Koi wo Suru nara Nidome ga Joto (2024)

is love better the second time around?

Overall: there was amazing tension but I needed more character growth and less love rivals. 6 episodes at 25 minutes each. Aired on GagaOOLala. ; re-released on Viki https://www.viki.com/tv/40574c-love-is-better-the-second-time-around

Content Warnings: manipulation

What I Like
- tension/chemistry
- clear between what were flashbacks and the present
- end of episode 2 they explain what happened in the past and the time gap/why they each reacted how they did makes sense to me (unlike the majority of these types of plots)
- production value

Room For Improvement
- kind of an exposition dump in the first episode, but they didn't have much screen time so I understood why they did that
- too many love rivals (3) in just 6 episodes
- not enough character growth, I needed to see 1 character be real, everything had this fake veneer
- cliche plot point at the end of episode 5
- lack of consequences for some characters "gave me freedom" is NOT how I would describe what happened in high school

Thoughts on Grey Characters/Their Romantic Relationships
Sometimes these characters and their dynamic work for me and other times they don't. Here are the factors that I'm thinking about.
1. was there a realistic reason why the character/s acted the way they did in the past (yes)
2. were both characters grey or was one squeaky clean (they both had character flaws)
3. was there some kind of apology/amend making (kind of)
4. was there character growth (not really)
5. do I believe that the characters will stay together in a happy romantic relationship (maybe)

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Second chances

If you get a second chance to love, should you give it a pass or jump at the opportunity and finally be happy? That is the choice Miyata has been presented with when he suddenly meets his first love. They had not seen each other in 14 years and the break up had been sudden and without explanation. Now they are in their early 30s and the feelings seem to have only been dormant not gone. Slowly, they learn to trust and love each other again.

The Japanese have done it again: the current BL masters are them! Their dramas are short, to the point with great storylines and excellent actors. Here, we have two parallel stories told at the same time: teens' and adults' love stories. The important fact is that as adults they won't let themselves be manipulated they way they were as teens. They stand up for themselves and decide that the most precious thing they have in the world is each other!

But because it is short, the issues here (homophobia, society pressure, family) are dealt with quickly and not really in depth. There was no need also, for the introduction of a manipulative brother (cousin?) in present day storyline. And even though he turns out to be on their side eventually, his sleeziness and unclear motivations (he has hots for his cousin?) created unnecessary complication and tension which was already high enough with the family history and a difficult mother.

The actors are amazing, very much at ease with each other. They managed to portray the main characters convincingly. Miyato is deceptively soft but has a strong backbone, while Iwanaga hides his weaknesses behind a cocky attitude. Their chemistry is just right and every time they were close to each other, just looking into the eyes, made me feel butterflies....

Please continue like this, Japan!

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