Mom’s Friend’s Son (2024)

Heartwarming Romance and Endearing Characters Make Love Next Door a Must-Watch!

"Love Next Door" is a refreshing and heartwarming romantic comedy that brings charm and humor in every episode. The story revolves around relatable characters, making it easy to get emotionally invested in their lives. The chemistry between the leads is undeniable, and the subtle moments of romance and tension are beautifully executed. The supporting cast adds depth and warmth, making the neighborhood feel like a character in itself.

What really stands out is the balance between lighthearted moments and meaningful lessons about love, friendship, and personal growth. The pacing is perfect, keeping you hooked without dragging the story unnecessarily. It’s the kind of drama that will leave you smiling and wanting to see more.

Though it follows some familiar tropes, "Love Next Door" puts a fresh spin on them, making the series feel original and full of heart. A must-watch for any K-drama fan looking for a feel-good, romantic escape. 9/10!

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This is not a rom-com, this is life - with all the pain and happiness, traumas and healing.

The way I expected a silly and fun rom-com with a bickering “friends to lovers” couple… The way I got existential crisis and free therapy instead.

Objectively it’s a good drama, subjectively it’s an amazing drama. Undoubtedly it will hit you hard if you share the experiences of the main characters - you will pick up on subtle things, connect seemingly small and not quite related moments of their lives, analyze their behavior and connect to them on an embarrassing level. This happened to me. But I also had enough discussions with people to know where I found meaning, they saw nothing. Scenes that made me write essay long posts were just plot points for others.

For me, this show is a slice of life first, rom-com second. It shows the effects neglectful upbringing and parentification can have on a child and I think that’s something everyone who starts watching should understand. There are a lot of scenes where main leads do not interact. We get a well developed view of the parents’ relationships, neighborhood friendships and even some worklife. This could get boring if what you are looking for is a romantic comedy.

The center of the drama were complex family dynamics. Growing up neglected, growing up with internal and external pressure to succeed. Questions like - how to rebuild a relationship that never really started, how to have conversations with your child, understanding that just because you have good intentions and doing something "for their own good" might actually be the poison that slowly kills them. It was as much of a family drama as it was a romance.

What I loved about Love Next Door is how realistic the characters seemed and how all of them had real flaws that truly negatively affected their lives and relationships. Flaws you can relate to. Seok Ryu being an independent and ambitious woman was not all good. You can be too ambitious and too independent. Seung Hyo was quite egocentric in how he viewed other people’s issues - it was all about how it made him feel, and not how other people felt. I did see a lot of flaws Seok Ryu has in myself, hence with the biased point of you, it was easier for me to understand her and explain her behavior. On the other hand, there were moments I was on the verge of hating Seung Hyo for his behavior, and was saved by great discussions with people who were more accustomed to his point of view. I honestly feel like I had my own character development when I was watching the drama.

I loved how they were spitting facts about many social issues - shading even the leads. I think that's something I especially enjoyed. The leads were not there just to deliver the message, sometimes they were the ones who learn the lessons after they've been called out. Talks about privilege, biased perspective, fears, setbacks, family issues. It's not like one person is right and the other is wrong - both are correct and incorrect at the same time and the trick is to combine all the perspectives to get a whole picture. No one is just privileged or underprivileged, because it depends on what and how you measure and what is important to you.

In the earlier episodes there was quite a lot of talk about the workplace environment, jobs, careers, passions. Victims of workplace abuse viewing their own behavior as the issue, contradicting goals based on preferred outcomes and priorities (idealism vs realism), living to work vs working to live, working long hours because you enjoy what you do vs doing overwork because you feel pressured to do that.

What’s more? There were no villains and assholes - all characters and all relationships were complex and well developed. The more you watched, the more you understood each point of view. Sometimes no one is wrong, you are just different people, you just don’t match, the timing is wrong, life is too hard. Sometimes you cannot meet the expectations and only later you see how they were impossible to meet in the first place.

The variety of relationships? Perfection. Different parenting styles even towards your own children, friendships between older women, fathers, neighbors, childhood friendships, new formed friendships in adulthood - all different in flavor, all entertaining to watch.

Women supporting each other in subtle ways. Honestly, the friendship between the mothers was AMAZING. They were all different, from different economic and professional backgrounds, but you could see how much they care for each other. Even if they were fighting, when one needed help, the others did not even hesitate.

Some of my favorite relationships include: the awkward friendship between Seung Hyo and Dan Ho, heartwarming bond between Seok Ryu and her dad, Geun Sik and Gyeong Jong and their drinking therapy, Hye Suk and Gyeong Jong - the romance I would never expect to love so much, Dan Ho and the most adorable child Yeon Du.

