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

Not BL - but has gay characters.

Adaptation of the manga by Mizuta Yuki. 

WARNING: Not for the faint of heart... This is GRAPHIC. Basically--very forceful BDSM porn, but with a story. So this piece would be very uncomfortable for the sensitive.
Subber's insert in the beginning; "Watch with headphones"... Yes. I strongly suggest you do... (Unless you live in sound proof surroundings, your neighbours are deaf, or you don't have an issue with people who overhear, labelling you a porn fiend.)

I expected to dislike this--maybe even hate it. I didn't. I really liked it. 

It's so graphic that I literally choked on my juice. And I am definitely seasoned when it comes to X-rated BL... Visually very daring, but even more so, it's the content that'll make you go "oh-my-gawd".
Yes, it's gratuitous--it's a porn-party deluxe, but it does fill a purpose and it's the core of the story, really. Two lonely and broken perverts crossing paths. 

Normally, I condemn all the rape that sadly is a staple in BL, but here it's placed in a context, and depicting a story of sexual kinks. But it takes an open mind to understand and accept that there are people who don't fit the frame of what's considered normal.
It takes maturity, a willingness to figure out these two--and perhaps experience of being screwed up, as well as a bit of a perverted streak--in order to appreciate the portrayal of a far from "normal" relationship. 

The acting impresses the hell out of me. Perhaps not due to overwhelming talent--but anyone brave (and crazy) enough to take on these roles--and convincingly pull them off--deserves respect...
The direction, visuals and other tech stuff--is neatly and quite aesthetically done, and the result is an eye-poppingly outragerous, yet sensitive story--mesmerizing in its super strange appeal. 

Old school. Not very good. But back then we just couldn't afford to be picky.

I really don't like the straight storyline nor the male lead, even if I like Cherreen. Considering the fact that the whole plot premise is supposed to revolve around pets and pet rescue, those critters are remarkably sparsely featured in the minds of the characters and the core of the drama. More like, cute props.
(Also--as a life-long pet nut and cat breeder, I also get annoyed at most of the pet-related stuff, because they're mostly stupid and incorrect.)

The BL storyline is okay, but very tame and not very well developed--but it's Off and Gun and those two just belong together in front of a camera.
(I've always thought that they lack in attraction/sexual chemistry, but we haven't really seen them in any roles that have given opportunity for that... Their emotional chemistry, on the other hand, is great.)

Season 2. See S1 for comment.

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This is actually decent. The BL storyline is smaller and not as well developed as the straight one, but it's still rather nice and the couple is sweet. I actually, for once, enjoyed the straight storyline just as much--or more--than the BL one. 

It's kind of stupid and cliché, but it's entertaining and well done.

You can see more of In and Sun in the BL anthology "Our Skyy", in which they have a special episode.

Uhhh. I only watched because of Singto in a side role as the gay bro. And if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have been able to get through it. I'm sorry, August, but you suck. Pretty to look at--but the acting skills are appalling. (As is the plot, the acting from most others and just about everything about it.)

This two-part installment isn't exactly a heavy-weight, and is lacking in many departments, but I still do recommend it for anyone who loves the original manga on which it's based. "Seven Days" is one of the most beloved classics in Shounen-ai manga--with good reason. It's just so sweet, light-hearted, fluffy and cute, that you can't help but to love it. 

The movies are flawed, but a good effort. The directing and technical work, as well as the lovely OST, creates an atmosphere that really catches the one from the manga. It becomes a simple movie (x2) but so is the manga. Uncomplicated and cute. 

The biggest issue, or more like; the only big one--is the acting. Hirose Tomoki blows it. He's just not a good actor, period. He tries his best, but it doesn't work. When he isn't overacting, he's stiff and awkward. His co-actor does a better job, but not exactly stellar. (Except in that one scene. "I was thinking about you". If you've read the manga, you know which scene I'm talking about. There, for a moment, he totally shone.)

But overall--if one doesn't take it seriously, it's a cute watch that leaves you with a smile and pink, shiny cotton-candy-fluff feelings.

Second installment of two-part story. See part one for comment.

