even without the details — to not push her to talk about it until she's ready. to recreate the stars on her ceiling because he understands that she could use little points of light in her life at this stage of vulnerability and sadness that she's going through. to sit with her in the rain, not saying anything as she sobs — because sometimes pain can only be acknowledged, not spoken to.

seokryu buying a pomegranate plant for seong-ho because even if she can't come for his launch, she secretly wants him to know she celebrates his achievement. that she recognizes his effort. at first objecting to mo-eum inviting him for dinner, but then offering to cook him a fresh green-onion pancake anyway. the way her hand unquestioningly covers his on the handle of the umbrella — because where else would it go?

there's something about seeing 'childhood friends (or not quite) to lovers' in motion — seeing the visual enactment of: "i've seen every side of you; and even though it frustrates me how well i know you, how indelible a part of me you are — i wouldn't change it for the world. i wouldn't change you for the world."

nothing can ever be LR — but i don't think Love Next Door has to be. i think it can hold its own. 🤍

[bagelbeee]

How would Sol and Sunjae have actually met (i.e. had an actual first conversation / interaction) and fallen in love in a universe where she didn't time travel or have her accident?

wow anon, this is so much fun to think about!

i think sunjae would have still fallen for her at first sight when she mistook him for a deliveryman; and gave him her candy with that soul-stopping smile. 💛

i think he would have witnessed her life from afar; quietly admiring her sweet, strong-willed personality. he most likely wouldn't have had the courage to approach her directly — but he'd still write 'sonagi' for her: though it might be a much lighter song; given that the accident never took place. after they both grew up, he'd follow her career with pride: promising himself that if she succeeded in writing her first script as a PD-nim; he'd do his best to star in her movie.

i think that's how they would meet: sunjae doing his best to appear suave and unbothered while approaching sol for the lead role in her movie; and positively DYING of nerves inside because he's finally getting to interact with his first and only crush. he'd probably try and play it cool and make a complete fool of himself 😂

sol would be instantly endeared; pulled in by his sensitive voice and goofy charm. she wouldn't be able to get sunjae out of her head: his gentle nature, his soft smile — how his whole face lights up when she's in the room.

they'd end up dating; i'm sure of it — and sunjae would eventually muster up the courage to tell her he's liked her for years; that he wrote a song for her. sol would be so happy; her cheeks stained pink with pleasure.

they'd be inseparable after that — you know why? because they're fated to fall in love with each other in every universe. 💛

[bagelbeee]

i’m rewatching lovely runner from ep 1 because that’s just. who i am now, and just within the first 5 minutes im already. like…😀

when the radio mc excitedly tells sol she’s won a pair of running shoes so she can enjoy them in this lovely weather, everyone claps except for sunjae.

he looks..:empty

and when sol replies with a “i don’t need that” he doesn’t even flinch it’s like he’s just. not there. he’s too far gone to react anymore because of how much the guilt and despair has already eaten at him all he can do is listen to her vent and accept the role he’s played in the situation she’s in and uhhhh. yeah

and when the radio show host asks her what else she might want? sunjae’s eyes kinda flitting from side to side like he’s desperately trying to think of what she might want? what she might like or need? like he could gift her something that maybe just maybe could help her feel a little better??

but then she explodes on them and all he can do is listen again with his head bowed, while the others are sat there looking shocked

and the only time he finally reacts and moves into action is when she’s done talking, hinting at not wanting to see another day, and throws her phone away

he JUMPS to the microphone, asking if she’s still there if she’s still listening- and finally says his piece, begging her to keep going to see the beauty in the world even when it’s looking bleak cause the sun will eventually shine again- to just hang in there if not for her then for her loved ones and those who love her (himself included)

he’s asking her to keep going for her family and friends and for him

anyway i’m normal about this scene lmao it’s fine.

[bagelbeee]

Hey, past-Bee. You loved, and you love continuously.

Because no, it wasn't too soon. You must have loved it greatly that you turned slightly skeptical. You know, you were right to be excited and earnest. You wouldn't expect how many times we travelled through time. You wouldn't be able to count how many tropes they were able to pull off. Right now, you're crying watching the live broadcast. The FINAL broadcast (has it really been that long already?). I know it isn't your first language, but you still did. You watched it smiling, you hummed along their OSTs, you cheered for the characters. I can't believe it. Right now, you're watching with your heart. And it was enough to understand you're happy.

Your love letter reached me.

Is it too soon to declare my love for Lovely Runner?

Seriously.

Watching it just makes me happy, and with no following episodes, I'm stuck dealing with these feelings. So what other way than to put on my goggles and look closer right?

*cracks knuckles*

Alright, here's my love letter to Lovely Runner.

The band

I'm a sucker for amazing OSTs. I've been listening to their soundtrack nonstop because it just so good and it pairs with the youth and hopeful energy this drama gives off. They really convinced us that ECLIPSE is a well-known band. Man, I wish they'd release the full performances (I hope they did film it)!

And don't get me started with the vocals!

SEON-JAE'S ACTOR (Byeon Woo-seok) RECORDED THOSE SONGS HIMSELF. From his GQ Korea interview, it appeared that he's been diligently practicing and preparing for it! His preparation paid well, his singing was awesome. THE BAND WAS AWESOME.

I understand why Im Sol supported them.

Speaking of our heroine--Kim Hye-yoon portrayed her so well 🥹

From the first episode, I knew she'd be on fire! It's so fun to see her act in various ways (an old woman, a cringy teenager, a fan, a friend, a daughter/grand-daughter) It all just clicks when she's set her mind on it.

The characters they introduced so far were also lovely! They have substance and I can't wait to see how they grow as time passes. There's so much to say about everyone's dynamics, but I'll keep it to myself for now.

I know the elements of this drama are things I've seen before (time-slip, do-overs, idol-fan, mystery, plot-twist-A-liked-B-first-before-B-even-knew-A), but something about the way they played these card stuck with me.

Seon-jae and Sol's history was a surprise to me because I thought the drama was about present-Sol helping present-Seon-jae gain back his passion for music, acting, and life. I thought this was the FIRST time they've met. BUT I WAS WRONG. I'm so happy I was.

Seeing Seon-jae yearn for her without an ounce of selfishness shattered me. aND knowing Sol admired him without an ounce of entitlement turned me into a puddle.

Both of them cherished each other beyond self-interest.

Sol became a fan because he had encouraged her to live. She didn't fall for a pretty face nor a gentle voice. Seon-jae's words reached her not because he tried to maintain a good image, but because he intended for her to live on.

Speaking of, Seon-jae's crush bloomed when she shielded him with an umbrella and gifted him candies for doing his "job" (Remember this is Sol mistaking him for a deliveryman--she's too sweet!). He didn't like her for being a fan; he liked Sol for her kindness and character even before the timeslip.

And once Sol finally got the opportunity to get close to him, approaching Seon-jae was built on the idea of saving him, not to get together with him.

Aside from being a breath of fresh-air, think it's also hilarious because Seon-jae's mind is swimming with I-like-you-and-I've-been-trying-to-confess-to-you thoughts, and he's just trying win points and not to royally mess things up with Sol. He's just a sweet guy with a big crush on an equally sweet girl.

Man, there's so much development on the way! I haven't covered everything, but for now, I think their story will grow into a really awesome tale about love being self-transcending and enabling.