BL Compilations

can start at episode 11 for a romance

Overall: this could have been stellar with better writing, but they made several misteps. Note that the series has some major content warnings. 12 episodes about 1 hour each. Aired on iQIYI https://www.iq.com/play/don-t-be-too-emotional-episode-1-26b4yhq8zv0?lang=en_us

Content Warnings: intimate partner abuse, held against will, violence, attempted sexual assault, vomiting, punches/fights, manpulation, lovebombing, non con touching, non con kissing, beaten up, victim blaming, near rape, attempted murders, deaths, blood, manhandling, choking, stalking (put a tracker on him), death, workplace bullying, kidnapping, past suicides shown
Note: flashing/strobe lights episode 1 16:55-24:20, 25-25:45, 51:20-53:40

Watch Suggestions (to take out content warnings and focus on the romance)
- episode 11 watch 25:30 to 40 and 50-end
- episode 12 watch begnning- 3, 5-20:50, 42-51:55

What I Liked
- OST
- acting
- set up
- the doctor
- character growth starting in episode 6
- mutually horny in the finale

Room For Improvement
- everyone just watched intimate partner abuse/violence and Jane Patrick said she had it coming to her
- 3 guys were obsessed/abusive with an average guy
- episode 3 was skippable with toxic Dan
- Jane was stupid when he asked Jane Patrick if he was okay and also what he should do in episode 5, Jane Patrick was stupid continuing to do what he did and saying he could protect everyone he cared about when he didn't have security tailing them
- no character growth after the time jump. Jane was still a people pleaser and Jane Patrick was still withholding information/being emotionally abusive by keeping Jane close to him but not showing him forgiveness
- did not enjoy the kid in episode 8, using him as a means for them to live together was weak writing
- creepy sculpture
- voice over exposition dump in the finale
- so much writing nonsense, an example was no police called in the finale

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needed to center on the leads (watch suggestions)

Overall: needed more focus on the leads' relationship development and for both of them to not be so wishy-washy. 8 episodes about 20 minutes each. Aired on GagaOOLala (not in US, Canada, Mexico, Chile, Peru, Columbia, Argentina, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, UK, Spain, Portugal, Japan or South Korea) https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/5085/heart-stain-2025-e01 ; iQIYI (guessing most of the countries not covered by Gaga) https://www.iq.com/play/ouzi1rg5sc and Heavenly (South Korea).

Content Warning: bullying, homophobia

Watch Suggestions
- watch episodes 1 & 2
- episode 3 watch 1:30-4, 14:30-15:50 and 18:15-23
- episode 4 watch 10:50-12:40
- episode 5 watch 20:45-end
- episode 6 watch beginning-13 and 19:15-20:10
- can skip episode 7 or watch 3-4:40
- episode 8 watch 10:30-15:40 and 20-23:55 (can watch until the end but I think their plan is stupid/sad)

What I Liked
- clear premise
- supportive friend
- fast pacing
- sweet moments
- he knew it wasn't good/would cause problems
- no dead fish lip press

Room For Improvement
- not a fan of the intro for episode 1
- exposition dumps
- spent way too much time on the teacher and so bizarre the teacher didn't respond clearly right away, he gave creepy vibes but I don't think he was supposed to
- throwing in the bully character instead of focusing more on the main leads, also didn't understand why the bully waited to say something for so long
- a trope in episode 6
- one character came across as desperate and the other came across as cruel/insincere, he was even hot/cold in episode 7 where one scene he says he doesn't know if he likes him and the next scene he says he really likes him
- refusal to answer calls/texts/communicate
- the time jump and their "plan" at the very end of episode 8

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cute vertical short series

Overall: this was a slice of life micro series with a satisfying ending. Watched for free on Shortime (took about 3 days). 31 episodes less than 2 minutes each. Shortime (app info below) also has Please Teach Me, The Secrets of Male Students and Buddy Boy. My referral link is https://playground.shortime.en/invite/NKNIWI (all letters) and it should get you a bonus.

