Twig Tea

Semi-reformed lurker; Mostly blogging about QL. Oh, and I like the sea, and tea! She/her/they; 40s; bi as in "yes" and "yes pls"

[lurkingshan]

Hi, i know this year was a bit disapointing for you in terms of qls, but i was wondering, what were your favorite tv shows of the year across genre (in general) ?

Hi, thanks for stopping in! I appreciate the question, I haven't really had much time for year end lists and little inspiration to find it.

I have to say though, it was not just QLs that saw a noticeable dip in quality this year. This was one of the worst years in recent memory for mainstream dramas, as well. When the world is burning and regime changes all over the world are converging to create a global horror show, the art suffers as well. Funding for dramas with solid production values is decreasing in many Asian countries. And where output is continuing at a high rate, quality has taken a cliff dive. There were also quite a few shows that began well before falling apart halfway through or spectacularly fumbling their final arcs. It was a frustrating year.

So my list of favorites for this year is brutally short. These are the 2025 Asian dramas I can genuinely say I enjoyed watching all the way through and would recommend to others (with the disclaimer that I haven't watched as many dramas as in previous years so I'm sure there are some I missed):

When Life Gives You Tangerines

Heesu in Class 2

Gelboys 

You and Everything Else

Typhoon Family

For me, Tangerines was far and away the best drama of the year, and nothing else comes close. But I thought the others on this list were compelling and held together well through their entire run.

I also watched a couple old dramas for the first time this year that I really loved and would recommend checking out if their genre and premise is your thing. These are both from 2018:

The Story of Minglan 

Love and Fortune 

And that's all! Here's hoping 2026 gives us a bit more to be excited about in drama world.

[shortpplfedup]

I have a lot of Thoughts and Feelings about Heated Rivalry. About art made with love and understanding and how it authentically resonates and builds and grows and expands outward and encompasses and envelops. About the courage it takes to love (active verb) and how it's so hard to find that courage if you feel like you're alone. About writing and acting and filmmaking and adaptation, and understanding why people love something and deciding to protect it. And about how OMG IF YOU LOVED THIS COME AND JOIN US OVER IN THE LAND OF INTERNATIONAL QUEER ROMANCE WHERE WE HAVE SO MUCH OF THIS.

@bengiyo @lurkingshan and @twig-tea have all posted recs for some great entry level mostly Asian queer drama and romance when you're ready to dip your toe. When you're ready to go beyond entry level, mosey on over to @the-conversation-pod and peruse our back catalog of show discussions if you're so inclined. If you wanna watch before you listen, here are some of my recent (past 5 years-ish) personal faves that haven't yet been mentioned, linked for your convenience. If any link doesn't work for you, DM for further advice.

Thai

Moonlight Chicken (YouTube)

Jim, a restaurant owner, meets Wen, a customer, and they have a one-night-stand that turns into more.

My School President (Viki)

When musician Gun's high school band is about to be disbanded Tinn, who has a longstanding crush on him, becomes school president to help him save it.

180 Degree Longitude Passes Through Us (GagaOOLala)

Wang, the son of famous director Sasiwimol, goes on a location scouting trip with her and 'accidentally' meets Inthawut, who has a complicated history with Wang's late father.

GAP the Series (YouTube)

Mon has idolized Sam for years. She gets a job at Sam's company, and realizes that girlcrush is just a big fat crush.

I Feel You Linger In The Air (GagaOOLala)

After a No Good Very Bad day Jom, a modern-day architect restoring an old house, has an accident and crashes into 1927 where he meets Yai, the original owner of the house and the literal man of his dreams.

Gelboys (iQIYI)

Fou4mod, a high schooler, starts a situationship with Chian, an older boy at his school, but Chian has his own crush, Bua, and Fou4mod's bestie Baabin is crushing on him. Let the games begin!

Secret Crush On You (Viki)

Do you love cringe comedy and misfits who have each other's backs? Then you'll love Toh, Jao, Daisy, Som and the rest of the gang.

