The K-drama 'Love Next Door' has faced significant backlash following its eighth episode, which introduced a shocking plot twist revealing the female lead, Bae Seok-ryu, has stomach cancer, mirroring a similar storyline from the successful series 'Queen of Tears'. While the show started strong with a classic childhood friends-to-lovers narrative, viewers criticized the abruptness and gravity of the cancer diagnosis, which led to frustration and comparisons to 'Queen of Tears', with many considering abandoning the series. Episode 8 concluded with Seok-ryu's hospitalization after experiencing severe abdominal pain, raising questions about her condition and relationship with childhood friend Choi Seung-hyo. Additionally, a previous scene in Episode 7 sparked outrage for its portrayal of a confrontation that many female viewers felt trivialized real fears of violence. Despite some defending the show for its character development, the overall sentiment leans towards disappointment with the direction of the plot. This backlash highlights the challenges of balancing dramatic storytelling with sensitive topics in romantic comedies.