The characters are not that interesting beyond Raffy and Rome, the pair branding is ACTIVELY hurting the story, and this all feels like it's becoming messy with no good reason. Neither the characters nor (part of) the audience is having fun with this mess.
Like yeah I'll tune in next week but I'm not really invested in any of you beyond Rome at this point.
Raffy you fumbled him. Now I want to see you realize that. Possibly by having a rebound hook up with Boston, seeing the difference in personalities, and then going back to Rome.
How long is this show again? 10 episode s?
This feels like a show that would benefit from all the mess happening at the start, and then getting fixed as the episodes progress. Not having the problems resolved by ep 3, and introducing new ones later on.
...
I wish I had nice things to say 😭😭😭. I think the actors are for the most part doing a good job, it's just the story is not giving them much room to play.
- DR anon
(I think I'll start the CBL tomorrow then, and add World of If to my list for next. I am only watching 3 shows as they air live, so I have space to add a couple more. And 2 older shows from my backlog I'm binging. I'd like to watch some more active shows.)
I think it's twelve.
Which is even scarier.
But yeah, I'm here for Rome and Raffy and Boston and hopefully some mess and maybe one off-pair kiss? I mean, we'll probably get one of Arnold and Dean in the play itself but that barely counts, frankly.
Yeah, I have deep worries about the problem solving this early. Look, I love the queers-protecting-queers vibes! That's great! Fine! But like why are they already admitting they still love each other in episode three?! Why start with them broken up, then?
Oh, whatever. My expectations are low and I will make them lower.
The actors are so, so talented and it is making a difference but not... not a lot of one. Like, this would be unwatchable with other CPs. Absolutely unwatchable. I would already be at 1.5x speed with different choices made.
(Good luck! I am watching... 20 airing shows. Might be 21. That's a good number for me, honestly. But good luck in your endeavors!)
So I'm kind of late to the live action section of this all and now there is quite the to-watch backlog (just recently hit over three digits), and I am already finding myself stuck in the Paradox of Choice an increasing amount of times. Unfortunately, I haven't even watched enough for a "stick to the known" pattern, so currently is just the "freeze" one each time. Should one go for the ones of the best of best lists? But then everything middling would look worse afterwards? Do the opposite, but maybe interest will wear out before the proper good stuff is reached? Go for what tropes you like? Have I even established any favorite tropes? Get the bad hair training done already? Just roll a dice or something?
Then it occurred to me: Maybe in case of doubt, just go historically! That probably would be a little bit like getting the same experience as people who were right there at the time things got out. But obviously, going by date also means treading the minefield of the early stuff. And even with going backwards newer releases also still have stink bombs.
So I was wondering, would your big spreadsheet maybe be willing to supply a list sorted by date with a simple note of your usual "not recommended" to "highly recommended" markers?
First off, here's the foundations 101 course thingy, if you like? If you want to simply understand BL these are the ones I rec watching first, and in this order.
BL Foundations Syllabus Master Post AKA BL 101 Film Course - An Introduction to the Genre
So I was wondering, would your big spreadsheet maybe be willing to supply a list sorted by date with a simple note of your usual "not recommended" to "highly recommended" markers?
The *WHOLE* spreadsheet? That's a lot.
Sure, why not.
RATING SYSTEM
Now, my rating system isn’t necessarily how much I personally liked it, although it is sometimes. It’s how much I feel like it satisfied the demands of BL, story structure, and filming. For example Love Sick is one of my favorite BLs, but it is a hot mess, so it only got an 7/10. I do demand an HEA though, so if characters are killed or separated at the end, it detrimentally impacts the rating.
10/10 - highly recommended: faithful to tropes, happy ending, good chemistry, few flaws, high rewatch potential
9/10 - absolutely recommended: probably a few pacing issues or one flaw
8/10 - recommended: some concerns around tropes (like dub con) or story structure but still satisfies as BL
7/10 - recommended with reservations: i.e. isn’t quite BL, convoluted, not strictly HEA, too short/long, or serious chemistry issues
6/10 - worth watching but seriously flawed: probably around the ending or in narrative structure/cohesion or censorship
5/10 - watch it if you have nothing better to do: but don’t expect much, it’s a total hot mess
4/10 - fatally flawed; censored beyond recognition: but still basically BL, however... do we want to support this kind of behavior?
