BL Compilations

good production value and acting, but not a fan of the main character

Overall: the production value and acting was great but I actively disliked Mamoru's character and might be judging more harshly than normal as I was in this type of relationship (low self esteem/affect/morose and happy go lucky) and it was terrible. Aired on Viki.

Content Warnings: manhandling, non con photo taking/posting, unwanted outing, homophobia, punch

What I Liked
- funny moments like after Mamoru and his friend/fan ate
- the editing/animation references its manga origin
- Mamoru was set up well
- Issei's backstory for the constant smiling
- Mamoru's female friend/fan
- production value*

Room For Improvement
- really terrible communication especially from Mamoru, but Issei definitely should have talked to Mamoru before he said what he said on the stage
- never saw a reason for Mamoru's moroseness (and drawing nsfw stuff in high school and being (understandably) made fun of for it does not count), and there was a lack of character growth
- non reason in episode 7 and then sudden switch in episode 8
- the false idea that love can cure mental health struggles (been there, tried that, it was awful)
- Issei was at the end of the line, then vanished but later had the book???
- stereotypical character at the convention
-*too much spinning camera work end

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want the actors in something with a better script

Overall: I really want to rate this higher (and I think I'm being gracious with a 7), but the writing/plot is nonsensical and jumpy. Watched on Viki.

Content Warnings: none

What I Liked
- the OST/music
- the kiss
- a few cute moments
- Tommy's outfits

Room For Improvement
- the plot was really lacking, there were too many characters and plot threads that didn't tie together. Scenes sometimes jumped randomly and did not feel well connected to one another. Episode 7 had a major event that happened off screen?! Cliche plot point in the 7th episode, bleh! A 1 year time jump in the final episode?!
- did not feel chemistry between the leads or a good development of their romantic relationship
- really dumb rescue breathing, he didn't check to see if he wasn't breathing (i.e. was rescue breathing required???) or a pulse first, this seemed like a stupid plot device and there are many other fun ways that the two could have met
- the worst business plan ever, Ba Da makes really awful/stupid decisions all the way to the end of the series
- I like more realistic make up, but the actors needed some eyeliner and lip color, they looked ill
- too many drone shots

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dancing and romance with some serious parts

Overall: there are aspects I really enjoyed about the series such as the ex and how it was handled, but there was a very jarring part at the end of episode 7. Based on a book with the same title which I haven't read and I am reviewing this series based on it's own merits. 10 episodes about 45 minutes each. Aired on Let Me Into Your Heart YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAtoaKETK9k

Content Warnings: vomiting (episode 4 part 3), murder, blood and grief (episode 7 part 4)

Watch Suggestions (to focus on the main m/m couple and side m/m couple sweet moments)
- watch episode 1 all parts for the set up
- watch 2/3 beginning-7:45
- watch 3/1 if you enjoy watching dance
- watch 3/2 beginning-7:30
- watch 3/3 3:20-5:10 and 8-end
- for episode 4 stop part 4 at 9:30
- watch 5/2 and 5/3
- watch 6/1 9:50-end
- watch 6/4 beginning-3:15
- watch 7/2 10:45-end (is emotional but explains some things)
- watch 8/3 5:30-end
- watch 9/4 3:20-8
- watch all of episode 10

What I Liked
- the costume/dance aspect
- clear premise
- non cliche ex, and another non cliche love rival
- Jack was mature about things in episode 7

Room For Improvement
- did not always feel the chemistry between the two
- the side m/m couple dynamic switched very fast and then they disappeared for several episodes
- Ja could have communicated more clearly with Jack
- what on earth was episode 7 part 4, it did not seem to fit with the rest of the story and came out of nowhere, I took .5 off my rating for this
- very cringe to have a tribute concert to someone who has died and then say what Jack said
- nonsense, some people would support them from the announcement
- not sure who that woman was in episode 10 but fairly sure she didn't deserve such fast forgiveness
- unsure of what the ending left us with, he could definitely still perform if he wanted, it didn't need to be the end of his career
(note: I watched episodes 9 and 10 with auto translated English subtitles)

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a season 2 gem

Overall: this is what I wish season 2s would be - the characters and their relationship grew. 10 episodes about 25 minutes each. Aired on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/5837/at-2500-in-akasaka-2024-s02e01 (not available in Japan or Korea).

