Asian BL - BL/Gay Dramas and movies 1980's to 2021

Movie sequel for the drama "His: I Didn't Think I Would Fall in Love".

It was really good, actually. Better than the drama. 

Like its previous installment, it continues that "organic" feel--realistic and sombre in tone and expression. It doesn't make a fuss of things, it doesn't stray into melodrama, it just tells the story of two guys and their relationship through ups and downs. Exactly my cup of tea.
The Japanese BL usually goes in one of two directions; either it really stacks up a shitton of enhancers as to reaaaally make the audience FEEL it--or it refrains from all of it, and lets the acting and scenes speak for themselves. This belongs to the latter category. It took me quite a while to react to the fact that there was absolutely no score whatsoever. (Later on, there was a bit.) And you know what--it wasn't needed. It actually even made it better.
When they get it right--no one does realism as well as the Japanese. 

I like cutesy and cheesy BL as well--but what I find most rewarding, are stories like this one. Fairytales can be nice, but what touches me--are the love stories that are relatable. 

Since I love this type of storytelling, I really appreciated the effect that the simplicity of direction and production, brought. The acting is good as well. 

Not to be missed. 

This was a breath of fresh air in the assortment of sweet teen BL. A simple little thing--light, (very) innocent and endearing. 

Japanese BL used to be so syrupy and manga-plastic-fake that I couldn't stand it (but one took what one could get, back in the days when Japan was the only go-to for a fix of boys-on-boys.) But nowadays, their style has started to change a lot.

My preference in BL/Gay themed things--even if I like everything from super-artsy stuff to braindead junk--are the stories of the more mellow and realistic kind, the everyday love stories of normal guys--because I find reality beautiful enough to be worth telling about. If it's too glossy, too shiny, too unrealistic--it doesn't get to me. But when the setting, and the people, are real--I can relate on a deeper level. 

This is a gentle little coming-of-age love story, set by the coast--in the Kamakura area, the surfing Mecca of Japan. The setting with surfing and the ocean, was something I've longed to see. There are quite a few surfer-BL mangas and I love surfing and especially I love the ocean. (One of my all-time-fav BL movies is a surfer one--the US indie flick "Shelter" from 2007. A simple, low budget little thing, but it's lovely.) We can all agree on that the sea always has had a special place in love stories. It's romantic, period. Here, it also gives a feel of youth and freedom. 

The production is simple, but sufficient and enhances the realism. The acting is very good from basically everyone but Kura Yuuki (Nagisa) has something special. (And the kid is ridiculously beautiful.)

The story is a bit oddly paced so it becomes too rushed in the conclusion--and the focus isn't really where it should have been, a lot of the time. Which is the only reason I don't rate this higher. 

A movie sequel was released this year, too. I'll be eagerly waiting for a subbed version.

Like most of the "HIStory" productions, here we have another one which is really good.

This story is a bit different in flavor compared to the other ones. A relationship with an age gap, between teacher and student, and a much more mellow feel. It's sweet, tender and the most realistic of all the "HIStory" installments. It's an everyday-type of love story and it's lovely. Acting is great, the story is well planned and the slow pacing is nice since it makes it feel real. 

The best word to describe it, would be "cozy". It makes you happy.

All the HIStory installments are good, some are excellent. The two "HIStory 2" ones are very good, but not quite as great as the 2019 ones from "HIStory 3". 

This one is lovely. It's sad that there are so few episodes because both the stories explored could be great, but the time frame does not allow for an in-depth look at these two relationships. However, for the runtime and number of episodes, we're still given a very nice little drama that just makes you smile. I'm a total sucker for sports BL, so I'm thrilled every time we get that, and here we even get a nice story to go with it. 

The couples are very cute (even though we don't really get to know the side couple much) and the acting is very nice from several of the main leads. The production is low-budget but good, nothing wrong with it. The music is so catchy! I find myself humming the main theme for weeks every time I rewatch this. If to go into the more shallow aspects of BL, we have some nice smooching here :D Nothing explicit--but nice. 

2020 is supposed to see the release of a sequel movie, let's hope for that. (Update; The title is scratched from MDL so it probably fell through, as the discussions implied already early on).

Ah... something different. We got something a bit similar back in 2017 with "Advance Bravely" but here we have cops and robbers all the way. Almost. Good-guy-mobster?
It's entertaining, it's well-acted and the guys' chemistry builds all through the series--ending up awesome in the end. It's well produced, slick and simply good. (I'm more than a little bit biased towards mobsters and cops in gay-themed stories, though...) 

(Further rec; If you like those themes and if you liked this one; make sure to check out the Korean mini-drama "Long Time no See". Also on this list.)

