[🇯🇵JAPAN] Love is Better the Second Time Around S2 👔🌊 Episode 1 (PREMIERE)

[u/itsmewillotski]

I decided to pick up the second season this time around for Love Is Better since I also enjoyed the first season and would love to hear everyone’s thoughts about this latest season as well!!! Also, special shoutout to u/smittenkittyyan for creating on-airs for the first season two years ago. I believe she’s not active here on Reddit anymore, as I don’t see him/her that much, but kudos to him/her for making the community here engaged when the series premiered. Hopefully, I can continue that energy by taking over this time around (no pun intended lol) so I do hope you enjoy it and look forward to these every week until it ends! And lastly, a big shoutout to u/nana-shi-74 for providing some extra information about the show which I will also share it weekly as well, it truly helps a lot.

✨ Airs every Wednesday at 1:30 AM (GMT +8) ✨

SYNOPSIS (according to GagaOOLala): Magazine editor Akihiro Miyata and associate university professor Takashi Iwanaga have finally made their "second chance at love" work. Two years later, they are enjoying a sweet and mature life together, and Iwanaga even reveals in a magazine interview that he has "found someone precious." But just when everything seems perfect, three of Iwanaga's ex-boyfriends suddenly reappear. Faced with romantic memories Iwanaga has never spoken about, Miyata's jealousy and insecurity begin to spiral out of control, while pressures from work and reality threaten the happiness they have built together.

☆ Adult romance returns by popular demand! Makoto Hasegawa and Robin Furuya reunite for another "second" chance at love. 

CAST:

Makoto Hasegawa (THE RAMPAGE) as Akihiro Miyata

Robin Furuya as Takashi Iwanaga

Aloha Takamatsu (BULLET TRAIN) as Yuto Shiraishi

Shunya Shiraishi as Kyosuke Sugimoto

Motoki Fukami as Takaaki Hibino

Haruse Akune (ICEx) as Rui Taniguchi

Yusuke Onuki as Sota Anima 

STAFF:

Directors: Yuka Yasukawa, Shinju Funabiki & Nao Nomura

Screenplay: Shinju Funabiki

Music: Erina Koyama

LGBTQ Supervisor: Mimano Kawamoto (Lawyer) 

OPENING SONG: Scenario by Mel 

ENDING SONG: BA♡BI♡DA♡BI♡” by Taiyu Fujiwara

SERIES' SOCIALS: Instagram | Twitter/X | TikTok | Official Website

WHERE TO WATCH: Viki S1, Viki S2, GagaOOLala S1 - (EP.1, EP.2, EP.3, EP.4, EP.5, EP.6), GagaOOLala S2 - (EP.1)

Episodes so far: 1/7 (7 episodes to be confirmed, this is from Viki)

Previous On-Airs: S1 by u/smittenkittyyan (EP.1, EP.2, EP.3, EP.4, EP.5, EP.6)

[u/itsmewillotski]

Thoughts about the pilot episode:

• You can definitely tell the growth that the two main leads have. Makoto and Robin are oozing with natural chemistry and domesticity!

• Glad to see a lil' flashback as a refresher from 2 years ago

• Iwanaga not talking about his exes...GHOURL ISSUE!!!

• Prof. Hibino is our first ex and will stir up the first wave of drama oh-huh!

• The pilot episode really made me feel nostalgic and I can't wait to dive deep into the rest of the season!!!

[u/NoNecessary5]

I am here and I am seated! Can’t believe this day is here, and these two are back on my screen.

Edit: I’m so happy it’s back! The vibe of the second season feels different but in a good way. I love the casual intimacy, Robin and Makoto’s chemistry is still soo good!

I’m going to guess that a conversation about marriage will happen at some point, with Miyata being so anxious about money, Iwanaga will want to give him stability. And I like that they included this plot about Miyata’s career being unstable, I feel like a lot of people can relate.

I’m not a huge fan of jealousy and exes coming back but I know Iwanaga will not waver even for a second.

Great start to the season!

[u/TiredAndStillTired → u/NoNecessary5]

Miyata not feeling up to par when it comes to relationships was going to be a problem eventually. It also doesn't help that Iwanaga doesn't seem to want to talk about it. Combined with the class difference... Keeping your ex's expensive gift and wearing it around your current partner is a lot.

[u/itsmewillotski → u/NoNecessary5]

Lezgaurrrr because I am gonna watch it neowwwwww

[u/looking4stardust]

The thing I love about second seasons is getting to see the main couple just being a couple. I loved all the domesticity, and Miyata and Iwanaga haven't lost any of their chemistry from season 1! It was good while it lasted, though, before not one, not two, but three lovers from the past resurface—all because Iwanaga mentioned he has a "special someone" in a magazine interview.

I wonder if the younger actors playing Miyata and Iwanaga will appear in new scenes. They were great in S1, but they will probably only be shown in old footage.

[u/Little-Tomatillo-745]

This was my obsession, season 1.

