We are taking roll call for the first quarter of 2023. With the steady outflow of quality dramas this year, our authors had a difficult time choosing their favorites, but we endeavor to do the impossible. So, join us as our team members share their best choices, the ones that made all the difference!

Drama_Llama’s Favorites

The Eighth Sense (South Korea)- Starring Im Ji Sub and Oh Jun Taek

There’s power in telling a human story, especially one that explores an innate need for freedom. And that’s precisely what the Korean BL The Eighth Sense offers its viewers. It’s a love story between two boys that not only delves into falling in love for the first time but also opens the doors for discussion about depression and asking for help. It offers a meaningful look at letting yourself be yourself.

Our Dating Sim (South Korea) – Starring Lee Seung Gyu and Lee Jong Hyuk

Our Dating Sim’s power is in its understanding of itself. A mini drama with short episodes, it exploded onto the scene with a single-minded focus and delivered success. Many mini-episode dramas often try to do too much, but Our Dating Sim offers a simple story about two childhood friends who reunite and fall in love. And it didn’t complicate things.

My Beautiful Man 2 (Japan)- Starring Yagi Yusei and Hagiwara Riku

Like its first season, the Japanese BL My Beautiful Man returned with Hira and Kiyoi navigating their current relationship despite fighting separate insecurities. It’s an endearing look at two men working to overcome themselves to be together. No matter which character a viewer favors, it is easy to cheer for both. Because what’s more relatable than insecurity?

The End of The World with You (Japan)- Starring Seto Toshiki and Nakata Keisuke

A story about two ex-boyfriends who come face-to-face with each other when the world is ending, Japan’s The End of the World with You made me think about life. The rights. The wrongs. The heartaches. The need for understanding. There’s a lot to think about and a lot to face when the world is about to end, and The End of the World with You thinks about those things while rekindling a romance between two men who need each other.

Unintentional Love Story (South Korea)- Starring Cha Seo Won, Gongchan, Han Do Woo, and Won Taemin

Cute, beautifully filmed, and full of warmth, South Korea’s Unintentional Love Story gives viewers a second chance romance between an artist and the man who falls in love with him. With moving scenes and a picturesque setting, it leaves you feeling hopelessly in love.

Our Dining Table (Japan)- Starring Inukai Atsuhiro and Iijima Hiroki

A healing story about two men who find a safe place to be themselves in each other and at the dining table, Our Dining Table warms the heart and feeds the soul. It does a great job balancing the found family warmth with the permeating heartache of the past while delivering heart fluttering understanding.

A Girl Who Love to Read’s Favorites

Lots of dramas and series are released per month, every year, but only a few won our hearts and make us aware of different kinds of feelings in a short time. 2023 is only up to 5 months far, but lots of BL dramas were released and some were very much anticipated by the fans. In those releases, few were able to touch almost everyone’s hearts and souls. Here is a list of my favorite BL dramas that premiered this year.

My Beautiful Man Season Two

After the end of the first season, I was praying so much for the second season and nearly screamed my lungs out when I got the news. That is how much I love this drama. It is innocently beautiful, simple and very endearing. It gives me a peaceful feeling whenever I see this couple. One is a tsundere prince and the other, a very adorable stalker; both in love, living together, and making us witness the growth and development of their difficult yet cute relationship.

Bed Friend The Series

I am a huge fan of the “Enemies to Lovers” trope and this show includes a “Friend+Enemies into Lover” track which was a plus. Unlike the title suggests, the show is more than just an erotic BL drama. It deals with a heavy topic like trauma and coping with it. While the direction and editing could have been better since it tried to bring forward many triggering issues, I admired the effort.

Our Dating Sim

It’s a very simple love story between two best friends Lee Wan and Shin Ki-Tae, who grew apart due to a misunderstanding. They meet again after seven years, and this time they overcome all kinds of misunderstandings. Our Dating Sim was a very soothing kind of drama with a somber intimacy that will keep you engaged; it also does a good job of telling such a genuine love story in a short timeframe. The show left me wanting for more with the audacious flirting and lingering touches between the main couple.

There were some of BL series that were impressive and taught us something or simply made me smile.

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!