Shows about LGBT+ stuff reviewed by An Actual Gay Person
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1. Cherry Magic!
Japanese Drama - 2020, 12 episodes
This was the fluffies most wholesome thing I have ever watched. I can reccommend this series for literally anyone. No cringe fujoshi stuff, it's very polite and charming.
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2. Dia dos Namorados / Rokkaku
Japanese Special - 2020, 1 episode
The valentine's part was excellent. The second half was cute too, but for such a short special I would have wanted some more direct interactions between the main couple.
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3. Tsuge & Minato
Japanese Special - 2020, 1 episode
It's great.Makes me wish Tsuge and Minato's storyline was more present in the original series. Wouldn't have minded the true season being 13 episodes long, with segments from this special intersected along.
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4. Aka X Pinku
Japanese Movie - 2014
Loved this movie. I am most likely biased due to being a trans man who trained karate for 9 years, though.
It's a story about the various cages people are born or thrown into and their eventual escape. This includes themes of femininity, gender, relationships. The "most main of the 4" character is a trans man, and I very much liked his portrayal. This movie also features a lesbian relationship between 2 of the main characters, and it is very beautifully handled.
This movie also touches upon fan-service and being comfortable doing things with your body. In my opinion, the "male gaze" of the camera wasn't predatory, the portrayal of fights as intense/erotic/sexy is part of the story and not just for the pleasure of the viewer.
TLDR: Great movie, good trans man character, good lesbian relationship. Not fetishy in how it handles these themes. -
5. Para Sempre o Primeiro
Taiwanese Drama - 2021, 6 episodes
This was like the perfect length, no unnecessary drama. Final after-credits scene is sequel bait and kinda eh? but let's see what s2 has to offer. Wholesome and pure.
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6. Lutando Contra o Senhor Segundo
Taiwanese Drama - 2021, 6 episodes
Only downside is that since the time is distributed between the main couple, the "main" side couple and the side couple, plus plot stuff, it really could have used some more watchtime. S3 is supposedly in the talks and I am all for it.
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7. Why R U? : The Series
Thai Drama - 2020, 13 episodes
Super sweet and cheesy, kind of two shows in one. There's one rapey scene that kind of comes out of nowhere towards the end.
Half of the show constantly plays with BL tropes while the other moreso follows them, but the homophobic parent gets called out, and it's not fetishy imo. This was just wholesome. -
8. O Amor é Mais do que Uma Palavra
Chinese Drama - 2016, 12 episodes
Somewhat low budget and it shows at times, but this show is seriously incredible. I mean, yes it's China so they don't say they're in love or kiss but. It literally ends with a wedding between the mcs. Super sweet, a very nice watch, if nothing special plotwise. Just plain nice!!!
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9. SaifahZon Story
Thai Special - 2020, 3 episodes
If you liked them in Why R U then this is just like 1.5h of fluff.
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10. Fujoshi, Ukkari Gei ni Kokuru
Japanese Drama - 2019, 8 episodes
I dropped it after 2 episodes which is why I haven't rated it. Sorry I watch my shows for escapism and fluff.
No romance, more of a character study of a closeted young man and homophobia in society. Pretty sad and intense at times. The main girl character gives me a lot of second hand embarassment, some scenes are just too cringey, so I had to skip them, but it's not because the show is bad. -
11. Erro Semântico
Korean Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
Pretty basic fluffy story, enemies to idiots to lovers. Neat watch if nothing special.
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12. Como Nos Filmes
Filipino Drama - 2020, 8 episodes
This was made for gay people. Actually good and touches on some "genre-wide" problems that plague the shows made for fujoshis.
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13. Amor Por Acaso
Thai Drama - 2018, 14 episodes
2/4 couples/stories are Really Good.
The other half are Really Really Bad (rape and obsession played for laughs/as romantic??; stepbrother romance which to me came off as taking advantage of the younger traumatised brother)
Prepare for skipping scenes and it's a nice watch. -
14. Manual do Presidiário
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
[Bad Ending] There is a quite prominent side character who is gay and in a relationship, his boyfriend appears on screen as well, but unfortunatelly in episode 15 I literally got shot thru the heart because he didn't get to have a happy ending, which also came out of a bit out of nowhere. I know it's probably realistic, but seriously, it felt like I got bury-your-gays'ed.
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15. TharnType Special
Thai Special - 2020, 1 episode
I actually like this a lot, but it might just be my expectation for this series being quite low. I think it would serve as a good final movie for the series (don't watch s2, it's very messy and uhhh questionable). I liked the family dynamics.
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16. TharnType: A série
Thai Drama - 2019, 12 episodes
Oof. Made for straight people. The non-consentual stuff is painful to watch, calling one of the main couple the "wife", some really hetero nonsense. The dynamic is pretty cute, but the execution and care really weren't put there to make sure this isn't fetishy, abuse stuff. The ending was neat and happy, and I personally just skipped scenes that made me uncomfortable.
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17. TharnType 2
Thai Drama - 2020, 12 episodes
Don't watch this. Just watch the movie where Type takes Tharn to his hometown instead. Super messy, incredibly cringy, undermines the relationship with unnecessary drama. I guess the first 3 or so episodes aren't that bad, but then it goes south imo.
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18. Causa da Morte
Thai Drama - 2020, 14 episodes
Non-romance plot was alright in theory, but in practice it was very tedious. Bad murder mystery, mediocre-at-best romance. The cringe is strong at some moments, ngl.
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19. Junto Comigo: A Série
Thai Drama - 2017, 13 episodes
This should have been like 4 episodes. Starts out alright but then its just pointless drama and uhh don't I like that. Kinda fetishy? It felt like this was made for straight people, idk.