Aye rolling 12 step I mean episode cringe
The leads are kind of sweet and so are the friendships and people around them but the humour is low, the acting varies and the amount of times I rolled my eyes made me slightly worried they would get stuck there...The second hand embarrassment in this is enough fill the glasses in a korean after work gathering.
The plot was so predictable one could smell most of the twists from Buchan to Seoul.
And the yelling, oh so much chasing and yelling, and chasing and ylling, gossip and yelling, and gossip, and cliche, and yelling, nd boohoo its all my fault... Im a terrible (insert family status)....
The leads over all character are kind of cool, dare I say bad ass, just not when they interact with their family. The romance between the leads was cringe, oh so cringe... Still loved the couple for some unexplainable reason making me stick with this eye rolling awful drama.. Through our male leads saviour complex, through the monologs....
The second couple feel a bit like a puddle left after Something in the Rain (the drama), They had their moments but I kept getting de ja vu and not in a good way.
No one could read the room and I kept wondering why oh why do they treat grown ups like you (should probably not )treat small kids. That said almost each character had its moment of bad ass, sweet, shiny lovable, but also have their moments of wtf... oh come on get over yourself... Can a person be this stupid and still function as an adult? The only person who was pretty decent to watch from start to finish was probably the married mechanic best friend.
To be honest it felt like a 12 episode anti drinking campaign...one minute, hour, day, week, month at a time people...
So do I recommend this?
NO
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Nothing much here :(
It’s your typical mediocre romance cum family cum healing kind of drama. The predictable plot twists towards the last few episodes, really very kdrama.I like the main theme of controlling your alcohol intake. I’m assuming the writers wanted to make a point here. I do find too much drinking and getting drunk in all these kdramas, it’s like a staple must for every drama. Also, the humour with the family and friends, and all the ladies - not really my thing anymore. Found it tiring and bland.
The chemistry was also dead lol nothing sizzling and won’t give you any butterflies in your stomach. I do like that the FL is a mechanical engineer(?) and she handles cars and works out their problems.
All in all a simple watch at 2.0x speed hahaha. Cdramas are dominating this first half of 2025, so go there instead ;)
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excellent start, deceiving last third
I was very impressed by the start of this series: courageous theme choice. creative and detailed script, excellent acting, matching sound track. Yet the promise was too good: the self set high standards were impossible to be kept for long time.Almost with each episode the quality in every respect deteriorates till by about episode 8 we are left with a banal till boring forced series. The contrast could not be stronger.
Not everybody may feel the same, so please decide by yourself where to stop - for myself it was very painful to keep watching till the end.
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But yeah, it’s not perfect. Sometimes it drags a bit too much—like the story gets stuck in the same emotional loop without pushing forward. A few scenes feel repetitive, like they're trying to stretch the tension a little longer than needed. And some side characters don’t really add much, they just float around. Still, even with its slow pace and occasional stalling, it holds your heart. It’s quiet, flawed, but really touching—and it makes you root for a kind of love that feels earned.
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Standard healing drama with a very confused message
This is not how I wanted to write the review, but this is one confused puppy and I just don't feel comfortable watching it. Let's get the standard stuff out of the way.This drama has a big ensemble cast and chock full of veteran actors. Our leads are good actors, and they are in their element. The OTP has good chemistry and there is a bit of skinship. The usual village ajummas can be loud and nosy but you roll with it. They are least of our problems.
OST is fine. Production value is par for the course. With the show set in a country town, most sets are rustic but feel lived in. Perfectly fine.
What is not fine is the conflicting messages being delivered. The basic premise is supposed to be the evil of the Korean drinking culture. This piqued my interest as this is a pet peeve of mine. I lost count the number of times writer-nim uses drunkenness as a device to either create a situation or to move the plot along. It is a miracle that more people don't get into serious trouble, especially young ladies. If this is a reflection of reality then I'm afraid . . very afraid.
Unfortunately, after watching the first few eps, I’m more confused than ever. Sure, the ML runs a clinic treating alcohol addiction and the FL shows all the sign of being an alcoholic so we have the instant connection. That's one tough meet-cute though. Their interactions are naturally fraught. We soon learn that they were each other's crush in senior high school but became estranged later on. Let’s just say the title gives the rest of the plot away.
