Brotherhood. Love. Friendship. Loyalty. All these are synonymous with bromance, a genre that develops an intricate relationship between its leads, full of tension and undeniable chemistry. It’s a beautiful thing to watch on screen. Whether the creators behind them mean to express the depth of love between friends or whether they need to veil true romance behind a protective wall to avoid censorship and traditional expectation, the truth remains that bromances are still about love.

And love is powerful.

All of the bromances I’ve watched have left an impression on me, but a select few go beyond even the impression. These stand out amidst an array of great dramas and films, leaving me needing more beyond the rolling end credits. They are stories that are impossible to let go of.

The Untamed – China (starring Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo)

A powerful story of loss, sacrifice, redemption, and love, The Untamed brilliantly delivers an epic love story between the precocious Wei Wuxian and steadfast Lan Zhan. It’s an emotional journey that tests loyalties amidst blurred lines of right and wrong by following one young man’s rise to infamy and the literal fall that follows. All while the man he loves refuses to give up on him. To love without fail amidst adversity is one of the most beautiful ways to express romance. Lan Zhan’s devotion to Wei Wuxian is a beautiful example of focusing on one’s belief and faith in a person and in each other rather than giving in to doubt and other people’s expectations. When the world saw darkness in Wei Wuxian, Lan Zhan only saw the good he knew was there, despite not knowing the full extent of what Wei Wuxian had been through.

The Devil Judge – South Korea (starring Ji Sung and Park Jin Young)

A story about reaching for hope inside an unjust world where the powerful hold all the cards, The Devil Judge not only confronts a failing dystopian justice system, it delivers redemption inside a thinly veiled romance between two judges. It’s about two men with traumatic pasts who choose to confront those pasts differently. Kim Ga On becomes an unwitting pawn in a game of power. Placed at Kang Yo Han’s side by the people who fear him most, Kim Ga On becomes their tool of betrayal. But what the antagonists in power don’t expect is the feelings that grow between them. In the end, despite being manipulated to believe that Yo Han is responsible for his first love’s death, Gaon’s heart clings to the man who rips away the lies that caged in his life while allowing his heart to love again. Yo Han is not a hero. He’s not meant to be seen as one. He’s a victim and a criminal with a purpose in a layered society where crime and punishment are seen from the eyes of the damned, from the eyes of a man who questions humanity but then finds humanity inside Ga On. The Devil Judge is a love story between a poor judge who sacrificed himself for something he thought was just and a vigilante judge who wants vengeance, two suffering people who find solace in each other.

Beyond Evil – South Korea (starring Shin Ha Kyun and Yeo Jin Goo)

https://www.instagram.com/p/CKfjgfbgwcB/?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

A story about choices, identity, and self, Beyond Evil is a heart-rending look at the evil and corruption that ties an entire town together and, ultimately, two men. Despite the age gap between the leads, the suffering that binds them overcomes all odds. Both have lived lives on the edge of affection. Both are abandoned. Han Ju Won is abandoned by his parents. Lee Dongsik is abandoned by society. Both are broken men whose love for each other grows out of the brokenness. Despite their initial mistrust, they are two people on the same side of the law who learn to walk that fine line between good and evil together. They are two men obsessed with finding the truth, and in the process, they discover a greater love inside that truth. And that’s a powerful story to get lost inside.

Bloodhounds – South Korea (starring Woo Do Hwan and Lee Sang Yi)

From the moment Kim Gun Woo and Hong Woo Jin face each other inside the ring, there’s a thread of respect that goes well beyond the ring they fight inside. Despite the apparent differences between them and the differences in their fighting styles, both men are full of heart and loyalty. The boxer’s heart is mentioned repeatedly in the drama, and while the heart of a fighter depends on the boxer himself, it’s evident the love that develops between Gun Woo and Woo Jin starts with a punch. For eight episodes, Gun Woo and Woo Jin quickly dive into a ruthless battle to take down immoral moneylenders who exploit the disadvantaged. All while never abandoning each other. From saving each other’s lives to training together to living together, these two are more than just the fight they’re involved in. Whether there’s meant to be a romantic connection or not, the love that grows is endearing, motivating, and utterly shippable.

Oh No, Here Comes Trouble – Taiwan (starring Tseng Jing Hua and Peng Cian You)

Oh No Here Comes Trouble is a healing journey through a fantastical series of mystery stories made possible by a hereditary ability that defies logic. It takes a look at society and society’s inner struggle with emotions we can’t let go of. Loss. Loneliness. Envy. Fear. And amid this, it offers a beautiful bromance between Pu Yi Yong and Cao Guang Yan. What starts as an enemy at a distance classmate’s story transforms into an intimate understanding and a heart-fluttering faith in each other despite their bickering. Pu Yi Yong helps Cao Guang Yan bend, to live life without the constant need to plan it. Cao Guang Yan offers Pu Yi Yong a safe place to be himself. They balance each other, making it difficult to imagine them apart amidst the turmoil of loss and rediscovery.

Weak Hero Class 1 – South Korea (starring Park Ji Hoon and Choi Hyun Wook)

Love can bring light and courage to a dark, impossible situation, even when it can’t save someone. And nowhere is this more obvious than in Weak Hero Class 1. It’s a drama about pent-up rage and what happens when it explodes. It’s a perfect example of what it means to be broken by life and the system in a world where power means more than safety and friendship is determined by social media. The truly weak are those who suppress, not those who fight back. And tucked within all the hostile darkness, there’s love, the thread that ties leads Shi Eun and Soo Ho together, motivating them to rise above the bullying even when it all seems hopelessly tragic. They connect with each other. Trust each other. Fight for each other. Endure for each other. They are each other’s halo of light inside a dark, dark world. Their affection for each other shines through all the bittersweet hopelessness, keeping viewers invested long after the screen goes dark.

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!