R-Rated Love Tractor
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About:
Warning:
There will be spoilers for the manhwa series Farming for Love.
Content Warning: There may be references to mentions of car accidents, death, age gap, breakups (not between the main couple), cheating (not between the main couple), commentary on body size, excessive drinking, classism, slut-shaming, violence, depression, overwork, noncon, blackmail, sextortion, and blood, as they do appear in the manhwa.
Synopsis:
Lee Hyeon-woo is looking for a change. For a long time, he wasn’t worried about relationships. He’d get into one and then break up within a short timeframe, flitting from one romance to another without much care. But then, after joining a large city hospital as a pharmacist, Hyeon-woo met Doctor Yohan. The two had instant chemistry, and Hyeon-woo fell harder than he ever had before. Their relationship was long-lasting and probably would’ve gone on for even longer until Yohan presented him with a proposition. Yohan plans on marrying to advance his career. It’s an entirely contractual relationship, and his future wife has a lover of her own. Yohan wants to keep seeing Hyeon-woo on the side, but Hyeon-woo has no intention of being a secret side piece.
So, as soon as he can, Hyeon-woo leaves Yohan, quits his position at the hospital, and takes over a closed pharmacy out in the country instead. It’s a massive change, but it’s just what he needs to refresh and get over this horrible breakup. Unfortunately, his first day in the country doesn’t start off so well, as he gets his car stuck out in the mucky roads against a tree. Thankfully, a cold but helpful man named Do-won comes to save the day, though not without damaging Hyeon-woo’s car in the process. It’s not a pleasant interaction, but Hyeon-woo doesn’t plan on interacting with the young man again.
But for whatever reason, Do-won just keeps showing up. He brings produce, just comes in to check on Hyeon-woo, and is generally a nuisance. It’s clear that Do-won likes Hyeon-woo, but Hyeon-woo does not intend to reciprocate those feelings… until a drunken evening together, when they end up sleeping together. Hyeon-woo sees it as a one-night stand, but Do-won sees it as their first night together. Will these two ever get on the same page, or will Hyeon-woo be forced to run away from another awkward relationship?
Review:
I have to admit that I was ready to go in on this as a lesser, smuttier version of Love Tractor. But I am happy to say that I couldn’t have been more wrong. The art isn’t as good. This is much sketchier and inconsistent, all in black and white. Plus, the character designs aren’t as attractive, but the art isn’t where this shines. However, we’re not talking about the story right now. We’ll get there, but let me finish talking about the art. Our innocent top, Do-won, is the funniest looking out of the group. Everyone has pretty long faces, but the longer hairstyles help to balance everything out. Unfortunately, Do-won has a short haircut, which makes him stand out in a bad way. I wouldn’t say he’s ugly, but the style is already not the best. Add on a poor design, and Do-won suffers the most throughout this story. It’s not horrible, but it’s not the best either. If you’re looking for perfect art, this isn’t the one for you.
But like I said, the art is not why this is a really good nugget of BL. At only 28 episodes (including the side stories and epilogue), I wasn’t expecting much. And, as expected, the story is pretty simple. However, the characterization is awesome in this series. Hyeon-woo, though heartbroken, is spicy and prickly. He has no problem putting his foot down and being very forthcoming, and I found myself loving all of his little quips and frustrations. Similarly, Do-won comes off as cold and aloof, but he’s actually very innocent and sweet. He’s not very good at expressing himself, but it’s so sweet and heartwarming when he does. When we see him crying, this strong, stoic, and beefy country boy, in the hospital over his grandfather, he just melts the heart, and that weakness is what makes Hyeon-woo fall for him, too. These two are very much opposing characters personality-wise, but it’s because of that they work so well together. I’m a sucker for opposites attract, and this is it.
Now, this does have multiple couples. The main story is, of course, between our sweet green flag country boy and his prickly pharmacist, but the core of the side stories is focused on the ex, Yohan, and his red flag college boy. I must emphasize that the main story is very fluffy, with very little drama, and focuses on Hyeon-woo steadily being wooed by our innocent boy, Do-won. It gave me all the fluffies, and I absolutely cackled as Do-won assumed they were in a relationship after sleeping together, while Hyeon-woo tried to let him down easy, only to be lured into bed by Do-won. Then, seeing Hyeon-woo beat his ex with produce? Chef’s kiss. If you love the mood and tone of this, the side stories with Yohan and Dong-jun might shock you. Thankfully, if you’re just here for the good times, you can skip the side story and epilogue altogether and avoid all the red flags.
However, if you’re like me and like red flags just as much as you like green, you get the best of both worlds when including the side story. Honestly, I’m a big fan of red flag assholes getting put in their place by another even bigger asshole, and as a fan of noncon content, this also ticks that box. Again, if noncon and dubcon aren’t your thing, the side stories are not for you. But what really works with this pairing of a chaebol college kid topping and dominating our doctor is that it is both tearing down the doctor’s cockiness but also fulfilling what he was trying to achieve all along. Yohan wanted a boyfriend with Hyeon-woo, but he also wanted the money and comfort that came with marrying a woman to advance his career. He lost both and then was topped by someone he saw as less than him since Dong-jun is just a punky college kid as far as he is concerned. But, as it turns out, Dong-jun is a chaebol who plans on building Yohan his own hospital, and all Yohan has to do is submit himself to Dong-jun. It puts him in his place but still fulfills his desires, and I found that immensely satisfying.
Results:
This was a pleasant surprise. Again, I fully expected a poorer, smuttier version of Love Tractor. While it is undoubtedly smuttier, it is so very different and impossible to compare beyond the foundation: a city boy goes to stay in the country and meets a country boy. In that way, they’re identical, but once you get into the story and meet these characters, they couldn’t be more different. You get the light and the dark, the humor and the tragedy, and you get the smut, too. Those who like Love Tractor won’t necessarily like this, and for some of you, the main story will be a win, while the side story will be a miss. I, ultimately, loved all of it. I wouldn’t call it a favorite, but I will remember it fondly.
Have you read Farming for Love? If so, what do you think? Do you agree with my assessment? Do you not? Let me know, and comment below!