BL Drama Lovers Club

Indie Art Girl:

I agree with everything you said about this series. It was def harder to watch after the infamous EP 13. At the end I consoled myself with the fact we at least got a happy main couple ending. It coulda gone differently!

After going through that emotional wringer I'd like to see a HEA for Hu Yi Chen's next character to kinda help heal, lol.

I hope too.

Indie Art Girl:

Sooo...how much of this drama has romance, do u think? I wasn't interested in it cuz my impression is it's overall vibe is sports and slice of life, which isn't bad just not my fav combo.

I’d say romance isn’t the main focus. The sport and investigation take up more of the story, but there are hints of romance in every episode, if I remember correctly.

Indie Art Girl:

I've watched a lot of K-dramas over the years and I think it's both, but for sure they aren't feeling on the same level as they used to for the past year or two. I've even thought about going back to rewatch a few older favs instead of the current choices, cuz I'm feeling disappointed more often than not. Or at least more "ho-hum" about them.

I hope they can switch things up and release more good ones. I feel like this year, I’ve rewatched more older K-dramas than watched new ones. 😆

p43425:

On the whole (with a few notable exceptions), I would say the same about KBLs over the last year or two, i.e. they largely don't engage me like they used to a few years back.

I think so too my highest KBLs are from 2024.

p43425:

It may be premature to say this after only 5 of 11 episodes, but "Popular Serizawa Acts Weird Around Me" (Gaga) is well on its way to becoming one of my all-time favourite JBLs. 💕

Yay ! I also think it has the potential to become my favorite JBL ! (For now, my highest-rated JBL is Fake Fact Lips with a 9.5.) And I need to watch the new episode !

I'm binge-watching Mr. Kill today !

Mr. Kill : That was pretty cool ! The investigation/crime side was well done enough that I didn’t feel the need for the bromance (even though I liked it). I guessed pretty much everything, but I’m not surprised because I feel like if the viewers can’t figure out what’s going to happen, it can sometimes mean there are plot holes. (I don’t know if that makes sense. 😆)

It was interesting to see Off in this kind of role. I feel like his acting has improved once again. It was also really nice to see Neo, especially in such a serious role like this. At first, I wasn’t invested enough, but I became fully invested around episode 5.

I’m curious to see Dew and Tee in their next projects. I recommend it ! 8.5/10

Indie Art Girl:

Hmmm here's my "unofficial" K-BL drama findings from my watch list with ONLY high ratings:

I was going to make the same list, then I realized I only have two KBLs rated that high (9), and they’re both from 2024. 😆 And the year 2023 was a good year for KBLs for you 12 is a lot !

Knot ep 11 : Okay, so let me first say that the episode wasn’t that bad, and I’m glad it wasn’t too long. That means fewer 10-minute-long scenes. But seriously ?! That’s all we got from Sangnuea this episode ? He didn’t even say a word ! Not even a scene with Naphitch, especially now that they share a bond. And we didn’t even see Ongsa in this episode either ! I think I need to lower my expectations for the last episode so I don’t get mad. 😆

Tiffany:

Knot ep 11 : Okay, so let me first say that the episode wasn’t that bad, and I’m glad it wasn’t too long. That means fewer 10-minute-long scenes. But seriously ?! That’s all we got from Sangnuea this episode ? He didn’t even say a word ! Not even a scene with Naphitch, especially now that they share a bond. And we didn’t even see Ongsa in this episode either ! I think I need to lower my expectations for the last episode so I don’t get mad. 😆

I don't really get knot in general but i will keep watching until the end🤣I always wonder if it is a translation issue and it makes more sense in Thai. Story feels a bit all over the place but i'm still here.

Serizawa ep 5 : That was such a heart-racing episode ! I loved it ! 🥰

p43425:

It may be premature to say this after only 5 of 11 episodes, but "Popular Serizawa Acts Weird Around Me" (Gaga) is well on its way to becoming one of my all-time favourite JBLs. 💕

Ok, if you’re saying this then I’m missing out if I’m not watching already. I finished Are the Sexy Buttocks Not Good? And The Servant Prince, which were both enjoyable but not impressive, so I allowed myself to start this today. So far I like it but not more than Fake Fact Lips. I will keep you posted once I get caught up.

Indie Art Girl:

Tiffany:

I’d say romance isn’t the main focus. The sport and investigation take up more of the story, but there are hints of romance in every episode, if I remember correctly.

Thanks that helps!

Tiffany:

I think so too my highest KBLs are from 2024.

Hmmm here's my "unofficial" K-BL drama findings from my watch list with ONLY high ratings:

KOREAN DRAMA YEAR	KOREAN TITLES RATED HIGH (9 & 10)
2022	7 series
2023	12 Series
2024	5 series
2025	0 Series!
2026	2 Series (one is debatable-MDL is 7.2)

I know it's subjective but the numbers sure seem to point toward a decline. Their non-BL dramas have declined in quality as well, imo. And Korean dramas have always been a top fav, but not sm lately. It looks like 2023 was my best year for K-BLs!

ETA: I forgot my most favorite 2026 BL, maybe ever! Winter Sun. Shame on me!!

I agree with Tiffany about Like Flowers in Sand. Romance is not the focus. More like a subtle undercurrent that eventually blossoms.

Also, I have only watched a few kdramas since I discovered BLs in 2023, so I mostly watched kdramas from before then. I don’t know what year I started watching because I didn’t join MDL right away, but even when I started watching kdramas I started with famous ones from previous years, rather than currently airing ones. I still try to mix older ones I’ve missed with newer ones. As I said yesterday, the ones I like best tend to be ones that have been recommended to me and/or famous older ones with high ratings.

I do think KBLs are improving overall, although it is uneven progress. I’m just happy to see KBLs expand into new tropes like crime and thriller with The Prosecutor’s Proposal and The Lie We Lived In.