Second Shot at Love

Unexpected surprise

I sometimes get annoyed with overly preachy dramas. However, this drama is trying to provide social commentary and bring to light the issues surrounding drinking and alcoholism, I also genuinely enjoyed the story and the characters. The highlights for me were the ML and FL who had a great chemistry. The supporting characters were both sincere and quirky, depending on their role.

I went into this thinking I was not going to enjoy it. However, the more I watched it the more I got sucked in. Additionally, there were moments where I genuinely felt happiness or sadness, and even teared up a few times.

this is not a perfect drama. I didn't love the music and It did slow down a bit in the middle.

One last thing to mention, it was beautifully shot. There were some gorgeous shots during the Drama that really were breathtaking and beautiful.

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A light predictable romance drama. Bonus is few tackle alcoholism in a negative light like this.

Rating: 9/10

This drama was quite good. It was refreshing that it tackled the difficult topic of alcoholism in South Korea as I see evidence of it, almost a promotion of it, in many other dramas. Where extreme alcohol consumption and frequency is treated as comedic and portrayed as normal. The romance is believable and heartwarming. There were some surprises in store, which kept it interesting. I recommend this for anyone that likes relatively light romance. It could be difficult for those that are dealing with alcoholism in their family, but it could also make someone feel "heard."

Spoilers

Weak points for me was I did not believe the mom (Park Soon-ja) having liver disease, unrelated to alcohol, was necessary. It did make the alcoholics in the family believers in liver health and also showed how solid Geum-joo's love was for her mother. But, having one of alcoholics develop the disease would have made more sense if you even had to go there. If anything having the mother develop it, maybe from hepatitis, made the wrong point. It could be interpreted you don't have to worry so much about alcohol because you can even get it if you don't drink alcohol. I don't think the juice was worth the squeeze on that story line.

This was missing the dynamic tension of a love triangle. I have a love hate relationship with love triangles but always miss them if there isn't one.

The secondary romance between the Taekwondo master (Bong Seon-ok) and the main girl's sister (Han Hyun-joo) could have been better. I was especially disappointed when their love was challenged as being "inappropriate" that neither of them fought much for it. They were ready to just give up because his older sister disapproved. Weak. A weak romance if you aren't willing to fight for it. He at least seemed to be really in love with her, but they never gave us anything that made her seem to be really in love with him. They had a date where things were heating up a little, then the sister found out, and she was just like never mind. My friendship with your sister is more important than any relationship with you. I also didn't see where he so much wanted to be a father to her kids. Heart-touching moments with the kids where maybe he took them fishing, played ball with them, or did something other than the Taekwondo they were already doing would have been more convincing. Being someone's dad is a big deal. Even a stepdad. And it never really showed the kids liking him at that level either. So that secondary romance just fell flat for me.

Synopsis

Air Date: May 2025

Genres: Romantic comedy, drama

Number of Episodes: 12

Average Runtime per Episode: 70 minutes

Han Geum-joo (Choi Soo-young) possess an above average talent for fixing automobiles. In such a male dominated field she feels as though drinking culture is an essential part of the job. Knocking some drinks back with her male co-workers seems like the best way to fit in. We start out the journey when we experience her telling her fiance, who give her an ultmatim, that she prefers alcohol to him. And that encapsulates what is really a problem with alcohol for her but there is, of course, more to the story of her relationship choice as well as her perception of the party life. Her mother has had enough, so when she learns of her daughter's broken engagement, she halls her back to her hometown Bocheon, to set her head on straight. She immerses herself in the world of engine oil and enjoyment of simple smaller town pleasures such as home-cooked kimchi and starts to think this change might be so bad. But then she collides with Seo Eui-joon (Gong Myung)—her high school first love turned stoic health center director, fresh off a mysterious burnout from his glamorous Seoul surgeon days. What starts as a prickly reunion laced with unspoken regrets spirals into a reluctant alliance: Eui-joon, haunted by his own hidden battles with the bottle, becomes her unlikely sobriety coach, while Geum-joo's unfiltered spit fire personality opens his armored heart. Geum-joo and Eui-joon find that second chances are often worth the while.

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Once i red the story of this series, i thought that i won't like it, but so far not that bad.
The story is pretty common. A girl game back to her hometown after her failure in love and work, all people think that she is wrong but she covers the true story.
She met her friend that they aren't friends anymore (we don't know the story yet) and she kept embarrassing herself in front of him.
What i don't like :I don't see that chemistry between the main leads, but they aren't that bad. it's a cliche story (they tried to put a little twist to it that alcohol thing)
What i like: there are many beautiful scenes. I like the FL acting, she made me feel her heart break.

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Second Shot At Second Chances

Second Shot At Love tackles a serious plague in South Korea, alcoholism. This is a country where socialization with workmates after long arduous workdays with hard work loads is a social norm. This foster after work drinking to the point of drunkenness. On my visit to South Korea, a walk at night proved to me that after work drunkenness is not just a trope. I saw a T-shirt with the slogan “Drink, Drank, Drunk” on it. While this was the beginning of the night, I am sure it was true by the end.