What I Liked
- established relationship
- intimacy/communication
- sweet/caring moments
- avoids the nonsense season 2 plots (i.e. love rivals/terrible communication/re-starting the relationship)
- supportive friends

Room For Improvement
- the night scenes were too dark and more light was needed on their faces
- how a character took method acting home

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a darker themed martial arts romance

Overall: once again needed to focus on the leads and their relationship development. 33 episodes 1-2 minutes each, episodes 1-5 are free on the Shortime app and you can watch on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJy_-p0_tYE Aired on Shortime app which also has: Double Play, Please Teach Me, Falling For My Boss, Summer Indigo, The Secrets of Male Students, Accent, Ippon: Hold Me Tight, Influencer Love, Blue Complex and Buddy Boy. App information is below. My invite link is https://playground.shortime.app/en/invite/NKNIWI - the code is NKNIWI (those are all capital letters, that's the capital letter i)

Content Warnings: past suicide, past blood, non con recording, mental health struggles, violence, manipulation

What I Liked
- wandering hands
- kissing
- a villain actually received decent consequences though I would have liked to see even more consequences
- martial arts backdrop

Room For Improvement
- again wanted it to focus more on the main leads/relationship development instead of the present day villain
- time jump


My Watch For Free Plan (updated Feb 2025)
1 friend referral code = 20 (1 time bonus) My invite link is https://playground.shortime.app/en/invite/NKNIWI - the code is NKNIWI (those are all capital letters, that's the capital letter i)

On the Rewards (popcorn bag icon page)
- check in = 5 (increases over 7 days up to 25)
- create a login = 20? (I did create a login because otherwise you only get 1 Always Win box instead of 3 per day, I think this was 20 popcorn)
- do the 3 random popcorn from the daily Always Win box = 30 (I'd normally get 5-15, around 30 in total)
- Watch Ads, watch all 10 ads each day, have to wait 30 seconds in between ads = 110

When you run out of popcorn while watching, you can watch 5 episodes each day with ads

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great to see Boss & Fort again

Overall: seeing Boss & Fort was a highlight in what should have been a fun vacation special episode. Aired in 2 parts about 1 hour total on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/4936/love-in-the-air-2024-e09 and https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/4937/love-in-the-air-2024-e10

Content Warnings: maybe non con touching/kissing (it's complicated)

What I Liked
- intimacy
- cute moments
- Boss & Fort

Room For Improvement
- 7 minutes was too long of a recap though if someone wasn't feeling the series I guess they could just watch that
- directly after the recap there is a random character and what felt like a random scene (does make sense later)
- the cliche thing at the end of part 1 was confusing with how Fuma & Arashi acted as if it was on purpose, so I ended up disliking them most of the special until that was explained
- the woman playing ping pong part
- Rei and Kai who generally feel like they have less power in their relationships continued to have less power during most of the special
- Fuma's hideous suits

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well done micro series

Overall: I enjoyed the back and forth with the leads/their dynamic. 63 episodes between 1-2 minutes each aired on Vigloo app which also has (You Want Some, Rule #1 No Dating Rule, Love in the Apocalypse). Later aired as 6 longer episodes on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/6056/match-play-2025 (not available in Japan or Korea)

What I Liked
- idol and trainer/stunt person
- how both were equally sassy
- caring moments
- non dead fish lip press kiss

Room For Improvement
- background music was too loud at times


How to Watch for Free (episodes are 50 coins each, you can't skip episodes but once unlocked they stay unlocked forever, there are additional tasks to get more coins like following the company on social media)

Day 1
- watch episodes 1-6 (free on the app)
- can watch 10 episodes free with ads, I unchecked the auto unlock, clicked off of that box and another box popped up saying "view ads to watch for free 0/10" (I did that for eps 7-16)
- watch 15 ads per day for 30 coins each on the rewards page and do the daily check in (eps 17-25)

Days 2 & 3
- watch the 10 episodes, do the daily checking, watch the 15 ads per day (should take about 3 days in total to watch for free)

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I'm watching so you don't have to (on hold as 3 months later there haven't been any more episodes)

