This review may contain spoilers
I don't typically write reviews since I find most BL's follow the same tropes so reviews get pretty repetitive to me, but I felt compelled to this time. Prepare yourselves! In case you didn't see, yes this review contains spoilers so here it comes. LBC started on such a high note that expectations are raised right out of the gate. Unfortunately, it falls short as the story goes on, but not enough to completely ruin the series.I was both baffled and beyond happy when Pete came out to his mom. There's a lot of BL's that just hint that the parents know, but LBC had Pete come straight out and say it. I applaud them for that and loved the relationship with his mom. I love that they spoke to each other and she made sure he knew that he was her son regardless. It was beautiful and everyone needs to hear that from their parent so I was on cloud nine! The relationship between Ae and Pete, too, was superb. They were caring, had their issues, but always wrapped them up fairly quickly and were an all around good role model for LGBTQ+ youth. Their story was so pure and warm that it makes one's insides turn to goo! If I could only rate this on their story it'd be a 10 out of 10, but, my issues come with the final 3 couples that, if it was only them, would drop this story to practically a zero.
Let's start out with my biggest issue, KengklaxTechno. That was rape. It was straight up rape, uncomfortable and unsettling to watch, especially since there was Tum and Tar's story about rape so...how and why? But they're next. Simply put, I feel KengklaxTechno's so-called "relationship" was rushed because there probably won't be a second season. If they were going to do that, they should have just ended it without them ever getting together, have a little kiss and leave it open ended rather than fall into yet another rape story line. Not only is it an insult to the LGBTQ+ community, but also, men in general should be insulted that, somehow, every show makes it seem like they can only think with the head between their legs.
Onto the TumxTar story, which I didn't have a lot of issues with, but they were forgettable. They didn't have a lot of screen time, especially considering that Tar was assaulted. I would love if they would have their own show to focus on the trauma a sexual assault survivor goes through, but this just rushed it and fell into some unsettling moments as well, like when Tum tried to force himself on Tar. It was unfortunate because they could have had so much more time and energy given to them. It's sad they didn't get it.
Lastly, the TinxCan story, which I admit I'm biased as I loved them since the whole "enemy to lovers" thing is my downfall ,but, I'll do my best to stay unbiased! I simply hate how there's still sad endings for LGBTQ+ stories. We've had enough of them and I find them so unnecessary. If anyone should have got the "tragedy" ending, it should have been KengklaxTechno since their relationship was nonexistent. Instead, it's forced onto two characters that could have had a real good story. There's so much to Tin's backstory with his family that they could have a show of their own, especially since, yes, they made it seem like Can was falling for Tin. Slowly, but feelings were developing. I feel that, if they didn't see a second season in the making, it should have at least ended on a happier note but instead we're left with this and no guarantee of a season two so...
Sadly, I feel like LBC went down hill. I'm not saying don't watch it, Ae and Pete are totally worth re-watching and enjoying their story, but...it's not a 10 for me anymore. I'd say a solid 7 thanks to Ae and Pete, they saved the show so, I guess, go in with low expectations or just to watch Ae and Pete. I do plan to re-watch them from time to time and I hope season two clears up some issues!
Edit: First off, I see there will be a season two so we'll see how that goes. Second, I have re-watched the series and stand by my initial responses. KengklaxTechno didn't hit me as hard the second time around but it's just not ok. Plain and simple. TinxCan is now an ok ending because of the sequel (which will supposedly focus on them.) If the sequel doesn't clear some things up, I think LBC will fade and never live up to the potential it could have had. If they make a S2 as good as the first it could be another classic.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Cute Little Love by Chance Story
Overall, I thought the series was pretty good. It's the story of two young men, Ae and Pete, who happen to meet by chance and Ae begins to help and take care of Pete (especially with a homphobic bully trying to blackmail him). Of course, Pete is gay and begins to confide to Ae, whom is very understanding and helps Pete to deal with the complexities of being a young gay male in certain societies. As a result of Ae's kindness, understanding, and assistance, Pete begins to develop feelings for Ae. Ae, who is "presumably" straight, eventually begins to develop feelings for Pete, and this is where we get the "Love by Chance" idea. Ae and Pete throughout the series go through numerous and sometimes humorous trials and tribulations establishing their relationship. Although some of the sex scenes between Pete and Ae were a "bit much". LOL However, the sex scenes are somewhat believable, given that their supposed to be upper teenage boys exploring their sexualities...The series was cute and kept your attention, especially with the growing relationship between the other main characters, Tin and Can. Tin is a rich , egotistical snob, and Can is just a average soccer "jock" whose a little naive when it comes to relationships. But, Can is a staunch defender of Ae and Pete's relationship... especially, against Tin, who doesn't think Pete should be having anything to do with "The Thai Program" as he calls Ae, Can and their friends. Tin and Can's relationship start off as the typical Love/Hate, Rich/Poor scenario, but eventually starts to develop into something else. I really liked that relationship, (especially Tin's character). To watch Tin's development during the last episodes, learning of the abusive and arguably cruel treatment by his older brother (a person whom he most cherished and trusted in the world at that time) --- to watching him learn to love and trust again with Can. It's a good basic storyline.
