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Love Is Better the Second Time Around

恋をするなら二度目が上等 ‧ Drama ‧ 2024
Dropped 3/6
danielrx1
0 people found this review helpful
2 days ago
3 of 6 episodes seen
Dropped 0
Overall 5.0
Story 5.5
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 5.0
Rewatch Value 5.0

Where's the beef?

Sorry I tried, but finally had to give up. The lead character is such a spineless nothing who can't even keep a work calendar going, let alone deal with a past boyfriend when he is 30. And not even sexy to boot! Nice filmwork but boring as all get out. Love Japanese BL, this isn't one of them. Guess I have to write more comments or they won't post.
Wanted to like this, adult characters always a plus, but again the lead is so not intersting. Just whiny and lost. Maybe it gets better but not going to wait around for that.
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Completed
sandiia
0 people found this review helpful
Jun 24, 2024
6 of 6 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 9.0

a mature story perfectly executed

I think it’s one of the best Jbls i’ve watched. Ik the trope seems cliché but they managed to make something actually original. It was so satisfying to see the bottom put boundaries to protect his own feelings, cause if u know it’s not something common in the BL world.
About the cinematography, it was so good, specially when you notice the parallels between the young and the current couple. The music is really good, i loved the opening, never skipped it.
overall, a more mature bl masterpiece
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Completed
Fondueforkharpoon
0 people found this review helpful
Jun 24, 2025
6 of 6 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

Already loved it the first time!

I've watched this series twice now and greatly enjoyed it both times (but even more the second time around when I already knew what I was in for).
It's an absolute gem of a story - grounded, thoughtful, and surprisingly funny!
The characters are extremely lovable and though their push-and-pull dynamic may have been off-putting in a lesser show, it works perfectly here.

Iwanaga is confident and cocky and pursues Miyata through blatant manipulation, but there are certain lines he does not cross. He does not force Miyata into anything he genuinely doesn't want, doesn't compromise their work together, and is very open about what he's doing and why.
Despite what Miyata believes in the beginning, Iwanaga is in fact entirely honest about his intentions and methods.
Miyata is always offered an out - if he does not want to engage with Iwanaga he can simply leave. Sure, there's a certain social pressure on him because Iwanaga is in fact his business partner, but he absolutely has the option to call their arrangement quits any time without any lasting negative consequences.
Combined with the almost desperate vulnerability that soon begins to shine through the cracks in Iwanaga's facade, this makes his antics genuinely entertaining to watch, endearing even.
Miyata meanwhile isn't afraid to push back against Iwanaga, sometimes by (rightfully) berating and admonishing him, sometimes by gleefully using Iwanaga's own methods against him and taking advantage of rules of social conduct and politeness. It's a highly engaging back-and-forth that made me laugh out loud several times, usually right before hitting me directly in the emotional gonads with thoughtful explorations of the nature of human relationships.

I also greatly enjoyed the side characters - yes, all of them, even Sugimoto. The acting is fantastic, the sound track is brilliant (the ending theme in particular is an absolute banger), and overall the immense care and effort that went into this show is apparent in every single scene.
I simply cannot recommend it enough!

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Completed
baka_jr
0 people found this review helpful
Apr 10, 2024
6 of 6 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 7.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 5.0

Age 30-35+ should find this serie good.

- Pretty tense. quite mature story, and serious in old era (the era where LGBTQ couple is embarassed and hardly to be accepted. But the detail of story is actually not much.
- I think Generation X-Y + asian style may like this serie (age30+), while under 30 yr will find nothing much about this serie's value
- There is some production value, but I think I won't rewatch it since there is not much thing in serie
- Chemistry of these 2 main is quite good.
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Completed
louvreblvd
0 people found this review helpful
Jul 15, 2024
6 of 6 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

Immaculate

This is yet another one of the best bl series from Japan. They always and will never fail to mesmerized me! From the aesthetically pleasing cinematography, choice of OST, the chemistry, the acting, THE PLOT! Everything is just perfect in an astronomical level! Hands down to the team that made all of this series possible!
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Completed
Nata-Stay
0 people found this review helpful
Apr 10, 2024
6 of 6 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

Psychologically, it's a very good drama.

It's an amazing picture that I'll look at many more times. From the psychological side, Japan, as always, has a lot to think about. The actors played flawlessly. My favorites.
You can talk for a long time and a lot, but I began to notice that we have a lot of over-saturated Thai drama and the plot of other countries is becoming unimportant. Only the bed scenes became important. And life doesn't consist of that. That's exactly what Japan and Korea are showing life. Important moments, mistakes and ups.
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Completed
HealingVibes
0 people found this review helpful
Apr 10, 2024
6 of 6 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

Totally smitten!

I am totally smitten by the Senpai here, especially his voice. There's a gentle demeanour in him that just melts heart. I love the NC because I can see how the Senpai is totally desiring Miyata! Although I still think the NC could be better, it's overall pretty good as I can feel that chemistry and sexual tension between them

The story is quite typical BL, nothing new, but it's still a really nice watch

I actually love how compact it is, so it doesn't feel draggy. That said, I totally would love a special episode! Also, it's nice to finally watch a mature BL, after all the school BLs!

