Bromance Dramas/Movies (Updated)

A story about Tomb raiders - Wu Xie, Zhang Qiling, and Fatty as they journey through tombs and build their friendship and bond, each season has a different cast with only some returning, but the characters are the same. This is a long series with two of the most shipped characters in China, Wu Xie and Zhang Qiling's actors won Best Couple in China, and their bromance is everything. Not a BL, neither is the book series, but the bromance tops all.

This movie is very vulgar as it explores the relationship between an undercover cop in prison and a gangster who he is supposed to trap. Im Siwan plays the cop, and he has awesome fight scenes along with a love for the gangster. The director even said that the two were hinted at being in love, because the gangster was very soft towards the cop even after everything that happens. The bromance is everything, the bond between these two made me overlook all the awful stuff they did.

You've probably heard of this - the new zombie show that aired a few months ago, in a high school trapping the students in with the dead. The two male leads are friends and have a strong bromance, Park Solomon and Yoon Chan-young, in the show that was so cute. There is a slight m/f romance in here, but nothing too big so you can surely enjoy the brotherly love between these two.

D.P - Deserter's pursuit. This is about two soldiers that go after army deserters, the two main leads have strong chemistry from the beginning. Jung Hae-In plays a moral-driven soldier that only wants to get through the army in one piece, and his partner is a comedy-driven person that doesn't take anything seriously. The plot of this was so damn heavy, so sad, and raw that it made me bawl my eyes out, the bromance is something else that just takes the show to another level. I loved seeing these two bicker and learning of deserters' experiences and reasoning. 

A demoted detective and an inspector are partnered up at a small police station and clash as their differences and suspicions cause a barrier between them. Shin Ha-Kyun and Yeo Jin-Goo play these stubborn characters, but their bromance is obvious as the show goes on. Tension and love war between these two as they struggle to solve a 20-year-old cold case.

Three completely different men come together in a tea village in China and fight to bring their dreams to life - selling coffee to the world. The bromance isn't big, but the love these three have for each other is unmistakable. Peng Yu Chang, and Liu Haoran star in this along with Fang Yin. These three are amazing actors that portray a friendship that goes beyond boundaries. Plus, Liu Haoran is one of my favorite Chinese actors lol.

Zhao Yun Lan and Shen Wei are tasked with upholding peace between underworld dwellers and humans, and the story will focus on their friendship that transcends past and present lifetimes (copied from actual MDL summary).  This show is big on bromance, the two male leads have steamy arguments and Shen Wei loves Zhao Yunlan in an obvious way, and this has the most bittersweet ending to it that will make you either pissed or depressed - but this is so worth the watch. Adapted from a BL novel.

A story about a religious cult that has dark and gross secrets locked away controlling the whole town and causing the main characters to go through traumatic experiences. Sang Mi (Seo Yea-Ji) is the main character, but she has to be saved by four best friends - portrayed by Ok Taecyeon, Woo Do Hwan, Ha Hoe Jung, and David Lee. Ok Taecyeon's character (Sang Hwan) and Do Hwan's character (Dong Chul) have a strong friendship ripped by a mistake and pain, but it heals with some lovely bromance and intense fight scenes that enrapture you. Dong Chul and Sang Hwan go through quite a bit while trying to save Sang Mi, and we get to see how strong their bond is through that.

A classic - High school students go through hell and back just to get a high score on the biggest test of the year, they go through heart-ache, and suicidal thoughts, plagued with sleep deprivation and intense study sessions. Nam Soon (Lee Jong Suk) and Park Heung Soo (Kim Woo Bin) have bad blood due to an accident in middle school, so when they meet again in their junior year they have to fight through the pain of the past and the desire to be together once again.  Their bromance and love for each other is unmistakable. Nam Soon said - "The most important thing to me... is you." To Heung Soo. Yeah, let that sink in while you add this to your plan to watch list.

Soo Myung (Yeo Jin-Goo) and Seung-Min (Lee Min-Ki) meet in a psychiatric ward, dealing with their own personal issues and the terrors of their demons and their lives. But Seung-Min mistakes Soo Myung for a girl and tries to hit on him, even after finding out he was a boy he continued to call him "jagi" while getting closer. These two strengthen their bond and live the best of their days, and the ending was bittersweet and full of content. Min-Ki plays a pyromaniac (someone who lights fires against their will, the strong desire and urge is hard to fight), while Yeo Jin-Goo plays a schizophrenic (someone who interprets reality abnormally).

Jongwoo (Im Siwan) moves into a goshiwon after arriving in Seoul for an internship from his senior from college, and there he meets strangers that are abnormal and creepy. Jongwoo only wants to write his book but is instead approached by the scariest resident of all, Seo Moon-Jo (Lee Dong Wook) who refuses to back down from getting in his head. These two have a very strong bromance, Seo Moon-Jo even calls Jongwoo jagiya (Korean petname like honey, or baby) while messing with his mind and making him question his actions and himself. WARNING: murder, implied cannibalism.