La Pluie (Viki)

Set in a universe where some people go deaf when it rains, except for hearing the voice of their 'soulmate'. Saengtai hears Patts, but he doesn't believe in love.

Wedding Plan (iQIYI)

Wedding planner Namnuea and groom Sailom fall for each other, but all is not as it seems.

Taiwanese

HIStory 3: Make Our Days Count (Viki)

Xiang Hao Ting, a high school jock, falls for quiet, studious Yu Xi Gu, another boy in his class. His best friend Sun Bo Xiang falls for Xi Gu's much older boss Lu Zhi Gang.

I'm out of gifs now, but you'll love these.

Filipino

Marahuyo Project (YouTube)

King, a college student, gets kicked out of school in Manila and sent to the island of Marahuyo to live with his grandmother. He decides to start an LGBTQIA+ org at his new school, and finds allies along the way.

Gameboys (and Season 2) (Netflix, Prime and Tubi)

Cairo, a gamer, is wooed online by Gavreel, a fan of his livestreams, in this pandemic era romance.

Japanese

The End Of The World With You (Viki)

With 10 days left until a massive meteor annihilates Earth, Masumi, a depressed office worker runs into his first love Ritsu at the library where he goes to wait for the apocalypse. The two go on a journey and untangle their painful past.

Doku Koi (Love Is A Poison) (Netflix)

Ryoma, a shark lawyer, meets Haruto, a con artist. One of the best and funniest romcoms I've ever watched.

Utsukushii Kare (My Beautiful Man) (and Season 2, and Eternal) (Viki)

Shy awkward high school student Hira falls hard for his beautiful new classmate Kiyoi and they begin a complicated yearslong relationship.

Tsukuritai Onna to Tabetai Onna (She Loves To Cook and She Loves To Eat) (alas, only on the high seas)

Nomoto cooks to de-stress but she can't eat as much as she cooks. She notices her neighbour Kasuga seems like a big eater so invites her to share meals.

Koisenu Futari (Two People Who Can't Fall In Love) (alas, only on the high seas)

Aromantics and asexuals, you are seen! This isn't a romance but it is a love story. Sakuko and Satoru decide to live together as a non-romantic couple. Honestly one of the most beautiful dramas I've ever seen.

[bengiyo]

Queer Shows to Watch After Heated Rivalry

It’s been a real joy seeing so many people find their way to the world of male/male (m/m) romance and boys love (BL) after seeing the excellent work in Heated Rivalry. Now that viewers must await a planned second (and perhaps even third) season, I wanted to provide some options for people who want to see more stories about queer people. It may surprise some to learn that we actually have a broad collection of works to watch; they’re just not often made in the West on accessible networks. 

I’ve curated a list of shows to watch below. I tried to select shows that are relatively accessible to American viewers, but will be linking to some streaming services that folks may not have heard of before. 

Sort Of (HBO)

Were you excited about Canadian tax dollars paying for on-screen queer sex? Did you want to see a show more about brown and black people? Do you want to see a trans and non-binary story? Do you miss the punchy, quirky comedy of Josh Thomas’s Please Like Me (2013-2016)? This is the show for you. If you’re in the mood for a layered comedy about queerness and cultural identity, this show has some of the best comedy-drama writing of the last decade.

Everything’s Gonna Be Okay (Hulu)

Did you connect to the details about Shane’s autism being part of Hudson’s performance? Do you want to see a show about and starring multiple autistic queer people? Are you just missing Josh Thomas now that I brought him up? This show tells the story about a man diagnosed with ADHD who has to take care of his two teenage half-sisters (one, autistic) when he learns that his dad is dying. This show navigates grief, care, and family with the same kind of empathetic comedy unlike few other shows in existence. If you want to see a show that navigates queer love and romance in neuroatypical people, please watch this. 

