Without a doubt, the Boys’ Love genre, also called “BL,” rose into popularity across Asia. With Thailand’s success in producing several Boys’ Love dramas, the introduction of same-sex desiring couples into mainstream media has been well-accepted by a wider audience. Its popularity has also prompted major broadcast media in the Philippines to produce our own BL series.
In case you still do not know, Boys’ Love is a romance genre between two same-sex desiring characters, particularly boys. As discussed comprehensively by McLelland and colleagues (2015), the year 1970 in Japan marked the creation of a subgenre of shoujo manga (girls’ comics) called shonen ai’ which literally translates to boizu rabu (boys love). In the 1980s, it evolved into a genre of its own through the commercialization of Yaoi doujinshis. Yaoi is a Japanese acronym for “no climax” (yama nashi), “no punch line” (ochi nashi), and “no meaning” (imi nashi). It is used as a mocking term for artists’ original works that are usually plotless and only emphasize on male-male sex. It was often associated with the homoerotic genre created by women for women.
However, as the genre evolved through the years, both its core audience and creators began to diversify. It expanded into anime, films, television dramas, audio dramas and more. Soon, the genre was adapted by various Asian countries including Thailand, China, South Korea and recently, the Philippines.
Indeed, the BL genre is slowly becoming a potential platform that breaks stereotypical gender representations and normalizes queer stories on mainstream media.
"The BL genre is slowly becoming a potential platform that breaks stereotypical gender representations and normalizes queer stories on mainstream media."
So, if you are new to BL or looking for some recommendations, we put together a list of binge-worthy series for you!
1. Gaya sa Pelikula (2020)
Argus Parsa, a BL fan, content creator and host of the BL novel writing contest Hermosa Pieza, recommends this Filipino BL series if you are seeking for proper queer representation.
Gaya sa Pelikula (2020) features the story of Vlad and Karl. It tackles issues on family pressure, identity crisis, coming out as a part of LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual+) community and financial problems, among others. This well-written series addresses the usually homophobic plotline common in BL that claims the characters are not gay but are “only gay for each other.”
"This well-written series addresses the usually homophobic plotline common in BL that claims the characters are not gay but are “only gay for each other.”
2. I Told Sunset About You (2020)
We asked BL fan and content creator Angelo, known as @angelaw_14, on TikTok for his BL drama recommendations, particularly regarding what he likes about I Told Sunset About You (2020). Angelo says that the story did a great job in tackling sensitive issues such as family-related problems. He also adds that the portrayal of body dysmorphia usually experienced by queer people is an amazing addition to the series.
Despite a lot of Thai BLs including stereotypical plotlines from heterosexual romances, I Told Sunset About You (2020) stands out from the rest. If you are looking for a realistic take on BL, this 5-episode series can definitely hook you with stories on friendship, romance, and more!
3. Gameboys (2020)
Argus Persa also recommends Gameboys (2020), another Filipino BL series. The story revolves around online live-stream gamers Cairo and Gavreel. Cairo loses a game with Gavreel and invites him to a rematch. Gavreel then confesses his feelings for Cairo, but the latter is unsure about his feelings. The story addresses the complications of relationships — from romance to family life.
4. A Man Who Defies the World of BL (2021)
This Japanese comedy series follows a self-aware protagonist who realizes that he lives inside a “world of BL.” Since he likes girls, he constantly fights back against any hot guys that might draw near and potentially start a romance plot.
A Man Who Defies the World of BL (2021) is a satirical take on common tropes of BL and is recommendable for anyone who wants to familiarize themselves with concepts of the genre. It is only 4 episodes long and 30 minutes each, making it a perfect companion for quick study breaks!
5. Cherry Magic (2020)
If you are looking for a longer Japanese BL series, this one might be for you. Cherry Magic (2020) is about a man who suddenly gains mind-reading abilities on his 30th birthday. Kiyoshi Adachi, a virgin, is ironically able to read people’s minds by physically touching them. The plot thickens when he touches his popular co-worker, Yuichi Kurosawa, and discovers that he has been in love with Adachi for the longest time. The drama has 12 episodes with 2 special episodes included. Each episode is around 25 minutes long. This series is fun yet also heartfelt.
6. The Untamed (2019)
If you like fantasy epics, historical dramas, and action wherein the romance is just a subplot, this Chinese drama might be perfect for you. The Untamed (2019) is set in ancient China and revolves around complete opposite characters named Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji. It follows their adventures as they set out to fight demons and ghosts, and deal with feuds between their clans. This series has 50 episodes in a season and is 1-2 hours long.
Chinese BL, often called Danmei, focuses on depicting beauty and aesthetics in all aspects — characters, clothing, and even environment. Due to China’s strict censorship laws on homosexual content, most of their dramas follow a heteronormative frame and rely heavily on subtle implications of romance.
7. Bad Buddy (2021)
Continuing on the enemies to lovers trope, this Thai BL revolves around childhood enemies, Pran and Pat. These two grew up as neighbors and inherited the feud between their parents, from business to trash can territories. This romantic comedy series can make you laugh and kilig at the same time! Bad Buddy (2021) is set to have 12 episodes and is currently on-going.
The series features the popular ship “Ohmnon” consisted of actors Ohm Pawat and Nanon Kirdpan. The insane chemistry between the main protagonists hooked a lot of fans and recently made the series the number one streamed drama on WeTv.
These are just some of the stories that showcase how diverse the genre has become. It continuously changes, as evident on the struggle to reach a wider audience with different views on the community, offering other forms of LGBTQIA+ representation instead of the typical comedic side character, and attempting to break gender norms. Though it is still far from perfect, the Boys’ Love genre paving the way for more accurate queer representations on mainstream media in the Philippines and Asia is a development that we truly love to see!
"Though it is still far from perfect, the Boys’ Love genre paving the way for more accurate queer representations on mainstream media in the Philippines and Asia is a development that we truly love to see!"
Graphics by: Nicole Pacardo
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