My favorite 2023 BL/ QLs Ranked Best to Least Favorite
This is my ranking of all of the BLs/ shows with a QL story for the year of 2023. If a show mostly aired in 2023 it counted. I did not count the shows I saw in 2023 but aired mostly in another year. I will continue adding any more 2023 shows I watch as time goes on.
-
1. Bokura no Shokutaku
Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes
This show is precious and everyone should see it. It's about family both found and related and I love it.
-
2. La Pluie
Thai Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
This show was so interesting. I love how being soulmates was an obstacle in their relationship instead of an easy path to being together. I love their chemistry and the thought provoking discussions. I also thought the ending some disliked was funny.
-
3. O Oitavo Sentido
Korean Drama - 2023, 10 episodes
This show is art. It is a wonderful portrayal of how to deal with trauma and depression.
-
4. Moonlight Chicken
Thai Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
This is a realistic portrayal of queer problems and does a good job portraying disability as well.
-
5. The Warp Effect
Thai Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
I want this show to be shown in sex education classes it is so good and has such great messages in a well done package.
-
6. The Sign
Thai Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
This show was so different and interesting. I adore the characters, the mythos and I even liked the cop procedural. The ending was a bit rushed but overall such a good show.
-
7. Tóquio em Abril É…
Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
This is not for everyone but I loved it. The mystery of how these two MLs felt and feel about each other as they develop a relationship is something to behold.
-
8. Last Twilight
Thai Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
More than half of the episodes air in 2023 this deserves to be here. This show is such a beautiful show about living life even while struggling with disability and grief. My only thought is I'm not sure I love the message the end sends about living with disabilities.
-
9. Dead Friend Forever - DFF
Thai Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
This is a fun horror show with an interesting story, strong direction and really good acting. I liked how the mystery unraveled and how the more you learned about characters the more how you felt about them changed. The BL parts of this show were not the center of the story but they affected the story nonetheless.
-
10. KISEKI: DEAR TO ME
Taiwanese Drama - 2023, 13 episodes
This show isn't perfect but man is it fun. Morally gray mafia men falling in love.
-
11. Sing My Crush
Korean Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
This is a fun show with good characters. I even loved the side couple. The villain was annoying though.
-
12. Kimi to Nara Koi wo Shite Mite mo
Japanese Drama - 2023, 5 episodes
This is a sweet drama about being your true self and opening yourself up to another human being.
-
13. O Presidente da Minha Escola
Thai Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
This is fun high school romcom with good music and good friends. Mark every show you did this year was good/ great.
-
14. Nossa Simulação de Namoro
Korean Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
This is a cute office romcom that has unrequited love and friends to lovers. With a surprisingly realistic portrayal of the fallout from the "unrequited love" part of the show.
-
15. Venus in the Sky
Thai Drama - 2023, 10 episodes
This show was a surprisingly fun watch. It's not a high brow show but it is about love friendship and family. And through the overtop comedy has real heart.
-
16. Love Tractor
Korean Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
This is a short but sweet drama of a city man and rural farmer falling for each other.
-
17. Be My Favorite
Thai Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
The character growth and discovery of who these characters are/ what they actually want was the best part of this show.
-
18. Only Friends
Thai Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
Messy gay friend group that really weren't friends. This show is not shy about sex and circumstances of what sex does to relationships.
-
19. Meu Meteorologista Pessoal
Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
This is sweet but kinky story about miscommunication and what relationships look like.
-
20. O Fim do Mundo Com Você
Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
This is wonderfully written and shot story. It was thought provoking and interesting. However, I didn't fully enjoy this show and I'm not sure I would want to re-watch.
-
21. Love Class Season 2
Korean Drama - 2023, 10 episodes
This is a continuation of the 1st season's concept of falling in love during a love class assignment but with all new characters. All 3 couples are interesting and bring something different to the table. Overall not an excellent show but a fun watch overall.
-
22. Nosso Skyy 2
Thai Drama - 2023, 16 episodes
Some big hits and some misses in these special episodes. The Bad Buddy/ A Tale of a Thousand Stars episodes are incredible. I really enjoyed The Eclipse and Star in My Mind episodes. The Never Let Me Go and A Boss and A Babe episodes were okay. Just don't watch the My School President episode not worth it.
