BL / Gay - New Movies and Dramas 2020-2021

I have no idea what this is about--but it has Perth, who is always excellent.
Also features other familiar faces--and I was kind of delighted to see Nick come-back-popping-up in a BL. He's not... all that good--but I kind of love him since the idiotic horror parodies "Make Me Shudder"... 

The director could make this a disaster, really... He's the dude behind a big bunch of crap, like "Dangerous Boys" and the before mentioned "Make Me Shudder" flicks... But he's also the guy behind "Bangkok Love Story", which isn't exactly good, but at least unique.

Upcoming on April 6th 2021.

Well... 

I wasn't really expecting much from this second season. Their story was "complete" in season one, IMO. It wouldn't have needed more. But since the couple is insanely popular and there IS a second novel--why not. Even if I didn't "need" a S2--I'm still deliriously happy that I get to see more of them. And that--we get. 

It's pretty much like the second season of "SOTUS". Not all that much to say, not all that much to elaborate, not all that much to develop nor explore. The journey was completed in the first season since the premise was that two opposites needed to meet in the middle. This just is that kind of story--the kind that works the best with the climax that was already achieved in season one. But this couple just is one of those that one can't quite get enough of. So it doesn't matter to me that the storyline of this sequel season is (so far) "boring" and more or less non-existent. Just to see them is enough :) 

So yes--I love it. Because it's Tharn and Type. (AND because it's Mew and Gulf.) But there is absolutely no way that I will rate it as high as S1. Because S1 was a bull's-eye. A idiotic, compelling and funny story--that was tight, complete and lacked nothing. The ultimate romcom BL.
S2 is just... milking it. 

But I'm totally fine with that. <3

Special for second season of drama "TharnType". 

Okay, this should, in one way, be counted as part of the main series, which started airing 2019 and therefore shouldn't be on the list--but on the other hand, it IS a special disconnected from the first 12 episodes. So let's include it. 

Review is available in my "Thai BL" list as well as the "Asian BL" list.

No releasedate available as of now.

Mini-mini-drama.

Based on one of the best BL/gay-themed mangas ever written.
(Two volumes, by mangaka Mizushiro Setona--which recently were released in English by Seven Seas. And immediately landed in my book shelf. I had to wait 10 years for that...) 

I was equal parts thrilled--and nervous--before watching it. But I was pretty sure that even if it might turn out crappy, it's still an adaptation of a phenomenally good comic--so I would probably love it no matter what.

So... how'd it end up, then...?

I loved it. 

Not just because I'm happy every time I get live action adaptations of my favourites--but because it's GOOD. I have absolutely no idea why some people disliked it, and the ratings are fairly low. It caught the manga very well, and the direction and acting was pretty great.

I'll definitely update with an elaborated mini-review when I find the time...

Previously stated to be released 2020 but the info has since been removed. 

Mini-drama.

Sequel to mini-drama "The Moment". 

No release date available as of right now.

Not BL, per se, and seems to revolve around BL fandom and includes female-male body-swap, but also has "gay character/relationship" listed, so probably a bit of both.
Either way, the themes qualify it for the list... (And it has Ohm. That in itself, is enough.)

Sequel season for drama "So Much in Love". 

No releasedate available as of now.

Special episode for drama "Theory of Love".

Short.

Upcoming May 2021. (Probably.)

Short.

No release date available as of now.

Short special episode for the drama "30-sai made Dotei dato Mahotsukai ni Narerurashii", following the side couple Tsuge and Minato.  

Pointless, stupid and forgettable. But specials usually are...

Mini-drama.

Hmm. For some reason, I didn't like this. I enjoyed the other recent Korean mini dramas more, even though they were less qualitative... I'll give a decent rating because it's pretty well produced and there's nothing WRONG with it--it just didn't hit home with me. I get annoyed with unrealistic plot/relationship developments--and here, it's too much for me. Sure,when talking about BL--realistic stories are rare. But as long as it's built up and elaborated from the haphazard meeting/hook-up, it's fine. Especially if it's the sillier kind of BL. 

But this isn't silly--so it becomes awkward. And the relationship dynamics are fuzzy and somehow... the characters keep their feelings and thoughts to themselves. There is no need to write it on the nose, but some kind of outreach, explanation, voicing out what takes place in their minds and hearts--is kind of crucial to make us believe what happens on the screen.
This doesn't. 

It's cute and all that... but it's flat. The characters are flat and the story is told in that shallow and "let's show a little bit of this and a little bit of that, screw the fluidity" kind of way.
Which is a pity, since the plot premise was kind of unique. 

Acting was fair, but not in any way exceptional. 

Random cred; The far-from-acceptable dancing by the MC, was edited quite cleverly and smoothly and almost pulled off fooling an experienced and critical eye.
Tech work was quite nice with some extra lovely shots. 

And above all; Cred to South Korea for developing their BL, and managing to dig out a path of their own, with a distinct flavour that differs from the Japanese and Taiwanese productions, even though they have similarities.

