Love Is Better the Second Time Around Season 2

A bit frustrating...

The series is best described by the sentence Yuto said in the final episode: "Drowing in your own pathetic inferiority complex, blind to the immense love right in front of you!". I was not a fan of the first season because it left a lot to be desired. I was very surprised they did even a 2nd season after the first season was nothing to write home about. Season 2 is not that much better but still better. The exes are not really the point of the show because the central point is the inferiority complex on Miyatas side. After two years together I asked myself why it still persists and it made me frustrated.

Also the actor of Miyata was not really commited to his role seen in the kissing scenes. He may have tried, but can't bring himself to commit to it while is partner brought all his energy into it. In the half baked NC-scenes he lay like a broken piece of wood and this was really also annyoing. He did know what is expected of him in a second season, but for me, he was the wrong choice of actor for both seasons.

Production quality was good, the rest of the ensemble was also good but if a ML does not commit to his role, the show does not work as well has it should be. He can have an inferiority complex but can still have a lot of passion. It's a show you can watch, but I personally had not much interest in it because the character of Miyata was just too frustrating for me. It's not a bad show, but it's also typical JBL with someone who can not jump over his own shadow to just enjoy the life he was given.

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Love Is Definitely Better the Second Time Around, The Married Couple Energy Is EVERYTHING

I absolutely loved Season 1, so when Season 2 was announced, I was honestly so excited. What I love most about the first episode is that we do not get another fresh start where Miyata and Iwanaga are still figuring out their relationship. They are already two years into their relationship and living together, and I absolutely loved that decision.

There is something so satisfying about seeing a couple who has already made it through the beginning stages of their relationship and is now simply enjoying life together. They live together, cook together, cuddle, and their house is filled with couple photos and little reminders of their life together. They are so happy together that they genuinely feel like a married couple.

Honestly, their relationship is my ideal love life.

The holiday at the pool and the kissing scenes were so refreshing to watch. There was nothing overly dramatic about them. They were simply enjoying being together, and that made the moments feel even more romantic. Even something as simple as Iwanaga making freshly squeezed juice for Miyata in the morning to help with his hangover was incredibly sweet. If that is not love, then what is?

I also really loved the flashbacks to Season 1. They only lasted a couple of minutes, but it was such a nice touch because it brought back memories of what Miyata and Iwanaga went through before reaching this point. It reminded us how far their relationship has come and made seeing them living together now feel even more meaningful.

And their bed scene was so romantic. The soft kisses, their chemistry, the gentle background music and the way they looked at each other all felt incredibly mature. There was no need to make the scene overly dramatic. Their connection was enough. They genuinely feel like a couple who have been together for years and are completely comfortable loving each other.

But of course, even the strongest relationship can have problems.

When Miyata asks about Iwanaga's watch, Iwanaga reveals that it was given to him by someone special from college. His ex. Iwanaga clearly does not like talking about his past relationships, and before long, that past unexpectedly comes back into their present.

I know the ex returning trope is not exactly the most original storyline, but honestly, I do not mind it here. I am actually really interested to see what happens because Miyata and Iwanaga have built such a beautiful and stable relationship. Will this make them even stronger? Will Miyata's jealousy and insecurity create cracks between them? Or will Iwanaga finally be forced to confront parts of his past that he has been avoiding?

That is what makes me excited for the rest of the season.

One thing I continue to love about Japanese BL is how mature and realistic the storytelling can feel. There are no unnecessary cringe sound effects or exaggerated reactions. The romance feels natural, the conversations feel believable, and the characters are allowed to behave like real adults in a real relationship.

This series honestly so special and emotional for me. Watching Miyata and Iwanaga living together, caring for each other, cuddling, kissing, cooking together and simply enjoying their everyday life made me genuinely happy.

At the same time, I cannot lie, I was also a little jealous and envious of what they have. Their relationship represents exactly what I want in a relationship. To come home to someone you love, live together, take care of each other, share ordinary moments and still have that tenderness between you after years together. That is such a beautiful thing to watch.

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Rather not

I’ve got to say it. Season 2 wasn’t needed if this is what we got. Should have left it at season 1. Think they could have done it so much better.

Even until the very end I couldn’t believe Takashi really loved Miyata. I just didn’t like how Takashi was portrayed throughout the whole show and Robin didn’t really sell it for me in the last episode. You could see he was really trying hard to cry. I don’t think it’s down to Robin as I’ve seen him in a lot of BLs and is someone I enjoy watching but I think the writing and the directing was a bit off in this one.

