BL Compilations

4 established couples including one m/m couple, moved me to my core (minor spoilers)

Overall: I loved how this series focuses on established couples and realistic problems that they might encounter. This series touched on many real life problems, several of which are rarely discussed in media. I sobbed multiple times during this series which rarely happens (sometimes due to being happy and sometimes due to being sad). The series touched my soul, but I do recognize that it is not perfect, so hence a 9.

Content Warnings: homophobia, mention of past abuse, past character death off screen, trauma, fertility struggles, slap between a mother and daughter

What I Liked
- talking about rarely discussed issues
- the communication between characters
- characters supporting one another through various challenges
- character growth from several characters

Room For Improvement
- there were times that things got a bit too preachy/PSA (public service announcement)
- this kissing was bad, especially considering that these characters are in established relationships
- the cliche plot point in the m/m relationship with the woman, but I appreciated it that they didn't do the full cliche
- the new mom says men were not good/pure and germy, it was odd
- one couple especially annoyed me, although I was happy there was some character growth. I needed more backstory sooner in order to not really dislike one character.

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life, love and hijinks

Overall: similar to season 1 and 2, this had the mockumentary feel where Zik, the main protagonist, talked to the camera directly interspersed with other scenes. The first season was a crack comedy with a few poignant moments, I rated it a 9. The second season was a bit more serious and didn't hook me as much so I gave it an 8. This season had a ton of funny parts but also had serious plotlines as well. I think for having probably little to no budget, they did a nice job with the production. Watched on YouTube (Fourson Production).

Content Warnings: non con video taking/posting, drug addiction, pet death

What I Liked:
- some favorite characters returned, his friend Radar from season 1 and also Barbra is back!!!
- many hilarious moments during this season
- sweet moments
- caring/supportive friend group

Room For Improvement:
- a brief montage from the last season (or 2) might be helpful to remind viewers what has happened previously
- I wasn't into the running gag about the one character's sexuality
- wished they'd subtitle the bloopers at the end
- hoping for a season 4 because that was kind of open/cliffhanger
- I didn't deduct points, but I think the very irregular airing schedule hurts their views and it can be difficult to remember what happened earlier in the season

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BL With A Cherry On Top (Ehhhh???!!!)

Overall: a fantastical realistic BL showcasing a healthy relationship. This is in my top tier of BL shows.

What I Liked (mild spoilers)
- the ability to read someone's mind without them knowing is a major violation of privacy, but Adachi does not abuse this power, many times he actively tries to avoid using it. He likes it and wants to keep it because he wants to know how he can help others. 
- the way Kurosawa handled the King's game. Even though it's likely what Kurosawa wanted to do, once he saw that Adachi was uncomfortable, he changed it to a forehead kiss and said 'sorry' in his mind.
- the fact that Adachi doesn't have an identity crisis or internalized homophobia when he knows Kurosawa is romantically attracted to him. The reason that he thinks he can't be with Kurosawa is that "I'm afraid of getting more deeply involved and disappointing him" (episode 4), basically it's Adachi's low self-esteem that makes him think he's not worthy of being with Kurosawa. 
- the cinematography/color scheme
- the humor, like that bad poetry on the bus

Room For Improvement
- why did Kurosawa wait 5 years before making any moves? Just because they bumped into each other in the elevator he thought it was fate or something? I think he likely continued because Adachi was being more reciprocal, I just wish there had been a bit more of a reason at the start of the series. 
- the side couple. The 30 year old comes across as a creeper to me. I wish they had made his character not be exaggerated and more calm.
- Adachi's over acting is not my thing. It appears to be common in many live action adaptations from manga, but I wish it was toned down a bit more. 

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Paint With a Jerk

Overall: We have the enemies to lovers trope along with the fastidious/uptight guy and the messy/carefree guy. I watched the first 6 episodes and then reactions to the rest

Content Warnings: sexual harassment, non con touching/posing, a punch, throwing an item at another person

What I Liked:
- I did laugh out loud at a few parts, mainly Phab who is #bestboy
- fun flirting and also burns in return
- I thought the actors did a good job with a bad script
- overall production value was pretty good except a couple of camera shots that I didn't like