Overall: I wish I could communicate to creators that the majority of us who enjoy BLs don't want to see abusive parents, cliche wannabe girlfriends/fiancees, love triangles and idiot/fickle MLs. I'm only giving it a 6 because it hasn't finished airing. 61 episodes about 2 minutes each. Airing on Stealing From My CEO YouTube channel https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPI1JWvmjRBKQdQr6dtkfhjV70qOc_r5j&si=AMF9kD-Ry2JtT4Eo

Content Warnings: murder, manipulation, slap, theft, child abuse/torture/violence

What I Liked
- the bond between the two guys (i.e. I'm rooting for the pair that is not the end game)
- that they are uploading it (eventually) to YouTube instead of just their app

Room For Improvement
- no desire to watch a very abusive dad
- the main lead is an idiot and I actively don't want him to end up with the other guy
- started with a flash forward
- mom did an exposition dump
- cliche female character
- nonsense things that aren't funny or enjoyable (that magic serum is one example)

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a different kind of love story

Overall: fans of season 1 will enjoy season 2 as it has the same vibe (it's not a fluffy romcom). 4 episodes about 20 minutes each. Aired on GagaOOLala and Viki.

Content Warnings: shove/kick/hit, suicidal thoughts, manhandling

What I Liked:
- recap at the beginning
- the intro/song
- domestic bliss moments
- acting
- character styling
- really liked the last episode and wish we would have seen more of this earlier
- relationship between Kiyoi and the actress
- the parallel with photography/that conversation with the photographer was nicely done in the final episode
- production value

Room For Improvement:
- the descriptions of this series and the series itself position that it happens over a year from where we left off in season 1. However, Hira and Kiyoi's interactions don't feel like two people who are an established couple. It very much feels like we left off at the end of season 1.
- I struggle with their character flaws/this plot isn't really my thing but I think the acting is very good and it is nice to see flawed characters

note: I struggle with Kiyoi calling Hira gross and disgusting. I've heard that that word in Japanese can be translated as several different words including creepy. So I wonder if it's more like Kiyoi calling a weirdo, but kind of more in an affectionate way and not in a negative way...

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swam in circles

Overall: this is a kind of sequel/retelling of Until We Meet Again with a shift in the main couple focus from Dean/Pharm to Win/Team. People will enjoy Between Us more if they've seen Until We Meet Again first. Note that when Team says 'brother' it means his cousin, not his biological brother. Aired on Wabi Sabi's YouTube membership channel and iQIYI.

Content Warnings: non con touching/kissing, manhandling, slap, past death, grief/trauma, homophobia (another huge content warning in a comment under a spoiler)

What I Liked
- seeing some familiar faces/characters from the first series reprise their roles
- new and extended scenes of Win and Team (return of the broccoli!)
- Win checking on Team's intoxication level
- sweet moments
- some funny moments
- the discussion about homophobia
- Win's older brother/gaming couple
- friendship between Pharm, Manow and Team
- Win and his siblings' relationships (especially Win and his younger brother)
- how Win didn't push Team to tell him about his past

Room For Improvement
- my main issue was that they went around and around, this story could have been told in 6 episodes instead of 12
- 5 couples was too many couples
- I don't understand Win's character, if they had given some background about a bad breakup or something then his actions would make sense, but they haven't shown us as an audience and so he just seems really hot and cold
- Team was oddly reluctant at times and also oddly hot and cold (mostly cold), how was Team more reluctant than Pharm (Pharm!!!) in the final episode?!?
- terrible communication between Team and Win
- for people who did not see UWMA I think this would be a bit confusing, I did want to see when Team, Pharm and Manow first met because all of a sudden they are talking as friends
- Win feels more of a jerk (what on earth was that dialogue during the hurt/care scene in ep 1) and Team is more vulnerable/less sassy and I didn't like the change
- the non con part before they went to the hotel room in ep 1
- Win's shifting hair roots (didn't take off review points for this though)
- camera blocking shots in the kissing scene in ep 1
- the conversation between Bee and Prince in ep 9 was odd, university students in Thailand don't know about bi/pan as a possibility?
- using almost the exact same music (even background music) from UWMA one of which goes with a really tragic scene in UWMA

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La Méchante Femme

Overall: I was hoping to see a sweet rom com with cute guys and cooking, but after the first few episodes this took an unwanted dark/serious turn. It spent waayyy too much time on an overused cliche instead of developing romantic relationships. Watching on Gagaoolala.

