We may be halfway through the year already, but there’s no shortage of great new TV shows still to come in 2023. This year may have already seen masterpieces from DeeHupHouse, GMMTV, Domundi and TVing, nevertheless the new releases aren’t showing any signs of slowing down.
Upcoming Asian BL Dramas
Be Mine Superstar
“Be Mine SuperStar” is the comeback series of actors Ja Phachara and First Chalongrat, also known as #JaFirst from BL series ‘Don’t Say No’ and ‘Remember Me’. It is an adaptation of Orpheus’ novel of the same name. The drama revolves around a rising superstar and his fan. Punn, a third-year student majoring in film production lands an internship on the set of a drama series starring Achi, his long time crush and idol. Naturally drawn to Achi, Punn can’t help falling in love with the brilliant superstar. But seeing as he’s nothing more than a lowly intern, does Punn stand a chance of catching this celebrity’s eye? ‘Be Mine SuperStar’ is set to premiere on July 3rd and will air every Monday at 10:45 PM GMT+7 on channel Ch3. It will also be available in selected regions on Rakuten Viki.
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Stay By My Side
The series stars actors Hong Waji and Isaac Yang as Gu Buxia and Jiang Chi, respectively. The drama depicts the story of Bu Xia, a young man raised by his grandfather. He finds his world turned upside down when he starts hearing mysterious voices after his grandfather’s funeral. Convinced he’s losing his mind, Bu Xia seeks answers and is shocked to discover that the voices are actually the spirits of the departed. When he realizes that being around his roommate Jiang Chi makes the voices disappear, Bu Xia becomes determined to get closer to him. As their relationship deepens, both Bu Xia and Jiang Chi find themselves caught in a whirlwind of emotions and secrets that will challenge their understanding of the supernatural and their own desires. ‘Stay By My Side’ is set to premiere on July 7th and will air every Friday on the streaming platform GagaOOLala.
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Stay With Me
An upcoming Chinese BL series from Cha Ji Dan, the same author as the infamous ‘Addicted-Heroine’, starring Xu Bin and Zhang Jiong Min. The story follows Su Yu, a high school student who lives a simple life with his father. He faces a major change when his mother remarries a wealthy man, introducing him to his step-brother Wu Bi. Despite their initial differences (Wu Bi being a cold and arrogant top student, while Su Yu is an unreasonable underachiever) their relationship takes an unexpected turn after an accident. As they gradually warm up to each other, their bond grows stronger.
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Hidden Agenda
Joong Archen and Dunk Natachai will star in an upcoming GMMTV adaptation of the novel ‘วาระซ่อนเร้น’ by Dezair. The story portrays a college student Zo (Dunk) who sets his sights on popular girl Nita. In order to woo her he approaches Joke (Joong), Nita’s ex, for dating advice. What Zo doesn’t know is Joke has a hidden motive for wanting to help him. A motive that doesn’t support Zo having a happy ending with Nita. The show premieres Sunday July 9th ’23 at 20:30 GMT+7.
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Wedding Plan
‘Wedding Plan’ The Series is an adaptation based on MAME’s novel of the same name. The series features BL and GL couples! It stars Sunny Wannarat, Naphat Leelahatorn, Aya Orapan, Kate Sasisarun, Forth Kashane, and Donut Suppawit as Sailom, Namnuea, Yiwa, Sun, and Ryu respectively. The protagonists are Sunny and Aya , who are engaged. This marriage was arranged by their families. Both are forced to choose between duty and their Hearts when it’s revealed that Yiwa already has a lover, Kate, and Sunny falls In love with the wedding planner Pak.
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Laws Of Attraction
Jam Rachata and Film Thanapat take on new roles in the upcoming series ‘LOA’. It premieres July 15th 2023 on ChOne31. Any information on an international release has not been announced though it does seems likely. Jam takes on the role of Tin, a PE teacher, who is grieving his nieces unjust death. He meets a lawyer, Chan, who sees the realities of the world and doesn’t believe real justice exists. Although they support different ideologies, the two are nonetheless drawn to each other.
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Jun and Jun
A brand new web drama from the same production house as ‘Cherry Blossoms After Winter’ is coming to Rakuten Viki. ‘Jun and Jun’ is an office-themed romantic comedy series written by Yoon Na Ra and directed by Kim Eun Hye. It stars Ki Hyun Woo, Yang Jun Mo, Jo Chan Hyun, and Park Hyeong Seop. The story is about Lee Jun, a former idol-turned-intern, and Choi Jun, his childhood first love who disappeared without a word and returned as a hot manager. Jun & Jun” is set to premiere on July 20th and will air every Thursday in selected regions.
