Thai BL/Gay - BL and Gay dramas and movies from Thailand

I don't quite get why this drama is bashed harder than other of its type. 

I agree with the wide-spread criticism--this definitely has a lot of flaws--especially obvious in the technical department and the, at times, very weird writing--but I don't consider it any worse than many other titles in the bunch of run-of-the-mill BL that has been released in Thailand since the start of the boom. 

At times the story in itself is very nice, at times it's a jumbled mess of ... There is a confusing flashback part, which is  woven in in a very strange way, and can be quite unclear until you catch up on what's going on. (The random and illogical writing is what makes it weird.) I was aware of this before I watched it, due to reviews I had read--but I still found it confusing).

What it DOES have, is great and sweet chemistry between the quite charming leads. Even if the acting is uneven, the guys have a great connection and are very, very sweet together. Reunited as one of the side couples in "2gether" (2020), they don't get all that much time, but the connection is still there.

I'm sorry, but this one is so overrated. There are a shitton of better ones out there... Like the reboot from 2019, which is SO much better in every way. I really don't like this one but since the production as a whole is fairly well done, I can't rate it below other run-of-the-mill BL. 

The main crappy things; The pacing of the main couple's story is excruciatingly slow (slow progress is good if done right, but this is just drawn-out without any substance to back it up) and steals so much time and space from the side couples, that those two only come off as unnecessary and shallowly explored filler components. The chemistry is a bit better between the side couples. but the main guys have none whatsoever.
(No wonder...)

The whole crap with the IRL homophobic behaviour and comments from one of the lead actors as well as from people in the production, left one with a very bad taste in one's mouth, not to mention that the homophobia severely affects the end result in terms of chemistry. If you don't sincerely want to portray homosexual relationships, but only think "BL is trending, let's release a BL title" without any desire to actually create a good piece, you won't be able to write nor direct in a way that actually creates a believable atmosphere or chemistry between the actors. 

Watch the reboot from 2019 instead.

I was hesitant about this one, and kept putting it off. I didn't even like the original and reboots usually make for a poor replacement.
This didn't.

This is much better than the original 2017 version. Acting and chemistry between most leads, pacing and focus, directing and planning, musical score (LOVE the instrumental score)-- everything is better. I haven't read the novel(s?) since I didn't like the 2017 drama, so I don't know if the side couples have this amount of time in the novel, but I love it. I prefer those to the main story. This version also has a  MUCH better pacing for the main couple's story, giving plenty of space and time for three couples.

I don't like cheesy, so at times the syrup makes me cringe, but for the most part, it stays "just sweet"--delivering an overall very satisfying parade of great BL treats that are bound to make you squeal...
In terms of actual quality--I was happy to find quite a few scenes that were REALLY well directed and made me go twinkly-eyed-silent instead of "iiiihhh". That's heavy praise coming from me.

Unfortunately, it's bursting with tiring and gross stereotypes and tropes-- especially Alpha Male-behaviour of self-proclaimed tops bossing their "wives" (i.e. their possessions) around. (Just because you do it kindly and gently doesn't mean that it's not degrading and emasculating. Fangirls/boys... please question the use of "wifey" and "hubby", the attitudes they're paired up with, and what the use of those words actually brings in terms of sexism and inequality... It seriously degrades bottoming guys as well as women...)
But let's blame the author of the original story for that, not the producers of the drama. I do, however like, that the three couples at least represent three different trope constellations, giving us some variation. (And hopefully one relationship more equal and respectful, when Ming and Kit progress in the sequel season.

Special for the "2 Moons" reboot "2 Moons 2". 

(God, that becomes so confusing when writing...)

Sequel season for the "2 Moons" reboot "2 Moons 2" from 2019.

Upcoming 2020.

Mini-drama

This... kinda' grew on me. After ep 1, I was "meh". Then I started to fall for the guys and now I kind of like it. But I might be biased. Anything that has guys with guitars and puts this much focus on music--is bound to get me hooked. 

But the MDL rating... Seriously?!

