#bl lists

[biochemjess]

Since it’s feeling like a dry spell in BL land, especially during the week, fun with lists!

1. 1st BL

Bad Buddy

2. Favorite BL

The Eighth Sense, KinnPorsche

3. BL that wrecked you

Love for Love’s Sake

4. BL you rewatched the most

KinnPorsche (by miles!!)

5. Favorite currently watching BL

Cherry Magic Th, Perfect Propose

6. Best ‘feel good BL’

Old Fashioned Cupcake, Our Dining Table

7. Most unhinged BL couple

Ai Di and Chen Yi

8. Newest BL couple obsession

Billy and Babe

9. Best enemies to lovers

Semantic Error

10. Overlooked BL

Roommates of Poongduck

I’d love to see what others’ favorites are.

[italianpersonwithashippersheart]

This post (link) by @respectthepetty (hope you don't mind the tagging) made me think back at all the missed poly oppurtunities BL has given us and I decided to make a list.

First Shout Out to the Only Confirmed Poly So Far (Both F/M/M): 3 Will Be Free and Me, My Husband and My Husband's Boyfriend (the last one I have not watch so be cautious I do not know the ending)

There is two BLs that hint at a poly solution (M/M/M): My Mate Match & Tinted With You.

It's only a hint but if you are starving for it it will do.

NOW ONTO THE MISSED OPPURTUNITIES:

CHOCO MILK SHAKE: The title is in all caps because I am still so bitter about it, the second couple came out of nowhere for me and I am bitter as hell!!!!

Light On Me: The only good love triangle I ever saw and one of the only ones that actually made me believe that a poly ending could work in canon.

Happy Ending Romance: I am not as emotional about this one, but I do remember watching and thinking why can't he just date both?

Oh My Assistent: Same as above

Gen Y: Mark-Kit-Wayo: LAST BUT NOT LEAST! I am so mad about this, it was right there. All the peaces laid out, Wayo deserved it. And so did I Damn It!! I have been wanting to see the actors that play Wayo and Mark play a ship together since I watched the first 2 Moons and thought that they had super great chemistry.

Regarding the La Pluie one, the one in the linked post, I did thought about it, but I think it's not the right drama for it.

Not just because I want Tien to be happy. Even though I really do!! But also because I feel like this would go against what the show is trying to say with the soulmate plot.

If there was another character that had scene with Tien and that could filled the role of a secondary love interest then maybe it could work but as it, I don't really want it, even though I do see it, don't get me wrong.

Anyway suggestiongs of more dramas are welcomed. I for one have a few that are less missed oppurtunities and more like "There's An Idea" poly ships. If you guys want to read that list is:

Not Me: Gram-Black-Todd (I love this one - but Black is also really shippable, I am following a Black-Yok fic with great pleasure)

Until We Meet Again: Read two fics about the two couples dating each other or having a "one night stand" of sorts and thought the idea was neat.

Bad Buddy: I never went there but I know there are fics with a poly relationship between Pat/Pran and either Wai or Korn (or both). Not too mention the fics the Our Skyy 2 crossover most certantly brought about.

History 4 Clost To You: When I first watched it I had a moment during the first scene where I imagined the plot of the drama to be Ten and Li Cheng competing for Xing Si affection with a poly ending and I fell in love with the idea.

[heretherebedork]

who are some older queer/lgbtq+ characters from lgbt/bl/gl series?

There are not that many. @bengiyo might really have a better memory for this than me, honestly, especially since I know there are some in shows I haven't really watched yet.

But the best example I can think of are the uncles from My Ride. They're amazing. Cheep and Dej are a great couple, talk about realizing their own sexualities and how their relationship grew and they're very, very supportive of Mork.

We've got Uncle Man in 21 Days Theory who's providing a great and darling role model for his nephew but also for X as he flirts with him and for his sister to help her understand and respect her son's sexuality.

There is a lesbian teacher for La Cuisine who was underutilized but very enjoyable when she was on-screen? Didn't do much guidance, though.

What Did You Eat Yesterday? is one I need to watch (I literally have it downloaded, I just... cannot find the attention span for a real binge) that's about two older queer men who, definitely on this list

This also depends on how we define older? There are a number of Taiwanese BLs that take on characters that are late 20s/early 30s that feel older comparatively to the typical university and high school students but aren't actually... old.

Like, I could include Manner of Death on this list because they're actually grown ups and everything, which is nice! Ocean Likes Me is also definitely two adults, same with To My Star. But, like, how are we defining older versus elder?

