Hi! I just watched (and really, really liked) my beautiful man and it scratched an itch for me that a lot of bl shows don't - namely having believable, interesting flawed characters who feel like much more than the tropes they may fall under - and I was hoping you could recommend some other shows with unusual/bizarre/fascinating characters. I'm not necessarily looking for shows with the same level of quality as my beautiful man (I know that's rare), because I can put up with an otherwise bad/mediocre show as long as I'm invested in the characters (I really liked tharntype, largely because I loved how much of a messy asshole type was).
I'd especially love to find shows where the characters' flaws are outside of the usual wheelhouse for semes/ukes (obsessive/possessive/aggressive and tropily tsundere/oblivious/insecure, respectively) although I'd definitely be interested if (like with my beautiful man) they take those tropes and do a lot more with them than is typical, or if the actors can elevate a character not necessarily written to be particularly interesting (like sam in we best love)
What an interesting ask. Lemme see if I can narrow the parameters:
Likes: My Beautiful Man, TharnType
believable, flawed, odd, fascinating characters
more than the sum of their tropes
outside of seme (obsessive/possessive/aggressive) and uke (tsundere/oblivious/insecure) - I would call this "broken archetypes"
actor elevates at least one of the characters
Okay right off the bat I can tell you we are going to be dwelling in Japan, but I'll see if we can visit some other countries too.
Pornographer Series (starts with The Novelist)
The first thing I thought of while reading your list. Blows every archetype in the BL world out of the water (to the point where I usually don't think of htis as BL). The "bottom/uke" (but IS HE?) is older, manipulative, possibly actually sociopathic and yet... affectionate. This series in insane and crazy-making.
And that is why the ones who love it, really love it. Sit back China, Kijima Rio invented manipulation as a love language.
Includes: explicit sex scenes, emotional manipulation, cheating, obsession, seduction, May/December (age gap AKA younger/older), kink, and there a touch of necrophilia for spice.
The Cornered Mouse Dreams of Cheese AKA Kyuso wa Chizu no Yume wo Miru
Obsession, cheating, breakup, reunion, then break up again, explicit but not loving sex scenes, and stunning and hugely atmospheric and IMHO utterly intolerable. But not everyone is me, people ADORE this.
Warning on the ending... does it even have one? You decide.
Wait For Me at Udagawachou AKA Udagawachou de Matteteyo Japan
Hum, what to say? This is a story about two boys in high school. One of whom is a repressed outsider and the other who has a terrible secret (body dysmorphia & cross dressing). When the first boy discovers what's up with the second one, his reaction is very much fetishization.
"Oh Japan must you?" kinda started for me with this movie. But in this case, Japan, weirdly MUST. This is the ONLY show laboring under (and testing) a pointedly straight lens (or is it?) and identity examination (yes but which boy's identity, that's the question) that I've EVER seen even edge into the BL genre (or is it?).
I can tell you that it is crazy queer, even as it mostly focuses on the fetishization of identity from an outsider's perspective.
The above 3 BLs fall into the yes but... is is BL camp? We could debate but I'm not married to either filing system. However, these next ones satisfy you criteria but also are BL.
Our Youth AKA Miseinen: Mijukuna Oretachi wa Bukiyo ni Shinkochu
Adapted from a Korean Webtoon I can see why this went to Japan, it's way too harsh for KBL. Essentially a story about two lonely boys from opposite sides of the track who fall madly in love in high school, despite the fact that one is neglected and the other physically abused.
This has a rough premise (all the trigger warnings) BUT is an oddly lovely little show. Darker than is my personal preference but sublimely stylish, turns out sometimes that combo works for me (see The 8th Sense). The word that springs to mind is “refined.”
I enjoyed the restful distancing feel of the beautiful filming style, Japan's signature utter thirst, and some ostentatiously poetic dialogue. So edgy pretty.