Sounds really interesting--gay themes of the heavier kind.

Upcoming June 19th 2020.

Upcoming 2020.

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Supposedly has gay character(s?)

Movie adaptation of the Shounen-ai manga series "Hidamari ga Kikoeru" ("I hear the Sunspot") by Fumino Yuki. 

Not that good... there are good points. Some acting is decent--some is not, though. The light and "spring-like" atmosphere of the manga is caught well. But the extremely short runtime really makes things weird and everything is kind of just left hanging, considering that the manga had come much further than what the movie covers, already back then.

Supposedly has gay character(s?)

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I seldom say this (since if I don't, I rewatch until I do); I don't get it. 

Or it might just be that there isn't more to get than what I caught. This is STRANGE.
And I mean STRANGE. It feels like it aspires to be so artsy that it totally forgets to actually tell a story that makes sense and can be grasped by the audience. You get what the creators are trying to do, but it's so oddly put together and so pretentious--that it's ridiculous.

The ending scene is guaranteed to be one of the weirdest things you've ever seen. EVER.
I think my eyes went dry from my wide-eyed staring at the screen, when I caught up on what the dude actually was doing.

Warning for a VERY graphic beginning scene, in case you're sensitive...

I can't even give it a rating since I don't know how to rate something like this. 

LGBTQ theme, with one of the MCs being gay.

(Long) short. (Just under an hour.)

One of the few "first" BLs that actually had a decent storyline, a platform and surrounding plot on which the love story could stand, and develop within. 

Slightly overrated, since the pacing and a few other small details, could've been better--but it's good and solid enough to never be pushed down from the shelf of classic BL dramas. Acting is very good from almost all involved, especially from the guys in one of the most iconic BL couples ever--Krist & Singto. 

Production is great in terms of all technical aspects and the music and score is edgy and catchy. Which I love. I can't take all the mushy, cheesy "romantic" music which infests all dramas... "Sotus" has some edge and it's a lot thanks to the music, which fits the tough-dude-world-feel to a T. (Yeah, I prefer my BL guys--and settings--really dudish. Variation is good, but often, I miss the more realistic type of guys. I'm fed up with pretty princes. But we get much more of the "normal guys" nowadays. Yay!)

The innocence of this drama, still annoys me to this day. I just can't take it seriously when uni students behave like elementary schoolers. It's too unrealistic. But still--it's good enough to make me forget about it. Almost.

Season 2 of "Sotus". See S1 for comment.

Nowhere near as interesting as the first season, actually quite boring, IMO, but we wanna' see more of the boys, right. 

You can also see a bit more of them in a special, plus one episode of the anthology "Our Skyy".

Special for the sequel season of drama "SOTUS".

Mini-drama.

Special episode for mini-drama "Mr Heart". 

I'm  generally not interested in behind-the-scenes stuff--but it's not bad, nor good. It just is.

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Umm... the MDL rating...
What...?

I haven't got the slightest clue how people can rate this so high, because this isn't good. It's acceptable, but far from the quality it may seem to have if one trusts the rating. 

It's completely unoriginal--which in itself would be fine, if it was made really well. But it isn't...
It's flat, completely lacks any depth and is just a run-of-the-mill short that one will forget as soon as it ends. It lacks artistic quality and doesn't make use of it's time--which are crucial keys to making a good short film. In 20 minutes--it tells less, and with less emotion, than the super-short "Summerdaze" (also a Korean one) tells in just 2-3 minutes. That says a lot.

It's not BAD. I'm just completely baffled over the 8,1 (as of right now) MDL rating.
Like... seriously...?

Special episodes for drama "2gether".

Hmm. I think I actually like these better than the original drama. EVEN though they're even cheesier. Probably because the direction is better and the balance between the couples is more fluid and not so whiplash-inducing. And I'm fond of "everyday life" in BLs.

It still bothers me that it's this innocent--I don't quite see the point of that, considering that even the tamest Thai BLs take stuff further than this. Not that it necessarily needs to be tons of graphic stuff, but somehow it feels a bit odd that it's pretty abundant in hints and innuendoes--while the kissing and stuff keeps to this level. Well, whatever. That one kiss with the Pocky-looking candy--was sooo aesthetically pleasing ;P 

And... the main guys are still cute together. And still gorgeous. (So gorgeous it's distracting, actually. Not my personal type of guys, but these boys are BEAUTIFUL to look at.) 