I’d say I’m left rather disappointed.

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Love is... Just Okay the Third Time Around

"Love is Better the Second Time Around" is one of my top 5 favorite BL dramas of all time. In only 6 episodes, the series packs in interesting, complex characters, an engaging present storyline and intriguing past history between the leads, some of the most memorable and gorgeous cinematography I've seen in a drama (shout out the lighting and coloring), and believable, adult romance that avoids common BL/yaoi tropes and tipping too far into melodrama or comedy.

All of this is to say I was ecstatic when I saw the announcement of a second season, but I was also definitely hesitant. The first season tied the story up pretty neatly, which is what made the series so satisfying. I am very against the idea of a sequel for sequel's sake. So, does this second season fall into this trap? ...Kind of.

The Good:
Above all else, I must praise the two leads' acting. That is truly the main driving force behind the show and what kept me watching. You can tell the actors naturally fell back into that same chemistry and dynamic the characters had in the first season that keeps you hooked. That's not to say the writing was horrible and their acting was working completely in spite of it. However, the writing did feel like it lost just a bit of spark.

The Middle Ground:
I also loved the cinematography once again. I noticed the lighting and coloring was quite a bit more washed out this season with a lot more (at least from my perspective) morning scenes with blinding sunlight. This "washed out look" is pretty common at least in BL dramas and I am really not a fan, even to the point of feeling like it can ruin some series' watchability for me. I think where LIBTSTA(?)'s cinematography really shines is when it comes to night scenes. The darkness matched with soft, warm lighting and rich colors makes the whole scene just absolutely stunning. This is best exemplified in S1's onsen scene and S2's boat scene. That's what makes S2's underutilization of cinematic night scenes quite disappointing because they make the scenes so memorable and visually interesting.

The Ugly:
The plot, or lack thereof, was palpable. This was my biggest fear and, in all fairness, the plot wasn't completely horrible or to the point of unwatchable or totally boring. However, it's hard to write a plot for a S2 of a show when S1 basically covered everything. At some point, you're going to have to either add some unnecessary drama (often via a new character specifically written to create conflict) or retcon some details from S1. LIBTSTA S2 opts mainly for the first option on steroids. Nearly every episode is dedicated to one of Iwanaga's exes that Miyata had zero clue about, a la Scott Pilgrim. It's comical but not in an actually funny way. Miyata's mini beef with Iwanaga's assistant/ex-hookup in S1 was actually entertaining and comedic, enhancing the plot. The 1000 or so of Iwanaga's exes in S2 really add nothing other than jealousy fuel for Miyata. They were annoying and uninteresting, existing as completely one-dimensional placeholders.

On a side note, with all the discussion of exes this season, I'm surprised nobody mentioned the fact that Miyata had a girlfriend who he proposed to in S1. I'm not saying this to negate the storyline, but it was just a bit odd that the fact that Miyata was in a relationship when Iwanaga reunited with him was completely forgotten. They act as if Miyata is some relationship virgin who has only ever been with Iwanaga and is intimidated by Iwanaga's long dating history.

Overall, I wished for a bit more out of S2. I know my rating is gonna seem a bit harsh, but I only rate on how much the show was actually enjoyable to me and this show was enjoyable for about 50% of it. Rewatchability is a HUGE factor for me as well since I tend to have to really love something to dedicate the time to rewatching it. S1 was so deliciously rewatchable, one of maybe only 3-5 shows I've rewatched in their entirety in my life. S2 definitely does not have that rewatchability factor and if/when I go to rewatch S1, I would leave S2 alone since it adds nothing to the characters or storyline.

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here it goes !

i honestly really enjoyed this second season, like i said even with my cosmetic playlover season 2 review, i geniunely believe i do enjoy when we see our couple struggling rather than just having a relationship which is perfect with no issues, do i care that it lasted the whole season? nah, should it have lasted the entire season? maybe not but i think it still worked really well regardless !

young love is full of foolishness, uncertainty and mistakes, decisions are made which might later be regretted, choices are made which might be appreciated but the love stays as love even into adulthood, especially when that love lingers and tugs at your heartstrings endlessly, letting you know that no other person can be described as the person you truly love. and that's what was between takashi and miyata, a love that bloomed when they were younger, struggled through adulthood and blossomed the moment they finally, truly understood one another and their feelings.

i was smiling so much seeing them doing their speech but noticing their rings like yes, it finally freaking happened !!!

i'll miss them a lot 😔.

