In K-Drama, there always exists a 2nd male lead character who, although impossibly nice and perfect, never gets the girl and basically ends up alone at the end (the most famous example being that one dude from Boys Over Flowers). The rude jerk who’s the lead usually gets her. Flower Boy subverts this by having Jin Rak be lovably grumpy, and Enrique (the main lead) be sweet and good-natured. But, Jin Rak still remains the second lead. The thing is that Jin Rak never even really seems to be in the running. For most of the series, although he’s with Go Dok Mi fairly frequently, he mostly observes her. He’s not involved.But what I think this show does, more than other ones, is argue that Jin Rak’s position, his approach, is completely wrong. The show becomes an argument against the second lead.
The tragedy of Flower Boy Next Door is that Jin Rak, although a good guy, remains forever on the outside looking in. He treats the object of his romantic affection as someone beyond his reach – he puts her on a pedestal. To him, Go Dok Mi is like a weak animal he must protect, and although it comes from a good place, he never truly sees her as a “woman.” She remains an ideal that’s unreachable. There actually comes a point in the series where Oh Jin Rak actually tells her that he doesn’t need her to change, that he likes her just the way she is.
In essence, he is more witness than participant. Although he tries to throw his hat in the ring as a potential suitor, Jin Rak is never really sufficiently involved in Go Dok Mi’s life. Most of his relationship and knowledge of her come from the observations he’s made about her, not from actually interacting with her. There are even some scenes where the only thing that Jin Rak can actually do is helplessly watch as something happens to Go Dok Mi. Who is he to step in, for example, when someone else takes her away to the beach? What can he do?
His problem is that his love precludes the possibility of a true connection. By telling her that it’s okay that she stays in her apartment all the time, he says that the status quo is okay, that he’s happy with just being her neighbor, as long as she stays where she is; maybe with time she’ll come to care about him. But that isn’t what Go Dok Mi needs in her life. Her pain isn’t going to be soothed by just hiding out. She’s flawed and has been hurt and she’s never gotten quite over it. Jin Rak, although he loves her, never challenges her, never calls her out on her crap – his love doesn’t encompass those things.
So when another guy comes along and pushes Go Dok Mi to leave her apartment, to smile, to live, all Jin Rak can do is watch. And it’s this that made the series seem so heartbreaking at points. All he can do is be a witness to Go Dok Mi’s gradual return to the outside world. He watches her knowing full well that her smile isn’t for him, and that this new glow that she seems to possess isn’t because of him either. None of it is his. And he must live with it.
copied/pasted from www.thenextthingblog.wordpress.com
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*ehem* Biasness aside, time to be serious. Flower Boy Next Door embodies a relatable herione in Go Dok Mi. Maybe not to the extent of literally just locking yourself in your home for months. But to some degree we all feel self-conscious and scared to step outside our comfort zone just like her. One point down for an interesting and relatable herione huh?
Flower Boy Next Door is all about its characters, their relationships, and how they heal each other's wounds. Yes, it's quirky, adorable, has lots of eye-candy (seriously, there's a whole buffet of 'em), and hilarious, but at the end of the day, our big pay-off is the character growth. I loved (almost) every single character, and they got me right in here.
Of course, it's a drama not without its flaws. In the final stretch, I found myself thinking, "now what?". There wasn't any story left to be told and drama is really over by then. Despite maintaining the cuteness, the last arc contained no really interesting plot and if you compare it to the original material, there's no comparison. That's very disappointing and a lot of people were largely appalled by this since most of them watched it while airing and it's probably harder to watch a drama's downgrade if you have to wait weeks for the next episodes. But for me, I didn't have to wait so maybe I handled it better than most people. The initial charm of the drama was still fresh in my mind so by the time I finished it, I'm still able to rate it a solid 10.
Another problem I had are the secondary female characters. They didn't have much depth and I feel that the meatier storylines were given to the herione and the guys so there was no room left for the girls. But that's only a small problem. No biggie.
Well, it does have to be noted that the main couple had a wonderful chemistry. The most adorable couple I've watched in a while. And I'm not gonna say anything but as cheesy as it sounds... they complete each other. It's a statement that's very redundant, but it is actually the case for this couple.
