BL Compilations

blended different tones very well - a must watch

Overall: there are very few series that manage to balance humor, romance, realism and sadness well, Love in the Big City is one of them. Based on the book Love in the Big City by Sang Young Park which I didn't read and I reviewed the series on its own merits. 8 episodes about 50 minutes each. Aired on Viki https://www.viki.com/tv/40771c-love-in-the-big-city

Content Warnings: (2 major ones, see my spoiler comment and how the romance plays out), harassment, unwanted outing, homophobia, non/dub con turned consensual, conversion torture (off screen), punch

What I Liked
- acting/chemistry
- supportive friends
- blended different tones very well
- sweet moments
- intimacy
- character growth
- production value

Room For Improvement
- exposition dump to introduce his friends
- series covered 10 years, so voice overs were used to show passage of time
- odd that a certain aspect wasn't discussed in episode 5
- episode 8 jumped back and forth between flashbacks and the present

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watch suggestions for the 2 main couples

Overall: beautiful vistas, sweeping musical scores, good kissing with on brand drawbacks (a ton of characters/plot I cared nothing about, intended comedy that didn't work). 13 episodes about 45 minutes each. Aired on Oxin Films YouTube Channel https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcQaxIPsTWdNrlWiw7D9H3Fjc3ycc7S3A&si=DcyQk4UKyhaKD5L0 Oxin also produced: My Day, Rainbow Prince, My Story, Our Story, Tie the Not

Content Warnings: death, past death/murder, sexual assault, non con kiss, intimate partner abuse and violence, manhandling, stalking, punches, harassment, non con touching, kidnapping/held against will, homophobia, cyber bullying, drugging, (note: episode 9 part 3 flashing lights)

Watch Suggestions (gets rid of love triangles and evil exes/wannabe boyfriends)
- watch episode 1
- watch episode 2: part 2, part 3, part 4 beginning to 2:20 and 6 to the end
- watch episode 3: part 1 beginning to 10, start part 2 at 2:30 and end at 8:25, part 4 5-end
- watch episode 4: part 1, part 2, part 3 beginning to 3:30, part 4 2:30-7:70, 10:35-11:20
- watch episode 5: part 2 (if you want to cackle about a voice over like nature documentary the whole thing) or 9 to the end, part 3 2:20-4:20, part 4 4:30-5:20
- watch episode 6: part 2 4-4:35, part 3 15s-1:50
- watch episode 7: part 1 beg to 8.45, part 2 6:40 to the end, part 3 9:15-end
- watch episode 8: part 3 beginning to 8.20 & 10:40-12.35, part 4 1:20-3:10
- watch episode 9: part 1 1:45-2:55, 8:15-8:45, part 2 4:55-7:25 & 11:15-end, part 3 5:45-6:10
- watch episode 10: part 1 8:30-end, part 2 beginning to 2:30 and 11:20-end, part 3 5:10-7:50 and 12:20-end, watch all of part 4
- watch episode 11: part 1 6:50 to 7:40, part 2 4:55-6:30, part 4 10-end (singing)
- watch episode 12: part 2 beginning to 1:15
- watch episode 13: part 3 1:45-6:45, part 4 11:40-13:20 and 17:30-end

What I Liked
- visuals
- the setting/vistas
- I cackled a couple of times
- intimate scenes
- supportive dad at the end
- production value improved

Room For Improvement
- many characters introduced in the first episode, cared nothing about the evil ex/wannabe boyfriend characters nor most of the plot
- tone/plot was all over the place (comedy, romance, very violent parts, work drama, family drama), and did not mesh well together
- most humor was a miss (the 3 stooges were not funny at all, innuendos can be fun but the frequency and duration made them veer into cringey territory)
- choppy transition in episode 10
- failed to be innovative at the beginning of ep 11 after a promising ep 10 end
- multiple failed redemption arcs
- lack of consequences for 1 villain (also cartoonist villain)
- a character constantly calling the other guy his girlfriend and wife
- 1 year time jump

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confusing with some dark and sweet parts

Overall: 10 episodes about 45 minutes each. Aired on GMMTV's YouTube channel https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLszepnkojZI6XS68TbMnSxkKingYfxiXv&si=f3hz9MktxKrIILB- (not available in Thailand)

Content Warning: episode 1 part 1 has a jump scare around 16:30, multiples murders shown, kidnapping, manipulation, near murder, trauma; past (murders, suicide, child abuse, near suicide shown)

What I Liked
- mystery
- sweet moments
- the setting, countryside vistas

Room For Improvement
- confusing start with multiple time jumps/memories
- love rival
- a lot of nonsense things
- the wrong character apologized in episode 10

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wanted different pacing

Overall: I wish something had happened earlier so we had more time in the 'after' part. 8 episodes about 25 minutes each. Aired on GagaOOLala (not in Korea or Japan) https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/5836/punks-triangle-2025

