Ben’s Big BL Blurb 10: I Finally Feel Like Writing Again
I’ve been away for far longer than I expected, but life has been too busy. Before things get even busier with the fall, I wanted to report on what I’ve been watching in 2026 since I haven’t checked in since January. This is going to be a long one, but I’ll start with the shows I’m currently watching. I had struggled with the first part of the year, but I’m watching quite a bit again.
There’s way too much to cover, so I’ll fire off about current shows, and highlight a few I completed. Feel free to ask me about shows I don’t write about here. Reactions under the cut out of respect for the dashboard
Currently Watching
Popular Serizawa Acts Weird around Me
Play Me
Bittersweet Love
The Servant Prince
Are the Sexy Buttocks Not Good?
Duty First, Kiss Later
A Winter Sun Wakes the Wind in Spring Hills’ Dream
Gelboys 2
Your Summer, My Storm
After Moving Seats, the Boy Behind Me Has a Crush on Me
The Edge of Horizon
My Summer of You
Ordinary Love
Completed
Always Meet Again
Awakening the Steppe
Check in to You
Contrast
Countdown to Yes
Deep In
Double Helix
Duang with You
Fake Fact Lips
Feel What You Feel
Go For It, Nakamura-kun!!
Journey with You
Kateikyoshi no Kishi Knight desu.
Life in Smokey Blue
Lost to You
Love Class 3
My Grandpa is a BL Writer
Never Forget Your Enemy
Shitsuren Karuta
The Boy and I Who Will Break Up in 100 Days
The Lie We Lived In
The Prosecutor’s Proposal
Ticket to Heaven
Unexpectedly Naughty Fukami
Wishing upon the Shooting Stars
Your Dear Daddy
Dropped
ChermChey
Love Like a Bike
Love of Silom
Love upon a Time
Love You Teacher
My Romance Scammer
Sammy’s Children’s Day
Unfold
Currently Watching
Let’s jump in on these shows in no particular order, starting with the newest.
Thinking about the Fudanshi to Queer Pipeline in Popular Serizawa Acts Weird Around Me (1/10)
I’m looking forward to this show because I’m curious about the long-term effects BL has on the coming-of-age experiences for baby gays. We’ve all spilled a lot of words over who makes BL, and who BL is for, but it matters to me that some queer people will figure themselves out through the lens of BL. While I’m not entirely certain I continue to enjoy the four hot guys thing that might be a Boys Over Flowers reference, I’m interested in how Serizawa responded to the disappointment that Suzuki doesn’t think of himself as gay (at this time). I’m not certain that Serizawa is actually a fudanshi, and is instead using it as a way in with someone he might vibe with. Curious to see where this one goes.
I’m Engaged with the 90s Nostalgia of Bittersweet Love (10/12)
I find myself quietly compelled by Bittersweet Love every week. It’s always interesting to see how other cultures reflect on earlier eras, and I’ve especially enjoyed how the economy plays out in every relationship in the show. I worried that I would struggle with Lu Xiao Fan’s long-suffering nature with this show, but I’ve been compelled by Guan Yue’s performance. Lu Xiao Fan knows that he’s suffering, and he’s always making the choice to bear humiliation for someone else’s benefit. Moreover, I forever connected to Lu Xiao Fan when he connected strongest with Simon while he and Bei Lu Qing watched The Wedding Banquet (1993). I’ve enjoyed watching him reach his limit over the last few weeks, and am eager to see how things fall out now that he’s intentionally blown up the entire scenario.
Play Me Had Three Coincidental Meetups in Its First 15 Minutes (2/8)
I can’t really take this one seriously, so it’s become what I call my “breakfast show.” Three run-ins between old friends who fell out in the first 15-minute episode is just too silly for me. I also struggle with shows where a major fallout happens over a misunderstanding from over a decade ago.
I’m Feeling Mild About The Servant Prince (6/8)
I tend to like these sort of master and servant dynamics from Japan the most, and was eager to see how this one played out now that they’re no longer teenagers. Unfortunately, I just don’t think the bad rich dad angst hanging over the season has worked well for me, despite how much I’m enjoying Naoya continuing to reject his dad. I’ve most enjoyed watching Takaaki struggle with following Naoya’s orders, and how their dynamic evolves as Naoya gets better. I’ll report back once it finishes to see if the overall arc made the middle retroactively more enjoyable.