In terms of the more shallow aspects that we all enjoy; you'll find a fair amount of smooching, of which two kisses are very memorable. One as truly, truly unique (and a bit gross, actually) and then the marathon-kissing-and-rolling-around-on-a-bed-for-several-minutes. That one rocked. Like, really. Something as rare as really romantic, yet really hot.
Since I'm a pervert I tend to scrutinize such scenes and I'm almost willing to bet that the actors got a bit carried away if you can figure out what I mean. Do you have a banana in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

If you really can't take painful stuff--don't watch. (But I'm telling you, you are missing out on an absolute gem...) 

The audience went berserk in their anger about this. (So tiring when BL-fans want to live in a pink world and ignore everything that isn't happy-go-lucky...)
But yeah, it was heavy. I won't spoil but let's just say that not everything turns out as we'd wish. What made it so shocking was probably that it was so unexpected. I have no problem watching sad stuff since I want a good story--not just fantasies.
But one wasn't prepared. The overall feel of the series, turned abruptly--from simple, sweet teen love, to harsh reality--and it hurt. :S

But... I wouldn't want to change it. Because it made this even more memorable.

The drama starts off on a very light note--with a silly and shallow tone, but it develops into one of the most beautiful portrayals of puppy love, ever. Tender, sweet and just so real and honest. The side couple's story is engaging too, albeit not as notable. 

The acting is really good from all involved--stellar from some. Initially, I disliked one of the MCs and considered him a bad actor, until he just suddenly transformed and impressed the hell out of me--growing into being superb in the end. The performances from the main leads in emotional scenes--whether they are sweet, sad or horny--are just so raw that you'll get goosebumps. 

As quite a few other Taiwanese productions, this is graphic. One scene not visually so--just the content and raw feel of it. The other one very visually so. But it's not cheap nor gratuitous, it's beautiful even though it's pretty much softcore AV...
As for kissing--there's a lot. And it's good. One of--if not THE--best kiss scene in any BL to date, enhanced by beauuuutiful directing, editing and music. The OST is really good, BTW.

It's sad, yes, but it's also so tender, so beautiful, so sweet and so real, that it's pure stupidity to miss out on it.

Short.

Series of shorts based on IRL stories.

Even better than S1. Teen tv just doesn't get better than this.

Not even close to as good as the first two seasons, but still good. Most of the cast from S1 & S2 are gone. No BL, but a gay parent couple + gay teen character. 

The BL theme here is just one small part of the drama--but this is a must-watch, BL or not. Without a doubt the best teen series ever made. Globally. S2 is even better.
(S3 is good but most of the original actors are gone by then.)

The thing about the BL couple here--is that this is the start of it all. Phu and Thee were the first BL couple in a Thai teen drama, that got equal airtime compared to the straight pairings and characters. (The GL couple, too.) And their story was not treated in any way differently than the straight ones, and the director did not shy away from showing kissing and sexual content between a teen gay couple. (Actually, their physical scenes were the most graphic of all the couples'.) That had more or less never been done before. This was the first time a BL and a GL couple were really and truly included. As teens, not as gay teens. 

The drama caused a ruckus in many ways, considered scandalous and outrageous, because it handles heavy and "inappropriate" themes like teen sexuality, pregnancy, drugs, alcohol, homosexuality and whatnot. But it became a monster hit in Asia and reached a huge global fanbase as well.
It's that good. Phenomenal acting, great storylines, great OST, everything is just great, great, great. 

After Hormones, "Love Sick" was aired, and then the avalanche broke--and now, 2020, we're up to our necks in BL (all LGBTQ content, really). How great is that? Not just for our satisfaction, but also for normalizing LGBTQ in the eyes of the general public. The more you see it--the less you oppose it.

Supposedly really crappy...

Short

Short.

Mini-drama.

Cut movie version of the webdrama "Like Love". (The title varies for both drama and movies as well as the novel--in fan translations of the novel on which it's based, you can find a shitton of versions. Sometimes called "I love you even though you are a man" and other similar versions.)

 Watch the drama version instead, it's more complete, longer and uncut.

Sequel to web drama "Like Love"/cut movie version of the drama--"I Love You as a Man". This one only comes in a movie version, no drama.

Mini-drama.

Short.

Short

Short

Mini-drama.

Upcoming 2020.

Special for drama "Innocent".

Short.

Short.

Compilation of four different relationship stories, of which one is gay themed.

Old school generic Japan.

Short.

Old School Japanese kind-of-classic. Adapted from the manga with the same name, by one of the most popular BL mangakas of that time, Fujiyama Hyouta.  I do like the manga, but the movie is pretty crappy. Mostly due to really weird miscasting and acting. 

I just can't praise this drama enough. Or, more like; I can't praise this couple enough. 