Now, I know that BL dramas have to have their tragic situations.... But, there are a couple of disturbing scenes in the series that will make you want to throw an item at your TV or computer. The scene included a rape, which was not only perpetrated by someone the victim knew, but with the assistance of a family member of the victim. The other tragic turn in the series dealt with Tin and Can's relationship and how the storyline was left unresolved. This was most upsetting mainly due to the possibility there might not be a season 2. Hopefully, they'll at least do a mini-series (about 4 episodes) or possibly a movie, featuring the Tin and Can storyline, and give them a happier resolution... I think the fans would go absolutely wild!!! LOL
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Drama x Romance
My review is about comparing Romance to Drama. Even though the plot of the series is inferior to Romance, I quite enjoyed it.I confess that I read the novel before watching the series and I really like the story. If my evaluation is based only on the romance, or even on the performance of some actors like Mean and Perth, who, in my opinion, stood out, my evaluation would be much higher, however, to evaluate it, it is necessary to be impartial .
If the plot was totally faithful to the novel, the users' evaluation would be much higher, because it really had everything to be the best BL series, because it is not cliché like many others, however, they added new couples and tried to adapt other stories, such as the couples KengklaTechno and TumTar, which have nothing to do with this novel.
I believe that, they should have focused only on the couples of the story itself, being AePete and TinCan, this way, the plot could have been better worked out about the history of each of the characters and would have shown better about how the relationship between them develops, and also, there were many parts in the novel, that should have been considered essential to be in the series, that they did not put, because in the series, some things were not clear, and only by reading the novel , people will be able to understand better.
Important facts about the characters that the series did not address and only become clear in the novella:
AE is a simple boy who never compares himself with anyone, his life is just studying, helping his family and playing soccer, until he meets PETE, when he develops feelings for PETE, it is revealed that he has low self-esteem, behavior that leads him to be possessive with Pete, it is because he compares himself with Tin because of his social status, even though he trusts Pete, he feels that Tin has interest in Pete and sees him as a threat and this comparison makes him not want Pete around Tin. And, another important fact that must be addressed in Drama, for a better understanding of the AE character, is that Pete met his friends at Pond's birthday, AE compares himself to his friend Sun, because he is handsome and shows interest in Pete, which becomes the main reason for not wanting Pete to travel with him and his friends.
PETE, is a shy and insecure boy, and after the bad event he faces with Trump, his ex-boyfriend, is left with many traumas and fears. When AE opens his heart to Pete, he is happy, but at the same time discredited, he thinks AE is straight and will regret getting involved with him, so he asks AE to open her mind to other people, in this case Chompoo, because in Pete's mind, although AE is sure that she wants to be with him, Pete doesn't want him to suffer the same discrimination he suffered for being gay. And even after they are already dating, Pete is still very insecure and also shows a possessive side towards AE.
We get a glimpse of TIN and CAN's story, but their story develops more in the second season, and of course, just like AE and PETE, they also have their internal, psychological, social and family problems to deal with. TIN, as a child, went through an episode where he felt betrayed by the person he trusted most, in this case his older brother. He then began to distrust everyone, and became a cold and calculating person who treats everyone around him with contempt and shows his "superiority". It is only when he meets CAN, a naive, hyperactive, and immature boy, that he gradually helps him to overcome his problems.
