Summary
The ending of Love Next Door holds few surprises, but it is satisfying and sweet and manages to bring everything full circle.
Love Next Door comes to a close with Episode 15 and Episode 16, and lo and behold, the K-Drama has a perfectly happy, upbeat ending. Who’d have thought it?
The road to this point has, admittedly, been a little rocky. What started out as a tropey drama that relished its familiarity and depth of character became a bit too determined to create false cliffhangers and audience panic with dramatic turns that turned out to be red herrings. It remains imperfect even through its penultimate episode and finale; little happens in the former, and the latter has no real surprises.
After Episode 14 suggested that the rivalry between Seok-ryu and Seung-hyo’s parents would form the crux of the drama in the final two episodes, a lot of Episode 15 is dedicated to the mothers patching things up. It’s nice because it gives the show a broader focus than just the core romance, but isn’t exactly rivetingly unpredictable drama.
The same can be said of Mo-eum and Dan-oh. They’re officially together and decide to bring Yeon-du into the fold in Episode 15, which goes swimmingly. Mo-eum explains that she isn’t trying to replace her mother, just to care for her in a similar way, and Yeon-du confesses to having had a dream in which the two were married. Simple, heartwarming stuff, but there is still the pending South Pole trip looming over this subplot.
The big build-up leading into the finale is Seung-hyo’s latest proposal, setting up a big wedding and a happy ending for the climax. We don’t actually get the wedding, but don’t worry.
Mo-eum and Dan-ho
Love Next Door Episode 16 spends a fair chunk of time finalizing the relationship between Mo-eum and Dan-oh. The latter finds out about the former’s upcoming South Pole trip which she has found it too difficult to raise.
Virtually nothing troubling emerges as a result of this. Everyone is understanding, even Yeon-du, and the flash-forward reveals everything going entirely swimmingly. Dan-ho, Yeon-du, and Mo-eum’s mother become closer than ever, geographically and emotionally, and Dan-ho can head out to visit the South Pole as a journalist.
It’s perhaps a little weird that the ending of Love Next Door devotes so much time to the second leads when there’s so little friction in their story, but I honestly don’t see anyone complaining.
Rainbow Kitchen and Postponing the Wedding
In other positive developments, Seok-ryu opens a restaurant called Rainbow Kitchen, which is her father’s renovated snack bar. In his retirement he has bequeathed the establishment to her and Seung-hyo has helped to turn it into a fine eatery, and Seok-ryu requests her father’s assistance as an advisor.
But there’s a lot on Seok-ryu’s plate, figuratively and literally, so she asks Seung-hyo if they can postpone the wedding by a year. There’s plenty for her to be getting on with in the meantime and it wouldn’t be right if Mo-eum couldn’t attend. This does deny the finale of the much-anticipated lead couple wedding, but it’s not exactly a negative development. In fact, it’s largely a net positive. It allows for some romantic and welcome stuff between Seung-hyo’s parents instead, and allows for a 10-month-later check-in to see how everyone is getting on.
Seok-ryu and Seung-hyo Get Their Happy Ending
I’m pleased to report that everyone in Love Next Door ends up flourishing. Seok-ryu’s restaurant earns an award and the person who left that comment on her first recipe video sends a follow-up explaining how they healed up and visited Seok-ryu’s restaurant. It’s a nice full circle moment.
Seung-hyo receives national attention for his work, and he and Seok-ryu are stronger than ever, albeit still bickering like the friends they’ve always been. They’re on the cusp of buying a home together and annoying each other for the rest of their lives. Who needs a wedding?
Even the lavender girls have all found common ground and are full of praise for not just their own kids but each other’s. It isn’t just bragging anymore, but shared appreciation for a true, expansive family, where everyone is on the same page and filled with love for one another. You couldn’t ask for a sweeter sentiment than that for a show like this to end on.
