thai bl recommendations

is it the best bl drama ever made? idk depends on u but to me, it's life-changing in ways not much has been in the thai drama sphere, so it's #1 here and in my heart, always... Pat-Pran outdid everyone i fear

the songs are great (!!), Ohm and Nanon are GREAT (rip), the supporting cast is wonderful to watch (including Milk-Love <3) and the drama flows So Naturally that i forget that it's a drama. it's giving romeo and juliet, gayer and healthier and way more heartwarming

breaks ur heart, puts it back together and breaks it again. the sequel never happened in my reality so ITSAY exists in isolation as this masterclass in cinematography, direction and acting. each second is deliberate and every dialogue is purposeful, it's a treat to watch and experience our characters coming of age as if we're right there with them

sometimes all u need for a perfect drama is a simple concept with talented actors, a killer sountrack (no seriously) and impeccable direction. and that's what this is. 10/10 no notes, literally THE perfectly made high-school romcom

defeating corruption and systemic injustice one gay kiss at a time 

not me is extremely socially relevant, wonderfully made and keeps the spirit of the revolution alive. the high stakes plot Feels high stakes, the characters always Seem like they're like a found family and the morally grey characters are delightful to watch. Gun has never done a bad role so him being here is reason enough to watch tbh

(obviously First is in this as well in his cuntiest role to date which automatically makes this great)

defeating corruption and systemic injustice one gay kiss at a time, pt 2 lol

another poignantly made commentary on oppression and queerness, where the school acts as a microcosm of society. this is less bl, more queer and takes itself very seriously in that sense. something something queer trauma and repressed desires in teenage.... something something the cycle of abuse continues and the abused becomes the abuser..... hmm

(yet again, First is here and with Khao so obviously it's a must watch)

i actually don't care who dislikes this, it's a revolutionary drama in the thai bl space and executes some essential conversations beautifully. the characters are navigating an existing closeted relationship together, which is rare in bls to have and really shows the struggles and conflicts that come with being closeted as an adult. it's poignant and heartfelt!! a true comfort watch with just the right amount of ~drama

nothing has been like this and nothing can come close to this drama. thai bls have long tried to execute the perfect transmigration/time travel plot but this one right here is the best amongst it all. it breaks and heals your heart, makes you yearn on behalf of the characters and tells a story so poignant and beautifully crafted that it will genuinely ruin u for shows for the next few weeks. literally no notes, this is top tier

sometimes being messy is okay, and i will defend only friends until my last breath!!

almost no characters are good people, but that's sort of the point; only friends never claims otherwise. a drama chock full of the most toxic gays you can find that will somehow make you want to both strangle them and hug them gently. if u can stomach ridiculously dramatic plots with betrayal, lying, unprocessed trauma and questionable life choices, this is the drama for u

(again, First is in this and again with Khao so obviously that should convince everyone)

save me, blond tattooed sweet guy, save me

will make u cry at least 5 times and will wrap u in a hug afterward. it holds your hands and takes you through the healing journey of our main characters. again, delightfully sweet friendships and a love story that leaves u aching (in a good way). it benefits from being a spinoff bc the story is tightly written and Win-Team are painful in all the right ways

another top tier comfort watch for when life is going to shit and all you want is to be surrounded by a tight-knit group of friends who love and cherish each other. it has everything: romance in its different shades, friendship, the trials and tribulations of life that get a little easier with people around you, laughter, at least 2 beach episodes and an unfairly beautiful cast

rarely has a remake been this good and i daresay it rivals the og Japanese cherry magic in almost everything. another heartfelt watch that will soothe the deepest of wounds. yet another comfort watch, especially if ur familiar with the plot. Tay-New are a delight and they actually fix the icky side couple from the og cherry magic and make them incredibly cute. 10/10 binge watching potential

the definition of be gay, do crime

this is a queer drama, not really bl in the traditional way but it's brilliant and i wish everyone watches it

anything can be gay if u think hard enough. Gun is here and again, that's reason enough to watch. the plot doesn't make sense half the time but Tor's outfits do so it's okay

there's a cameo here for everyone, this is basically a gmmtv party with the amount of actors in here; but somehow everyone is acting their damn hearts out and i'm so confused (in a good way?) on why they're outperforming themselves for a cameo in a fantasy show with a plot akin to a tattered old t-shirt. but i guess that makes for a good watch so. yeah

surprisingly insightful take on gender and fluidity. gender swap can go either way but this one handles it well, doesn't try to pull a weird "they were all straight all along" on us. the gender swapped character is written refreshingly well, there's real conflict there that's almost mirroring someone figuring out their gender. in the end, it's all about what makes you a man (or a woman)

messy gays again but less toxic than only friends. possibly one of the best casts of gmmtv bls. moonlight chicken is heartbreaking and painfully human, but it's actually heart & liming (my sons) that steal ur heart. if anything makes u watch this show, let it be these 2 teens who find one another and become the light in each other's lives.

(another First role and obviously another good reason to watch... i am an Alan apologist)

every time Gun cries, another actor is born.... his impact

this show is a film bros dream come true.... the cinnamon topography..... the visual storytelling.... yeah. Gun cries in it a LOT and you might cry with him too. friends to lovers in a way that makes u question if they were ever friends in the first place lol

again, be gay, do crime <3

a crime mystery, a thriller and a love story all wrapped together in a package of dubious budget, absolute Hunks of men, very believable acting and a lil fuck the police for fun (acab ofc). at some point the plot just becomes the background and you're more interested in the characters and their dynamics. a must-watch if you're seeking more thai bls with grown adults with actual adult jobs and responsibilities

this is as close to a DRAMA drama (lakorn) that i'll go, and boy does UWMA give drama. the premise itself is very fantasy fiction, but this iteration of soulmates/fated lovers is one of the best. some of the last few eps could've been an email lol and it does stretch a bit towards the end. but it's easy to ignore that in favour of the poignant storytelling and ohm and fluke's best acting work. just like between us, the friendships are delightfully sweet and the romances are painful in all the right ways

a valiant second attempt at the cursed 2moons story, this one misses the mark by a Lot tbh and is here only because the 2 secondary couples are probably some of my favourite romances in thai bls. it's a light watch and poorly made/executed but you'll suddenly be hit with a line so raw that it'll change the trajectory of ur life........ ("the moon probably thinks the earth is very important, so important that the moon has to revolve around it all the time" "you're my earth" I REST MY CASE)

honestly, it's good but like, not in the usual way. the friend groups are very natural and sweet and lovely, the couples are very easy to root for and the conflicts (esp towards the second half) feel geniunely conflicting. if this were 3 separate, interconnected dramas, i would give each story a diff rating (8 for Arc-Arm (story 1), 7.5 for Yotha-Gun (story 2) and 9.5 for Faifa-Wine my beloved(story3)). while i do wish gmmtv (and new siwaj the director) didnt do what it always does w forgiving irredeemable parents, but that is to be expected given the track record. so yeah, if u want 24 eps worth of comfort show content with actual susbtance, this is the drama for u!!! if nothing, watch for faifa and wine even though they come in fully only at ep 17 and manage to tell a BEAUTIFUL story in 8 eps (they're worth sitting through the first 16 eps, trust)

another be gay, do crime (i'm sensing a pattern here)

adults with adult jobs try to solve a murder amidst corruption, politicians abusing power, personal traumas and a big gay romance (or two). admittedly, the plot is rife with holes and sometimes drags on frustratingly, but it's nothing too bad and ultimately the characters reel you back in