There is something charming and irresistible when two people are in a “are they or aren’t they in love?” charade. Bromances sell this tantalizing notion and bank on the slow burn chemistry between their main characters. We are led to believe that there is more to their so-called brotherhood while their actual relationship status is kept under wraps. In today’s feature, we will be talking about some of the best mentioned Bromances in the Boys’ Love industry, the ones that kept you invested in their unpredictable love lives!

Numbers

“Two strong male leads fighting their way through a corrupt organization to seek revenge and reestablish order”

This pretty much sums up the premise of MBC’s latest office bromance, Numbers. Starring Kim Myung Soo as the rookie accountant Jang Ho Woo, the drama showcases his attempts at dismantling a web of systemic corruption at one of Korea’s most prestigious accounting firms, Taeil Accounting. Joining him on this revengeful journey is Han Seung Jo (Choi Jin Hyuk), his senior and also the company VP’s son. The show banks on the irrevocable tension between the main leads and VP Han Je Kyun (Choi Min Soo) whose sole aim in life is to earn quick money. As Ho Woo and Seung Jo join hands to fight against Han Je Kyun, they start unraveling an intricate web of lies and deceit that might shake the very foundation of the accounting firm. There is a lot happening in this show at any given point in time, so the pacing is quite consistent. What makes this show more interesting? The undeniable bromance between Ho Woo & Seung Jo. They start off as adversaries, progress to becoming mentor-mentee and then settle down into a slow burn romance. The easy banter between them is endearing and I’m hoping the upcoming episodes keep this bromance alive!

Miraculous Brothers

This show was majorly promoted as a bromance and the lack of a rival female main lead makes it a better experience than most Bromances. A supernatural suspense, Miraculous Brothers focuses on Dong Joo (Jung Woo), an aspiring writer with an ambitious dream of becoming a best-selling author someday. His life turns upside down when a mysterious unidentified boy, Kang San (Bae Hyun Sung), crashes into his car one night. Because of the accident, Kang San remains comatose for three months. Taking advantage of this situation, Dong Joo publishes a rough draft that he finds in Kang San’s belongings as his own story. The novel’s success, however, sets into motion a chain of unwanted events that replicate the novel’s storyline. Coincidentally, Kang San wakes up without his memories but develops the special ability to hear other people’s thoughts. The fantasy element is neatly tied to their unquestionable bromance. Though Dong Joo mostly seems dubious, his concern for Kang San is heartwarming. If you are into mystery and bromance, then check this out!

Stay With Me

We are calling this drama as the toned down remake of “Addicted Heroin”. Yes, the so-called censored version of the once popular Chinese BL is currently streaming on Gagaoolala and it is anything but bromance. But since it is Chinese censorship and we can only hope for some rekindling of the old magic, we will stick to the “Bromance” tag. Starring Xu Bin and Zhang Jiong Min in the lead roles of Wu Bi and Su Yu (Bai Luo Yin and Gu Hai in Addicted Heroin), the show follows the original storyline between two stepbrothers who meet by chance. The first four episodes paint an intriguing picture of friendship as Wu Bi and Su Yu grow closer despite their varied backgrounds. The settings are comparably better in this show and the production value is high. The actors are quite akin to their predecessors as well; the slow burn chemistry is the icing on the cake. Obviously, we won’t be getting the heated kisses that were the main attraction in the original work; but I’m hoping to see a satisfactory ending to this long-lost saga.

Oh No Here Comes Trouble

Another supernatural thriller with the “Enemies to Lover’s” trope, Oh No Here Comes Trouble, defies logic, and its mystique is inconceivable. Starring Tseng Jing Hua in the lead role of Pu Yi Yong, the show follows his journey from being an angry teenager to a mature, kindled soul. What makes this journey beautiful is his heart fluttering bromance with classmate, Cao Guang Yan (Peng Cian You). The pair are mostly thrown into ridiculous situations where people misunderstand their closeness to something more (not that Guang Yan doesn’t spend a major portion of this drama staring at Yi Yong with heart eyes). Yi Yong for most parts is oblivious to Guang Yan’s affections, but that doesn’t change the fact that Guang Yan is his comfort zone. He seeks out Guang Yan whenever he is distressed from handling deranged souls who seek his help to gain salvation. I have never seen a more perfect pairing and I’m hoping for a sequel. If we do get one, they better give us abundant romance between these two.