And... I still love Toptap. I want him for a kid brother.

And... I will probably never get enough of Drake and Frank. (First pairing up; 'Cause You're My Boy", from 2018). They have among the best chemistry among all Thai BL couples, ever. Just devastatingly adorable together. 

And... Gunsmile still bugs me. Albeit not as much this time around. 

But yeah. It's cheesy. Too cheesy for my taste. And not even close to the quality I prefer to my BL. 

But I still enjoy it.

Huge plus for an awesome intro! (As in visuals. The super-catchy song is old news by now.)

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Old school generic Japanese BL.

This is so beautiful--visually as well as emotionally. Just a little glimpse, like a poem or a memory, yet it tells a big story considering the runtime of just a few minutes. You understand, even with this tiny little peek. 

The cutting was a bit too rushed, I would personally have chosen to have fewer scenes but a few seconds longer--if they had to keep it under those few minutes.
But very beautiful. I would have loved to see a longer version.

Probably not BL, per se--but with the central theme being gay related.

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Old School generic Japanese BL

Old school--from when Japan was the only place to go for BL and most of you were in diapers ;P ... By today's standards; the series of movies is quite crappy.

Old School Japan

Old school Japan

Old School Japan

Old school Japan

Upcoming 2020.

Short-film, part of the "Gay Out Soon" series of compilations.

Not BL in itself. Contains gay characters? I don't know, since I haven't read the manga upon which it's based. But I might watch this... for one reason. I used to work as a redrawer for the scanlation of the manga... (Which I probably shouldn't mention, but whatever.)

I don't really consider this drama THAT amazing, it was good, but not one of my favs.
I don't like the side couple stories at all. But as a production, it's good and well made. The movie theme is interesting and overall, it's entertaining and time well spent. A couple of scenes are great and very memorable.

But the big treat here, is of course the once-again-paired-up duo Off and Gun, who just are so awesome together that they'll probably be paired up in BL for the rest of their careers... They're just a pure joy to watch in all their BL collaborations, with their sweet and funny chemistry--but also as the charismatic stand-alone actors that they are. 

Spin-off thingy drama series for the music club from the "Love Sick" series.

Well... 

I wasn't really expecting much from this second season. Their story was "complete" in season one, IMO. It wouldn't have needed more. But since the couple is insanely popular and there IS a second novel--why not. Even if I didn't "need" a S2--I'm still deliriously happy that I get to see more of them. And that--we get. 

It's pretty much like the second season of "SOTUS". Not all that much to say, not all that much to elaborate, not all that much to develop nor explore. The journey was completed in the first season since the premise was that two opposites needed to meet in the middle. This just is that kind of story--the kind that works the best with the climax that was already achieved in season one. But this couple just is one of those that one can't quite get enough of. So it doesn't matter to me that the storyline of this sequel season is (so far) "boring" and more or less non-existent. Just to see them is enough :) 

So yes--I love it. Because it's Tharn and Type. (AND because it's Mew and Gulf.) But there is absolutely no way that I will rate it as high as S1. Because S1 was a bull's-eye. A idiotic, compelling and funny story--that was tight, complete and lacked nothing. The ultimate romcom BL.
S2 is just... milking it. 

But I'm totally fine with that. <3

Bought it. Watched it, like, five times in a couple of days. Loved it. The story is really thin, but so what--it's fanservice and every extra minute one can get with the guys, is pure gold.

Some awesomely delicious scenes are catered--both romantic ones that make you squeal and wraps your heart in pink fluff--and a bedroom scene that makes you hold your breath and go quiet.
(The director is a genius when it comes to these scenes, and pair that up with awesomely convincing actors... You'll see much more graphic stuff in other dramas and movies, yet ver few of them reaches even a fraction of the hotness-level that this series delivers... Less is more, when done properly.)