A negative point of the series is that they adapted these four couples in the story and, in the end, the plot of none of them was well developed, leaving many points open, even to drag it to a second season, which would not be necessary. And another negative point, is that in the last episode there is a scene that can be considered rape, being this event of a couple that has just been adapted and does not belong to this story.
Overall, I liked the series, it has a light and funny atmosphere, and that each of the characters did well in their respective roles.
For those who have not yet watched the series, I advise you to read the novel first, because the events of the series are well summarized, you will have a better understanding of the characters. And for those who have already watched the series, but haven't read the novel, you should read it, it may change your concept from negative to positive, or it may make you fall in love even more! The story really goes far beyond what is shown in the Drama.
But even with these comparisons, LBC is still one of the few BL's that I like. The story is very good and has a lot of potential, it deals with several themes and concepts and social and family issues, and also the internal struggle of the characters to overcome their traumas and fears, the story also shows us, about how the events and the internal and external relationships can influence the behavior and personality of people, besides relating the development of the relationship and the personal maturing of each one.
Give it a chance, it's worth it!
Was this review helpful to you?
Instead of a “will-they-or-they-won’t” plot, which all romance, include Western, does, they show the natural progression of a relationship, through various stages, with all the adaptation and negotiation that it involves, in a very adult-manner. While that could easily be boring, the cast is magnetic, photography stunning, and they really have great dialogue and a lot of chemistry. A *LOT* of chemistry. This series often takes your breath away and a whole sequence in episode 7 is a steamy classic in itself.
You also see a lot of conversations regular shows completely skip over, about sex, jealousy, consent, compromise. The series is romantic and sexy, but also very realistic in the depiction of a healthy relationship.
As a viewer, I was always waiting for the traditional BL mode of throwing a wrench into the plot at some point, but that, thankfully, never happens. Instead, they make a bold decision to, in the last third of the series, essentially switch the protagonists and make the main couple supporting, which gives us a unique opportunity: see the main couple live their happily ever after on screen, because now there are news leads carrying the weight of the drama.
If one criticism is to be made is that there are other two possible couples on the posters and peppered throughout, but they are given little screentime and have very little connection to the main plot, feeling completely throwaway. It’s not a huge issue, as they don’t show up that often, but it’s glaring, especially because the stories deal with rape and are very misplaced in a series that explores consent so well, otherwise.
On the production site, as I mention, the photography is gorgeous and there are many different locations, making the show visually very interesting.
The act is superb and even the supporting actors are on point. There is one weak link in Plan, who plays Can, but the other actor he mostly shares scenes with is so good that balances that out.
I cannot recommend Love By Chance enough. It not just a great BL, it’s a great series, standing tall among Eastern and Western programmes as well.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Why do people like this show
Ive always heard nothing but positive reviews for this show and so i though I'd give it a watch...why did yall lie lol. First of all, the main couple Ae and Pete are literally so boring which would've been fine if they were a side couple but NO! Then cantaloupe and tin started off ok but can is such a whiny little shit and he annoys me so much. And then there is.......kengkla and techno...."mame you have done it again, constantly lowering the bar for us all". Mame could've given techno the good love story that he deserves but instead she decided kla would just rape him and then hed blame it on techno. Just blatant abuse being passed off as a successful love story, i need mame to pay for my therapy now.Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
1) Let's start with the MC, like the title suggest they meet by chance and constant chance encounters bind them together. Their story is the most beautiful and the purest. It will clean your taste buds. They meet, they slowly fall in love and they don't avoid or deny their feelings. There are parts of confusion but never did they try to run away from their own emotions. As their story progress there will be no major ups and downs and why is that? Because they show that good communication, trust and care is the key to the good and fulfilling relationship. The have moments of jealousy, they sulk from time to time, there are the moments of anger but this will never turn into a major misunderstanding (what I hate in many other dramas and novels) because they ask questions and they give answers, true and honest.
Really refreshing, a feast to the eyes and hearts <3 .
2) All the side characters and side couples have enough time to develop their feelings, we have full story of what, when how and why? There is no plot holes. But one of the best thing is that while the MC have quite of a smooth sailing the side couples don't have it that easy. We can see more problems here and I personally love this as I can have my beautiful and lovely story in the form of AePete but still I'm aware that world is not all flowers so we can meet this thorns in the other side stories. And yes they don't always end they way we hope for.
