I started watching with no context, which was fine! But if you want context, here it is. These shows come out of the yaoi manga genre in Japan. Most shows are adapted from popular webcomics with existing audiences. They are gaining popularity across Asia and internationally. Thailand, in particular, is becoming known for producing BL series. It’s also clear that this genre and industry are rapidly evolving.

Quick Links

Resources for BLs

• **World of BL:** Comprehensive list of past, current, and anticipated Asian BLs, including direct links to the platforms that air them. (It looks sketchy, but I promise it’s a completely safe site.)
• BL Watcher: Find thorough reviews of BLs here, though some popular and controversial BLs are not reviewed. While I always agree with their A ratings, they prefer cozier and sweeter stories than I do. I’m less interested in university stories and more forgiving of weak plots when the chemistry is good.
• BLtai: Zooms out to all BL, GL, and queer content, including shows and web-comics. It expands beyond Asian content to other continents. More of a news and updates site than BL Watcher.
• BL Content Warnings: Fan-made list of content warnings for BLs. Some BLs, particularly older ones, include dubious consent or pursuing romantic interests after multiple rejections. I do try to make a note about trigger warnings when I review, but this has even more.

Korean BLs

Korean BLs tend to be more chaste. It’s rare to find gay characters in mainstream K-dramas, so this genre occupies a unique space. Like Thai shows, these shows are typically adaptations of popular webcomics. I started watching BLs after watching a lot of K-Dramas, so I don’t have similar notes on cultural differences. They are usually shorter story arcs, as well. Most Korean BLs only have 8 episodes, with each one running for less than 30 minutes.

My Favorite Korean BLs

Untitled