Surprisingly I was extremely invested in all love lines - even for the parents. There were moments in the show when I was actually the most interested in their story and development. For me that’s a clear sign they were not written to just be the background fillers for the main leads.

Love Next Door was the drama that at times made me feel like a judgemental asshole when I formed opinions on the characters even though they barely showed up, just based on my expectations of what’s going to happen, or limited knowledge based on the perspective of other characters. I appreciate that: a drama that makes me question my own behavior.

To the performances - we were blessed. You scroll down that cast list and you know you will get some good acting. My favorite performance actually did not even belong to the main cast. Jo Han Chul and Bae Geun Sik just stole my heart. He was so amazingly expressive and realistic in portraying the character’s struggles and the happiness. I cried when he cried, I laughed when he laughed.

Was it all good? No. Technically speaking it’s a story of both Seung Hyo and Seok Ryu. Practically speaking, she is the main character, and he is there to support her story. It’s a thing that exists in almost all kdramas: the lack of balance in the main couple. Usually one is better developed, faces well constructed conflicts, and has a more detailed story written around them. Here it’s clearly Seok Ryu. It’s her journey and while Seung Hyo takes a large space in it, he is still not as well developed as she is.

What’s more - Bae Dong Jin’s character… wasted opportunity. I wish they spent more time developing his perspective. For most part of the drama he was just annoying and I could not stand him. While by the end I saw his point of view, I wish it was more detailed and hinted at from the start.

Sadly, I am not sure I 100% bought the transition from friends to lovers between Seung Hyo and Seok Ryu. For some reason it felt too jarring. The friends part was amazing, the lovers part was amazing, the transition between the two? Lacking.

Still, what a blast this drama was. Feast for my brain, as I overanalyzed everything. Every time I got scared the drama might start leaning towards the cliches, they surprised me with more realistic portrayal of known tropes. It’s as if they baited me with empty calories, but delivered a healthy and filling meal.

Some of my favorite quotes:

"Why do I... Why do I always have to be your pride and joy? Can't I just be your daughter for once, no matter how pathetic or flawed I might be? Why do I have to cover up for your life?"

"Dreams? Do you think dreams can just be had? Only those who have the luxury to search for them can dream. Those who get the chance to rise again after failure can pursue their dreams."

"You're marvelous. You speak beautifully like a poetry. You;re an idealist who loves dreams more than reality. You're always so full of pride. But do you know where all of that comes from? Privilege."

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A fun journey in which we cherish the friends we made along the way!

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The Feeling
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A week has gone by since the finale of the drama has aired and I have a bittersweet memory of watching this drama throughout its entire run. I started watching it when it had already aired 6-7 episodes and was getting all the buzz from viewers and rightly so. A heartfelt Rom-Com with great cast is a sure shot success these days at least internationally.

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The Phases
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Now, coming back to the drama, it can be divided into 2 phases. The first phase comprises of all the episodes till end of Ep 11 where a major conflict is resolved and all build up tension fades away and the second phase is all about the remaining episodes from Ep 12 till Ep 16. Fortunately the best phase of the drama from narrative and drama point of view is the former one that lasted longer than the weaker latter phase of the drama which only had fluffy romance and felt like a epilogue of some sort.

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The Title
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The drama superficially might look like as the title of the drama suggests it is "Love Next Door". But I can assure you that its more deeper than that. Currently, in India I live with my college friends in a high-rise apartment having 10 floors in which I don't even know about who lives next door. This is in stark contrast to my family home where everyone knows everyone and are deeply involved in everyone's lives to the extent that all trials and tribulations are faced together in the society.

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The Setting
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Similar to what I described above, at the very start of the drama we are introduced to a bunch of women who live in the same neighbourhood and have been friends for last 40 years. Not only them, many of their children went to the same school and are really close friends for past 30 years as well. Mainly we focus on the trio of childhood friends :-
a) "Seung Hyo" played by the very handsome Jung Hae In who is an lead architect in a start up
b) "Seok Ryu" played by the gorgeous diva Jung So Min who is a project manager and I can't tell further without going into spoiler territory
c) "Mo Eum" played by my current crush Kim Ji Eun who is a paramedic and works along side firefighters. Apologies in advance as I will not be able to give objective views when it comes to her as I am currently completely floored and enamoured by her beauty, sassiness and personality in all of her recent dramas.
Latter a fourth character "Dan Ho" also comes into the picture who is played by Yun Ji On and works as a reporter for a major Korean media outlet.

