I went into this not expecting much after loving the first one and knowing that several of the characters had left and been replaced, but was surprised that I loved this one too. While the story took a minute for it to grab me completely and my attention did fall off a bit at the end, the overall show was a really great mystery but was more-so used to set up the new main characters spot in the show. It establishes his overall backstory and sets up a story and more mysteries for season 3. The first one definitely is still my favorite so far in the series, season 2 stands alone as a great bridge between another hopefully great season.

-- Spoilers Below --

Director Kang comes back with such a bang that it really helped me remember why I loved this show so much. Her acting is incredible and she really makes you feel every emotion possible in such a short amount of time. Her character has grown a great amount being fully in charge of the Golden Time Team and making such a wave with it's success. She doesn't have too much of an interaction overall with the main mystery of the season, but is targeted by Officer Bang because of her gifted ears. Kang's chemistry with her new counterpart, Do Kang-Woo, is amazing and even though it's not a romance, had me slightly rooting for them to end up together. She fully understands and trusts him, but finds herself questioning her judgement many times at the hands of Officer Bang playing games with the entire team. I hope that she has more of an impact in the overall mystery and is more centered on her in season 3.

Team Leader Do is a mysterious guy from the start and is definitely rough around the edges. Everyone around seems to dislike him and he has a dark past following him around. This season overall is establishing his character and backstory and setting up another storyline in season 3. The main mystery follows his backstory of his father being a serial killer and how it impacted himself, his family, and people around him. He suffers from PTSD from stumbling across his murdered friends body and his ultimately blamed by Officer Bang for this happening. The chemistry between him and Kang as stated is amazing and although he doesn't fully trust her with his past yet, he fully trusts her ears, gift and team completely.

I loved seeing Eun-Soo getting more of a prominent role in the team and also being in charge when Director Kang steps out. She didn't get an episode in the first one, but sadly gets a tragic episode in this season. She is a victim of dating abuse and is in a violent relationship with a serial abuser. The story unfolds in a scattered way, but ultimately her abuser is murdered by 3 other women that he abused. Her acting in this episode is incredible and it shines on her characters development of how strong of a cop she is as a result of being with the Golden Time Team.

Jin Seo-Yool was another new face to the Golden Time Team and filled in the place of Oh Hyun-Ho nicely. He is a computer hacking genius and helps the team get around the web fast. He gets an episode this season as well.. I feel as though it was used to not harm one of the main characters of the show but rather a new face that wouldn't really harm the overall story. Officer Bang plays with him and targets his hacking skills, eventually kidnapping him and taking all his fingers on one hand. I'm interested to see if he comes back for the third season and to see if there is any character development or story to come from that with his hacking and needing his hands for the job.

Overall, this season could stand alone on it's own, but is a bridge between season 1 to the season to come. New characters equals new story and this season lays it all out. If you loved the stand alone episodes and procedures of the first season, you'll love this one as well. Though the main mystery is the drive of the season, I loved seeing the Team do what it does best. I can't wait to check out the 3rd season!