In this drama “Second Shot At Love”, the main focus is on a woman caught up in the fray. So that is different as well. It brings in the woman’s prospective. What is unique about this drama is that it makes it clear that alcoholism genetically runs in families. It shows how enablers can constantly sabotage progress. It shows that a good support system makes the way to sobriety more successful. This is a RomCom. So the talking points are spoon fed to you instead of throw down your throat. There are so many talking points that I love about this drama.

Let us discuss the title. Second Shot at Love. Alcoholics don’t refuse that Second Shot of Alcohol. Why not develop positive reasons to put away drink and take a Second Shot At Love?

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Amazing kdrama!!!! a masterpiece script and acting etc

Based on the comments, I decided to watch this and I LOVE IT!!!! all the issues are stated up front.

The ML gives a speech about functional alcoholics... everyone should rewatch that until you get it...
and the FL calls off the wedding because she chose alcohol over her fiancee, straight to his face, because "DRINKING IS A NORMAL PART OF SOCIAL LIFE". There you go. It is all out in the clear.

FL is a functional alcoholic with a job and gets a little "higher" during the day and plastered at nights and weekends, like many people do, and is unwilling to quit. SO now what... ?

THERE ARE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE LIKE HER OUT THERE. causing car accidents and other accidents at work etc, overloading the medical system, and unwilling/unable to reproduce. So now what... ?

I know so many functional alcoholics!!!!! construction workers, mechanics, businessman, real estate ppl, self employed, sales people, mothers, housewifes, entertainers, .. etc etc etc are some groups that are very prone to being a functional alcoholic...

I strongly support this kdrama. I think is is a wonderful piece of art and social commentary, it is done very very well, the acting and script are amazing. No time wasted. It keeps rolling.

I think this kdrama cleverly uses sexism LOL since men are EXPECTED to drink for business - FL said "you cannot build relationships without alcohol" etc So it is impossible to call a male drunkard to the carpet bc the society will defend his drinking.

But if a WOMAN is a drunkard then people will bash her - and hopefully then they will connect the dots and look at their wives, sisters, daughters, and themselves LOL and hopefully men will start thinking that if it is bad for women it must be bad for men too...

Also, alcohol seems to be a form of psychotherapy and making sure to have honest conversations... so ... people need to get educated on those skills too... This kdrama has FL dancing around the lake to vent out.. hiking.. prayer... etc those are all remedies...

the rewatch is useful bc there is EDUCATION throughout the drama ...

And, .... this is a huge issue deeply entrenched addiction and socially acceptable since there is huge $$$$ industry and business behind it.....
Alcohol will never totally disappear but it can NOT be out of control either...

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Second Shot at Love is a fair take on alcohol dependency

Han Geum Ju and Seo Ui Jun are childhood friends who have been out of contact for more than a year. Now, after calling off her marriage, Han Geum Ju has returned to the village. She has even vowed to become sober.
This story is not just another childhood friend turned lovers story.
It is a fresh attempt at assessing the influence of alcohol. Han Geum Ju, her elder sister Hyeon Ju, and their father, Jeong Su, have been alcoholics for years. But their denial has only made their mother’s life more complicated. However, Han Geum Ju's decision to become sober made these other two take the vow as well.
Their chaotic vows, unfilial attempts jeopardize their mother’s face in the entire village.
Through the lens of Seo Ui Jun, the director attempts to give colour to the lives of people who have been trying to get rid of this disastrous habit. Alcohol consumption above the limit endangers the life of the drinker and also of the people they are surrounded by.
A subtle love story, which builds in as a background, gained the affection of the audience. Ui Jun’s sudden love confession made Geum Ju go awry all by herself. Her chaotic intervention all by herself made the journey funny and cute. The parallel love story between Hyeon Ju and the brother of her friend, Seon Uk is equally gripping. The hesitation yet the yearning, Hyeon Ju is feeling is the perfect graph every divorced woman faces before falling in love.
It is a fresh take on love, redemption, and life.

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Segunda chance no amor

Resenha sincerona da Lari 🦊 | Segunda Chance no Amor (Second Shot at Love)
⭐ Nota: 9/10

Essa história gira em torno da Geum Ju, uma engenheira mecânica que, dias antes do casamento, termina tudo e afunda na bebida — literalmente. E não é exagero: o vício se torna parte do enredo. Já o nosso protagonista (e meu crush eterno), um médico sensível e de olhar triste, volta pra cidadezinha natal e reencontra seu antigo amor da juventude — sim, a própria Geum Ju. Eles têm aquele passado cheio de memórias entre doses e risadas, mas agora ele está mudado, mais frio, e virou até palestrante sobre os perigos do álcool.

O reencontro deles é aquele clichê delicioso com pitadas de dor real: porque quem já teve alguém com dependência na família sabe como é delicado tocar nesse assunto — e o dorama consegue fazer isso de forma respeitosa, sem pesar, mas também sem fingir que é simples.