3/10 - I don’t know what I’m watching: and neither does it
2/10 - it’s depressing: they killed the gay, save yourself
1/10 - It’s awful, don’t waste your time: I watched it so you don’t have to
DNF - sometimes because it’s that bad, sometimes I just lost interest or access, sometimes for deeply personal reasons it wigged me out
THE LIST
This won't look pretty in Tumblr's code but here it is, sorted by year, then rating (out of 10), then country of origin.
This list dated April 21, 2022. No plans to keep this post updated.
I put it behind a read more because occasionally I am a nice person. Don’t get used to it.
2006 Eternal Summer Eternal Summers Taiwan 2
2006 Boys Love compilation Japan 1
2006 No Regrets Korea 1
2007 Takumi-kun 1 And The Spring Breeze Whispers Japan 5
2007 Itsuka no Kimi e Japan 5
2007 Boys Love: The Movie Boys Love 2 AKA Schoolboy Crush Japan 2
2007 Love of Siam Thai 2
2008 Ai no Kotodama Japan 5
2008 Melody of Our Love Bokura no Ai no Kanade Japan 3
2008 Gymnasium Baby Taiikukan Baby Japan 3
2008 Asymmetry Japan 2
2008 Forbidden Love Japan 2
2008 A Frozen Flower Korea 1
2009 Just Friends? Chingu Sai? Korea 8
2009 Takumi-kun 2 Rainbow Colored Glass Japan 5
2010 Ai no Kotodama 2: Sekai no Hate Made Japan 6
2010 Junjou Pure Heart Japan 6
2010 Takumi-kun 3 The Beauty of Detail Japan 5
2010 Takumi-kun 4 Pure Japan 4
2010 Love, 100℃ Korea 1
2011 Takumi-kun 1 DaiMao Version Japan 6
2011 Takumi-kun 5 That, Sunny Blue Sky Japan 5
2011 Nabang Spark Korea 4
2012 Suddenly Last Summer Korea 5
2012 Two Weddings and a Funeral Korea 5
2012 Fujimi Orchestra Japan 3
2012 Pair of Love Taiwan 3
2012 From Here to There Hong Kong 2
2012 Going South Korea 2
2013 Something, Crunchy Crunchy Korea dnf
2013 Love Place: Shiawase no Katachi Shape of Happiness 2 Japan 4
2013 Love Place: Hakanaki Kata Omoi - Gaiya no Koi Shape of Happiness 1 Japan 3
2013 Timeline Thai 3
2013 Love Next Door 1 Thai 2
2014 Love Sick Thai 7
2014 Like Love 1 I Love You As A Man: Part 1 China 5
2014 Docchi Mo Docchi Same Difference Japan 5
2014 No Touching At All Doushitemo Furetakunai Japan 5
2014 100 Apples Taiwan 4
2014 Love Next Door 2 Thai 4
2014 Coming Out Kamingu Auto Japan 3
2014 Geography Lessons Lisyun qng Geografia Pinoy 3
2014 For Love, We Can Hong Kong 2
2014 So Refreshed! Korea 2
2014 My Bromance the movie Thai 2
2014 Night Flight Korea 1
2014 I'm Horny Now! Korea 1
2014 Some Korea 1
2014 Diary of Heong Yeong Dang Drama Festival 2014: The Diary of Heong Yeong Dang Korea 1
2015 Seven Days Monday-Thursday, Firday-Sunday Japan 10
2015 Candy and Kiss Japan 7
2015 Love Sick 2 Thai 7
2015 Wait For Me at Udagawachou Udagawachou de Matteteyo Japan 5
2015 The Lover BL Cut Korea 5
2015 Open Korea 4
2015 Weird Housemates Korea 4
2015 Falling in Love with a Rival Counterattack China 3
2015 Mr. X and I Us Against the World China 3
2015 Love Love You Thai 3
2015 Like Love 2 Nobody Knows But Me China 2
2015 I Go To School Not By Bus Hong Kong 2
