K-Drama 
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.
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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