BL Compilations

Devoted Boy and Traumatized Boy

Overall: it was okay, wish they had changed a few aspects, I gave this an indie bump. 8 episodes about 22 minutes each. Aired on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGhgHW5zMDP9SFi2t7RbI-ItEK57Q5-o2

Content Warnings: past death, past bullying, past rape (skip episode 7 5m45s to 14min), past & present mental health struggles, sexual assault, punch

What I Liked
- a character cleared up the miscommunication in episode 3
- caring moments
- singing voice
- a trash character received consequences

Room For Improvement
- the timeline didn't make sense, characters looked like they were 10 in the past but a character lost touch right away for events that happened 4 years later???
- the CEO dude was hot and cold
- terrible that he didn't stop (especially when he knew his past) when a singer said he didn't want to
- the 'love heals all trauma' trope

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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

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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

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Overall: it has a promising start with an established relationship (though I'm not 100% sure if they were boyfriends or best friends). It looks like there will be some twists but I have some fundamental issues with the plot and am dropping it. Watched on YouTube.

Content Warnings: drugging, non con BDSM/physical assault, non con touching/sexual assault?, murder

What I Liked
- the plot was decently cohesive
- acting was fine for what I'm assuming is a low budget productions

Room For Improvement
- really disliked the stereotypical evil trans woman and the murder of a trans woman, it's not to say that there aren't trans women who do terrible things but it is way over represented in media compared to reality
- his boyfriend/friend is an idiot, he ran away to not be a burden and immediately became a burden to someone else?
- BDSM portrayed as non consensual, I think the BDSM is thrown in for shock value - people would still watch if it was consensual, I'm just tired of seeing non consensual BDSM and people who engage as BDSM portrayed as monsters

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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

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blurred lines

Overall: I have mixed feeling with this one. 12 episodes about 35 minutes (plus long end credits and bonus scene at the very end of each episode 1, 2, 4, 7, 9, 12 were my favorites). Aired on GTV YouTube Channel (ep 1 free, 2 onward for channel members?) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRZsDVs7WAo (available in Africa, Southeast Asia and some countries in the Middle East); GagaOOLala (not available in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Oceania, India, Japan or Korea); Viki viki.com/tv/41593c-deep-in and Heavenly (for S. Korea)

Content Warning (for the series): non con touching, punch, rape/dub con sex (drunk), non con kissing, non con recording/sharing, unwanted outing, homophobia, slap, manipulation, slurs

Content Warnings (for the series they were filming): therapist/patient relationship, trauma, mental health struggles, rape (shown, not between the MLs), attempted rape, self-harm, attempted murder, choking, blood, manipulation, punches, non con recording/sharing, victim blaming, drugging, threatened suicide

Watch Suggestions (to take out most content warnings and focus on sweet/steamy parts)
- watch episodes 1 and 2
- start episode 3 at 4:10
- skip episode 4
- episode 5 watch beginning-5:10
- start episode 6 at 12 minutes
- episode 7 watch beginning-14:25, 26:30-29:30
- episode 8 watch 7:50-10, 15:40-25:10, 28:30-31:45
- episode 9 watch16:20-23:25, 29:30-32:25
- skip episode 10
- episode 11 watch 7-9:30, 20:40-22:30, 33:10-end
- episode 12 watch 22-25 and 35:55-end

What I Liked
- chemistry/tension
- intimate scenes done well
- easy to understand premise
- non cliche female character
- one character wanted to fight for their relationship

Room For Improvement
- that both MLs had girlfriends and it felt like a gay for you trope
- love rivals
- the drunk sex/rape, it had the fictional 'active participant but later so drunk couldn't remember' trope
- too much time spent on the series within the series, also fast cuts (the black margins on the top and bottom of the screen are different as a way to tell)
- character in the series called the police
- time jump
- after all of that I was disappointed in what a character did in public

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vertical series, where main character goes into a BL book

Overall: one of the better vertical series. 1-11 free to watch. 53 episodes about 2 minutes each. Aired on Shortime app (my referral link is https://playground.shortime.en/invite/NKNIWI (all letters) and it should get you a bonus) and iQIYI app

Content Warnings: death (it's complicated/kind of), blood, manipulation, threatened suicide

What I Liked
- a misunderstood character (appeared to be a delinquent but wasn't)
- I laughed a few times

Room For Improvement
- love triangle though it ddn't bother me as much
- stood there staring in the middle of traffic

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had potential, unfinished in the end

Overall: the acting was good, but the one sidedness was too much/long, I hesitate to call this BL. 50 episodes about 2 minutes each. Aired on Lezhin Snack app and later Shortime app and GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/verticals/8458/high-school-boy-2026

Content Warnings: bullying, fights, violence, blood, homophobia, manipulation

What I Liked
- actors did a good job
- easy to understand premise
- some character growth

Room For Improvement
- a main character needed to stop professing he didn't like guys
- open ending that didn't answer it either way

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hot and cold

Overall: needed to focus more on the lead pair and their relationship development. Aired on Shortime app. Episodes 1-5 are free https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94xidyP8QrQ 65 total episodes a couple minutes each. My referral code is oetm5LkjoTOX (all letters except the number 5) and it should get you a bonus. Later aired on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/verticals/8592/id-rather-quit-than-die-director-2026

Content Warnings: homophobia, manipulation, hit, violence, non con kiss, past murder, murder, manhandling, trauma/mental health struggles, drugging, kidnapping, unwanted public outing

What I Liked
- premise
- a few cute moments
- perceptive co-worker
- boss was intelligent in episode 50

Room For Improvement
- the nonsense of he stood while a car approached and then the car didn't brake when it could clearly see him???
- episode 13 back hug was odd, the boss was hot and cold
- the non kiss when the other guy was sleeping
- told the plot thru voice overs
- stereotypical villains

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boxing slice of life

Overall: it was a bit strange how in the last 8 minutes they went zero to 100 but...eh. About 70 minutes total runtime. Aired on Viu and 9NAA YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmOxMtX7dDs

Content Warnings: beaten up, blood, past homophobia

What I Liked
- goofball/cool guy dynamic
- easy to understand premise
- visuals

Room For Improvement
- comedy sound effects/silly music didn't make things funny
- not sure why a character waited to intervene
- explained a story but didn't fully explain how that affected the present
- went from zero to 100, should have developed it more
- cliffhanger ending

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felt that I was missing the first part of the story

Overall: I was plopped into a story that didn't make a ton of sense. Why did a character love the other character? Maybe there were censorship/budget issues at play. 21 minutes long. It has a sequel. Watched on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/6067/find-you-in-the-crowd-one-2017

Content Warning: slaps, homophobia

What I Liked
- wish the dream at the end had been reality
- music

Room For Improvement
- started in the present then flashback and then present
- choppy
- cliche evil woman character
- love rival (needed to focus on the two main characters)

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