#japanese queer dramas u will always be famous... | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

absolutebl · 2 years

Note

"Rewatch value is a huge deal for me." What are some shows with high rewatch value for you then? Sorry if you already answered this question. I watched the first episode of KinnPorche tonight and then was stuck on what I should be watching next. x_x What is the 10/10 BL series you can think of off the top of your head? Maybe I should give Why R U? a chance..

My Top Picks

10 Most Rewatchable BLs

This has to be a completely arbitrary call, I'm afraid. What I find rewartchable may not be what others find rewatchable. It's going to hit my highest rated 10/10 BLs right away and then a few oddballs. A BL doesn't get a 10/10 from me if I don't find it rewatchable.

1. Seven Days (Japan 2015)

One of the best live action yaois ever made, with perfectly structured angst, fantastic characters and acting, and no problematic tropes (rare in Japanese BL). The leads have excellent chemistry although it’s low heat there’s still some really cute mutual kisses.

Popular first year Seiryo has a policy of going out with any girl who asks… for one week. On a lark, third year Yuzuru tests to see if that policy also applies to boys. Seiryo agrees that it does. Along the way they accidentally fall in love, although each is convinced the other one thinks it’s just for a week.

Full review here. Last I checked could find it on YouTube and DramaCool in 2 parts Seven Days: Monday - Thursday, Seven Days: Friday - Sunday) I tend to rewatch the whole thing.

2. Color Rush (Korea 2021)

A unique paranormal twist elevates this classic high school drama into a pitch-perfect allegory for the queer coming out experience and one of the best BLs of all time (I will fight you on this).

Monos can only see in grey scale, until they meet their probes. But when they do, monos can turn into obsessive monsters over the one person that turns on the world color. When Yeon Woo meets his probe, however, that boy seems a lot more obsessed with him.

Color Rush is on Viki. I tend to rewatch the whoel thing in its movie form.

3. Light On Me (Korea 2021)

Korea does an elegant pastiche of traditional live action yaoi but all tropes are cleverly deployed to bolster one of the most riveting love triangles ever put on screen… and I don’t like love triangles!

TaeKyung is a bit awkward and introverted and has never really wanted friends, but suddenly he thinks that might have been a bad life choice. So he joins the student council where he meets, among others, two very different boys who both want more than friendship from him.

Light On Me is on Viki. I mostly rewatch the second half.

4. To My Star (Korea 2021)

It’s is a touch quirky to get into, but utterly charming once it hits its stride. This is the ultimate grumpy/sunshine pairing plus the most appealing light-filled kitchen of our dreams.

Famous actor (adorable bundle of neurosis) takes refuge in the house of a reserved chef and is immediately smitten by Mr Tall Dark & Glowering. The chef is also smitten but refuses to admit it to himself or anyone else.

Full review here. To My Star is on Viki. I tend to rewatch the whole thing in the movie form.

5. We Best Love 1 & 2 (Taiwan 2021)

WBL is composed of two parts: We Best Love: No 1 for You & We Best Love: Fighting Mr 2nd. The 1st season is a short run classic university set BL combining the best of Korea & Thailand’s modern takes on genre. The 2nd season moves into the office, and employs Japanese style in terms of setting, obsession, and mature concepts. WBL thus successfully managed to pick up and combine the best features of Korean, Thai, and Japanese BL as it exists right now. Couple that to the insane chemistry from the leads, and we have one of the greatest BLs of all time, cooking to a recipe I doubt anyone else will ever be able to replicate since only Taiwan is this flexible.

Story wise it’s pretty classic: Shi De has been in love with Shu Yi since childhood, but Shu Yi has always seen them as rivals. In university, events finally conspire for Shi De to make his move. It’s the ultimate tsundere uke versus the ultimate pining seme. Part two follows them into the workplace after a breakup.

I love this show so much, odds are I’m currently rewatching it as you read this. I tend to rewatch specific episodes.