3) Physical side of the story doesn't end on just a kiss or holding hands but... on the other hand its not the most important thing in their lives. I love this balance between mental and physical needs.
4) Chemistry beetwen all the couples! Truly amazing!
5) When you'll finish this series you'll feel happy and satisfied but still hungry for more :) . This way I know that I'll watch this again and again and again probably as I wait for season 2 ;) .
Was this review helpful to you?
Jealous men pushing other men up against walls
If you are looking for any sign of healthy relationships and I don't know heart fluttering fluffy romance then you may just want to turn around and look more or less anywhere else...Some good names for this title would be:
1. The Jealous and the Horney... - There are a lot of sex scenes as well as masturbation
2. Possessive Men Without Boundaries- Not a single person here knows how to set or respect boundaries and once someone claims dibs on a person they are not permitted to look at another guy...
3. If he is Jealous it means he loves you.... - As the answer to, does a person have a crush always seems to boil down to if the person gets jealous or not.
or Just: The Wall - As at least one person per episode is being forced something against a wall per episode. I honestly think MAME (the writer) has a thing for walls.
However it is oddly entertaining at times, and is a decent manual in what to avoid... checking every single point in the checklist of my articles on non consensual behaviour...
Ae seems like this super sweet, understanding love, a dream lover and what one may call a mother in laws dream... However he is actually extremely jealous, possessive and well has about as much self control as a 2 year old in a toy shop... He also seems to think that kissing/f*** is a decent way to punish people. But in a really sweet way... Making me just want to send him off to therapy and maybe a class or two about self control.
Pete- Mr timid, sweeter than sweet, is shown as someone shy who needs a man to take charge and force himself on him so that he dare say yes... Romanticising the non consensual behaviour of Ae....
Then we have some stories and characters that re appear (completely differently, both character wise and casting) later in Tharntype.... that is a spin off of this, but feels like it came first making those who have seen TharnType slightly confused. But comparing the two the non con is more subtle - more dangerous in my opinion. But the over all story is less dramatic, and actually seems to lack a core plot.
Tin and Can- Tin Can have some sweet moments as characters but are also self contradictory... as Tin seems to want to buy Can, Can is supposedly opposed to that but still seems to get sold... Can is the voice of reason at times and a complete idiot other times. And lets face it Tin may have his moments but he is kind of a jerk... However he may be the only character in this whole drama that actually experiences some kind of character development.
There is no snack ppl so the boys didn't have to force seaweed down each others throats, they kept that strictly to tongs.... But there is some very obvious Samsung PPL that even made it in to the plot...
I would also like to point out that if you do watch this you may want to bare in mind that: no matter what gender or where you put things... if it hurts someone is not paying enough attention to the other persons signals... And may just need to take a step back... That said there is also pain that is pleasurable and that is ok too...
Bingeablity- Medium to high
Guilty Pleasure- maybe an 8...
An ok watch but not much more...
Was this review helpful to you?
Its not bad but the story is a common trope/concept.
It's not unwatchable, but I skipped many parts throughout this drama as I couldn't care for the side story and characters. Story-wise, this bl was handled maturely (focusing on the main couple). It almost felt realistic in aspects of the relationship between the main couple. They had sex, kissed and mainly respected each other's affection value. Did I mention that they also practiced consent? (This is surprising as many bl don't care to explore this aspect). However, I didn't love how all the couples ended, but I supposed that's realistic, which is okay.Moreover, the story is nothing new, it's such a simple story, but I think it's done well. Honestly, I recommend you guys to watch this series just for the main couple.