"can you stay by my side?"

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First impression

I wasn't the biggest fan of the first season, but I still want to watch the second season, hoping that this series will be better the second time around. So far it's not bad, and I'm pretty hyped for the next episodes.

You can watch it on GagaOOLala: https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/8904/love-is-better-the-second-time-around-2024-s02e01?noresume=1

Things I liked:
1. I like seeing main leads in their day-to-day life since we didn't really get to see that or their relationship overall in the first season.
2. I love seeing interactions between Miyata and Shiraishi (Iwanaga's assistant).

Things I disliked:
1. Not too bad of a thing, but I really liked the music in the first season, but here it is rather unnoticeable.
2. Iwanaga not willing to be open about his previous relationships and saying that keeping a little mystery makes relationships last longer.

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True love is a verb…not an emotion

After a gentle, nostalgic first season, Love Is Better the Second Time Around returns with something I enjoy even more…the difficult part after the happy ending. These two have become my Yong and Sang lovers. I am completely invested in them, not because their love is perfect, but because it feels lived in…messy, tender, and painfully real.

Miyata’s insecurities truly show in these first two episodes. How many relationships have been damaged because one person quietly believes they are less than they truly are? He is not only threatened by Takashi’s past lovers. He is still carrying the empty feeling Takashi left behind when they were teenagers. Miyata remembers the pain of being left…but perhaps not enough of the acts that showed Takashi’s love.

That is why this season works so well for me. It is not just lovey dovey moments after the reunion. It asks what happens when old wounds, past lovers, and the fear of not being enough enter a relationship. Love is not only an emotion…love is a verb.

Takashi waited for Miyata for so long. That is an act of love. He continues to choose him, reassure him, and remain present even when Miyata’s fears make it difficult. When we are insecure, we tend to remember only how someone made us feel…not the sacrifices they made, or the good they brought into our lives. We become so consumed by our own hurt that we forget the other person has also loved, waited, and endured.

Miyata deserves compassion for the frightened younger version of himself…but loving yourself also means healing, instead of making the person who loves you pay for an old wound. What has Miyata sacrificed for this relationship so far…other than drowning in his own insecurities?

By the end, Miyata finally seems reassured because the immediate threats to his love are gone. But what happens next? Life does not stop testing us just because we have found the person we love. It always throws tangerines.

Will Miyata’s love become as steady and secure as Takashi’s…or will the next fear send him back into the same old spiral? That is the real challenge of Season 2…and why I love this series even more.

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A sequel we didn’t need, but a cast we can’t forget

Some shows end well that a sequel feels unnecessary, and this series is an example. But don’t get me wrong, I was genuinely happy when they announced a second season. Seeing the cast back on screen was such a delight, especially the sassy Aloha. However, the storyline leaned too heavily on Miyata’s insecurities, with Takashi’s ex-boyfriends suddenly appearing one after another, not just one, but three! And every single time, Miyata had to suffer through another EP of inferiority complex.

Honestly, this season was kind of meh. But it had such a powerful cast that the drama still managed to leave an impression. Each of the three ex-bfs had a different charm and brought something special to the screen. I never imagined seeing Robin look so small and baby-like around the first ex-bf, Hibino. Then came Haruse, who was the complete opposite. An absolute ball of adorable cuteness. He was super duper cute! And lastly, there was Arima, whose calm, gentle, and demure presence slowly melted the icy walls around Miyata’s heart, layer by layer.

The fact that the supporting characters were more compelling to watch than the main couple says a lot. I love the chemistry between Miyata and Takashi, but this sequel’s storyline just wasn’t giving. It felt repetitive and dragged at times, making it difficult to stay invested in the main couple’s struggles.

Still, the ending was cute, with the entire cast coming together for the launch party of their newly published book and announcing their relationship to the public. It was a sweet way to wrap things up, even if the season itself could have been much better. While the story may have fallen short, at least it gave us memorable characters, charming performances, and a few delightful moments worth holding on to.

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How many more exes?!

Honesty, if i was Miyata and was constantly bombarded by that many exes of my partner i would've also freaked out. Bc how do you expect me to continue feel safe with you and not uncertain if you wont explain to me some stuff ahead? Iwanaga was for sure so much in love and adored Miyata a lot. Losing him again would've destroyed him. Keeping him away from his past was his way of protecting him of insecurities. But all these exes were too much for a single person.

