It has been excruciating year, in terms of BL production. The Asian subcontinent is churning shows & movies at a speed that is incomprehensible. It could be attributed to the fact that Thailand as the largest producer of queer content has found the liberty to legalize same-sex marriage. It was difficult to choose a select few for this list; I had to let go of quite a few shows to compile this feature. But here we are, so enjoy the feast!

Me and Thee

If you want to see Pond- Phuwin in completely intriguing roles, that is different from their previous caricatures; then “Me and Thee” should be your next stop. Adapted from the novel “Me and Thee” (มีสติหน่อยคุณธีร์) by laWila (ลวิฬาร์), Pond Naravit stars as “Thee” Theerakit Kian Lee, a mafia boss who is a self-proclaimed lakorn lover. Watching soapy dramas is the only joy in his life and he determinedly uses quite a few dramatic scenes as a reference in his daily life. That is until, he meets Peach (Phuwin Tangsakyuen), an ace photographer. Thee and Peach are completely opposite. While Thee is loud and melodramatic, Peach is calm & composed. Somewhere in the midst of this ensuing chaos, they find love. The added advantage to watching this show is William Jakrapatr’s romance with Est Supha. Est stars as Thee’s right hand man, Mok and William plays his love interest, Rome (Thee’s younger brother). Their scenes are as addictive as the main couple.

Thundercloud Rainstorm

Toxic romances are on the rise, they are the recent trend. Fans are in love with protagonists who rival antagonists in most dramas. The finest example is “Thundercloud Rainstorm”. Il Jo (Yoon Ji Sung), an unfortunate illegitimate son, gets abused by his half-brother Seo Jeong In at their father’s funeral and ends up relying on his cousin, Seo Jeong Han (Jeong Ri U). One night, a drunk Jeong Han impulsively kisses Il Jo. Soon after, Il Jo is hospitalized with gallstones, and the prickly Jeong Han pays the 4-million-won surgery bill for him. Jeong Han then tells him to “pay it back with his body” and proposes a contract that basically states all of Il Jo’s rights belong to him. Jeong Han, who was always indifferent, slowly finds himself drawn to Il Jo’s innocence and desperate devotion. Jeong Han is one of the most toxic main leads, that I have seen in a long time. His push and pull relationship with Il- Jo is obsessive and uncontrollable. Their relationship unravels in a way that is quite unimaginable.

Revenged Love

Like I mentioned earlier, toxic BLs are on the rise. This was the first show to bring forth this wave. A remake of a classic bromance, fans weren’t anticipating much from this show. But the cast & crew went beyond the barriers of Chinese censorship to produce a drama that was full of homoerotic tension and clandestine romance. Born into a humble family with little financial success, Wu Suo Wei (Zi Yu) finds himself constantly insulted by his much wealthier (now-ex) girlfriend. He decides to reinvent himself and start his own business, only to constantly cross paths with Chi Cheng (Tian Xu Ning), the spoiled heir to his own family’s business. When Suo Wei finds out that his ex is dating Chi Cheng, he decides to get his revenge – by seducing Chi Cheng himself, only to fall for him in the end. Zi Yu & Tian Xu Ning have a natural chemistry that is unheard of in the Chinese entertainment industry. The budding romance between the secondary couple, Guo Cheng Yu (Zhan Xuan) & Jiang Xiao Shuai (Liu Xuan Cheng) is equally riveting. A must-watch indeed!

To My Shore

This list might seem repetitive, but you can’t fault a girl for falling in love with toxic protagonists. And Fan Xiao (Yun Qi) is the most toxic main lead, I have seen in a long time. You Shu Lang (Hao Yi Ran), a director at a pharmaceutical company, lives an ordinary, stable life. But that all comes crashing down after he gets into a car accident with Fan Xiao, the heir to a Thai conglomerate who’s returned to China for business. Unlike Shu Lang, Fan Xiao’s life has been marred by instability, leading to a twisted, manipulative worldview. Shu Lang’s kind nature draws him in but when he learns that Shu Lang has a boyfriend, he devises a scheme to tear them apart. Fan Xiao is extremely manipulative, cunning and has obsessive tendencies. It begins as mind games, but soon Fan Xiao ends up falling for You Shu Lang in real. Yun Qi excels in his portrayal of Fan Xiao, you won’t believe that this is his debut role. Hao Yi Ran gives a commendable performance and embodies Shu Lang’s varied emotions perfectly. Don’t miss out on this one!

Kill to Love

Don’t be surprised, toxic BLs are my poison. And Duan Zi Ang (Zhang Zhe Xu) really takes the cake when it comes to obsessive characters. Poor guy went from being marginalized assassin to an abandoned Prince and then a crazy Emperor. Duan Zi Ang was raised in the shadows, trained to kill without hesitation. Xiao Shu He (Mi Jin), the sixth prince of the Southern kingdom, was never meant to rule. They were childhood friends before Zi Ang’s foster family was executed. In present, they meet when Zi Ang schemes his way into the Sixth Prince’s mansion to assassinate the Crown Prince, Xiao Shu Qian (Cheng Fang). Shu He doesn’t trust him much but he can’t help feeling attracted to Zi Ang. Their tragic push and pull relationship is alluring; with Zi Ang slipping into madness when Shu He breaks up with him for assassinating his elder brother. Years later, Zi Ang conquers the Southern Kingdom, solely because he wants to reunite with Shu He. Zi Ang’s behavior borders on obsession, and he doesn’t care much about anything, except for Shu He. His entire life and ambition revolve around the person he loves endlessly. If you want angst, pain and suffering; go ahead, watch this adaptation!

