Love by Chance 2 (2020)

Underwhelming, but oh, the feelings

I don’t want to spend too much time on reviewing this, but I saw many negative reviews that seemed way too harsh to me, so I felt the need to “defend” this season. “Love by Chance” for me was a 10/10 (ignoring the Techno/Kengkla storyline), so clearly this season didn’t stand a chance (pun intended) and I agree with the general feeling that we could have done without it, but still, it has its charm.

First half of this season was indeed a mess, changing the timeline was the worst idea I have ever seen in a second season of a drama. Why show us the same story again, when it was already done better in season 1? If they had at least used the chance (yup, I did it again) to write out the Techno/Kengkla rape incident, but no, it was a completely unnecessary change. In general it was pretty boring and it already became clear that Plan had to carry the whole season on his little shoulders.

Second half was more like what I had hoped for (my expectations were clearly not high). I feel like they did the best they could in dealing with Saint’s absence; Ae had a proper story arc throughout the whole season, culminating in a very nice ending getting everyone’s hopes up. The feelings were still strong with most of the characters. Ultimately, while most characters unfortunately stayed very passive without taking any relevant part in the story, it was Tul and Gonhin that saved the season for me. Their story was heartbreaking and delivered quite convincingly. The complex family problems in Tin’s family could have been told much better, which would have helped in getting some more dramatic moments, but it was at least something.

Summing up, the season was of course underwhelming, but a lot of that can be attributed to Saint’s absence and to the incomprehensible change of the timeline. We got a lot of eye candy, some convincing acting performances (Plan, mostly, how can he keep up this childishness all the time?), a happy ending for Can and Tin, a beautiful and quite complex family drama around Tul and Gonhin and even a bit of hope for my all-time favourite couple, Ae and Pete. However, due to the overall lack of engaging and original storylines, the dramatic underuse of several characters and a general “blandness” of the product as a whole, this is definitely not something to watch again; well, maybe parts of the second half.

I would rate it lower, but even with all its flaws this season managed to deliver some of the feelings I felt during season 1 again. Therefore, I would still recommend fans of the first season to give this one a chance (I’ll stop now)!

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Should've Just Left It Where It Was At

Can lie, I was excited about this series. I was really looking forward to this (cause I’m an AePete fan, and I’ll shout it from the rooftops) but this was such a huge letdown. I don’t even know where to begin.

Let's Dive In.

Let start with TinCan. Yes, they were cute ( I guess), they had their precious moments, but then other times, I was highly uncomfortable and felt really awkward, but all in all, they were an okay couple. But, if Mean and Plan ever plan (hahaha) on doing another series again, can they PLEASE do a kissing workshop? Good Lord have mercy, that shit is so freaking awkward. It was like Mean would try, but then Plan wouldn’t or vice-versa, and then their kiss would be so bad like, dramatically bad. Other than that, I didn’t realize how much of a freak Can was. A surprising turnaround seeing as though he was the one that hated kissing (but also Tin would force himself onto him, so I guess it’s not that surprising) But those scenes were pretty awkward as well. I just think I’m not too big of a fan of TinCan, cause I really just don’t think they have that much chemistry (I think it’s more of the actors don’t have very good chemistry). It just feels like they don’t like being there, I don't know, that’s the mood I get. But, I did love how Can stood up for Tin when it came to Tin's brother, and his little whiny moments were precious. Don’t get me wrong, I think Plan is a fantastic actor (the crying scene in the locker room?? Yeah amazing) I just don’t think his chemistry with Mean is very good.

Moving on to Techno and Kengkla. From where we were coming from last season, I’m actually pretty satisfied with what they did with these characters. They didn’t pretend like the rape didn’t happen, and instead, they actually dealt with the matter. Techno told Kengkla that he wanted a break from him because of what he did, and he didn’t forgive him for what he had done. We see multiple times of Kengkla trying to get back on good terms with him, which would slowly progress to Techno talking to him again, but not until really the last episode in which I think they kissed. We see Techno having feelings for Kengkla, but he just wasn’t ready to deal with their situation yet. Very well done, although, I would've rather seen them get on good terms and become acquaintances rather than a couple. I don't care much for their relationship, just because Kengla ruined it, and there is no going back to that.

