Hi everyone,
The year 2025 has officially come to a close, and so has my sojourn with The BL Xpress. Before I count down my top ten series of 2025, thank The BL Xpress for the opportunity to write for them. It’s been fun, and I got to do so many new things.
2026 is going to be a year full of new things. BL Week in Review will be moving to my Patreon account. I will continue to give regular updates. The only difference is that it will be on Sundays instead of Tuesdays. Additionally, I am starting a blog. I’ve decided to call it Memoirs of a BL Fangirl.
I look forward to sharing my world with all of you.
The live will be moving to BL Unscripted, a project I am doing with my close friend. Again, the day and time will remain the same. This week, January 6th, will be the last live on The BL XPress YouTube Channel. My friend will join me, and we will be counting down our top 10 favorite BL series of 2025, which will be at 6 PM PST.
The January 13th live will be on the new channel.
Here are the links to both:
Now, let’s do a top ten countdown. There were a lot of fabulous series this year, so it was challenging to narrow it down to ten. My criteria is entirely my opinion and is based on entertainment value first, followed by storytelling, acting, and then cinematography.
Here we go!
10th Place- Lost in the Woods
Platform: Gagaoolala, VIU Thailand
Country: Thailand
Episodes: 7
Length: 1 hour
My Rating: 8.8/10 stars
Genre: Drama, coming of age
The premise isn’t entirely unique, but they did an outstanding job bringing it to life. Fifa wants to go to Japan to study, but his family has other plans, so he is sent to an elephant sanctuary to prove his worth. There, he meets Hem and learns the lessons of what it is to grow up.
● Beautifully crafted.
● NOTE: This is a slow-burn. The romance is subtle, which frustrates some.
● I’m glad the team was always mindful of the age gap between Fifa and Hem.
● The tasteful ending hinted that, after Fifa’s dream, he would return.
● Could we have a season 2 with that return?
● Note: This series has been added to my #BLWatchlist. I recommend it.
● Pair with something sparkly and watch on a nice spring day.
9th Place- Reset
Platform: IQIYI
Country: Thailand
Episodes: 10
Length: 1 hour
My Rating: 8.8/10 stars
Genre: Drama, Fantasy
This series surprised me with its execution. I loved Pond as Armin. Also, Tada is everyone’s dream date. The premise is complex and well-executed. Armin is a renowned actor at the height of his career, with a boyfriend whom he adores. On the night of a big award ceremony, he catches his boyfriend cheating, falls off a banister, and gets transported to a different time.
● I can’t believe Bom, the actor who played Thiwthit, was also Thi in I Will Knock You. The contrast is startling!
● Armin and Thada are so believable. Some of the things the actors said helped me understand. They got so immersed in these roles!
● The pacing is excellent. They did a great job with the storytelling.
● I feel like this series would pair well with a day full of rich treats. You could even invite friends and make it a party.
8th Place- That Summer
Platform: YouTube
Country: Thailand
Episodes: 10
Length: 1 hour
My Rating: 8.8/10 stars
Genre: Romantic Drama
Sometimes, we just need a break from real life, and That Summer fits the bill. The mood feels nostalgic, the premise is fairy-tale-like, and the side characters enhance the vibe. I loved that I could disconnect and enjoy this series.
Anyway, the premise is classic and timeless. Lava is a troublemaker and is sent to an island to live with his uncle by his mom in the hopes that he will turn his life around. One ordinary day, he finds a boy washed up on the shore.
● They did a great job with the pacing.
● Satang and Winny made Lava and Wave so believable.
● The beach and the lighting enhanced the warm, soothing vibe.
● Watch if you need a little romance in your life.
● It would pair with a marguerita and a moment when you need a little summer in your life.
● This is a series to chill with.