There isn't much to the story--it's standard and more than a little bit stupid (aren't most...), but it's generic BL. It's not meant to be super deep. It's sufficient for a fix of cute boys love. (Also, the MC actors are just about the prettiest BL leads ever. A runway model and a fairytale prince. Something like that.) Most of the cast is made up of familiar faces from earlier BL. Acting, from all involved, is... okay.
(Gunsmile drives me crazy, though. He CAN act, but he always goes over-the-top in comedic roles. I hate that.)

As for technical aspects... Not impressive. The editing is really weird and at times--so abrupt that it feels like one went to the bathroom during commercials and missed out on a couple of minutes... The jumps between the couples, are really haphazard. And the amount of time they get, is so odd in proportion that the side couples feel unnecessary. (But since I love Toptap, I won't complain. He's adorable. I want to adopt him. I want to pinch his cheeks. Like, really.) 

In Ep 10, stuff went haywire in writing/pacing. The story up until then, building slow, just went into total lightspeed, causing a crazy rushed progression. It took them 9 eps to get to mutual admittance of feelings--then one episode to hook up, shack up and shake it up... 

But fuckups aside--the OST is catchy and the cheery intro song from this series blasting when my alarm goes off in the morning--turns my cranky mood down a notch. 

Basically; despite a thin plot, messy techs and lack of originality... gorgeous guy x 2, with nice chemistry = Enjoyable even if it would be utter crap.

It's not amazing, but Me Like.

This isn't good. I have no idea how anyone could claim it is. The only reward is to see more of Mean and Plan--whom I like both as individual actors and paired up in BL. 

In this piece, I did love seeing the huge contrast between their characters in "Love By Chance" and this one. Mean's 180 change if one has watched "Love By Chance" before this one--makes you go "whot?!" They're both very versatile as actors, but especially Plan is crazy convincing both in his cocky, confident roles as well as his absolutely awesomely adorable ADHD-airhead-space-cadet role as Can in "Love By Chance". (One of my all-time fav BL characters...)

And I love their chemistry. I've seen people complain about the lack of that in their pairing in "LBC", but remember--in that drama, their relationship has barely even started at the end of S1 and the development of their connection is perfectly right for the storyline of their hate-to-love. In this mini-drama you see that they do have chemistry. And good such. 

So basically; the mini-drama sucks but since it's these two guys, it's still rewarding enough to be worth watching if one likes Mean and Plan--individually or together.

This... sounds absolutely crazy when reading the synopsis.
I love crazy. But it really sounded so over-the-top that I was sure that it would either be a complete disaster--or quite epic. It turned out that it was the latter. 

The reviews were what convinced me to watch it, and I absolutely loved it.
An insane road-movie drenched in gunfire, violence, death, crazy characters, wild partying and crackling sexual tension--yet it gives you deep and serious drama, telling the stories of characters that are of a type that we very seldom see on screen in this way--making them human and real, not just how they stereotypically are portrayed. This is also the first time I've ever seen the love story of a Trans woman portrayed in-depth in a multi-character drama, as a big part of the plot. (Jenny rocks.) We get a big assortment of sexual preferences and identities served and are made to understand them all. 

Acting is top notch, production and music is great and it's just a blast.

This isn't really BL--it's a story about a polyamorous relationship between two guys and a girl--so much of the "action" is in throuple. Polyamory is a concept that's hard to deliver in a way that convinces a watcher who has zero understanding for how someone can love several people equally. This manages to do that. I also find it fascinating how their love transcends actual sexual preferences and just comes down to emotions lighting desire regardless of one's "normal taste" and how jealousy isn't something that can't be overcome. I swing both ways so of course, I'd think this is fricking hot--but I think that almost anyone could because it really manages to almost entirely erase the whole gender thing. 

I can't explain it in detail because it would spoil--but if you end up discontent with some of the end results, I urge you to think deeper than the actual, practical outcome.

So far--I love this. Love it. Love, love, love it.

Love the story, love the direction, love the OST/score, love the cinematography, love the setting, love the script (for most part), love the acting, love the cozy, lovely, happy, sunny feel, love how it makes me smile.
I even kind of love Earth in this one--and THAT'S a first for me...

Basically; a whole lotta' love.

This one's a keeper, even if there is potential for a derailing further down the line.

Upcoming 2021.

The parent story of the BL dramas "Together With Me" + sequel.

