Taiwanese BLs are clearly fan favorites. In terms of storytelling and fine execution, they are incomparable. The sudden advent of Covid-19 has slowed down the production of quality dramas from the Taiwanese shores and, as such, 2022 saw a quintessential decrease in the number of shows broadcast. In today’s feature, our authors will be talking about their favorite few!

Drama_Llama’s Favorites

About Youth

Opening with rain and a heartfelt narration about bad days and changing lives, About Youth follows Xu Qi Zhang (Jyun), Ye Guang (Li Zhen Hao), Ray (Xu Shuo Ting), and Ah Jian (Andy Huang) as they struggle through grief, unrequited love, parental expectation, broken hearts, and lots of confused feelings. For a short drama, it manages to capture the confusion of youth and the need to break free from the rigidity of educational expectations. And it owned my heart because of that. Check it out now on Gagaoolala and Viki.

My Tooth, Your Love

Set against the backdrop of a bistro and a dentist’s office, the Taiwanese BL My Tooth Your Love unveils a captivating story that takes dental phobia, post-traumatic stress, and trauma and turns it into love. Starring actors Andy Wu (Bai Lang) and Snoopy Yu (Jin Xun An) in the lead roles, it captures respect in relationships in a way that truly captivated me, allowing each character not only the chance to face their own traumas but also to respect the traumas in each other. And that is beautiful. Check it out now on Gagaoolala and Viki.

Sarinpai’s Favorite

DNA Says Love You

DNA Says Love You was stylistically what I have come to expect and love from Taiwanese BL dramas- it was understated without being underwhelming, emotional without turning to melodrama, and introduced unique ideas to the BL world. I had zero expectations going into it, and while I do still believe they could have done with better promotions, this is a show worth your time.

The story deals with Pu Le Chien, a YouTuber struggling to catch his big break in the field of adventure blogs, and an enigmatic figure he crosses path with named Amber. The scenes also often cut to Le Chien’s past with his childhood friend Xi Wen, and the show builds on Le Chien’s budding relationship with Amber while bringing up questions about his childhood friendship.

The finished show was a little rough, and there were ideas and subplots it could have expanded upon, but I can’t deny the fun I had watching it, part of which was due to the anticipation of the mystery behind Amber’s character, which I had my theories about, but was resolved in a way that I hadn’t expected, which was certainly refreshing.

Without spoiling too much of the plot (including the big plot reveal), the show deals with some of the more underrepresented queer groups, and it certainly made me question why we don’t have more shows like it.

It’s not the fastest paced show, but it is worth watching on a lazy Sunday when you are looking to relax.

We will be back next week with the second edition of this feature. So till then, keep watching this space as we bring you more updates from the Asian BL World!