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Weekly BL Updates
Under The Skin – Season 2
IQIYI x Tencent x Linmon Pictures’ suspense drama ‘Under the Skin’ is coming back to your screens. It hasn’t been confirmed whether season two will continue with the same cast or if it will follow a whole new narrative. The first season centred on Shen Yi, a talented artist. Five years ago, while he was still a student, he was sketching on the street. A woman brought a picture of a child and asked him to draw what the child would look like as an adult. However, this painting caused Haicheng detective Lei Yi Fei to be exposed as an undercover agent, and he was killed. The strange thing is that no matter how hard Shen Yi tried to recall, he couldn’t draw the face of the woman who asked him to paint the child’s photo. Five years later, the guilt became heavier. In order to find out the truth, Shen Yi accepted the invitation of Director Zhang of the Public Security Bureau and became a portraitist of the Interpol Team. Under Zhang Ju’s persuasion and arrangement, Du Cheng (Lei Yi Feis long time friend and partner) has to accept Shen Yi as a colleague despite the fact that he despises him.
Link Click
Bilibili’s live action adaptation of donghua ‘Link Click’ will star Jiang Long, Bi Wenjun, and Bu Guanjin. Meet Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang who run ‘Time Photo Studio’. They accept requests from clients to relieve them of regrets. Through a photo provided by the client, Cheng Xiaoshi can travel back in time to the moment it was taken and assume the identity of its photographer, with him absorbing the photographer’s memories and emotions in the process. At the same time, Lu Guang has the ability to keep track of the events in real time and helps Cheng Xiaoshi relive the experiences of the photographer. The two work under the conditions that they have only 12 hours with one chance to travel in time and find what their client is searching for, while also leaving the events of the past unchanged.
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PitBabe
CHANGE2561 has unveiled the pilot trailer for their first-ever original BL series entitled ‘Pit Babe The Series’, the show is slated to be released on CHOne31 very soon. The story is based on a novel of the same name by alittlebxtch. The novel outlays the story of Babe and Charlie. Babe (Pavel Naret) is the no. 1 racer and Charlie’s personal Idol. Charlie (Pooh Krittin) wants to be just like him, but he doesn’t have a race car of his own. So he gathers up his courage and approaches Babe to borrow him a race car. Just for fun Babe agrees with his offer in exchange for sexual favours.
Our Story
Oxin Films has officially launched the 3rd season of their ‘My Day’ Saga titled ‘Our Story’ with a short teaser. The series will star Jericho Del Rosario and Hiro Shimoji. The two played the second couple in season 2 ‘My Story’, due to garnering a lot of attention from fans the production company decided to give them their own series. Filming is expected to start later this year but no further details have been revealed.
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Jazz For Two
Clarju’s webtoon ‘#재즈처럼’ will be adapted into a series from the same Co-Producer as ‘A Shoulder To Cry On’. ‘Jazz for Two’ portrays Taeyi, a high school student. One day he hears a familiar melody fill the empty halls and makes his way to the old music room. He knows his brother is dead, but he can’t help but hope, maybe, just maybe…it’s his brother playing his favourite song. When he slams open the door, however, he finds Se-Heon, the new transfer student, at the piano. Disappointment comes crashing down and Tae-Yi can’t control his anger. How dare Se-Heon play his brother’s song? How dare he smile? How dare he say he loves jazz? And thus begins their epic love story.
One In A Hundred
A Chinese BL which is the original work of Chai Ji Dan, author of the incredibly popular series ‘Addicted’. The web drama was originally released in January 2020 and stars actors Zi Rui Liu and Dong Xu Lu. It revolves around a misunderstanding that leads roommates to pretend to be a couple to continue their newfound fame. Bai Li Qian Chuan, a wannabe boyband member yearning for popularity, finds himself living together with Nam Bo Wan, a young entrepreneur. One fateful day, Nam Bo Wan accidentally walks by Bai Li Qian Chuan’s live broadcast in nothing but a bath towel. To their surprise, this unexpected event not only brings about a lot of fan attention but also ignites a newfound interest in their relationship. From antagonistic roommates to unlikely partners, they navigate the challenges of showcasing their affection in front of others while dealing with newfound fame and evolving emotions. “One in a Hundred” is set to premiere on June 29th and all episodes are available to stream on Gagaoolala.
Immortality
It is rumoured that Tencent’s Xianxia BL adaptation ‘Hao Yi Xing’ (Immortality), starring Luo Yun-Xi and Chen Fei-yu will broadcast starting this August. The original work had 58 episodes but it will be cut down to 40. Adapted from the web novel “The Husky and His White Cat Shizun” (二哈和他的白猫师尊) by Meatbun Doesn’t Eat Meat (肉包不吃肉).