Noah’s Arc: The Movie (Paramount Plus)

Have you always wanted to see what a group of gay friends looks like when they hit their midlife crises? Do you want to see ass eating on a major network platform again? Would you like to be part of a 20-year gay TV project? Try out Noah’s Arc! This series started 20 years ago, and recently returned after as 12 and five-year break with another movie outing. Watch a gay couple prepare for the incoming both of their twins, and see how their other friends are coping with life in their 40s and 50s. 

Fellow Travelers (Hulu/Paramount Plus-Showtime)

Did you connect with the closeted themes of Heated Rivalry? Did you think a lot about how Shane and Ilya hook up for eight years before having a meaningful conversation about their lives? Do you want to experience the tragic angst of being closeted for decades? Do you want to watch Jonathan Bailey (the current sexiest man in the world) have a lot of sex with Matt Bomer? Do you want to see a gay Don Draper work his way through McCarthy era politics into the Reagan years? You’ll want to check this show out. Shoutout to Jelani Alladin and Noah Ricketts for covering Black politics in the era.

What Did You Eat Yesterday? (Free at GagaOOlala)

Have you always wanted to see a show about what gay life feels like after they make the big decision to be together? Do you sometimes just want a quiet drama about two people solving everyday life struggles? Would you like to love a couple more as they grow closer over time? Do you just want to watch gay people make Japanese food? Please watch this show! We have two seasons and a movie of a closeted gay lawyer and his flamboyant hairdresser boyfriend’s lives together.

Also, this is the only show on this list that's actually free to watch!

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I wanted to point fans of queer media to a few shows made within the last five years that people may have missed. If you watch any of these shows, please drop me a line and tell me your thoughts!

[lurkingshan]

So You Finished Heated Rivalry and You Need Another Show to Watch

We all know that feeling. The high of finishing a good show followed by the immediate crash and sense of emptiness when you realize it's over. I've always believed the best way to soothe myself in those situations is to dive right in to another show that has some similarities to the thing I loved. It may not entirely fill the void, but it does provide distraction.

For some of you, Heated Rivalry may have been a new experience--a well made gay romance on mainstream TV that actually cared about sex as part of the story. But I have great news! In other parts of the world this kind of show is not so uncommon. There's a whole world of amazing gay romances out there, and I'm here to share just a few that may appeal to you as a fan of HR.

Note: All of these shows are available on easy to access streaming services--Netflix, Viki, YouTube and iQIYI--some entirely for free. If you want to watch but aren't familiar with any of the platforms, let me know and I will point you.

Bad Buddy (Viki)

Did you say rivals to secret lovers? Look no further than Bad Buddy, the story of two arch rivals from feuding families who accidentally fall in love and have to hide their relationship. Buff men, sports, secret romance, explosive chemistry, capital Y yearning--it's all there!

KinnPorsche (iQIYI)

Maybe what appeals to you more than anything about HR is the chance to see beautiful men in gorgeously shot sex scenes that actually matter to relationship development. If so, look no further than KinnPorsche, a show whose visuals and explicit sex scenes will stun you while you try to keep up with the zany plot centered on a mafia family.

Old Fashion Cupcake (Viki)

Maybe you're a fan of adult romances teeming with sexual tension in general, in which case you should definitely check out this workplace romance where a younger employee sets out to woo his older boss. It's short and sweet and you'll want to put it on repeat.

The Eighth Sense (Viki)

For the sexy angst lovers, The Eighth Sense offers both a compelling romance and a similar emphasis on beautiful cinematography, great music, and all around style. This story focuses on two college students in the same surf club who get tangled up in each other.

Like in The Movies (YouTube)

Speaking of great music and angst, this story about a closeted college student who meets and falls for a very much not closeted gay man will speak to those who are drawn to Shane's journey of coming into his sexuality and working through his internalized homophobia.

Dark Blue Kiss (YouTube)

Not to get ahead of myself, but I think we all know the story that is coming next for Shane and Ilya in season 2. Dark Blue Kiss similarly takes a look at a long term relationship in the closet--what happens when you've decided to be together but still have to hide?