Goddess Bless You From Death

Since Khemjira fared well, horror BLs are selling & they are selling well. Thup (Pooh Krittin), an orphan cursed with extraordinary senses, is drawn into investigating a mysterious murder case stretching across decades alongside the more rational thinker, Singha (Pavel Naret), who dismisses all things occult. Every five years, new victims are lured by faith—victims drawn into temples by spiritual devotion, only to be sacrificed in a sinister ritual meant to prolong the killer’s life. Despite not believing in ghosts, Singha is forced to seek guidance from his suspect turned consultant, Thup. As they unravel the mystery behind the serial murders, Singha who is suffering from a heartbreak, slowly opens up to the innocent Thup, and they start falling for each other. Pavel & Pooh’s natural chemistry shines through each scene and their team work is equally mesmerizing. The storytelling is exquisite, it keeps you hooked & entertained!

School Trip: Joined A Group I’m Not Close to

This is making waves and topping the charts. Reason-the somber chemistry between main leads, Hioki (Fujimoto Kodai) and Watarai (Kan Hideyoshi). Hioki, is a second-year high school student. Being introverted, he is mostly awkward & separated from his close friends in class. As such, he finds himself alone when it comes to deciding on groups for the upcoming school trip. Unexpectedly, he is invited by Watarai to join his group of Four Heavenly Kings. Watarai and his friends Morisaki, Nakasato and Hotto are extremely popular in the school for their handsome looks. Initially confused by the invitation, Hioki accepts it because he has no one else to turn to. But as the trip begins, Hioki realizes that Watarai is always looking out for him subtly. The show spans across their budding romance as they slowly develop feelings beyond friendship. Kodai and Hideyoshi have a sweet chemistry which is winning hearts all over the globe. Don’t miss out on this romance!

Love in the Moonlight

This was one of the most painful yet also addictive watch of this year. One 31 Thailand launched the new pairing of Peak Peemapol & Pearl Satjakorn with this show & they instantly became a hit couple. Set in 1963, following political change between Chansaeng and Nanta, Prince Saenkaew (Peak) of Chansaeng is sent to Bangkok to marry Pinanong (Perth Veerinsara)—a union that would help transfer the family’s assets to Thailand. Pin already has a huge crush on her future husband and wants to escape the chokehold of her grumpy stepmother. The marriage is just a front to hide Saenkaew’s real sexuality. He is gay and his father is afraid that the secret might be exposed. Seeing Saenkaew’s unenthusiastic attitude towards to the marriage, Pin’s elder cousin Sasin (Pearl) grows suspicious of Saenkaew. As he investigates his doubts, Sasin & Saenkaew unexpectedly end up falling in love. The rest of the story is a political turmoil, family melodrama and a huge truckload of betrayal as Sasin & Saenkaew fight for their love. Paired with an exceptional chemistry between the main leads, the storytelling was exquisite and unforgettable!

Shine

This show was like a sonnet to an age-old parody. Set against the backdrop of the political turmoil of 1969-1971, the show transverses Trin’s (Apo Nattawin) journey as he returns home from abroad. A social recluse and a man of principle, he meets two different people. One is Thanwa, a free-spirited hippie and another is his rebellious student, Victor (Peter Deriy). As he interacts with both, his live divulges into different directions. With Thanwa, he learns to live freely & speak his mind. Victor briefs him on the abysmal conditions in their country, which is under military rule. The storyline also projects his Uncle Krailert’s (Son Yuke Songpaisan) clandestine affair with news reporter, Naran (Euro Yotsawat). Krailert is a military spokesperson, but strictly under control of his superior officer. Krailert struggles with his own morals and his inability to confirm to military rule. The storytelling is crisp, and the leads have an amazing chemistry!

Memoir of Rati

Period dramas became quite a rage this year (apart from the toxic BL genre). Set in the 1915, “Memoir of Rati” is like a lovelorn letter written by the titular lead, Rati (Inn Sarin Ronnakiat). Rati is born as a commoner, but adopted by the Ambassador of France. As he returns home with his adoptive father for collaboration with the Thai government, he meets Thee (Great Sapol), a marquis in the Ministry of Education. People often gossip about Thee’s sexuality, speculating that he might be gay. The rumors are quite true as Thee falls headfirst in love with Rati on their first meeting. As he pursues Rati endlessly, they have to bridge the social divide and societal rebuttal while claiming their love with pride & certainty. GreatInn had a great chemistry and since this is their last show as an official couple, you should definitely check out the magic!

The BL Xpress Awards- Popular BL Dramas (2025)

It is that time of the year when we sit down and rewind through some of the best BL dramas, that caught our attention. It could be attributed to phenomenal storytelling, excellent scripts, beautiful settings or the exquisite chemistry between the lead pair. As such, we are back with our yearly awards, where some of the most famous BL shows in 2025 will be competing in the “Popular BL Dramas” category. Vote and show your unwavering support to your favorites!

☆☆☆ Voting lines close on 27th December, 2025 ☆☆☆