Content Warnings: attempted murder, severely beaten up, slapped, cyberbullying, harassment, body shaming, manhandling, non con kiss (sleeping), non con taking pictures/posting, threatening with a gun

What I Liked
- the intro/title sequence was fun
- I liked Lukchup's and Ram's friend groups
- the cute and funny moments
- the food looked delicious

Room For Improvement
- the cliche evil wannabe girlfriend dragged on waaaayyyyy too long, 10 full minutes of crying in the final episode. She did get some consequences but nearly enough for what she did.
- Lukchup's lack of agency - he couldn't go see Ram in the hospital when he wanted, everyone was constantly meeting and making plans without him, he felt too childlike
 - non logical things like Lukchup and Ram's family having a bunch of money but they didn't think to hire security for Lukchup? Why didn't both Ram and Lukchup run back to the building? Why did they need to collect sooooo much evidence before contacting the police, that's what the police investigation does... The police just have a nice tea while the criminal could be running away and/or destroying evidence??? 
- didn't like the social media fan page of a regular college student and people lining up to take pictures with him, it creeps me out
- the ending where multiple relationships were just shoved together at the last minute. Also the second time jump felt like lazy writing. I wish they had spent the time on the relationships and not on Namning.

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Standard Korean BL Series

Overall: the general comments below applies to a whole bunch of Korean BL. I'd say overall it's fine, but suffers from the same issues as other series. Watched on Viki (minor spoilers)

Content Warnings: murders (off screen), suicide, dub con kiss (sleeping)

What I Liked
- good production value
- the flashbacks were obvious
- I thought Yeon Seok's personality (with his confidence/big ego) was funny in the beginning
- the cat magical creature pretty much declares she is asexual, I appreciate the representation and I wish this character was more fully developed
- that both Sin Bi and Ha Yeon called Yeon Seok for being a jerk because he was a jerk

Room For Improvement
- choppy/rushed, I didn't really understand/buy into the sudden shift with Yeon Seok's feelings
- cliche poor communication at the end and Ha Yeon being angry at Yeon Seok when Yeon Seok is doing exactly what Ha Yeon asked him to do (eyeroll)
- pointless love triangle, that screen time could have gone to developing the m/m romance and/or fleshing out the cat goddess character
- the kissing was okay but not great
- why did Ha Yeon get killed the second time, we just never know???

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sweet first 7 episodes (watch suggestions)

Overall: the first 7 episodes were sweet and then it all went downhill. 12 episodes about 22 minutes each. Aired on GagaOOLala (not in Thailand, Taiwan, Korea or Japan) https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/5485/ten-things-i-want-to-do-before-i-turn-forty-2025-e01

What I Liked
- their different personalities
- showed how a character is friendly and sweet but also did not act like a child at work
- that they clear up misunderstandings fairly quickly
- supportive sisters
- production value

Watch Suggestions (to focus on the leads being sweet)
- watch episodes 1-7
- skip episode 8 or watch 21 min-end
- episode 9 watch 7:30-15:10
- skip episodes 10 and 11
- start episode 12 at 15 minutes

Room For Improvement
- how Tojo was kind of pressured into it
- episode 8 made no sense that they only had 1 minute of screentime at the end and episode 9 ruined things before they even
- basically became an anthology series where other characters were the focus and they were sidelined
- a pet peeve is a character who supposedly loves another character causing that character immense pain and not listening to what they want, the angst dragged on for too long
- introduced a possible love rival in episode 11 (and I started to want them to be together instead)
- cliche running in the finale
- too many flashback montages in the finale
- (neutral) voicing internal thoughts

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excellent acting

Overall: (note, this review may contain triggering words/language). I'm torn on how to rate the series. The actors did a great job, but several character actions and plot points didn't work for me. The series was based on the book Counter Attack by Chai Ji Dan which I haven't read and reviewed the series on its own merits. However, I hazard that the book is a bodice ripper i.e. a rich, attractive, cold/asshole character becomes the perfect partner for a poor character with the very fictional "mouth says no but body says yes" stuff. I'm trying my best to view this thru that fictional lens. 24 episodes about 45 minutes each. Aired on: Revenged Love YouTube channel (not available in Brunei, Japan, Philippines, Myanmar, Malaysia, Korea, Thailand, Indonesia) https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiCVOcxScfwh-Gkl0A0SeugdHQUg4QZIu&si=tehJ3i_EqpWZgfKD ; GagaOOLala (available in the Americas, Europe & Taiwan) https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/5366/revenged-love-2025-e01 ; Viki https://www.viki.com/tv/41152c-revenged-love ; Heavenly (for South Korea) https://heavenly.tv/en/detail/940