Content Warnings: non con picture taking, mention of past abuse

What I Liked
- cute moments
- chuckled a few times
- perspective switch
- non cliche female character

Room For Improvement
- more moments after they clearly communicated with each other

Shortimes App Information - Each episode costs 20 popcorn, 4 episodes are free and 27 need to be unlocked, need 540 popcorn to watch the whole series, you can't skip locked episodes and they will re-lock

My Watch For Free Plan (updated Jan 2025)
(on the popcorn rewards page) check in = 5 (increases over 7 days up to 25)
(on the popcorn rewards page, go to the very bottom of the page) = 110, watch all 10 ads each day, have to wait 30 seconds in between ads
(on the popcorn rewards page) turn on notifications = 30 (1 time bonus)
My referral link is https://playground.shortime.en/invite/NKNIWI (all letters) and it should get you a bonus.
(I did create a login because otherwise you only get 1 Always Win box instead of 3 per day)
3 random popcorn from the daily Always Win box = 35 (I'd normally get 5-15, around 30 in total)
watch 5 episodes each day with ads
- there are other 1 time bonuses like following on social media so you might be able to finish in 2 days instead of 3 if you did more of the bonuses

Day 1 watch 1-4 (free), 5-16; Day 2 watch 17-28; Day 3 watch 29-30

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The Hidden/Slow Plot (cut version) - watch suggestions

Overall: the first episode made me intrigued but it devolved into a non thrilling/confusing mess. Aired 10 episodes about 45 minutes each on WeTV https://wetv.vip/en/play/17g7rz51mczkxkf-The%20Hidden%20Moon/a4100mvcw5u-EP01A%3A%20The%20Hidden%20Moon (uncut episodes were about 10 minutes longer)

Content Warnings: death, attempted suicide, sexual assault/rape?, self harm, scary images, violence, blood, mental health struggles, choking

Watch Suggestions (suggest watching the cut version except where noted, this focuses on sweet moments between the leads)
- watch episode 1
- episode 3 watch part 2 beginning-3; part 3 beginning-1:15, all of part 4
- episode 4 watch all of part 1; part 2 start at 7:12; part 3 beginning-4 and all of part 4
- watch episode 5 part 1 4:30-end
- watch all of episode 6 uncut, they cut out kissing/implied sex
- episode 7 watch part 1 16-end, part 3 3:40-end and can watch all of part 4
- episode 8 watch part 1 before the credits for a quick kiss (uncut version has a longer kiss but it's more of a dead fish lip press) and 12:20-13:15
- skip episode 9
- watch episode 10 uncut from 40:20-43

What I Liked
- intriguing premise with mystery/horror/supernatural elements
- at least they asked why the ghost sensitive one wasn't seeing them
- sweet moments especially in episode 6
- supportive mom
- some of the production value* (the off key music at the end and then the music at the end was especially fitting)

Room For Improvement
- *choppy at times (even in the uncut version it felt a little choppy)
- confusing and slow plot
- Khen and a friend had several moments that made me ship them which was especially bad because the other ML wasn't introduced until the very end of ep 1 (this was less an issue in the cut version)
- odd that a character went from trying to kill another character to suddenly liking him and then back to hating him, did not feel chemistry between the leads
- did not care at all about the drama in the past and it was confusing because a character made it sound like she didn't want something but then she seemed to want that when she talked to her friend later
- I was going to give this a 7 but the very confusing/rushed finale/dead fish lip press dropped it to a 5 (the uncut adds 9 minutes at the end but it basically shows Mas and Khen almost meeting and how Khen was recruited to join the rest of the group and go to that house, they aren't together
- the idea that Mas would watch reincarnated Khen grow up and then get together with him when he was 40 and Khen was 20 was icky (this is how the cut version ended)


Episode 1 cut ~43 minutes vs uncut ~57 minutes (the removal of the following scenes may have added to choppiness but it was good to have less romance coded moments between Khen and another character and that they reduced the sing-along)
- parts 1 & 4 didn't notice any changes
- beginning of part 2 they cut a scene when they are back at the house, a brief group conversation, then Khen brings sweets and chats with the housekeeper
- in part 2 they cut a scene where the group is by a river, a character tells Khen that he senses a spirit hanging around him and then a library scene where Khen is trying to find additional info about the house, later cut out them doing additional research
- in the beginning of part 3 they cut down some of the singing/camping stuff

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Bad Guy & Angry/Sad Guy

Overall: this was difficult to rate. I really disliked the plot and the characters but everything was executed extremely well. 4 episodes about 10 minutes each. Aired on SUKFILM's YouTube channel https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYfaogVGCvwRtjaJ9-6V6InWnPJxR5z5U&si=sa6ViMn1SRginwgl Channel members get additional kissing scenes.