We first saw Korn and Knock in "Bad Romance", as one of the main couples. Then came this prequel--their own story. BR is a bit too stupid for me, but here we get something that's less nutty. The storyline is cliché, a run-of-the-mill BL plot, but it feels far more adult than most other dramas we've seen.
There is a lot of drama, arguments and angst--but overall, the feel is happy and the comedy mostly stays on the "that's actually funny--and not idiotic" side.

But what makes this unmissable, is the guys. For many reasons. I, for one, went nuts about getting a really manly couple--buff and big guys who really are dudes. Secondly; this couple has chemistry.
Serious such. On all levels. As BFFs, as lovers, and later--that "old-married-couple" cozy feel. They're just so comfortable with each other, that you're completely convinced. That feel just grows, and is epic in the sequel season. (Which in timeline is set after "Bad Romance" but released after this one.)
And let's not forget the acting. Tul and Max are awesome together, but even as separate actors, they hold their own--growing by the season. 

Very few BL couples convince me to this degree--so, for me; Korn and Knock are and will remain THE BL couple.
(Sharing the #1 spot with two other guys on this list.)

An extra super plus would be the pretty abundant kiss/cuddle/hot scenes, that for the most part are good. You'll see one of the best BL kisses in history... 

And the very opening scene... WOW. "Hot" does not begin to describe it. First watch; my jaw literally dropped. (Then I replayed aboutish 2000+ times.)

A note; Do NOT read the novel on which it is based. I'm seriously warning you. The lovable and gentle guys from the drama--are nothing like that in the novel. I ditched it because we're talking severely disturbing stuff.

This sequel for Korn & Knock's story has received extremely unfair bashing due to certain plot elements--this season is much heavier and less cheery than the first--but for God's sake, don't ditch it because of that! There are limits to how stubbornly one should refuse to acknowledge that things aren't always black or white.

Sure, it's not very nice to see characters we love, do nasty things and make each other unhappy, but that's life, you know. But just because stuff go to hell, doesn't mean that there is no way back. All the people who ditched the series after the particular episode that caused a fair share of aneurysms, hysterical bawl-feasts and probably minor riots here and there in the world--missed out on the sweetness following, because after rain comes sunshine, right.
In this season--in particular; AFTER the BL emergency incident in class of a major global disaster--we get several of the absolutely sweetest Korn-Knock moments of all the three series they appear in. You can't beat the reunion scene and the ending scene.

The straight storyline of Jihwa and Cho has almost equal time to Korn and Knock in this season, which is fine only because I like the characters. Their plotline is pretty boring in this one. As for the other gay couple; Farm and Doc's storyline isn't all that entertaining either, though Farm's 180 degree personality change is hilarious.

The only minus is the tiring, annoying and gross character of Pete--who, unfortunately, forms the very foundation for the whole plot. If one would judge the season as a whole, just from the plot, my rating would be significantly lower. But I choose to rate it by the story of Korn and Knock's relationship development and the acting from Max and Tul--since those things are what defines the whole thing.

In this season, they absolutely kill their parts and the acting is awesome. In both the painful scenes and the sweet ones. (But especially the former.)

Short.

Not BL, but a gay MC. Adapted from award-winning manga.

Rather crappy mini-mini-drama with illogical plot, weird writing and cheap production.

Upcoming 2021.

Upcoming 2021.

Compilation of Pete and Kao scenes from drama "Kiss Me Again".

Short.

Supposedly not good at all, but if one wants an extra little glimpse of Earth--there you have him.

Family drama about a large, extended family. This one has really high ratings and got rave reviews when it aired. Still haven't gotten as far as to watch it, but it does sound really good.

This is as low-budget as it can get. A super cheap web drama, a really corny one to boot--but it's absolutely irresistible and you fall in love with the MCs pretty much immediately. It's been re-cut into a movie version with a different title (the title varies a lot also in translations of the original novel) "I Love You As a Man", but I'd recommend this drama version instead--for longer runtime and inclusion of scenes that were cut out from the movie. 

The couple is so ridiculous that you just have to love them. A total idiot and a total jerk, but oh-so-sweet together. Their chemistry is good and they're hilarious in their interaction.

Also watch the sequel--which is a movie, not aired as a drama. ("I Love You As a Man 2".
(The sequel suddenly had a much higher budget... it's not all that good, per se, but there are good parts and above all; we get to see more of this idiot couple.)

BL Horror. How awesome is that? Features many of the currently popular BL actors. Should be interesting. 

Upcoming July 12th 2020.

This short has basically no substance nor direction in the story, and you shouldn't waste your time. There are tons of better ones. It's not the worst out there, but it's certainly not good, either.

Short.

Long short/short full-lenght movie. (Just over an hour long.)

Short.

Not as good as the first one... ("Love's Coming".) 

Plus--it feels strange to suddenly have Mild replaced by Gun in the main role, but Gun is a good actor so it turns out okay.