Must watch BLs
- Shows I loved
- Shows I didn't love but they are worth watching because they are different/unique tropes.
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1. Addicted Heroin
Chinese Drama - 2016, 15 episodes
Rich/Poor, stepbrothers (but no relevance as they aren't raised together). Countryside setting (unique). Poverty. Consent issues. Power imbalance.
You can truly feel the Chinese setting here. It made the characters feel real, which is probably why people love it so much. -
2. Bad Buddy
Thai Drama - 2021, 12 episodes
Enemies to friends to lovers done really well. Very maturely done, a good amount of angst, well sketched characters. The acting is unbelievably good.
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3. Blueming
Korean Drama - 2022, 11 episodes
Coming of age show- Insecurity, peer pressure, family dynamics described very well. Poor/rich dynamic is also present.
Acting, direction, story, editing, music score are all good.
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4. Cutie Pie
Thai Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
Arranged marriage trope in BL. Age gap. Acting, production, direction makes the show good.
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5. Dark Blue Kiss
Thai Drama - 2019, 12 episodes
It deals with issues in established relationships - lack of communication, issues due to being in the closet (homophobia), parental pressure, financial pressure. Very maturely done. There is a possessiveness trope- but the main lead character is not a jerk.
Unique in BL. Very realistic approach to relationships, but still has that fairy tale drama feel.
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6. HIStory2: Boundary Crossing
Taiwanese Special - 2018, 8 episodes
Trope 1: Nice guy is reluctant to get into a relationship even though he wants to and so is mean trope. Or enemies to lovers.
Trope 2: Step brothers. But still done well.
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7. HIStory2: Right or Wrong
Taiwanese Special - 2018, 8 episodes
Age gap, student/teacher, single dad falls in love with nanny. The student/teacher has no relevance. The age gap & single dad part is more important.
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8. Plus & Minus
Taiwanese Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
Adult setting, rare profession (lawyer), job is actually relevant to the plot (divorce lawyers). Also deals with homophobia. Unique plot and good Angst.
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9. Semantic Error
Korean Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
Height difference, opposites attract, enemies to lover. Very well done. No consent issues.
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10. The Boy Next Door
Korean Drama - 2017, 15 episodes
Not a BL. Genuinely funny without being homophobic. Unique comedy, so kept it here.
Trope: People think straight men are a gay couple due to shenanigans
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11. The Untamed
Chinese Drama - 2019, 50 episodes
Well sketched world, with detailed characters, excellent plot. The vibes are similar to Harry Potter, LoTR, etc which have similarly complicated plotlines. It is not a BL but to me, it was very clear they were in love from the first episode.
Trope: Reincarnation/Transmigration, enemies out of obligations, opposites attract.
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12. To My Star
Korean Drama - 2021, 9 episodes
Adult setting. Unique professions (actor, restaurant owner, entertainment). Each character's profession has bearing on plot. Rich/poor dynamics. Famous person falls in love with nobody.
Very mature. Unique. Must watch. The sequel is even better.
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13. Triage
Thai Drama - 2022, 13 episodes
Adult setting. Unique setting (medical). Unique time loops plot (groundhog day type). Thriller.
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14. We Best Love: Forever the First
Taiwanese Drama - 2021, 6 episodes
Rich/poor. Homophobia. Evil dad against love.
Very old trope but well done. Sequel is also good.
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15. We Best Love: The Runner-Up Strikes Back
Taiwanese Drama - 2021, 6 episodes
Adult setting. Love wins against society/family trope. Sequel continues excellent chemistry. Feel good drama.
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16. Star and Sky: Star in My Mind | Sky in Your Heart
Thai Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
Puppy love is rejected, but they meet again in college. Popular guys. College setting. I liked the chemistry and pacing.
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17. 2gether: The Series
Thai Drama - 2020, 13 episodes
"Straightest BL". This would have been bad if anybody other than BrightWin had worked on it. They make the show. Feel good show. Popular for a reason. Disney Musical vibes.
Tropes: top/bottom stereotypes galore. popular guy in love with average guy (but average guy is equally hot lol). Rich/poor dynamics.
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18. KinnPorsche
Thai Drama - 2022, 14 episodes
Adult setting. Unique profession (mafia). Everybody is gay trope. Production, setting, action scenes are well done. Major consent issues with the main pairing. Violent/unhealthy relationships- but it is acceptable as they are mafia men and not "normal" (ie violent murderers themselves.)