Sorry, I am listing shows and not so always just characters because this is harder once we get to the shows with adults.

Ossan's Love does have KK who is definitely older and queer but the show is not worth watching and especially not for that.

Pornographer also definitely has this but... yeah, I like this one but it's not exactly BL. Kijima is a full on queer adult but also a horrible influence.

The Player isn't exactly a BL or even a queer show but did have a bi father of an adult child and his boyfriend for a while in the show. I loved them and I was sad that the show didn't do a great job giving them a happy ending, tbh.

That's about all I've got? But it's a weird list and I probably missed something.

Oh! I almost forgot Cutie Pie and the gay grandpa and his partner blessing the gay arranged marriage for his son!

[incandescentflower]

Tagged by @funyasm Thank you, Funya! I love that I have a channel home on the discord. :)

Oh wow, this got long so...

1. your all time favorite bl and why?

Ok, so I agree with Funya that the Untamed is not BL in the sense that I think this tag game means, but it is 100% my favorite and I consider it BL completely. I love it with my heart and soul. 

But if I have to pick one that labels itself as BL, it is definitely Cherry Magic. As most people who have watched it have said, it is a straight serotonin hit and I continue to love it.

2. that one bl that scarred you for life?

There are a lot that are not great, unfortunately. I think Why R U? was the worst one for me. There was a SUPER triggering scene at the end that I just could not believe was there, despite knowing full well that it happens in the genre.

3. is there any bl that made you feel very single?

Lol, this is a funny question to me because I have not been single for a LONG time and it seems to presume that only single people would enjoy BL or romance tropes in general. Which I can assure you, is not true.

4. if you could change one thing from a bl, which one would it be?

Hands down the second season of Together with Me’s major plot point. (SPOILER) -->> The cheating plot line was the worst and I loved their first season relationship so much, that they grew from friendship and were so careful with one another’s feelings and then the second season curse. (although technically the third? Bad Romance was weird, yo.)

Actually, I would really say the same about IPYTM, although I found their portrayal more realistic, but still, I didn’t feel like they earned that situation as much as they should have, and COULD have knowing how well the first season was written. 

AND, AND, sorry, this list could really go on forever, but there was a scene in We Best Love season 2 I’d love to erase from my brain and the show.

5. that one bl you detest (don’t hold back) :

Obviously there are so many bad things about TharnType. I would not say I detest it. I don’t think much about it. But I think the actors chemistry really allows people to gloss over some of the worst parts, although I feel mixed because they did outright address *some* of the badness in the second season and it is more than I have seen a lot of shows do, so I would not say detest. Just generally disgusted with some of the issues of the first season.

6. your top five: (consulting my spreadsheet, lol)

Cherry Magic

To My Star

I Told Sunset About You

Lovely Writer

A Tale of a Thousand Stars

But again, the Untamed and Word of Honor are top on my list if included in these.

7. that trashy bl you lowkey like:

I don’t know what should be defined as trashy, but despite the stupid and really completely outrageous premise, I really enjoyed Be Loved In House I Do. I just ignored the whole set up because it was ridiculous and they shouldn’t listen to  Jin Yu Zhen’s rules because they were dumb and not at all what a boss can dictate and it was obvious he was going to have to grovel about being wrong in the end. But they actually did a nice little twist on the whole ex returning that I thought was sweet and included Aaron Lai’s real life car accident in the plot in an affecting way that seems potentially meaningful for the actor. I do not understand the reasoning for the special episode at the end at all because I didn’t care about Real and Stone’s past relationship, but I really enjoyed the leads chemistry, SHI LEI’S MOM and grumpy/sunshine is ALWAYS my jam.

8. your favorite korean bl

To My Star hands down. Two relatively lonely people who let down their guard for each other? Love it. Their dynamic was so wonderful.

I do agree that Light on Me is very good, but I don’t think it would top To My Star for me. I tend to enjoy the more adult stories being, you know, more elder. But I am really happy that Korean BL seems to be growing and I have hopes for a good full kdrama BL romance someday. 

9. season 2? which one?

Hrm, I don’t think I really liked any season 2s? I guess the best one I have seen is Still 2gether. They addressed any weird things from season 1 based on fan response, although some of it just retread territory that I thought they had gone through in season 1 and made me very sad for Tine being so insecure. BUT, I have said this before, that was the most romantic product placement I have ever seen when they threw the bottle across the street with the note, lol.

10. a bunch of dramas will air soon. which ones are you the most excited for?

