Let’s be honest, trying to narrow down a list of favorite BL dramas for 2025 (thus far) is tough. Every series that’s aired (or is still airing) brings something different to the table and has an audience that enjoys what it’s offering. And with so many exciting dramas still to come this year, calling anything a definitive “best” feels a bit premature.

So instead of naming favorites, I’m sharing the five dramas I’ve personally connected with most so far this year. These are the series I’ve thought about long after the credits rolled, the ones that caught me off guard in the best ways, and the ones I’d recommend personally up to this point.

Top Form (Thailand)

Top Form is one of the strongest offerings of 2025. Starring Boom Raveewit as Akin and Smart Chisanupong as Jin, the story follows two actors whose rivalry on screen slowly turns into something deeper behind the scenes. Is it a new premise? Not really. But what makes Top Form shine is the execution, particularly the performances.

The acting alone makes it impossible to ignore.

The chemistry between Akin and Jin is electric, but also tender. This isn’t just a story about falling in love. It’s about growing up in an industry that isn’t always kind. It’s about choosing each other even when everything, from fame to fear, is telling them not to.

As someone who’s worked in the U.S. entertainment industry, I appreciated the realism of the set dynamics and how the roles Akin and Jin played were made to mirror their real life relationship. But what stayed with me most were the emotional moments, especially Boom Raveewit’s portrayal of Akin. His performance floored me. Twice, this show brought me to tears, first when Akin grapples with the possibility of sexual assault, and again when he loses his grandmother. As someone who has walked through both those types of grief, those moments hit deep. They weren’t just acted, they were lived on screen. And I appreciate the emotions and work Boom had to go through to bring his character to life. It was my first time seeing Boom in a role, and seeing what he’s capable of made me a fast fan.

Top Form might not reinvent the genre, but it doesn’t have to. With raw performances, thoughtful writing, and a relationship you can truly root for, it earns a place on my most recommended list for 2025.

Ball Boy Tactics (Korea)

Ball Boy Tactics surprised me in all the best ways. What starts as an awkward slow burn between a retired gymnast (Yeom Min Hyuk) and a rising basketball star (Choi Jae Hyeok) unfolds into a quietly powerful romance about healing, vulnerability, and learning to trust.

Set against the pressure and expectations involved in competitive sports, the series doesn’t rush anything, it lets connection build naturally. The chemistry is real, the emotional arcs hit hard, and the cinematography brings just enough softness to make the hard moments, such as the abuse Ji Won faced in his career, land even deeper. Ji Won’s photography is used beautifully as a metaphor for the life he’s learning to see again.

And while I wasn’t expecting the final episodes to hit me as hard as they did, they did. Episode 8’s intimacy scene is one of the most thoughtful portrayals of trust I’ve seen in a drama this year. Every actor brings something meaningful, and the secondary romance? Quietly electric. I’d happily take a spin-off.

For a story that starts soft and ends with weight and warmth, Ball Boy Tactics is another series I’d recommend. Check it out now on iQiyi.

When It Rains, It Pours (Japan)

This isn’t your typical love story, and that’s exactly why it works.

When It Rains, It Pours takes the complexity of adult relationships and doesn’t shy away from the mess. Muto Jun plays Hagiwara, a man stuck in a relationship that’s emotionally steady but missing intimacy. One mistyped email later, and he finds an unexpected connection with his coworker Nakarai (Iti Asahi), whose own relationship is quietly unraveling.

Yes, this is a story that includes infidelity. But it’s also about what happens when people realize they’ve been denying their own needs, desires, and truths for far too long. The show doesn’t villainize anyone, it simply lets every character be deeply human. And that makes the emotional fallout hit even harder.

The romance between Hagiwara and Nakarai is slow, aching, and real. And while their chemistry grows, so does the show’s ability to explore themes like emotional neglect, miscommunication, and even asexuality with depth and care. It doesn’t preach. It simply lets us feel.

It’s intimate. It’s imperfect. It’s full of tension and tenderness. And for those willing to sit in the grey areas of love and longing, When It Rains, It Pours is absolutely worth your time. Check it out now on Viki.

Depth of Field (Japan)

Life isn’t always in focus, and Depth of Field leans into that, frame by quiet frame.

Still airing at the time of writing, this beautifully shot Japanese BL is shaping up to be something truly special. Adapted from the web manga Hishakai Shindo by Enjo, it follows Hayakawa (Usa Takuma), a gifted but emotionally exhausted student, and Konno (Hirano Koshu), a quiet classmate with a camera and a kind eye. Their connection begins on a school rooftop, where Hayakawa rediscovers the music and emotion he thought he’d left behind.

There’s a stillness and simmering anger to Depth of Field that’s anything but empty. Every glance, pause, and breath between the leads carries weight. Even in just two episodes, the story is heavy with emotion. Loneliness, longing, and an aching need to be liked.

What I appreciate most is how vivid the storytelling feels, especially viewed through Hayakawa’s pain. The chemistry isn’t loud, it’s subtle. The romance plunges forth out of frustration. And while it’s too early to say how the series will land, the foundation it’s building is layered with nuance, vulnerability, and a need to find oneself.

For a story unfolding between the sky and sea, and between two boys learning how to look up and reach out, Depth of Field feels worth watching.

Check it out now on GagaOOlala

My Sweetheart Jom (Thailand)

This one took me by surprise, and honestly, that might be what makes it so special.

For now anyway.

My Sweetheart Jom wasn’t high on my radar when it premiered. I expected a light, possibly chaotic countryside romcom that wouldn’t linger too much in my mind. I tend to gravitate to more dramatic series. What I got instead was a gentle, slow burn wrapped in charm, anchored by a strong ensemble cast and a real sense of place. It’s still airing, so my final verdict may shift, but for now? It’s one of the most unexpectedly heartfelt series for me this year.

Yothin, or Yo (played by Poom Nuttapart), is sent to a rural village after a scuffle in the city, where he ends up under the watchful eye of Jom (Saint Suppapong), the respected village head. It’s not a particularly stand out setup, but what follows isn’t played for the tropes or over-the-top laughs I thought it would be (though it does have a few of those moments). Instead, the story unfolds with patience. Yo isn’t the brat who softens over time like I expected; he’s curious, observant, and unexpectedly mature, even when clearly out of his element. Jom, on the other hand, carries a quiet steadiness that gives every scene a calm heartbeat.

Their connection is subtle but realistic in a way I also didn’t expect. There’s no dramatic spark, just a latent flare of attraction and a sense that they see something in each other no one else does. It’s more about being understood than being swept off your feet, and that kind of emotional pacing is rare in BL.

The countryside community plays a huge role, too. From elders to school kids, every character adds depth, making the village feel alive and essential to Yo and Jom’s growing bond.

My Sweetheart Jom is also about found family, a trope I am particularly fond of. Whether it’s Yo slowly earning his place in the village or Jom being the quiet center of his community, there’s a tenderness to how these characters care for each other. It never feels too sweet or saccharine (even when it does get a little over-the-top), it’s grounded, funny, and honest.

So far, My Sweetheart Jom is a standout because of its restraint. It’s not loud, not flashy, or super intimate, but it is full of heart. I didn’t expect to be rooting for this series so hard, but here I am waiting for the next episode.

Check it out now on YouTube.