7th Place- Perfect 10 Liners
Platform: YouTube, WeTV/Tencent
Country: Thailand
Episodes: 24
Length: 1 hour
My Rating: 8.8/10 stars
Genre: Romantic drama, College
Perfect 10 Liners was such a surprise in the way they brilliantly wove three stories together while still giving everyone time to shine. I admit, Faifa and Wine stole my heart, but the entire cast gave something special.
The story begins when Arm draws a lot and gets into a group of exclusive peer mentors that call themselves Perfect 10 Liners. There, he meets Arc, the rude third-year who’s only desire is to be left alone.
Gun is terrified of the dark. Yotha has past trauma. They become roommates and have to learn to live with each other.
Wine becomes the latest member of Perfect 10 Liners. He keeps running into Faifa, Yotha’s brother. Faifa can’t say no.
● For fans in the West, we don’t have a system where people who are assigned the same line code as us mentor us. Still, I think it’s a cool idea.
● Caution: You might just fall in love.
● Faifa and Wine stole my heart.
● Junior’s acting was nuanced. His micro-expressions brought Faifa to life in a way that was so believable.
● Of course, this wouldn’t have been possible without Mark, whose character was so relatable.
● This series is now going on my comfort series watch list.
● It had brilliant storytelling with every couple getting their moment.
● Get cozy with snacks, a drink, and a blanket for a weekend (or two) of romance.
6th Place- 10 Things I Want to Do Before I Turn 40
Platform: Gagaoolala
Country: Japan
Episodes: 12
Length: 30 minutes
My Rating: 8.8/10 stars
Genre: Romance
This series was refreshing and adorable. I loved the pacing and the characterization. It was a lovely treat.
The premise is that office worker Tojo Suzume is stuck in life. All he does is go between work and home. So, one day, he decides to make a list of things to do before he turns 40. His coworker sees the list and promises to help him.
● Kazama Shunsuke is an adorable man.
● I loved the realistic portrayal of people trying to navigate office life and relationships where there is a power imbalance.
● This series has a nice balance of positive and negative emotions.
● Pair it with Takoyaki and your favorite plushie toy
● Now, I know I gave the last four series the same overall score, so the order is based simply on my enjoyment level.
5th Place- ThamePo Heart that Skips a Beat
Platform: YouTube, Netflix
Country: Thailand
Episodes: 13
Length: 45 minutes
My Rating: 9.2/10 stars
Genre: Idol Romance
Every episode had elements of peak romance. It was a well-written story with plenty of heart, and I ate up every episode. The series starts with Po being asked to document Mars’ final concert, where he comes into close contact with Thame, the band’s lead singer. Over time, he discovers that Thame doesn’t want the band to break up.
● The cinematography, coloring, and editing were beautiful.
● William’s and Est’s chemistry exploded off the screen.
● Great soundtrack. There are 3 songs on my 2025 favs playlist.
● The acting is natural and absorbing.
● This series will be enjoyable any day of the week, but particularly when you need a bit of classic romance infused into your life.
4th Place- My Magic Prophecy
Platform: YouTube
Country: Thailand
Episodes: 10
Length: 45 minutes to 1 hour per episode
My Rating: 9.2/10 Stars
Genre: Comedy, romance, drama, fantasy
I knew this show would be good because it’s JimmySea. What I didn’t expect was that their acting would level up again! I laughed. I cried. It was a joyful ride.
Inthu can see people’s deaths by touching them for those whom he’s close to. So when he starts seeing the future of a random doctor, he’s very confused, but feels a need to help. Dr. Thap doesn’t believe in fortune telling, so when their world scollide, explosions are inevitable.
● They bring both animosity and hilarity to the screen in equal measure. I believed every moment of their story.
● It grabbed me right away. As a binge, be prepared with food and drink lined up; you have 10 hours ahead of you, where you probably won’t be able to put it down.
● This is a series for those who want to laugh and cry at the same time. If you want to melt into a puddle and yell at a character in equal measure. It is a journey worth taking.