Acting: Yoon Shi Yoon played his character so well and adorably at that. I just wanna keep him in my pocket. I'm now a fan and will follow him anywhere. I thought this is actually Park Shin Hye's best performance. Yes she was cute in YAB but I wasn't that emotionally invested with her role there. It probably largely has to do with the character, because here she had more chances of showing emotional range. Kim Ji Hoon played his character well too, a shame I didn't know him before this drama. And oh, I freaking loved the editor. She stole every scene she's in.
Music: The background music reminded me of To The Beautiful You. But in a different way. Both their bg music are similar but the matter of WHEN they used it are opposite. In this, the background music aren't misplaced and random (which got on my nerves in TTBY, ugh). But here, it works and adds to the comedy. I loved some of the OST's as well, one that I will probably download is Talkin Bout Love by J-Rabbit. *.*
Rewatch Value: Super cute drama with lots of heart-warming moments. As well as a couple who would probably make it to my all time favorite couple list. Even after just finishing the drama, I found myself re-watching cute couple scenes, and I still do. Goes to show how cute this drama is.
Overall: This is not your usual rom-com, it has depth and rich character developments. Even though it lacked an interesting plot towards the end there was still enough cuteness to go around that I never found a single moment dull. The acting is just soo awesome that I honestly wanted to hug my TV screen a few times.
I'm going through a withdrawal right now, I just freaking love this drama. "LOVE OF MIRACLE!!!"
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It also doesn’t hurt that they’re portrayed by a group of incredibly likable actors, led by the lovely, expressive Park Shin Hye. A longtime veteran of dramas like You’re Beautiful and Heartstrings, Shin Hye is able to convey with a single look what would require a thousand lines of dialogue to say. She takes a journey with Dok Mi—from the beginning of the drama to its end, her bashful, downward-staring attitude evolves into the straight-backed posture of someone who knows her own worth.
The ever-handsome Yoon Si Yoon as Enrique proves to be her perfect foil: his childlike candor and propensity toward panda suits is tempered with a powerful sense of empathy and tenderness. He’s an utter contrast to the typical male lead in Kdrama romcoms—instead of being distant and cold, he’s like a burst of sunshine in a dark room. He isn’t prickly and doesn’t withhold his emotions; he gladly shares his heart and his mind with everyone he meets.
The webtoon artists next door were adorable and just really good guys, not to mention totally hot. I'm not really sure why the Japanese guy existed since he kind of appeared out of nowhere, did not push the plot forward at all, and then made an odd exit, but at least he was cute and added to the number of flower boys next door.
Another of Flower Boy Next Door’s primary charms is that it’s not afraid of emotion, much like Enrique. The best of its episodes spend more time on characters talking about their feelings than they do on things like narrative or plot development: emotions serve as the show’s spine and its unifying principle. Most dramas revolve around circumstances that change—Amnesia! Cancer! Birth secrets! Corporate jockeying for power!—but Flower Boy Next Door is so very rewarding to the receptive viewer because it revolves around people that change.
Flower Boy Next Door does an amazing job on the micro level: it creates lovely moments and its characters are lavished with development. From Dok Mi going against her frugal nature to turn up her apartment’s heat whenever Enrique visits, to the evolution of the dark circles under the webtoon editor’s eyes, its meticulous attention to detail and the building-blocks of atmosphere make the show a transporting delight.
Everything about Flower Boy Next Door is beautiful and striking, from its blue/grey/orange color palate to its perfectly chosen props and cadre of dreamy flower boy leads. Throughout, developments in the characters are reflected perfectly in their surroundings. Early on, the drapes in Dok Mi’s apartment are like another character in the show: they’re always present, dark and heavy and made for blocking out the world. But when we’re reintroduced to Dok Mi after the time jump in episode 16, we see that the forbidding drapes are no more. In their place are a set of sheer, floaty curtains that let the daylight stream into her apartment—and into her life.
Through it all, this show is consistently funny and charming, and, its biggest attribute is that it never loses sight of the fact that this is where its heart lies. The other thing going for this series is that it's sixteen 40 minute episodes…Love This Format!!!...Very little time for filler or dragging things out, and everything's usually pretty snappy as a result…Get in, get out, move on to the next scene, episode, series, etc… I wish more K-dramas utilized this format actually.