Pretty generic love story, set in a group of uni friends. The major storyline being straight, with several side couples, of which one is gay--THE Thai (pretty much overall) BL couple, IMO. (Alongside with Tharn & Type from "TharnType".)

The other straight side couples are bleh, but I really, really love the characters of Jihwa and Cho, who are the main couple. Jihwa might be  the coolest female character in any Thai lakorn to date... If it weren't for these two (and of course, Korn and Knock), this would be total junk. Though, I would have rated it higher if it weren't for some idiotic plot components...

Since this was the first series, Max and Tul's chemistry as Korn and Knock, hadn't yet reached it's full potential--which it had in the prequel and sequel that focuses mainly on them and their backstory.--"Together With Me", plus the sequel, which in timeline takes place after "Bad Romance".)

Family sitcom, with the son of the family being confused about his sexual orientation due to being attracted to both a guy and a girl in a set of siblings. 

Haven't watched it, and I probably won't. Read the comment threads on the page for the drama, if you want spoilers about whom he choses. (If either.)

Haven't seen it, but supposedly the BL content is very low. 

(You'll find Max from the "Together With Me" series in a role, but I think a straight one? Tul, his BF from that series, apparently has a cameo in some episode, but I have no idea if they're paired up in any interaction whatsoever, this time around.)

It's crap. But it's classic, and there really wasn't very much to choose from, back then. The story is quite different from other Gay themed ones, and that's one reason to appreciate it, even if the thing as a whole is far from qualitative.

See comment for other part of three episodes in the mini-mini-drama.

Pointless little mini-mini-drama-series with three short episodes featuring three different couples. Pretty much harmless junk, but if you have nothing better to watch and go ballistic over every BL you can get your paws on--sure.

See comment for other part of three episodes in the mini-mini-drama.

A short-film/docu about the BL industry and the fandom? Haven't watched it and the rating is horrible but could be interesting enough to take a look. 20 minutes or so isn't too much of a sacrifice, even if I suspect that my own philosophical ponderings on the matter, are probably far more elaborated than what this little chunk on the matter, can serve.

The first dramatization of the nutty story posted on Thai discussion forum "Pantip". 

The later version you're probably familiar with--the BL drama "What The Duck?"

Not true BL. More, like, "pretend" BL. But I'll include it since there is a clear indicator that it will turn real eventually. 

The movie itself is pretty much total junk. Thin in story, less than stellar acting, and not much substance at all. 

I haven't watched this, so I base this on the synopsis;

I think this probably belongs on the list even if there is a sex change involved. (If he would identify as a woman but likes a guy--he would be straight = not BL.)
Because as far as I understand; the choice to change sexes is not really based on gender identity but a wish to get the guy he wants. (How fricking horrible is that?!) I.e. he's gay.
It depends on how one sees it and how the piece portrays it.

I won't watch this because I think that I might end up VERY upset and angry. This plotline is absolutely disgusting, whether it would end up being because the producers are extremely disrespectful towards the whole issue of being Transgender and transitioning--or whether it would be because I want to cry at the thought that anyone would be insane enough to change their gender physically in order to get a person they're in love with.

Short

To be honest, all the Club Friday Installments are completely jumbled in my mind and I can't remember which ones I've seen and which ones I haven't. I've included the ones that supposedly have BL/Gay storylines according to tags on MDL.

Well... It's asuper-short commercial spot. There is no point, no story, no time. It couldn't possibly be GOOD... Take it for what it is; fanservice with Off & Gun. Who are always cute.

This really sucks. But there is a tiny bit of BL. 

The third, latest (2019) and probably last, installment in the story of Pete and Kao--this season focusing almost exclusively on them + the second BL couple who are made up from characters we met in the previous installment. A small straight storyline is present, very much an excuse to make everyone happy, but it's okay and is connected to one of the BL couples, in a reasonable and logical way. 

One's gotta' love Pete and Kao, they're so cute. This season has a lot of drama but sweetness tastes even better after bitter, right. The side couple's story is quite nice, too. And both couples have good chemistry and acting skills.

For those craving smooching and skinship, this one has more of that, although still too little for my taste :P

For another fix of Pete and Kao--they have one special episode in the anthology "Our Skyy".

