BL Compilations

historical romance/drama

Overall: I'm into the historical setting. This is based on the book "Memoir of Rati" (จาฤกรติชา) by P.PICHA which I haven't read and am reviewing the series based on its own merits. Airing on GMMTV's YouTube channel everywhere except Southeast Asia https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLb6_2JamS9iM2MJATWfoFPY-piHFDtvEC and Netflix in Southeast Asia https://www.netflix.com/watch/82056609

Content Warnings: fight, blood, past death, bullying

What I Liked
- historical setting
- tension/chemistry
- intimacy
- styling

Room For Improvement
- exposition dump to start the series
- unrealistic to volunteer him in episode 1
- the pacing feels a bit slow at times
- note: 6/3 is skippable

Read More

soap opera-y vertical micro BL series

Overall: it was decently entertaining and I liked one of the MLs. Aired on the app ShortMax.

App Info - this series takes about a week to watch for free. Episodes 1-7 are free and then I could watch 5 episodes with ads. The daily check in, watching 6 more ads got me about 4 more episodes a day (so 9 episodes each day and 62 paid episodes). Some of the other apps only take 2-3 days but it wasn't as bad as Please Teach Me which took me 13 days to watch for free.

Content Warnings: attempted murder, past suicide, trauma, kidnapping, violence, drugging, slaps, non con touching, manhandling, non con photo taking/posting, choke, manipulation

What I Liked
- a main character stood up for himself/decided to get what he wanted
- good kissing
- caring moments

Room For Improvement
- the cliche wannabe fiancee character
- did both teacher/student and boss/employee tropes
- voice overs
- bad crying
- 3 kidnappings in 2 hours runtime, 1 guy was slapped by 5 different people

Read More

needed more focus on the main leads

Overall: too much time spent on the dad and the cliche female character, I gave this an indie bump for the rating. 6 episodes about 5 minutes each. Aired on Lovememory YouTube channel https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwW9ZsuS2FnaW9PRqot0U_yIyMdzmHw96&si=9rOJwr-2MhMVF1YV The channel membership has longer episodes, likely with more kissing.

Content Warnings: past death, past child abuse, alcoholism, death off screen

What I Liked
- idol trainee character
- easy to understand set up
- episode 1 sweet flashback
- the music
- some good kissing
- good they communicated right away in ep 4

Room For Improvement
- noble idiot trope
- music with lyrics was too loud when characters were speaking
- an actor switched partway thru and they needed an on screen video explanation before the start of that episode
- cliche female character
- nervous that a character did something right after his dad re-appeared, it made me nervous about the future
- didn't like a character saying what he thought the dad felt and how the dad went to a good place

Read More

mildly infuriating (watch suggestions)

Overall: one thing I've loved about Strongberry's shorts is how they managed to tell complete stories in short run times. I think this series should have been a tight 6 instead of a meandering plot points/characters. 12 episodes about 15 minutes each. Aired on Strongberry's YouTube channel https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNd7BhdAz80qWw5TVGLUlVThCJPKyvJ6X&si=iz35RIq3BEz5I4H3 - Strongberry also made the series Long Time No See (sometimes combined into movie format), Choco Milk Shake and Blossom Campus as well as numerous short movies (my favorites include: A First Love Story, Some More, My Pistachio and As If You Whisper).

Content Warning: manipulation

Watch Suggestions
- read the summary and skip episode 1
- episode 2 watch 10:20-end
- episode 3 watch beginning to 5:35 and could watch 12:15-15:40
- episode 4 watch beginning-1 and 14-end
- watch episodes 5 & 6
- stop episode 7 at 17:50
- episode 8 watch 4:30-5:30
- skip episodes 9-11
- episode 12 watch 5-end

What I Liked
- chuckled a few times
- visuals
- easy to understand premise
- good kissing

Room For Improvement
- the flash forward as a hook for episode 1
- slow pacing, first 2 episodes were set up, the main leads had barely any screentime for 3 episodes towards the end
- wish it had been Yooha's idea instead of him being coerced into it in episode 2
- noble idiot trope, didn't communicate
- it was really odd with a third character who seemed to have more chemistry with a lead, and then that made it challenging to ship the second couple (almost felt like he was sad and accepted second best)
- the second half of the finale was anticlimactic, what was the point of showing him shopping (and I'm confused what the gift meant as it seemed much too premature unless it's something else)
- too much blur filter

Read More

on hold - lack of official international release

Note: I have taken off a full point from my initial review for the unprofessionalism regarding the change of platform/airing plans. All of this should have been worked out before the series aired, not changed partway through. Currently only those in Japan and Thailand have a way to watch this series.

Overall: this appears to be a solid romcom with a dash of angst. First episode aired on YouTube, company posted they will not post future episodes on YouTube. 10 episodes about 40 minutes each.

