#romance as plot

Love Tractor is an 8-episode Korean BL drama, adapted from a webtoon, and available on iQIYI. Analysing the scenes and trying to put this series into 3 Act structure was a bit of a challenge, due to the possibility of multiple “Oh, SHIT Moments” and at one stage I was unclear about the Point of No Return, but here’s what I finally settled on.  Remember not all the points follow the same order in every series, and in Love Tractor, some happen quickly while others have a greater build up. But overall, this series is purely romance-as-plot so my breakdown follows that.  Enjoy!

Story Tropes - fish out of water, grumpy seme/sunshine uke, strangers to lovers, slow burn romance, return of the evil ex, pining in secret, asshole father, child in danger, caring small community.

Story Question - will Yul heal from past hurt, follow his dreams and fall in love with farmer boy YeChan?

First Act (The Ordinary World)

We see Yul as the smartest guy in class, on track to go study law at Harvard. Instead, he drops out to look after his grandfather’s place because his grandfather - the local village chief - is in hospital in Seoul.  We see YeChan, a 20yo happy-go-lucky farmer, in his Ordinary World, doing farmer things. Then YeChan rescues Yul’s car from the mud and Yul is suspicious, which is further exacerbated when YeChan appears in the grandfather’s house unannounced.  

Call to Adventure Yul loses his grandfather’s dog. YeChan helps him find it. YeChan is so upbeat and positive (in direct contrast to Yul), but he still encourages the uptight, formal Yul to embrace (and be embraced by) the local village. They wrestle with honourifics and formalities (Yul is 27).

Refusal of the Call —> Acceptance This happens when YeChan drags Yul along to introduce him to the village and the villagers. 

Crossing the Threshold Major culture shock for Yul but also he goes along with YeChan with little pushback.

ACT 2 - Into the New World

Acclimatising to the New World A reluctant Yul starts to accept the ways and laid-back atmosphere of the small community.  He’s given a rice drink (which he refuses multiple times because yucko) and it sits in his fridge for a while.

Enemies and Mentors Yul’s father, who is an arrogant, abusive perfectionist.  The town elder, who is YeChan’s confidante and literal relationship mentor.  YeChan’s mother. Various townspeople. Yul’s vile ex. An orphan girl who makes Yul realise a few home truths. The way YeChan and Yul interact with these people reveals their character and backstory.  

Trials and Errors / Minor Victories Yul has to wrap his head around this quaint town, which is so different from Seoul. The tiny supermarket, the overly friendly locals, the way YeChan is a part of this. Yul finally tries the rice drink and realises he likes it (this act is symbolic of his gradual acceptance of the town and embracing this new adventure he’s on). YeChan helps out with some orphans, teaching them to strawberry pick, and Yul is terrible at it.  He’s also terrible with communicating with the kids, in particular one girl who’s been ghosted by her father. Yul refuses to take his own father’s calls and we find out why later. When Yul and the girl have an accident, YeChan rescues them and now he has to take care of an incapacitated Yul in an arm cast.  

Doing Bonding Stuff Together Strawberry picking, going shopping, having a water fight, driving and talking. Generally looking after each other. YeChan bakes a cake for Yul but the dog eats it. We see Yul giving YeChan preliminary ‘this guy is sweet and interesting’ looks.

When Yul is in hospital, YeChan sleeps on the floor next to him. They bond over daily interactions when they return home and YeChan says he will take care of Yul. Yul appears to be loosening up and smiling more. Yul doesn’t sleep well, so YeChan buys a light to help him, and they sleep side by side on the floor.

YeChan finally talks to the town elder about catching feels for Yul and the way he reacts when Yul says he’s seeing someone is confirmation of those feelings.  YeChan is mega depressed Yul has confirmed he’s taken, but still wants to be in Yul’s presence because that boy has FALLEN HARD.  We find out why Yul hates his father, why he gave up music and why the ex is an ex (at this stage, YeChan has no clue).