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I originally watched this drama for the lead actress, because I enjoyed her character in heartstrings. I am extremely happy I came across this.
This drama is one of my absolute favorites now. Enrique is absolutely the most adorable thing I have ever seen, and every time he smiled on screen my heart melted. Yoon Shi-yoon did an amazing job. The story line was cute, and seeing Park Shin-hye play a character so different from what I've seen before, and play it well, was very enjoyable. The supporting cast was great as well, and the angsty moment where there, but there wasn't too many so that it became annoying.
Overall, I gave this drama a 10/10 because even though it's flawed, I don't want to deter anyone from watching it. It's fantastic, and it's completely heartwarming. I cried from happiness and total cuteness at the end, and so will everyone else who watches this drama.
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My addiction and love of this show does not mean that it is perfect, though I did give it a 10. This is one of those dramas where I think the cute will have to wear out before I bump it down to its more rightful 9 rating.
The story was different in some ways, but really just more of the same drama tropes and characters. The more dramas I watch, the more confident I am in what I will like, and Flower Boy Next Door completely hit that for me. First, you have the eye candy. All of the main characters in this drama were beyond beautiful to look at. Second, you have a damsel in distress, and I am a SUCKER for a good damsel in distress. Not a whiny, can't do anything for herself kind of damsel, but the kind with a past who just needs a little nudge in the right direction kind of damsel. Third, a knight in shining armor to come in and rescue the day and realize he needed just as much rescuing himself.
That's what made this drama shine so much. It wasn't just Dok Mi who was in need of help, but all of the characters started this drama looking for something, and even better all of them found it! this is just one serious feel-good drama, if you're tired of all of the melodramas and angst in the world, pick this one up. I promise it will make you smile like crazy.
Now because I feel like I might be too adamant with my love for this show, I do want to mention a couple of things that irked me just a bit. First off, Seo Young was such an irritating character. She was so selfish and brash, it left me wondering what Enrique ever could have seen in her. Also, I never really fully understood her relationship with Enrique's cousin, or really even Enrique's relationship with him. It was all just so weird, and quickly gotten rid of with little to no explanation. I mean, it is a little nice to not have prior love interests hanging around messing things up, but it was so abrupt how they dropped that storyline. Also, I feel like they didn't really go into Jin Rak's relationship with his family as much as I would have liked. I am sitting here trying to think of other things that bugged me, but that's all I've got! I guess I did love this one a little too much.
TL;DR? Watch this drama ASAP. You need Enrique in your life. Promise!
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The story wasn't really that amazing. What made this drama special was the presence of the substantial characters which made this drama really interesting. It was especially endearing to watch how one person's love could change a person for the better. And I'm not only talking about Enrique's love for Dok-mi, and vice-versa. The acting was solid. Yoon Si Yoon once again proves that he is more than just a pretty face with his incredible acting skills ranging from being adorable to being broken.
To be honest, I may have liked this drama so much, because I see myself in Dok-mi. I'm the type of person who'd rather stay at home than go outside and meet the world. I'm a bit socially awkward in person, and I don't really have much courage to start conversations with people I'm not familiar with. But believe it or not, watching this drama has helped me a lot. It gave me hope that there's nothing I can't do as long as I put my heart into it, and that I should trust myself and the people around me. And just like that, Flower Boy Next Door healed me.
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Story: Not completely unique, but with enough unique points and humor to forgive the cliches. The pace was enjoyable and the writing was very good. Not to mention many (although not all) loose ends were tied up in the final episode involving the cast.
Acting: The cast was spot on for this show and I developed a few new favorites. The parts were well-written, the acting was as expected. Some scenes were exaggerated, but I found it added to the show's charms. The best part was the lack of stereotypical rude and rich romantic male.
Music: The music was very enjoyable and placed in the best of places. Everything emphasized moments, the acting and scenes. i actually never grew tired of hearing anything, even the opening and closing themes which can become annoying even to the most die hard drama fans. I found myself downloading parts of the soundtrack.
