Asian BL - BL/Gay Dramas and movies 1980's to 2021

Asian BL from the 1980's to 2021: A comprehensive Guide for lazy Fangirls (and Boys)

Or, more like, "BL from some Asian countries"... China (+ Taiwan and Hong Kong), Japan, South Korea, and Thailand.)

If you'd like recs about non-Asian BL, just ask...

List will only contain titles in which BL/Gay/Male Bi couples/characters/themes, have at least a somewhat prominent role.

***(Titles with (only) Trans characters; not included--a Trans woman who loves men is straight, not gay.
Crossdressing has nothing to do with gender identity so titles with cross-dressing guys who like guys; included.
Bodyswap is (reluctantly) included.
Bromance if there is an implication that it is/will go beyond friendship)***

Adding every now and then.

Note; To make it simple; I'll just call BL, even if it would be more correct to say; stories about guys who are attracted to guys.
"Gay theme" and BL are two different things.
But as long as one can tell fantasy from reality--it's a convenient word.

My ratings are pretty harsh at times, but I judge by quality, not by how much I like/dislike it. Also by intention. Don't compare masterpieces with romcoms. That's not fair. Judge by what they were intended to be. A stupid romcom can be a 10 just as well as a Kurosawa flick, can.
Btw; A "5" means "mediocre". "10" means "perfect". "1" means "a crime towards mankind."
People, there are a whole lot of numbers between 1 and 10.

Note: Included are dramas made of the manga "Hanazakari no kimitachi e". Even if it's not BL, there is a beautiful point made, which I think deserves attention because it's present in a manga/drama which has no BL connection.

Bambikill Jul 15, 2017

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801. You Had Me at Hello

Thai Movie - 2018

Short
802. You Make Me Dance

Korean Drama - 2021, 8 episodes

7.5

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.
803. You Make Me Dance (Movie)

Korean Movie - 2021
804. You Used To Smile That Way

Korean Movie - 2009

Short.
805. You're My Sky

Thai Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
806. Your Name Engraved Herein

Taiwanese Movie - 2020

8.0

Sounds really interesting--gay themes of the heavier kind.

Upcoming June 19th 2020.
807. Your Star

Thai Drama - 0000

Upcoming 2020.
808. Your Voice, My Heart

Taiwanese Drama - 0000

Upcoming 2020.
809. Youths in the Breeze: Cat Boyfriend

Chinese Special - 2020, 8 episodes
810. Youths in the Breeze: My Novel Boy

Chinese Special - 2020, 8 episodes
811. YuXiang and Mark

Taiwanese Movie - 2016

Short
812. YYY

Thai Drama - 2020, 6 episodes

3.0
813. YYY Special

Thai Special - 2020, 3 episodes

Sequel season for drama "YYY".
814. YYY Special: Episode 0

Thai Special - 2020, 1 episode

3.0

Special for drama "YYY".
815. Zettai BL ni Naru Sekai VS Zettai BL ni Naritakunai Otoko

Japanese Special - 2021, 1 episode

8.0

This is fricking hilarious.
I laughed my ass off--and I'm not a person that's all that easily swayed past the level of occasional giggles. (But if you aren't one for sarcastic humor, you might not be quite as amused as I am.)
I'm immensely entertained by everything that makes fun of BL, since no matter how much of a fangirl I am--I'm also a cynic... (And too old and hardened to wear rose colored glasses 24/7...)
We've seen a bit of it lately--with Thai dramas "Why RU?" and "Lovely Writer" (haven't watched the latter, though), but this is different. It really, REALLY shows off all the nonsensical things with BL--outright and literally, not just with a wink. And it's great.
Here--one is allowed to laugh one's ass off at pathetic situations, predictable plots and cheesy stuff :D We're meant to.
It's not mean, not condescending and not judgemental--just sarcastic hightlighting of the stuff in BL that would make anyone roll their eyes if they weren't so caught up in a BL-high. All seen through the eyes of a dude that rivals even me in terms of having a sarcastic view of the world.
It's unique in its storytelling and definitely one of my favs for 2021. It becomes a little bit haphazard towards the end, so it doesn't quite hold all the way--but all in all, it's a little gem of a different flavour. Love it.
816. Zipper and Tits

Japanese Movie - 2001

Haven't watched it, but I just gotta' say; How epic is that title?