Amor Por Acaso (2018)

I loved, no, I adored Ae & Pete - but I didn’t care about pretty much anything else in this drama. The side couples - with the exception of the sole hetero ship featuring Pond which was really cute - were creepy as hell and even Tin & Can, a wildly popular ship in the fandom, pushed my nope-nope-nope buttons from time to time. That’s why it’s hard for me to judge this drama as a whole. Ae & Pete? 10/10, would highly recommend. Everything else? Don’t bother.

But Ae & Pete are still so, so good that them’s worth watching this. They’re so good with each other and for each other and once they become a couple, which is pretty early on in the drama, there’s little angst between them because they actually talk about their issues, they don’t let them fester. Also, let’s face it, they are hot and their sex scenes are even hotter and I loved the slight undertones of D/s between them because Pete is way too shy to ask for anything in bed but luckily, Ae loves making Pete feel good. And yes, Ae is very possessive of Pete but Pete revels in it, in being wanted and desired, while Ae revels in taking care of Pete because he’s a born caretaker. Like I said, they’re just good for each other!

This drama also made me a fan of the two lead actors, Perth Tanapon & Saint Suppapong who have insane chemistry on-screen. But it’s also the first drama where I noticed Earth Pirapat who has a small part of the “gay fairy godmother,” basically, giving out advice to his juniors while still trying to go about his own life, thank you very much.

Leia Mais

LBC is a great BL to introduce your friends to Thai series. It has everything: the boys, the love, the humor. But it's not perfect. Although chemistry between ships were incredible, the series lost its focus several times and wasted viewer's time with pointless scenes. Both plot and characters deserved to have been directed better. Also, sometimes they were too honest into ~some subjects like guys watching porn, so it was a bit uncomfortable at times.

The highlight goes to the love making scenes. Just watch it, it's wonderful.

TinCan shippers, worry not! You'll be saved in season 2!

Leia Mais

I discovered this series and I kinda binge watched (I watched 10 episodes on a single day, please DON'T JUDGE ME UwU). I have to admit it's addicting and fun and you can easily get involved into the story and the characters. it's about a certain number of couples and their stories.

Story starts with Pete, a shy and rich student that is hit with a bike by accident by Ae, en engineering student. They have an instant connection, even though Pete knows he is gay but he's not out yet and Ae haven't had any romantic relationship before.

This couple is the main one in the story and you can really be with them in all the moments, when they start liking each other, the problems of acceptance of their feelings and the issue of their families. I think the story is well handed even though it has certain tropy moments and weird scenes but still it's nicely done. But from a certain point, the story lacks conflict and tends to be boring because of this constant sweetness, even the script give space to the other couple that i like the most (I am a fan of this trope) and that is Tin/Can.

Tin/Can starts SO late in the story and I am sad because that could have come up WAY TO EARLIER SO IT COULD HAVE HAD A BETTER TREATMENT. Tin is Pete's friend. He is incredibly rich, handsome and really cold. He think he should be with Pete because they share a similar world. He ignores people and just want to be alone and never let anyone in .. until he almost hit Can with his car. Can is Ae's friend from football team. He is hiperactive, funny and slightly akward guy that dreams of having a lovely girlfriend. When they see each they hate each other and constantly fight mainly because Tin treats Can poorly because he is from a middle class family and Can because Tin is so rude and seems to be disrespecting his friend Ae. Slowly, Tin starts to see that Can is a good and loyal friend and Can sees that Tin is not evil or a horrible person, just don't want to let anyone get to know him. I have to confess I fell for them so hard. Not only because i could see the development of each of them lowering the fists and truly see the other but it's sad we got to that ending... I know the story seems to be a little bit rushed but still they grew so hard on me. And the end of them is SO bitersweet because Tin allowed himself to love someone and show his past and the sadness he feels with his family and Can jus't didn't know what he feels but he knows deep inside he feels something for Tin but he is scared and unsure. I agree with Can telling Tin to be just friends but still broke my heart to see Tin so devastated. I INSIST: with more time and the couple ntroduced earlier, we could have had a nice ending for them :(

