Asian BL - BL/Gay Dramas and movies 1980's to 2021
Asian BL from the 1980's to 2021: A comprehensive Guide for lazy Fangirls (and Boys)
Or, more like, "BL from some Asian countries"... China (+ Taiwan and Hong Kong), Japan, South Korea, and Thailand.)
If you'd like recs about non-Asian BL, just ask...
List will only contain titles in which BL/Gay/Male Bi couples/characters/themes, have at least a somewhat prominent role.
***(Titles with (only) Trans characters; not included--a Trans woman who loves men is straight, not gay.
Crossdressing has nothing to do with gender identity so titles with cross-dressing guys who like guys; included.
Bodyswap is (reluctantly) included.
Bromance if there is an implication that it is/will go beyond friendship)***
Adding every now and then.
Note; To make it simple; I'll just call BL, even if it would be more correct to say; stories about guys who are attracted to guys.
"Gay theme" and BL are two different things.
But as long as one can tell fantasy from reality--it's a convenient word.
My ratings are pretty harsh at times, but I judge by quality, not by how much I like/dislike it. Also by intention. Don't compare masterpieces with romcoms. That's not fair. Judge by what they were intended to be. A stupid romcom can be a 10 just as well as a Kurosawa flick, can.
Btw; A "5" means "mediocre". "10" means "perfect". "1" means "a crime towards mankind."
People, there are a whole lot of numbers between 1 and 10.
Note: Included are dramas made of the manga "Hanazakari no kimitachi e". Even if it's not BL, there is a beautiful point made, which I think deserves attention because it's present in a manga/drama which has no BL connection.
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801. Youths in the Breeze: My Novel Boy
Chinese Special - 2020, 8 episodes
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802. YuXiang and Mark
Taiwanese Movie - 2016
Short
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803. YYY
Thai Drama - 2020, 6 episodes
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804. YYY Special
Thai Special - 2020, 3 episodes
Sequel season for drama "YYY".
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805. YYY Special: Episode 0
Thai Special - 2020, 1 episode
Special for drama "YYY".
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806. Zettai BL ni Naru Sekai VS Zettai BL ni Naritakunai Otoko
Japanese Special - 2021, 1 episode
This is fricking hilarious.
I laughed my ass off--and I'm not a person that's all that easily swayed past the level of occasional giggles. (But if you aren't one for sarcastic humor, you might not be quite as amused as I am.)I'm immensely entertained by everything that makes fun of BL, since no matter how much of a fangirl I am--I'm also a cynic... (And too old and hardened to wear rose colored glasses 24/7...)
We've seen a bit of it lately--with Thai dramas "Why RU?" and "Lovely Writer" (haven't watched the latter, though), but this is different. It really, REALLY shows off all the nonsensical things with BL--outright and literally, not just with a wink. And it's great.
Here--one is allowed to laugh one's ass off at pathetic situations, predictable plots and cheesy stuff :D We're meant to.It's not mean, not condescending and not judgemental--just sarcastic hightlighting of the stuff in BL that would make anyone roll their eyes if they weren't so caught up in a BL-high. All seen through the eyes of a dude that rivals even me in terms of having a sarcastic view of the world.
It's unique in its storytelling and definitely one of my favs for 2021. It becomes a little bit haphazard towards the end, so it doesn't quite hold all the way--but all in all, it's a little gem of a different flavour. Love it.
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807. Zipper and Tits
Japanese Movie - 2001
Haven't watched it, but I just gotta' say; How epic is that title?