2015 Forever Summer Japan 2
2015 Water Boyy the movie Thai 2
2015 Feel Good to Say Goodbye Thai 2
2015 Same Same Is Not The Same Thai 2
2015 A Naked Boy Korea 1
2015 Red Wine in the Dark Night Thai 1
2016 Addicted Heroin China 8
2016 SOTUS Thai 8
2016 Puppy Honey BL Cut Thai 8
2016 Make it Right Thai 7
2016 Irresistible Love 2 Uncontrolled Love China 6
2016 Friend or Lover Taiwan 6
2016 Fanatic Love China 5
2016 Irresistible Love Secret of the Valet China 5
2016 4 Days Pinoy 5
2016 The Right Man Because I Love You Thai 5
2016 My Eleventh Brother Korea 4
2016 Queer Beauty Oppressive Love China 3
2016 Ghost Boyfriend 1 China 2
2016 Jealousy is My Guest Korea 2
2016 Gray Thai 2
2016 Sweet Student Boy Sweet Boy Thai 2
2016 The Male Queen Han Zi Gao China 1
2016 Lost Love China 1
2016 A Round Trip to Love China 1
2016 He's Out There Somewhere Taiwan 1
2016 Grey Rainbow Views of Love Thai 1
2016 My Bromance the series Thai 1
2017 Customized Companion China dnf
2017 Glass Heart China dnf
2017 HIStory Obsessed Taiwan 8
2017 Puppy Honey2 BL Cut Thai 8
2017 SOTUS S Thai 8
2017 Silhouette of Your Voice Hidamari ga Kikoeru Japan 7
2017 Long Time No See Strongberry Korea 7
2017 Red Balloon Taiwan 7
2017 Make it Right 2 Thai 7
2017 Legend of Long Yang Rebirth China 6
2017 HIStory My Hero Taiwan 6
2017 HIStory Stay Away From Me Taiwan 6
2017 2 Moons the series Thai 6
2017 Together with Me Thai 6
2017 My Dear Loser Edge of 17 Thai 6
2017 Mr. CEO is Falling in Love with Him China 5
2017 Advance Bravely China 5
2017 His Cat His Cat Boyfriend China 5
2017 Till Death Tear Us Apart In This Case A Pleasant Lifetime Alone, Love is in a Blaze China 5
2017 We Are Gamily Taiwan 5
2017 Faded Taiwan 5
2017 Free Bird Korea 4
2017 Secret Spectacles Strongberry Korea 4
2017 The Fairy Fox China 3
2017 Beloved Enemy China 3
2017 Dark Blue and Moonlight Taiwan 3
2017 Waterboyy the series Thai 3
2017 I Am Your King 1 Thai 3
2017 Ghost Boyfriend 2 China 2
2017 Swinging Blossom China 2
2017 Love is Not Easy to Have Rare Love China 2
2017 Double Mints Japan 2
2017 Tilted Summer Korea 2
2017 Method Korea 2
2017 Tropical Night Korea 2
2017 Present Perfect Thai 2
2017 I Love You Thai 2
2017 My Sky BẦU TRỜI CỦA KHÁNH Vietnam 2
2017 Find You In The Crowd compilation China 1
2017 The Boy Next Door Korea 1
2018 HIStory 2 Crossing the Line Taiwan 9
2018 Some More Strongberry Korea 8
2018 HIStory 2 Right or Wrong Taiwan 8
2018 SOTUS Our Skyy Thai 8
2018 Love By Chance Thai 8
2018 Kiss Me Again PeteKao Thai 8
2018 Step For You Strongberry Korea 7
2018 Guardian China 6
2018 River Knows Fish Heart China 6
2018 Ossan's Love original Japan 6
2018 Being Me Korea 6
2018 My Pistachio Strongberry Korea 6
2018 My Tee Cause You're My Boy Thai 6
2018 Does the Flower Bloom? Japan 5
2018 Summerdaze Stay Away From Me Korea 5
2018 PickRome Our Skyy Puppy Honey Thai 5
2018 InnSun Our Skyy My Dear Loser Thai 5
2018 PeteKao Our Skyy Dark Blue Kiss Thai 5