You might think, so far so good, right? Not so fast, chingu. While the show seems to be promoting the abstinence message, it also gives us every excuse why people “would/should” drink to excess. This is not just about the FL but many people in her circle of friends and family.
Sure, we soon learn why she was hitting the bottle, but she is surrounded by enablers with drinking problem of their own. This is not just at the beginning to set the scene but went on all through the show. Every time the FL tries to be abstinent, someone will tempt her or challenge her. Hwaiting?
Heck, you would think the show is serious about this issue when one character dies from alcohol poisoning, but it never feels . . right. Their resolve seems to ebb and flow from one scene to the next. It might be lecturing us one minute but shows us people having a blast drinking the next. Yes, I know it is part of their culture, but why highlight it then? It feels so inconsistent. Is excessive drinking their sacred cow?
Once you dilute the central tenet, the show feels hollow, contrived. I was hoping the writer-nim would finally flip the narrative but we got something much less convincing. Sure, they listed all the ills, including unable to donate your organ but what's the chance of that in RL compared to the effort required to order another round of soju? Talk about low hanging fruit.
Without a strong core message, it is just another standard issue second chance story with a weak 2CP noona romance. Competent and watchable but what's the point? Very odd.
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This review may contain spoilers
Second Shot at Love – A Promising Start That Lost Its Way
Second Shot at Love starts off strong with an engaging premiere that gives viewers hope for a heartfelt and entertaining romance. The initial episodes are fun and enjoyable, offering a bubbly tone and fresh chemistry between the leads. However, as the series progresses, that spark begins to fade. The excitement that initially drew viewers in is quickly replaced by confusion and a dragging storyline that feels disconnected from its romantic theme.The biggest flaw lies in the shift of focus—from romance to the male lead’s (ML) father’s storyline, which slowly takes over the core plot. As the show heads toward its final episodes, you may even forget that this drama is meant to be about love. The title begins to feel misleading as the emotional and romantic elements are drowned out by unrelated plot points.
The male lead, unfortunately, doesn’t leave a lasting impression. Whether due to the character's emotional detachment or the way he is written, it's hard to form a connection with him. One particularly frustrating moment is when his alcoholic father, who has been admitted to the hospital for a long time, physically attacks him—and despite being a black belt in Taekwondo, he seems completely helpless. It makes you question the consistency and depth of his character. Another confusing scene shows him opening a refrigerator filled with soju bottles, yet the show never explains whether this was real or imagined, further highlighting the lack of clarity in the storytelling.
On the other hand, the female lead (FL) begins as a bright and lovable character. She brings energy and warmth to the story, especially in the first half. Sadly, her character loses depth midway through the series, and the spotlight shifts entirely to the ML. As a result, her development stalls, and the romance between the leads, once promising, begins to feel forced and uninspired by the end.
Supporting characters like the second male lead (SML) and second female lead (SFL) are barely explored. Their screen time across six or seven episodes is limited to just a few minutes, which feels like a missed opportunity. Instead of giving these potentially interesting characters room to grow, they’re reduced to background roles. Ironically, other side characters, including the FL’s parents and the neighborhood friends, are far more enjoyable and leave a stronger impact.
Baek Hye Mi also plays a key role in the show, and while her presence is significant, her decisions are questionable. She hides her identity from the ML for far too long, even during moments when revealing the truth could have given him much-needed emotional support. Her reasoning feels weak, and her storyline suffers as a result.
By episode 11, the drama builds up to what seems like a promising and emotional finale. The preview creates excitement and expectations. However, the actual conclusion is underwhelming and doesn't live up to the potential the previous episode promised.
Final words:
Second Shot at Love had all the ingredients for a heartfelt romantic drama, an exciting start, a lovable female lead, and solid supporting characters. But the shift in tone, weak male lead development, and inconsistent storytelling cause the series to lose its charm. While some side characters shine, the core romance fails to deliver, and the ending leaves much to be desired. It's a drama that starts with a spark but sadly fizzles out before the finish line.
