BL Compilations

Bit Off More Than it Could Chew

Overall: This is a perfect example of trying to tell too much story in too short of screen time. The result is a bunch of hanging plot threads instead of a completed story.

Content warnings: two rapes (shown) and violence (not between m/m).

What I Liked
- I thought the visuals, acting, and production were good
- at least there weren't any evil ex-girlfriends or stalker fans fetishsizing m/m relationships in public...

Room For Improvement
- too many things were not completed, what happened with the store owner, the mafia boss? Light's dad is just skipping around free as a bird for the absolutely despicable and illegal things he's done??? What about that other guy, he's also not in jail, get him in jail!!!
- the fact that the police officer didn't believe Light, I wanted to strangle the police officer... This already feeds into the idea that survivors won't be believed if they come forward.
- once again we get BDSM portrayed as non-consensual, boo

Read More

A Both Sweet & Violent Story Set in the Countryside

Content Warnings: violence, tragedy (not between m/m)

It begins as a fairly typical BL series, but does have some pretty dark twists. The first 3 episodes are kind of stand alone as each focuses on 2 guys, but starting in the 4th episode they start to connect more.
 
What I Liked
- the more rural setting
- talking about some of the issues like corruption, education issues, poverty
- the actors are very attractive and their acting is fine
- the cute moments

What I Didn't Like
- the violence was a bit too explicit at points in my opinion, it felt like whiplash
- maybe check if someone is okay with being your fake boyfriend before you go down that path
- the promotion of skin lightening soap, I understand that they need to get funding but skin lightening soap feeds into colorism...

Hope they are able to do a season two or the actors can star in more series

Read More

excellent visuals, weak plot (watch suggestions)

Overall: the visuals were amazing but the plot was lackluster - I think this should have been called "Exclusive Death" instead. 12 episodes about 27 minutes each. Aired on GagaOOLala (not available in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong or Macau) https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/5093/exclusive-love-2025-e01 ; iQIYI https://www.iq.com/play/exclusive-love-episode-1-g5451ifukg?lang=en_us ; Viki https://www.viki.com/videos/1257955v-exclusive-love-episode-1

Content Warnings: deaths, kidnapped/held against will, coercion, non con touching, bullying/near torture, fight/violence, manhandling, non con/dub con kiss, past death, mental health struggles, dub/non con kiss, non con kiss, past bullying, past fight, punches, non con turned consensual

Watch Suggestions (to focus on sweeter moments)
- start episode 1 at 16 minutes
- episode 2 watch 3-4:30, 7-7:45, 9-13:15, 16:30-22:45 and 24:10-end
- episode 3 watch 7:30-15:30
- watch episode 4
- skip episode 5
- episode 6 watch 5:30-9:30 (or keep watching if you like guitar playing/singing) and 16:30-24
- episode 7 watch beginning-4:45, 9:05-14:25 and 21:20-22:50
- skip episode 8
- episode 9 watch 16:30-22:10
- episode 10 watch 2:50-5:10
- episode 11 watch 3:45-6:10 and 7-9, 15:20-16, 19:10-19:35
- episode 12 watch 6-9:55 and 14-end

What I Liked
- visuals
- caring moments
- the final episode was pretty good (added a half point for it)

Room For Improvement
- one character's near torture approach in the beginning was awful and then stupidly blaming himself for something, getting angry at a character who was trying to be nice, ugh
- what they did in episode 10 was totally unnecessary, they could have had such a better plot with that character
- multiple love rivals and two people fighting over a person like he was an object and then suddenly the love rivals are all hunky dory
- I liked the side couple in the beginning but the idiot "plan" made it not enjoyable to watch them, they also occasionally disappeared (zero screen time in episode 10
- dub/non con kisses
- continuity error in episode 11
- nonsense stuff: if the guy didn't want to pursue that path and he was over 18 then he could go to the police and no one could force him (also he could hire people to run the business); all those guys with the sunglasses in ep 1 made it seem to be trying for humor but it failed; odd to require physical training for that job and the massage in ep 4; random and cliche plot in episode 3 (wasn't quite goofy enough to be funny); cliche plot in episode 4 of not telling someone something to avoid hurting them which hurts them

Read More

blended several elements well but needed more trust

Overall: romance, fantasy, mystery, action, thriller and humor worked well together but I needed more trust in the relationship with the leads. Note that there are some very intense scenes. 12 episodes about an hour each. Aired on Idol Factory's YouTube Channel. Idol Factory also produced Secret Crush On You and Gap The Series.