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19. Still 2gether
Thai Special - 2020, 5 episodes
Sequel to 2gether. Short. Continues without a gap. Primarily to give people more BrightWin. But wraps up other couples. Top/bottom stereotypes continue. But nothing is mean/degrading. Disney musical feel. Popular for a reason. Feel good.
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20. TharnType
Thai Drama - 2019, 12 episodes
Old classic. Enemies to lovers. Likes the guy but doesn't reluctant anyway trope. Top/bottom stenotypes. Pink milk. Homophobia. Lead's chemistry basically makes the show (MewGulf). Plot is not very mature in how it deals with issues, but it was very forward for its time. Consent issues.
Major trigger: Childhood sexual abuse (not dealt realistically or maturely)
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21. TharnType 2
Thai Drama - 2020, 12 episodes
Clearly made to give people more MewGulf. Adult setting. Deals with work pressure, established relationships. Kind of unique plot in a typical BL.
Trigger: child sexual abuse, stalker. Not dealt realistically/maturely.
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22. Where Your Eyes Linger
Korean Drama - 2020, 8 episodes
Rich/poor (important to plot). School setting. Dysfunctional family dynamics. Watching friend flirt with girl > jealousy > relationship trope- but done well.
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23. To My Star 2
Korean Drama - 2022, 10 episodes
Unique professions. Better than the first season. Incredibly mature. Lost love. Regrets. Midlife crisis. Public pressure. Anxiety. Mental health. Insecurity. Angst.
The most sincere show i have seen in my life. My favourite, very well done.
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24. Manner of Death
Thai Drama - 2020, 14 episodes
Adult setting. Unique profession (medical, police, crime, etc). Each profession has bearing on the plot. Murder mystery. Crime ring. Corruption. Very unique.
Excellent chemistry between leads. -
25. Love Mechanics
Thai Drama - 2022, 10 episodes
Infidelity. Coming of age. College setting. Rich/poor. Being in the closet. Jealousy. Imperfect characters. Angst.
Incredibly well done. Unique. Very mature take. Not a typical drama.
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26. Absolute BL
Japanese Special - 2021, 1 episode
The vibes are similar to "The Boy Next Door", but this is a BL show. Mentions almost every BL trope in its 2 seasons. Very unique.
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27. Lovely Writer
Thai Drama - 2021, 12 episodes
Adult setting (BL industry, actors, writers). Very realistic and unique. Incredible ending.
Episode 9-12 are incredibly well done. Cute hetero couple too. -
28. Fukou-kun wa Kiss Suru Shikanai!
Japanese Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
Japanese BL. Comedy. Consent!
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29. Vita~Amore in Riga
Japanese Drama - 2020, 4 episodes
Childhood friends to lovers. Adult setting. Homophobia. Angst.
Pretty unique storyline. Japanese BL. -
30. Old Fashion Cupcake
Japanese Drama - 2022, 5 episodes
Japanese BL. Adult setting. Almost midlife crisis. Trope subversion.
Unique. -
31. My Engineer
Thai Drama - 2020, 14 episodes
Comedy is awesome and subtle.Lots of 4th wall breaking with fujoshis. Lots of things are clearly done to mock tropes in BL. First 2 episodes drag, but it picks up after that. No consent issues!
1. Passive guy vs pursuer trope but very cute & sweet.
2. Secretly in love with best friend trope.
3. Tsundere and jolly guy.
4. Mature guys (no trope)Only negative is that the story is incomplete, and needs season2. But still worth watching, very uniquely positive BL.
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32. Light On Me
Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
Love Triangle done right. School setting.
Coming of age, peer pressure, homophobia.
Shows primary audience are kids/teens, but it is realistic enough for adults.
Ep1-5 are very dull. Ep6-16 are good.
"Yesterday, today, and probably tomorrow, I will continue thinking about you" -
33. Unknown
Taiwanese Drama - 2024, 12 episodes
Loved the angst, disliked the mafia plot (wasn't believable IMO) but other than that, the acting, direction was so good. Pacing was so good. It genuinely gave me closure from Addicted.
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34. Mou Mou
Taiwanese Drama - 2024, 12 episodes
Great! Wish they would make something like this for adults, and not school children. But at least the actors are adults. Great acting, direction etc.
Needs a sequel though. :(
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35. Love Supremacy Zone
Korean Drama - 2024, 8 episodes