My favourite BL series & movies
My favourite bl-series/movies, listed in descending order of how much I enjoy them and would watch them, not how objectively great they are.
My preference is a romantic series without comedy and with a happy ending. I love a mature couple that truly cares for and takes care of each other. A couple that make each other better. A couple that have mutual interest in each other, tension and longing. I am usually not satisfied if the series has no kisses, it's a romance. Tropes I enjoy and many of these series fall under: found family, grumpy x sunshine, sunshine protector, hurt/comfort, long time crush and close proximity.
This list probably and hopefully will change in the future and I am gonna watch some of the dramas again and expand on my comments (or remove series if they no longer can be called favourites). Pleace leave a recommendation if there is a series that you think that I may like.
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1. I Told Sunset About You
Thai Drama - 2020, 5 episodes
This is my favourite romance series. Simple and common story but so well-made and making every scene count. It feels very real and raw, beautiful and heart fluttering. Great acting. This is a must watch.
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2. I Feel You Linger in the Air: Uncut Version
Thai Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
A largly unknown series and therefore very underrated. Great love story, beautiful and romantic. Different story for a BL, time-travel and historical. A must watch.
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3. The Untamed
Chinese Drama - 2019, 50 episodes
No kisses because of censorship and this is still one of the most romantic series, if not the most romantic series. I root for this couple the most. They really showed the couples love and need of each other, in all the ways they could think of and they could get away with. It’s shown through the characters actions, big and smal, looks and smiles, their words, sacrifices, support, different treatment and behavior around each other, symbolism, the music, the way of filming… This is a must watch.
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4. Old Fashion Cupcake
Japanese Drama - 2022, 5 episodes
This is my feel-good show and the one I have watched the most. I just love how we get to see them just having a nice time together and how they truly care about each other. One of them knows what he feels but is happy with just being in the life of the man he loves in any way he can. The other man is feeling down so he does what he can to make him happy. Very sweet. It is an office romance but even more so a food romance.
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5. Old Fashion Cupcake Epilogue: Apple Pie
Japanese Special - 2022, 1 episode
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6. I Secretly Fell in Love with the Student Council President
Taiwanese Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
Two great couples. They are very mature despite their age and super supportive. Life is not simple but they are there for each other. Loved their storylines.
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7. Tinted With You (Movie)
Korean Movie - 2022
Peaceful, made me smile. I didn't like that it had a time-jump at the end, I wanted to see the reactions and interactions to the time-travel.
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8. You Are Mine
Taiwanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes
Entertaining and cute office romance with boss-employee dynamic and the grumpy/sunshine trope. A little warning, you can see the power imbalance and abuse of power in this, but give it a try if you like these tropes and you are looking for something light and positive. I really enjoy it.
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9. You Are Mine Extra Episodes
Taiwanese Special - 2024, 1 episode
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10. The Eighth Sense
Korean Drama - 2023, 10 episodes
Deep and dark but positive and hopeful. A series that shows how a person can change how you feel about life, but therapy can still be needed and with it you can learn to live again. This is a must watch.
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11. Our Dating Sim
Korean Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
A light, sweet office romance only focused on the couple with a lot of cute scenes and kisses.
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12. Bokura no Shokutaku
Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes
A slice of life series that is light, really heartwarming and sweet. It has the found family trope. :)
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13. Bokura no Shokutaku Spin Off
Japanese Special - 2023, 1 episode
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14. His
Japanese Movie - 2020
This movie is filled with desperation, regret, longing and deep love. I love this movie. Sometimes people take a long time to accept themselves (if they ever do) and you would hope that they, when they do accept themselves, could find the love that they previously denied themselves of. A man is trying to do just that in this movie, he wants his old love back but a long time has passed and he himself now has a child and he is in a custody battle with his ex-wife. Can he have it all? He is willing to try. This is a must watch.
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15. After the Restart
Japanese Movie - 2020
A feel-good countryside, farmlife romance movie. This movie has many of the themes I love, the found family trope, the grumpy x sunshine trope, the sunshine x sunshine protector trope and it is about finding your place and people that you can be yourself with, that value you. It also has the fish out of water trope, for anyone who loves that trope.
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16. Love Tractor
Korean Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
A feel good series with the grumpy x sunshine trope and the fish out of water trope.
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17. Parole d'honneur
Chinese Drama - 2021, 36 episodes
If you love The untamed then you need to watch this series, it is very similar.