One thing I was thinking about; 

Is it just me or is that scene with Tharn convincing Type to wear the cat ears and meow like a cat, purposely put in there as a fanservice-within-fanservice meta joke?!
(I haven't read the novel so I can't say if that scene was in there, but this just can't be a coincidence, right?!)

Say "Meow" in Thai...
It sounds a lot like "Mew"... LOL

(In case you haven't watched the drama and have no clue what I'm talking about; not only are the fans hysterically shipping the characters--but also the actors. Who often, and happily, engage in the most abundant and elaborate fanservice ever. Gulf, and... MEW...)

A short episode that gives us a peek into the mind of Lhong, showing us the reasons why he is like he is and does what he does. It's not long enough to be WOW, but it's well planned and directed, and gives a broader picture and understanding. 

This... is probably the most solid one you can find in the assortment of romcom-melodrama BL. 

It's more or less perfect, in every aspect. Even if there are a couple of heavy plot components, this is the very definition of BL. It's not meant to be a deep and profound story--it's a blueprint BL romance.
A classic trope; enemies-turned-lovers, but never before done so well.

It's a wet dream for any fangirl--it just has it all.

The love is crazy romantic and super sweet, the fighting is entertaining--especially the character of Type, if one, like me, has a weakness for cranky tsunderes with a bad temper... The chemistry between Mew and Gulf is absolutely insane--so good that it makes ME, who never, ever indulges in out-of-screen fanservice (I hate it), browse clips and videos...
Super hot scenes (even though they're not graphic--except one, but not exactly visually so) and a shitton of great kissing, including some that belong in the hall of fame for "most memorable BL kisses"...

The acting is, for the most part, very good. Gulf impresses as a total newbie--not just showing good acting skills, but also in doing a demanding BL role this convincingly. Most BL freshies are visibly awkward at least to some extent. Gulf never is, even in scenes where he needs to go quite far. Mew is a good actor, but not superb. But his tendency to go over the top, is excused because his acting is truly honest. The character, rather than Mew himself, comes off as melodramatic. But his strength, is of course as a BL actor. He's pretty much royalty. With good reason. I'm pretty sure he could turn straight guys gay...

The OST and score, the production and directing--is great. I can't say that I love the side story of Tum and Tar, but it's woven in tightly enough to not bother me in any way. Nothing glitches, everything is put together without any cracks or lacks. 

Basically; it's the ultimate BL. Period.

(Longer) short.

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If to think rationally--this isn't really worse than most of the junk-BL Thailand has churned out through the years, in between the gems. But somehow... I just can't help but think that this is SO bad. A complete catastrophe. Not even Pak and Mild kan save this disaster.

I've seen a review state that it doesn't take itself seriously and is made with a wink to the tropes and BL fandom, but that doesn't really matter if the end result is ridiculously bad. 

The storyline is bad, the script weird, some actors are really bad, everything is just uhhhhh. 

Don't waste your time unless you're a big fan of Pak or Mild.

A full-version movie version of the episode with the same name, featured in the teen horror-drama series "ThirTEEN Terrors". 

This is... weird. Acting is good, especially Gun, who always does a good job. And the story is unique in it's sinister and dreamy feel. But it's so messy and strange that it just doesn't work. It's much better in the shorter version as an episode of the series.

Mini-mini-drama.

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Based on one of the best BL/gay-themed mangas ever written.
(Two volumes, by mangaka Mizushiro Setona--which recently were released in English by Seven Seas. And immediately landed in my book shelf. I had to wait 10 years for that...) 

I was equal parts thrilled--and nervous--before watching it. But I was pretty sure that even if it might turn out crappy, it's still an adaptation of a phenomenally good comic--so I would probably love it no matter what.

So... how'd it end up, then...?

I loved it. 

Not just because I'm happy every time I get live action adaptations of my favourites--but because it's GOOD. I have absolutely no idea why some people disliked it, and the ratings are fairly low. It caught the manga very well, and the direction and acting was pretty great.

I'll definitely update with an elaborated mini-review when I find the time...

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Don't know whether to include this, or not. Apparently all the BL has been cut out due to the Chinese media ban on LGBTQ content.