Love, Take Two

Healing happens quietly, almost imperceptibly, in daily life and in togetherness

Love, Take Two is different. No grand gestures, no dramatic twists. Instead: women holding one another because no one else will. Mothers, daughters, friends—bound by necessity and by choice.

What makes the series remarkable is its healing quality—not only for the characters, but also for the viewers. The relationships in Love, Take Two grow slowly, leaving space for vulnerability and allowing old wounds to be touched gently, without being torn open. Healing happens quietly, almost imperceptibly, in daily life and in togetherness.

Ji‑an, the mother, is no heroine. She is tired, wounded, and yet present. Hyo‑ri, the daughter, runs—not away, but toward herself. And in between: a village that heals and helps without prescribing therapy. Among surfboards, tomatoes, and empty houses.

The men in this story also deserve attention. They do not compete with the women, but meet them as equals. Their roles are finely attuned to the women’s lives, complementing and supporting without pushing themselves to the forefront. Often it is small gestures, understanding, and mutual respect that shape the dynamics between characters. A coexistence emerges in which differences do not divide, but enrich.

The series does not tell us how to live. It shows how to survive—and how, in the process, one slowly learns to breathe again. Grounded. Beyond clichés. It conveys that healing need not be spectacular or final—sometimes it is simply the quiet act of moving forward, of enduring together, of sharing moments that bring comfort.

This KDrama stands out for its calm narrative rhythm. It has its own pace. It forgoes excessive drama and instead leaves room for genuine emotion—for grief, tenderness, and the subtle tones that often lie between the lines of dialogue.

In the end, it is not a conventional love story. It is a story about loving—despite everything. Carried by women who, against all odds, chart the path forward, and by men who, in their own unique way, become part of that journey. It is precisely this quiet harmony and the careful, almost invisible healing that make the series so special.

Worthwhile and valuable.

Read More

A "Healing" Slice-of-life That's Worth Watching

This is a slice-of-life drama that doesn’t necessarily heal you, but it makes you wish for everyone to heal, physically and emotionally.

I went into it with low expectations even though I’d been waiting for it, but surprisingly, it turned out to be a wonderful watch.

When Lee Hyori finds out she’s seriously ill, she drops out of med school and runs away to the countryside to rest. Her mom follows her there, determined to take her back… and that’s where the mother–daughter story begins. Their relationship isn’t the best at first, but over time, watching them slowly mend and grow closer is truly heartwarming.

There’s also romance woven in: Ryu Jeong seok, Lee Jian’s first love, and Ryu Bo hyeon both live there, and each develops a love line, one with Jian, the other with Hyori. It might sound complicated, but it never feels awkward or forced. This isn’t a rom-com, though; it’s more about found family, quiet healing, and the kind of emotions that sneak up on you until you suddenly find yourself in tears.

I especially loved Kim Sun young’s character, she was funny when needed, but also a deeply supportive friend to both Jian and Hyori. She brought so much warmth and chaos to the story.

The romances were also beautiful: Bo hyeon and Hyori were absolutely adorable together, and Jian and Jeong seok had their own lovely journey. But more than anything, I loved watching all the characters grow, little by little.

This is the kind of drama you sit back and relax with, only to realize you’ve been moved to tears. Even though they squished in some annoying drama, It is ruly worth giving a chance.

Read More

A Soothing Slice of Life Drama That Ends as Beautifully as It Begins

The found family trope was executed in the best way possible. A simple storyline backed by heartwarming storytelling, powerful direction, mesmerizing cinematography and performances from both experienced senior actors and refreshing rookies, what could possibly go wrong?? Often dramas start strong but collapse by the end, yet here, things began beautifully and ended on a very satisfying note. The conclusion wasnt rushed nor did it feel forced, it was truly fulfilling. I tried to find flaws but there were almost none.

At its core, the drama explored giving love a second chance in one’s 40s, paralleled with a tender youth romance. Yet, the true highlight was the mother-daughter bond, which became the emotional heart of the story. That connection carried the drama, making it both soothing and deeply healing, enhanced by beautiful scenery and moving storytelling.

Lee Jian, played by Yeom Jung ah, had a backstory similar to her character in The Defects, which aired around the same time. Both were abandoned by their mothers, yet the way their lives shaped them was entirely different. In The Defects, her character became a monster, killing her own children out of insecurity. But here, she transformed into the best possible mother, even to a child who wasnt biologically hers. Yeom Jungah’s range, from portraying a chilling villain in The Defects to a heartwarming mother here, was absolutely insane.

Lee Hyori, played by newcomer Choi Yunji, was a complex character. Initially, she drew dislike due to her anger, frustration and insecurities, which stemmed from battling a life threatening illness alone. Yet, as the story progressed, her growth was remarkable. Her relationship with Jian gradually softened as they spent more time together, learned to understand each other, and visibly matured through that journey.

Male characters such as Jeong Seok and Bohyeon had their own story arcs, explored with depth and care. Their love stories with the leading ladies were beautifully shaped. Other supporting roles were equally heartwarming, whether it was Tae Oh, Dr. Jung or even the villagers, none felt annoying or out of place. In fact, Dr. Jung finding a family in Jian, Hyori and Sunyang was touching to watch.

Even the third angles, often frustrating in dramas were handled gracefully. When they realized they werent meant to be, they backed out without creating unnecessary drama, whether it was Bohyeon’s best friend or his mother. Bohyeon’s best friend, who had feelings for him, showed wonderful growth by eventually becoming close to Hyori and Suk after letting go of her unrequited love. That kind of maturity was refreshing.