Moving on to Tul and Hin. I didn’t realize they were a BL couple until a few episodes down. They didn’t have very much screen time together until the last few episodes which is why I didn’t ship them. It kind of felt a little rushed at the end, but they were cute, and I’m glad they found their way back to each other. But, I would've liked to see more development between them.

Moving on to Tum and Tar. Also glad that they decided to keep their relationship strictly being only brothers. Very disappointed that we only go to see Earth-like once in a blue moon. Literally, Earth probably had a total of 5 minutes of screen time throughout the entire series. A stupid move honestly. Moving onto the last couple, which is Tum and the other guy in the band. Yeahhhhhh, they were lowkey kind of awkward. It felt like the series was forcing them to like each other. Their chemistry was just not there for me, and I would've rather they just kept Tum and Tar separate and single.

With the whole Pete being gone situation, I think they did a nice job. I would’ve liked to see Ae be officially over Pete since we know that LBC isn’t getting a season 3, so in that last bit when they added that Pete texted Ae that he was coming back, it was a stupid move on the creators part. I think they were trying to send us off on a good note, but instead, it gave false hope for people that Saint could possibly be back if there was another season. Other than that, Ae's sadness felt realistic, and Perth did a spot-on job.

All in all, this entire season was a mess. I think that Tin and Can got WAY too much scene time. I wish I could’ve seen more with Techno and Kengkla fixing their issues, and I wish I would’ve seen more Earth. There were way too many couples and it really jumbled up everything because there wasn’t enough time to balance them all out. Anyways, at first, I really wanted a season 3, but then I realized that I think they’re better off with just ending where they did. I think Love By Chance really died during this season, but hopefully, we continue to see more Tul and Hin and more Earth in the future.

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Amazing! Season 1 and 2 are not related. Mame rewrote everything in Season 2.

I don't know why many people didn't like this show?

Story: LBC2 was great show. I know people have problems with the timeline change and that they are getting annoyed because all of the scenes of tin can in season 1 are repeated but I want to tell them that the reason for it is because Mame wanted to make Tin a bit soft towards Can because The tin in season 1 was heartless.
Also Mame wanted to show the story of Tul too so that people will hate him less because he has suffered more than Tin.
Regarding Kengla and Techno, Kengla had Techno's consent during their "intercourse" He was awake during that whole time.
(Guys please don't join season 1 and 2 because Mame rewrote everything in season 2 so it doesn't have any connections with season 1)

Acting/Cast: The actors performed really well. Though Ae was crying for quite a while but it got better when it reached episode 4 so it should not be a problem. The actor who performed Tin also had bit problem performing this a bit kind Tin at first but then when he adjusted to it everything was perfect.

Music: I am in love with the music. I am even listening to it while writing this review.

Rewatch value: Why not? I am hundred percent going to watch it again. I loved this series as much as love by chance 1.

Overall review: Amazing. I really enjoyed it. Please guys don't listen to those who say it was bad . just go and watch! I am sure you won't regret it. I nearly didn't watch because all of those comments but I am glad I did because this is a really good show.
One more time season 1 and 2 are not related, Mame rewrote everything.

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I'm not a robot

Imagine the following -

It's been two weeks since fall season started. The weather is perfect. Ideal to plan your last outdoor picnic. You plan in detail what your picnic basket will contain - smoked, grilled haloumi, cherry tomatoes with a citrus based vinaigrette, cold finger sandwiches, single-serve old school tiramisu. It's anchored with a fruit infused gin cocktail. Your porcelain and minimalist crockery are packed for the same.

You arrive at the park and settle down at a wooded corner where rays of the sun form lipid pools on the ground. Your portable speaker has some ambient music playing and you're re-reading Murakami's Norwegian Wood. ....you decide to take a break and layout your picnic spread. It looks divine. You then take your phone to document this beautiful experience.

Just then the cutest French bulldog comes running over to you. It has a collar + tag. Obviously has gotten away from it's owner albeit for a short while. The dog takes a giant dump on your picnic food. That steaming pile of sh#t is 'Love by chance 2: a chance to love'.

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Why was this made again?

I get it. This was based on a novel multiverse. But goodness gracious we had too much time on Tincan and to little time for everything else. The TulHin litterally started two episodes before it ends (and considering it was the best pairing on this season@ that says something). KengklaTechno's scenes were just repeating itself. I didn't see Earth after like one scene.