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The Plot
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The plot is a good one actually and you will be at the edge of your seats in certain moments and episodes praying for K-Drama Gods to save the day. I don't want to give any spoilers regarding any specifics but I will say one thing : there are many serious emotional themes and issues that are dealt very maturely in the drama which could trigger some strong response from the viewers. So keep that in mind that its not only about the 2 couples and their fluffy romance and waiting for when they will end up together. Its also about some issues we are facing as a society which we all need to work together to solve and make it a better place. Show some empathy and support your closed ones in their darkest times.

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The Jobs
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All 4 leads have different kinds of professions and due to very solid writing, we are able to deep dive into what motivated them into taking up that profession and we are also given first hand knowledge of how a normal day goes for them. I already knew much about the profession of news reporter, paramedic (from other K-Dramas) and project management (I work in the field of Computer Science) but this drama gave such a great portrayal of how architects work and the thought that goes into their creativity and theme of their designs. Its such a cool profession and the writer did a good job at peeking interest of the viewers into something which may look very mundane from outside but which is actually very challenging and interesting from the inside.

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The Chemistry
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Main Leads : Its not as explosive and electrifying as you want it to be. Its subtle at the start and slowly and slowly blooms into a mature flower which then blossoms as if its spring season. There is one swoon worthy scene in which the level of intimacy is severely levelled up for a K-Drama and for obvious reasons none of the viewers complained about it. The drama showcases the beauty of a childhood friendship that always had love and care embedded into it. Where 2 individuals support each other in their darkest as well as the brightest times together unaware of the fact they have always felt for each other but didn't bother to give a tag or name to this relationship and feeling.

Supporting Leads : They are hella cute together and their back and forth with each other complements the show so well that sometimes we as viewers are more interested in their relationship than the main couple for the reason that they form a bond from scratch in front of us and didn't had any past between them. As I told before, I am currently simping for Kim Ji Eun and can't take my eyes off her when she is on the screen and Uff! her personality as a paramedic is so likeable and respectable that in real life I would have completely devoted myself at her service as soon as we became friends. Apologies for the corny lines. Yun Ji On is one lucky MF who gets the chance to romance her on screen. I can't write good stuff about my love rival anyway. Ha Ha :-)

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The Family
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To be honest the USP of the drama is the relationship dynamics between the main characters and their family. Everyone playing the parents are veteran actors and they did their work wonderfully. The arguments, the quarrels, the drama, the making up after a verbal fight feels closer to my heart as it reminded me of my own family especially my parents and my elder sister. The strong bonds within a family and sometimes the situation when everything is pretty loose and tied by a thin thread of trust which if broken could lead to irreversible damage leading to collapse has been captured beautifully by the writer Shin Ha Eun.

There are scenes in the drama in which parents and their child are fighting over career decision and it is very similar to what we face on day to day basis in middle class Indian households. Even in India, stability of a conventional job after college takes priority over unconventional jobs that passionate kids want to pursue which leads to struggle between parents and their rebelling kids.

Shoutout to both Park Ji Young and Jun So Min for their stellar and heartwarming acting while performing as mother & daughter in some scenes where we as viewers were so engrossed in the drama feeling for both sides.

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The Shortcomings
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The longer length of the episodes (almost all are 80 min) is a serious issue here as in most of the cases you feel that the episode drags on unnecessarily and it would have been prevented by either chopping off the runtime of the episode or by recompiling the drama into a 21-22 Ep series each having 1 hour episode. The pacing is an issue and since this is a slow burn romance for the majority, the longer length will make you impatient quite a few times.

As already mentioned the first phase of the drama is superior to the second phase as the latter phase has no major conflict to resolve so it just becomes a feel good slice of life drama in the last few episodes barring few scenes. So, if thats your cup of tea then you will not mind but seriously for me it was too much. They could have structured the story in a better manner for the latter half in my opinion.

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The Review
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Overall its a good one time watch, nothing special about it apart from the family dynamics shown in the first 11 episodes and for people who likes romance its a stellar drama having great character writing which guarantees all the feels and swoons you expect from K-Dramas these days.

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Just finished it. Objectivley spoken, it was good and well executed show.