Upcoming 2021.

The biggest disappointment in a long time... I was really looking forward to this, especially since I'm a big fan of Ohm, but this was just... pretty bad. It could have been great if it would've played out as the coming-of-age thing that it seemed to start out as. But it just went completely off-kilter and ended in a train wreck. 

Editing was a mess, the writing was crazy strange and the whole thing just felt moronic. I get what the director wanted to say, but it just didn't work. Too bad, because he does have a knack for creating atmosphere and beautiful scenes.  I wasn't all that bothered by the thing I suspect most BL-fans would oppose. I'm bothered by the uncomfortable way it was resolved. I won't spoil, watch it for yourself. 

I also dislike the way the movie handles a very serious topic--which I have never heard of, but assume is anchored in reality; some kind of former school run "re-education" for Thai gay kids. Whether it has been very regional and sporadic--or whether it has been done in a bigger scale--I have no idea about, but I would definitely have wanted to know more about it. But the movie doesn't go into any detail at all and just touches the subject in a shallow way, which feels offensive. It would be very important to direct attention to something that awful, but if done--it needs to be done a hell of a lot better than this.

Pluses; The acting. Great such from pretty much everyone. Some scenes were beautiful in execution and visuals. 

And... on a personal nostalgia-note; I was a kid in the 90s, albeit much younger than the guys in the movie, so I do get some flashbacks to my childhood. Clothes, hair-dos... And, of course, the 3D-pictures... Yay! (Natually, I had to pause the movie in the scene where they show the particular picture that is poignant to the story--to see what the picture showed. I won't spoil. Look for yourselves. If you can see 3D-pics, that is.)

I actually haven't watched this yet, so I can't vouch for whether it should be on the list or not...

A Trans woman who identifies as a woman and likes guys; is not gay, she is straight, no matter what she has in her pants. So if there are no characters who identify as male and likes guys, this shouldn't be on this list.

Season 2. See S1 for comment.

Oh, God. Where do I even start? 

The reviews for this first of the "En of Love" trilogy of mini dramas--were a slaughter-house. But I'll watch (almost) anything once. If for nothing else--at least to be able to trash it. I mean--it couldn't be QUITE that bad?

It was.

First cringe; A crazy, squealing fan going bonkers in an (utterly uninteresting) video rant. I don't want to see it in a shitload of dramas. (Which we do.) Second cringe; The intro song. (The whole OST is awful.) And thus began the major cringe-feast. 

Keywords; 

Cheesy. As in drowning in a swimming pool-sized fondue pot level of cheesy.
Far-fetched. As in--the assigned bottom (sigh), even giving in to the out-of-nowhere courting, was about as believable as Kim Jong-Un's unicorns.
Win. (In the role of Gun.) Who casted this guy?! He's about as good an actor as a some poor kid assigned to play a tree in a school play. Stiff, flat, monotone and (I'm sorry;) came off as more than a little bit... intellectually challenged. Both the character and the actor. And (if to be even more mean;) he's not fit for the role of a supposedly super-hot uni idol that people will walk over corpses to date. I actually LIKE non-gorgeous leads, but it just becomes weird when a whole school shrieks and faints over a really plain, clumsy, dorky dude who just screams "Forrest Gump".

Techs and production were fair. Acting from everyone else, varied between "uhh" and "totally okay". Folk (Bar) has promise, with a bit more experience. He's definitely the one redeeming factor of this crap.

But overall, this was just awful. A corny, sleazy, syrupy, illogical mess.

However--I don't hand out "1" ratings, unless it's an absolute catastrophe of epic levels. The extremes of "1" and "10" should be very sparsely used, IMO. A "4" is fair, taking everything into consideration. I.e.--significantly below average.

Short with heavy themes, featuring Gun.

A rather good flick with some good acting, that highlights an issue that should be a given but unfortunately isn't. Sweet, heart-warming and just feel-good.

This is not even close to as good as some claim it is. It's barely mediocre.

The premise could've been nice and the creators make an effort to bring a decent idea, to life, but it just doesn't work. The production is absolutely horrible in quality--it doesn't get more low-budget than this. And it seriously impairs the end result. Add to that quite a few random and unnecessary scenes (i.e. = the result of a messy and badly planned script) and haphazard pacing which makes for a bumpy ride. 