2018 TeeMork Our Skyy My Tee Thai 5
2018 You Had Me At Hello Thai 5
2018 The Ring Goes Missing Vietnam 5
2018 S.C.I. Hong Kong 4
2018 Table Manner Strongberry Korea 4
2018 Pornographer The Novelist Japan 3
2018 Together with Me the next chapter Thai 3
2018 My Dream Thai 3
2018 Ghost Boyfriend 3 China 2
2018 Past Youth China 2
2018 What the Duck Thai 2
2018 In Between Seasons Korea 1
2019 The Teacher Taiwan dnf
2019 Until We Meet Again The Red Thread Thai 10
2019 He's Coming to Me Thai 9
2019 Theory of Love Thai 8
2019 TharnType Thai 8
2019 Dark Blue Kiss Thai 8
2019 HIStory 3 Trapped Taiwan 7
2019 3 Will Be Free Thai 7
2019 2 Moons 2 Thai 7
2019 What Did You Eat Yesterday? Kinou Nani Tabeta? Japan 6
2019 As if You Whisper Strongberry Korea 6
2019 Sonnet 18 Korea 6
2019 Great Men Academy Thai 6
2019 My Personal Trainer Strongberry Korea 5
2019 One Last Order Korea 5
2019 With Love the series Thai 5
2019 Good Loser 2 parts Thai 5
2019 Hey! First Love AKA My Sky Dam My hoc Doung Vietnam 5
2019 Mermaid's Jade China 4
2019 Broken Youth China 4
2019 Athlete Japan 4
2019 His I Didn't Think I Would Fall In Love Japan 3
2019 Mood Indigo Pornographer series Japan 3
2019 Bro and Me Bro & Me Taiwan 3
2019 Departure Taiwan 3
2019 2 Wish the series Thai 3
2019 Make it Live on the bEach Make It Live: On The Beach Thai 3
2019 I Am Your King 2 Thai 3
2019 Before I Love You 3 parts Thai 3
2019 Love Poison Thai 3
2019 Reminders Thai 3
2019 Goodbye Mother Thua Me Con D Vietnam 3
2019 The Shortest Distance is Round (Blanc) Saitankyori wa Mawari Kudokute Japan 2
2019 HIStory 3 Make Our Days Count Taiwan 2
2019 The Best Twins Thai 2
2019 The Effect Thai 2
2019 The Shortest Distance is Round (Noir) Saitankyori wa Mawari Kudokute Japan 1
2019 Dew the Movie Thai 1
2020 The Shore Pinoy dnf
2020 Amore Pinoy dnf
2020 In Between Sa Pagitan ng Kamusta at Paalam Pinoy dnf
2020 I Told The Sunset About You Thai dnf
2020 Ghost Runner Thai dnf
2020 Cherry Magic 30 Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard AKA 30-sai made Dotei Da to Mahotsukai ni Nareru rashii Japan 9
2020 Wish You Your Melody in My Heart Korea 9
2020 Gameboys the series Pinoy 9
2020 Oxygen the series Thai 9
2020 Restart After Come Back Home Risutato wa tadaima no ato de Japan 8
2020 Where Your Eyes Linger Korea 8
2020 Like In The movies Gaya Sa Pelikula Pinoy 8
2020 My Day the series Pinoy 8
2020 Still 2gether Thai 8
2020 Why R U? Thai 8
2020 2gether Thai 8
2020 Life: Love on the Line Life Senjou no Bokura Japan 7
2020 Mr. Heart mr heart Korea 7
2020 Private Lessons Strongberry Korea 7
2020 Because of You Taiwan 7
2020 Ingredients the series Thai 7
2020 My Engineer Thai 7
2020 Theory of Love special Thai 7
2020 En of Love Love Mechanics Thai 7
2020 The Untamed Special Edition China 6
2020 His the movie Japan 6
2020 The Boy Foretold by the Stars Pinoy 6
2020 Present Still Perfect Thai 6
2020 Love By Chance 2 A Chance at Love Thai 6