Room For Improvement:
- the main issue is that I can't empathize with a jerk character who is a jerk and the reason is not shown, there is slow or no character growth until right at the end and then they are happily ever after with their former tormentor. Episode 6 and the preview for episode 7 made me drop this for now. Calling someone "stupid" and saying "you f*cking suck" and then throwing and hitting them with an object, nope (and before that, wth were those alarms/dumb schedule)
- the relationship between Maze and Nueng was so bizarre, when there was a perfectly reasonable explanation (and they should have been clear at the beginning to show why Maze has closed himself off so much)
- the cliche 'I don't remember anything last night although I totally remember what happened'
- that hotel manager plot was bizarre and not needed, also he didn't really have any consequences
- the basically blackmailing him, totally not realistic contract, someone can't just say they are your manager and take 40%
- was not feeling the side couple, wish Green had played Nueng
- I think I was not really understanding some of the plot at the beginning, what exactly Maze was doing
- that firefighter carry inside the art studio was odd
- the punch was also odd, I think they could have choreographed it right before but then one of them messed up the choreo. I would have liked that reason more than the reason they gave.
- taking pictures and posting to social media without approval, nope
- I'm not into the stereotypical/cliche scheming trans woman character

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misstep by misstep (watch ep 1, 2 and 10)

Overall: there was a solid premise here and I would like to see Man again but the writing/editing was lacking. I watched episodes 1-4, 10 and read through comments about episodes. Aired on YouTube, GagaOOLala and WeTV (depending on your country). Same production company as Lovely Writer.

Content Warnings: vomiting, harassment, sexism, non con picture/video taking, likely more

What I Liked
- the supportive friend group, talking about making your own destiny
- Pat pushing back on older people automatically deserving respect because of their age
- Pat almost punching that other dude who was harassing Pat
- a couple funny parts
- nice to see an established couple and Chot was great, that phone conversation in episode 10 was amazing, would have been even better as an in person conversation
- talking about getting a vasectomy is rarely mentioned and much appreciated
- NSFW scenes/kissing in episode 10 was fairly well done
- (neutral) has comedy sound effects (I really dislike the gulping noise that they use)

Room For Improvement
- the timeline/time skips, I dislike time jumps and the timeline here was pretty confusing, I think this took place over 5 years
- choppy parts (they get ready for a fancy event but then we never see them at the event? suddenly they are in a car?)
- the pacing was too slow, there are many scenes that could have been cut or shortened (toilet humor to start with),
- what do two attractive men see in Pat? I was hoping for some character growth but found it very lacking. He drinks too much in front of his boss and then does it again later? He is shocked by Jeng's declaration? He cries when confronting Jeng in episode 10? He cries several times at work, he argues with a client due to personal feelings, etc.
- Jeng bothered me at times as well, he doesn't get to tell another adult to stop drinking (and then bring him to a bar directly afterwards???), he was a bad boss, I was hoping to see some growth but he disciplined a subordinate in front of another subordinate, then somehow it appears that person was not moved to another team? And why on earth did Pat have to apologize to his harasser, he shouldn't have apologized even if he hit the dude. From an earlier episode, I thought Jeng would see he got those pictures and then apologize to Pat but that never happened. Jeng refuses to talk to Pat in episode 10 and goes back to sleep. Jeng had a decent plan in episode 10 but then months go by and he didn't implement it and instead did something that would make things even more of an HR headache...
- the side couple wasn't introduced well (I was never sure what their jobs were) and I wish Jen didn't have an (apparently nice) boyfriend because it made impossible for me to root for their relationship, also they took up too much time in episode 3, then randomly one of them has a new boyfriend???
- in episode 5 Pat (a character in a fictional BL series) says "bl couples profit off the identity of the LGBTQ community", I mean, they probably do but the queer community also benefits from bl series existing, many bl series are romcoms with happily ever afters instead of the normal tragic ending we get and maybe seeing two men end up happily together can change people's minds a little, it at least gives more exposure. And maybe it wasn't the creators intention but putting Zee and Nunew as the other couple insinuates that they are profiting off the LGBTQ community (when first of all they might even be part of that community for all I know) and I've heard they are major supporters of LGBTQ rights
- nonsense things, Jeng manages a restaurant and is a marketing manager?

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hidden gem

Overall: this might be my favorite multi-generational family drama. Note that it is not a BL series; however, there is a cute BL couple in this. 10 episodes about 55 minutes each. Aired on Viu with a vpn set to Thailand.