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Ok so I haven't finished the show because I still have to watch the last episode but I know how it ends and...wtf??? If you had asked me two weeks ago I would have said that in my heart the show deserved a 9 but in my head it was a solid 7.5. Now both my heart and head think the same: It's just not that good so I'm going with the 7.5. I'm pretty new to BL shows so I don't know what to expect from others after reading everywhere that this was probably the best drama they had seen. I really liked the story at the beginning, although Pete was a bit too much for me, and I was also very excited for Tin and Can because I love the ''enemies to lovers'' trope, but after episode like 9 or 10...eh? Things were going great for Ae and Pete, they were cute as always, but Tin and Can's plot was just so rushed (and Kengkla/Techno and Tum/Tar were nonexistent although I didn't care much about them tbh). I tried to enjoy the scenes that Can and Tin had together(even though they looked sooo out of nowhere lol) with hope knowing that if their plot was being rushed it was because they were going to be endgame...or not? Going back to the two forgotten couples (which had like 5 minutes of screen time), why would you include a topic as delicate as rape without giving it enough time? And Kengkla and Techno's storyline was very messed up too. Anyways, I know this looks as if I'm only ranting and didn't actually enjoy the show. I did and I invested a lot of energy in it so that's why I'm so mad. Maybe I was expecting too much from it because everyone was hyping it 24/7. If someone happens to read until here I'd say: watch it and reach to your own conclusion. It's nowhere near perfect but the two leads have good chemistry and most of the time they're quite nice and fluffy (I'm not super fond of possessive/extra horny Ae but whatever). Edit: I have tried to watch that last episode but I just can't bring myself to do it unless a second season is announced and that ending is fixed (which would be a Christmas miracle *sighs*). Fingers crossed and I'll wait for a show where Mean and Plan are the main couple and have a happy ending...please???
Was this review helpful to you?
A nearly polished gem everyone deserves
A heads up: this is the most fluttering, refreshing, and satisfying Thai BL has ever produced so far. A series mixed of fluff and drama, Love By Chance is your typical BL story selling us innocent and pure love. Most of the story arcs were promising, and upon its ending, it certainly delivered. Its cliche scenes did not compromise the humanity of the characters, which BL stories tend to abuse for squeals from fangirls, and making it believable and realistic. Above all, its authenticity shone throughout the show, credits going to all who are involved in this magnificent show which gave viewers - fans and casual viewers - a story rather than nonsense supercut of skinships and nonsensical kissing and humping.The first main story of Ae and Pete seems to have been carefully written with its tendencies to curve a little from typical bs of BL and is just focused on delivering a *spoiler* pure, innocent, and genuine love with just a bit, if not totally without, pathetic twist and turns. The characterization of Ae and Pete is very simple but not forgetting the humanity and them, which makes their story work. Even their lines have some intricacies which don't just attempt to make fangirls fall from their seats. Skepticism arose from the second main story of Tin and Can due to probable exhaustion of authenticity where the first main story relied on, but somehow, thanks probably to its director, author's magic still worked, despite the story starting way too out of time and left hanging in the series. The other stories, however, were just too underdeveloped to allow viewers to sympathize with them, not to mention them being borderline questionable. It's major downfall is that romanticized story arc of Kengkla and Techno, which was ironic, having another arc which 'kinda' depicted some horrors of what rape could do to one.
The actors so far have acted most of their scenes more decent than the crap Thai BL has been feeding us fans. Perth, tho, steals the spotlight. Nah scratch that, Perth owned this show. He gave Ae justice which such good acting, as if Ae isn't from a TV show but actually living irl. Ae has become the most dynamic, three-dimensional seme a thai BL has ever offered, and his personification is all thanks to the great acting skills of Perth. Saint is in close second, who as well has given Pete the humanity most BL actors I have seen could not for a uke of the story. He delivers vulnerability of Pete perfectly that audience could understand his plight just by watching his diverse emotions seen in his face. It also showed how smart Saint is in acting. While Perth's acting is straightforward, Pete's relies on subtlety, which definitely worked for his role as Pete. From the variety of expressions he could give in just a frame to careful body language, Saint sure knows how to tease every fan not by using his mouth to fish squeals but by showing them that action speaks louder than words. These two actors have carried the first episodes by themselves and made Love By Chance worth the wait for each upcoming episodes. They made Ae and Pete real and cemented the credibility of this show. There were hiccups of course, like Plan in the first part and Gun, but forgivable. Plan is often subject to my criticism due to the awkwardness of his acting, but eventually caught up during his important scenes. He allowed Tin x Can ship to sail and go on to its adventure. Mean is consistent in all of his scenes, making Tin a delight for viewers who want a not-so-flat character tsundere guys tend to be.
Its original OST and those which subsequently released are awesome, fitting perfectly for the mood and theme of the story. The use of other soundtrack from other series though is distracting, which voids Love By Chance as that new BL series apart from other series.
Love By Chance is that story you'd look for deep down the list of most popular being mostly trash BL stories everywhere but it's that nearly polished gem everyone deserves.
Was this review helpful to you?