Content Warnings: gang rape off screen in episode 1, hits, animal deaths, sex trafficking?, coercion, manipulation, blood, choking, violence, attempted murder?/injury, non con touching, non con kissing (to remove some of the content warnings watch episode 1 15:40-29:40 and 41:30-end; episode 2 watch beginning to 31:30 and 32-end), animal death, blood, multiple non con/dub con sex scenes, coercion, manipulation, past drugging, past abuse, past grooming, past bullying, past non con picture taking/sharing/outing, past suicidal thoughts, death, grief, kidnapping/held against will

Watch Suggestions ep 14 and after (to focus on sweet/steamy parts and remove: some content warnings, love rivals/jealousy, angst, death)
- episode 14 stop at 13:05, watch 34-35
- episode 15 watch 3:15-3:50 and 30:45-32
- episode 16 watch 34:45-36:30
- episode 17 watch 36:40-end
- skip episode 18
- episode 19 watch 17:35-18:35 and 22:50-23:55
- episode 20 watch 12:30-26
- episode 21 watch 4:15-11:10
- episode 22 6:20-31:10
- skip episode 23
- episode 24 watch 10-end

What I Liked
- acting
- opposite dynamics with both main couples
- styling
- I did chuckle a few times like in episode 3 on the "date"
- caring moments
- realistic break up
- supportive sister
- that the production secured multiple international viewing platforms

Room For Improvement
- the off screen gang rape and intentional near murder, shipping him romantically with the other guy was challenging though I did see some character changes
- the cliche evil wannabe wife
- nonsense stuff like why on earth keep the snakes there
- snakes (that they are shown as violent/fighting when in reality I bet they just want to mind their own business, the CGI, I'm not a snake expert but those cages looked way too small and a lot of screen time devoted to them)
- the doctor was not a good friend a few times
- a character said he couldn't be with him because he didn't want to be the receiver
- showed being in severe pain the next day (which definitely does not need to happen)
- lack of communication, not saying the entire truth
- too much time spent on love rivals/jealousy
- faked an abusive partner situation to manipulate the doctor
- cartoonist villain in episode 23
- rushed finale and no kiss for the main leads (was only 31 minutes of show, not sure if it succumbed to censorship and/or budget woes)
- (neutral) I didn't take off points, but not a fan of the dubbing and sometimes background sounds were unnaturally loud

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standard Thai romcom

Overall: I would call this an old school Thai BL and wish they had changed a few things to make it feel more fresh. 12 episodes about 45 minutes each. Aired on GMMTV's YouTube channel. If I were to re-watch I would start at episode 4, skip 5, 6, and 7, watch 8/2 2 min and the end of ep 8 thru 11, and episode 12 part 4.

Content Warnings: stalking, vomiting, punches, manhandling, manipulation

What I Liked
- the intro animation was unique though it didn't grab my attention
- Joke's dream
- cute/sweet moments
- that they both talked about the importance of boundaries and communication (but then both didn't take this advice at various points)
- an established couple with a realistic problem, wish they had more screentime
- Zo's friends
- the grandma
- kissing/intimacy

Room For Improvement
- Joke's approach/"plan" made no sense to me
- poorly written plot such as the stalking plotline, the Joke backstory in the final episode, the 3rd couple?/friends? introduced almost at the end with no real resolution
- why did Joke like Zo there wasn't even a love at first sight
- very tropey (2 accidental falls in one episode for example)
- pacing was off at times, series could have been fewer episodes
- a "makeover" where they took away his adorable glasses (and in total contradiction, Joke said to stay true to himself)
- talking about owing Joke
- non realistic debate stuff, and then the debate stuff in general
- choppy at times (episode 5 was suddenly the next day)
- (neutral) comedy sound effects

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