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Completed
_Sydney
0 people found this review helpful
Jul 29, 2024
6 of 6 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 9.5
Rewatch Value 9.5
This review may contain spoilers

Maybe love is better the second time around

I actually enjoyed love is better the second time around, I felt it was different from the recent Japanese BLs lately because it literally was their love a second time around, from them dating when they were younger and in high school were they broke up from a miss communication and then years later they finally meet again from work. I have to also say that I am a huge fan of Makoto (Miyata) because he’s in the jpop group the rampage from exile tribe and he’s one of my favorites from the group. The plot is how Miyata and Takashi used to date when they were younger and in high school and we’re gonna run away together because Takashi new his parents wouldn’t accept them together, but on the day they were supposed to leave Takashi never showed up so and stopped talking to each other. Later in the present Miyata is a reporter and has to write an article about Takashi who is a successful university professor and they finally see each other after that long break, you do expect that reaction from Miyata that he is done with Takashi and isn’t their to talk about their past relationship together since now Miyata moved on and is dating a girl and is about to propose to her, but on the day he proposes to her she rejects because he doesn’t seem to be paying attention to her anymore after being together for a long time and at the restaurant he proposes to her at Takashi comes and puts the ring on him and later they have a very steamy scene. Then Miyata is frequently at the office that Takashi works at, but Takashi’s assistant Yuto has a crush on Takashi and keeps telling Miyata that he can’t have him because he’s his and calls him a b!tch. Later Miyata goes to Takashis house drunk and Yuto is their, but he got rejected and Miyata goes in and Takashi takes care of him and Miyata is the cutest person while being drunk. Miyata does also get a key that he can enter Takashis house whenever he wants to. Later Sugimoto who is the person who kept Takashi with him on the day they were Miyata and him we’re supposed to run away together, but he sends Miyata a pic of Takashi sleeping while shirtless and sends it to Miyata while he’s at the train station and that is the reason why they lost contact. Turns out Sugimoto had a crush on Takashi and wanted him, but helped Miyata and Takashi get approved by his parents even if he still liked him. They also had a whole lot more steamy scenes, but I won’t spoil anymore. I also loved the younger them because they were a actually so cute together and I would like to see the younger them in a BL together. I really recommend this drama.

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Completed
Lily
0 people found this review helpful
Apr 10, 2024
6 of 6 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

I love every episode.

I love every episode until I rewatched the whole thing again before watching the last episode today lol (I follow it every week). This series is really beautiful (cinematography, OST, dialogue), the plot is neat and tight, and sexy lol. I don't know why, even though all the characters are dressed in thick clothes, but the aura is still really sexy. The acting of all the actors is good (especially Senpai) and the chemistry between the MCs is also really good. The premise has actually been used by many BL (or dramas in general?); met the teen first love, when they were already adults. But I think the execution is really good. The explanation is clear and coherent, why do they behave like that when they grow up. The ending also makes you really satisfied, the last episode really answers the first episode. Miyata's gaze at Senpai at the end is the same as when he was a teenager, totally bliss. BTW, I like that they use different actors between the adult version and the teenage version; I'm a bit annoyed by dramas that use the same actors for the school and adult versions, sometimes the actors look too old to wear uniforms.

My favorite is Senpai. From the start, his character is made ambiguous (both when he was a teenager and now an adult) and kind of love bombing so he looks manipulative, till the end we (and Miyata) doubt whether his love is genuine or not? But everything was answered in the last episode.

I will miss this series so much.

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Completed
Kiyoi
0 people found this review helpful
Jul 25, 2024
6 of 6 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.0
Even if it was only 25 minutes each episode, I simply love how everything was well put. Instead of rushing things, the director really used every minute well in detailing every moment.

It doesn't matter if it takes a little longer for you to trust someone again. Your feeling is valid.

"If you truly loves me, don't say sorry"
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Completed
Julia
2 people found this review helpful
Mar 3, 2025
6 of 6 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 7.0

resenha

O Amor é Melhor na Segunda Vez (2024) é um BL japonês que, apesar de não ser maravilhoso, é definitivamente assistível e agradável. Dei nota 8 porque conseguiu entregar uma história envolvente, com personagens cativantes, e um desenvolvimento razoavelmente bom, que me fez ficar interessada até o final.

Embora o enredo não seja completamente inovador, ele toca em temas interessantes sobre segundas chances no amor e como as coisas podem ser diferentes quando duas pessoas se encontram em momentos distintos de suas vidas. A dinâmica entre os protagonistas foi um dos pontos altos para mim. Eles têm uma boa química, e a forma como o relacionamento deles se desenvolve de maneira gradual e realista foi algo que gostei muito.

O ritmo foi um pouco mais lento em alguns momentos, mas isso não foi um grande problema, já que a história não tentava forçar situações. Os personagens têm profundidade suficiente para nos fazer querer torcer por eles, e o romance, embora não tenha sido o mais intenso ou surpreendente, foi bonito de assistir.

O final, embora não tenha sido deslumbrante, foi satisfatório. Fechou a história de uma maneira que fez sentido e trouxe uma sensação de resolução, o que é sempre bom.

Em resumo, não é o BL mais inesquecível, mas é totalmente digno de ser assistido. Para quem curte esse tipo de história, é uma escolha que vale a pena, e a nota 8 reflete exatamente o que ele entrega: um bom entretenimento com um romance doce e tocante.

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Completed
AlexCruzDeMalta
1 people found this review helpful
Jun 5, 2026
6 of 6 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 9.0

9/10 Wonderful 2nd chance love

9/10 Wonderful 2nd chance love
"I will follow you.
Forever, all my life.
No matter where it is."
Heartbreak, hurt, fears, insecurities, and learning to trust again are the tropes of this series. And, oh, does it do them justice!
I felt every heartbreak.
Every past memory hit right where it hurts.
Their love is simply mesmerizing to me.
This series also underlines how hard it is true grand trust again after having been hurt that badly before.
Hence, there is a lot of drama here. However, these dramatic aspects are not front and center, but rather an underlying current. This makes it all the more amazingly good to me.
The ending is really amazing as it turns their story into a circle with the ending they should have had from the start.

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Love Is Better the Second Time Around poster

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  • Score: 7.7 (scored by 11,216 users)
  • Ranked: #5020
  • Popularity: #1195
  • Watchers: 22,510

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