I Told Sunset About You (Viki)

If you love beautiful cinematography, gorgeous music, intense sexual tension and deep angst, there is hardly a better show for you than this one. This story is coming of age so the characters are on the younger side, but the show is very mature in its themes.

I Cannot Reach You (Netflix or Viki)

Another show about younger characters, this one is a pitch perfect friends to lovers romance. It's funny without being cutesy, and it takes the sexual desire part of the romance seriously. Honestly so good.

Semantic Error (Viki)

And for the romcom fans, I can't leave off this top tier enemies to lovers story about two college students who hate each other--until they really don't. It's short and fun and great for any romcom lover.

Let Free the Curse of Taekwondo (iQIYI)

One more for the angst lovers! This gorgeous story follows two men who fall in love in high school before being separated by traumatic events and come back to together as adults to try to heal. It's another with beautiful visuals, great music, and loads of angsty sexual tension.

And that's the list for now! This is just a starting point--there are so so many more shows I could recommend to you; it's an embarrassment of riches over here. If you try any of these and like them, hit me up anytime for more recs or check my #shan recommends tag. Happy watching!

[twig-tea]

WLW Shows for Heated Rivalry Fans

There have been several conversations since Heated Rivalry got popular about what a lesbian version would look like (I ended up already reblogging one of them). But the thing is, we do have a lot of great lesbian content already, it can just be hard to find. And so I'm going to shamelessly use the platform of Heated Rivalry 's finale to plug just a small sampling of it. Here are 5 shows to watch after you've finished Heated Rivalry, women loving women edition.

Show Me Love (Thailand, 2023)

Starting off with the one I already recced: This is for the folks who wanted lesbian beauty queens and didn't know it already existed. This Thai show's main characters have to navigate their own sexual awakening, complicated by fans wanting to see them flirt with each other in promotional content, all while knowing if they actually came out for real it could end their careers. It's available for free on YouTube.

Roller Coaster (Thailand, 2025)

If you are more interested in a story about women who know they should not be together but are having great sex anyway, and you don't care about the reason being a sports rivalry, this Thai show is for you. It lived up to its name as an emotional roller-coaster between a woman who has been waiting for her ex to change her mind and come back, and the woman who wants to keep her company in the meantime. This one is also available for free on YouTube.

A League of Their Own (USA, 2022)

If you do care about the sports, actually, and also appreciated the element that Shane being mixed-race brought to the story (and maybe even wanted that theme explored in more depth), this American series includes women loving women, trans characters, and while it primarily follows women in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, it also follows the exponentially more difficult challenges of Black women who love women and who love baseball and just want to be allowed to pursue both despite the constraints of 1940s America in parallel. This one is streaming on Prime in most territories.

The Hockey Girls (Spain, 2019)

If you wanted more of the sports than we got in Heated Rivalry actually, and don't mind the characters being a little younger (and emotionally messier), this Catalan-language show has sport and mess in spades, and is available on Netflix.

Glow (USA, 2017)

If, on the other hand, your favourite part of Heated Rivalry was Ilya slamming Shane into the boards of the rink, and then slamming into each other, you'll enjoy the romance in seasons 2-3 of this American comedy drama about the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling in the 1980s. This one is also available on Netflix.

Bonus: The Handmaiden (Korea, 2016)

Not a series, but I could not make this rec list without including one of my favourite lesbian pieces of media of all time, as well as one of the unabashedly horniest. This Korean film is full of twists and turns, but at its core is a relationship between two women who absolutely should not be getting involved with one another. If you want "they had a lot of sex before they actually had an honest conversation", this delivers. This is available for free on Hoopla using your local library card (available in US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand; other areas of the world, you may have to search).

If you want more, please feel free to reach out, or browse my recs tag.

