#personalrecs

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REC: We Best Love (2021)

Native Title: 永遠的第一名 More Info Here

Technically, so far, this post is just about  “We Best Love: No. 1 For You”, which is the first of two connected series’. The sequel, We Best Love: Fighting Mr. 2nd will be released later this year.

This series is just about to finish but I’m putting on straight on the list anyway! Taiwan always makes the BEST bl series’ and once again I am not disappointed, it’s been so good!

The chemistry!!!! The tension!!!! The pining!!! Enemies -> Friends -> Lovers is STILL the greatest trope ever, and there is no good reason why any bl show should have have any plot other than this same plot. It works every. single. time.

Zhou Shu Yi and Gao Shi De have been “rivals” since elementary school. Shou Shu Yi hates that he is always second to Gao Shi De and wished he would leave him alone. But, Gao Shi De secretely harbours feelings for Zhou Shu Yi and in college, when Zhou Shu Yi is left heartbroken by a girl, Gao Shi De finally takes his opportunity to get close with him.

This sounds like a pretty standard plot, or boring college series, but it’s so well done - the vibe is lovely, and the acting is 👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼 And once again, like most Taiwanese shows, the sexual chemistry is actually FIRE 🔥

Watch on WeTV here [x] official with subs!

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REC: Teiichi’s Country (2017)

Native Title: 帝一の國, Teiichi no Kuni More Info...

Look, this isn’t technically BL - but this film has so much chaotic gay energy that I don’t really know what else you would call it? queer absurdist comedy?

Jun Shison (plays Komeii) is in it - and the running joke is about how beautiful he is - and how he and Masaki Suda (Teichii) act like a couple and at the end its pretty much acknowledged as canon when he literally yeets his girlfriend out of the way to hug Komeii - FIGHT ME I’m classifying it as BL.

If you want a laugh I highly recommend it - it’s super high energy comedy based on a famous manga. It’s poking fun at the elite high-school trope in Japan - whist also being a satire about politics and toxic masculinity.

Masaki Suda is a genius and Jun Shison is prettier than you. Enjoy!

Not sure where to watch it officially (cause Japan), but here’s an unofficial link: https://www2.dramacool.movie/teiichi-battle-of-supreme-high-teiichi-no-kuni-episode-1.html

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REC: Until We Meet Again (2019)

You wanna cry bitch!? GET SOME FUCKIN TISSUES.

No but actually please do yourself a favour and watch this series. Yes, it is very distressing at times - but it’s worth it, it’s so beautiful and pure and the ACTING. Honey, the QUALITY.

I know it was fairly popular when it was released, so I’m sure most people have already seen it - but just incase it slipped under your radar...

This is the ultimate “red-thread” reincarnation story. Typically, I would not be into that - because it sounded too sad and I am already a disaster. HOWEVER, I was so drawn into this series, and was desperate for each episode every week. I don’t want to explain the plot too much, because of spoilers. But to give you a general idea of how good this is; I literally CRIED when the main couple met for the first time in episode 2. DO YOU UNDERSTAND!? They were able to make me care so much about these characters in the first episode alone, that by the second episode I was crying AND THEY HADN’T EVEN MET YET. bitch.

Trigger warning: This series deals with suicide and trauma.

If that sounds like too much - don’t worry - the pain is balanced with the CUTEST scenes ever. Pharm and Dean’s scenes as a couple are beautiful, and there is a sweet side couple, and their friends are hilarious.

Anyway, go watch it. Fluke and Earth both deserved oscars for their performance in this - as well as the rest of the cast GO OFF.

More Info: https://mydramalist.com/33506-until-we-meet-again-the-series

WATCH on official youtube channel with subs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QG3Oya32MoQ&t=1s

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REC: Advance Bravely (2017)

Native Title: 盛势 (Chinese) If, like me, sometimes you like watching BL simply for the aesthetics, then this one’s for you. These leads are puuuurdy. Pros: It’s bodyguard x richboy trope. Cons: It’s chinese so you know that ending is gonna be a bit disappointing.