I have no idea what will be airing. I let the peeps in the queermedia channel guide me. :)

Funya tagged most the people I know who watch BL on the regular so I’ll just wait and see what they post. *chin on hands*

[gillianthecat]

Office Romance QL

Of the shows listed in my post on Workplaces in QL shows, these are the dozen I would consider to be "office romance," in that the romance centers around or starts because of the office setting. (Again, there are many shows I haven't seen yet, so this isn't a complete list.)

Marketing/Advertising Office

🇹🇭 GAP

🇹🇭 Step By Step

🇰🇷 The New Employee

🇰🇷 Roommates of Poongduck 304

Graphic Design Office

🇹🇭 Bed Friend (or is it marketing?)

🇹🇭 Middleman's Love

🇯🇵 Senpai, This Can't Be Love!

Game Design Office

🇹🇭 A Boss and a Babe

🇰🇷 Our Dating Sim

Other/Business Empire/Generic Office setting (or I never figured out what they did)

🇯🇵 Old Fashion Cupcake (i never figured it out)

🇯🇵 Cherry Magic (stationary company, iirc)

Journalism

🇯🇵 Candy Color Paradox

Publishing Industry/Writers Manga Artists/Illustrators

🇰🇷 Oh! My Assistant (an office of two, but I think it still applies)

(even though The Novelist/The Pornographer (🇯🇵) is theoretically the same set-up, I don't feel like it fits the category)

update 1/4/24

Real Estate Company

🇯🇵 Ossan's Love

[gillianthecat]

Workplaces in QL Shows

Step by Step got me thinking about the types of companies that get used as the settings for Office Romance in QL, and then by extension, what kinds of work characters do. I've only included ones where the job or the workplace is somehow part of the story or is a setting (so jobs the characters had as background info don't count). I didn't include censored BL because I feel that setting plays a different (more prominent than usual in BL) role in those types of stories. I didn't count university students doing school projects, but did include teenagers actually working. This is only the list of shows I've seen or know enough about to make as guess, so a lot are missing. Please add on, or make corrections! Titles with an asterisk * are included in multiple categories (leads had different jobs, or one job fits both categories). Titles in (parenthesis) I've only watched a part of, but enough to determine what work they did, titles in [brackets] I haven't seen so I'm going off what I've read.

(updated 1/7/24 with shows some new shows and some old ones I've seen since first posting. still not a comprensive list.)

Marketing/Advertising Office

🇹🇭 GAP

🇹🇭 Step By Step

🇰🇷 The New Employee

🇰🇷 Roommates of Poongduck 304

🇰🇷 All the Liquors *

🇹🇭 [Check Out]

🇹🇭 [Paint with Love] *

Graphic Design Office

🇹🇭 Bed Friend (or is it also marketing?)

🇹🇭 Middleman's Love

🇯🇵 Senpai, This Can't Be Love!

Architecture

🇹🇭 Big Dragon

🇹🇭 Love in the Air *

Game Design

🇹🇭 A Boss and a Babe

🇰🇷 Our Dating Sim

Other/Business Empire/Generic Office setting (or I never figured out what they did)

🇯🇵 Old Fashion Cupcake (i never figured it out)

🇹🇼 We Best Love 2 (some tech thing?)

🇹🇭 To Sir With Love * (business empire)

🇹🇭 Cutie Pie (business empire)

🇯🇵 Cherry Magic (stationary company, iirc)

🇹🇭 Cherry Magic

🇹🇭 Love in the Air * (some sort of business empire?)

🇹🇼 [Be Loved In House: I Do] *

🇰🇷 [Love Mate]

🇰🇷 Naked Dining *

🇯🇵 Doublemints *

🇯🇵 (Ossan's Love) (real estate)

🇭🇰 [Ossan's Love]

Law Office

🇹🇼 Plus and Minus *

🇹🇭 Laws of Attraction *

Restaurant/Coffee Shop/Bar

🇰🇷 Ocean Likes Me *

🇰🇷 Choco Milk Shake

🇰🇷 The Tasty Florida

🇰🇷 (Unintentional Love Story) *

🇰🇷 To My Star * (1 & 2)

🇰🇷 All the Liquors *

🇰🇷 Happy Merry Ending *

🇹🇼 [Be Loved In House: I Do] *

🇹🇼 Plus and Minus *

🇹🇼 [My Tooth Your Love] *

🇹🇼 [DNA Says Love You]

🇹🇭 [Coffee Melody] *

🇹🇭 [Moonlight Chicken]

🇹🇭 [What Zabb Man!]