The romance between both couples, the elder and the younger was delightful. Ironically, the younger couple came across as more mature, while the elder couple’s playful childishness made their moments fun to watch. I also liked how the drama and its characters didnt sensationalize the relationships between Hyori-Bohyeon and Jian-Jeong Seok, despite the layered connections of them being children of the other couple (though not biologically related).

Overall, Love, Take Two was a gentle, heartwarming and healing slice of life drama that left me thoroughly satisfied from beginning to end.

Read More

Eye rolling and preachy inspirational porn

this drama started out pretty ok, girl finds out she is sick becomes this bad ass version of herself mixed with pissed off and sad. Basically dealing with it like a human beeing may do. She gets a crush, not uch chemestry but she handles the romance pretty well. They meet some cool people, form bonds work on their family realationship and all seems pretty okay.

Characters are more or less interesting and the found family and friendshps blossom in the most beautiful way... this could have been so good but then came the never ending monologs, clichés of right and wrong way to deal with stuff, the so called growth that made me role my eyes so much I rolled them more than the time I wrote in a review that I was scared they would get stuck...

Its okay to cry... oh no she is probably crying alone somewhere.... you may have 100 reasons to die but only need one to stay alive.... Mamma I love you.... Hiding the pain from your loved ones is the norm... and not at all strange he must never know... bbla bla bla... Oh just shut up... Please.... Seriously this is some kind of inspirational illness porn at its worst... If it wernet for the good start and sweet characters I would have rated it a 1.

So do I recommend it No. If you do watch it please do not believe a word they say about illness, suicide, paranthood, mental health, romance...

Read More

Farm/tree/seachange for everyone!

There are times when only a slow burn, mellow romance will hit the spot. This show fits the bill, but it also has a minor sting in its tail. We'll talk about that later.

The first couple of episodes is manic. Two already hectic urban lives are upended by life threatening illness as well as career setbacks. A double whammy you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy. I can sense the "how low can it go" trope rearing its head already.

The daughter (YFL) finally had enough and ran away with her bestie to the sea. There she meets a handsome, helpful young man (YML) and his handsome, helpful father (OML). As luck would have it, the OML went to school with her adopted mother (OFL). There was definitely some entanglement back then.

One thing leads to another. Before we can say Tteokbokki, our female leads up sticks and moved to the small town where the male leads live. They made new friends and reconnected with old ones. They build a home and made a fresh start. Everything is going swimmingly except for the shadow of the YFL's illness.

As you'd expect, romance is definitely in the air. While there are two SFL's. They don't pose much of a threat.

The greater challenge lies in our leads sorting out their feelings and acting upon them. As per usual, this is quite a long and tortuous path. We got there in the end and everyone is happy until it is time for the YFL's operation. So much introspection and tears.

Now the sting I mentioned earlier. It is not really anything nasty but the show is unabashedly sentimental towards the end. Every trope related to relationships, found family, healing and growth are there. You might find it wholesome and sweet . . or not. I won't judge. ;)

However, the time skip in the end feels a little pointless. I see the need for the FL to heal, but it also implies nothing happen to everyone around her during the lengthy skip. Then everything rush ahead once the stasis is over. It feels quite arbitrary.

In the end, it is a pleasant watch. Several romances blossomed. The acting is good from the ensemble cast. Dr. Jung is a gem. Production value is on par. Ditto the OST. It might be too mellow and sentimental for some. Caveat emptor, chingu.

Read More

A simple yet unforgettable drama that heals the heart. ?

Love, Take Two is one of those dramas that feels like a warm embrace. It doesn’t rely on flashy twists or over-the-top romance. Instead, it focuses on what truly matters: family, second chances, and the quiet beauty of everyday life.

At the heart of the story is the relationship between a mother and her daughter. Their conflicts, misunderstandings, and reconciliations capture the real ups and downs of family love , a bond that may be tested but never breaks. Watching them heal and grow side by side is both emotional and comforting.

The coastal town setting adds a healing atmosphere, almost as if the drama invites you to pause, breathe, and reflect. It’s not just a backdrop, but part of the soothing journey.

What makes this drama truly special is how it reminds us that love has no age. You can start again at twenty, forty, or whenever life gives you the chance. With tenderness, nostalgia, and warmth, Love, Take Two delivers a family-centered story that feels deeply human.

Read More

Simple Is Best

Unlike many of the dramas released in recent years, this series presents a simple healing slice-of-life story with brilliantly written characters and episodes. It never complicated the story and presented unnecessary plot twists even though it might've added a bit more excitement because everyone from the writers to the director and the cast knew that the show's potential lies on its story, rhythm, and the actors' delivery and chemistry.

It's a perfectly balanced series where neither the acting, the editing, the directing nor the writing carried the show (and not one of them lacked in any way either)—every element of the production worked in perfect harmony and ended with something great.

It's a palette cleanser for those who want a break from all the dense and action-packed K-dramas whilst having a really good story and strong acting performances from everyone.

Read More

Selfless Love

For me, Love Take two was the drama of the year. Maybe it was because of the timing I watched it. I loved how each and every character was so selfless and was always ready to help each other. There was not a person who thought ill of another person. It made me inculcate the same thing in myself. It showed how you can help others by maintaining your boundary. I loved the relationship of every character with each other especially jian seon yeong and hyori suk. Their friendship was so pure and exceptional. relationship of Hyori and byeon ho was also very cute and bubbly. We can't forget Dr. Jung's role in providing a mother figure to jian. Like I said every character was so beautifully written i fell in love with this drama. I even cried a lot which shows the acting was exceptional.

Read More