Content Warnings: manipulation, vomiting

Watch Suggestions for 6, 7, 8 to remove angst
- skip episode 6
- episode 7 watch 6:30-8:25 and 10:55-23
- episode 8 watch 14:50-end

What I Liked
- styling
- easy to understand premise
- supportive classmates/instructor

Room For Improvement
- voicing inner thoughts/exposition dump
- nonsense: bit of a Clark Kent situation happened, the piercing scene
- too many flashbacks
- rushed finale

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a little better as it went on (watch suggestions)

Overall: unless you enjoy over the top humor with a ton of comedy sound effects follow my watch suggestions. 8 episodes about 45 minutes each. Aired on Mandee Channel's YouTube (cut), GagaOOLala (cut), iQIYI (uncut) and Viki (I assume cut). Mandee Channel/Domundi also produced Naughty Babe, Bed Friend, Cutie Pie and Why R U.

Watch Suggestion (watch the cut version & play at a faster speed unless noted)
- skip episodes 1, 2 & 3 (though shirtless Mai in ep 3 is nice)
- watch ep 4
- watch ep 5 to 48min/standing on the podium
- watch the uncut version of ep 6 15-18 minutes which includes a brief kiss with the side couple (this scene was totally removed from the cut versions for some bizarre reason)
- watch the uncut version of ep 7, can start at 27 minutes with Gus/Tong or to skip over something sad that happened in the past and start at 37 minutes and end at 43 minutes, then you can watch thru to the end with Mai/Jade or skip to 1hr 4min to see their final scene
- watch the uncut version of ep 8 which has a lot of sweet moments and NSFW scenes with Mai & Jade

Content Warnings: hits played as comedy, vomiting (in uncut ep 2), molestation off screen, past death/grief

What I Liked
- enjoyed some of Uea/King's moments (like in episode 5)
- Mai's flirting (wished they had shown why he liked Jade earlier than ep 5)
- Jade's and Mai's supportive family
- cute moments
- how Jade did have agency in episode 8 and initiated things
- good consent/communication in episode 8
- that it has a wide release on 4 different platforms

Room For Improvement
- the three minutes of cringey animation didn't hook me
- Jade's exaggerated/yelling was irritating especially in the beginning episodes
- cringey editing, voice overs and comedy sound effects that didn't make anything funny
- the side couple was oddly hot and cold (note, apparently the cut version removed several of their scenes which is contributing to their confusing interactions with each other)
- not happy with the Uea/King reluctant/violent dynamic, how King was jealous/retaliatory at Uea in ep 6 for just talking to another guy
- slow pacing/repetitive, in episode 6 as an example Mai had almost a duplicate conversation with his mom
- bad decisions with what they cut, I was happy they cut the vomiting scene in episode 2 but why on earth cut an entire scene including a kiss with the side couple in episode 6??? I normally would expect a cut version to reduce a NSFW scene but there wasn't anything to cut up to episode 7 (and then they did cut the NSFW scenes in ep 7 and 8)
- the NSFW scenes were kind of choppy, one of them oddly stopped and then re-started

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dropping this

Overall: There are valid reasons why people write/read/watch/enjoy FICTIONAL toxic/abusive relationships which I'm not going to get into. Day constantly abusing Itt along with other things has made me drop this series. FYI, this is based on the third book in a series - I have not read the books and believe that series should be able to be watch/enjoyed without knowing about the source material so that is how I'm reviewing this series. Aired on WeTV. Later re-released on Viki https://www.viki.com/tv/39900c-love-syndrome-iii

Content Warnings: fight scene/beaten up, violence, blood, intimate partner violence, manipulation, manhandling (likely more content warnings will happen in future episodes)

What I Liked
- Itt's parents
- their friends
- that ep 1 fight scene was just plain fun
- how a former girlfriend is not a cliche evil character
- skinny black jeans and Day's abs

Room For Improvement
- ep 1 Itt screaming about cake for half the episode, I understand that Day likes Itt to rely on him so it's not like he's a victim in all this but the cake screaming was super annoying
- the production should not expect viewers to have read the previous 2 books and understand the characters/story, what we saw was Itt being annoying in episode 1 and then being constantly abused and crying in the next few episodes, this does not make for enjoyable viewing
- scenes dragged on, they spent way too long in the hospital
- a parade of characters in episode 2 made it difficult to know who was who and what their relationship was to one another
- nonsense things like Itt spending multiple days in a hospital for fainting, why were Day and Itt sleeping on couches at their house???
- end of episode 3 looked good but then the beginning of episode 4 skipped over that cliffhanger
- missing and difficult to understand subtitles
- ballad song for the intro/outro was odd given the tone of the series