[decladams]

lesbian heated rivalry wouldn’t be in hockey because there are already many out queer women in hockey due to the fact that hockey is viewed as a men’s sport. the whole reason hockey is captivating for mlm is because it is a toxically masculine sport and the idea of having out queer men in that sport is surprising (requiring them to stay closeted/have situationships/etc), whereas it is not nearly as surprising for queer women. therefore, lesbian heated rivalry would actually occur in a setting like ballet, gymnastics, or some other stereotypically feminine sport (that has toxic feminine standards) where queer women are not as visible. in this essay i will

[twig-tea]

Feeling the urge to come out of hibernation to say to everyone in the comments yelling 'beauty pageant!', that a lesbian beauty pageant romance show does already exist! It's called Show Me Love; produced by an actual Thai beauty pageant company who made it with two of their contestants who were being shipped by viewers, so they decided to give them a show. It's available for free on YouTube

[isaksbestpillow]

Chiisai koro wa, kamisama ga ite episode 5 eng sub

We need to talk about this episode!!!!! I even cried a little as I was subbing it. I suppose I like my family comedies heart-wrenching. We're finally addressing the elephant in the room that is Jun's role as his mom's emotional support.

There will be ten episodes in total, so this episode concludes the first half of the series.

Previous episodes: Episode 1 Episode 2 Episode 3 Episode 4

Please don't reupload my subs. You can support my work on kofi instead.

DOWNLOAD

Episode 5 raw courtesy of @nicks-den

subtitle

NOTES

Some random details about Wataru's workplace because I kind of adore them!

The company produces furikake rice toppings. The name of the company (Umamidou) means Umami Hall. Dou can also mean road or way, hence the silly lyrics in the company song: Umamidou wa umai dou, Umamidou is the tasty way (umai means tasty). The mascot of the company is a horse, uma in japanese. It's a fictional company but feels very real.

[isaksbestpillow]

Chiisai koro wa, kamisama ga ite episode 4 eng sub

This episode is a bit of a heavy one, but also quite hilarious. I hope you'll enjoy!

I do wish people were as excited for this as they are for Oishii rikon :( I personally like this one much better, and it's also more interesting as a translation project.

Previous episodes: Episode 1 Episode 2 Episode 3

Please don't reupload my subs. You can support my work on kofi instead.

DOWNLOAD

Episode 4 courtesy of @nicks-den

subtitle

NOTES

The ain't it wild thing is a reference to Sugi-chan who was a popular comedian at one point. That was his catchphrase.

Many couples start calling each other mom and dad once they have kids, but Wataru and An still call each other by first name, so when An calls Wataru Dad, it's sarcasm.

Rerere no ojisan is a character from The Genius Bakabon. His catchphrases are "you going out?" and saying rerere instead of are (huh?). He was also referenced in the first episode of the show by Shin-chan.

The Matsutouya Yumi song used in this episode is Yosoyukigao de.

[bengiyo]

I'm having a lot of big feelings coming out of this episode.

First, there's the shift in the dynamic with Wataru and An, where he has to reckon with the fact that his wife has literally been counting the days to their separation for 20 years. This changes almost all of the things they normally do together, and it's making him awkward as hell in the house. Even their routine of running and errand to have a fight in the car feels different now because he has to realize that all of their fights were about managing a situation An always intended to be finite. There's a sense of uselessness about the fight itself because they are just over a month to separation.

I feel the frustration in both of them. An is frustrated because she feels like Wataru never really understood her, and Wataru is frustrated because he genuinely thought he was doing his best. I continue to linger on the ways he let her down in little and big ways that she's held onto this whole time. There's no easy answers for them, because there's not an obvious growth path for Wataru here that keeps the family dynamic he thought they were building forever.

Next, there's Yuzu and Jun. I really loved Jun urging Yuzu to do her best to appear oblivious about what's going on as an act of kindness to their mom. Both of them are decent kids, and I'm curious what cracks we may see in Jun as we get a little further along here. I like that his desire to be helpful embarrassed him in a way that made others call out his resemblance to Wataru.

