First Impressions: “Second Shot At Love” Delivers A Rare And Honest Look at Alcoholism

In a Ok-drama panorama stuffed with heart-fluttering love tales, highschool romances, company drama, and revenge plots, “Second Shot at Love” stands out for tackling a subject not often explored in Korean leisure: alcoholism. Starring Ladies’ Technology’s Sooyoung as Han Geum Ju, a profitable engineer with a not-so-secret dependence on alcohol, the drama peels again the layers of a girl who appears to have all of it. With its life like portrayal of habit, emotional therapeutic, and an surprising reunion with a former friend-turned-recovery-coach, performed by Gong Myoung, “Second Shot at Love” gives each consolation and confrontation.

Airing each week on Monday-Tuesday, this drama won’t simply tug on the heartstrings, but in addition spark reflection on points not often explored in mainstream Ok-dramas.

Warning: spoilers for episodes 1-2 forward!

The Nationwide Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines alcoholism, formally referred to as Alcohol Use Dysfunction (AUD), as a medical situation characterised by an impaired capability to cease or management alcohol use regardless of opposed social, occupational, or well being penalties. It consists of what many individuals check with as alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence, and alcohol habit.

Whereas most of the people is conscious of what alcoholism means, their understanding is usually clouded by a stereotypical picture of an alcoholic, making it more durable to acknowledge the dysfunction in actuality. When individuals consider alcoholism, they may image a homeless man who drinks low-cost beer simply to perform in the course of the day, or an abusive husband who lashes out after a couple of drinks. Nevertheless, whereas private struggles can improve reliance on alcohol, individuals with seemingly excellent careers, households, and relationships may also fall into habit. And since their lives seem preferrred from the surface, alcoholism typically goes unnoticed in social settings till it’s too late.

Our feminine lead, Han Geum Ju (Sooyoung), suits this less-acknowledged profile. On the floor, she’s a well-respected mechanical engineer working at one in every of Seoul’s high firms. She has a loving fiancé and seems to have all the pieces underneath management. However in actuality, she drinks alcohol prefer it’s water that’s important for her survival. When she discovers her fiancé has gotten one other girl pregnant, she breaks up with him. To save lots of face, she tells her mom the breakup was attributable to his complaints about her consuming. Unaware of the actual motive, Geum Ju’s mom takes her again to their hometown, Bochun, the place Geum Ju reunites along with her highschool buddy, Search engine optimisation Ui Jun (Gong Myoung).

As soon as a heavy drinker himself, Ui Jun has now stop consuming and provides talks on alcoholism to assist others overcome their addictions. However alcohol isn’t the one factor he has left behind. Regardless of receiving job gives from prestigious hospitals in Seoul, he selected to serve his neighborhood and has been working as a health care provider in Bochun, the place he’s revered for his dedication to the individuals.

The plot from there may be seemingly easy: Ui Jun helps Geum Ju overcome her alcoholism. However what turns into clear over time is that Geum Ju may even assist heal Ui Jun in return.

South Korea is known for a lot of issues, and whereas Samsung, LG, Hyundai, Kia, Ok-pop, Ok-dramas, and spicy buldak high the listing, consuming tradition is certainly someplace on the finish of the identical listing as effectively. From dramas that characteristic characters taking countless soju pictures with fried rooster to selection exhibits centered on consuming video games, the presence of alcohol in Korean social life is inconceivable to disregard even with out setting foot in Incheon Airport.

But, regardless of this cultural norm, the darker sides of alcohol use are not often addressed in mainstream media. That’s why “Second Shot at Love” feels each refreshing and mandatory. Its try to discover the implications of alcohol dependency, particularly by the lens of a powerful, impartial, and profitable girl like Geum Ju, breaks the stereotypical mould of the “alcoholic” and helps audiences notice that habit can have an effect on anybody.

Whereas the principle focus of the drama is on alcoholism and Geum Ju’s path to restoration, probably pertaining to her household’s struggles with alcohol as effectively, romance is way from sidelined.

Geum Ju and Ui Jun had been as soon as shut buddies in highschool, even transferring to Seoul for his or her research and staying in contact for a time. Via a sequence of flashbacks, viewers can guess that there was an incident that triggered their falling out, however the particulars haven’t been revealed but. Now again of their hometown, with Ui Jun stepping in to assist Geum Ju, their shut proximity won’t solely rekindle unresolved emotions but in addition start to unravel the thriller of what actually occurred to Ui Jun.

The ultimate scene sequence of “Second Shot at Love” makes it clear that the story doesn’t solely heart on Geum Ju’s wrestle with alcohol dependency; it additionally hints at Ui Jun’s personal previous with habit. Possibly his now-resolved dependence might have led to a DUI incident that price somebody their life, including a heavier emotional layer to his character and the narrative? Solely future episodes will inform!

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Javeria is a binge-watching specialist who loves devouring complete Ok-dramas in a single sitting. Good screenwriting, stunning cinematography, and a scarcity of cliches are the best way to her coronary heart. As a music fanatic, she listens to a number of artists throughout totally different genres and stans the self-producing idol group SEVENTEEN. You possibly can speak to her on Instagram @javeriayousufs.

Presently watching: “Spring of Youth” and “Second Shot at Love”
Trying ahead to: “Squid Game Season 3” and “Good Boy”