I Enjoy Are The Sexy Buttocks Not Good? For Reasons Other Than Itself (6/10)
This is from the same folks who did Unexpectedly Naughty Fukami recently, and I feel like the appeal of these shows for me rests more with their ability to push the envelope of what kinds of BL is allowed on TV more than I like the shows themselves. This feels like a project where the source material relies heavily on its intimate scenes to convey major moves in the relationship, but the show has a limit to how and where it can do that. I also felt some consternation about leaving behind the initial desire that led to this romance. Still, I like how the show continues to deal with its age gap.
I’m Glad that Duty First, Kiss Later Mostly Feels Like a Workplace Romcom (3/10)
I was a bit leery of this show at first, as I don’t typically enjoy shows that lionize policing. For now, I’m enjoying this one as a workplace show that enables interactions outside of the workplace. I think this show has already had two leg kabedons, so I’m having fun with that. I also like seeing stories about people in their mid-30s coming into their queerness for the first time. It’s never too late, and I like seeing that in this genre. Romance isn’t just for people in their teens or 20s.
A Winter Sun Wakes The Wind in Spring Hills’ Dream is One of the Most Beautiful Shows I’ve Seen in Years (14/16)
I’m not kidding when I say I almost retired from watching BL as a primary hobby at the end of 2025. I was open at the time about how much I had been struggling with the state of the genre, from the decline in the work itself, to the behaviors within fandom itself. Then, near the end of the year, I watched Secrets Happened on the Litchi Island. That was such a restorative experience, and a reminder that I watch a lot of BL that doesn’t necessarily wow me so that I can find gems like that. I was thrilled to take another ride with Zelia and she what she had if we gave her 16 episodes. At this stage, I will say that I’ve enjoyed the beauty of this show, the atmospheric nature, and the overall cast chemistry. That being said, I often think the show’s ideas are a little scattered. I don’t think this is the most accessible work, and I’m looking forward to the long-term unpacking of this show’s ideas about love for entertainers, and the publicity factor of BL.
Gelboys 2 Is a Big Question Mark (1/8)
It’s actually pretty interesting that Gelboys 2 has eight episodes, because it feels like we’re heading into another seven-episode season after the premiere. This first episode felt more like an epilogue for the first season than the beginning of a second. It felt like a big response to some of the criticisms of the end of the first season. I felt like I wanted the guys to break up more than anything, and highlighted that only Bua gave a proper apology and reckoned with his behavior at the end. I won’t complain about the show reaffirming the bonds between these boys and letting them move on from what happened last season. I liked the flash forward to 2054 (an attack on me and my age) to show us that these guys went on to have kids, and I’m curious to see what the show actually wants to explore, since I will note that we didn’t really establish the big theme or premise of this season yet.
I Like How Your Summer, My Storm is Using Taboo (5/10)
I typically struggle with shows where the relationship itself is taboo (like stepbrothers, siblings, etc.) because it often feels like the fundamental point of that show is to ignore or break the taboo itself. I don’t typically enjoy when the show doesn’t like facing the turmoil caused by disrupting these taboos. However, I can appreciate the point. In so many places, even being queer is a taboo, and so for a genre about boys kissing each other to explore that tension, they need to use a harsher taboo to explore. In this case, I’m not hoping that Natsuki and Sota end up together, and I’m excited about his sister knowing what’s going on. Watching Natsuki struggle with a crush he doesn’t feel like he should have is the kind of gay angst I eat up, so I’m excited to see him work through it.
Too Early to Call After Moving Seats, the Boy Behind Me Has a Crush on Me (1/8)
This show is a bit on the silly end of the spectrum. I like Konishi Eito a lot, but I tend to struggle when the BL boys keep getting younger in their follow up shows. It started fine. We’ll see.
The Edge of Horizon is the Best Thing I’ve Seen From Thailand in a While (8/11)
I worried about how well this show would work before it aired considering the historical realities, but this has genuinely been the best experience with a Thai BL in a very long time. This show hasn’t felt bloated, and the episodes don’t feel like they’re dragging. The romantic angst is tied directly to the politics of the political upheaval. I’ve loved this show’s pacing, and Ongsa’s eyes are some of the best we’ve had in the genre in a long time. Reading the commentary on this show has been a rewarding experience.
I Have High Hopes for the Back Half of My Summer of You (7/12)
I often get bored when a show’s only exploration is the getting together component. I like when we spend time with the couple after they overcome their struggles. I liked the first half of this for the willingness to confess early, and the reasons for that. I liked seeing Toda slowly warm and respond to Saeki’s feelings. Now, I'm eager to see what their relationship looks like as adults after years of anticipation. Overall, this feels like the kind of BL made for gays like me.
Ordinary Love Could Be the Gay-Ace Story I’ve Wanted for Years (6/8)
This one isn’t on the major platforms, but it’s the Japanese project I’ve enjoyed the most since The Boy and I Who Will Break Up in 100 Days. I’m enjoying seeing a couple navigate a relationship in which the way they approach romance is so different, and I’m liking the complications they’ve faced so far. One of our leads is gay and seeks guidance from other gays at a local gay bar, whereas the other has explicitly stated that he thinks he might be demiromantic after years of thinking he was aromantic. This one also started off so differently. When we meet them they’ve already been together for a year, so we ended up with a J-BL cross-country run in episode 2. This is the kind of show we’d give an award to on The Conversation.
Hold On, Harutora-kun Is So Earnest (1/10)
This show just started, but as a sad gay, I am so glad to see a show dealing with the impacts of homophobia on a person. Sui dealing with regularly being outed and gossiped about, all while literally masking, is the exact kind of juxtaposition I like to see in a show that otherwise seems so bubbly. I also like when a wounded character gets determinedly pursued by an earnest guy. I’ll be here for the duration.
Completed
I’ve completed about 27 shows this year. I genuinely don’t have a lot to say about all of them, so I’ll just highlight the ones that did something I liked.
I Respected the Relationship Dynamic in Duang With You
I had huge doubts about this show as it aired, especially with it being another post-2gether type of BL that Domundi keeps making lately. I grew to really like the way that Duang always respected Qin, especially with the way he respected Qin’s boundaries. I loved that both of them had previous sexual histories before each other, and I liked that both of them openly enjoyed being intimate with each other. I liked that the show gave Qin a dramatic reason for being so quiet and reticent, and for his childhood trauma to be taken so seriously.
Final Verdict: 8, Recommended. It’s a show that earned its little jingle about being “not the best, but still good.”
My Grandpa is a BL Writer Showed Solid The Intergenerational Storytelling
I picked this one up because @happypotato48 called it his Oppan. I totally understand the comparison, and enjoyed spending 12 episodes with four generations of this family trying to save their orphanage. More than the grandson, Save, coming to understand the feelings of his friend and reciprocate them, I enjoyed seeing the grandfather recognize the beautiful interiority of his most important masculine friendship and turn that into something beautiful for others. I enjoyed seeing this family grow together over the course of the show, and liked seeing the way they had to deal with some of their own mistakes.
Final Verdict: 8, Recommended. I think this show is genuinely worth chasing down. I’m only taking off a few points because it has my usual issues with Thai shows dragging scenes too much. I would have liked a tighter episodic feel for the series.
Wishing upon the Shooting Stars Let Us Down With That Ending
I don’t want to get on Ray Jiang’s case, but goddamn did this show muddle its own story in the final episodes. I was locked in with this show exploring the nature of self and who we are to other people, and then it just rushed to a deus ex machina conclusion. The themes around community support also worked so well. I liked the drama of the high school separation, and was really enjoying how lost our leads were in their 20s.
Final Verdict: 7, Recommended with Reservations. No amount of fantastic romantic and sexual chemistry can ever overcome a frustrating ending for me like that.
Life in Smokey Blue Was a Lovely, Quiet Adult Romance
With Takeda Kouhei (Old Fashion Cupcake) returning to BL, we all got excited about new old man yaoi. With this show, we got a quietly understated romance between guys nearing 40. I loved that neither of these guys were in a great place in their lives, and the story wasn’t about them overcoming every obstacle in the optimal way. I also loved that they had such precise fights about real problems. It was a relief to see a couple where they were allowed to be sexy with each other as they were sorting out their adult issues. Forever thinking about Azuma’s nephew.