Content Warnings: none so far

What I Liked
- clear set up and then that it was a flashback
- funny parts
- Bas's cameo
- a bit of mystery at the end of the beginning part in the present, and then we'll see later what exactly is happening between them
- sword scene was fun
- don't think we've had a romcom BL about a boyband group forming yet

Room For Improvement
- the hardcoded subtitles would be better as YouTube softsubs so they are larger, easier to see and people could auto translate into their own language
- felt a bit slow in parts and I watched on a faster speed

Read More

First Impression: Desire

Overall: I thought it was a good start to a series with a unique premise. TBD how they handle certain elements that could lead to my review going higher or lower. 16 episodes about 45 minutes each. Available on: Viki https://www.viki.com/videos/1262518v-desire-the-series-episode-1 ; GagaOOLala (not available in Japan or Korea) https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/5570/desire-2025 ; iQIYI https://www.iq.com/play/abo-desire-episode-1-2f5nblwn91c?lang=en_us ; DurianCulture YouTube Channel https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYLB2DJj_hcNTPvs4-Zi_M6Lrs87M0cBS&si=wrtcww9Ii-aSAbJJ ; WeTV https://wetv.vip/en/play/c8wxihkula51gtb/k4101wza7sh-EP01%3A_ABO_Desire ; Youku https://www.youku.tv/v/v_show/id_XNjQ4MTQ2MjkwOA== and Heavenly (South Korea) https://heavenly.tv/en/detail/955

Content Warnings: past intimate partner abuse, manipulation, sexual harassment

What I Liked
- unique premise for a live action series
- we got the background/motivations for a couple of the main characters*
- interested to see a player get played
- I'm interested in the secretary who is hiding his identity but we had few scenes with him in episodes 2 and 3
- an extremely wide release, might be the most platforms I've seen so far for a BL series

Room For Improvement
- the exposition dump/world building dump; however, I realize that many people aren't familiar with the setting so it was a fast way to give everyone the basics
- *still not sure why a character is going to such extreme lengths and we didn't get much background on another main character
- confused by a character that had an omega smell, do betas and omegas both have that smell?
- seemed to be a lot of business plot that I kind of was lost/spaced out on
- (neutral/TBD) I gather that some people don't like the dub/non con of ABO and also the genderism, I'm hoping we don't get non con. In the series, they mentioned an ABO Equality Act and I'm curious to see if it's similar to the real world how money means people break/bend the rules with fewer consequences or if in the series characters have character growth/consequences.

Read More

awesome chemistry with unnecessary 3rd character

Overall: the beginning was very enjoyable with a clear premise and chemistry; however, interjecting a third character ruined the momentum. 5 episodes about 8 minutes each. Aired on Secret of Us YouTube channel https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7BSona1dmx50GA_E5MncPccjZdoNfjLn&si=BRP6NYZqmq5PrXoz The production has also made: Trapped in Osaka and Infidelity, It's a Disease.

What I Liked
- clear premise
- their dynamic/opposite personalities
- production value (for what I assume is a very indie company)

Room For Improvement
- the third character took up way too much screen time (and was also the wannabe wife cliche), I was supposed to believe the two leads were meant for each other but I didn't see enough of their relationship progression
- kind of noble idiot trope at the end, though it didn't seem to last long

Read More

First Impression Kei X Yaku - BL or Bromance? I don't care, it's interesting

Overall: I started by being really confused because there are time jumps but things fell into place during the second part of the 1st episode. It has some pretty violent parts which are a lot to see over and over again* but I really want to see what happens.

Content Warnings: violence, murder, attempted suicide?, past trauma

What I Liked
- a mafia boss and police officer is a less common plot (Trapped is the only other series that fits this)
- the two main actors have good chemistry
- good production value
- Shiro and Ichiro are using their brains, I like smart characters
- stomach growling and bonus slip at the end of ep 2 were funny

Room For Improvement
- I was very confused for the first chunk of the first episode, I hate when time jumps are not made clear and also when I can't tell their start/stop points
- kind of bummed there is a possible female love interest
- *too many flashbacks especially of the sister during that one scene, I think they showed it 5 times during the 1st two episodes and it's so disturbing to watch

Read More

still a favorite

Overall: I originally watched this in 2020. Re-watched in 2024, I saw the areas of improvement but the two m/m couples stayed as two of my all time favorites. On YouTube as twenty 22 min episodes and Viki as ten 45 minute episodes.
Note: Shao Fei's piece of hair was sticking up on purpose, I think they called it Fifi lol

Content Warnings: past murders, attempted murder, grief, manipulation, violence, blood, torture, held against will, suicide (off screen), drugging, beginning sexual assault, non con touching, manhandling, past child abuse

