I didn't even like the original and reboots usually make for a poor replacement. I was hesitant about this one, and kept putting it off.
If you don't sincerely want to portray homosexual relationships, but only think "BL is trending, let's release a BL title" without any desire to actually create a good piece, you won't be able to write nor direct in a way that actually creates a believable atmosphere or chemistry between the actors. Not to mention that the homophobia severely affects the end result in terms of chemistry. The whole crap with the IRL homophobic behaviour and comments from one of the lead actors as well as from people in the production, left one with a very bad taste in one's mouth. The chemistry is a bit better between the side couples. The main crappy things The pacing of the main couple's story is excruciatingly slow (slow progress is good if done right, but this is just drawn-out without any substance to back it up) and steals so much time and space from the side couples, that those two only come off as unnecessary and shallowly explored filler components. I really don't like this one but since the production as a whole is fairly well done, I can't rate it below other run-of-the-mill BL.
Like the reboot from 2019, which is SO much better in every way. There are a shitton of better ones out there. Reunited as one of the side couples in "2gether" (2020), they don't get all that much time, but the connection is still there. Even if the acting is uneven, the guys have a great connection and are very, very sweet together. What it DOES have, is great and sweet chemistry between the quite charming leads. (The random and illogical writing is what makes it weird.) I was aware of this before I watched it, due to reviews I had read-but I still found it confusing). There is a confusing flashback part, which is woven in in a very strange way, and can be quite unclear until you catch up on what's going on. I agree with the wide-spread criticism-this definitely has a lot of flaws-especially obvious in the technical department and the, at times, very weird writing-but I don't consider it any worse than many other titles in the bunch of run-of-the-mill BL that has been released in Thailand since the start of the boom.Īt times the story in itself is very nice, at times it's a jumbled mess of. I don't quite get why this drama is bashed harder than other of its type. Even if it's not BL, there is a beautiful point made, which I think deserves attention because it's present in a manga/drama which has no BL connection. Note: Included are dramas made of the manga "Hanazakari no kimitachi e". People, there are a whole lot of numbers between 1 and 10. A stupid romcom can be a 10 just as well as a Kurosawa flick, can.ītw A "5" means "mediocre". My ratings are pretty harsh at times, but I judge by quality, not by how much I like/dislike it. "Gay theme" and BL are two different things.īut as long as one can tell fantasy from reality-it's a convenient word. Note To make it simple I'll just call BL, even if it would be more correct to say stories about guys who are attracted to guys. ***(Titles with (only) Trans characters not included-a Trans woman who loves men is straight, not gay.Ĭrossdressing has nothing to do with gender identity so titles with cross-dressing guys who like guys included.īromance if there is an implication that it is/will go beyond friendship)*** List will only contain titles in which BL/Gay/Male Bi couples/characters/themes, have at least a somewhat prominent role. If you'd like recs about non-Asian BL, just ask. China (+ Taiwan and Hong Kong), Japan, South Korea, and Thailand.)
Or, more like, "BL from some Asian countries". Asian BL from the 1980's to 2021: A comprehensive Guide for lazy Fangirls (and Boys)