When it comes to BL dramas, yes, there is a lot of fluff. Some of them, however, use the influence and reach of the actors to make compelling statements, like in the case of marriage equality.
Here are my top 5 BL series that used their platform to make a stand.
THE MIRACLE OF TEDDY BEAR (2022) – Thailand
Tofu is the beloved Teddy Bear of Nut (Job Thuchapon) who magically comes to life one day (in the naked form of the beautiful In Sarin). It’s a fun and fantastical romance that deals with sensitive topics like domestic abuse, child abuse, the importance of environmental conservation, homophobia, aging, and mental health. With sixteen 90-minute episodes, it’s a very long but powerful series – if you can get past the goofy (yet still adorable) CGI.
NOT ME (2021) – Thailand
Black and White (both portrayed by Gun Atthaphan) are twins with a powerful connection. After Black is brutally beaten, White takes on his identity to discover the person behind the attack. He enters a dangerous world where there’s no one he can trust, not even Sean (Off Jumpol), the man who inadvertently steals White’s heart (but thinks he’s still black. This GMMTV drama touches on so many different subject matters; it’s an incredible piece of television. Economic injustice, Queer Equality, the purposeful separation of class, disability discrimination, the list goes on.
My Love Mix-Up (2021) – Japan
Aoki (Shunsuke Michieda) has a crush on Hashimoto (Riki Fukumoto), but he thinks she has a crush on Ida (Ren Meguro). However, as it turns out, Ida has a crush on Aoki. It’s an adorable (albeit slightly silly) story about the ups and downs of first love. While most of the series is incredibly light, it does repeatedly touch on LGBTQ+ discrimination – especially when it comes to gay men who pass as straight (are athletic, etc.).
Kabe–Koji–Nekoyashiki–kun Desires to Be Recognized (2022) – Japan
Mamoru Nekoyashiki (Koudai Matsuoka) draws dirty comics. Kazama Issei (Masaki Nakao) is a member of a popular idol group. The two were friends but parted ways. However, fate brought them back together. This series is beautiful because these two characters are polar opposites, not just in personality but on the spectrum of depression. Mental health is center stage in this series for almost every single character. It’s incredibly well done and has a spectacular soundtrack!
My Beautiful Man (2021, 2023) – Japan
Hira (Riku Hagiwara) is timid, withdrawn, and, to top it off, has a speech impediment. Sou (Yusei Yagi) is handsome, popular, and loved by everyone – including Hira. While Sou shares Hira’s feelings, he’s a broken man who doesn’t quite understand how to accept human affection. These two characters are so beautifully broken and are some of the most relatable and realistic characters I’ve ever seen in a BL drama.
These are just a few, there are many many more beautiful series that are not just good stories, but important.
More BL Drama’s soon so…
Stay Tuned!
This article is adapted from Life in Cartoon Motion which aims at providing articles, reviews, and even interviews!
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