Content Warnings: murders, attempted murder, suicide, manipulation, mentions of rape and sexual assault, kidnapping, torture, violence, blood, vomiting, manhandling

What I Liked
- hooked right away at the beginning
- integrated action, thriller/mystery, fantasy, romance and a little humor (Jack & Rose comment was funny)
- sweet moments
- Yai/Sand established couple
- Tharn's supportive friends
- good dream sequences
- some GL
- NSFW scenes were well done

Room For Improvement
- the slap was not needed in episode 5 and a later episode
- I found the camerawork a little too shaky/fast during some of the action scenes
- toilet "humor"
- kind of a tourism ad in episode 3
- unrealistic elements (not talking about the fantasy things), why wouldn't the brother have gone after his main target first and then the others, not shooting when there was opportunity, discussing a case in a public cafe, stupid decisions (the allegedly best of the best managed to share 1 brain cell), how on earth they did they survive that in episode 11, why wouldn't have the doctor done something much sooner (the writers could have made up a mythology that Tharn had to be a certain age before he could be taken to that location)
- the lack of trust that Tharn had in Phaya and the absolute trust he had in another character was off putting, the writers need to show more why Tharn would have that must trust in the other character
- that's pretty awful of Tharn to put Phaya through that much pain at the end, wish they could have written this differently

Thoughts on the Finale YouTube Release Date (I didn't take off points)
- I understand that companies need to make money, but I think they could improve regarding the finale episode release (also since they sold out that Thai theater in minutes, they should have had several live showings in Thailand to increase their revenue, the audience is definitely there)
- they should have had the theater/livestream finale a few days max 1 week after the episode 11 YouTube released and then a few days max week for the YouTube release, the 3 weeks was too long
- should have been clear from the beginning that the livestream would have English subtitles
- should have had the livestream be a window of at least 6 hours for those who were sleeping during the livestream (maybe there was a rerun option added later but that wasn't well advertised)
- release on a platform like Vimeo, the Thai platform wanted a ton of personal information including passport number/drivers license, even if they could add Vimeo as an option for a rental that would be great

Read More

not a romance and not anything else

Overall: as someone who has enjoyed many bodice rippers, this 90 minute movie totally missed the mark. It didn't do the romance well and it didn't do any other genre (mystery, action etc) well either. I haven't read the books and am basing this movie on its own merits. Aired on WeTV https://wetv.vip/en/play/2fs0u4bifngi23w/r4100rhuz4b

Content Warnings: rape (repeatedly), sexual assault, violence/beaten up, drugging, held against will, manhandling, non con recording/sharing, manipulation

What I Liked
- visuals and that mesh top
- other than how the characters are all related to each other, the premise was fairly easy to understand

Room For Improvement
- even when something is based on source material, the production can't assume every viewer has read the source material, they introduced a whole bunch of characters (some with their names written on the screen), did not explain everyone's relationships to one another well, never gave an explanation for why that horrible "plan" was concocted/carried out
- couldn't root for any of the couples, 3rd couple it happened when one was shown to be drunk, 2nd couple had a terrible redemption arc maybe if 6 months ago he had shown discomfort over what he did and then in the present he had not repeatedly violated the other guy's boundaries then I could have rooted for them, and the first couple....I think that's evident, was Stockholm syndrome happening, wth
- total nonsense things ie why first take revenge on a person who created a plan instead of the person who carried out the plan, character was gone for at least 3 days (or long enough for cuts/bruises to heal so weeks???) and no one was concerned about his whereabouts, he seemed totally fine after something completely horrific, he had access to his phone but didn't call the police, etc
- jarring tone of domestic bliss to something extremely horrific
- multiple flashbacks/time jumps
- cliffhanger ending with no guarantee of a sequel

Read More

a comfort show with some hiccups

Overall: the sweet/caring dynamic was fun to watch, but there were a few plot/character missteps. 12 episodes about 45 minutes each. Uncut on iQIYI https://www.iq.com/play/your-sky-episode-1-1mjy70t567o?lang=en_us - March 2025 update - episodes were released on YouTube https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcTibKbv20S4l3tuUU0ydM9BzZEc0nrLm&si=LnuYC1wmH2gpjVlP As of ep 4, I don't see any difference between the cut and uncut versions. This review is for the uncut version as that was the only entry when I first reviewed this. Will try to look at later episodes to see if they cut anything from YouTube or not.

