Flower Boy Next Door episodes 11 & 12

Yoon Shi Yoon as Enrique Geum is the prettiest crier

I like Flower Boy Next Door more and more with every episode. There are a variety of great characters that bring different personalities into play. Even though this show is far from realistic, the "spice of life" residents of the apartment building reflect the experience of living in a community in which the tenants share walls, halls, and other spaces. They have formed their own type of family, and they like to stick their noses into each other's business. Of course, for Go Dok Mi (Park Shin Hye) this poses a problem because she tries to separate her life from other people to avoid pain. Fortunately, Enrique has been chipping away at Dok Mi's brick wall and seems to have at least let a ray of sunlight into Dok Mi's cave.

Yoon Shi Yoon and Park Shin Hye KISSEU!!!

After experiencing the anger of a mother whose son became addicted to his games, Enrique was sad for a little while (I really mean a LITTLE while, he didn't stay gloomy for long). I found the scenario of the mother hating a video game creative director enough to stalk him and try to kill him a bit strange, but since it was only a point of entry for more understanding between Enrique and Dok Mi, I will let it slide. Because of his sudden personality change, Dok Mi feels guilty and admits that she likes him this leads to a much-awaited, for me anyway, Yoon Shi Yoon kiss scene. The kiss and confession perk Enrique up right away and sets him off into planning their future together and gives him the ability to read her thoughts again. In the upcoming episodes we will see if Dok Mi moves out of the apartment building and how things unfold between her and Enrique. I don't have any major predictions yet for the end, but I would like to see Dok Mi go to Spain with Enrique. Normally the thought of the woman having to uproot her life to follow her boyfriend would annoy me, but in this case I think it would be a great thing for Dok Mi and a romantic ending.

The apartment building's F4: Mizuta Kouki, Yoon Shi Yoon, Kim Ji Hoon, and Go Kyung Pyo

In these episodes it is also made apparent to Oh Jae Won/ Jin Rak (Kim Ji Hoon) that Dok Mi really likes Enrique. Generally, I don't feel too bad for the "other guy" in Korea dramas that the girl doesn't choose because the guy is usually weird, annoying, or too desperate, but I feel sorry for Jae Won. He said something very devastating after getting rejected by Dok Mi that reveals a lot about his personality. He said that whenever he was given a big present or when something good happened to him as a child, there was always a negative incident that followed. In many ways he is similar to Dok Mi. Jae Won also hides within a shell of protection and even though he demands transparency of others, he doesn't reveal much about himself. Because of this personality trait, I think Enrique is a better and more healthy match for Dok Mi. Enrique can help her open up and enjoy life again while Jae Won just wants to keep her locked away with him.

Another note from these past episodes: I have realized that I am a huge Kim Seul Gi fan. She is hilarious as the tired and moody manager of the webtoon company that Jae Won and Yoo Dong Hoon (Go Kyung Pyo) work for. I think that I can relate more to her life of working all the time and watching love stories that she's never a part of as opposed to Dok Mi as a quiet and beautiful princess locked away in a tower. I hope to see her in more dramas, maybe a starring role?

Kim Seul Gi

Kim Seul Gi

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Flower Boy Next Door episodes 1, 2, 3 & 4

Yoon Shi Yoon as Enrique Geum and Park Shin Hye as Go Dok Mi ahjumma 

First impressions of Flower Boy Next Door based upon these episodes? It's cute, funny, and a bit weird. At first I was confused by the premise, and there seemed to be a lot of different story lines and characters popping up. And, as with the other tvN's Oh! Boy dramas (Flower Boy Ramyun Shop and Shut Up Flower Boy Band), the episodes are only 45 minutes long so there is quite a bit of information and action packed into each one. In the beginning we met Enrique, the adorable and chatty creative director from Spain, Go Dok Mi, the sad and beautiful girl who doesn't leave her apartment, Han Tae Joon is (Lee Jong Hyuk) the flower boy that Dok Mi spies on from her window, Oh Jin Rak (Kim Ji Hoon) who lives in the apartment next to Dok Mi and has liked her for 3 years, and a laundry list of other strange, but funny characters that live or revolve around the apartment buildings.

I look forward to seeing how Enrique will use his extreme extroversion to counter act Dok Mi's just as extreme introversion. Clearly Dok Mi tries hard to tell herself that she is perfectly happy living without human contact in the confinement of her apartment while using insane ways to save on utility costs (by never flushing her toilet and hugging water bottles to stay warm... sure whatever you say crazy ahjumma), but based upon her flashbacks of being tortured by the other kids as a school girl, she is in need of some affection. If my senses are correct, I imagine these two will end up together. That is my early guess. But, as us drama addicts know, dramas can start great with certain relationships forming then take a turn for the stupid. I hope this drama continues on its cute and funny path.

I also want to point out the obvious for a moment. Yoon Shi Yoon is so freaking adorable! I want to believe that he is as charismatic as Enrique in reality. Plus, I personally think that he rivals Song Joong Ki in facial cuteness. Joong Ki and Shi Yoon offer different types of charm, yes, but they both have perfect faces.

Yoon Shi Yoon source: http://www.vingle.net/posts/98413-Flower-Boy-Next-door

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