-
23. BL Drama no Shuen ni Narimashita: Crank Up Hen
Japanese Special - 2023, 3 episodes
This show was very campy/fun with a dash of realism. I adored the premise. Just wish it was longer.
-
24. Weather Forecast Love
Korean Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
This was a cute fun fluffy drama with miscommunication being the only issue.
-
25. Amigo de Cama
Thai Drama - 2023, 10 episodes
Friends with benefits does not properly describe this show. This is about how to love someone who has a lot of trauma.
-
26. Bump Up Business
Korean Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
This is a short show that tackles fanservice verse reality in idol culture in an interesting but simple way.
-
27. Dangerous Romance
Thai Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
I know people expected this show to be different than it was but I really enjoyed how these 2 characters helped each other reach their potential.
-
28. Why R U? Korean Remake
Korean Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
Very different than the Thai show but still an enjoyable watch.
-
29. Jun e Jun
Korean Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
Fun office drama with childhood friends to lovers. A little spicier than some K-BLs overall a fun watch.
-
30. Minato Shouji Coin Laundry Season 2
Japanese Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
The tropes in this S2 were cliche. Minato's aversion to physicality was frustrating. But somehow this was still a fun watch.
-
31. Unintentional Love Story
Korean Drama - 2023, 10 episodes
This was an interesting plot and I like all of the characters. The side couple were my favorite.
-
32. One Room Angel
Japanese Drama - 2023, 6 episodes
Beautiful, simple, sad and heartwarming.
-
33. Um Ombro Onde Chorar
Korean Drama - 2023, 7 episodes
This show is hard to watch at times especially in the beginning but it is a good show about two different people coming to understand and care about one another.
-
34. Ameiro Paradox
Japanese Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
This was a fun show that showed the good and the bad of journalism and how far it takes to get a story.
-
35. A Boss and a Babe
Thai Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
This is a fun show that was an enjoyable watch.
-
36. Não Me Abandone Jamais
Thai Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
Some of the elements of this show weren't for me but I did enjoy the overall story and the characters.
-
37. Wedding Plan
Thai Drama - 2023, 7 episodes
I wanted this show to be something it wasn't and that affected my enjoyment of it on the 1st watch. It has since grown on me.
-
38. Love in Translation: Uncut
Thai Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
This is silly show that didn't make a lot of sense but was mostly fun. The love triangle was interesting. The characters were mostly okay. The random tropes/ mafia storyline were vaguely irritating. The main premise was interesting. Dauo and Offroad's chemistry is amazing. I love the psuedo enemies to business partners to friends to lovers.
-
39. Companheiros no Amor
Korean Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
This show was a mixed bag but overall I enjoyed it.
-
40. Pit Babe: Uncut
Thai Drama - 2023, 13 episodes
The world building of the omegaverse and the histories of the characters were interesting. All the couples had good chemistry. This show is a bit of a mess. But I mostly enjoyed watching.
-
41. Bedmate or Bad Mate
Taiwanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes
This show was different and fun for such a short show it tackled some interesting ideas. Just wish it was longer.
-
42. Night Dream
Thai Drama - 2023, 6 episodes
The characters were frustrating at times but I still liked them and the story overall.
-
43. Jack o' Frost
Japanese Drama - 2023, 6 episodes
There are some parts of this show that bothered me such as the deception but I still enjoyed this show.
-
44. Não Consigo Te Alcançar
Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
This show felt like a show from BL past. Not bad just not a lot of new material to bring to the table.
-
45. My Dear Gangster Oppa
Thai Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
The show started out so good and then was just frustrating.
-
46. Individual Circumstances
Korean Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
Mediocre but still enjoyable, not very memorable though
-
47. Dinosaur Love
Thai Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
Objectively bad but had some enjoyable moments.
-
48. Tin Tam Jai
Thai Drama - 2023, 10 episodes
This is objectively not a good show but it had it's fun moments.