This series was a real grower for me, when I first watched it I enjoyed it, but it didn’t blow me away. But over the years, I’ve rewatched it several times, and I enjoy their dynamic more and more with each viewing. Whilst it has some standard archetypes of the stoic soldier x hopeless playboy storyline, it also has some really nice twists, like the fact that the hardened military guy is also the caregiver who cooks a lot and that shit is wholesome as hell.

Like many chinese series’ it does have a weird ending, because it got cancelled. [I just stop it after the scene that I like to think of as the ending scene and don’t let the extra tacked-on end scene bother me]. Being chinese, it is also censored - so don’t expect any kisses or love scenes. Whilst saying this, their chemistry is still top notch, and there are some moments that are still VERY charged with excellent sexual energy and great chemistry. And I mean, they very clearly share a bed and are half naked together a lot, so it’s not THAT censored - but just warning you it’s more UST than on-screen action.

More Info: https://mydramalist.com/20098-advance-bravely

WATCH: with subs on youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pg07TqPOK4&list=PL5mVm53uQ2XwgeFCtkZH-PHCC-oJa73xU

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REC: Banana Fish (2018) Japan

More info here [x]

It’s been a hot minute since I watched this, as it aired back in 2018, but I remember it was excellent and I still listen to the opening themes on a regular basis, THE BEST ANIME HAVE THE BEST OPENING/CLOSING SEQUENCES.

If you are unsure if it’s your style, just go watch this compilation of the opening and closing sequences haha like sorry but does your anime series have Prayer X by King Gnu [x] as it’s theme?! no!?!? YOU MAD BRO!?

This is based on an old Manga from the 80s/90s and it has those hella nostalgic vibes and such cool style. It’s a crime noir, set in NY and it’s stylish af, makes you nostalgic even when you’re watching it for the first time.

It’s pretty heavy going, and trigger warning has some dark themes as it deals with gangs, drugs, human trafficking, child abuse, etc. But I don’t remember it being particularly triggery or gross, and the main couple Eiji and Ash are beautiful - nothing non-con there at all. Personally, I find a lot of YAOI/BL manga and anime (which this is not, it’s just gay) to be a bit dub-con and icky, for lack of a better word, but this is not at all. The crime world they are involved in is where the dark themes are, but the main couple have a good relationship. Fair warning, I’m pretty sure it had a sad ending. You have been warned. Enjoy :P

Watch on Amazon legally here [x] or on various anime sites [x] etc. depending on your country. I honestly can’t remember where I watched it originally, but I wanted to add some anime to my list.

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REC:  SOTUS The Series (2016-2018)

Native Title: Sotus the Series พี่ว้ากตัวร้ายกับนายปีหนึ่ง

No BL recommendation list is complete without SOTUS the series. Most people have probably already seen it - but for those who haven’t, or have yet to be convinced, here’s what you need to know...

I know it seems like people hold this series up on a pedestal because it was one of the OG that got a lot of people into BL. But, personally, I actually still rate it as one of the best bl series of all time. Here’s why; character. development.

That’s all this show is - the slowest, more realistic, character development ever. I will happily watch some cute fluffy mini-series where the characters get together in the second episode - sometimes you need that. But in terms of a grounded story, that connects you with the characters - you can’t look past SOTUS.

Even though on the cover, it may sound like a basic bl trope - the mean senior hazer x the pretty young junior, enemies>lovers. BUT their character dynamic completely turns that trope on its head! The junior; Kongpob (Singto), is impetuous, confident, strong willed, witty, and brave. Whilst the senior; Arthit (Krist), is a disaster gay - shy, emotionally vulnerable, hesitant, and meeting Kongpob is like someone has pulled the rug out from under him. FUCK OFF I’M CRYING.

Like other older series’, you have to remember this was produced before BL took off - so the production is a bit lower budget than you might be used to now. And I warned you - it’s slow build. BUT that’s what makes it so good. The payoff feels so real and earned.

This series has two seasons, SOTUS (2016) and Sotus S (2017) - which flows on a few years after season1 and deals with the future problems they would face as a couple. There are also lots of side couples that are all cute, but their payoffs are never very fulfilling - lots of bromance in this engineering faculty.

Kongpob and Arthit are also in Our Skyy (2018) and their episode was good but emotional. The nice things about this series is you can watch season 1 on it’s own and be perfectly satisfied, or you can watch season 2 afterwards and still be satisfied. Basically happy endings all around!!! YAY!