After witnessing a murder, Yook Dong-Shik (Yoon Shi Yoon) steals the serial killer's book on accident when running away and ends up getting hit by a police car and having amnesia. He reads the book and believes that he is the killer, even adapting to the personality of a serial killer and gaining confidence. Meanwhile, his director, Seo In Woo (Park Sung Hoon), begins to be interested in him and their bromance begins. Nothing too big happens, but Seo In Woo does mention that Dong-Shik interested him and made him wanna get closer to him, and Seo In Woo was whipped for him for a long time in the show. I recommend watching this for the humour and our dingy little himbo, Dong Shik.

A chinese adaptation of a manga - Lu Xia is the child of a tennis prodigy who lived overseas for years when he comes back with his father and attends high school with one goal in mind: Beating his father at his own game. He discovers friendship, support, and a reality check when he manages to snag a place on the school's tennis team. This has mainly male leads in it, and the bromance is beautiful. Lu Xia learns to love and let himself open up more as he gets closer to the other teammates. The bromance is so worth watching, Lu Xia gains a best friend - whom he can't stand at first but soon cares for. The actors are handsome, as well, so eye candy.

Lee Hyun is a profiler who is looking for a notorious and infamous serial killer named Lee Joon Young, he returned to Korea from America after a case triggers his memory and he seeks to find his lost kid brother. He unravels all the dark secrets and tries to distance himself from everyone, but a stubborn detective refuses to leave him alone. Romance is a bit too much in here, but it's not focused on more than the plot. Lee Hyun (Seo In-Guk) and lawyer Jung Sun Ho (Park Bo-Gum) begin to see each other more often, their bromance and intense scenes suck you in faster than you can imagine. Lee Jun Ho (Choi Won Young) also has a fondness for these two, and you'll see why when you watch this.

Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji are polar opposites. One is a fun, humorous guy with lots of friends, while Lan Wangji is a loner and rule follower. These two meet in Gusu Lan (Lan Wangji's cultivation sect) when all sects send their disciples/heirs to attend lectures. This story seems light, but it's full of angst, love, betrayal, and hardships. 

Tin Yat Hung is awkward, a bit neurotic, and very, very lazy.  He works in a real estate company and plans on having a wife with big boobs and a few kids in the future, except his inability to take care of himself (whether it be cleaning, doing laundry, cooking, etc)  turns all women off. While he is hardworking at his job and everyone loves him, he has to deal with his boss and a cowrker confessing to him. Tin sucks at denying others and is stuck between his colleague and his attentive, loving boss who divorces his wife for him.

This show seems like it's just comedy, but Tin is a great character and shows growth later on, trust me on this. I loved the touches of sincerity and seriousness, that while small, still seemed more realistic.

Detective Du Cheng and Forensic Artist Shen Yi have bad history from when Shen Yi's freelance drawing days ended with the death of Du Cheng's senior. These two are forced to work together to solve cases using Shen Yi's amazing abilities and Du Cheng's detective skills.

The bromance is really good here, showing how much these two men care for each other through each episode. This isn't as humorous as it sounds, more serious than funny.

Xia Yao and Yuan Zong only met through Yuan Zong's sister, who insists her brother help her win Xia Yao  over, despite him saying he wasn't interested in her. Yuan Zong and Xia Yao form an unlikely friendship. 

Adapted from a Chinese BL Novel, this show was intercepted many times until the editors had to cut a lot of scenes out, but this show is still amazing and depicts an amazing relationship between these two. The novel is... more on the graphic and sexual side so just beware of that if you wish to read it. 

A smart noodle-maker and a stern official meet on negative terms and have to work together to solve cases, but the blossoming bromance and close bond between these two speaks for itself. 

Adapted from a Chinese novel, censored BL.

Based off of a webnovel, this drama is simplistic and heartwarming. A "Knight" in this post-apocalyptic world delivers oxygen and food to people in the reserved district, while a kid known as a refugee (people not allowed in the district), dreams of becoming one. A special Knight decides to take him in and train him. The bromance and connection between these two is so funny and not overdone, you can see how much they care for one another. 

A drop out future-mathmatician and a quirky chef cross paths. Gaku is timid and loves to cook, but he loves math even more. Kai is a renowned chef with a dark past and a reputation to uphold. Kai approaches Gaku for his talent and decides to take him in. 

This is a more intense drama, and Kai is very touchy and Gaku sees him as a friend. These two form a bond stronger than that of just friendship. Not BL, but pretty close.

Three students somehow end up becoming closer as they find their similarities. Chang An is stern and has no time or use for friends, instead focused on his studies. Sui Yu is a sweet boy who wishes to befriend everyone, while Hao Xuan is as stiff as can be. These three grow and adapt, looking for the truth of their world. AI dominates the industry as helpers, caretakers, and employees all looking similar to humans. 

A great spin on AI. This show is way better than I had expected, and I think it's very well done considering not being well known. The bromance is between these three boys who all learn to understand and sympathize with each other.

