BL - The Second Coming
Your favorite BL is getting a second season! Should you be scared or excited? Let's look at data.
Are they generally worse than the first? Is that just Thailand? Has any other country done a second season? What about the minsode epilogues? Korea has two second seasons in production (Color Rush 2 and To My Star 2), should we be nervous?
These questions and more tackled by @heretherebedork in this ask on their blog.
I decided to delve into the data (or what data I have).
Now second seasons “better or worse” is a value judgement and I only keep track of my own ratings. I could look them up on MDL but I don’t trust their ratings anymore than I trust the comment sections, so frankly this is what you get.
Japan
Takumi-kun 1 (2007) is universally considered worse than Takumi-kun 2 (2009). But that’s because the cast changed. However Takumi-kun 3 (2010) is slightly less good than 2, and it has the same cast as 2, does it count as the actual second season?
I’m open about my dislike of Ossan’s Love (2018) but I think most of those who do like it think the original is the best of the series.
Pornographer series I have only seen the 3 core movies and not the supplemental installments, but of those three the first is the best, without question.
China
Like Love 1 (2014) is better than Like Love 2 (2015) I don’t think the 8 other people on the planet who have seen it would argue with me, but it’d be a dumb argument if it happened since both seasons are pants.
2016′s Irresistible Love Secret of the Valet is not as good as Irresistible Love 2 Uncontrolled Love, but that’s because it has a bad ending and cliff hanger. But I also think the story for 2 is slightly better. Still this series is a cluster fuck, so... shrug.
Thailand
Love Sick (2014) is a hard one, I prefer season 2 (2015) because I like the actor playing Ohm better and it ends happily. But it is way too long and bloated.
Make it Right (2016) and Make it Right 2 (2017) are the same situation as Love Sick, except season 2 is tighter than LS’s 2. As a result, I think MIR 2 can probably be considered superior. MIR also got a minisode spin off which is HORRIBLE.
Puppy Honey 2 (2017) is better than PH1 (2016) but the BL is a subplot. Do we count it? What the hell. Let’s.
I like SOTUS S better than SOTUS but it certainly isn’t actually better. That’s just me excited about an office romance. I also think the Our Skyy minisode is very good, but still season 1 takes it.
I like Present Still Perfect slightly better than Present Perfect (2017) but I think on a purely cinematic appraisal the first one is better.
Together with Me (2016) is vastly superior to Together With Me the Next Chapter. I don’t think anyone would argue that.
Very few consider 2 Moons better than 2 Moons 2 but also it’s not really a second season, like Takumi-kun they did a complete recast but unlike Takumi-kun they also refilmed the first installment. So It’s more like a reboot than a season 2.
I’m not sure it really counts, but Love By Chance (2018) is better than Love by Chance 2: A Chance at Love (2020). Period. END. OF. DISCUSSION.
Love Poison (2020) is a piece of shit but I managed to finish it, Love Poison 2 (2021) is unwatchable. And that’s coming from someone who managed ALL of China’s and Japan’s early offerings so... it’s really bad.
TharnType 2 (2020) is a dumpster fire I try not to think about. TharnType (2019) is a garbage can campfire that I will roast marshmallows over like the trash panda I am. The wedding installment special is fine.
I like Still 2gether (2020) well enough, but 2gether (2020) was iconic. Not sure what it’s iconic of, but it is iconic.
Sirs Not Appearing in this Summation
HIStory is a franchise, not a series, so I decided not to count it.
Ai no Kotodama 1 (2008) can’t really be compared to Ai no Kotodama 2: Sekai no Hate Made (2010). Different cast, different story and different everything. I don’t think it can rightly be called a second season, in fact, I think Japan is just messing with us.
I Am Your King is eliminated on the grounds of being a franchise as well, with different cast and not a true second season.
2013′s Love Place 1: Hakanaki Kata Omoi - Gaiya no Koi is better than Love Place 2: Shiawase no Katachi, because 2 has very little story and is kinda boring (although I actually like it better because it’s less rough). Frankly, I don’t like either very much so it’s hard to judge. I’m leaving them out of calculations.
His the movie is better than His the series but also they aren’t really connected. I’m leaving them off.
We Best Love like Seven Days I consider completed only with both installments. I’m not gonna justify this decision because MY BABIES.
I’m Not Qualified to Judge
Gameboys
Boy Foretold by Stars
I Told The Sunset About You
Call it What You Want
It’s September 2021, We are still waiting on Gen Y 2, Between Us (UWMA 2), My Engineer 2, Because of You 2, and a whole lot more. so... this data may change. Also I may have missed a few more obscure ones.
Minisode/special adds to cannon
SOTUS Our Skyy
InSun (My Dear Loser) Our Skyy
TeeMork My Tee Our Skyy
SaifahZon Story (Why R U?)
YYY Special
Tien Bromance EXTRA
TharnType Wedding Special
BoomPeak (Make it Right) walk on in Why R U?
TharnType walk on in Why R U?
BoXiang & ZhiGang (HIStory 3:MODC) guest starring in HIStory 4
HaoTing & XiGu (HIStory 3:MODC) walk on in Life: Love on the Line
Minisode/special fails the cannon
Make it Right (Make it Live on the Beach)
Reminders (Love By Chance + Love Sick alt reality)
Be Loved in House: I Do special
Minisode/special doesn’t matter
PeteKao Dark Blue Kiss Our Skyy
PickRome Puppy Honey Our Skyy
Theory of Love special
We Best Love extra cuts and specials
Cherry Magic specials 1 & 2
CONCLUSION: Thumbs up on Minisodes, Specials, & Epilogues
In Thailand a minisode/special is more likely to add to the cannon or be neutral than detract. So *waves airy had* proceed with the Thai BL epilogues. But Taiwan and Japan don’t need to bother.
No matter what, we always enjoy seeing an old favorite couple from a different series have a guest appearance.
Korea and Japan do good when they recut and add extra content back into their series/movies: Life: Love on the Line directors cut and Wish You the movie (as opposed to the series) are both considerably better than their original installments.
Season/Installment 1 is better
Takumi-kun DaiMo cast (Japan)
Like Love (China)
Present Perfect (Thailand)
Together with Me (Thailand)
SOTUS (Thailand)
Ossan’s Love (Japan)
Pornographer series (Japan)
Love By Chance (Thailand)
TharnType (Thailand)
Love Poison (Thailand)
2gether (Thailand)
Season/Installment 2 is better
Takumi-kun full series (Japan)
Love Sick (Thailand)
Irresistible Love (China)
Make it Right (Thailand)
Puppy Honey (Thailand)
2 Moons 2 (Thailand)
CONCLUSION: Season 1s Are Better
If the first season is left in a cliffhanger or ends sadly then the 2nd season is more likely to be positively received.
Also if it’s recast and the second cast has more chemistry, then it gets popular.
If the first season ended fine, then the second season will always feel inferior to the original.
(source)