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took a turn in episode 3

Overall: I enjoyed the first 2 episodes (though the end of episode 2 seemed sudden), but things took a turn in episode 3 and the story tried to cover too much ground. 6 episodes about 10 minutes each. Aired on Secret of Us YouTube channel https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7BSona1dmx6MOq-2_V50NJrjuUGS-UjO&si=h06-k6G1Bz0RiX3k

Content Warnings: dub/non con kiss, sexual assault, past deaths mentioned, manipulation

What I Liked
- vistas
- visuals

Room For Improvement
- started with a flash forward and then to the present
- one guy seemed completely non interested and then after the sexual assault in the tent they were suddenly soulmates???
- too many story threads, should not have introduced the mom/terminal illness

Ending Spoiler: they reunite but 1 guy appears to have a terminal illness

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unique premise (same actors, different characters/stories)

Overall: this is not a reincarnation/time travel plot as all the stories happen in the present day. Instead, the actors play different characters in standalone plots (episodes 3 and 4 were 1 story, 5 and 6 were 1 story and then 7 and 8 tie everything together in a way). 8 episodes about 55 minutes each. Aired uncut on GagaOOLala (not Japan or South Korea) https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/4812/every-you-every-me-2024 & WeTV
https://wetv.vip/play/296rso568y0ryfg/m4100yjgyjz?ptag=3_5.16.5.13870_copy ; airing cut version on YouTube https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvw0WLA6w9UQZrmUoifbNDO9S6yUS9ry7&si=JHVZI3-LAPw_9dev Note: watch after the initial end credits as some episodes have a separate plot

Episode 1 - I was a bit confused with the world building but then it made sense. I enjoyed the sweet moments, the friendship (potentially aromantic character as a bonus) and the intimate partner abuse felt realistic. Not a fan of the comedy sound effects and they could have made it a bit faster pacing-wise. Content warnings: intimate partner abuse/violence, manipulation, manhandling, past death

Episode 2 - typical cold CEO/nervous worker plot. That grandma way overstepped boundaries though her heart was in the right place. Enjoyed the sweet moments. Content Warnings: manipulation

Episodes 3 & 4 - I was going to rate this higher; however, I couldn't get into the moping/angst because they explained it much too late. Not a fan of silent simping for years and making a choice for someone without talking to them first. Liked the second couple and the supportive friends/family/coworkers. Content Warning: a major one but I'm keeping this spoiler free

Episodes 5 & 6 - there were peak visuals in this episode lol, I enjoyed the flirting and physical affection. I really disliked the invasion of privacy and the shoehorned plot with the female character. They spent too much time on the past in this episode as well. Content Warning: past death, manipulation

Episodes 7 & 8 - I'm trying to be spoiler free but I had the most issues with these episodes

Watch Suggestions
- end ep 5 at 45min
- watch ep 6 22-35:30
- skip ep 7
- watch ep 8 31 to the end)

What I Liked: I most enjoyed how the actors were able to play such different characters, the styling was great. The commentary on challenges of shipwork towards the end was also unique and interesting.

Room For Improvement: because I didn't see a key aspect of them as an established couple, it was difficult for me to root for them. The non linear storytelling at the end of episode 6 thru 8 made things needlessly confusing. They didn't actually show what didn't work, so I'm not convinced everything has been resolved and it won't happen again. The time jump felt like a cliche way to resolve the conflict.

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a m/m reality dating series with a goal/message

Overall: I think this improved on the first season (which was spread out over a few months). 20 episodes about 25 minutes each. Aired (free to watch) on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/4786/boyscation-too-2024-e01 and YouTube https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdXIknoSRTzuXCiH2eohX0CKbhki0h9Of&si=5uf86CF1tLF2qAxF

Note: When watching "reality" series, I always keep in mind that producers might tell the guys what to do/say and that editing can be extremely misleading (not showing things, change the order, etc). This production/emcee appears more involved in Boyscation but that doesn't mean the other dating series productions weren't involved/manipulated things. My goals were that the guys have some fun and being on the show helped (or at least doesn't hurt them) in their personal and professional lives.

What I Liked
- the family/friends and message of the final episode
- that they followed the pairs that matched when they were back in Hong Kong (though it dragged on a bit too long)
- highlighted non profit organizations at the end of some episodes
- that on the first vote they could vote for up to 3 people & they showed a graphic of the vote givers/getters
- nametags in the beginning
- questions about their habits game was likely useful for the guys to think about compatibility
- released 5 episodes each week

Room For Improvement
- that the first game was touching people while being blindfolded
- the roommate choosing should not have been totally random
- that the mutual matches ate breakfast right in front of everyone
- some of the announcements of matches/who people liked/didn't like was a little too brutal

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joyful, emotional & drama-filled (reality m/m dating series)