More Obstacles Yul’s vile ex turns up and does that smarmy, passive-aggressive ‘I know stuff about Yul, we have a past and a connection, you’re just a randomer’ and YeChan knows he a) cannot compete with this shiny, smooth urban guy and b) won’t confess his feelings because that would just ruin everything and YeChan is not a selfish guy.  And so, YeChan steps out of the picture. Ex stays at Yul’s house, goes with him to get his cast removed.  We find out more of Yul’s past: the vile ex cheated on him, pursued music, and is now someone in the industry.

Point of No Return YeChan visits Yul the next day with a cute keyboard he bought BECAUSE THE MAN IS SO FRICKING SWEET but the vile ex is all ‘you don’t know him AT ALL it will only cause him pain if you give this to him.”  Yul senses something’s wrong, you can see how gentle he is with YeChan (and so can vile ex) but YeChan eventually leaves.  Next day Yul says to the ex, “we need to talk,” but the ex is “come back to Seoul with me.” YeChan suddenly appears and is all “NOOOOO.”  Yul tells vile ex a few home truths (vile ex is all ‘what about meeeee??? How do you think I felt when you gave up music??’ and SIR take your pity party and LEAVE), says they will not get back together, that he should go home to Seoul.  YeChan is relieved.  Yul doesn’t know it yet, but he’s emotionally invested in this relationship now.

————> STORY MIDPOINT <———————

Removing the Armour / Being Vulnerable Yul still can’t sleep, so YeChan takes him apple picking - physical labour to tire him out.  We now see Yul clearly getting the heart eyes for YeChan.  They make wine with the town elder, get drunk and eat together. YeChan has a sexy dream about Yul and is totally embarrassed. Now avoids him.

Oh, Shit Moment Finally, Yul asks what’s wrong and YeChan confesses he likes him.  Yul is shocked, says he’s sorry, and he doesn’t have the energy to think about someone right now.  “Let’s pretend nothing happened,” Yul says. At this point, the answer to the Story Question appears to be no.  No happy ending for YeChan and Yul???

ACT 3 - The New Improved World

The Journey Back This happens quickly, in ep7. Yul wants to forget YeChan’s confession, YeChan is WTF NO I SAID WHAT I SAID. Yul says YeChan is a younger brother to him, then pulls the “you’re young, you don’t know how you’re feeling” and tries to backtrack (aka the I Wanna Go Back To My Ordinary World, This is Too MUCH EMOTION CANNOT DEAL) and good on YeChan for getting angry and WTF you DID NOT just say that to me. Now he’s all “I will prove it to you, I will make your heart race every time you look at me.” (!).

Reflection/Revelation/More Feels YeChan is on a mission now, trying to find out how to make ones heart race. He takes Yul to the strawberry farm. Panics when he thinks Yul has run away from him (he just went to meet a friend). YeChan takes Yul to see a piano hidden in a shed and Yul realises it’s his from childhood, and his grandfather has been looking after it. YeChan tells Yul if he really loves music, then he should pursue it. YeChan mirrors the words that Yul said to him in Act 1 (“I think it’s cool to pursue something you like doing.”)  Yul finally reveals that he stopped music because of his father. YeChan gives Yul a cute bracelet to show him how much he likes him.

One Last Challenge Yul’s father turns up and tells him to go back to law school, attempts to smack him about when he refuses. Yul glances at the bracelet YeChan gave him and then says that from now on, not to contact him, stop interfering in his life. He will be doing music now. Has a friend send him his music equipment.

More Feels/Romance Development We are now seeing Yul slowly falling in love with YeChan through his selfless acts - making sure Yul sleeps and eats and looks after himself, enjoying his composition, then telling him to go to Seoul to pursue his music. Of course YeChan will be sad but he’s so Team Yul that it makes my heart ache.  Yul gives YeChan a matching bracelet… “are we a couple???” After an outing, Yul gets all massive heart eyes and EMOTIONS and drags YeChan in for a passionate kiss.

(Yul’s omg fuuuuuck I love you! moment)

(KISSING! Also, look at Yul‘s hand on YeChan’s neck AHHHHH)