Short special episode for the drama "30-sai made Dotei dato Mahotsukai ni Narerurashii" (damn, that title's always a bitch to write...)  

Upcoming sequel season for "Wake Up Ladies". (Not BL but the MC is gay.)

Mini-drama. 

A very pleasant surprise! 

I'm usually hesitant to most of these short dramas, since the descriptions--and often the titles (as in this case) sound "bleh" to me, but when I get to actually watching them--every now and then, I find something I like. 

It's light weight, silly and not exactly heavy impact BL--but it's really entertaining and the acting is great. Especially Yu as Zhou Shu Yi, just OWNS the scene whenever he's on screen. I love him, he's so charismatic that he's absolutely irresistible.
The chemistry between these two guys is absolutely awesome. In S2... WOW.
Worth watching even for just that.

A simple, straight-forward story and production, with a lot of humour and heart, that's really likable--despite a ridiculous conclusion to S1 and an incredible time-jump to S2. 

Me like. A lot.

Sequel season to drama "We Best Love: No 1 For You". 

I was annoyed at the stupid plot ending to S1 and the time jump to S2--I fricking hate time jumps, they're ridiculous and unbelievable--but I actually find myself really liking the setting and maturity of the guys' characters in S2. 

And... OMG, their chemistry... Absolutely epic in this season.
Not only do they showcase great acting (especially Sam Lin impressed in episode 2)--but their interaction is electric. One of the best connections between actors in any BL. Ever.
If you aren't interested for any other reason--watch it if only for that reason alone... It's worth it.

I can't believe I almost missed out on this one, just because of something so stupid as an annoying title...

One of my absolute favs for this year and probably will end up on my all-time-fav list.

Special episode for the first season of "We Best Love".

"Kinou Nani Tabeta?" movie. 

Was supposedly scheduled for release in 2021, dunno' what happened, the info is removed from MDL.

Special for drama "Kinou Nani Tabeta?"

Movie version of the mini-drama "Where Your Eyes Linger"--slightly altered in this alternate format. Both have their pros and cons, and both are worth watching. I prefer the movie version for the different vibe that the (very slight) changes brought.

I reluctantly love this...

Okay, this isn't that GOOD, per se--it's messy and far from perfect in execution, but it's more like... a parade of BL, BL, BL.
I can't resist this shameless poking fun at the BL fandom. Here you have ALL the tropes,  ALL the stereotypes, all which is ridiculous about BL, fanservice and insane Fangirls/Boys. Served with a huge portion of sarcasm and self-awareness--it's just pretty much hilarious. 

I'm a Fangirl, but still, I despise a lot about the BL fandom. I see real and troubling issues in many of the tendencies surrounding shipping and delusional fantasies. At the same time, I can't help but laugh my ass off at the insanity. Because it IS funny. 

So to make a drama that highlights the stupidity--is entertaining. Though, this one does it lovingly, not nearly as venomously as I do :P 

So, you are served; A shitload of couples (too many) of different types, in every single super-trope scenario/coupling you can think of--generously sprinkled with intense kissing, a bit of groping, silly crotch-shots and jokes, sweaty/freshly-out-of-the-shower male bodies, slip-and-catches, running-in-the-rain, accidental "kisses", piggy-back rides, bed-baths, an army of engineer boys, guys-with-guitars and soccer players, gratuitous-but-oh-so-rewarding cameos by iconic BL couples, super-cheesy dialogues and sugar-sweet moments, crude sexual innuendoes and everything else.

Huge plus for some of the hottest scenes in any Thai BL to date. I will never be able to wrap my head around how Saint, with his innocent baby-face looks, can look so lethal when he turns the switch. (And his crazy versatility. I mean... from Pete in LBC, to this?)

I love it.

NOTE; Watch the special episode before you watch the drama. It will make everything easier to follow.

Watch this before you watch the drama. 

It'll make things a hell of a lot clearer, since the first episode of the drama leaves you kind of "huh, wait, what, umm, what was that supposed to.,..?, say what?" until the picture becomes clearer in following episodes.

Movie version of the drama "Wish You: Your Melody From My Heart".

I wasn't very impressed with the latest Korean BL mini-dramas, but this was by far better than the higher rated "To My Star". 

The synopsis made me suspicious, since i expected something shallow "idoly", but it wasn't like that at all. A simple and straight-forward little love story that was quite adorable. 

It's lacking in depth, and that's definitely because of the short runtime, but it makes up for it decently, with a beautiful score and OST, good acting and a nice production with many beautiful scenes and atmosphere. 

Nothing I'll remember for a long time--but definitely not a waste of time.

Short.

Upcoming 2021.

It was good. But it could have been even better with some script changes. 

I'll get to reviewing it when I feel up to it...

Upcoming 2020? (Release date yet to be announced.)

No release date available.

Special episodes for drama "YYY". 

Special for drama "YYY".