A refreshingly original love story mixed with suspense. That’s what you’ll get when you sit down to watch How to Meet a Perfect Neighbor.
I was a bit confused when I began watching How to Meet a Perfect Neighbor because it starts off with a murder. Just how good can a love story be when it involves a young woman being murdered on a dark and stormy night? Well, it can be very good if it’s this Kdrama.
This show’s first few episodes are almost like three separate dramas. I began to wonder how a murdered woman, people on vacation, and a man going to find a wife in Cambodia had anything to do with each other but I was patient, stayed with it, and got my reward – a superb and entertaining 20 hour drama.
This is a love triangle that had me hopping back and forth between who I thought Jung Yoon-Hee would end up with. I checked out several plot synopses’ and kept looking at the promotional picture for hints but got nothin’. The writer was very good at confusing me. Let’s see who there is to choose from – There’s Baek Soo-Chan, a handsome, charming professor and Yoo Joon-Suk, a handsome, rich businessman. Professor, businessman, professor, businessman… I’m not telling you. Part of the fun is the back and forth guessing because the writer makes us positive it’s the professor, until we’re positive it’s the businessman, until we’re positive it’s the professor again, until we’re positive it’s…
Other than the love triangle we also get to try and solve the murder of a young lady. And we’re able to follow a sweetheart of a country man as he searches for a wife and a mother for his son. There’s also a charming, three times divorced mother who is looking for love from someone who has absolutely no interest in her. It’s a fun show with lots going on.
Park Si-Hoo was the only actor I was familiar with. He played Yoo -Joon-Suk, the businessman. The poor guy was caught in an arranged marriage situation and it wasn’t something he could just easily call off because he was being blackmailed. Kim Seung-Woo is Professor Baek Soo-Chan. He’s 100% a ladies’ man. His goal in life is to be what the current woman he’s with wants him to be. Bae Doo-Na is our heroine, Jung Yoon-Hee. She’s in love with one of our leading men, and best friends with the other. But, so often best friends can progress to be lovers. So what way does this triangle go? There’s also Wang Ji-Hye who plays Ko Hye-Mi. We see right from the beginning how cold-hearted she can be.
There are two different love triangle things that happen in this show that are really very uncommon in Kdramas. I could tell you what they are but it would spoil the surprise. I’m sure you’ll know what I’m referring to once they are suggested because they stand out in flashing lights. I thought, “Wow. They’ve never had a man propose something like that before! And the third wheel has never offered that situation!” I tell you, it was interesting to see those two things brought up and out in the open. As of right now, you’d never be able to guess what they are because it’s so unusual. Heirs and Fated to Love You had it in them but it was after the fact. This drama talks about it before it even happens!
The music was nothing to ooooohhhhh about but there was one song, played twice, that made me think, “Why in the world are they playing a song about Jesus during this love scene?” I still can’t figure that out. Pretty random, and it stands out like a sore thumb.
The first couple episodes are filmed in Cambodia. It’s fun to see the areas there. The rest of the show was filmed at home in South Korea.
Please don’t pass up How to Meet a Perfect Neighbor. Even though it was broadcast in 2007 it’s still one of the worthwhile older ones out there. I think you’ll really enjoy it.
Score: 7.5
The Good:
Three seemingly different plots that blend into one
Two very unusual love triangle things proposed
Writing
Cambodian scenery
Lovable characters
Park Si-Hoo
Kim Seung-Woo
The Bad:
Strange song about Jesus during love scenes
Tons of alcohol and people being drunk
