Personal BL List

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As someone put it:
That awkward in-between feeling where you kind of love it but also know this isn't life changing

PROS:

• Q: How many hearts do you need? Me: YES ✨
• The irl idol plays the teacher, whilst the in-drama idol is played by an actor;
• Loved the CP;
• Loved the OST, especially the Siyeol solo;
• Age gap? More like HEIGHT gap!
  
  

CONS:

• You might get addicted;
• School setting might be boring;
• Some things plot-wise left something to be desired;
• Siyeol had some questionable attitudes + half-a$$ed redemption arc > what's that supposed to mean?;
• Kim Kangmin didn't deliver 100%, especially when crying. It felt a bit stiff, too much acted out. It's a pity, I quite like him otherwise;
• I NEED a S2 where I can watch more about Kyuseong and Juha;

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PROS:

• Q: How many hearts do you need? Me: YES ✨
• The premise is weird at best, but hear me out!
• Loved the CP;
• Loved the OST, especially the ending;
• A bunch of good-looking gentlemen
  
  

CONS:

• You might get addicted
• School setting might be boring;
• Some things plot-wise left something to be desired;
• Both ML had some questionable attitudes + half-a$$ed redemption arc;
• WTF is wrong with Guan Riqing;
• The premise might be too much for some people

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PROS:

• Age gap + BL? Count me in!
• Nozue and Togawa work well as a pair;
• Nozue dull routine progressively became cheerful and colourful thanks to Togawa's game;
• What happens when you care about the world perceives you? This drama gives you some food for thoughts;
• Comfort watch
  
  

CONS:

• Office setting reminds me of Cherry Magic! > For me CM was more fun to watch;

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PROS:

• Q: How many hearts do you need? Me: YES ✨
• Realistic portrayal of depression and mental health related issues;
• The CP is so much healthy that I'm crying;
• Jihyeon is the Amazonian green forest; 
• Thanks to the OP Earth is healing ✨
  
  

CONS:

• You might get addicted (where might is just a synonym for OFC)
• Editing style&choices weren't always on point imho: narration felt butchered at times;
• The past of Seo Jaewon wasn't really explored > not a major con for me;
• The story didn't really need the 2nd FL being clingy AF > We could've survived even without her character

PROS:

• Amane being honest and OK with his sexuality and feelings;  
• Ryuji's attitude and the way his words became a balm for Amane's soul
• Decent communication between the CP
  
  

CONS:

• School setting + summer festival kind of things rarely surprise me anymore;
• The chemistry between the leads is lukewarm at best;
• The whole past experience of Amane went bananas, as the story completely forgot about it

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PROS:

• I'm so into the height difference trope;
• Thank you Drama Gods for giving the CP the ability to SPEAK and express themselves;
•  No shame in the ways both MCs got to know, express and understand their feelings and their needs
  
  

CONS:

• Time progression at times got me confused;
• Lack of screen time for the second couple: I would have liked to see more of them;
• Some sub-plots were left behind, leaving me dissatisfied 

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PROS:

• Hearing-impared representation;
• Height difference trope is huge here;
• The CP was basically a green forest: even though Shaopeng is deaf and can't speak, he is able to express himself much better than  characters in other dramas;
• Wen Xinjiax Chen Fangjie is the couple I didn't know I needed to see;
• Difficult topics addressed somewhat in a proper manner
  
  

CONS:

• This drama is a no-brainer in the sense that you have to turn off your brain to like it;
• P L O T  H O L E S might extinct humanity just like the asteroid that wiped out dinosaurs;
• Too much sub-plots and unnecessary storylines messed up the pace without sorting them out

PROS:

• Promising start > breaking stereotypes in the BL industry
• Cute interactions between leads
• Social themes addressed in a OK manner
  
  

CONS:

• Plot doesn't make sense
• Drama for drama’s sake 
• Childhood friends trope
• Characters' actions do not make any sense
• At episode 11 scriptwriters suddenly remember they have a drama to wrap up instead of going all lovey-dovey, so they start throwing p00p like they were monkeys hoping the pile will become a functioning plot by magic 
• What's with that cringe amount of sound effects?