6. Until We Meet Again (Thailand 2019)

Thailand’s only entry in my 10/10 category (from the BL mass producer). This is non BL trope reliant fated mates (AKA soulmates) romance that just happens to have the right setting and age of protagonists to fit the BL genre. UWMA is a work of narrative genius, and all the actors all turn in stellar performances, it is the best Thai BL from a storytelling perspective. Possibly the best BL story we’ll ever get. It also takes full advantage of Thailand’s signature full treatment, never dragging despite 17 full episodes.

Timid sweetheart Pharm meets older serious Dean on his first day of university and is both irresistibly drawn to him and inexplicably sad. Dean starts an intense slow courtship but they both begin to realize they’ve been through this all before and one of them, 30 years ago in a previous life, made a terrible mistake. Can their current selves survive the sins and betrayals of their past?

UWMA can be seen on YouTube. I tend to rewatch specific episodes.

7. Semantic Error (Korea 2022)

Korea hits it entirely out of the Parks (pun on the actors’ last names intended) by doing a university set BL with everything we might expect but done exactly right, their signature quality executed perfectly, and added bonus good story, great pacing, and fantastic chemistry. This one is actually flawless. You cannot ask for more from a BL, let alone a KBL.

Talented graphic artist Jaeyoung (emotional agro older seme) discovers Sangwoo has outed him as a slacker which means he’s not graduating this year. He sets out to find out who Sangwoo is and get revenge, accidentally develops a big o’crush. Sangwoo is a morally grounded strict routine based reserved programmer (logical uke) who’s world is entirely shaken by the chaos that is Jaeyoung. I love “the only one who can bully him is me” trope especially when said bully melts into all over whipped for his boy.

Jaeyoung pined like a master. Like Park Seo Ham took lessons from Sam Lin. And Sangwoo crumbles into complete submission like he’s been waiting for Jaeyoung his whole life. It’s an absolute pleasure to watch these two on screen together. (Full review here.)

Semantic Error is on Viki. I tend to rewatch from episode 3 (the bar fight) onwards.

8. Be Loved In House: I Do (Taiwan 2021)

A cute classy office set BL with a few plot raised eyebrows, but no other concerns, plus ALL THE TROPES and a general sweet softness that’s pretty rare from Taiwan, who usually prefer to go hard (Viki). I tend to rewatch only the last few episodes.

9. HIStory 2: Crossing the Line (Taiwan 2018)

Taiwan’s best example of classic BL with a sports romance foundation using some of the most prototypical (but fortunately least offensive) yaoi tropes (Viki). I tend to rewatch the whole thing.

10. Utsukushii Kare AKA My Beautiful Man (Japan 2021)

One of the best most traditionally live action yaoi to release in the last decade. It used seriously old school manga derived problematic and kinky tropes, like whipping boy, for a truly classic piece that also manages to hit up modern themes of communication, consent, and self acceptance. It’s a wonderful BL, uniquely dirty and harsh in the best possible way. (GaGaOOLaLa) I tend to rewatch just the last two episodes.

Others I have rewatched a lot because of what was available when I first joined the fandom, or for random oddball personal reasons.

Cherry Magic AKA 30 Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard AKA 30-sai made Dotei Da to Mahotsukai ni Nareru rashii (Japan 2020)

Wish You: Your Melody in My Heart (Korea 2020)

Oxygen the series (Thai 2020)

A First Love Story (Strongberry Korea 2021)

Some More (Strongberry Korea 2018)

Dark Blue Kiss (Thai 2019) just PeteKao

Love By Chance (Thai 2018) just AePete

Why R U? (Thai 2020) just FighterTutor

The Tasty Florida (Korea 2021)

Love Sick (Thai 2014-2015)

Addicted (China 2016)

Make it Right (Thai 2016-2017)

Private Lessons (Strongberry Korea 2020)

(source)

Updated April 2022.

221 notes · View notes