Content Warnings: manipulation, non con touching/manhandling, punches, non con picture taking/sharing, coercion, transphobia, non con touching, victim blaming, homophobia, manhandling

Watch Suggestions (uncut version, only ep 1 is currently available as cut on YouTube)
- watch episodes 1-6
- episode 7 watch beginning to 3min and 52-end
- episode 8 start at 13:30
- episode 9 skip 31:30-35 and 38-44
- can watch all of episode 10 though the second couple annoyed me
- episode 11 watch 4:15-21 and 47-54:50
- watch all of episode 12

What I Liked
- showed a main character as kind through his actions at the beginning
- caring/sweet dynamic and that they communicated
- one of the few child-like characters who had agency (actively made his own decisions without being manipulated into things)
- supportive friend group
- Fah's loving and supportive family
- non cliche ex girlfriend
- intimacy and check ins, continued intimacy/not rebuffing intimacy

Room For Improvement
- character exposition dump montage with voice over for the other main character
- though Rak had agency, his continued child-like demeanor got on my nerves after he and Fah were intimate
- the stereotypical trans woman character
- nonsense stuff: so drunk he couldn't recognize someone but still able to stand/walk and talk, friends didn't seem to know what was going on but everyone else did in ep 2, that the antagonist didn't switch his focus to someone else
- in episode 6 they needed to show them filming so viewers realized that it was for the student film and didn't really happen (on/near the beach)
- in episode 7 what a character did could have killed another character, that was too violent and though the couple did briefly talk later, I couldn't totally trust a character that showed that level of violence
- a character randomly showed up to comfort Oh, they could have weaved that character in earlier
- nonsense in episode 8, there was plenty of time to say something to another character
- in episode 8 a 3rd couple came out of nowhere, could have built that up better
- the victim blaming in ep 9 was infuriating
- continuity error in ep 9 of no pants and then pants
- some of the camera angles were odd
- episode 10 with the apology letter and shopping part
- episode 11 a character acted totally different (and other characters hinting at it didn't work because what I saw as a viewer was different), the other adults not saying things right away, the manhandling, the 180 shift, none of it worked for me
- episode 11 and 12 should have reduced the family drama and spent that time better developing the second and third couples
- (neutral) comedy sound effects

Question - I'm wondering if the nickname "Saggy Cheeks" would better be translated to "Squishy Cheeks" - if anyone who speaks Thai can talk about the translation please let me/us know. "Saggy Cheeks" has a negative connotation to me but I had the impression that it was a silly nickname, not a negative nickname.

Read More

cringey and sweet (watch suggestions)

Overall: talking to Yuka felt cringey (it's not as bad after the first episode), but there were some very caring/sweet parts in the series that I enjoyed. 12 episodes about 1 hour each. No official international release.

Content Warnings: past bullying, coercion, non con touching, trauma, cyberbullying

Watch Suggestions (to focus more on the romance with the main and side couples)
- episode 1 watch 1hr 1min - end
- episode 2 watch 17:20-end
- episode 3 watch 18:45-end
- episode 4 watch 9:50-11:45 and 15-44
- episode 5 watch beginning-4:50, 12:50-29:30 and 32:40-end
- episode 6 watch 5:55-10:10, 14-19 and 23-end
- watch episode 7
- episode 8 watch 41-45, 51:55-53:35 and 56-end
- episode 9 watch beginning-5, 16:45-20, 54-1hr 1min
- episode 10 watch 11-16:05, 20-26:10, 45:30-53:40
- episode 11 watch beginning-22:30, 39:30-52, 57-end
- episode 12 watch 15-18 and 40-end

What I Liked
- a gaming setting
- that his coworkers were nice instead of the normal backbiting we've seen in workplace settings
- they showed the viewer why he was so attached
- in episode 2 that he rescued his boss
- odd how everyone was watching them like The Truman Show
- supportive friends
- that they showed a realistic long distance relationship

