Love By Chance is a series like no other in the BL genre. They seem to have made a list of all clichés, tropes and plot contrivances common in the genre and decided to subvert and destroy them one by one. Characters talk to each other and solve their problems in an adult manner instead of dragging miscommunication for the entire series… Obstacles are introduced and dealt with in the same episode or the next, without overwrought melodrama. It’s really refreshing and a masterclass in good writing. What in most series would take 13 episodes to overcome here is solved in episode one!
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.

Citeste mai mult

It's very hard to write this review because these show started out incredibly unique and strong and also managed to end very well, way above your usual BL or drama in general, including Western. Yet, the back half of the season before the final two episodes are some of the most poorly written and edited episodes I've ever seen, that leave you wondering why are you still even watching this.

The reason why I kept watching it is because the leads, Drake and Frank, are highly charismatic actors with the most adorable chemistry. Their interactions are not too sexual - this entire series features two very tame kisses - but they have a tender bond that is explored in every single episode. If what you want to watch is a very romantic BL, this fits the bill nicely.

What is bad about it is the writing. The original premise makes no sense and it's soon dropped. Which is fine, because for the first 5 or 6 episodes they delve into how a boy can realise his true sexuality and fall in love in a very grounded way, including the consequences you might face. I don't think any other BL has done this that well. However, as they run out of that storyline and need contrivances to keep going, this series will introduce huge plot points every episode to cause drama, never really explore or explain them, completely drop them or mention them in passing several episodes later. It feels half of the story is happening off screen and is only mentioned in passing while on screen the characters are doing the most mundane things ever for no reason. All characters that are not the two leads are underwritten and underserved, half of the time you don't really know what is going on and when you do, it doesn't matter. The characters will simply ignore those plot points and the story will go on. When you almost lose all hope, they tie most of them in the last two episodes, which have a very satisfying ending, but, that is very real-life. Even though it won't have a season two according to the book author, you could see the story has many interesting places to go. Which, again, begs the question, why doesn't it go there in *this season*.

The music is great. The sound is poor, though, and a few scenes you can't barely hear the actors. Production values started out OK and, by the end, it seems they were out of budget.

Would I rewatch this? Yes... Episodes 1-6, 11-12. I would not watch 7-10 and, quite frankly, you don't even have to. They add nothing but confusion.

Citeste mai mult