Hi, do you have any recommendations for a bl series similar to Manner of Death? Thanks a lot🫀
BL similar to (but not the same as) Manner of Death?
Honestly there really aren't any exactly like it. MoD is pretty unique, being more gay romantic suspense than it is BL. And using high heat and an excellent established pair with great chemistry to add to the story (rather that distract from it).
Also you didn’t say what you liked about MoD. The suspense plot? The mature characters? The mystery elements? The action sequences? The doctor/mafia pairing (good boy/bad boy)? The high domesticity? The high heat?
So I know stuff that hits some of the above but not others. Here you go, in no particular order...
Tale of a Thousand Stars - Thailand, YT
Why similar? Mature characters, complex story structure, few tropes, no trigger issues, queer friendly, great production. Spoiled rich boy gets heart transplant that changes his life, heads into mountains to teach at rural school, falls in love with park ranger.
Not similar? More just a gay romance. No suspense elements. Low heat.
3 Will Be Free - Thailand, YT
Why similar? Queer AF crime thriller about three 20 somethings on the run after accidentally killing an assassin: a grifter, a nerdy mafia kid, and a stripper. They're chased by more assassins out for revenge. They all end up sleeping with each other in various ways (gay, bi, het) and all kinda end up together in a V too. All the characters are treated with complete integrity, including the assassins, and everyone is very queer, including the assassins.
Why not similar? Not a BL, only HFN, not strictly gay.
He’s Coming to Me - Thailand, YT
Why Similar? It’s a mystery? Ghost is trying to figure out how he died and then who killed him. Ends up cohabitating with a boy who can see him and will help him figure it out. They fall in love.
Not similar? Well this one is a paranormal romance. I think it has a clean better story structure. Much less suspenseful. Low heat.
Not Me (Airing Now) - Thailand, YT
Why similar? Full of plot, crime and punishment style, motorcycle gang of malcontents trying to take down the corrupt politician. Has suspense elements.
Why not? Less mature characters. Good chemistry from an established pair, but not high heat. No real mystery element. Identical twins trope.
Until We Meet Again - Thailand, YT
Why similar? Mystery of interweaving past lives. Violence and suspense. Complicated plot (better executed tho).
Why not? Red thread soulmates trope, very much BL setting and courting rituals, low heat, younger characters.
Mr Cinderella - Vietnam, YT
Why similar? Adult grown up characters in a bad boy + good doctor pairing. Great domesticity and physical contact, good kisses. Medium heat.
Why not? Not much of a mystery. It’s V-BL so pour production values (by comparison). Not much plot and no suspense. Action scenes are weak. Much shorter series.
HIStory 3: Trapped - Taiwan, Viki
Why similar? This is probubly the most like what you are looking for. Cop is chasing a mafia boss because of a cold case they were both involved with many years ago. They end up on the same side trying to figure out who done it. Fall in love. Very good high heat. Meanwhile there is another pairing of nerd//hacker cop and mafia assassin. It’s GREAT. Long series for Taiwan, too.
Why not? Main characters end up together but have an amorphous ending. Very much BL trappings. It’s Taiwan so expect it to be Taiwanese about everything.
Long Time No See - Korea, Gaga
Why similar? Mature characters, high heat, very suspenseful. Assassins on either side of a terf war fall in love not knowing they are on opposite sides. Or do they? Good fight sequences.
Why not? Short series, both of them are bad boys. It’s more “can they kill their way free” than it is a mystery.
If that pitch doesn’t sell you I don’t know what will.
You Make Me Dance - Korea, Viki
Why similar? Bad boy mafia type meets goodie two shoes. Loan shark goes to put the squeeze on a lonely college dancer, falls in love with him, moves in.
Why not? This is a more classic BL. Also it’s Korea, so very short. Medium heat.
BROMANCES
The Devil Judge - Korea, Viki
Why similar? All the crime thriller suspense you could want in a Judge Dredd dystopia. Lots of gay domesticity (of course, they not *actually* gay).
Why not? It’s not BL at all. It’s also not a gay romance. Characters end up apart.
S.C.I. Mystery - Hong Kong, grey or ?
Why similar? Adult characters cohabitating, rough and tumble cop + nerdy academic profiler. Lost of suspense and mystery action.
Why not? They married but the show pretends they are “cousins.”
Update from the future...
BLs that have airs since Manner of Death that also might entertain in a similar way:
Triage
Dear Doctor I'm Coming for Your Soul
Laws of Attraction
The Eclipse
Ghost Host, Ghost House
KinnPorsche
Oh! My Sunshine Night (at the end)
Kiseki: Dear to Me
Never Let Me Go
Make a Wish
The Sign
Pit Babe
Many of these are absolutely hot messes, but at least they aren't boring.
(source)
