bl, ranked
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1. Sotus
Thai Drama - 2016, 15 episodes
cw: bullying , i guess
this is probably at number 1 because it's the first bl i ever watched. at the time, i hadn't ever seen anything like it.
the story kinda meanders after arthit and kongpob, but it doesn't really matter because the characters are so fun to watch. the main couple has a lot of chemistry together, but my favorite part about this show is the fleshed out supporting cast! the close, supportive relationships made me wish i was in university, and i am in university. it also has a lesbian supporting character, which i don't see in a lot of bls.
rest in peace wad ... he's not dead, he just stopped rushing...
kisses: 7/10
happy ending? yes -
2. HIStory3: Trapped
Taiwanese Special - 2019, 20 episodes
cw: gang violence, attempted assault (not between the main characters), copganda (i guess), age gap relationship
sexy, fun, exciting .... one of the best bl's i've ever seen. shao fei is a super lovable protagonist, and jack and zhao zi (the secondary couple)own my dick. andy bian (jack) is the sexiest man alive.
the age gap relationship is between tang yi's sister and their uncle-like character. it's super uncomfortable to watch since he's known her since she was a kid, even though she's an adult now. these scenes have no baring on the story. i recommend you skip all of them.
kisses: 9/10
happy ending? yes -
3. 3 Will Be Free
Thai Drama - 2019, 10 episodes
cw: gang violence, death of a (minor) trans female character, domestic abuse, sexual assault (not between the main characters), transphobia, probably some other things but i'm not remembering , but nothing too bad
while not technically a bl, i have NEVER seen an tv LGBT show like this in my life. i don't think one exists. all other media is years - DECADES - behind 3 will be free. the main characters are a polyamorous couple, and a trans woman. i found the plot to be very thrilling (i binged the whole thing), and every character is so strong (but extra kudos to the girls). i was rooting for all of them. even though some were on opposite sides. all the actors did an amazing job. i love neo's crop tops, and all of miw's outfits. both of them are are sex workers, which is portrayed in a positive light.
kisses: 6/10. one of my main criticisms of the show is that they barely kiss...
happy ending? yes.. for the most partmy only compliant is that i wish there were more kisses between the main three.
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4. Long Time No See
Korean Drama - 2017, 5 episodes
cw: gang violence, homophobic bullying
long time no see feels more like a movie than a drama. with 6 twelve minute episodes, be prepared to finish it in one sitting. while long time no see is short, i had the best time with it! long time no see grabbed me from the very start. i liked the parallels between the two characters, and their relationships was very engaging. the fight scenes were epic, the sex scenes were hot, and the kiss scenes were adorable. gitae is so cute, and i loved his relationship with his supportive older sister!
kisses: 10/10
happy ending? yes! -
5. Where Your Eyes Linger
Korean Drama - 2020, 8 episodes
cw: homophobia, violence but not graphic
like long time no see, the run time for this show is more like a movie. it's a CLASSIC bodyguard romance with a side of bratty rich k-drama make lead to hates their dad. aka MY FAVORITE K-DRAMA CHARACTER! this show really delivered on the yearning. their relationship is unhealthy and messy in way that's interesting and dramatic. but don't worry, it all works out.
kisses? 5/10
happy ending? YES! -
6. Silhouette of Your Voice
Japanese Movie - 2017
cw: ableism
this movie is unique because it has a deaf protagonist. it touches on some serious issues, like what it's like to be deaf, and it's adorable! it's adapted from a manga, which is kinda obvious from the pacing, but i have no complaints. the best japanese lgbt film i've seen.
kisses: i don't remember.
happy ending? yes -
7. 30-sai made Dotei Da to Mahotsukai ni Nareru rashii
Japanese Drama - 2020, 12 episodes
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8. Because of You
Taiwanese Drama - 2020, 10 episodes
quaint drama about three gay brothers.