Room For Improvement
- the brief exposition dump was not needed
- overall it veered into a bit too cringey like him setting out the figuring at his very first work meeting and saying what he said
- nonsense, a company wouldn't let customers know officially with 6 days left???
- the boss should not have been coercive especially because he knew how much the character meant to him
- comedy sound effects didn't make things funny
- episode 8 love rival/jealousy stuff
- ghosting with the side couple
- wasn't quite happy with how it ended, the leads didn't interact until 40 minutes of 51 in the finale

Read More

Thai romcom with some heaviness

Overall: I support Saint and all the actors but the the comedy didn't mesh well with some heavy plot points. Based on the book "Wanjai Phuyai Jom" by Naoto which I haven't read. 12 episodes about an hour each. Aired on Idol Factory's YouTube channel https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4D0KlUVq4IyHCM1l3v94GC0SJ3EUG8fl&si=EmHX_4KfrB2NSdKr

Content Warnings: fight, non con kissing, intimate partner abuse, pretended to commit suicide, attempted murder, beaten up, violence, blood, manipulation, bullying, coercion, sexual harassment, past child abuse, cyber bullying, kidnapping, beaten up, dub/non con kiss, manhandling

What I Liked
- chuckled a couple times
- happy to see Saint on screen again
- good they called out that teacher/student relationship and the teacher had consequences though I wish he had had other consequences
- the grandma
- his brother, though he should respect boundaries
- the end of the finale

Room For Improvement
- jumps from serious moments to ridiculous moments (like that inflatable mall thing in episode 3)
- they brushed the intimate partner abuse under the rug, in the real world she'd likely be dead in a couple of years
- nonsense writing: why couldn't he have gone to another school or studied at home?, the parents weren't concerned about what almost happened to him?, if it's that dangerous then they should have had him go out of the country
- though I didn't have an issue with the age gap per se (Yo was 19 and Jom was 28-31), it was not appealing to see Yo in high school wearing the high school uniform and Jom acted like a parent with a rebellious kid many times
- the villains were cartoonish and practically twirled their mustaches
- zero interest in the high school bullying stuff and redemption arc
- love rival and his redemption arc
- noble idiot trope/refused to communicate cliche
- most humor didn't work for me

Read More

opposites attract short series

Overall: this was a decent short series (filmed vertical style). 12 episodes about 4 minutes each. Aired on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bL6MkYrE6Co&list=PLX6cx4BgCOtAC9XrO1yBBjLWBRexMGXHH&index=2&ab_channel=Ch7HD

Content Warnings: non con picture taking/sharing, non con kiss

What I Liked
- clear premise
- opposite personalities/their dynamic
- caring/sweet moments
- intimacy
- consent when the 1 guy was very drunk
- excellent way to study muscle groups

Room For Improvement
- sound effects didn't make things funny
- cliche wannabe girlfriend
- the fake out at the end but at least it was short
- O Christmas Tree background song (didn't take off points)
- (neutral) did a grocery store sponsor this series lol (there were a ton of product placements but I didn't deduct points

Read More

an established couple with too much repetitiveness (watch suggestions)

Overall: I was looking forward to seeing an established couple navigate a challenge; however, re-telling the same plot points over and over made this challenging to watch. There did seem to be some crossover with Y Destiny, but I don't think you need to watch it in order to watch this series. 10 episodes about 30 minutes each. Aired on iQIYI https://www.iq.com/play/suntiny-episode-1-27wncv1edpg?lang=en_us

Content Warning: self harm mentioned, non con kiss

Watch Suggestions (to reduce the repetitiveness)
- watch episodes 1 & 2
- skip episodes 3-6
- episode 7 watch 4-6:50, 12:30-22:20
- episode 8 watch 2-3, 17-19:45
- episode 9 watch 7:15-8 for side couple montage and 30:30-33:15
- watch episode 10

What I Liked
- established couple
- different personalities/styles in the beginning
- styling
- ongoing physical intimacy/mutual want
- that Toy stood up for himself
- supportive friends

Room For Improvement
- the spoiler start of the series
- the exposition/feeling dumps with the camcorder verses showing the viewer how they feel/it happening organically
- going into a bathtub with underwear on
- people laughing at him for his issue
- repetitive and since they were frequently styled similarly it was difficult to know when they were in different bodies
- that mask thing was odd
- the side couple guy felt like a player for way too long, at episode 6 we should have seen character growth/change
- too many flashbacks
- the non con kiss with the side couple
- cliche "I can explain" but doesn't explain in person or text with plenty of time to do so
- comedy sound effects didn't make things funny

Read More

zero payoff

Overall: I was into the obsessed brother but the progression wasn't good and the ending was awful. 6 episodes under 15 minutes each. Aired on PPeachStory YouTube channel https://youtu.be/81-EFRHQbXE?si=XlJ0V6IjmBTRA0no This production also made Uncle Unknown.