PROS:

• I feel sorry only for Huai’en
• Humor was my coping mechanism
• The second pair stole the show
  
  

CONS:

• PLOT HOLES EVERYWHERE 
• Characters share the same brain cells as the scriptwriters
• Low budget 
• The drama got worse after hitting the half

PROS:

• Akafuji was so over the top with the stan thing > the duality of a man
• Cute and bubbly
• Made me cry
  
  

CONS:

• Many shortcomings > three episodes is just not enough
• I would have liked more characterisation for the manager duo, as I got invested in them almost as I got with the leads lol 

PROS:

• Positive messages about difficult/important topics: bullying, sexuality, etc.
• MCs kept growing throughout the story
• Nice portrait of the contrasting work-related backgrounds of both Issei (entertainment) and Nekoyashiki (manga/doujinshi related)
• Made me cry
  
  

CONS:

• First couple of episodes were just (almost) hysterical nonsense
• Many shortcomings
• Apart from Tsubasa, the other Shiny Smile's members felt mono-dimensional and lacked characterisation 

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PROS:

• Q: How many hearts do you need? Me: YES ✨
• Both Hira and Kiyoi are such gentle yet scarred souls
• I adored the next step in their relationship 
• Thanks to the OST, Earth is healing
  
  

CONS:

• I couldn't find any, BUT if you insist: after a major event in the movie some things felt a bit rushed; why Hira acted that way without any reason?
• You might get addicted (where might is just a synonym for OFC)

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PROS:

•  No shame in the ways both MCs got to know, express and understand their feelings and their needs
• The N years later for a first wasn't useless, but functional to the plot
  
  

CONS:

• I couldn't find any, BUT if you insist: the story ends
• 14 mins per episode are surreal: they end far too quickly

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PROS:

• Q: How many hearts do you need? Me: YES ✨
• Difficult topics addressed properly 
• Hirukawa x Minase are one of the best couples I've ever seen in my drama watching career > Kenshin and Junsei must be protected at all costs
•  No shame in the ways both MCs got to know, express and understand their feelings and their needs 
  
  

CONS:

• I couldn't find any, BUT if you insist: the story ends
• Topics mentioned throughout the story might be too much for sensitive people
• You might get addicted (where might is just a synonym for OFC)

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PROS:

• Cute and bubbly
• Ryo-kun going all Guardian of The Law since the beginning was so good and sexy
• Both leads had off the charts chemistry
• No major plot holes: (almost) everything was addressed properly 
  
  

CONS:

• Ending somewhat disappointing -- might be a hint for a season 2?

♡ ish

PROS:

• Cute and emotional
• Loved the premises: such a refreshing and much-appreciated background 
• The Mole Goddess was such a mood for me
  
  

CONS:

• Plot could have been executed better
• PLOT HOLES EVERYWHERE > Too many loose ends that were just abandoned midway
• VFX department felt a bit cheap, but the drama wasn't high-budget 

PROS:

• Cute and emotional
• Loved the side couple and their attempts at communication through drawings and mixed languages 
• Loved the OST
• Mutual respect
• LOVED XIAO MEI
  
  

CONS:

• Plot could have been executed better
• Sometimes the main couple felt distant

EXTRA:

• Rewatch with Chinese subtitles for language learning purposes

PROS:

• NONE  besides the supporting characters
  
  

CONS:

• Drama got worse after hitting the half
• They added lots of useless flashbacks and romantic scenes because they couldn't care less about a functioning plot
• A bunch of idiots
• Plotholes 
• Your brain may rot if you actually try to give yourself an explanation

PROS:

• Cute and bubbly
• Loved the side couple
• Intriguing premise: love between a scarred introvert and an extrovert
• The Fire-breathing Monster and the Prince Turtle had me roll on the floor: too cute, but also funny
• Mutual respect 

CONS:

• Plot could have been executed better
• Promising start, got a bit boring after hitting  half of the drama
• Not enough screen time for Wan x Beer > I need the actors in another series, like, YESTERDAY.
• Hint of the third couple went down the drain > Why hinting at the couple if you're not planning to elaborate further?
• I WANTED the mask scene of the pilot T_T
• Khun Shy made me feel guilty for enjoying the series > WTF is that cage? It seems too small for a turtle

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PROS:

• Intriguing plot
• Loved the side couple/triangle Korn-Ton Kla-Win
• MCs are eye candy 
• You can't get bored because you'll have too many theories 
• Nice sci-fi touch with the 4 minutes theory

CONS:

• Characters are not decent human beings (not a con for me)
• Timeline might be confusing > not linear 
• Ending might be disappointing for some viewers 