Content Warnings: non con kiss

What I Liked
- clear premise
- visuals
- acting
- production value*

Room For Improvement
- *they needed to turn down or remove the music when characters were speaking because it was distracting
- I actively did not want characters together, I had zero faith they would stay together happily ever after
- a character said the other queer character was pretending to be normal which implied that being queer is abnormal which I do not believe to be true
- it was understandable that a character was upset but saying they wouldn't let another character go was cliche and annoying
- the end was kind of open, wondering if they will do a part 2

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Watch for the main couple

Overall: I was excited by the premise but I'm a bit disappointed in the execution. I have read part of the book and I dislike pretty much every change they made in the live action adaptation. Watched on Gagaoolala.

Content Warnings: slap, blackmail/manipulation, fight scene

What I Liked
- the lead pair is adorable* (and those dimples!)
- actually showing (realistically) that a doctor is busy (though pretty sure you'd die if you didn't sleep in 70 hours)
- Tawan's friend Nadia is really supportive of him but I didn't like her character otherwise (and in the book she was a he)
- there is a (unfortunately very minor) trans woman character who nicely is not a comedic character

Room For Improvement
- *I really wish Tawan would know what the audience knows in episode 3 and then we'd go from there, he didn't know until really late and Mork trying to prevent Tawan from knowing was so bizarre
- multiple fake outs
- the side m/m have no chemistry and I hate the way their relationship started (this couple was not in the book)
- the m/f couple, her actions make zero sense (this was a m/m couple in the book)
- that the uncle just gave money to his pregnant girlfriend (was not in the book)
- had the poor communication/ghosting at the end trope
- I expect better kissing skills for two guys who have both been in relationships before
- too much time spent on some side characters/scenes, like the motorcycle guys at that festival

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Part Cutie and Part Manipulation Pie

Overall: I was really excited after seeing the trailers and the plot premise. Unfortunately, I was disappointed with the lack of agency, manipulation, lying and stupidity. I wish we had seen Kuea telling the truth much earlier and spending the rest of the series learning about the other person's real personality. It did have some fun, cute and advocacy moments. Watched on YouTube.

Content Warnings: non con kiss (very drunk), manipulation, stalking

What I Liked
- the original premise
- the consent displayed in episode 8 part 1, and some other parts as well
- the moments that made me laugh (like Kuea rocking out in ep 1)
- the 3rd couple, although they didn't get much screentime
- talking about marriage equality in the bath tub and later in the series
- great that Hia Lian rejected the terrible pitch using stereotypes*
- the overall aesthetic of the music, editing, etc
- Lian's assistant character was hilarious
- the intimate moments

Room For Improvement
- the main issue I have is that Kuea (and Diao to a lesser degree) don't have agency. Their love interests make decisions for them as if they are the parent and Kuea and Diao are the child instead of them being equal partners. For example Lian saying "I hope that my plan to straighten him out will work." There is a lot of lying (mostly by omission but it's still lying) and manipulation throughout the series. Kuea's mom also outright lies to him. We finally get communication in the last episode! That should have happened around episode 4. Lian even manipulated Kuea until the very end. They had agreed that Kuea would propose and Lian would not let him do it and kept sabotaging him.
- the non con drunk kiss was unnecessary, Kuea didn't even recognize Lian. I've been very drunk before and I still recognized friends so this was non con in my opinion.
- stupidity/non logic, several characters make stupid decisions. Why would Kuea think that Lian didn't know he was Kirin when Kuea publicly announced it at a show at Lian's rival business (so he likely keeps close tabs on it). And then Lian just happens to have a music room with Kuea's favorite instrument??? I really wanted (preferably Kuea) to do some huge reveal around ep 5, break off the engagement and then they needed to learn about the real personalities of the other person and fall in love
- the side couple felt abusive. Having to report his schedule, having to check in every night at midnight etc. They never had an explicit conversation about a consensual dom/sub relationship. Also I was very confused especially in the beginning with what relationship they had and why. We gained insight into their history but, too late in my opinion.
- *colorism, the grandma says she's happy her grandson is "good looking and fair, just like his noble family"

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watching a kicked puppy

Overall: I did not enjoying watching the human version of a punching bag. 12 episodes at 35 minutes each. Aired on Viki https://www.viki.com/videos/1271432v-bittersweet-love-episode-1 ; GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/8038/bittersweet-love-2026-e01 (not available in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Oceania, India, Japan and Korea) ; Heavenly (for S. Korea) ; Tru Visions NOW (Thailand?) and YouTube https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbWbIURQcS5I&si=QOYGVjpm8ZqRUHbK

Content Warnings: beaten up, bullying, drugged, threatened murder, dub/non con turned consensual, manipulation, homophobia, threatened suicide

What I Liked
- different time setting (1990-1992)
- actors did a good job with the script they were given