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? Second Shot at Love — Hits the Heart, But Not Quite a Bullseye
One of the best parts of this drama for me was the older sister’s love story. 💕 It felt raw, real, and honestly so touching. Watching two people accept each other’s flaws and still choose love? That takes courage — and it gave their romance an emotional depth you don’t always see in K-dramas.I also appreciated how the show didn’t shy away from serious issues. The way it highlighted alcohol addiction and how it slowly erodes a person’s identity was powerful (and sadly very real). Big thumbs up to the writer for tackling that side of reality.
Now… onto the part that bugged me 😅 — the mental hospital arc. Like, seriously? Locked away for that long without anyone noticing? Felt way too exaggerated. I get it’s a drama, but still… it stretched believability a bit too far for me.
Overall, Second Shot at Love is a meaningful watch with strong performances and important themes. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing to make it truly unforgettable.
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A Heartfelt Drama About Love and Recovery
Second Shot at Love is a special kind of K-drama. On the surface, it feels like a sweet romance, but it goes much deeper by dealing with a serious topic—alcoholism, especially how it affects women in South Korea. It’s rare to see a drama that talks about addiction in such a realistic yet sensitive way, all while keeping things light enough to enjoy.The story follows Geum Ju, a hardworking female engineer who cancels her wedding just days before it happens. She turns to alcohol as a way to escape her problems. Her life changes again when she reconnects with her ex-boyfriend, who is now a doctor and a speaker on alcohol abuse. They both have a history together, and this second chance at love comes with a lot of emotional healing and growth.
What stands out is how the drama shows the struggles of being a “functional alcoholic”—someone who can still do their job and live life but hides a serious drinking problem. It doesn’t try to be dramatic just for the sake of drama. Instead, it shows the pain, the mistakes, and the small steps needed for recovery.
The main couple has great chemistry. Their love story feels real and emotional. When he hurts, you feel it. When she cries, you want to hug her. Their moments together are full of heart, even if the show sometimes cuts the romance scenes too short (which is common in Korean dramas).
The drama also gives a small but lovely side story about a single mother and a younger man, which adds warmth and charm to the show. It's a little cliché, but it works beautifully here.
One small downside: The drama focuses so much on the message about alcohol that sometimes the romantic pacing slows down. But honestly, the way it combines love, life struggles, and social issues is done so well, it’s easy to forgive.
If you like emotional love stories with real-life themes and a hopeful message, Second Shot at Love is worth your time. It’s touching, thoughtful, and beautifully acted. I’d happily recommend it—and watch it again.
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Hilarious Romcom That Lightly Tackles Social Issues
Second Shot at Love takes on a serious topic—alcoholism—but presents it in a light and entertaining way. This mix of humor and drama means the show could go in many directions, but so far, it handles things with care.Alcoholism is a real issue in many places, especially South Korea, so the show has a big responsibility. It gives us a look at both sides of the story—how Geum-Ju’s drinking affects the people around her and what leads her to drink in the first place.
In the first episode, we see how her behavior impacts her mother and possibly her first love, Seo Ui-Joon. It’s also clear that her father and sister have been enabling her for a long time, even before her fiancé cheated on her.
One of the more interesting dynamics is between Geum-Ju and her ex-fiancé Ju-yeop. He allows her to drink but also nags her about it, seemingly to control her and make her more submissive—a hypocritical and toxic behavior.
Read More: https://www.dramadaze.com/second-shot-at-love-kdrama-review/
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This review may contain spoilers
The show which started as a sobriety camp turned into a family bonding time!Han Geum Ju is a diehard alcoholic; she would literally die if she couldn’t drink. Not just her, her father & elder sister share the family trait while her mother is hellbent on making sure they don’t drink. The first half of the show surmises on this premise; the latter half deals with Geum Ju’s deaddiction campaign, her mother’s escape from death scare and her boyfriend Dr. Seo Ui Jun’s personal struggles. There isn’t much to unpack in this show. Apart from the sobriety campaign that becomes a distinct part of this drama; much of it is spent on dealing with personal issues. Each character has their own problems to solve and the storyline deals with them one by one. The side characters add their own punch and support the main leads in their own characteristic manner!
