2024 BL List

Excellent

Made me feel nostalgic for Enoshima. Thank god for teenagers that can actually communicate!

“Normal isn’t necessarily easy”- Amane

Garbage

“I love you and I like you, Jade”- Mai

Great

Short, sweet, to the point. Amazing what was accomplished in 3 episodes; didn't even mind the lack of skinship. Loved Akafuji.

Unwatchable

I hope karma bites Sprite in the butt and he rots in BL Hell. 

Excellent

Had great potential. Tripped in the last 2 episodes. Idk if I even wanted MhokDay to end up together as the credits rolled.

Average

Toki-kun for the win! Romance was unconvincing, but if I view their relationship as kindred spirits, who improved as people solely from one another's influence, then it's beautiful. Would've made a better bromance.

Good

Insane, messy plot, but bumped up half  a star for Pavel's efforts. 

Good

Everything fell apart for me once they left the police academy, but I appreciated the ambition.

Passable

Came for OffGun, stayed for NeoAungpao, although, neither CP was blowing me away. 

Great

Really hard to follow up the original, however,  a combination of new additions mixed with the classically wonderful plot + TayNew's chemistry = a solid entry to 2024's BL list. 

Flawless

Elevated the original material and found a happy medium between slap stick comedy and the heartwarming, poignant relationship between two middle aged men and their found family.

Passable

Fun premise that had multiple hiccups and overstayed its welcome. I want more Mizuki! 

Phenomenal 

Came for Woongki, yet had no idea I was in for a unique, transmigration BL with a thoughtful message about self-love and second chances.

Excellent

Hirokuni's character arc was so relatable/maybe more interesting than the actual romance.  Rushed ending. Everyone could benefit from a Kai in their lives.

Garbage

Super self-aware vampire camp that was a little too on the nose. Spent more time being funny/campy, wrapped in a meandering slice-of-life plot that became boring. The ending was actually rather brave though...if not kinda creepy...(not as bad as Past Senger, but similar vibes).

Average

The premise was super interesting. The characters acted like real teenagers and the cinematography was stunning. But the drama wasn't able to deliver on the complex themes and the ending was a predictable cop-out. 

Rewatch

Excellent

"Ruling a nation is like cooking a small delicacy"

"Return a drop of water with a full spring"

Didn’t know if this would still hold up, but I loved it as much as the first time. Forget the weak police work and focus on the enemies to lovers plot line and message of love trumping revenge/ breaking the cycle of violence.

Rewatch 

Excellent

Simple premise. Haikyuu!! meets BL.
The leads had excellent chemistry; acting was especially good from the MC. Docking a point for rushing the ending/not spending more time with the leads as a couple. Could rewatch this every year.

Phenomenal 

“Don’t be afraid of the cracks, because that’s where the light comes in."

Some pacing/editing issues, however, a beautiful adaptation that toned down some of the dark intensity of the original work. The cast's acting, particularly the MCs, transforms this work from an excellent to phenomenal BL. 

 Great

Not the strongest pair in terms of acting abilities in the HIStory collection, and might’ve tackled too much for such a short series, however, their makeshift family had me soft by the end.

Excellent

Reminds me of Sekaiichi Hatsukoi, but Miyata is 1000% better than Ritsu. Great chemistry between the leads. Wish we could've gotten more insight into the ML POV.

Average

A very predictable plot that is improved by the healthy relationship between the main couple. The throuple left much to be desired though.

Rewatch

Excellent

Still as insane as the first time I watched it. The closest I’ll get to seeing an exact transmigration, wife chasing crematorium drama... thanks Taiwan for delivering this toxic mess. The acting/chemistry sells this otherwise cheap, virulent drama.

Great

Brilliant cinematography and acting. Suffers from  a short runtime.

Great

A fun rivals to lovers premise that isn't wholly original, but is carried by cast synergy and the charisma and sizzling chemistry from the leads. 

Excellent

The sexual tension is off the charts. Wow, the powerful emotions conveyed during the couch scene alone... For me, the  issue with the WBL series is that the first few episodes of the season is always stronger than the finale. This season really wrote itself into a corner due to the ending of S1, but it can be ignored for Shu Yi and Shi De.

Good

First half was messy, but the tension b/w the MCs compelling enough to continue. The second half really fell apart though, but was insane enough to keep me entertained + had good chemistry/side couple. IQ Level needed: 0 Ambition noted.

Excellent

All the excitement of HIStory Trapped, but with significantly more plot holes. But omg... the chemistry between the two couples! The power bottoms were the best! Bai Zongyi & Fan Zerui stole my heart! 

Great

Made some great changes to the original manhwa (such as switching the lover from the father-->brother & setting the drama in a music/arts school). Had a great time listening to the jazz music and revisiting a manhwa that I enjoyed in college.

Good

A slow, SLOW burn that became a little silly in the final episodes. Still, the leads sold their roles well. I don’t think I would’ve bought any of their jewelry tho.

