Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
It’s weird how the romantic series “Love Tractor” begins more like a thriller film. In the first episode, the protagonist is driving to his village late at night when his tire gets punctured, and a mysterious man, dressed like a serial killer, comes to his aid. The episode does a rather ineffective job of establishing the tone for the subsequent sweet-cute plot.
Directed by Yang Kyung Hee, who is also known for titles like “The Director Who Buys Me Dinner” and “Kissable Lips,” the eight-episode-long Korean series “Love Tractor” stars Do Won as Seon Yun. Seon Yun is a promising young man who abandons his plans to study law at Harvard and instead goes to his grandfather’s farm in a small village. It is there that Seon Yun meets the boundlessly optimistic Suh Ye Chan (Yoon Do Jin), who assists the city boy in adapting to rural life and learning about the spirit of their community.
The cinematography beautifully captures the charms of rural life, even though it’s not as easy as the creators make it out to be. While Seon Yun is the typical serious broody protagonist, Yoon Do Jin is an energetic gust of fresh air as the simple, sunny, hardworking Suh Ye Chan. Ye Chan is like a big adorable Labrador, who immediately grows fond of people and is straight-forward when it comes to expressing his love. The character of the village head, played by an actor who appeared Caucasian, seemed a bit random, but it was amusing to witness him speaking fluent Korean with a distinctive non-native accent.
The gradual friendship and romance between Seon Yun and Ye Chan is genuinely endearing. However, the development feels somewhat rushed, with half-baked subplots involving Seon Yun’s strained relationship with his father and his boyfriend. Perhaps a few more well-written episodes would have enhanced the charm of “Love Tractor.” Anyway… it’s still a pretty good choice if you’re seeking a light romantic show to enjoy over the weekend.
It’s a 7 on 10 from me.
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