TinCan could have condensed their story into 4 episodes.
TulHin could have been elaborated for 4 episodes.
Another 4 could have been given to TumTar and KengklaTechno.

But no. Instead, it's like this.
80% of the show is TinCan (which tired me so much)
5% of the show is TulHin
2% of the show is Ae crying
2% of the show is KengklaTechno
1% of the show is Tumtar
And the remaining 10%? Product Placements.

Honestly, I'm not blaming the director. I'm not even blaming MAME. I'm blaming whosoever thought that this season was a good idea, period.

This show is 80% filler, 20% (cringy and horrible) content.

BTW, this is my first time giving a horrendously bad review.

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Love By Chance's second season is emblematic of everything wrong with Thai BL.

At this stage, Thailand produces BL just to produce BL. It's cheap, it's easy, it makes quick cash. And this environment of cash over content was inevitably going to produce a show like Love By Chance 2.

The fact is, everyone involved with this lucrative and popular franchise simply does not care about their story or their characters. And it shows.

We're all aware - generally if not specifically - about the behind-the-scenes issues that meant Saint would not be returning for this sequel. And since Love By Chance as a vehicle was underpinned by Pete and Ae's relationship, the writers had to decide what to do with Pete's character without the actor. They had two choices: recast or find a reason for Pete to not be around. But whatever you do with a sequel based on a romance you don't kill that character off screen and you definitely don't have them break up off screen. Otherwise - why did people sit through the first season if it had no point?

It's not just that the writers took the cheap route of breaking Pete and Ae up - off screen. They then took the rather bizarre route of not progressing Tin and Can's relationship but instead circling it back to the beginning and simply repeating the plot points from season 1. This not only removes those relationship beats from all their context rendering them mostly meaningless. It creates a confusing situation whereby Pete, Ae, Techno and the other characters are living in a universe where Season 1 happened but TinCan isn't. I'm all for particle physics but I don't need some kind of Schrodinger's season where I'm never sure at any point if it did or did not exist.

If we made a list of everything that you can do wrong with a sequel, then Love By Chance has blithely decided to do all of them. Not because of necessity but because of laziness: because nobody involved actually cares about this story or its characters. And as a consequence I don't care either.

Love By Chance is an utterly pointless addition to the universe, one that exists merely to milk an audience that is genuinely invested in this series of shows and deserves better. It's about time Thailand stop pumping out third-rate BL for the sake of it and began to invest time and energy in development.

PS Perth is a genuinely fine actor who should be doing much much better projects than this. He steals every scene he's in just by walking into it and while Ae's plotline is pretty pointless and used only to help TinCan learn a Very Important Lesson About Love, Perth brings to it genuine gravitas. I really want to see him do something better but for that Thailand is going to have to get out of this current rut.

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Disappointing ... But Watchable

OMG ... I was so looking forward to this series after watching the first one a few days ago, mainly because of Tin & Can, hoping that they story would develop and how they came about to loving each other.

Firstly - the major let down for me was Aee and Pete what the hell happened!!!? they ended on a good note in the last series, so how the hell did they break up in this drama, and the worst part of it, was that even though i stuck to my guts hoping to see or at least get an idea of why they broke up, well that's where the disappointing part comes in, there was no such thing. All you get to see is Aee being so dam miserable and pathetic, although he did look more mature in this drama, then the first, but still why did pete leave, what was the reasons behind it, where did he go, and seriously Aee if hey didn't know then why make him a cry baby, from being this cool bloke in the first series to being such a hot mess!!!

Secondly - Tina / Can story was more a less a repeat of from the first half, in the few episodes of the start which to me was a real waste. But at least it develop to something, and we go to see why his brother was a nasty piece of shit, oooh but I love how Can stood up to him and threw down a few punches for his man!!, Tin was still so serious but in a very patient way. although it did feel like there scenes were forced compared to the first drama, the shy can and how tin was trying to explore him, and being romantic.

Thirdly - what on earth was the story between Kla and captain of the football team, gosh he spent most of his time running away from the man, instead of just talking to him, I take my hat off to him, for being so diligent, but that was just a waste of time, only towards the end did accept the man. I felt that this couple was used as an intermission and as a chance to change the mood.

