Love Is Better The Second Time Around Review
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Business editor Miyata Akihiro is taken by surprise when he meets University professor Iwanaga Takashi for work, as the professor turns out to be his first love from school, but with a new surname. Will the former flames reunite? Akihiro doesn’t think so, but Takashi is keen on getting a chance in the Japanese romance “Love is Better the Second Time Around” (Original title – Koi wo Suru nara Nidome ga Joto).
Directed by Yasukawa Yuka, the series spans six episodes and is based on a manga by Kinoshita Keiko. Manga readers will immediately be able to spot the usual ticks of characters in such romances – exaggerated, slightly stereotypical, but very very entertaining. Hasegawa Makoto plays the serious, earnest editor Miyata Akihiro, while Furuya Robin plays the handsome heartbreaker Iwanaga Takashi. The two of them were close in school, but Akihiro breaks off their relationship without an explanation, and misunderstandings abound on each side. Now older and successful in their careers, the plot follows their attempt to start over again. While Akihiro wants to keep things strictly professional between them, Takashi is vocal about wanting more.
One of the things that might stand out for some viewers in “Koi wo Suru nara Nidome ga Joto” is the background music, which ranges from being romantically upbeat to weirdly comical in parts. So the music really helps set the tone in several key scenes of the show. The chemistry between lead actors Hasegawa Makoto and Furuya Robin blows between hot and cold, there’s no consistent romantic sparks between the two onscreen, but since they are both good-looking leads, they’ll most likely charm most viewers looking for a simple quick romantic comedy.
The theme of second-chances in love is sweet, however, for a mini-series, there are far too many “rivals” in the plot. Well, there are only two of them, but that’s still two many for Akihiro to worry about in just six episodes. Actors Mochizuki Haruki and Nose Rin play the younger versions of Akihiro and Takashi, and I wish the series would’ve show more of their teenage flashbacks, to display the growth of the characters with more depth. Takamatsu Aloha, who portrayed a serious lead in ‘Tokyo in April Is…’, is comically cute as Takashi’s jealous assistant Yuto, immediately giving Akihiro a hard time. Shiraishi Shunya looks straight out of a manga as Sugimoto Kyosuke, a wealthy businessman, whose appears towards the last few episodes and brings about a new twist in the tale.
The ultimate conflict in ‘Koi wo Suru nara Nidome ga Joto’ feels too contrived. After being expelled from his family and treated like an orphaned stranger, Takashi is suddenly expected to leave everything and take over as the household’s head because his sister is leaving the country with her foreign husband. However, as expected in Japanese culture, family honor and pride hold significant weight. Thus, Takashi seriously considers the proposition, despite enduring awful treatment from his own kin.
Regardless of the plot flaws, “Koi wo Suru nara Nidome ga Joto” comes a full circle with its romantic tale, with a perfect ending, both in terms of visual imagery and storytelling. Overall, it’s a cute quick series for those looking for a soft romantic comedy.
Rating: 6.5 on 10.
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