Thirty Best BL Dramas - Ranked
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1. Blueming
Korean Drama - 2022, 11 episodes
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2. Desconhecido
Taiwanese Drama - 2024, 12 episodes
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3. Contei ao pôr do sol sobre você
Thai Drama - 2020, 5 episodes
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4. Eu Te Prometi a Lua
Thai Drama - 2021, 5 episodes
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5. HIStory2: Cruzando a Linha
Taiwanese Special - 2018, 8 episodes
One of the best BLs ever, out of any country.
It's a bit iffy/cheesy here and there in the spirit of two other classics, Love Sick and Make It Right, but much like those series, CTL's huge heart and strong supporting cast make it a joy to watch.
Fandy Fan is soooooo Fine. He's a fine actor too, as is his opposite, the team mgr.
I applaud both actors' commitment to their characters and the plot line, especially in delivering some of the hottest, most sincere BL makeout scenes ever. No dead fish or mannequins in sight; no boy-band idols slumming it for the gays and fujoshis; refusing to deliver believable, impassioned physicality where it's needed.
So many cuties here:
The (step) brothers, especially the older one. (When's someone going to step up and do a BL about a pair of real, blood brothers?)
The team captain
The tall twins on the other team (the subtle, hilarious bit of implied homoeroticism between them was a nice touch.)At a total of about three and a half hours, this is a great binge-watch. For me, it's the Fandy Fan show, but it's oh so much more as well.
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6. HIStory3: Faça Valer a Pena
Taiwanese Special - 2019, 20 episodes
As for a lot of other people, the penultimate, unspeakable tragedy portrayed in this series, is the only reason it sits four places on this list below where it otherwise would have. It's not about WHAT happened, it's about HOW it was done, and perhaps why too.
Horrible, soul-destroying tragedies happen in real life every day; I accept that. They happen in live-action storytelling too. But this tragedy came out of nowhere and nothing relating to what had gone before. It was brought down upon the audience like a bloody sledgehammer with zero finesse, reason, or style. The show-makers inflicted this abomination upon its viewers because they COULD, and I can't help but speculate, for a cheap thrill, reveling in the outrage they knew their choice would generate.
So...a somewhat unique story, a totally unique combination of lead actors, acting at a level far above that of your average BL across the board from all its performers, writing that moved me to my bones until that last act of cruelty, chemistry flying in all directions between and among characters from the lead couple to the show's group of best friends, and much more, moved along with the great big turd that ruined everything, from #2 on my list, down two spots to #4.
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7. His
Japanese Movie - 2020
Technically, this is a movie, but even though I can't find it as such on MDL, I know the first time I saw it was in four episodes, as a series. And to me it feels more like a series than a film, so here it is.
Excellent, deeply moving. Great acting, direction, chemistry, and sense of place. The show touches me deeply as certain elements of my own life are dealt with here.
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8. Like Love
Chinese Drama - 2014, 15 episodes
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9. Meu Belo Homem
Japanese Drama - 2021, 6 episodes
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10. Onde Seus Olhos se Prolongam
Korean Drama - 2020, 8 episodes
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11. Para Sempre o Primeiro
Taiwanese Drama - 2021, 6 episodes
A top-notch show, but avoid the sequel at all costs. It is terrible.
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12. Gray Currents
Korean Drama - 2024, 5 episodes
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13. Cupcake à Moda Antiga
Japanese Drama - 2022, 5 episodes
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14. Eien no Kino
Japanese Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
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15. More than Words
Japanese Drama - 2022, 10 episodes
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16. Absolute BL
Japanese Special - 2021, 1 episode
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17. Vida - Amor em Jogo
Japanese Drama - 2020, 4 episodes
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18. HIStory4: Perto de Ti
Taiwanese Drama - 2021, 20 episodes
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19. Love Sick: The Series
Thai Drama - 2014, 12 episodes
BL CUT ONLY.
A classic, that opened the door to the wonders of the BL universe for me. Before this, I had watched only SOTUS and SOTUS S, with their dead fish, mannequin kisses and antiseptic vision of young, gay male love.
LS brought tenderness, passion, and humor to the table. Its characters are as fleshly as SOTUS's are plastic.
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20. Arco-íris Cinzento
Thai Drama - 2016, 4 episodes
For me, this drama ends after the very first group photo is taken at the wedding. At that point, I hit the stop button and pretend the abominable 20 minutes that follow simply don't exist.
Were I to include the last 20 minutes in my assessment of this show, it would drop out of this list entirely.
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21. His - I Didn't Think I Would Fall In Love
Japanese Drama - 2019, 5 episodes
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22. Erro Semântico
Korean Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
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23. Minha Confusão de Amor!
Japanese Drama - 2021, 10 episodes
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24. Jack o' Frost
Japanese Drama - 2023, 6 episodes
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25. Make It Right: The Series
Thai Drama - 2016, 12 episodes
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26. Junto Comigo: O Próximo Capítulo
Thai Drama - 2018, 13 episodes
I'm including the first season along with this sequel-season, but it's this followup that has the more challenging and BL World-shattering plot development that outraged a thousand Western, prude, Church Lady, BL fans. For that reason alone, this deserves a spot on this list, but it also has fine performances from both leads, who are fully committed to their roles and unafraid to portray gay male physical love/passion in front of the camera.
The supporting female lead is outstanding and essential to the success of this series.
Bravo.
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27. TharnType: A série
Thai Drama - 2019, 12 episodes
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28. O Fim do Mundo Com Você
Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
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29. Eien No Kinou: Complete Edition
Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
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30. Stand by Your Side
Taiwanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes