Boys Love: What to Watch in 2021 Part 3
In the final part of our Boy Love: What to Watch in 2021 series, I take a look at my favorite and most-watched shows in the 18+ rating category. I also included some shows that have one-off episodes that tell the story or stories of a variety of characters across 1-2 episodes as well as some upcoming shows I can't wait to see.
Be Loved In The House: I Do (Taiwanese)
Seisei Studio is in danger of going bankrupt when Jin Yu Zhen appears. As the new director, he enforces a single rule "no romantic relationships between employees." Upset, Shi Lei, starts snooping around for information on his new boss in an attempt to abolish the rule. After various encounters both at home and at work, the duo's relationship becomes more complicated than either could have imagined. Can Yu Zhen get over his troubled past and find love?
Actors: Aaron Lai, Hank Wang, Liao Wei Po, Jn Yu, Yao Mi, and Chen Xi Teng
Author Note: Not only was the chemistry between Aaron and Hank on-screen amazing but also off-screen in the behind-the-scenes footage. The NSFW scenes were especially delightful and left viewers foaming at the mouth for more.
HIStory3: Make Our Days Count (Taiwanese)
Hao Ting and Xi Gu are both senior high school students, but their personalities couldn’t be more different. While Hao Ting is an extrovert and known for being a troublemaker, Xi Gu is quiet and studious. Their classmate Sun works part-time at his cousin’s gym, where he develops a massive crush on one of the regulars, who just happens to be Xi Gu’s boss Zhi Gang. What happens when these two "couples" worlds collide?
Actors: Wayne Song, Huang Juan Zhi, Thomas Chang, Wilson Liu, Xia En, and Xia De
Author Note: The second lead couple totally eclipsed the leads in this drama. Not to mention the NSFW scenes between Sun and Lu are HAWT.
HIStory4: Close to You (Taiwanese)
Xiao Li Cheng can close a deal without even blinking an eye, but when it comes to love, he could use a little help. So he enlists the help of his co-worker, Teng Mu Ren in hopes of attracting fujoshi, Mei Fang. Meanwhile, their friend and co-worker, Ye Xing Si, finds himself caught in an equally unexpected relationship with his two-faced step-brother, Fu Yong Jie, a medical student with an inexplicable obsession with him. As the four men struggle to understand their feelings, they begin to realize that when it comes to matters of the heart anything is possible.
Actors: An Jung Peng, Charles Tu, Anson Chen, Lin Chai Wei, and Cindy Chi
Author Note: HIStory has been turning up the NSFW heat since both HIStory3's and this season is no different. The chemistry and storyline between the two lead couples were phenomenal and it was a treat to see Sun and Lu in this series as well.
Mai Ding and An Zi Yan are college acquaintances who start military training. As the two grow closer together, their relationship blossoms from acquaintances to friends to lovers. As their love grows, so does the opposition from friends and family. Can An Zi Yan's ex-girlfriend help them get past these obstacles?
Actors: Huang Li Ge, Korn Kong, and Edward Zhang
Author Note: I know what you're thinking - what a Chinese BL drama and one that survived censorship at that! You can find the uncut version still on YouTube and yes, it is well worth the watch even for a drama from 2014.
When a man breaks into Dr. Bunnakit's house and threatens him to change his recent medical examination report to suicide, he doesn't take this threat seriously. But all that changes when one of his friends, a prosecutor, suddenly disappears. He quietly conducts his own investigation and all clues lead to one suspect, a man named Tan. Tan convinces Dr. Bunnakit to team up together to find the real murderer.
Actors: Max Nattapol Diloknawarit, Tul Pakorn Thanasrivanitchai, Great Sapol Assawamunkong, and Foei Patara Eksangkul
Author Note: As if fans didn't love MaxTul enough - Manner of Death marks their third BL drama together. From the storyline and acting to their chemistry and everything in between this drama feels way more mature and way more fitting for two guys who are great at NSFW scenes together.
Damian runs a restaurant in Taipei and has always had a dream of "having a family." After two years of dating his boyfriend Hie Li, the couple decides to explore surrogacy and successfully get their son Kai Kai. Life is seemingly happy until Kai Kai enters kindergarten and begins to face curiosity and rumors from his peers and their parents about his two fathers.
Actors: Melvin Sia, Mike Lin, Jozie Lu, Chao Yi Lan, and Wang Tzu Chaing
Author Note: This series does a great job of dealing with some of the serious and prevalent issues many same-sex couples face on a daily basis. It's almost important to note that Taiwan is the first Asian country to allow same-sex marriage and partial adoption for same-sex couples.
Type Thiwat is a handsome freshman with a passion for soccer, spicy foods and hates gays due to an unfortunate event from childhood when he was molested by a man. Tharn is a gorgeous music major, openly gay, and happens to be Type's roommate at university. Through childish fights, bad rumors, and opposition from others the two go from enemies to lovers.
Actors: Mew Suppasit Jongcheveevat, Gulf Kanawut Traipipattanapong, Mild Jinna Pichit-o-Pakun, Kaownah Kittipat Kaewcharoen, and Tong Thanayut Thakoonauttaya
Author Note: This is your typical university BL drama, but has a surprisingly intelligent script and nuanced characterization that really makes it work. The chemistry between these two feels effortless and they take you on an emotional rollercoaster ride from start to finish.
TharnType 2: 7 Years of Love (Thai)
Type and Tharn have been together for seven years and both are enjoying their mostly harmonious life. They still bicker and meet up with university friends. Now both working adults, they face more difficult issues, as they learn that life isn't always blissful. Can they overcome these new challenges or will they finally be defeated by them?
Actors: Mew Suppasit Jongcheveevat, Gulf Kanawut Traipipattanapong, First Chalongrat Novsamrong, Ja Phachara Suansri, Jame Phat Prayunviwat, and Boat Napat Srinkluan
Author Note: Ah the proverbial season two-time jump. Where some dramas fail at a successful leap forward in time TharnType 2 thrives, effortlessly showing want happens in a lot of long-term relationships when a partner feels neglected, gets complacent, or cheats. The acting and drama are more mature, which is fitting for their "age," and you can't help but still cheer for TharnType in the end.
Childhood friends Korn and Knock reunite in college, but their relationship gets complicated after a drunken night of passionate sex. Knock has a girlfriend but has feelings for his best friend. Korn loves his best friend but is doing his best to keep them at bay for both their sake. Can they overcome the mounting obstacles in their way and finally be together?
Actors: Max Nattapol Diloknawarit, Tul Pakorn Thanasrivanitchai, Aim Satida Pinsinchai, Maengmum Tanshi Bumrungkit, and Olive Thitichaya Chiwpreecha
Author Note: The real winner of this show is Yihwa - she is fierce, badass, and a no-nonsense type of girl that I want as a best friend. While the show was so well received, I would suggest skippy the second season because it's a mess of everyone cheating and getting mad with no real value to viewers.
Zon is a shy, sci-fi writer. Zon's sister Zol is an infamous BL drama writer on campus. When he starts seeing his name alongside his sworn enemy, popular musician Saifah, his life starts to change.
Tutor is said to be ‘wise’ beyond his age and acts rationally, while Fighter is the emotional kind. What started as animosity between these Faculty of Engineering students develops into something more.
Actors: Saint Suppapong Udomkaewkanjana, Zee Pruk Panich, Tommy Sittichok Pueakpoolpol, and Jimmy Karn Kritsanaphan
Author Note: Due to the ongoing pandemic during the filming of this show, the main lead couple took a backseat to the second lead couple, but it was for the best. Tutor and Fighter were way more desirable to watch on-screen, especially during their sexy intimate moments, whereas Zon and Saifah were cringy and hard to watch.
Non-Series with Good Stand Alone Episodes
7 Project
Follow seven different couples, whose stories were inspired by seven different songs.
Author Note: Episode 1 and Episode 4 are primarily about BL couples. Episode 1: Transfer student Ozone (Earth Katsamonnat Namwirote) has a hard time adjusting to his new life in boarding school, but that's not all bad since there he meets a boy named Sun (Yacht Patsit Permpoonsavat). Episode 4: University freshman Mek (Boun Noppanut Guntachai) opens his heart to Balloon (Prem Warut Chawalitrujiwong), but it comes with many conditions. After three years won't one party get tired?
A five-episode anthology that serves as a continuation of the stories of Pick and Rome (Secret Love: Puppy Honey), In and Sun (My Dear Loser), Tee and Mork ('Cause You're My Boy), Kao and Pete (Kiss Me Again), and Arthit and Kongpob (SOTUS).
Author Note: Skip the episodes for the couples or BL dramas you've never seen and watch the ones you have. Namely, the episodes for Kiss Me Again and SOTUS.
Y-Destiny is the story of 7 best friends: Sun, Mon, Tue, Puth, Thurs, Masuk and Sat, each of whom has different personalities according to their birthdays and fate leads them to meet their loved ones. Each couple is told over two episodes with all of them coming together for the final.
Author Note: Not all couples or episodes are made equally. While I watched the whole series, I find myself returning to the episodes featuring the relationship of Mon and Team (episode 5 & 6) and Puth and Kaeng (episode 9 & 10). If you are looking for more smut than fluff, episodes 9 and 10 are your best bet.
Upcoming Dramas To Be Excited For
Uea is a very private person who hates casanovas, while King is a smart casanova. The two enemies not only work in the same office but are both are best friends with Jade, so as chance would have it they begin to have a particular "relation."
In a parallel universe to Until We Meet Again, Between Us tells the story of how Win and Team get to know one another through the swim club and they eventually develop a relationship. Their relationship grows as Win helps Team deal with his childhood trauma and Team helps Win feel wanted.
The sons of two companies Gilayn Wang and Kuea Keerati, are engaged. While one doesn't want an arranged marriage the other wants to win him over! Who will win the battle?
Kinn Anakinn, the second son of the Mafia, Kinn Anakinn, is assaulted by an enemy causing him to flee. On the run, he meets part-time waiter and university student, Porsche Pitchaya. Kinn makes Porche an offer he can't refuse (or so he thought).
A parallel story to "En of Love: Love Mechanics" (2020). Love Mechanics tells the full-length story between Mark and Vee before Nuea meets Praram.
Computer science major Chu Sang Woo is the epitome of inflexible, while design student and campus Jang Jae Young is the exact opposite. When Sang Woo omits Jae Young's name from a group project final presentation, Jae Young does what any person would do - seeks revenge on Sang Woo. But what happens when Chu Sang Woo can't debug his life of Jang Jae Young?
First-year student Thorn is secretly in love with the college jock Tupfah. As they both train together, Thorn slowly falls for the handsome Tupfah and despite his close friend’s warnings, one day confesses his love. But Tupfah who is highly competitive and doesn’t trust anyone easily wants to focus on his game instead. Will Thorn be able to bridge the distance and melt Tupfah’s heart?
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