Tar/Tum I liked this one but it just didn't have enough time to fully develop and still it has its issues. Tar is studying in France to become a chef and he comes back to Thailand to stay with his mom and his stepbrother Tum for a while (and Tum happens to be in love with Tar). I think their story started with a trope but with more time, it could have been executed better and... because Earth is a TERRIFIC ACTOR and I was really proud of him (LOL)... We barely saw them and JUST handling such a delicate issue like RAPE was not exactly well done. Why make Tum try to kiss Tar without his consent and assault him like that? Really? Was it neccesary? NO. Still they have a great moment at the end with Tar telling the truth to Tum and explaining why he is so traumatized... and Tum accepting everywting and supporting him... still the story had a nice ending.

Kengkla/Tecno I JUST COULDN'T STAND THIS... it just wasn't necessary and was SO WRONG. P'No did not deserve this because what he went throught is RAPE. SImply as that. And Kengla trying to manipulate him is the WORST and I could barely watch this. And the story is unfinshied as well ... it's just a big NO for me.

The music of the series of great but still to loud or akward on certain scenes... The actors are good, stiff at times but overall the chemistry they have is really good. I am so sad that we probably won't have a second season because I really enjoyed this despite its weaknesses and the end is way too open. I just think LBC could have been a better series with just three couples and more screentime for each.

I see myself rewatching it in the future.

Leia Mais

This was my first BL series, so it holds a sentimental value to me. I was lured by TinCan couple as many people before me and was little disappointed when I learnt that this couple was developed rather late in the story. But we're getting season 2 with them as main couple so yaaay, I guess.
The story overall was okay, nothing lifechanging, but cute. Looking back I'm really glad that they didn't go with the typical BL trope - short bottom/tall top. It added new dimension to the story, which is nice. Perth (Ae) was awesome, I really liked his character, but Saint(Pete) was sometimes annoying. Together they had nice dynamics. I wasn't really smitten by them, but enjoyed their cute scenes.
As for the Kengla/Techno couple, I didn't actually care about them too much. Techno was getting on my nerves most of the time and Kengla was a creep.
The Tar/Tum relationship was kinda confusing (mainly because I was confused about Tharns and Types roles in all this mess around Tar, because I didn't read the novel and in the series it was executed rather chaotic) and too melodramatic for me, but I understood it better after watching TharnType the series.
The highlight of this whole piece was TinCan (yes, I'm totally biased). I was destroyed by the ending and actually watched their parts numerous times.

Also I feel like studio Wabi Sabi has this pattern for main couples to be mature, without the confusion mess (I like you, I don't like you, What do I even want?), because in both Love by chance and UWMA the main couples didn't fight with the idea of being gays. On the other hand they throw all this mess on the side couples, which sometimes make them too much to handle(TechnoKengla) and sometimes the best and most interesting part of the series (TinCan, TeamWin - cause let's be honest, I loved them more then the main couples). So I'm kinda scared that for season 2 they'll mess my TinCan ship because of this pattern and basically erase the interesting, messy side of them, if you understand what I mean.

Overall, I liked it, it was my invitation to BL world and for that I'm grateful.

Yeah and I loved Pond.

Leia Mais

This series was fun and refreshing to watch for a couple reasons: The "I'm rich etc etc" trope didn't get abused by Pete, in fact, the Pete's richness didn't make him unique in pretty much anyway except for the fact that he had nice things and that he wasn't used to physical labor. He's such a cute, timid character and usually that can backfire (almost did, with the whole "Date Chompoo instead of me thing, but I forgive him because I understand the reason, plus, he ended that quickly) because the character gets too pigeonholed into that role and ends up becoming self-deprecating and whiny, but Pete played it really well. Ae is such a good character, I loved pretty much every part of his role in the show. I also love that he wasn't "conventionally" handsome (he's super cute, just not by idol/actor standards). And I love his humbleness, his drive to "do good" and take care of people, his relationship with his niece, just everything. The other couples in the show may as well have not even existed, aside from maybe the TinCan couple, because AePete was a really solid story/foundation for the show. Also... the show did really nothing for the other couples, like honestly they were so forgettable aside from the teasing we got from the TinCan ship only to have the rug pulled from under us.