Read the complete article here-
https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2025/06/18/second-shot-at-love-series-review/#more-1921
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A Kdrama That Takes On the Korean Drinking Culture
Overall I enjoyed this drama, yet there were some of the usual Kdrama quirks that had me rolling my eyes. The main theme was the story of how drinking can ruin health, reputation, relationships, and even your life. Within this main theme were the myriad of sub-themes on how torn up people's lives were related to alcohol and alcoholism.It started out with the FL calling off her wedding and her mother finding her with a severe hangover. Carting her home for a break, she guilts her into quitting drinking stating that the drinking must have caused her to lose her fiancé'. Along the way, her husband and other daughter have to quit drinking as well. This sub-theme shows the struggle in getting over an addiction. All three eventually prevail and begin living their lives alcohol free.
The main theme of alcoholism and the sub-theme of managing an addiction is soon forgotten for other sub-themes that come into the storyline. Some are good, others have me rolling my eyes. Here is one eyeroller---The secondary couple is Hyeon Ju (the FL's sister) and Seon Uk. Seon Uk is desperately in love with Hyeon Ju. Hyeon Ju rebuffs his advances because he is the brother of her best friend Seon Hwa. Seon Hwa states one day that her brother should be with only the best of women and Hyeon Ju overhears this. She is divorced raising two kids on her own. Hyeon Ju is afraid if she started dating Seon Uk, her friendship with Seon Hwa would end because she disapproves of her. I thought the sister's disapproval was very unbelievable. I mean who would have a person as a best friend, but simultaneously they would not be good enough as your brother's girlfriend? It did not make sense. This couple is cute, and the pursuit from Seon Uk to win over Hyeon Ju was sweet. The whole keeping it a secret from the sister was stupid.
Here is another one---even though there are 3 alcoholics in one family, Geum Ju, Hyeon Ju, and the father (who are all trying to quit drinking), their mother who doesn't drink ends up with liver failure. I'm not sure why this storyline was put into the story. I thought it was unnecessary drama and really didn't make sense.
A good sub-theme was the mystery thriller related to the ML Ui Jun. He has flashbacks of a death occurring in the Seoul hospital he worked in. His estranged alcoholic father came to the hospital to kill him but in the struggle a nurse is pushed then falls, hits her head, and dies. He feels responsible, quits, and moves back home where he becomes a country doctor. A loyal nurse follows him and works with him in taking care of those in the community. This storyline played out slowly, has some different twists and turns, but helped to keep me tuning in each week. He also sees his first love, Geum Ju, who is now trying to quit drinking. He helps her and in the process they fall in love again. I thought the mystery/thriller sub-theme was the best, however it ended abruptly without any real resolution with Ui Jun's relationship with his father. Like, for instance, we never find out why his father wanted to kill him.
All in all, the story was good enough, but not great. I really like the romance between Geum Ju and Ui Jun. It was adult and I appreciated that from the writer. The OST kept the drama going when needed, and would often help a particular scene bring a tear to my eye. I have to applaud the production crew for their heartiness in filming during what looked like a very cold winter. There were several scenes where I said "those actors must be freezing" and if the actors are, the crew is too.
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Romantic slice of life with a strong lesson
Since I watched this a few days ago and I already watched another drama before this review, I kind of reflective and really nice. It wanted to be a slow burn, but I don't feel like the pacing was actually slowburn. Pacing story and a beautiful way to tell people. Something that is very important. That um, it is okay to stop drinking alcohol. I really like that and I think it addressed what I've seen in green culture like while watching all the jobs, you did it in such a great way. It was super inspiring and the lovest. Ory made sense since there was nothing that was just stupid and overdone or just not good. And that's why I couldn't justify giving it lower than 9.5. The only thing I didn't like was the weird little like action part. At the end it made sense, but I felt like it was weird that they added the nurse and made it suspicious. That was what I didn't understand and how it all came to fruition. But after I heard a story it made sense and I understood and I was fine with it but I didn't actually love it cause I felt like what is going on. I felt a little bit lost..But over all this is an amazing drama.I would recommend it to anybody.It's not, it's just beautiful and it's a wonderful love story with a really important lesson and you can apply it not even only to alcohol but to any addictions.So I thought it was amazing. it's very well written and I just fell in love with the characters.
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