Finally, there's the horrible tragedy for the Nagashima family on the first floor. I really loved the way the other residents of the building came together to provide emotional support and aid during a devastating loss, and I felt like crying at the granddaughter's hardening. I'm feeling so supportive of Satoko's desire to keep her granddaughter from growing up to quickly, and also for Shin, who is clearly slowing down in his age even as he grapples with his grief about being such an absent parent and partner.

As always with this show, they managed to relieve the tension with a great bit of physical comedy out of Kitamura Yukiya, who continues to have great onscreen chemistry with every other actor. I find myself looking forward to Wataru's check-ins with his boss, who continues to peel back and reveal more nuanced layers.

Shout out to Yuzu for wanting to make a short film about Nao and Shiho. I've been following this energy since Yuzu first saw them, and am eager to see where that beat goes.

This is quietly my favorite show I'm watching right now.

[isaksbestpillow]

Chiisai koro wa, kamisama ga ite episode 4 eng sub

This episode is a bit of a heavy one, but also quite hilarious. I hope you'll enjoy!

I do wish people were as excited for this as they are for Oishii rikon :( I personally like this one much better, and it's also more interesting as a translation project.

Previous episodes: Episode 1 Episode 2 Episode 3

Please don't reupload my subs. You can support my work on kofi instead.

DOWNLOAD

Episode 4 courtesy of @nicks-den

subtitle

NOTES

The ain't it wild thing is a reference to Sugi-chan who was a popular comedian at one point. That was his catchphrase.

Many couples start calling each other mom and dad once they have kids, but Wataru and An still call each other by first name, so when An calls Wataru Dad, it's sarcasm.

Rerere no ojisan is a character from The Genius Bakabon. His catchphrases are "you going out?" and saying rerere instead of are (huh?). He was also referenced in the first episode of the show by Shin-chan.

The Matsutouya Yumi song used in this episode is Yosoyukigao de.

[isaksbestpillow]

Chiisai koro wa, kamisama ga ite episode 3 eng sub

Cried some real tears during this episode, not gonna lie! How can something be so hilarious but sad at the same time, I don't know.

This show is also turning into such a beautiful ode to inter-generational friendships. I recommend it so much!

Previous episodes: Episode 1 Episode 2

Please don't reupload my subs. You can support my work on kofi instead.

DOWNLOAD

Episode 3 raw courtesy of @nicks-den

subtitle

NOTES

The karaoke song is Mamotte agetai ("I want to protect you") by Matsotouya Yumi. The title of the show ("when I was little there was a god") is also from a song of hers, which I forgot to point out before.

[pointlesscandies]

Inside of me are 2 wolves. the first desperately wants Sasin and Saenkaew to get their happily ever after. The second one kinda loves this revenge arc for Pin.

It doesn’t really make sense in the long run but she deserves to be mad as hell for how long Sasin and Saenkaew refused to tell her this huge extremely important and life altering information that put them all at risk

Burn it down Pin. But like also. Don’t. Let them be happy. For me.

[bengiyo]

FWIW, this show hasn't made its women out to be simple characters, so I still have hope for Pin. Her first instinct when she sensed trouble, even when she was hurt and confused, was to shield the boys. I will believe in her and see how she navigates this.

[bengiyo]

WELP, THAT SUCKED

This show really let Pin down. I can't believe this show's final arc has her doing the emotional growth required to forgive the guys that let her down, seek them out to reconcile, push them back together, organize their escape, and even make sure they have money, without also ensuring that we know Pin is okay. She didn't even get a consolation romance!

I'm glad Broke Dad died for how he treated his daughter, but making Saenkaew's aunt be the one to deliver the blow after having her go insane was deeply unsatisfying. Couple that with Grandma going from clueless to a leader of PFLAG was way too fast, and should have provided better drama early.