Anyway.

I loved the series and it was great to watch, however I wanted to point out two scenes that sort of rubbed me the wrong way (spoilers ahead):

1) The scene with Tum and Tar. Where Tar is upset that Tum is not telling him what's "going on" and why he's being so distant. Then basically attacks him? At first I was like oh he's frustrated and is wrestling him sort of, but then it got super rapey and weird quick. With the whole neck/kissing, pinning him down, lust-filled, etc vibe, and it gave little Tum flashbacks basically of getting raped. That was messed up.

2) The scene where Kla plants himself in No's bed and HAPPILY TAKES ADVANTAGE OF HIM WHILE HE'S DRUNK. There's a word for that, here's a hint, it's called rape. No is so drunk he can't walk, and goes to bed, then wakes up naked and says his "butt hurts." Ummm... what the fuck, Kla? That's a) creepy and b) super super illegal/wrong. And then when he wakes up he plays the victim like "you took advantage of ME!" card, and makes No feel guilty for literally nothing. Idk... really rubbed me the wrong way. I know it's a drama and is over the top/not realistic, but c'mon that scene is too black and white to be misconstrued. I don't know why every one say Kla and No's relationship to be so cutesy and funny, I just found it really annoying and sort of predatory from Kla's side. At first I was like "oh it's cute he's going through all this trouble to get to know No" but then he literally never talks to No or makes any legitimate advances to get to know him in /that/ sort of a way, and jumps straight to having sex with him while he's too drunk to even do anything. Not cool. Coming from a gay man who has had someone try to take advantage of me while I was drinking, this really turned me off the whole show and left a bad taste in my mouth - what was worse was how people were commenting and actually saying how cute it was and how "funny" their scene was, etc. No... not funny. And, if it happened to you, you wouldn't be laughing either. (And no it's not okay just because Kla is handsome.)

Leia Mais

This has an undeniable charm

This is one off the BL I prefer, mostly because of the great actors and cute story of the main couple and I must say, even if TinCan love story isn't really original, it remains cute anyway.
I usually don't like to re-watch series because I am not surprised anymore but, again, the story main story is so sweet it makes it easy to be tempted. AePete are a wonderful couple and I totally disagree with those saying they can be boring. They take their time to make their relation grow and it really works, they are natural in their interactions and really mature by talking about their problems, they clearly trust each other and it's heart warming.
TumTar storyline is also really important, it shows repercussions off rape and the desir to help the other without being able to do something except to bring support and understanding. Loved it

Now... The main problem: consent. I know I' m not a part of a minority on this point. KengklaTechno story is... Horrible and it entertain rape culture kengkla raped Techno for God's sake! And after that, I had seen in season 2 trailer he makes him feel bad and wants him to "take responsibilities", it makes me puke. This guy is nuts, he is a psycho who is obsessed with his best friend's brother (who is horrible too BTW, seriously who sell his brother's ass for services) to the point that he sabotage his motorbike! And then he abuse him while he is drunk! I will never support this kind of love story.
TinCan relationship, despite the fact it's cute to the end has some problems too, because there is no consent at the beginning and some blackmail from Tin but it is not as bad as a rape of course :3

Leia Mais

Okay so the movie was overall good. I was inlove with AeXPete at first they we're really cute and both lovable. My only problem with this, is because of too much clingyness between AeXPete I was somewhat annoyed already. I mean it's not that I don't like love scenes. Its just that they just literally make out every episode which makes me annoyed already. Good thing there was TinXCan who diverted my AeXPete heart to TinXCan. I just love the concept of (Enemies to lovers) it is just my weakness I'm telling you guys. I just love how thier story flow from start. My only problem on the plot on both of them is that they don't deserve the sad ending that was given to them. They deserve much exposure!!! They deserve longer time on air.

Leia Mais

TinCan should have been the Main Couple

Apart from the fact that this seems to show rape as being okay, it is a pretty good series.

Good chemistry between characters, nice cute and funny moments, and nicely done emotional scenes.