Also, i wanted to see them cryyyyy. Like start sobbing and have more sad expressions. Youre losing your loved one. Cryyyy, let rivers run down your face. Let your voice crack. Be desperate. Where are the feelings! Lastly, the chemistry is there, especially from Iwanaga with his full of love eyes, but the passion on the kisses is missing a bit as well. I felt like Miyatas actor was holding a bit back.

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Loved, Yet Still Insecure: Miyata’s Struggle

Season 2 follows two reunited lovers as they take another step toward building a life together.

Miyata wants to stand on equal footing with Iwanaga precisely because he loves him. Even during their happy life together, differences in money and talent begin to weigh on him, making it difficult to simply accept Iwanaga’s affection. His insecurities can be frustrating, but I also found that stubborn, complicated side of him endearing.

Meanwhile, beneath Iwanaga’s confident exterior is someone who still treasures the boy who once tried to help him escape his restrictive family. To him, Miyata was a shining hope. When Miyata failed to appear at the station as promised, it left a deep wound. What stayed with me was the gap between Miyata’s belief that he is somehow inferior and the irreplaceable place he holds in Iwanaga’s heart.

A home and a ring, offered with love, end up touching Miyata’s deepest insecurities. They love each other, but the way one expresses that love does not always match the way the other receives it. That is why the finale felt so satisfying: Miyata finally understands that Iwanaga loves him just as deeply.

I love the slightly cynical, more down-to-earth Miyata of the manga, so I found a different kind of charm in his beautiful, endearing drama counterpart. The original Miyata acts exasperated by Iwanaga’s extravagant spending while secretly enjoying having such an impressive boyfriend. I would love viewers to get to know that version of him, too.

The supporting cast was a treat, but my personal favorite remains Aloha Takamatsu as Shiraishi. Sharp tongue and all, he is unforgettable! LOL

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Adult japanese world is about work, work, work

Spoilers

After reading the comments, I was very sceptical about whether I’d finish watching the series. I finished it today. Like many others, I preferred the first series, but the second series wasn’t really such a fiasco either.

‘The adult world’, which isn’t entirely characteristic of the BL (Boy’s Love) genre. Throughout the entire second series, I didn’t get the impression that the main couple had any doubts about their love. About the fact that they love each other, or that the other might not love them (the be-all and end-all of the BL world).

Yes, ‘ex’ partners do turn up (perhaps in excessive numbers), but I didn’t feel any of them posed a real threat to the relationship. Yes, Miyato is keeping an eye on everything, but I never felt that Takashi was re-evaluating his relationship with Miyato.

The adult world – societal pressures, work; the expectations of others, but also one’s own expectations of oneself. Not having a ‘close’ friend is normal for someone who’s been working from dawn till dusk for the last ten years or so. Having a job, colleagues one can go for a beer with, and a loving partner is, in fact, a fair bit of luck.

Takashi is doing his best to give Miyata ‘proof’ that he’s counting on him for the rest of his life. And yes, I’m tempted to give him a slap on the wrist and say – how about buying a new watch (rather than a flat)? But that’s Takashi sensei for you – a new watch isn’t proof of a lifelong commitment, whereas a flat is.

And Miyata? He’s been under a lot of pressure from the start (being compared to his ex, the threat of losing his job). Nothing he tries to achieve works out. That would get to anyone. I reckon Takashi doesn’t think he’s perfect, but in Miyata’s eyes – and in the eyes of society – he comes close to perfection. And that doesn’t do the relationship any favours either.

What frustrates me quite a bit is Takashi’s helplessness (yes, I’m on his side). He doesn’t deal with his exes because they aren’t important to him (nor any ‘gifts’ they might have left behind). Or rather, he only deals with them to the extent that Miyata does. It’s very difficult to cope with a situation where you love someone unconditionally, and that person sees you as Mr Perfect, while they themselves see themselves as someone who doesn’t deserve such a perfect relationship. It’s hard to convince someone like that to stay.

Ending was rushing and too "perfect", If I may say. And to tell the truth, I didn’t understand why it was important that Takashi had seen Miyaki while studying at university. ... Sorry, Miyato, your arguments were a bit confusing

PS: Shiraishi didn’t disappoint again (though he could have had more scenes) :-)

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