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18. Word of Honor - Epilogue
Chinese Special - 2021, 1 episode
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19. The Eclipse
Thai Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
Strong, likable characters and two nice couples, with interesting dynamics and chemistry. Pushing and supporting each other. Interesting plot. Their way of showing the struggle of coming out was great. Good emotional scenes and great acting. However, I hated how the show handled the subject of being outed.
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20. Utsukushii Kare
Japanese Drama - 2021, 6 episodes
The best tension and sensual moments. Interesting couple and characters. Warning: the couple is toxic, both of them have things they need to work on, but they do grow and you do root for them as a couple.
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21. Utsukushii Kare Season 2
Japanese Drama - 2023, 4 episodes
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22. My Beautiful Man: The Movie
Japanese Movie - 2023
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23. My Ride The Series
Thai Drama - 2022, 10 episodes
It has the rich/poor trope.
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24. Miracle
Taiwanese Drama - 2023, 13 episodes
mafia member x civilian. Hurt/comfort.
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25. HIStory2: Right or Wrong
Taiwanese Special - 2018, 8 episodes
This sounded like it would not be my thing, with it having a couple consisting of a college student/babysitter and his teacher who is the father of the child that the student is babysitting. They also have a big age-gap. I actually found them very wholesome and sweet together, so give it a try if you can.
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26. Bon Appetit
Korean Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
A feel-good food romance with the close proximity trope. Couple: an office worker (advertising designer) and his new neighbour who owns a new restaurant. The restaurant owner likes the neighbour and tries to win him over by having him over for dinner. Very sweet.
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27. Lovely Writer
Thai Drama - 2021, 12 episodes
Very sweet. Loved it. Celebrity romance. A writer and an actor.
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28. To My Star 2 (Movie)
Korean Movie - 2023
The first movie/seasons plot sounds like wattpad come to life but it is well made and leaves you with a good feeling. The second movie/season has a different feel... It feels more real and impactful, the first movie/season doesn't make my favourite BL-series list but the second movie/season does.
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29. See Your Love
Taiwanese Drama - 2024, 13 episodes
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30. Manner of Death
Thai Drama - 2020, 14 episodes
Entertaining plot, but you have to suspend your disbelief. I love that we have two strong and confident main characters that are comfortable in their interest in each other and know that they both share that interest. You also get to see them being a healthy domestic couple and it isn't boring or lacking spark. Among the best kissing scenes I have seen and they have great chemistry.
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31. His Man Season 2
Korean TV Show - 2023, 14 episodes
A gay reality dating show, it was a surtain couple in it that really was so cute.
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32. The Boyfriend
Japanese TV Show - 2024, 10 episodes
A gay reality dating show. I was rooting for a surtain couple in it...
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33. Seven Days: Monday - Thursday
Japanese Movie - 2015
Sweet teenage love story.
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34. Seven Days: Friday - Sunday
Japanese Movie - 2015
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35. Minato Shouji Coin Laundry
Japanese Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
One of them is really dedicated to his love and truly spellbound by him and the other clearly feels something but he tries to ignore his feelings. This is a relationship with a big age-gap.
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36. Minato Shouji Coin Laundry Season 2
Japanese Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
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37. Senior Secret Love: Puppy Honey
Thai Drama - 2016, 6 episodes
A funny, innocent and sweet feel-good series. Loved it for the likable characters, nice and relatable friendship dynamics and the super cute story of first love. Few and very innocent kissing scenes but it suited the characters and it felt realistic. There was some toxicity, with denial and jealousy from one character but… that can be true to life and the way they did it made it funny to me… sorry :S Great acting and chemistry.
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38. Senior Secret Love: Puppy Honey 2
Thai Drama - 2017, 8 episodes
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39. Love Class Season 2
Korean Drama - 2023, 10 episodes
Season 1 of Love class is good but only season 2 makes it onto my list of favourites. The couples in season 2 are really sweet and they have really good chemistry. They really make or break this kind of show, a show with a simple story. The second season is not really connected to season 1 so you can start with season 2.
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40. The New Employee
Korean Drama - 2022, 7 episodes
Light, sweet and feel-good office romance. It has the grumpy x sunshine trope and the boss x employee dynamic.
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41. Shigatsu no Tokyo wa...
Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
A sweet office romance. Couple: they are designers at the same company, one of them is the top-designer at the company and the other is new there. They once were close friends but one of them left.
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42. 30Sai made Doteida to Mahotsukai ni Narerurashi
Japanese Drama - 2020, 12 episodes
A sweet office romance with a fantasy element (reading minds). There are two couples in it but I only enjoy one of them, however I enjoy that couple very much. The couple in question: they are coworkers at an office, the popular guy at work has a crush on the shy one. Note/spoiler: They didn't show any physical contact worth mentioning in season 1 or in the movie and they built it up like they would and then told us they did... I felt frustrated. However I really loved everything else about it.