My Personal Weatherman AKA Taikan Yoho
Basically: boys who fell in love in college end up living together but are so repressed they don't realize they're in love. It's higher heat than we usually get from Japan's HEA stuff, and that aspect is also very well done, but it leaned into the "why don't they just talk for fuck's sake?" trope which is only exacerbated into undiluted frustration by the fact that they're already fucking.
It's great, but watching requires more patience than usual, even for Japan. That said it's also bruisingly romantic.
When it Rains it Pours AKA Futtara Doshaburi
All signs to the contrary, I actually enjoyed this show, not despite it's darkness but because of it. Certainly cheating and escaping dysfunctional LTRs is dark subject matter and not for everyone (frankly it usually isn’t for me) but this was Japan at its BL best, and they handled it with consummate (if stiff) elegance.
In the end this was actually a lovely little narrative about finding your person despite being held in stasis by the wrong one already. And while I’m not sure this will get many re-watches from me, but I still appreciate this BL for the unique voice and storyline that it added to the general BL zeitgeist.
Tokyo in April is AKA Shigatsu no Tokyo wa
Two young men with a shared tragic past reunite and fall in love all over again, but the past will not stop hunting them. Based on a manga, this office set reunion romance is GREAT… damn it. It’s Japan in full on soft focus which means it gets emo, abusive, and chewy.
These two characters are giving parts of their souls away in a desperate attempt to shape themselves to the expectations they have of each other.
Japan gave us the Bed Friends that Thailand could never even imagine.
Eternal Yesterday AKA Eien no Kino
HEAVY SIGH Smart boy in love with zombie incubus keeps him alive with sex but make it HURT so DEEP. Japan, kings of thirst, gives us both that and the opposite: these two are drowning in yearning and loss.
Careful with this one you break it, you bought it, and it’ll break you… wide open just to see what color your guts are. After watching you too might be walking around lost and forgotten and wondering why no one understands your pain.
But seriously, what a way to get there.
Also: the single greatest intro music IN ALL BL.
I also considered: If It's With You, The End of the World With You, and Junjou Pure Heart but decided the Seme/uke was too classic for the brief.
Taiwan usually mucks with seme/uke, it's part of their BL DNA. But they don't always deliver on the complexity of character and edgyness you're after.
Your Name Engraved Herein - this movie is fantastic but it is also seriously depressing, it’s a self acceptance journey, but if you wanna wallow in high quality acting and serious gay drama, this’ll do it.
Innocent - manages to take mental health and childhood trauma and turn it inte something that is actually kinda sweet.
My Tooth Your Love (Viki) - Earnest dentist hottie with sad eyes who worries too much is smitten by an adorable sunshine neurotic bar owner with serious anxiety issues. They fall madly in love while courting each other with food, plushies, and naps. Then, shocker, talk about their feelings and try to actually sort out their problems so they can have an adult relationship. Bonus crumbs = 18 year old poor little rich kid in mad crush with a much older man. I really enjoyed this show, it had a unique premise, killer dialogue, there was a solid lead pair with charming chemistry, soft flirtation, delightful smiling kisses, and stinkingly cute domesticity.
All of these are going to lean classic and softer than the others I have named. But if you don't mind Korea's style some of these might work for you.
Let Free the Curse of Taekwondo
To My Star 2: Our Untold Stories (but the first series is truly classic BL)
These are all going to still be Thai BL in that *way.* Ya know? But these are just enough different to be worth mentioning. Now you may not like them because of that very difference but still...
I Feel You Linger in the Air
Dear Doctor, I'm Coming for Your Soul
To Sir, With Love AKA Khun Chai
These were just some spit balls, there are more from Thailand but there are also so many it's hard to wade through them all. There are a ton in the pulp department that try to be clever with archetypes and just fail, and I didn't bother with those.
germansingergirl
s-u-f-j-a-n-s-t-e-v-e-n-s
turnnoffyourmind
kianamaiart
yousharknotpass
gummygunk