Based on the manga of the same name, this show is filled with friendship, found family and humor. Shi Guang gets haunted by an old ghost named Chu Ying claiming to be the king of the chinese game Go. Shi Guang is forced to become a go master in order to help Chu Ying. Yu Liang was the best Go player even as a young child, yet one day a boy smaller than him challenged him to a game of Go. After being defeated, Yu Liang dedicates himself to becoming the best Go player. 

Years later, Shi Guang and Yu Liang meet. But this time is different. 

A drama that focuses on the obsession that Yu Liang has on Shi Guang, vowing to beat him in a game of Go. Shi Guang doesn't seem all that smart, but he and Yu Liang grow a bond like no other. I really recommend.

Gao Yang is a troubled teen who doesn't get along with his father. They live their daily life in tension with constant arguments and Gao Yang wishing to see his mother. 

Along comes a new student , Ye Xiao Wen, a boy with a determined mindset in both sports and academics to live with the estranged father-son pair. Ye Xiao Wen vows to make Gao Yang's father happy for taking him in, and Gao Yang doesn't like his attitude.

Gao Yang and Xiao Wen become reluctant friends, even going as far as traveling later on in the drama together. It's a sweet drama, with just the slightest bit of angst, but the unraveling of these boys' past and seeing them grow made it all the more better for me. 

A serious police officer by the name of Shima Kazumi is assigned to the MIU (Mobile Investigation Unit), and trusts no one. His past is complicated and he takes the rules very seriously, Partnered with Ibuki Ai, Kazumi refuses to work with the man as he's reckless, and while in great shape, mentally unstable, but as they learn to work together their friendship grows. 

A bromance that you wouldn't expect but is just as sweet. These two men show strength and intelligence in different ways.

A heartwrenching tale of three unlikely friends. Li Xiang Yi was a powerful cultivator, owning one of the most renowned sects in the world, but after another sect owned by Di Fei Sheng took his senior brother's body, a war began. The two sect leaders fight, but after being seriously injured both disappear from the martial world -- declared dead by the general public. 

Li Lianhua, ten years later, lives a humble life. He runs a small pharmacy, moving from place to place as a drifter. One day as he was minding his business, some thugs started trouble, but luckily a still wet behind the ears police officer by the name of Fang Duo Bing manages to help him. These two end up meeting again, except Duo Bing forces Li Lianhua to stay with him. 

Di Fei Sheng resides elsewhere healing. 

These three eventually become the most unlikely trio, but together, they solve cases and helpone another. The bromance is top tier, with both Fang Duo Bing and Di Fei Sheng vying for Li Lianhua's attention. More on the sad, serious side, this isn't for the faint of heart.

Pu Yiyong can see ghosts. After an accident which ends in him losing those he loved, he begins being haunted by ghosts needing his help to move on. Pu Yiyong eventually enlists an old classmate to help him, and a police woman as well. 

Cao Guangyan and Pu Yiyong were rivals in school, but as they solve cases, they begin caring for one another. A reluctant friendship that makes you smile. Also pretty heavy, but it balances out with comedy.

An adaptation of the known BL novel "Are You Addicted?", this drama depicts Su Yu, an upright but poor student living with his father, and a rich, spoiled, transfer student named Wu Bi. 

Wu Bi and Su Yu are on bad terms, not knowing that Su Yu's mother is married to Wu Bi's father. But as they come to understand one another, their bond becomes unbreakable. 

This drama was supposed to have a season 2, but China said no. Yet, the director really managed to show the gay without explicitly highlighting the gay. There's even a scene where Wu Bi kisses Su Yu on the cheek. Watch it, but be prepared for the emotional rollercoaster you can expect from a Chinese drama, especially a censored one.

Mikado is a shy man who can see ghosts, which terrifies him. He meets Hiyakawa, an eccentric man who can get rid of the ghosts by embracing Mikado and placing a hand on his heart. These two work together to save those they can. 

A bit weird, but I enjoyed seeing Jun in this role. Based off of a manga, along with an anime version. I liked the weirdness, and it was nice to watch. 

The Spirealm is a censored Chinese BL drama based off of an actual BL novel -- "Kaleidoscope of Death"

Ling Jiushi is forced into an alternate world of a deadly game, where each door has a specific requirement to leave -- find the key and do not break any of the taboos. He meets Ruan Lanzhu, an expert in solving the doors and the man takes an interest in him. These two began a strong alliance. 

Here is the link to an article that I was invited to collab on with Cho Na and Xiao Qilin, "The Spirealm: Behind the Mysterious Door", comparing the novel and the drama. Give it a read if you would like to know more!

Takashi is finally employed, and begins his new life with excitement, however it is short lived as he is exploited and abused by his boss and sent down into a depressive spiral. One night he decides to jump in front of a train, only to be saved by Yamamoto, a curious man that claims to be an old classmate. Yamamoto slowly inserts himself into Takashi's life, giving him a reason to be happy. 

This is a story of two men who have suffered finding comfort in one another, and it's unbelievably beautiful.