3rd Place- Punks Triangle
Platform: Gagaoolala
Country: Japan
Episodes: 8
Length: 25 minutes per episode
My Rating: 9.2/10 Stars
Genre: Comedy, romance, drama
If you asked me before I started this series whether I thought two people holding hands could be sensual, my answer would have been no. It’s cute to see, but nothing to write home about. This show changed my mind.
Sumiura Chiaki is an awkward teen who discovers the power of fashion when he sees the famous model AE walking the runway for the first time. He vows to become a fashion designer and that one day AE will wear his design on the runway. His dreams seem about to come true when the fashion school he goes to announces a contest where AE will wear the winning design in a fashion show. Unfortunately, he is paired with clumsy Enaga.
● I wrote a lovely review of this series on my Patreon.
● This series gets a standing ovation from me. It was so well done.
● The acting is incredible.
● The editing and camera work are beautiful.
● Love it. It’s worth watching.
● It pairs with a nice box of chocolate, a beverage, and your favorite pajamas for a casual weekend watch.
2nd Place- Shine and The Heart Killers
I couldn’t pick between Shine and The Heart Killers. They are both excellent for different reasons, so they tied for second.
Shine the Series
Platform: WeTV, aka Tencent in the USA
Country: Thailand
Episodes: 8
Length: 1 hour per episode
My Rating: 9.6/10 Stars
Genre: Politics, Romance
Set against the backdrop of the late 1960s, this series focuses on Trin, a straight-laced professor, and Thanwa, the free-spirited hippie he’s attracted to.
● This series was a feast for the emotions, the eyes, and the soul that I won’t be forgetting any time soon.
● Beautifully acted. Achingly told. Stunning cinematography.
● Watch the Orchestric version for uncut.
● Standing ovation.
● Check it out! There are quite a few titles that are only available on WeTV that could make a month subscription worth a large binge fest. Examples include: Top Form, Knock Out, Manner of Death, and The Bangkok Boy.
● It would pair nicely with a touch of Scotch and a dinner from a different era.
The Heart Killers
Platform: IQIYI, YouTube, Viki, Gagaoolala
Country: Thailand
Episodes: 12
Length: 1 hour per episode
My Rating: 9.2/10 Stars
Genre: Comedy, romance, action
Bison falls for Kant, but there’s just one hitch. Bison can’t date until his older brother, Fadel, does. They conceive of a plan to get Kant’s crazy friend Style to convince Fadel to date him.
● This series is Boys’ Love meets The Taming of the Shrew. YAY, SHAKESPEARE!
● It is a unique blend of comedy, action, and thriller.
● Trigger warning. After all, it is about hit men.
● Fadel, Style, Kant, and Bison took us on a wild ride
● Pair this series with your craziest cocktail and plenty of time, because you won’t want to put it down.
I’m not entirely sure first place needs much introduction. It really was all the rage when it aired, with trending numbers in the tens of millions. I saw it at the top of so many people’s lists, and it makes sense.
First place is:
Khemjira
Platform: IQIYI
Country: Thailand
Episodes: 12
Length: At least 1 hour per episode
My Rating: 10/10 Stars
What can I say? This series had me in its grip the entire time it was airing. It had a compelling start and a lovely ending. All of the middle bits were solid storytelling.
This series follows the journey of a boy, Khemjira, who has to overcome his Karma and fate before his 21st birthday. He finds help and love along the way.
● Yes, there are horror elements. Watch episodes 1 and 2 in the morning. After that, you should be fine. It’s more supernatural than horror.
● Episodes 8 and 12 are 2-hour movies, so don’t forget your favorite snacks.
● There are a few NC scenes.
● Betel nut is what causes the stain on people’s teeth in the series.
● The series draws from Thai spiritual traditions and historical events.
● Watch if you enjoy a supernatural journey that spans multiple lifetimes.
Happy New Year, everyone, and happy watching. Be sure to follow me on Patreon as I continue this 2026 journey on BL Week in Review!
The BL Xpress 