Content Warnings: manipulation, manhandling, non con recording/sharing, death

What I Liked
- that the whole family tried to help
- almost 5 generations (great grandmother, grandfather, parents and the uncle, Save, his younger sister/the orphans)
- character growth (I cried a few times)
- sweet/caring moments
- the ending

Room For Improvement
- some aspects were a bit heavy handed
- a couple nonsense things like what happened with the computer
- how the grandfather suddenly gave up in episode 5, based on his past actions

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One Terrible "Family"

Overall: with a "family" like that who needed enemies? 8 episodes about 40 minutes each. Aired on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-CpzQszt3GyMqPTQVMO_rbvSt6-YUvAg

Content Warning: non/dub con kiss, punch, manipulation, gaslighting, attempted suicide episode 8

What I Like
- beachy/relaxed setting
- sweet moments

Room For Improvement
- that "family" was total trash and they had zero consequences for constantly lying/gaslighting him
- a character swore he would be his memories and when he really needed to do that....he didn't
- open ending
- timeline/what was happening was a bit confusing in the beginning but it was cleared up in episode 1 part 4
- unethical doctor and terrible brother
- nonsense stuff: why didn't a main character have a journal or video diary right away, why wouldn't him and the other ML come up with a plan as they could have easily guessed what would happen the next morning

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unique premise

Overall: the confusing plot (though intentional) and distrust that the main romance was real made me not invested in this series. Major ending spoiler in the comments. Adapted from the book "Mystique in the Mirror" by Patrick III Rangsimant which I haven't read and this review is based on the series. 8 episodes about 45 minutes each. Aired on iQIYI https://www.iq.com/play/mystique-in-the-mirror-episode-1-13h4cxtv8zg?lang=en_us

Content Warnings: held against will (complicated), non con kiss (complicated), past death, death, grief

What I Liked
- a different premise
- that we couldn't see the ending/it was unpredictable
- fantastic finale

Room For Improvement
- the suspense was more confusing so it didn't keep me hooked
- since I doubted the main romance, I was never fully invested in it
- dubious medical ethics (I'm not a doctor, but some of the medical stuff felt dramalandish)

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adore the main couple

Overall: the main couple is really sweet. 10 episodes about 50 minutes each. Airing on Netflix https://www.netflix.com/watch/82779841

Content Warnings: manipulation, past & current bullying, past death

Watch Suggestions (to get rid of the horrid behavior of the side couple and take out most content warnings)
- read the synopsis, episode 1 watch 9-10:30, 31:40-41:45, 46:50-end
- episode 2 watch beginning-17:20, 17:35-20:30 and 24-end
- episode 3 watch 5:30-18:30, 20:05-27:30, 39-end
- episode 4 watch 4:50-10:25, 15:35-end
- episode 5 watch beginning-32:15 and 45-end

What I Liked
- unique premise
- supportive friends (though not the guy friend towards the beginning of episode 1)
- caring moments

Room For Improvement
- the side couple, cannot believe he did that on his birthday
- comedy sound effects
- talked about the bathroom twice in the first half of ep 1

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brace yourself

Overall: I'm tried my best to see this through a fictional lens and the actors did a fantastic job, but I couldn't support the romance aspect which up until the end of episode 14 was about power and control aka abuse and not love. Adapted from the web novel “Si Mian Fo” by Su Erliang which I haven't read and I am reviewing this series based on its own merits. 15 episodes about 40 minutes each. Aired on Viki https://www.viki.com/tv/41277c-to-my-shore (Americas, Europe, Oceania, India, Middle East, Japan and South Korea); GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/6027/to-my-shore-2025-e01 (not in the Americas, Europe, Oceania, India, Middle East, Japan and South Korea) and Heavenly in South Korea

Content Warnings: past (deaths, bullying, unwanted outing/homophobia); current (sexual assault, manipulation, intimate partner abuse, drugging, non con video recording, violence, self harm mentioned and shown, PTSD/trauma, vomiting, intimate partner abuse, non con turned consensual, coercion, repeated rape not explicitly shown (this was coerced and not freely given consent))

Watch Suggestions (this will focus on sweet moments, but there are still visits to grave sites and other things)
- episode 5 watch 16:40-29:50
- episode 6 watch 3:30-15:35, 17:30-21:20, 21:35-27, 34:50-end
- episode 7 watch 6:10-10, 20-22
- episode 8 watch 7:40-15:30
- skip episodes 9, 10, 11 and 12
- episode 13 watch 26-39:30
- episode 14 watch 4-17:45 and 29:30-end (for a character to finally understand/apologize)
- episode 15 watch 30-end