The actors try their best, but don't quite reach the goal--which is probably due to bad directing. 

Ahh... it's just a really, really sloppy flick--to the degree where the story itself becomes non-enjoyable.

Upcoming 2020.

Short

Mini-mini-drama

Drama featuring different couples, of which one is a gay one, in a circle of friends. 

I admit that I watched it for the gay part and especially the great BL-veteran Singto in yet another gay role, but the whole thing is decent, with very good acting from most involved and a good assortment of stories about different relationship troubles. 

My problem with it is that I found it... kind of boring. Since it IS good, from an objective POV, I suspect the reason might be precisely the fact that I went in looking for BL. This isn't as easy chew and simple as most dramas of this type, are. This is more mature and sober in tone--so I guess one has to be genuinely interested in the straight stories in order to get really engaged. 

(I'm definitely not the only one--but my life-long BL/Gay fixation seems, to a significant degree, have impaired my ability to get into any romance if it's not between guys... To the degree where I would be likely to not even notice if a guy was hitting on ME, because I would be too occupied thinking that it would be really hot if he'd make out with his guy friend. Or any dude in the vicinity. Which, from an objective POV--is more than a little bit screwed up. But let's just ignore that. Lol...)

I probably won't rewatch it (except possibly the BL parts) but I'll still watch the sequel season coming up this year. (2020.)

Sequel season for "Friend Zone". Upcoming 2020.

Upcoming 2020.

This isn't BL, this is Gay themed. Nothing fluffy about this--it's about real guys, real life, real stories and issues. And it's very good, if you want something more serious than cutesy fairytales.

The only reason I don't rate it higher, is because the entertainment value, such at it is, isn't all that high. It's rewarding, and definitely worth a watch--but it's so realistic that it becomes... plain? It's definitely one of the best Gay themed things Thailand has produced, and I recommend it to anyone except Fangirls/boys who exclusively want BL fantasies. It's just that it's somehow a bit TOO realistic to be something one gets all hyped up about. 

Which ever way I put it, it sounds like I'm complaining--but I'm not.
It just gets down to one's cravings, I guess. If you're in the mood for chocolate cake--you don't go for rye bread. But you go diabetic if you eat cake every day. Something like that.

Season 2. See S1 for comment.

Upcoming 2020.

Short

Sequel (also a short) to "Good Loser".

Upcoming 2021.

Short film of the longer kind.

I did NOT expect to say this; I love it!
Overall, I dislike fantasy and gender-bender stuff pisses me off since they usually go "hetero-cop-out-thank-god-you-were-actually-a-girl".  I was skeptical, but this is one of the loveliest romcom-dramas I've seen. The only flaw was really that a few parts were annoying, I'd given a 9 if they'd ditched standard plot-fillers.

James KILLS as a body swapped girl, I'm impressed, he's usually so dudish. But he's got the girly thing down to a T. He catches the smallest details--expressions, mannerisms, body language. The acting overall is very good. Production is stylish, OST is great--especially the ending song is super-catchy, and SFX are quite great for a tv-production.
It's about love--not just romantic--but also love for friends and family.
It's funny, it's cute, it's deeper than one might expect and it's simply good.

It's BL and not BL at the same time. The romance is perhaps, technically, hetero--since our MC is a girl originally, but it happens in male+male form, which gives us the boy-on-boy. Plus, it's angled differently than bodyswap-themes usually are.
In GOOD ways. It doesn't cop out, doesn't excuse itself with "Gay-4-U",  doesn't present a hetero-happy conclusion, NOR a gay one. Just a happy one. Because in the end, what the fuck does it matter who's gay, straight, bi, girl, boy or unicorn, as long as everyone is happy?
Is Love a girl because she was one originally? Or is she a boy because she now has a dick? Will she be a girl again if and when the dick is gone?
Or is she just a person...?

The starting premise is a division between genders--but ends up a theme that erases the lines altogether, making the characters learn to see things differently.
This drama summons up my belief; genders are just physical differences, and sexual orientation aside; ultimately, we love people, not genders.