However, the side couple, TinCan was much more interesting than the main, AePete, which I thought had a few overdramatic conflict scenes but was not that bad overall - a pleasant story. KlaTechno was alright but I’m not really a fan of rape-to-love type storylines and TumTar was cute and done well - their emotional scenes were good and it matched the characters better not to have any physical type scenes, the caring light skin-ship was perfect.

There is also a bit of an error wherein it focuses for a while on Pond courting and successfully getting a girlfriend but then her whole existence vanishes from the story without an explanation.

Overall, this is a good series but it the side couples really do suffer from a lack of screen time. TinCan should have been the main couple as AePete is really not that interesting and seems better suited to being a side couple.

Leia Mais

I really loved Love by Chance. It was my first Thai BL drama (and first Thai drama in general), and I think it was such an adorable introduction into the genre. My favorite couples were AePete and TinCan. Truthfully, I skipped through scenes with the other two couples and I don't even know their names, so I'm going to be exclusively discussing AePete and TinCan in this review.

(NOTE: One of the couples that I didn't watch apparently has a scene that's sexual assault, so if that is something that triggers you then I'd recommend steering clear of episodes 12-14 unless you can just skip those parts easily. I know I skipped them, but I did see pieces of scenes and it was uncomfortable for me since I understood the characters' backstories up until this point. I wasn't a fan of LBC's choice to include these storylines, but I'm rating this show based on AePete and TinCan ONLY.)

Love by Chance begins with Ae and Pete meeting by chance (ha ha), which launches their initial relationship. Pete is a rich boy at the international college while Ae is a poor engineering student. They start a friendship that quickly becomes more as they realize their feelings for one another. I really loved how Ae was more of the confident gay (though he doesn't explicitly state his sexuality, which I love), and I loved the scene where he tells Pete that there's nothing wrong and "abnormal" about Pete's attraction to men. Similarly, I loved the scene between Pete and his mom where he comes out to her and she just hugs him and tells him it's okay. So many LGBTQ+ stories both in fiction and real life are about awful parents hating their children for their sexuality, so it was great to see a supportive mom. I don't think Ae ever explicitly shares his relationship with his family, but he doesn't seem to hide it either. Like I said: Ae is kind of a confident gay.

AePete is just a really adorable, loving story. I couldn't get enough of them. Truthfully, I would've loved a season 1 where it's just AePete and a season 2 with just TinCan. I felt that both relationships needed enough space to develop and while AePete had a lot, TinCan didn't get as much space for development. Also I wanted double dates asdlfkj.

Speaking of TinCan: their ending was tragic and upsetting, and I'm still not happy about it. I love their relationship in general so I don't want to dock the entire show for its ending, but I can't deny that I was severely disappointed. LGBTQ+ couples already deal with unhappy endings, and if there was no guarantee for season 2 then I think they should've given TinCan a good ending at the very least. Something uplifting and promising, not this. Tin didn't deserve it, and it felt so out of the blue since Can was clearly beginning to develop feelings for Tin. I just think there was so much potential there and it was lost... but for what?

Also, the other two couples in the series are boring and not really worth watching, so I don't recommend them. I think most reviews say more or less the same thing. AePete and TinCan are the most popular pairings and it's understandable why that is. One is just a wholesome, beautiful story about young love and discovering your sexuality while the other is an enemies to friends story that's also about discovering your sexuality. I think both stories were handled really well, and it's sad that so much screen time was given to the other two couples that really didn't make a difference anyway. LBC would've been so much better without them, and I think there would've been more space for AePete and TinCan to develop.

Anyway AePete is a beautiful ship and TinCan deserved more. Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.

Leia Mais

I really don’t like the characters Tum and Tar, it’s confusing the whole storyline. It has no value to the story, and i do not see the connection AT ALL. What? Did they have an incestuous relationship? Aren’t they brothers?? And Type and Tat? What are they? These are unnecessary people in the story. And lastly I don’t like Tar or Earth in real life, even in the Until We Meet Again, he should completely play a female role because of his physical appearance. Sometime he looks like a female and sometime he looks like a gradeschooler and playjng an adult role doesnt suit him. Please no more Earth.

Leia Mais