2020 My Gear and Your Gown Thai 6
2020 En of Love Tossera Thai 6
2020 En of Love This is Love Story Thai 6
2020 Stage of Love Vietnam 6
2020 Love Stage!! Rabu Suteiji Japan 5
2020 Secret Roommate Strongberry Korea 5
2020 Win Jaime's Heart Pinoy 5
2020 Meet Me Outside Pinoy 5
2020 Craving You Taiwan 5
2020 TharnType 2 Seven Years of Love Thai 5
2020 Location Thai 5
2020 YYY the series Thai 5
2020 So Much In Love Thai 5
2020 Friend Forever Thai 5
2020 Sea Him TienTai universe Vietnam 5
2020 Tien Bromance EXTRA Vietnam 5
2020 Capture Lover China 4
2020 Precise Shot China 4
2020 Sei no Gekiyaku Dangerous Drugs of Sex Japan 4
2020 Night of Love Thai 4
2020 Youth in the Breeze People of the Skyy China 3
2020 Our Memory Taiwan 3
2020 The Moment Thai 3
2020 YYY Special Thai 3
2020 The Cornered Mouse Dreams of Cheese Kyuso wa Chizu no Yume wo Miru Japan 2
2020 Your Name Engraved Herein Taiwan 2
2020 The Shortest Distance 3: Fallen Flowers Saitankyori Wa Mawari Kudokute: Rakka Ryūsui Japan 1
2020 The Shortest Distance is Round 2 : Rain and Soda Saitankyori wa Mawari Kudokute: Ame to Soda Mizu Japan 1
2020 Tien Bromance Vietnam 1
2021 On his Turf On My Turf Korea dnf
2021 Jack & Jill Pinoy dnf
2021 Stuck on You Pinoy dnf
2021 Love is the series Pinoy dnf
2021 Hidden Love Thai dnf
2021 My Boy Thai dnf
2021 I Promised You the Moon I Told Sunset About You Thai dnf
2021 Country Boy Thai dnf
2021 Call it What You Want Thai dnf
2021 Call it What You Want 2 Thai dnf
2021 Love Poison 2 Thai dnf
2021 Zettai BL ni Naru Sekai VS Zettai BL ni Naritakunai Otoko Absolute BL A Man Who Defies The World of BL. Japan 10
2021 To My Star Korea 10
2021 Color Rush Korea 10
2021 Light On Me Korea 10
2021 We Best Love Fighting Mr. 2nd Taiwan 10
2021 We Best Love No. 1 For You Taiwan 10
2021 Utsukushii Kare My Beautiful Man Japan 9
2021 A First Love Story Strongberry Korea 9
2021 Nobleman Ryu's Wedding Korea 9
2021 Be Loved In House I Do Taiwan 9
2021 Love is Science? BL Cut Taiwan 9
2021 Lovely Writer Thai 9
2021 1000 Stars A Tale of Thousand Stars Thai 9
2021 Word of Honor China 8
2021 Given Givun Japan 8
2021 Kieta Hatsukoi Vanishing My First Love My Love Mix Up Japan 8
2021 My Sweet Dear Korea 8
2021 You Make Me Dance Korea 8
2021 The Tasty Florida Korea 8
2021 See You After Quarantine? Taiwan 8
2021 HIStory 4 Close to You Taiwan 8
2021 Golden Blood Thai 8
2021 My Esports Genius Brother China 7
2021 Made in Rooftop Korea 7
2021 Papa & Daddy Taiwan 7
2021 My Type Taiwan 7
2021 Manner of Death Thai 7
2021 Nitiman Thai 7
2021 Second Chance Thai 7
2021 Nation's Brother Vietnam 7
2021 You Are Ma Boy EM LÀ CHÀNG TRAI CỦA ANH Vietnam 7
2021 My Lascivious Boss ÔNG CHỦ, ĐỪNG ĐẾN ĐÂY Vietnam 7
2021 Confidential Coffee Break Strongberry Korea 6
2021 Sweet Curse Strongberry Korea 6
2021 Hold Me Korea 6
2021 Peach of Time Korea 6
2021 Tonhon Chonlatee Thai 6
2021 Gen Y the series Thai 6
2021 Once in Memory Thai 6
2021 Bite Me Thai 6