The story portrays Mo Ran, who is the young disciple of the most powerful cultivator in the world, Chu Wan Ning. Due to misunderstandings and general differences, the two have been at odds with each other. Chu Wan Ning finds himself helpless in the face of Mo Ran’s teenage rebellion and the two keep on drawing further apart. Unbeknownst to Chu Wan Ning, in a past life, Mo Ran and Chu Wan Ning’s animosity ended in great bloodshed and misery when Mo Ran turned to the dark HH techniques. After the past life ends, sixteen-year-old Mo Ran wakes up with knowledge regarding the events of that past life. Believing he can change his tragic end this time around, Mo Ran sets out to change the course of events as he knows them but soon finds out things are not as they seemed to him.
Tie The Not
‘Tie The Not’ is a miniseries inspired by a true story, starring Daryll Rodriguez (from “Cheat The Series”) and Oryl Mejia. The drama is a reminder that it’s never too late to fall in love, and true love is worth fighting for. The story follows Briggs, a guy who never got a chance to fall in love because of his responsibilities in his family’s bridal car hire business. Love finally strikes when he meets Shao. The problem is Shao is engaged to Louise, a marriage that was arranged by their families.
Tell The World I Love You
Originally released in January 2022 in Thailand, the movie will now be released in Japan on August 25th 2023. The movie stars Perth Tanapon, Bas Suradej and Net Siraphop. Keng is a young boy who left his hometown to study in Bangkok and lives with Tai, a friend who is the same age as him. Keng’s dream is to pursue further study in China in order to look for his mom whom he was separated from. Life starts to change unexpectedly. He has to help Boang, a boy who delivers drugs, from being attacked by a group of gangsters in which ‘Hia Song’ and Nick are members. After that, that gangster group constantly harasses both of them because they think Keng and Boang secretly store good drugs. Consequently, Keng has to flee home to reside with Boang in a remote place. From that day, they start to understand each other; a tale of friendship and love between two teenagers is born.
Man Suang
‘Man Suang’ is the first-ever historical BL movie project of Mile Phakphum and Apo Nattawin from ‘KinnPorsche The Series’. The film is inspired by real events and also stars actors Tong Thanayut, and Bas Asavapatr. Man Suang is a social gathering place where aristocrats would meet, drink, smoke opium and watch live entertainment during the reign of King Rama III. The story portrays two commoners, Khem and Wan, who are asked to masquerade as actors and infiltrate Man Suang to unmask a group of rebels. Khem (Apo) one of the spies befriends a drummer (Chatra) while there & asks for his help.
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A Story To Remember
‘A Story to Remember’ is an upcoming Filipino queer series, set to be released this Pride Month. The drama is going to have not only a BL couple but also a GL one! The series is Described as a youth drama and it tells the story of two childhood friends who get separated but eventually reunite through music. The BL and main couple of the series will be Ford (played by ZK Nakaoka) and Raver (played by RJ Buena). For the GL side, it will be a romantic story between Sofia (played by Dianne Santillan) and Jazmine (played by Jerica Dagohoy). ‘A Story to Remember’ will start streaming on YouTube on June 23rd 2023.
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Crazy Handsome Rich
The Very Great Company presents a new Comedy series starring Lee Long Shi and Frank Thanatsaran (#LongFrank). The series is expected to air some time soon but no date has been confirmed as of yet. It tells the story of a vegetable seller (Frank) who is on a mission to find his soulmate. Following the advice of a fortune teller, he finds a job inside a mansion catering to a rich family. One son in particular catches his attention. But life and love isn’t without ups and down. But are fortune tellers always right?
My Ride and Fahlanruk
Very often, series that are released in Asia have geo-ristrictions. Though they do claim to be available worldwide, there are always a few countries that don’t have access to series. YouTube is one of the platforms that lovers of BL really appreciate because they are able to watch content in multiple languages In every country. This July two very popular series that were released last year will be made available on YouTube for free with subtitles ‘Friends With Benefits’ also called ‘Fahlanruk’ and ‘My Ride.
Friends with benefits follows Fahlan, a handsome young man who studies economics. He is good at both academics and sports. Sherbet is an architecture student, good at playing music and singing. These two young men meet one day and can’t help but feel something for each other. Their relationship began with sex, being friends with benefits. Even though the two of them have never seriously considered dating someone, Fahlan finds that he feels a lot more for Sherbet. He instead tries to escape his feelings for fear of getting hurt.
“My Ride” is the story of Mork and Tawan, a motorcycle taxi driver and a medical resident in Bangkok hospital. While they might seem to come from different worlds, one day they meet by chance when Tawan hires Mork to take him across town. This first ride leads to another and another, and soon Mork finds that he can’t stop thinking about the handsome doctor. Meanwhile, Tawan also feels drawn to Mork, and an unlikely friendship is born.
Stay tuned, for more updates!
The BL Xpress 