🇻🇳 [You Are Ma Boy]

🇻🇳 [My Lascivious Boss]

🇹🇭 Laws of Attraction *

🇹🇭 (Bake Me Please)

🇹🇭 [609 Bedtime Story] *

🇹🇼 [VIP Only] *

Other Shop/Service

🇯🇵 Minato Shouji Coin Laundry (laundromat)

🇹🇼 Plus and Minus * (dry cleaner)

🇹🇭 Love in the Air * (mechanic)

🇰🇷 [Oh! Boarding House]

🇹🇭 [My Ride] * (moterbike taxi)

🇰🇷 Naked Dining* (grocery store)

🇹🇭 Pit Babe (race car team)

Artist/Artist's Shop

🇰🇷 (Unintentional Love Story) * (ceramics)

🇹🇼 [Be Loved In House: I Do] * (jewelry/metalworking)

🇯🇵 Utsukushii Kare Eternal* (photographer)

TV/Film/Idol Industry

🇹🇭 War of Y

🇹🇭 [House of Stars]

🇹🇭 [Show Me Love]

🇰🇷 (The Director Who Buys Me Dinner)

🇹🇭 (Vice Versa)

🇹🇭 (Love Stage)

🇯🇵 (Love Stage)

🇰🇷 To My Star * (1 & 2)

🇹🇭 Lovely Writer *

🇰🇷 Individual Circumstances *

🇹🇭 [Paint with Love] *

🇯🇵 I Became the Main Role of a BL

🇯🇵 Utsukushii Kare Eternal *

Music/Idol Industry

🇰🇷 Happy Merry Ending *

🇰🇷 Ocean Likes Me *

🇰🇷 [Wish You]

🇹🇭 [Coffee Melody] *

🇻🇳 [You Are Ma Boy]

🇯🇵 Kabe-Koji-Nekoyashiki-kun Desires to be Recognized *

🇹🇭 [609 Bedtime Story] *

Journalism

🇯🇵 Candy Color Paradox

🇯🇵 My Personal Weatherman *

Publishing Industry/Writers

🇰🇷 Happy Ending Romance

🇰🇷 Individual Circumstances *

🇯🇵 The Novelist/The Pornographer series

🇹🇭 Lovely Writer *

🇰🇷 [First Love, Again]

🇹🇼 [VIP Only] *

Manga/Manwha Artists/Illustrators

🇯🇵 Kabe-Koji-Nekoyashiki-kun Desires to be Recognized *

🇰🇷 Oh! My Assistant

🇯🇵 Jack o' Frost

🇯🇵 My Personal Weatherman *

Medical

🇹🇭 (Dear Doctor I'm Coming for Soul)

🇹🇼 [My Tooth Your Love] *

🇹🇭 [Manner of Death]

🇹🇭 [Physical Therapy]

🇹🇭 (My Ride)*

🇻🇳 [Mr. Cinderella]

🇻🇳 [Want to See You]

🇹🇭 [Triage]

🇹🇭 [Sky In Your Heart] *

Mafia/Criminal Underworld

🇹🇭 KinnPorsche

🇹🇭 [Love Syndrome]

🇹🇭 [Unforgotten Night]

🇹🇭 [Chains of Heart] *

🇹🇭 [3 Will Be Free]

🇹🇭 [Golden Blood]

🇹🇼 [HIStory 3: Trapped]

🇹🇭 Never Let Me Go (debated whether to include these children, but ultimately decided they work. still unclear on whether it's mafia or a legit business)

🇹🇭 To Sir With Love *

🇯🇵 Doublemints *

🇰🇷 Long Time No See

🇹🇭 (My Dear Gangster Oppa)

Sex Work

🇹🇭 [Playboyy]

🇯🇵 The Shortest Distance is Round

Debt Collection

🇹🇭 [Even Sun]

🇰🇷 [You Make Me Dance]

Park Rangers/Teachers (the "Other" category, but that's what's in it so far)

🇹🇭 [1000 Stars]

🇹🇭 [Sky In Your Heart] *

🇻🇳 [TienTai Bromance]

🇹🇭 [Chains of Heart] * (this is based on the MDL synopsis, so I don't know if it's accurate, but I was so tickled to have two shows in the park/forest ranger category I had to include it)

[lgbtally4ever]

Note: this list is already outdated. I go through bl series the way a lion goes through it’s prey!

I’ve even forgotten many I’ve watched, and forgotten to list them anywhere, until I start watching a series and realize, “gee—this seems familiar.” But, so many of the earlier ones I watched were university-set, with the same, or similar, uniforms that they’ve become jumbled in my brain!!!