But of course, some things can be criticized and could be done way better:
1. The stomach cancer theme. It was unnecessary and way over the top for a show which doesn't focus explicitly on this topic. (like 39 for example)
2. The lavender-gang took too much screen time. Yes, they were funny but they didn't contribute to the overall plot progression and rivaled the 2nd lead couple in screen time.
3. The last episode or better, the ending was needless and not satisfying.
a.) the whole Mo-Eum / Dan-Ho / Yeon-Du part was rushed in the end and the last major scene they got, was the decision making process of Mo-Eum where she was unsure how to tell Dan-Ho they south pole thing. Comparing this to the screen tim, the lavender-gang got, it's kind of underwhelming. I mean, it feels like Mo-Eum / Dan-Ho / Yeon-Du was the support while the lavender-gang was the second lead.
b.) on the last meter, Seok-Ryu and Seung-Hyo decided to postpone their wedding and the final impression is an argument and a walk together. In general, not a bad idea, but the built up to this scene was unfitting. First, the expectation for the wedding was risen (not only in ep16, but also in ep15 AND ep14 (!) where it was the major cliffhanger), then it was dropped and then the lavender-gang had a never ending scene and then, only a couple of minutes were left to set the correct mood. The lavender-gang scene should set the mood, but that works only if the viewer likes them. Usually, the second lead should set the mood and these are also the characters and actors the viewer want to see, not the support group.

The 3rd bullet point is interesting, because they did fairly well on the individual endings and cliffhangers of each episode. I can only explain it that way, that the second leads were really unpopular or the support cast was super duper popular. Or, the audience shifted to a different group. (maybe an older group) It would be interesting, to see statistics about that.

What was good?
The rest. It lives from it's high production standard. Good cast, good music, good settings, good camera work etc. But to be honest, it wasn't exceptional in any form.

I would rate it 8/10.

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Peak romantic escapism

I’ll be honest, this series has me in two minds. There is the critical side of me that see the contrived, cliche plots and then there is the romance drama tragic that lapped up all the swoon-y moments and happily frolicked with the unicorns. It is a tug of war at times but in the end, the drama tragic won and the critic was banished to the naughty corner.

The premise of the plot is the classic BFF to lover trope. Of course, it is a bumpy ride for our besotted leads or it won't be a k-drama. However, it is also less angsty than I expected. It is pretty smooth sailing on the Love Boat for our OTP once they sorted out their feelings. The angst largely comes from the second leads and the parents. Interestingly, they are not the usual annoying, controlling parents. They are decent folks, but the show put them at loggerheads due to some misunderstanding just to create tension and serve up some distraction.

As I mentioned before, the A-plot is quite simple if we pare back the extraneous side plots. What is left is a sweet OTP romance and an engaging 2CP. I'm happy to see the OTP is rock solid after their confession. However, the 2CP is on far shakier grounds. When you throw in a cute little girl into the mix, I’m shipping them big time.

I’m not saying that the OTP is boring. Where the OTP excelled is their chemistry. I think the acting experience of our two senior leads shows. Their interactions feel natural and believable. Their skinship is more passionate as well. The 2CP has their moments but they are a bit awkward around each other most of the time. Not that I’m complaining but there is a clear winner if you put them side by side.

If I release my inner critic, the show would be about 7.5. It is perfectly watchable if you want something that is angst lite and uncomplicated. On the other hand, if I morph into the Romance Drama Tragic™️, then it is an easy 8.5 (9 if you only rate the last 4 eps). You just need to filter out (skip) the noises and focus on the swoon worthy moments, especially during the second half. If I were to rewatch this, I’d start at the end of ep.11 and be a couch potato for the next few hours unto the happy end. I'll have to skip forward a few times but that's par for the course.

Speaking of the ending, it is very sweet but not quite sugar overload and less formulaic than expected. Everyone, and I mean everyone, gets a happy ending. There are minor twists, but the main plot stays the course.

One odd thing though. The budding romance of the FL’s brother and the ML’s coworker. They are obviously the 3CP but somehow their timing seems off. 10 months of close interaction and he doesn’t get the hint that the girl is into him?! I’ll just put it down to an odd slip by the writer-nim.

This show is a guilty pleasure for me. Maybe you will enjoy it too.

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Quietly and seductively steals your heart

Solid script, light soundtrack and a director who knew just the right balance between coziness and a little cross-cultural leavening. Overall not as wildly unpredictable as classic romedies nor as melancholy, but it nevertheless seductively steals your heart. The whole cast were brilliant professionals, wait til you meet little Yeondu! The musical precision with which they hit their marks, neither over-playing nor underplaying their parts, made me so happy.

The joy of watching formulaic drama is watching how the variations are used and guessing what they will be; actually advancing the formula is a long slow collective process but if one person can normalize happy and mildly suggestive scenes in bed it is Jung Hae In. Even his back radiates joy as he disappears behind a kicked-closed door. Anther personal favourites...Jo Han Chul (an excellent villain in other shows) blew my socks off as a true sweetheart dad.

