"Second Shot at Love" at Midpoint: When Rom-Com Clashes with Social Themes
- lewishooper1
- 7 hours ago
- 4 min read
Sooyoung's new rom-com, Second Shot at Love, hits all hearts! But is this drama hit too close to home? We explore why this top-rated romantic comedy has been able to move past a faltering start.
Second Shot at Love Tops Ratings with Humor and Heart
Since the release of this dramatic and comedic show, Second Shot At Love has scored an impressive peak viewership rating of 5.7% and averaged 4.3% in Seoul. Nationwide, the first episode recorded 3.4% on paid platforms, according to Nielsen Korea, ranking No. 1 among cable and general programming channels during its time slot. Will this be a drama to break ranks?
Plot
We have previously written about how Han Geum Joo, labelled an alcoholic despite her self-perception as a "reasonable drinker", decides to quit alcohol. Her life takes a turn when she reunites with her first love, Seo Eui Joon, who has left his prestigious medical position in Seoul to lead a rural health center. Their contrasting views on alcohol set the stage for a compelling exploration of love and personal growth. So, how has the show played out since its release, and what are K-drama fans saying?
*Spoilers!
Episode 1 & 2: Lost in translation
After a strong start highlighting Geum Ju's struggle with drinking, Second Shot at Love unfortunately slipped into familiar K-drama territory: misunderstandings, miscommunication, and mayhem.
Much like recent rom-coms, the episode leaves viewers in the dark about crucial past events and keeps the leads from communicating honestly. This vague, frustrating approach sidelines the drama's sensitive themes of alcoholism and tense family dynamics, which truly deserve a more delicate treatment.
While Second Shot at Love could be ground-breaking, we fear its ambitious start might be overshadowed by a tumultuous "will-they-won't-they" romance. It's a shame, given how Episode 1 exceeded expectations, but perhaps next week will ease our worries about the show's direction.
Episode 3 & 4: New Mysteries and fast-paced revelations
Seon Wook's crush revealed, the infamous wedding, the Hans heading to rehab, and Geum Ju's confession. The wedding, in particular, felt like the perfect push for her to finally quit drinking. Hyeon Ju developed from a tag-along to a character with her backstory and feelings about the whole ordeal. We've seen glimpses of her tough life as a single mother, so her taking responsibility for Geum Ju as the older sister makes perfect sense.
Surprisingly, Ui Joon's storyline took a dark turn! We're now dealing with an alleged murder, him hiding from his old workplace, and a persistent stranger hunting him down. How will this shocking plot unfold any further in later episodes?
Episode 5: Hans' Hard Road to Sobriety
The Hans are finally facing their struggles head-on, embarking on a sincere, yet realistic, journey to sobriety. We see their struggle, with Hyun Ju even faltering in her first attempt, which was a moment that expanded her independent storyline while also deepening her budding romance with Sun Wook.
Meanwhile, Ui Joon's shady past is rapidly coming to light. Between murder rumors, hostile colleagues, and a mysterious break-in, tensions are high. Will they continue into the final episodes?
Episode 6: Gwang Ok steals the show
Alright, so this episode really did bring out conflict and resolutions, and it also gave the secondary characters a chance to shine! Ui Joon finally confessed to Geum Ju, and Sun Wook confessed to Hyun Ju only to later being put in his place by his sister.
The stakes of the show also became higher as the white truck of doom amped up the classic K-drama vibes, and it was Gwang Ok who stole this episode. The drama in a classic u=but clever way put the limelight onto the kindness that Gwang Ok showed the nagging villagers.
Episode 7: Support, Surprises and Romance
Geum Ju finally realized that she no longer has to suffer alone, after her once nagging circle decides to rally around her and provide support, once they learned the truth about her ex. This scene proved to be a powerful moment among the characters and for the show. Although one romance seemed to die out, another one started to blossom, with Geum Ju and Ui Joon, who are now officially dating.
With the Hans' alcoholism taking a backseat, the drama is now setting up several mini-conflicts to spice up the latter half. While a relapse plot twist might be looming before the finale, it looks like Chief Kim and Ui Joon's father are ready to deliver some compelling drama in the meantime!
Episode 8: Major frustrations
Keeping things more wholesome, and focusing only on the charming daily lives of the Bochun's residents, we saw Geum Ju and Ui Joon being adorable together, meanwhile Hyun Ju finally started to prioritize her own life over others, including that of Sun Wook's feelings!
That was not all, as the drama did sidestep slightly, which caused frustration among fans, as it felt like a non episode. Nurse Baek's sudden "evil" turn felt more like a well-meaning attempt to keep Ui Joon close, potentially leading for a dramatic finale.
Episode 9: The Han Family Heartache
Did anyone else get whiplash after watching Gong Myung? Episode nine, did take a pivot away from Ui Joon after focusing more on the Hans, especially Gang Ok and Hyeon Ju.
Episode nine saw Gwang Ok being unable to catch a break, as he faced a diagnosis which is often linked to heavy drinking. Is this the plot twist that we were expecting? It feet like a cruel twist for Geum Ju, who's genuinely trying to overcome her own struggles. The drama however, did showcase the resolve with Sun Wook, that we were were all hoping for, though the question is, has she been sacrificing her own feelings?
What are your mid season best moments? Leave a comment and let us know!
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