Rewatch: I do not think I would immediately rewatch this show, although it would be wonderful to do so. I would wait until I had nothing else or needed time to kill, it is very good for a light and romantic watch.
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It was not like I expected it to be at all. I had started it thinking it was going to be another light hearted, cute and somewhat cheesy rom-com. What I got instead was a truly sweet, heartwarming story about a young woman who, slowly, thanks to her neighbors and especially one very special neighbor, learns to let go of her insecurities and traumatic past and face the world once more.
There were definite hilarious moments that cracked me up, such as the scene at the end of episode one and the start of episode two where Enrique storms over to Mi Dok's apartment without any pants and starts banging on her door. There were also a lot of sweet, touching moments, too, such as the scene where he sings in the last episode and then what Mi Dok says after. It could be very sweet and light, but it also could become serious and portray such subject matter as bullying and depression quite realistically without just glossing over them.
One of the best things about this drama is that conflicts that end up arising pretty much get handled rather quickly. Unlike many dramas, it doesn't drag out a misunderstanding over countless episodes. If something happens, it is resolved pretty much by the next episode.
I think all the actors did a great job in this, especially Park Shin Hye. She is one of my favorite actresses and extremely talented. She pulls off this quiet, serious and extremely self conscious young woman who has shut out the world very well. I had seen her in Tree of Heaven, so I know how capable of an actress she is when it comes to the more reserved, serious role. She did not disappoint.
In conclusion, I would recommend this drama to everyone. It's definitely a 10.
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Park Shin Hye as Go Dok Mi was definitely a success, she was able to portray all of the scars and sadness in her eyes which broke my heart. I truly could understand how traumatized Go Dok Mi was. She truely made the character come alive. (extremely realistic)
Yoon Shin Yoon as Enrique was pure gold. Enrique's childish personalty was acted out PERFECTLY. I fell in love with him. I just wanted to hug him. his character was adorable in every way. I can't say anything else because I couldn't ask more than perfection.
Kim Ji Hoon as Oh Jin Rak was fantastic, he seemingly knew how to act obviously shy and in love with Go Dok Mi which is just what was needed.
Park Soo Jin was great as Cha Do Hwi. All I can say is I truly hated her character. Which makes her acting brilliant.
I wont describe all the others separately but the rest of the cast was great.
The music was cute and beautiful in all the right moments,real emotion was brought out with the addition of the music.
If I had to change anything about the drama I would make it longer so there could be more to Go Dok Mi's process of coming out into the world. My favorite part was Go Dok Mi's journey back into reality.
Re watch value is poor because as amazing as the drama is. To be it plainly. The drama is pretty simple so I would only go back to watch cute parts.
I really loved this drama. It helped me with my own problems because of how realistic the thought of love is in the drama. Its definitely something worth watching!!! Enjoy!!
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I loved the casts they all fit the characters that they played in this drama. It's not really so romantic.. It's about LIFE, YOUNG LOVE, I'd say. Learning how to forgive and face the world. I really love both main lead actors. They really fit together.
Although, at first I didn't like it because it seemed boring but as you go through all episodes It'll be interesting.
For me, It's a MUST WATCH drama :))
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It has a great story line that will get you hooked every single episode, the story was very entertaining and never fail me to think what will happen next.
As well as the actors, Park Shin Hye did a great job in this series, her acting has improved so much and her transition for her image from cute, jolly Lee Gyu Won--to gloomy, sad Go Dok Mi is truly remarkable! The same as Yoon Shi Yoon (we all know that he's a great!) He's really a versatile actor he can do melodrama and now comedy. He deserves a great praise with this drama. The other cast were great too, you'll definitely remember them because each character is portrayed amazingly.
And for the music, people say that this drama lacks music. Well for me, I really don't think so. I think the music really math the mood of every scene and no to mention Park Shin Hye sang also one of the OST, which she always did every drama so i think it is a great OST too.
I'm watching this drama for the 2nd time, and i think you'll rewatch it again not just because of the great characters ad great acting but the story has a lot of lessons about life.
I recommend this to all! It's a must watch and definitely one of the best dramas in 2013!
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