💘 O casal principal é de derreter o coração — e eu sou totalmente puxa-saco dele, que já me conquistou em outro drama (não vou nem disfarçar). Quando ele sofre, eu sofro junto. Quando ele chora… amiga, já tô com lenço na mão!

💋 E a cena de amor deles? Sensível, linda, cheia de sutilezas… pena que a Coreia tem a mania de cortar quando começa a esquentar! 😤

✨ Menção honrosa pro casal secundário que entrega tudo! Mãe solo de gêmeos se apaixona pelo irmão mais novo da melhor amiga (que já era caidinho por ela há anos). É clichê? É. Mas é aquele clichê que dá vontade de morar dentro.

Os poucos beijos foram maravilhosos. Poderia ter mais? Poderia… pra mim beijos são sempre bem vindos 😅

👉 Indicaria? Sim, especialmente pra quem quer uma história leve, doce e com toques de realidade.
👉 Veria de novo? Com esse lindo no elenco, SEMPRE.

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Chance no amor

Eu sou uma grande fã da sooyoung então sempre que tem um novo drama dela me sinto na obrigação de assistir. Gostei muito desse, achei ele leve e divertido, sem muito drama e o casal não se separa depois que estão juntos por algum tipo de complicação, então me conquistou mais ainda.

Gostei muito da pauta da bebida, realmente por lá é comum beber em qualquer horário, pelo menos aqui no br, a gente meio que tem uma cultura de bebida a noite e mais dia de sexta e fim de semana. Achei interessantíssimo abordar, assim como o relacionamento por idade e o preconceito que vem junto com a mulher divorciada, ela não pode mais namorar outra pessoa solteira? Só se for nas mesmas condições que ela?

Amei a abordagem sobre as questões familiares e querendo ou não essa falta de comunicação quando todo mundo só quer o bem da pessoa. E também o plot de a mãe dele estar cuidando pra ele ser feliz e prendendo o pai, por isso que achei o drama leve em relação ao drama em si. Achei muito bacana o drama no geral.

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Ils ont secoué la bouteille un peu trop fort… et il y a eu trop de mousse

"Second Shot at Love", c’est un petit ovni dans le paysage des rom-coms. C’est un drama qui t’aborde comme une comédie un peu barrée, un peu gênante, avec des persos cassés mais touchants… sauf qu’en fait, il parle de trucs lourds. Ça parle d’alcoolisme quotidien, de honte, de reconstruction… mais sans jamais lever le doigt pour faire la morale. Ici, on montre simplement des gens ordinaires, qui boivent trop, souvent sans s’en rendre compte, parce que "c’est normal", "c’est comme ça", "tout le monde le fait"... Et c’est justement ça qui fait mal 😶‍🌫️💔 Et franchement, j’ai trouvé ça super bien joué 👏🏻✨

Les scènes sont parfois gênantes, mais elles sonnent justes. Je sentais les fêlures derrière les silences. On voit les regards fuyants, les excuses bidons, la solitude masquée sous un sourire de façade… Aaaah, j’étais dedans 😮‍💨 sans parler de ce duo, Sooyoung x Gong Myung... Mais quelle alchimie 🫠 Leur dynamique est à la fois tendre, bancale et émotive. Ce n’est pas surjoué, er c'est beau à voir 🥹🫶🏻

Et puis ce petit village de Bochun, avec ses figures secondaires trop attachantes, entre les voisines reloue mais sincère, les commerçants cash mais tendre, les patients un peu paumés mais vrais... tout ça donnait une ambiance chaleureuse, réconfortante malgré le thème.

Mais alors... 😤

À partir de l’épisode 8, le drama fait un virage à 180°, et là… j’ai perdu un peu le feeling 😬. Ça part dans tous les sens... entre l’histoire tragique du père, les révélations sur l’infirmière loufoque, la mère de Geum Ju à l’hôpital en mode “tiens, surprise tragédie !” et la sœur qui nous sort une romance dramatique d’un coup… à cause de la meilleure amies 😵‍💫 On aurait dit que le drama voulaient tout raconter en même temps. Résultat... Bah le vrai sujet, l’alcoolisme, il a disparu au fond d’un verre vide 🥲

Moi qui aimais le ton décalé mais sincère de la première partie, j’ai eu l’impression qu’on glissait dans un Kdrama plus classique, plus larmoyant lors de la seconde… et certains épisodes d’1h m’ont paru durer une éternité 😩

Alors ouais, le final est doux, lumineux, réconfortant… mais ça n'a pas suffit à me faire oublier le flou de ce dernier tiers... Dommage, parce que le début avait ce truc unique, ce mélange rare entre rom-com chelou et drame social touchant 🥺

Bref, c’est pas un drama raté, mais c’est un drama qui aurait pu être bien plus fort s’il avait pas voulu autant partir dans le mélo... Il y a de vraies perles dedans, des émotions sincères, une dénonciation subtile et intelligente… mais ça se perd en route 🍻💫✌🏻

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