Love by Chance (2018)

Love by Chance (2018) is a delightful drama; however, it contains insupportable themes

Let’s start with the story, shall we? Love by Chance is mostly a pleasant drama with some main issues to discuss. The initial interaction of the main couple was cliche. It was the typical way of how love stories start in several romantic films and series; however, the charm of the scene was undeniable as well as the chemistry. The progression of the relationship between Ae and Pete was gradual , which was good because I noticed in some BL dramas that the relationship of the couples were fast paced that it becomes unrealistic. In the case of Ae and Pete, we were able to enjoy the sweet interactions of the main couple.

There are key points about the main story that I would like to discuss. The first one is the “coming out” scene of Pete to his mom. I loved how the drama portrayed his struggles in sharing the truth about his sexuality to his parent and generally, as a gay character. The confrontation between the mother and child was really emotional and heart warming. The second point was the exploration of Ae’s sexuality. I loved how Ae handled his feelings towards Pete. He was there for Pete as a companion during his struggles which was really admirable. The way he assessed his feelings with the help of Pond, the adorable main shipper of Ae and Pete, were good scenes.

Lastly, I have to separate this paragraph because it focuses on the intimate and emotional scenes of Ae and Pete. The chemistry between Saint and Perth was really strong. There were different kinds of kisses such as aggressive, sweet and passionate. I could see that Saint was really immersed in acting as well as Perth during their intimate scenes. What really made me squeal like a teenage girl was their first time. Although it was kind of obvious that it was rehearsed and to be honest, a little stiff, there was still a natural vibe to it. I would like to point out the way Saint and Perth executed the first bed scene. Remember the part where he followed Ae’s lips when they were kissing? I love how Saint was closing his eyes, putting appropriate facial expressions as well as moving his body somehow in order for the scene to seem believable. In addition, the song was wonderful. It truly made me “feel” and enjoy the scene. The next intimate scene was more passionate and a little aggressive. The difference between the two was apparent - the “first time” was a little sweet and awkward while the second one was enthusiastic and comfortable. It really did exhibit the attraction of two teenage boys. In accordance with this, Saint and Perth were both good rookie actors. They have a potential to be great experienced actors in the future.

The story of Tin and Can was too fast paced for me. I didn’t see the process of falling in love and instead, it was just suddenly there. Based on Tin’s character, the ability to like Can should’ve been gradual. Since there was kind of antagonism, I think the dislike towards each other should slowly disappear, followed by tolerance and eventually became acquaintances; moreover, in my opinion, it will be better if during the process, Tin would undergo character development and eventually open up to Can where the sudden possessiveness and pursuit would begin. I guess it is understandable since they are the second couple and the story would have to fit in a specific time frame.

On the other hand, Tum and Tar was enough as fillers but I won’t be able to give a deep review since there wasn’t enough material for me to create one. It was the same as Tin and Can, which were both fast paced. I could say though that the story deserves to be explored more. The theme provided an interesting issue to focus on (sexual assault) and I would like to see more of Tar’s story (trauma); moreover, I didn’t like how Tum forced himself to Tar. In accordance with this, Techno and Kengkla has the most bothering story in LBC. There was rape, deception and manipulation in it. I hate how the story of Techno and Kengkla ended in the season. It was disturbing because I couldn’t see even a slight hesitation in Kengkla’s face. I was really sad because I would’ve liked if they portrayed Kengkla’s “stubborn” attitude, intelligence and determination in a different way or they could’ve toned it down. The limit I could accept was the motorcyle part. Other than that, I really couldn’t tolerate the other planned events. I really loved the main idea on how Techno, a responsible naive and likeable guy, thought that Kengkla was innocent but really has a dark side. I just really wished they didn’t include rape and extreme manipulation.

Overall, Love by Chance is an enjoyable drama that you could rewatch and still obtain the same satisfaction. Although I didn’t quite like some of its themes but I would still recommend it to some people who are looking for a BL drama.

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