Content Warnings: arson, (past: child abuse, beaten up, murder/death, blood), violence, coercion, sexual assault, non con kissing, manhandling, non biological brothers raised as siblings from elementary age

What I Liked
- visuals
- tension
- how the younger guy was the unhinged one
- enjoyed how they were watching other BL/queer series in episode 3
- good dream in episode 3

Room For Improvement
- sexual assault in episode 6
- the first "kiss" was terrible, not sure their lips even touched and also the circumstances of how it happened
- terrible ending
- the adopted brother thing didn't bother me a ton but he kept saying 'brother' every single sentence which was cringey
- sound effects like the hits or footsteps were cheesy/unrealistic/too loud
- nonsense stuff, they didn't call for help for the dad???
- dubbing
- annoying how free episodes only stay free for 1 week

Note: the two were not biological brothers as the older guy said he adopted the younger guy in episode 2, but it did show that they were raised together (the younger one seemed to be in elementary school). That aspect of their relationship didn't bother me, but I can see how it might not be everyone's cup of tea.

Read More

choppy indie series (watch suggestions)

Overall: way too many characters/plot threads in this series. 6 episodes about 35 minutes each (taking out the intro/outros/etc) Aired on Loy Kaew YouTube Channel https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLsPniimXTgfDEGMCYnL_MGY_Ic96dsM6&si=TgztkVxn1VRCg7z6 (note the playlist is in a different watch order)

Content Warnings: murder, blood, gang rape off screen, bullying, beaten up, blood, sexual harassment, non con touching, manipulation, punch

Watch Suggestions (focuses on the m/m couple, sweet & steamy parts, removes the content warnings)
- watch episode 1 part 1 4:30-6:15 and 12-14:45; part 2 9:30-end; part 3 beginning to 5:15
- watch episode 2 part 1 13:40-15
- watch episode 3 part 2 1:30-end and part 3 11:30-end
- watch episode 4 part 1 beginning-9:20
- watch episode 5 part 2 8:10-end; part 3 3:30-end
- watch episode 6 part 1 13:55-end and part 2 beginning-3:50 and 6:05-13:25

What I Liked
- vistas/countryside (or historical, not 100% sure) setting
- 1 kind mom
- good kissing/intimacy

Room For Improvement
- super long intro
- too many characters, I couldn't figure out who they were or their relationships to each other, choppy
- love triangle/s?
- the implied gang rape was horrific, I don't care what that character did, she did not deserve that
- the ending was disappointing, we've seen it done many times before, at least they could have cut out some of the other plot threads and added a reincarnation part at the end

Read More

tried to do too much

Overall: I liked the unique premise but when people have to make charts to understand the plot, then that's a bad sign. 11/12 episodes (there is an alternate final episode). Aired on WeTV.

Content Warnings: punches/fight scenes, manhandling, blood, non con picture taking, gaslighting, there is a major one in the first episode but I'm keeping this spoiler free

What I Liked
- unique premise
- the intro sequence
- lighting, kind of supernatural vibe and it differentiates the universes
- the brother/sister dynamic
- some cute moments
- same sex marriage advocacy
- the side couple (though wish for a bit more enthusiasm earlier and also that stuff in ep 10 was way too early/rushed)

Room For Improvement
- the world building was just too confusing, I think they should have stuck with 1 world building concept instead of multiple, the characters tried to explain it a bit in episode 5 and 7 but that was too late
- lack of clear resolution for Dew's universe
- unrealistic how player Mum just flips on a dime and how Dew and Mum interact when 1 doesn't know the other person and then only talk afterwards
- did not understand why Dew/Mum loved each other so much or feel their chemistry
- didn't like Mint's character but did not like Dew either for not being clear and going along with her suggestion, Mint's character did a bizarre 180 in one of the final episodes
- police should have been called a few times and weren't
- Mum with the 'gay for you' trope
- would a younger person not know about bi/pan as options???
- did not like the choose your own ending

Read More