To summarize, I feel that the producers created this season just to make us shut up! They had 2 years to prepare for this series but in the end we got something awful.

VERY DISAPPOINTING !!!

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might contain spoilers

let me start off by saying I loved season 1 but this season was trash. I don't get the first six episodes at all the timeline was not adding up.with Pete and ae and tin and can it made absolutely no sense ,ae was suffering so much and it was so hard to watch. don't even get me started on tin and can's chemistry ?it was barely there and the kissing was so dry...they didn't look like they were in love , Kla and No barely got any screen time, I would've loved to see their love develop more instead of No constantly running and pushing Kla away (I might be a bit biased) but with out Saint the show wasn't good . the bullying of Earth was not nice at all

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Probably my least favorite BL ever...

Okay so....
1. Last season, I could totally feel Kla's manipulation. I knew the relationship was wrong, especially the ending. BUT THIS SEASON!!!! I thought we were past the whole 'rape to force two guys closer' trope. Every scene I could barely watch because I was so disgusted, knowing Kla raped No and got away with it. (But at least Tum and Tar didn't end up together)
2. Why did they have so many crying Ae scenes. We get it, he's sad, I don't need 15 different scenes telling me that.
3. I didn't buy the TinCan chemistry. It seemed forced and unnatural.
4. I loved the directing of the first season. I don't know if the director changed, but the entire feel of the cinematography felt different. It lost it's special touch. It might just be the team trying out something new but I did not like it.
5. The music was the only good part ngl
6. WHY WAS THERE LIKE 4 SCENES WITH EARTH IN THE ENTIRE SHOW??? I literally watched it only to see him and I got nothing. He one of the most talented actors in the cast, why did they bring him back this season to do nothing?
7. Y'all don't watch it. It's an awful sequel, and even as a standalone it would be awful. I might just be nostalgic for the original series, but this was totally a step down. Studio Wabi Sabi's dramas are always hit or miss, and this one was definitely a miss.

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The first season wasn't perfect, but THIS was like a slap in the face.

I'll try to make this as brief as possible, but my bitterness might lead to some lengthy ranting.

First off, the soft reboot, or the new timeline as the fans have called it. It happened way too quick and fast--the sudden realization that the writers had made a TERRIBLE mistake. At first I think it's a funny callback; Can is almost run over by a car again and bows to the statue AGAIN. Ha, that's funny! Just like the first season. And then the feeling of deja-vu won't go away,a and it sinks in. The writers really thought they had enough time in 13 episodes to not only REDO the first season's story, but also continue it and fit in another storyline. Obviously, it didn't fucking work. You could barely make anyone feel like a real person in the 14 episodes of the first season, but you thought "Yeah, we'll do that and MORE in even LESS time" in the second. I want whoever thought of doing this to kick themselves in the ass, and I want whoever allowed it without saying a word to kick themselves in the face (however physically impossible that might be). Not only did they clearly not have enough time, they also quite embarrassingly WASTED it on product placements, of all things (by the third scene centered about how much they love snacks and juice and "VITAMIN C" I was rendered speechless and I had heartburn), and a new couple whose only real value in the show was to serve as eyecandy for their marketing material (they are not even characters; they are walking tropes with mouths and nice hair).

Let's not even get into how they did poor Ae's character. This man's only purpose in the show was to mope, shout and cry for 13 episodes. I'm not even exaggerating. The rest of the friendly and entertaining cast from the first? Reduced to one or two lines about how depressed Ae is or how wacky Can is, with suddenly no agency or even at least comedic value of their own. I'm not even going to mention the other couples, because they weren't even good in the first season, what's to like about their even EXISTING in the second season? I can't say. At all.

The reason why so many of us are angry is because it is such a waste of potential. The first season could've been the setup for more interesting and further developed dynamics between the characters. "Yeah but they have the novel as source material, they needed to follow the plot" I hear you say. Uh there's a reason it's called a live ADAPTATION and not a fucking audiobook, they can stray from whatever they'd like if it means making it more cohesive to fit the new medium and just overall a better experience. I haven't read the novel, and at this point I don't really care to. I just want to forget I even wasted my time on one of the worst sequels I've ever had the displeasure of viewing.

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