What I Liked
- dynamic of enemies to lovers/opposites attract
- Shao Fei & Li An's friendship
- Shao Fei wasn't completely inept, did have some fight and detective skills
- sweet moments
- a few funny moments (though some were too cringey)
- good intimacy
- second m/m couple (but not Jack saying Li An had to take responsibility for (unknowingly) attracting him)
- OST

Room For Improvement
- episode 1 was weird when the sister wore his shirt and acted flirty
- the het side couple didn't hook me, wish they had spent that screen time on the second m/m couple
- confused/zoned out with all the mafia intricacies/plot 
- some camerawork had a low budget feel
- comedy sound effects
- unrealistic parts, i.e. the 2 coworkers handed Li An off to a known criminal
- some truly heinous suits
- wish something hadn't happened towards the end when they visited the grave, didn't deduct points

Read More

decent way to spend 20 minutes

Overall: I was put off by the title and how one character looked really young, but their ages were 20 and 30 and it was a decent story. This is one episode https://youtu.be/N36RyPrWRgE?si=qbCEznCpg4ybeo0B from Love Bites season 2 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPcB0_P-Zlj6UzkFSEipwgaNxQraj-S_5

Content Warning: vomiting

What I Liked
- easy to understand plot
- a character was sassy but also like a real person I could meet and not a stereotype
- cute moments

Room For Improvement
- voice over was unnecessary
- unclear on how much time passed, at the end that felt rushed for what he gave him but maybe it wasn't exactly what I thought it was or more time had passed than what I thought

Read More

extremely well done

Overall: acting, tension and production were all stellar in this series. 6 episodes about 22 minutes each. Was available on Viki under the title "The Novelist", currently available on  GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/2189/pornographer-2018-e01 

Content Warnings: manipulation, dub con touching/kissing/and more, alcoholism, punch

What I Liked
- tension/chemistry
- some of the best intimate scenes ever (natural noises, facial expressions, body movements)
- acting (the silent screaming scene in episode 5 was amazing)
- production value (cinematography, music, attention to props like Kuzumi's shirt in ep 3)

Note: I normally struggle with manipulative leads in romances, but although Kijima is flawed, I still want him to work through his stuff and end up with Kuzumi. I think that is testament to strong writing and acting. 

Room For Improvement
- the voice over
- could have shortened the story of the student and his teacher in ep 1
- multiple running scenes
- up to 2 minute recaps at the start of episodes
- in episode 6 I've never understood the "though I'm a liar, I'll keep my promise" as he doesn't in the morning, but perhaps it's the promise to do what Kuzumi asked him earlier in the episode

Franchise Watch Order
Pornographer aka The Novelist (2018)
Pornographer: Indigo Mood aka Mood Indigo (2019) (this is a prequel but should be watched after The Novelist)
Pornographer: Spring Life (2021)
Pornographer: Playback (2021)
Pornographer: Continued Spring Life (2021)

Read More

slice of life with some angst

Overall: I thought it was a fairly well done slice of life short indie series but it could have used some improvements. Two parts, 27 minutes total. Aired on Mind Trio's YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHWvrNIJL6cWsd5_gigdAGHlGQAC4UYCU

Content Warning: punch

What I Liked
- a realistic confession and running away
- a few cute moments
- production value

Room For Improvement
- voice over exposition dumps
- flashbacks in such a short series
- at first I was confused that there were 3 characters, having a scene with all 3 of them would have been helpful before they had separate scenes
- timeline/how much time passed was confusing, also that extra scene at the end of the 2nd part, was that a flashback or did it take place after the series events?, because it doesn't seem like a lot of time passing and Time seems very fickle with his love
- the punch was not needed
- wish they had just focused it on 2 characters

Read More

A sweet, slice of life high school story

Overall: a nice, short (35min) realistic movie about two high schoolers, one of whom is trying to figure out who he is and what he wants

Content Warning: homophobia (mainly from 1 teacher, bleh)

What I Liked
- the theme of being true to yourself and pursuing your dreams
- a confident, out gay guy (and his friends were fine with his sexual orientation)
- the pairing of a goofy extrovert and a quiet introvert (this reminds me of MODC)
- how both apologize for pushing each other (both physically and mentally)

Room For Improvement
- no sense of how much time passed when they were getting to know each other or after the incident
- the night scenes are too dark and need a bit more lighting
- the two female students were intrusive and were not being as supportive as they thought
- the female teacher telling him not to pursue art and then being terrible at classroom management
- the male teacher for being homophobic (slight redemption after the incident)
- the ending was fine, but it would have been nice to have a super short scene (or even pics) during/after the credits with them meeting up later
- having both small hard coded and soft coded English subs, they were actually a bit different but I couldn't tell which was better (watched on gagaoolala)

Read More

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

Read More