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9. 2gether
Thai Drama - 2020, 13 episodes
cw: nothing
a lot of people say together is the best bl, but for me it's super overrated. the university setting is yawn for me, and there's nothing that makes this bl super unique except for bright's good looks. for me, the supporting cast is a huge asset to this show. i love tine's group of friends, respectively. they're such boys... so dumb, it's charming. i am in love with sarawat... i like tine because sarawat likes him. 2gether introduces some cool girl characters, but they lack things to do later on. the ending of this show is kinda boring and they don't make out
kisses: 5/10
happy ending? yes. -
10. Gameboys
Filipino Drama - 2020, 13 episodes
cw: death of a family member, corona virus, homophobia
i had low expectations for this show, but it was so cute! the acting is superb, and it's getting a lesbian spin-off soon. it was also a heavy-handed corona virus psa but i thought it was nice and sincere
kisses: they're quarantined!
happy ending? yes -
11. Why R U?
Thai Drama - 2020, 13 episodes
cw: homophobia, assault scene (fighter @ tutor, i'll elaborate later)
why r u... why r u... why r u... this bl is not good, but it drives me absolutely insane... the episodes that came out before CO-VID 19 are good. actually, they're great. if they kept up that level of quality, this could be number 1 on my list. the ones after, not so much. the premise of zon's sister writing gay fanfiction about him and saifah creeped me out at first, but odd as it sounds, i eventually grew to enjoy it, and liked her character a lot.
saifah and zon are adorable and hilarious. tutor and fighter have the hottest sex/makeout scenes i've seen in bl, and the characters so into each other it's sickening. i mystified by them. outside of their respective pairings, zon and tutor a cute, supportive friendship. After CO-VID 19, it becomes the tutor/fighter show,. saifah and zon appear for a few minutes an episode, if at all, and their scenes together seem incomplete.
obviously, why r u? had some production issues it couldn't help, leaving a lot of plot points unresolved. i think it could potentially be redeemed with a season 2, or a re-edit, if that were possible.
kisses: 10/10
SPOILERS:
why r u? becoming the tutor/fighter show would have been fine, if not for their awful break up melodrama once fighter's homophobic dad meddles in him and tutor's relationship. it's during this arc fighter assaults tutor, which while it didn't go beyond kissing, it was upsetting to watch. even more so, that they get back together after this, and fighter's dad is magically no longer homophobic.
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12. Dark Blue Kiss
Thai Drama - 2019, 12 episodes
cw: homophobia
petekao is one of the first popular bl couples in thailand. they're pretty much iconic. they're a side couple in a mainstream romance drama kiss me again (see below), and get their own series, dark blue kiss.
when petekao is good, it's great. cute as they are though, petekao also gets bogged down with the most uninteresting plots, especially in dark blue kiss. the plot with non and pete being jealous was just... frustrating to watch... i wish we just got to see them being a couple, and dealing with their other conflicts, of which they have plenty.
kisses: 7/10
happy ending? yes -
13. Kiss Me Again
Thai Drama - 2018, 14 episodes
same as above, but i just watched the petekao cut on youtube.
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14. The Shipper
Thai Drama - 2020, 12 episodes
ket down of the century :///////
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15. Ossan's Love
Japanese Drama - 2018, 7 episodes
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16. Seven Days: Monday - Thursday
Japanese Movie - 2015
cw: past age gap relationship (not between main characters)
boring. -
17. Seven Days: Friday - Sunday
Japanese Movie - 2015
same as above
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18. The Novelist
Japanese Drama - 2018, 6 episodes
cw: pedophilia, sexual assault (not between the main couple), age gap relationship
okay so i found the premise of this to be interesting and the couple to be pretty cute... there's an age gap (20/30, i'm guessing) but they're both adults. my problem just is the pornographer writes morally dubious content and the main character has graphic fantasies about said content ... like, sexual assault and a pedophilic student/teacher relationship ... because it's so graphic and sexualized, i wouldn't recommend this to anyone. if it didnt show those things this would probably like it.
happy ending? i could not finish.