Final Verdict: 9, Recommended for Fans of Adult Romance. This was an excellent show if you wanted to see what a relationship looks like between two mature people with some history.
Go For It, Nakamura-kun!! Was Unabashedly Gay and I Love It
Like with the Serizawa show airing currently, I am interested in the effect BL has on the coming-of-age experience of younger queer people. In this show, we have a boy who knows he’s gay from the jump, and even calls himself such, exploring his first huge crush on a boy. I loved how he learned that he has to be a friend to Hirose, and I actually ended up enjoying the ambiguity of Hirose’s feelings. I loved how this show tackled the culture around BL, and am sad that we won’t see these characters again.
Final Verdict: 9, Highly Recommended for Fans of 90s Anime. I didn’t mention it above, but the style speaks to the 90s, and it was a worthwhile nostalgic feeling in a BL whose story feels so modern.
Shitsuren Karuta Was Stressed Me Out!
I went in to this show to see Nishigaki Sho (Minato’s Laundromat) in BL again, and stuck around to see the hot mess of this trio of 20-somethings struggling with love. While I was expecting I think something more connected to the inciting incident of a friend of theirs fleeing her own wedding, I liked the exploration of the choices people make in their 20s while dating. I was compelled by Chinami’s desperation to be in a relationship, and proud of her for recognizing her own line. I hope so much for Hikaru to find a partner that can appreciate what he’s offering, and more importantly for Riku to build a life he can be proud of (I’m still so frustrated with him). I’m also so glad Ayase can finally let her crush on Hikaru rest.
Final Verdict: 8, Recommended. This was a nice change of pace from a lot of the generalized romance I watch from Asia. I really like the filming style of these kinds of Japanese dramas, and find that many of them tend to stick with me. More than anything, I found the character work rewarding, and it was nice to see gay people making mistakes in romance right alongside the hets.
Fake Fact Lips Was A Welcome Friends to Lovers Experience
I tuned into this one to see Sato Yusuke (Mr. Unlucky Has No Choice But to Kiss!) return to BL, and I was curious about what a rivals to lovers story would look like after a rivals romance blew up in the West last year. What we got from this story felt more like a proper friends to lovers romance, one where both partners need to reckon with the changing dynamics of their relationship. We got to see Zen grapple with the new understanding about his sexuality, and we got to watch Ryo properly face the reality that his feelings aren’t unrequited. Moreover, we got to see these guys grow into a couple, and it really feels like they made it in a world that resembles ours.
Final Verdict: 9, Highly Recommended. I remain so fond of this show weeks after it ended, and I think it’s really refreshing that we had such a sexy show from Japan that didn’t involve a ton of pain and trauma for having and enjoying sex with each other. These guys felt very much like they were in their 20s, and it was nice to see a show that didn’t feel like a college or school show inside of a workplace.
The Boy and I Who Will Break Up in 100 Days Has Me Thinking about HRC Gays Again
This was my favorite show of the year so far. It was such a relief to have a show live up directly to its title and deliver the appropriate themes along the way. This show wore its politics on its sleeves, and then backed that up with every plot thread. Kasuga was clear that he wanted to build a world that the Human Rights Campaign gays would love, and Hasegawa was clear that he didn’t think that world always allowed for gays like him. I recently rewatched it with a friend, and I found its ideas so much stronger when I was able to watch the show with full trust. I still weep for Hasegawa.
Final Verdict: 10, Frontrunner for Show of the Year. I always say that I’m in the BL genre to find worthwhile queer work that everyone needs to see, and this is exactly one of those shows. I am still meditating on the role of gay marriage, and how the real benefit of it is gay divorce. We do deserve to fail properly, and we cannot assume that simply getting access to the same lives that hets are told to desire is the end goal for all of us.
Final Thoughts
I’m genuinely enjoying BL again, and it’s nice to say that sincerely. Things were so bleak at the end of last year that we had to put The Conversation on hiatus because we just weren’t having fun. I’m also shocked that I’m having this good of a time with so many summer shows, since this is usually the dead time of the year. I don’t want to get my hopes up, but I hope that the fall-winter season delivers some real bangers this year and gets us back on track.
I know I breezed over a lot of shows here. Feel free to ping me or send an ask if you want to talk about another show, or dig deeper on something.