Overall: Sparks Camp contestants bare their souls, get hurt, heal, laugh, cry and love. 10 episodes 45 minutes each. Aired on Black Sheep YouTube channel. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL87uyU6xM7Lft-Lpwbv5G3ZQJZDvxC9_p&si=gVVHvglgds-tTvix Here is my review of season 1 https://kisskh.at/profile/blcompilations/review/278749

Content Warnings: past death, grief, trauma, past coercion

Reality Series Note: with any "reality" series I keep in mind that what the audience sees doesn't necessarily reflect what actually happened. There can be guidelines the audience doesn't know about, parts are edited out or ordered in different ways to show a certain narrative. I read in the YouTube comments of season 1 that the director said it wasn't scripted, but I always take that with a grain of salt. My goal for reality dating series is for people to have a good time and maybe make a new friend. Any actual pairings at the end of the show are icing on the cake.

What I Liked
- really good diversity with the cast, it wasn't all actors/models/influencers
- that the guys had name tags on which was helpful to remember who was who
- the initial game of guessing who the items belonged to was much better than the oil game from season 1, they made items easy enough they were guaranteed to get a few correct but not super easy so there was a bit of a challenge
- the deepest darkest secret game was fine, I'm assuming the guys knew it would be recorded/aired publicly
- Mother Mela is a good emcee*
- the trivia game

Room For Improvement
- the platinum gay thing was cringey
- having them repeatedly draw the sparks publicly was really sad and they should figure out another way to accomplish this (like write letters and the production crew see who has matches and then sends them on 1 on 1 dates)
- a contestant asked to sit something out and the emcee* said no, people should have the right to pass in situations like that
- putting 1 person on the spot to answer all questions was definitely to make things messy/drama-filled

Comparison to other m/m dating shows
1. The Boyfriend (Japan) on Netflix. Guys run a coffee van and live together for 1 month.
2. His Man (South Korea) on iQIYI, currently on season 3. Anyone can date anyone. Beautiful production and conventionally attractive guys.
3. Boys Like Boys (Taiwan) on GagaOOLala, had a very similar aesthetic/vibe to His Man
4. Love House seasons 1 & 2 (Vietnam) on YouTube (most have English subs, this is ep 1 of season 2 no subs though https://youtu.be/TKzT_nHfVTA ). I liked this set up more than Bromance because the guys could all pursue one another. I didn't like the "secret couple" aspect and dividing them up based on sexual position seemed odd (can't they discuss that in private???) Season 1 was also the most brutal "rose ceremony" I've ever seen in any dating reality show. Season 2 was better.
5. Bromance (Thailand) is also on Gagaoolala. This is the typical Bachelor/Bachelorette set up with a bunch of people competing against one another to be with the 1 bachelor. I didn't like this because they could have all been hitting on each other and we have multiple couples! I got kind of bored and skipped a bunch.

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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

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excellent chemistry/tension

Overall: the leads really brought it in this university series. 6 episodes about 25 minutes each. Aired on WeTV https://wetv.vip/en/play/dy0tqsfvpl73f7f-No.1%20For%20You Also a special edition that has a few extra seconds for paid subscribers (did not see the difference in episode 1) https://wetv.vip/en/play/7isd6uuw6sdr6v0-No.1-For-You-Special-Edition/i0039ifao8c-EP1-No.1-For-You-Special-Edition 

Content Warnings: non con video recording, manipulation/blackmail, non con touching/kiss, homophobia

What I Liked
- sweet moments
- funny moments
- intimacy/chemistry
- that bridge scene was amazing
- supportive friends, the sassy cousin and the mom
- a non cliche female character
- attention to props (rainbow books in the library, the skeleton that changes positions)
- character styling
- music (the actor YU who played Zhou Shu Yi sang the OST "Blue Lover"; the bartender in episode 6 was Alex Chou who was a lead in My Tooth Your Love and also sang "Hard To Let Go" in We Best Love)

Room For Improvement
- stupid plan/approach
- tried to cram too many relationships/plot into a short runtime
- started with a voice over and flash forward
- nonsense cliche in the pool
- ep 4 manipulation and the non con
- gay for you trope
- lack of communication/happened to overhear something

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separate short stories with sci fi elements

Episode 1
Overall: although I enjoyed the premise, it could have used a few changes in its execution. Watched on Imagine Thailand's YouTube channel https://youtu.be/EJR6eFGFOpc?si=Kavwt6G82dBMeO7_ They also made Romantic Station which I enjoyed.

Content Warnings: punches played as comedy/it's complicated

What I Liked
- premise
- production value for an indie production

Room For Improvement
- the comedy sound effects
- camera cut away right at the end


Episode 2 Swop
I liked the sci-fi element, wish they had taken out the non con kisses and replaced it with actually spending time together instead of doing a flashback montage. Glad a character thought about the ethics of it, not sure that I'm totally sold on the ending. Content Warnings: past death, non con kisses, non con touching

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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

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