Room For Improvement
- the jerk ML and the extremely innocent ML that everyone treated like crap was not enjoyable to watch, even the revenge was not as enjoyable as it could have been
- weird narrator
- exposition dump/rushed finale

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could have been amazing (watch suggestions)

Overall: the two leads had chemistry, too bad cliche writing got in the way (what on earth was that finale??!!!) 12 episodes about 33 minutes each. Aired on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/7275/lost-to-you-2026-e01 (not in Korea or Japan)

Watch Suggestions (takes out most content warnings, love rivals and poor communication)
- episode 1 watch 15:30-21 and 21:30-end
- episode 2 watch 14:45-end
- stop episode 6 at 23:50
- episode 7 watch 19:50-22:20
- skip episode 8
- watch episode 9
- episode 10 watch 18:30-22:10
- skip episodes 11 & 12

Content Warnings: coercion, punch, past (child abuse, violence, blood, homophobia, death), bullying, unwanted public outing, homophobia, fight, blood, maybe death at the end (what was that???)

What I Liked
- chemistry
- intimacy
- visuals
- character growth from the 1 ML
- supportive sister
- I was okay with the student/school doctor romance, they said he was 19 and I liked how the younger guy stood up for their relationship

Room For Improvement
- not a fan of bullying from the ML, though it didn't last too long
- cliche evil woman (but then she suddenly wasn't and they were maybe trying to do some GL???)
- another love rival
- near drowning in water he could have stood up in
- bad communication trope
- sudden dad redemption arc
- bizarre finale that left it up to the audience to decide what happened and then had an extended scene from an earlier episode at the end

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a queer vampire community

Overall: enjoyed their relationships with one another. Based on a webtoon "No Way, Vampires Don’t Exist!" written by Ki Moong, which I haven't read and I based my review on its own merits. 8 episodes about 15 minutes each, 2 per week. Aired on iQIYI https://www.iq.com/play/my-secret-vampire-episode-1-1lqb2pt4ty4?lang=en_us and GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/5793/my-secret-vampire-2025

Content Warning: non con touching, (something else was shown but then turned out to be a dream), blood

What I Liked
- their different personalities and their relationships with each other
- visuals
- the ending

Room For Improvement
- noble idiot trope (though thankfully it didn't last long)
- showing flashbacks to recent events
- the cut to black for a kiss

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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 referral link is https://playground.shortime.en/invite/NKNIWI (all letters) and it should get you a bonus. Later aired on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/verticals/8659/ippon-hold-me-tight-2025

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)
My referral link is https://playground.shortime.en/invite/NKNIWI (all letters) and it should get you a bonus.

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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quirky series with some darker moments

Overall: I enjoyed the quirky aspect though something kept me from fully rooting for their relationship for awhile. This series was adapted from a manga "Doku Koi: Doku mo Sugireba Koi to Naru" by Makino Keisuke which I haven't read and I reviewed the series on its own merits. Partway through its release in Japan, it started airing on Netflix in some countries https://www.netflix.com/title/81766555 ; re-aired on Viki in April 2025 https://www.viki.com/tv/40968c-love-is-a-poison

Content Warning: manipulation, blackmail, beaten up, past murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, non con picture taking/sharing

What I Liked
- the opposite personality dynamic
- made me laugh a few times
- the friend
- good dreams
- the tie pull
- sweet/caring moments
- the plants/quirky humor moments
- a character stood up for their relationship

Room For Improvement
- it was difficult to root for their relationship because the writers weren't clear about a character/his motivations for a long time, they finally communicated in episode 11
- how a supposed super intelligent lawyer started asking questions at the end of episode 7
- the camera did an odd 360 rotation during a scene

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Like bubbles, beautiful but empty

Overall: this short fantasy historical series wasted screen time with a love triangle and close up shots. Watched on Viki.

Content Warnings: violence, a punch (not between m/m ship)

What I Liked
- the production value was good including the cgi of the barrier
- the premise was set up fairly well
- I liked the guard and the future guy's characters
- a few funny moments

Room For Improvement
- I didn't feel chemistry between the m/m ship, also dead fish lip kisses
- many examples of non-logic or stupid things (did a queen have more power than a king in that time period???)
- it was not obvious that it was a flashback in the final episode and also made zero sense with what was going to happen with the guard vs. what he was supposed to do
- I disliked the extreme closeups
- some shaky camerawork
- I don't think most people would react at 7min 30sec if they were to come upon a scene like that in episode 1
- don't really like the title "Tinted With You." Tinted is a verb, it just seems odd in the title.

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