More Info: Sotus (2016) Season 1: https://mydramalist.com/16667-sotus-the-series Sotus S (2017) Season 2: https://mydramalist.com/22722-sotus-s-the-series Our Skyy (2018) Special Ep https://mydramalist.com/31121-our-skyy

WATCH - Sotus is available on Netflix in many countries. Alternatively, it is on youtube and other sites: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWRpfNqQHHg&list=PLJ8tSVdIuzBZed-MDasOlG5IH-a7uZY9Z

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REC: Love Sick (2014)

Title: Love Sick (2014) and Love Sick 2 (2015) Native Title: รักวุ่น วัยรุ่นแสบ (Thai)

We’re going old school with this one my dudes! This is one of the OG thai bl series - even though 2014 doesn’t sounds like very long ago, when you watch it you may at first be thrown by how old it is, how low budget it is, and how PG it is. In the big BL picture, this was very early days, and you can see how all the newer thai BL series that have come after it were influenced by it.

It’s for that reason that I recommend it - if you can get past these things, I personally still think it is one of the best BL of all time. This may also be because, it was not part of the bl “genre” yet (even though it was based on a bl novel), it feels like a really raw indie show about teenagers discovering love and sexuality (kind of like SKAM). If you want to just watch the BL cut of Phun/Noh - there are edits on youtube available.

I find myself rewatching these scenes often. There is a purity, softness, and realness to Phun/Noh’s relationship that is so engaging and lovely to watch. The storyline starts off tropey and cute because it starts as a fake relationship - but I usually forget about this after the first episode because their dynamic becomes so natural so quickly and it makes me so happy.

If you have watched thai series in recent years, you may be familiar with the leads White and Captain - who have both developed into great actors. But this was their first series, and they are just adorable babies.

There are two seasons, the second flows on from the first very smoothly, and personally I always rewatch them together as if they are one season. The fact that it got cancelled before a third season is, to this day, a tragedy and outrage. But don’t worry, Phun/Noh’s storyline gets a happy ending and is rounded off.

[You may only feel disappointed about the cute secondary couple Earn/Pete whose storyline is not finished, and a few other side pairings]. Note: Phun/Noh had a few scenes in a little sequel series Reminders (2019) https://mydramalist.com/34078-reminders

More Info: https://mydramalist.com/10872-love-sick-the-series

WATCH official on netflix - depending on country. https://www.netflix.com/title/80184263

or unofficial on YouTube (there are plenty of different links) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCP3bwe00Gc&list=PLaXBEa3wET96RQr3f6FKMQZUn1o2DCzsE

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REC: HIStory 3: Trapped (2019)

Title: HIStory 3: Trapped (2019) Native Title: HIStory 3 - 圈套 (Taiwan)

Note: This is part of the HIStory series - a series of seperate miniseries with seperate stories - the entire series is fantastic - probably the best produced BL series out there. But I am only recommending my favourite stories in the series.

Trapped has got to be the best enemy to lovers series in existence. Firstly, it’s very refreshing to watch a BL series that’s not set in a school/uni but instead is about police and mobsters! This already gives it a dynamic vibe and really compelling storyline. The leads are literally a detective and the mod boss he’s meant to be catching - what more could you want!?!!? The secondary couple are equally as good - some people even prefer them - the mobster’s dangerous offsider, and the detective’s enthusiastic junior cop who’s determined to help.

This series is great if you prefer a little more plot in your BL, this has a complex storyline about police corruption, murder, and drug trafficking - which gets pretty gritty at times. But aside from that, it is also full of fluffy and beautiful moments between the couples who are both perfect, and the cast is superb. Trigger warning - this has some violence in it, and some pretty sad moments - but don’t fear - it has a happy ending! *editors note* the more I remember about it, this series was actually perfect!? the acting? perfect. the production? high quality. the plot? complex. the character development? incredible! the chemistry and love scenes? PERFECT!?

More Info: https://mydramalist.com/30567-history3-trap

WATCH: Official with subs on VIKI https://www.viki.com/tv/36410c-history-3-trapped?locale=en