What I Liked
- acting
- that they have a slightly more balanced power dynamic and one guy defends himself
- the obsessed chemistry vibe

Room For Improvement
- I cannot support a character in a romantic relationship, he abused/emotionally tortured the supposed love of his life and continued to do so until the end of episode 14. A few "I'm sorry" were not enough of a redemption arc. He consistently put his own happiness over the one he claimed to love. The other guy was not mutually abusive, anything bad he did was in response to the abuser's abuse. There was a time skip but as a viewer it felt no time had passed which did not help with the supposed redemption arc
- the crown was odd
- too much time spent on 1 character in the beginning
- odd music over a flashback
- multiple guys were obsessed with another guy

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grief, healing, love

Overall: it's a sweet story of grief, healing and love with a tinge of danger/mystery. 10 episodes about 45 minutes each. Aired on GMMTV's YouTube channel (not in Thailand, Taiwan, Japan) https://youtu.be/akIaydwc0Mk?si=lWlPxAJ42JNf5G51

Content Warning: attempted murder, blood, past death, grief, manipulation

What I Liked
- the bickering/opposites dynamic
- sweet and caring moments
- mystery element
- working thru grief
- they had some good communication

Room For Improvement
- pacing was a bit slow in parts
- villain was obvious
- ex was unnecessary

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Fah was the best character (watch suggestions)

Overall: the other three characters annoyed me at various times. 10 episodes about 40 minutes each. Aired on Viu and GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/6115/love-alert-2025 (not available in Thailand, Japan or Korea).

Content Warnings: slap, manhandling, blackmail, non con video recording/picture taking, intimate partner emotional abuse, manipulation, intimate partner physical abuse off screen, manipulation, vomiting

Watch Suggestions (to focus on sweet/steamy)
episode 1 start at 20:15 minutes-38
episode 2 watch 20-21:30, 24:20-26:30, 32:30-32:15, 42-end
episode 3 watch 19-25, 38:30-end
episode 4 watch beginning-7:30, 34:50-38
episode 5 watch 10-11:45, 13:45-15, 25:05-26:05, 37:45-42
skip episode 6
episode 7 watch 10:30-14:35, 34:20-35:50
episode 8 watch 36:20-37:20 side, 45-47:30
episode 9 watch 25:40-28:50
episode 10 watch 22:30-26:15, 30-34:40, 42:30-end

What I Liked
- Fah
- easy to understand premise
- some things were so ridiculous they are funny (like massaging the meat was supposedly sexy lmao)
- visuals
- characters didn't shy away from intimacy
- non cliche love rivals

Room For Improvement
- started with a flash forward and then went back to 3 months before
- writers wrote Jimmy as more than just a jerk, he was abusive so I didn't want him in a relationship with anyone
- the redemption arc of Jimmy becoming an alcoholic, crying all the time and manhandling when he was apologizing was insufficient
- I needed Toh to have a villain era
- music did not fit some scenes
- time spent on love triangles
- odd how the younger brother said the older brother couldn't date (update, as the plot went on I could see where the brother was coming from)
- how the younger brother didn't just tell another character what was happening in episode 4
- Teh hated a character and suddenly was nice to him?!!!
- (neutral) comedy sound effects, they weren't as bad as some other series

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too much bullying (archery vertical series)

Overall: I wish we had more sweet moments in the past and the present, as I did not enjoy the duration and amount of bullying. 51 episodes about 2 minutes each, first 8 episodes free to watch. Aired on Shortime (my referral link is https://playground.shortime.en/invite/NKNIWI (all letters) and it should get you a bonus) & iQIYI app

Content Warnings: bullying, abuse, non con kissing, manhandling, non con kissing turned consensual, manipulation, drugging, held against will, torture

What I Liked
- archery integration
- visuals
- finally stood up to his dad
- sweet/caring moments
- watch episode 46-51

Room For Improvement
- brief montage did not establish their relationship enough in the past so it wasn't enough for me to root for them in the present
- love rivals
- cliche wannabe wife
- a character was so mad at another character who gave a very valid reason of not wanting to be a secret
- could have easily figured out what happened in the past
- noble idiot trope (twice!)

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