Excellent

I had approx 0 expectations for this drama and was blown away by the adorable chemistry and standout acting from rookie Keen. This show literally contained all of my most hated tropes and yet, I became a hypocrite by the end and fell in love with the entire show.

Unwatchable

What the heck was this? Puppy trafficking? Euthanizing a beloved pet? Broken limbs? Blackmailing? A battle for succession? All there. But where's the romance? 

Average

Passable

“I don’t want you to measure success by age. Talent can blossom at any age, and when it does, it’s always worth appreciating."

If spinning wheels was a drama. 

Good

Cinematography was wonderful and they had a clear narrative shown through the lens. I was never fully immersed in the characters. Always felt like they were actors. But a solid JBL entry.

Good

A very generic, quiet childhood friends to lovers JBL.  Best episode was 6. Liked Kazuhito’s struggles with his sexuality. 

Average

Enjoyed the quirkiness of the main couple originally. Peaked at episode 3, but started spiraling once they introduced a "love rival". The secondary couple was much stronger, more relatable, and less frustrating. Only mad that we didn't see more of them.

Dropped Ep. 5

Excellent

A generally very solid adaptation of one of my favorite toxic danmei novels. Ending is a little shaky, but does not detract much from the overall accomplishments or Ming's character arc. Bumped score due to the stellar acting from Up and Poom.

Good

Loved the depiction of a healthy adult relationship, which was tainted by the show's "need" to milk the confession till the very end. Can't wait to see more GreatInn projects.

Flawless 

Out of all of the dangai dramas rotting in the dungeon (including Immortality and Eternal Faith), I would give my right hand for the remaining episodes. Wei Zhao/ Pei Su's chemistry is unfathomable + the mysteries are so addicting! 

Phenomenal 

Garbage

It was awful before the SA. Patrick is a professional gaslighter.

Flawless

This is the greatest love story I’ve ever watched. Needs a box of tissues. This couple wrote entire novels dedicated to each other with just their persistent eye banging and out-of-this-world chemistry! There may never be a dangai drama released from China that can top this in my lifetime. 

“May we never forget what’s worth remembering. Or remember what’s best forgotten.” - Wei Wuxian (The Untamed Ep. 6)

Good

I knew nothing about air shooting, so that was a pleasant surprise. Amazed that this was adapted from a manhua about twincest (thankfully removed). All things considered, a surprisingly good dangai drama.

Average

A mid-adaptation of one of my favorite manga series. Basically a long ad with cute boys. 

Good

The show really loses its “magic” after leaving the island. The story really needs a major overhaul. But the chemistry is divine and the fact they finished on the island deleted a lot of my memories of their time in Bangkok!

Dropped @ Ep. 6

Great

Wasn't a perfect adaptation, but honestly left me feeling satisfied and happy by the end. The leads are good actors with comfortable chemistry.

Passable

This isn't a BL. It's an ensemble office drama. As an office drama, it's a 8/10. As a BL, it's a 7/10. The false marketing has me a little bit salty and the GL couple is insufferable. Horrible ending too. 

Took me a minute to adapt to both Taishin and Takara as leads, but as Taishin started defending Takara and Takara started softening more for Taishin, I found them growing on me. 

Good

This show really tries to give the viewer everything and the kitchen sink in the span of 8 episodes. This is a trashy cooking BL that doesn't try to convince you it's anything else but that. All the couples have excellent chemistry. 

Excellent

A surprising twist to a seemingly typical  reincarnation gender-bender romp. DaouOffroad continue to improve in their craft and the ambitious storyline and beautiful message serve this lakorn BL well. 

Good

Wow,  this was worse than most mini-Cdramas I’ve watched… and I’ve watched a lot of them (those fight scenes got progressively more painful). However, I’ll support it as much as I can. This is a pioneer for the future of uncensored, period Chinese BL dramas. 

Rewatch

On-Hold

On-Hold Ep. 3

On-Hold

On-Hold

On-Hold

Dropped 

Excellent

Went in .5% expectations, came away in love! This reminds me of the older yaoi days, but with a modern, less toxic twist. But man, that makeup looked debatable.

On-Hold

Starts falling apart once the main couple gets together, but I wouldn't rate a Chinese BL anything less than a 10/10 stars atp

Good

Best soundtrack. Kinda lagged in the middle. Ended on a high note. Loved the secondary couple.

On-Hold

Dropped

On-Hold

Would've given this a 9/10, but since Ep. 7, it's been really going down. I'm exhausted watching Joker trying to prove he's worthy to Jack, when I haven't seen him doing jack shit.

Good

I never had a strong attachment to the OG, so maybe that's why my rating is bolstered. While this was nothing special by JBL standards, I applaud their attempt to condense a 13 hour drama into 4 hours... although, it should've never been attempted to begin with.