I think an underlying theme of respect for women's career choices and aspirations (whatever they might be) is a key to understanding the script, non-dogmatically. Each person in a brilliantly nuanced way works through various aspects of this dramatic nexus, from the acknowledgement of changes in the arranged marriage trope (usually performed by older women) to undercutting the high-school take on sexuality trope. For ex., the FL obviously weighs changes caused by her health but also her lack of a support network in the USA, and her decision is to return to SK and find a new career, even tho it means facing her mom's fury. In another way, this is developed comically into the amazing and funny devolution of Jang Young Nam, as Seungho's mom, from elegant diplomat back to her roots in the group of high school friends known as Lavender.
Seukryu's mom, played by the great Park Ji Young, is living happily bec of her success in raising a successful daughter, and her stubbornness is a sign of her strength of character, a traditional trope, altho pretty heavy for a western audience. Her character arc as she adjusts to the new family reality is one of the mostheartbreaking if looked at this way. Take a look at all the others....

Two problems for me: I almost didn't make it past poor Seokryu being actually beaten by her mom. Threats would have sufficed for the comic lift. I had also a serious problem with architectural mismatches in shooting locations, which I am not usually fussy about.

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A Slice-of-Life Beyond Expectation: Love Next Door Delivers by Surpassing Them

Love Next Door did not disappoint; it turned out really great and became quite a decent melodrama with elements of a slice-of-life drama. Not everyone might like the story since some people could expect something else from the genre, but I was deeply satisfied and grateful for what this drama got me through.

The actor played the iconic role of the father to Bae Seokryu. I just couldn't help but cry in so many scenes because he acted so well. His naturalness and well-acted performance gave so much weight to those emotional moments in the show, much like the theme itself-a truthful theme in general. This is quite a drama that heavily relies on realism, and given that, it's bound to receive a mixed bag of opinions-some good and some not quite as great. However, I definitely stand on the positive side here, since the strengths of the series far outweigh its flaws.

But while it may prove slow for some viewers, the slow-burn romance develops organically and further adds to the drama's feel of realism. The way Seokryu and Seunghyo transitioned from childhood friends into something more flowed naturally and paralleled the subtlety of real-life relationships. It is a very realistic tale of family dynamics, friendships, and all those little yet strong moments that mold our lives.

There are those, of course, who would have liked a more conventional ending, but for me, this open-endedness worked. It allowed the characters to move on from what we had been seeing on screen. For anyone who can appreciate a drama that actually focuses both on emotional growth and subtle, significant moments, Love Next Door is rewarding.

Ultimately, it is a series of delicacies regarding everyday life, emotions, and personal ties. Although it may not be up to everyone's standard, the positives surely outweigh the negatives in this beautifully portrayed story.

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Achieving Your Dreams while Benefitting Others

Love Next Door isn’t just a love story between the leads, but also a touching exploration of love and compassion for others. Lifelong friends finally find their way to each other after 30 years of missed opportunities. Choi Seung Hyo, the male lead, achieves great success as an award-winning architect, though it wasn’t his first dream. His passion for swimming was cut short due to an injury, but his resilience and determination led him to a different kind of fulfillment.

The female lead, Bae Seok Ryu, lived most of her life chasing her mother’s dreams, leading her to a personal and emotional breakdown despite achieving "success" in the States. Returning to Korea, she seeks to discover her own dreams and break away from her controlling mother. I loved how her childhood friend Seung Hyo supported and guided her toward her true passion—cooking.

However, I was upset when the writers introduced a stomach cancer storyline for Seok Ryu, which added tension to the rest of the drama. Though I was relieved there was no relapse, I found myself worried until the end. In the end, though, it became a meaningful reason for Seok Ryu to create healthy food for others who might face similar health challenges.

Ultimately, the dreams of both leads evolved into something bigger than themselves—doing good for others. Seung Hyo turned down big corporate projects to focus on architectural work that revitalized his older community, while Seok Ryu chose to cook healthy meals for everyone. The positive message that came through—that personal success is best when shared with and benefits others—is one that the world truly needs to hear.

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It's been a long time...

It's been a long time since I wasn't hipped with the drama like Love Next Door (since the disaster of Lovely runner...)

How to start... It is simple: I loved this drama with my heart: it has everything ... trauma, fear, love, dreams...
It is very realistic, a simple story and I loved how they overcome everything at the end. The sickness and depression topic are well developed which made the drama even more touching.
All the characters were well written and had their own stories and I loved them all. You could really see the improvement of each one at the end...

I loved it .... And the chemistry between the ML and FL? WOW, I still replay the love scene in my head even today, I never felt that.. Jung Hae In will always be my favorite. I fill a void now that I finished it .. It was my comfort show for weeks.
Bref. If you're hesitating: JUST WATCH IT. You will not be disappointed.

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