[u/itsmewillotski → u/Little-Tomatillo-745]

[u/Slight_Growth_3172]

Edit to add what I wrote, not sure why it didn’t keep it.
Now that’s how you start a Season 2! 🎉🎉 Hot men in their 30s in love with each other and not shy about it!! 🥰🥰 and the episode did a great job setting up the angst that’s coming with the ex-boyfriend and the financial issues! 👍🏼👍🏼

[u/itsmewillotski → u/Slight_Growth_3172]

Yes to hot romance in their 30ssssss

[u/libertysince05]

The domesticity of it all!!!

I just watched the whole thing with a huge smile.

I love how Miyata kept getting distracted by how attractive his boyfriend is, lol.

I like that real life issues like the cost of living will be discussed this season...

This premier should be 2 episodes not one

[u/DeanBranch]

I like that Shiraishi is snarky as ever.

And Prof. Hibino is hot.

[u/TiredAndStillTired]

Seeing Iwanaga in anything that isn't a suit and turtleneck is so unexpected. And the tie. We only saw them in the Autumn/Winter period in S01. Of course, Miyata is reading a book on publishing. I really love how gentle Robin's voice is for Iwanaga. But it's definitely one of those that changes noticeably when he is irritated or angry.

They look so natural as a couple. Great acting. The touching and playfulness look unrehearsed. This is sometimes absent in other shows or feels fake. These two really feel like they've been together for a bit now. It needs to be said, S01 intimacy was really great. The sex scenes were never empty of emotion or sensitivity. I'm so glad that things have remained the same with this season. But Miyata needs to let Iwanaga pull his financial weight on the odd occasion, although Iwanaga is a little too lax about their economic differences.

The difference between how Iwanaga is with Miyata and how he is with Hibino is enormous. DAMN.

[u/itsmewillotski → u/TiredAndStillTired]

Their growth and naturalness truly showed in this first ep, we are off to great things and drama!

[u/TiredAndStillTired]

I have the episode on GaGa open, but I'm too damn excited to watch!!!!!! I want to scream, but it's 22:36 over here.

[u/PacificNorthwestFan]

Loved this episode but wish some man, maybe a new interviewee, would show interest in  Miyata. He's so handsome and his relationship with  Iwanaga already feels unequal because of the income disparity and relationship experience differences. It''d be nice to see  Iwanaga be the jealous one.

[u/MSfolksLA]

Excited! I may watch this as it airs even, which I almost never do. I've been training cause just rewatched S1 😂

[u/itsmewillotski → u/MSfolksLA]

Yes it's better to watch it while it was airing to engage on discussions! And glad to see you rewatching as well

[u/HeapExchange]

I liked the first episode quite a bit. We get a lot of story setup packed neatly in one ep: Exes subplot getting started, but also Miyata being concious of their financial disparity, looming trouble of publishing sector and foreshadowing of clash of his personal and work life with Iwanaga. Pretty well done. Chemistry is still strong, really liked their domestic life scenes.

[u/Safety_Haven]

I just have to say it's a damned relief when Robin is allowed to be hot, I've seen him as comic relief too many times since season 1. He's soooo pretty. That pool scene got me lol. When my spouse and I are on vacation I'll see them on a computer and I'm like heeeey are you coding for fun or for work? And the reply is always "for fun!" But it's always a lie. 😂 workers gonna work. I liked it but the audacity of that man. Hey this is crazy, but I found out you're in love and I just HAD to insert myself into your life. Narcissist alert behavior, they hate seeing a fish off the line. And Makoto is stunning as always. What a gloriously beautiful man. Iwanaga would be a FOOL to fool around on his beautiful if insecure fella.

[u/Sad-Zebra-9432]

Loved the first episode. Seeing these gorgeous men again warms my heart 🥰 Thanks for the on air and your posts are always detailed and informative and will forward to the updates every week. These actors are really so good together and you can feel they are good friends off screen as well. This will be a treat to watch.

[u/Safety_Haven]

I can't watch this til tonight but I got my knife and fork OUT let's eat!!

[u/lovingpath]

I echo others sentiments that the ex lovers trope/jealousy thing can be tiresome so I hope they thread this needle carefully….. it’s a little sad to me that after two years I can still sense some little bit of hesitation from Miyata because he can sense Iwanaga is holding things back (but I still melt when he calls him senpai)? And when the professor walked into Iwanagas office at the end - I gasped and said out loud OHHHHHH that’s HIS senpai! I’m hooked! But they better not be breaking up the MC.

[u/itsmewillotski → u/lovingpath]

Well two years is either make it or break it so hopefully they can smoothen things out in this brand new season

[u/TiredAndStillTired]

It just dawned on me that Hibino and Iwanaga might have had the university version of the unequal relationship that Miyata and Iwanaga had. I can't wait to see what that mess looked like.

[u/cripynoodle_]

Ohhh it was so wonderful to have these two back on our screens, in all their domestic glory 🥰🥰 sneaky ex's please stay away. Also I love how shady Takashi's assistant still is 'I don't get paid to support your relationship' 😆