Desire Catcher

Another adaptation, this MGTV bromance banks on the premise of psychological manipulation and hypnosis. Centered around main lead Lu Feng Ping (Zheng Ye Cheng), the show follows his journey as he tries to uncover the murder mystery behind his mother’s sudden death. As the country’s best hypnotist, a true genius in his field, Feng Ping’s skill is unparalleled. When the city is rocked by a string of crimes that all seem to be conducted under the influence of hypnotism, the police turn to Feng Ping for help. Thereby, he is assigned as a consultant to a team headed by Luo Fei (Xin Yun Lai), a criminal detective plagued by his own inner demons. Though Luo Fei is highly suspicious of Feng Ping and his work; they slowly gain each other’s trust as they solve cases together. While the mechanics behind the case solving might seem dull, the bromance between the main leads is lively and electrifying. The chemistry is indisputable and they make a handsome pairing. Watch it, if you can stem past the obvious loopholes in the storytelling!

Under The Skin

Another investigative bromance that is both revelling and compelling, Under the Skin weaves a tale of empathy that is interspersed with criminal profiling (forensic art). I was mostly enamored with this drama because Forensic Artistry is something that was unheard of before; it seemed innovative and intriguing. Not to add, each of the case files in this show is character driven, something that rarely happens in a crime thriller. Tan Jian Ci (Shen Yi) is one of my favorite actors, so he was definitely the main reason to start this show; but his natural chemistry with co-star Jin Shijia (Du Cheng) is obviously the plus point that drives the narrative forward. Shen Yi & Du Cheng have a torturous past connection, which makes them both hugely suspicious of each other. But as the plot moves forward, they grow closer. Du Cheng learns to respect Shen Yi’s artistic skills while Shen Yi becomes more trusting of Du Cheng’s intentions. The actors look good together and their very obvious bromance spells magic. Watch it for the beautiful stories that spell human emotions and undying love!

Winter Begonia

A pure classic, Winter Begonia quickly became a fan favorite after its premiere; the main reason for its popularity weren’t the grand sets or magnificent locales, but the simmering, unhindered chemistry between the main leads, Shang Xi Rui (Yin Zheng) and Cheng Feng Tai (Huang Xiao Ming). An amorphous saga of love and yearning, Winter Begonia played off the complicated relationship between an opera performer and a wealthy businessman. While the focus remains on the survival of Peking Opera during the Republican era, this show doesn’t mask the relationship between the main leads as brotherhood or friendship. Xi Rui is hugely portrayed as an oddball who is also an excellent performer. He is hard to get along with and yet something about him draws Feng Tai’s attention. They become each other’s confidants and supporters; their romance is undeniable and although they face quite a few hurdles, Cheng Feng Tai does his best to make Xi Rui’s dreams come true. If you are a fan of rustic Republican era melodramas, then Winter Begonia should be on your watchlist!

Hikaru No Go

A heartwarming tale of character development, Hikaru No Go became well known because of its vivid portrayal of love and friendship. Adapted from a manga, the show majorly focuses on main lead, Shi Guang’s (Hu Xian Xu) close friendship with an eons old spirit, Chu Ying (Zhang Chao). Though their friendship and encompassing “Master-Disciple Relationship” remains the focal point of this drama, Shi Guang’s budding romance with rival, Yu Liang (Hao Fu Shen), is also a major highlight. The show does little to hide the fact that their relationship slowly morphs from “Enemies to Lover’s”. While Shi Guang’s friendship with Chu Ying is heartwarming and endearing; his romance with Yu Liang is heart fluttering and realistic. If you are looking for a show with highly competitive main couple, who slowly fall in love while bringing out the best in each other, then Hikaru No Go should be on your watchlist!

Word of Honor

One of the best adaptations in recent times (atleast before Chinese censorship came into full force to stop future BL productions), Word of Honor plays off the fantastical romance between Zhou Zi Shu (Zhang Zhe Han), leader of the assassin organization, The Window of Heaven and Wen Ke Xing (Gong Jun), Chief of the Ghost Valley. While the production value isn’t grand, the crisp storytelling and the brilliant casting keep you invested in the drama. More than the regalia and mystique that surround these two characters, the show became hugely successful because of the irrefutable chemistry between the main actors. The novelity of this storyline lies in the fact that the script remained true to the original content. As such, Wen Ke Xing’s underlying obsession and his budding romance with Zhou Zi Shu were delivered in a fashion that was reminiscent of the novel “Faraway Wanderers”. You never have to second guess their relationship as Wen Ke Xing shamelessly flirts with Zhou Zi Shu and ultimately wears him down. The show also focuses on the concept of found family; as WKX and ZZS form their own makeshift family with ZZS’s mentee, Zhang Cheng Ling (Sun Xi Lun).

We will be back with an exciting new feature next weekend. Till then, keep watching this space as we bring you updates from the BL world!