PROS:

• Short episodes
• Respect, communication and willingness to adapt and overcome issues... kinda
• MCs are eye candy 

CONS:

• Office setting with a sprinkle of fantasy
• Short episodes
• Star-crossed love that spans across lifetimes
• Plot holes
• No adequate closure for lots of things

PROS:

• Refreshing perspective > A vampire tries to become human
• Cute interactions between MCs
• MCs are eye candy 
• Can finish the drama in a day

CONS:

• University setting with a sprinkle of fantasy
• Not enough episodes / Not enough time per episode 
• Questionable choices made by characters
• Ending might be disappointing for some viewers 

PROS:

• A good representation of the daily life of hard-to-hear individuals, which helps the viewer get the MC's POV better;
• Both Taichi and Kouhei are such cute and precious characters. It's impossible not to like them!
• The lighthearted moments with other characters helped ease much of the draggy feeling of the overall progression between MCs;

CONS:

• Lack of progression and development of the love story;
• The ending might be dissatisfying for some viewers;
• The character of Maya fails to have a unique identity in the overall context of the story despite the potential visible in a few scenes.

PROS:

• NONE
  
  

CONS:

• Love seems to have taken an holiday 
• Alternative POV of the stalker turned FF writer is CRINGE > What the f- is that?
• Wasted 23 minutes

PROS:

• Takara senpai is such a treasure* 
• Nice character development: two deeply scarred souls trying to heal and support each other
• Respect, communication and willingness to adapt and overcome issues
• Taishin's family makes me feel envious: too cute and lovely! 

*Pun intended > 宝 [Takara] = Treasure

CONS:

• University setting, so no refreshing setting
• Taishin was a little too ✨ stalkery✨ and over the top for my taste > Going to Tokyo just to study in a f*cking uni where a stranger who comforted you studies gives me slightly the creeps.
• Disfunctional parents > Is this a super power? I only find difficult families in J-BLs lately

*potential* TRIGGER WARNING:  poor family relationships, death of pet (not graphic), stalking (mild)

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PROS:

• Comfort drama 
• Mature MCs who actually ✨ talk✨
• Refreshing due to the setting in the cosmetic world
• Respect, communication and willingness to adapt and overcome issues
  
  

CONS:

• A few times Mamiya didn't actually acted according to the "respect" part. Worth mentioning because IRL would be a NO for people with a functioning brain
• Workplace story might be a little boring 

*potential* TRIGGER WARNING:  poor family relationships

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PROS:

• Cute and bubbly 
• Comfort drama 
• Classic setting and tropes  
• Takara-kun has the  cynical vibes my stoney heart lives for
  
  

CONS:

• Another drama with a school setting
• Poor communication A.K.A. if only✨ they talked ✨
• Classic setting and tropes

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PROS:

• Q: How many hearts do you need? Me: YES ✨
• Both Hira and Kiyoi are such gentle yet scarred souls
• Thanks to the OST, Earth is healing
  
  

CONS:

• I couldn't find any, BUT if you insist: if Hira x Kiyoi is toxic, I'm the President of the USA (which I'm not, obv)
• You might get addicted (where might is just a synonym for OFC)

EXTRA:

• 22.02.2025 > First rewatch

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PROS:

• Q: How many hearts do you need? Me: YES ✨
• Both Hira and Kiyoi are such gentle yet scarred souls
• Thanks to the OST, Earth is healing
  
  

CONS:

• I couldn't find any, BUT if you insist: if Hira x Kiyoi is toxic, I'm the President of the USA (which I'm not, obv)
• You might get addicted (where might is just a synonym for OFC)

EXTRA:

• 22.02.2025 > First rewatch

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PROS:

• Q: How many hearts do you need? Me: YES ✨
• Cute and bubbly 
• Comfort drama
• Jang Jaeyong is such a green flag that he transformed into a streetlamp
  
  

CONS:

• I couldn't find any, BUT if you insist: another drama with a school setting
• You might get addicted (where might is just a synonym for OFC)

PROS:

• NONE  besides the second couple (cute frenemies)
  
  

CONS:

• I get that me being aroace makes NC scenes less enjoyable, but let's be real: they added lots of them because they couldn't care less about a functioning plot
• A bunch of idiots
• Plotholes 
• Your brain may rot if you actually try to give yourself an explanation