Sasin was a pretty terrible romantic lead. For all the work this show did on Saenkaew dealing with an era-appropriate Bad Dad, Sasin feels so underwritten. He has no history. He has no real perspective on queer reality despite working in a queer establishment and being half-raised by a Super Lesbian. He spent the entire show actively fucking things up for Saenkaew, or moping that his bad plans didn't work.

More than anything, I cannot forgive this show for redeeming Bad Dad and Kamsu. They SHOT THAT MAN. They crashed his car with him and Saenkaew in it. He beat that man and was willing to shoot him again.

Final Verdict: 6, Not Recommended. In the end, I am pretty disappointed that this show didn't really put Saenkaew on a growth path, and didn't reflect that in his romantic partner. I am absolutely baffled that this show fumbled so hard on Pin, its best character, and delivered this milquetoast ending where everyone gets to be a family at the end? Undeserved.

[isaksbestpillow]

Chiisai koro wa, kamisama ga ite episode 2 eng sub

Episode 2, I hope you enjoy!

The acting continues to be solidly amazing, and the lesbian storyline is such a ray of light in prime-time programming where most viewers may not be intentionally looking for lgbtq stories.

My inbox is always open for your reviews!!

Previous episodes:

Episode 1

Please don't reupload my subs. You can support my work on kofi instead.

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Episode 2 raw courtesy of @nicks-den

Subtitle

DO NOT REUPLOAD MY SUBS. I WILL DROP THIS PROJECT IF I FIND MY SUBS HAVE BEEN REPOSTED. DO NOT MENTION MY URL ON MDL, REDDIT OR TWITTER.

NOTES

The song playing in the car is Refrain ga sakenderu by Matsotouya Yumi.

Manzai: Japanese double act comedy where one person is a straight man (tsukkomi) and the other a funny man (boke).

Umamidou is the name of Wataru's company.

[isaksbestpillow]

Oishii rikon todokemasu episode 2 eng sub

No password because I'm so tired.

Just know that if you're going to reupload this, you're a lowlife and I have nothing good to say about you. I hope it rains on you on an important day. I stopped subbing Bakebake because of the reposting issue, and I'm capable of dropping this show as well. Try me.

Don't repost my subs. Don't mention me on mdl, reddit or twitter. Don't send me messages about wanting to share my subs on your bl telegram. Just stop.

Episode 2 raw courtesy of @nicks-den

subtitle

DO NOT REPOST. I WILL STOP SUBBING IF YOU DO.

[isaksbestpillow]

Oishii rikon todokemasu episode 3 eng sub

Things are getting more personal in this episode! I hope you enjoy.

Previous episodes: Episode 1 Episode 2

Please don't reupload my subs. You can support my work on kofi instead.

DOWNLOAD

Episode 3 raw courtesy of @nicks-den

subtitle

DO NOT REUPLOAD MY SUBS. I WILL DROP THIS PROJECT IF I FIND MY SUBS HAVE BEEN REPOSTED. DO NOT MENTION MY URL ON MDL, REDDIT OR TWITTER.

NOTES

I also happen to live in Miyagi, so this is zunda:

It's a paste made of edamame.

[isaksbestpillow]