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43. Like in the Movies
Filipino Drama - 2020, 8 episodes
A series that handles an important subject matter and has very real conflicts, it made me cry and that usually only happens for me when someone dies. Everything the series included felt like it served a purpose. I have seen many people say that this show feels like it´s a show by gay people for gay people. This show is a must-watch, ignore the shaky acting in a few scenes and the inevitable impact that the lower budget has on the series, the script is so good. (It has the forced close proximity (roommates) trope.)
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44. Perfect Propose
Japanese Drama - 2024, 6 episodes
It has the forced close proximity (roommates) trope and marriage pact trope.
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45. Life Senjou no Bokura: Director's Cut
Japanese Movie - 2020
If you watch the movie "His" on this list and you like that then you should try "Life: Love on the line". There are many similarites and both are really good, I prefer His.
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46. Happy of the End
Japanese Drama - 2024, 8 episodes
Great series, story and characters. Very dark, many trigger warnings! Two very fucked up, hurt, main characters. One of them does really awful things to the other, who in turn just takes it. The series does not paint what he does as hot or cool. The series shows us his backstory and from that you can understand that he is damaged and wants to have the control that was taken from him, hurt people hurt people. The other man is also damaged and he sees something in the other man, who shows him glimpses of pure feelings. The main characters go through healing journeys, as they get closer and care for each other when no one else does.
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47. Meet You at the Blossom
Thai Drama - 2024, 12 episodes
Similar to The untamed or Word of honor, but this one is not censored, however I don't find the story as good and I don’t like the non-consent.
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48. A Breeze of Love
Korean Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
sweet
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49. Choco Milk Shake
Korean Drama - 2022, 11 episodes
This series sounded cringy to me but it was actually really well made, sweet and funny. It has the forced close proximity (roommates) trope, the hurt/comfort trope and a fantasy element (animal to human transformation). Two great couples.
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50. Unknown
Taiwanese Drama - 2024, 12 episodes
This is the type of series that you can only enjoy if you turn of your brain and just fantasise, if you do then it's a deep and romantic series. One of the couples in it are pseudo-brothers and they have an age-gap, one of them basically acting as a parent. As it was depicted in the story it did not feel problematic (in real life that would not be the case). I did enjoy the series and their relationship, their love and longing for each other. I could not get into the other couple since she was so mutch younger then him when they first met and still felt very young from how she acted. The story had good pacing, I did not have to fast forward.
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51. Anti Reset
Taiwanese Drama - 2024, 10 episodes
Good chemistry, tension building and cute scenes. Cute series. Could have left out some scenes that felt random or unnecessary (fewer flash-backs). It was quite fast paced in the beginning but it got slower as the story progressed, eventually it got to slow, the last episode had me skipping big portions. I also would have liked some other obsticles in the series. The crying was not belivable in some parts but otherwise good acting. A few scenes had me thinking that a different, more impactful soundtrack would have made the scenes better.
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52. Blueming
Korean Drama - 2022, 11 episodes
sweet
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53. Fukou-kun wa Kiss Suru Shikanai!
Japanese Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
sweet
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54. Kimi ni wa Todokanai
Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
sweet
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55. Follow The Wind
Korean Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
sweet love story between a singer and a part time worker at a café/bar
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56. Why R U?
Korean Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
The original series is thai, I prefer the south korean version, it is shorter and less messy.
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57. Les Garçons, Soyez Courageux !
Korean Drama - 2024, 8 episodes
sweet
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58. Takara no Vidro
Japanese Drama - 2024, 10 episodes
sweet.
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59. Wedding Plan: Uncut
Thai Drama - 2023, 7 episodes
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60. Wedding Plan
Thai Drama - 2023, 7 episodes
Couple: A wedding planner and his customer, a groom-to-be
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61. My Damn Business
Korean Drama - 2024, 7 episodes
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62. Miseinen: Mijukuna Oretachi wa Bukiyo ni Shinkochu
Japanese Drama - 2024, 11 episodes
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63. The Cornered Mouse Dreams of Cheese
Japanese Movie - 2020
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64. My Stand-In: Uncut
Thai Drama - 2024, 12 episodes
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65. Ore-sama Yakuza to Hetare Shachiku: Kuni wo Koeta Jingi Naki Dekiai
Japanese Drama - 2024, 10 episodes