2021 Love Advisor Thai 6
2021 Once in Memory: Wish Me Luck Thai 6
2021 The Yearbook Thai 6
2021 Y-Destiny Thai 6
2021 My Mate Match Thai 6
2021 Monster in Law Mẹ Chồn Dâu Cáo Vietnam 6
2021 Most Peaceful Place Is You Vietnam 6
2021 Follow My Sunshine SAU VẠT NẮNG Vietnam 6
2021 Stupid Boys Stupid Love YÊU ĐI SỢ GÌ Vietnam 6
2021 Hay Rival, I LOVE YOU! Vietnam 6
2021 Every Moment that I Think of You China 5
2021 Ossan's Love Love or Dead Hong Kong 5
2021 Pornographer Playback Pornographer series Japan 5
2021 Fingers After Strongberry Korea 5
2021 Light Taiwan 5
2021 Innocent Taiwan 5
2021 Friend or Lover Taiwan 5
2021 The Best Story YinWar Thai 5
2021 Love Area Part 1 Thai 5
2021 Don’t Say No LeoFiat Special Thai 5
2021 Evening Cafe Thai 5
2021 Siew Sum Noi Thai 5
2021 Top Secret Together Thai 5
2021 Love With Benefits Thai 5
2021 I'm a Fool for You 1 & 2 Hong Kong 4
2021 My "S" Partner Korea 4
2021 The Immeasurable Taiwan 4
2021 The Immeasurable Taiwan 4
2021 Close Friend Thai 4
2021 Loveless Society Thai 4
2021 7 Project BL Cut Thai 4
2021 Fish Upon the Sky Thai 4
2021 Brothers Thai 4
2021 You Are My Sunshine Vietnam 4
2021 Fools Vietnam 4
2021 The Cupid Coach Thai 3
2021 Hometown's Embrace Thai 3
2021 The Couple Thai 3
2021 My Bromance 2 5 Years Later Thai 3
2021 Love Machine Thai 1
2022 49 Days With a Merman Taiwan dnf
2022 7 Days 7 Boys Thai dnf
2022 Country Boy Thai dnf
2022 Restart(ed) Restarted Thai dnf
2022 Zettai BL ni Naru Sekai VS Zettai BL ni Naritakunai Otoko 2 Absolute BL 2 A Man Who Defies The World of BL 2 Japan 10
2022 Semantic Error Korea 10
2022 Blueming Korea 9
2022 Cherry Blossoms After Winter Korea 9
2022 Not Me OffGun Thai 9
2022 My Ride Thai 9
2022 Bad Buddy Thai 9
2022 Tinted With You Korea 8
2022 Oh! Boarding House Korea 8
2022 Behind Cut Korea 8
2022 Love Stage!! Love Stage Thai 8
2022 Mr Cinderella Xem trọn bộ Mr Cinderella Vietnam 8
2022 Color Rush 2 Korea 7
2022 First Love Again Korea 7
2022 Enchanté Enchante Thai 7
2022 Rainbow Prince Pinoy 6
2022 Paint With Love Thai 6
2022 You're My Sky Thai 6
2022 Gen Y 2 Season 2 Thai 5
2022 The Love of Winter Thai 5
2022 You Are My Stupid Boy Vietnam 5
2022 Blue of Winter Judo Boys Korea 3
2022 Something In My Room Thai 3
2022 Love Area Part 2 Thai 3
2022 Physical Therapy Thai 3
2022 In Your Heart China 2
2022 Kissable Lips Korea 2
Currently Airing & ToWatch
2020 Boyband Love Pinoy
2020 Happenstance Pinoy
2022 Plus & Minus Taiwan
2022 Meow Ears Up Thai
2022 Secret Crush On You Thai
2022 What Zabb Man! Star Hunter Thai
2022 Miracle of the Teddy Bear Thai
2022 Cutie Pie Thai
2022 Cupid's Last Wish Thai
2022 Dear Doctor, I'm Coming for Soul Thai
2022 KinnPorsche Thai
2022 La Cuisine Thai
2022 Saneha Stories 4 Thanon Sai Saneha Thai
2022 Star in My Mind Star and Sky Thai
2022 The Miracle of Teddy Bear Thai
2022 The Tuxedo Thai
Feel free to gank these to start your own tracking spreadsheet if you like. The lifted code is from .xls