Chiisai koro wa, kamisama ga ite episode 1 eng sub

Ogura Wataru (Kitamura Yukiya) lives on the third floor of an apartment building with his family. A diligent employee at a food company, he leads a quiet, unremarkable life—no grand ambitions, no flashy lifestyle—but he handles his work competently and maintains good relationships with those around him. As a “normal husband and father,” he feels a gentle sense of contentment. One stormy night, Wataru joins the other residents of his building for the first time. As they share their personal stories, he casually thinks, “Everyone has their struggles… maybe our family is actually quite lucky,” enjoying the comfort of the moment. His wife, An (Nakama Yukie), had once been a rising star at a mid-sized trading company, but she left her career after giving birth. Married and raising children at a young age, she is now a devoted mother of two, living each day fully as “wife” and “mother.” Occasionally, she helps with accounting at a friend’s clinic, yet deep down she carries a quiet sense of regret—a feeling that her own life has been put on hold. Her only solace has been a promise made with Wataru nearly two decades ago: “We’ll get divorced when the children turn twenty.” For An, it was a serious vow; for Wataru, it was a half-forgotten joke. But during that stormy night, Wataru carelessly mentions the divorce promise to the apartment residents. Confronting him afterward, An delivers a quiet but cutting remark: “It's alive, you know… that promise,” leaving Wataru speechless. Cast: Kitamura Yukiya, Nakama Yukie, Kusakari Masao, Agawa Sawako, Ono Karin, Ishii Anna, Kondou Hana, Kotaki Nozomu Script: Okada Yoshikazu (Beach Boys, Saigo kara nibanme no koi, Hiyokko, Neechan no koibito, BL Metamorphosis, Beyond Goodbye, Romantics Anonymous) Direction: Sakai Mai (My Beautiful Man)

Welcome to a new passion project of mine! I'm a huge fan of Okada Yoshikazu's stories. He has a talent for writing multidimensional human beings, and this time is no different. His scripts are always simultaneously hilarious and steeped in melancholy.

This is not a bl or a gl, but one of the three families is a lesbian couple.

In the first episode the show already manages to deliver a nuanced portrayal of working class lesbians trying their best in a society that is both sexist and homophobic.

Anyway, I hope you'll enjoy the episode! I'll continue subbing depending on the response, so please let me know your thoughts and impressions! I will drop the project if I find it reposted.

DOWNLOAD

Episode 1 raw courtesy of @nicks-den

subtitle

DO NOT REUPLOAD MY SUBS. I WILL DROP THIS PROJECT IF I FIND MY SUBS HAVE BEEN REPOSTED. DO NOT MENTION MY URL ON MDL, REDDIT OR TWITTER.

NOTES

The theme song Ten made todoke is by the legendary Matsutouya Yumi but a full version hasn't been released yet.

Zuru: unfair Kyun: the sound of heart skipping a beat

Furikake: a condiment sprinkled on top of rice, Wataru's company produces furikake

KALDI is a chain store selling coffee beans and imported foods.

Ogura-an is a type of sweet red bean paste (anko) made by mixing large Dainagon azuki beans into smooth, strained red bean paste (koshi-an). The name comes from Ogura-yama in Kyoto, an area historically known for cultivating Dainagon azuki beans.

I couldn't find the exact Nishida Toshiyuki ad referenced on yt, but it's part of this series of cleaning product ads:

Shin-chan's impression "I'm a lucky fella" is from the song Kimi to itsumademo by Kayama Yuuzou.

[my-rose-tinted-glasses]

I'm looking forward to it, playing your lover.

AT 25:00 IN AKASAKA S1 Episode 1 | S2 Episode 1

[isaksbestpillow]

Futari escape episode 1 eng sub

Two young women–one an overworked manga artist, the other a complete slacker–try to escape the realities of adult responsibilities. Whether it’s running off on a day trip instead of being productive or going into debt for an epic meal, the two always have fun when they’re together! Enjoy this delightful (and relatable) slice-of-life tale about the little pleasures in ducking away from the hard stuff. (mdl)

Let's go lesbians, there's a new gl in town!!!!!!

This episode was very cute, and then the ending came and took my breath away, so here I am subbing another show. The episodes are 20 minutes long.

I will keep this first episode open for everyone, so you can see if you like it (why wouldn't you though!!!). Rest of the episodes will be password-protected because I'm experiencing issues with a serial reposter.

Anyway, welcome on board!

DOWNLOAD

Episode 1 raw courtesy of @nicks-den

subtitle

Please do not reupload my subs. Please also refrain from using official hashtags outside of tumblr and mentioning me or my blog on public platforms like mdl.

You can use my subs on tumblr with credit.