Boom's BL Ranking
A definitive ranking of every BL I've watched.
(I'm a baby BL fan -- just started watching BLs this year, but I've become fully immersed in the genre and am marathoning through them at breakneck speed! Will continue to update with every new completed BL I watch.)
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1. To My Star 2
Korean Drama - 2022, 10 episodes
At this point, To My Star 2 is the pinnacle of excellence in which all other BLs will be compared. It's almost not fair, since I don't even know if I can really classify this as a "BL." This show handles deep, meaningful, messy, adult, human emotions better than any show I've watched recently, from any country, across any genre. Hwang Da Seul and writer Park Young, along with actors Kangmin and Wooheyon created a masterpiece that will likely not get replicated for a good while.
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2. Interpret My Love With Your Heart
Thai Drama - 2020, 5 episodes
Not even sure if this can (or should, or is) classified as a BL. This is cinema. The writing, acting, music, cinematography, color grading -- it was all done with such attention, care, and love. PP and Billkin's work together, particularly in their more intimate scenes, felt so raw, vulnerable, unrehearsed, and natural. The supporting characters all were excellent. A gorgeous gorgeous story.
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3. 180 Degrees Longitude Between Us
Thai Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
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4. HIStory3: Trapped
Taiwanese Special - 2019, 20 episodes
The entire History series ranges from good to excellent, but Trapped tops the list in every aspect. Like my favorite series of all time (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), it does a brilliant job of blending genres, and manages to be stressful, dramatic, funny, tense, sexy, action packed, and hilarious without ever feeling like tonal whiplash. Jake and Chris give you wonderful performances and masterful chemistry as our two leads, and Andy and Kenny are an incredible supporting pair. Props to this show for also managing to have an ending that is both happy and sad, satisfying and realistic, even if it's not the typical "happy ending" you want.
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5. HIStory3: Make Our Days Count
Taiwanese Special - 2019, 20 episodes
Light spoilers:
I will defend the way this show ended to the grave. I completely understand how, in the context of the BL genre, the ending can feel like a gut punch, a cheat, a slap in the face to people who come to BLs to experience a certain type of sensation, but I feel like this show told a really real honest, messy story in a really beautiful way. Incredible performances. HOT.
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6. Plus & Minus
Taiwanese Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
I have never simped so hard for a pair of actors as I have with Max and Cheng Hao. A slightly higher budget and tighter storytelling could have propelled this to my #1 BL, but regardless, this is one of the most quietly sweet BLs I've watched. I really love that the guys are a little older, it tells a more "adult" story, and their chemistry is really just through the roof.
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7. Triage
Thai Drama - 2022, 13 episodes
MORE BLs with A-typical storylines! Clearly I love the genre or I wouldn't watch as many as I do, but it's so refreshing when we can leave the high school/college engineering student typical story tropes and explore some different genres. A supernatural-esque medical drama about a Doctor stuck in a Groundhogs Day scenario of needing to repeat a day over and over until he can save someone's life? The plot alone was enough to have me hooked, and the execution was done masterfully.
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8. Blueming
Korean Drama - 2022, 11 episodes
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9. KinnPorsche
Thai Drama - 2022, 14 episodes
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10. 30Sai made Doteida to Mahotsukai ni Narerurashi
Japanese Drama - 2020, 12 episodes
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11. Cherry Blossoms After Winter
Korean Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
I understand that this 10 is a bit performative. By that I mean, there are clear issues with this series. The writing is mostly good but has it's issues. The editing, on the other hand, is downright dreadful at moments. With all that being said, this is my number 1 comfort show, and the butterflies in my stomach this series produced has yet to be matched. I'd love to see these two get a second season with a higher budget, or another project together.
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12. Cutie Pie
Thai Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
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13. To My Star
Korean Drama - 2021, 9 episodes
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14. I Told Sunset About You Part 2
Thai Drama - 2021, 5 episodes
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15. Old Fashion Cupcake
Japanese Drama - 2022, 5 episodes
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16. Your Name Engraved Herein
Taiwanese Movie - 2020
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17. Love Mechanics
Thai Drama - 2022, 10 episodes
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18. We Best Love: No. 1 For You Special Edition
Taiwanese Special - 2021, 6 episodes
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19. Life Senjou no Bokura: Director's Cut
Japanese Movie - 2020
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20. Manner of Death
Thai Drama - 2020, 14 episodes
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21. Semantic Error
Korean Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
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22. HIStory4: Close to You
Taiwanese Drama - 2021, 20 episodes
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23. Mood Indigo
Japanese Drama - 2019, 6 episodes
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24. Minato Shouji Coin Laundry
Japanese Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
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25. Saebit Boys' High School Council
Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
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26. Coming Back Again
Korean Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
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27. We Best Love: Fighting Mr. 2nd Special Edition
Taiwanese Special - 2021, 6 episodes
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28. Fukou-kun wa Kiss Suru Shikanai!
Japanese Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
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29. TharnType
Thai Drama - 2019, 12 episodes
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30. TharnType 2 Special 2
Thai Special - 2021, 1 episode
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31. Senpai, Danjite Koide wa!
Japanese Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
This was a really charming story with two charismatic and adorable leads. I loved the way their relationship blossomed. SPOILER: I did think the ending (last two out of 8 episodes) was a bit underwhelming, and felt like a tacked on coda with forced discourse that didn't ring entirely true. I was also disappointed that they didn't give us a final kiss. Still, this is definitely a comfort show that I could see myself rewatching.
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32. TharnType Special: Our Final Love
Thai Special - 2020, 1 episode
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33. TharnType 2: 7 Years Of Love
Thai Drama - 2020, 12 episodes
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34. My DNA Says I Love You
Taiwanese Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
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35. Be Loved in House
Taiwanese Drama - 2021, 12 episodes
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36. You Make Me Dance
Korean Drama - 2021, 8 episodes
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37. Utsukushii Kare
Japanese Drama - 2021, 6 episodes
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38. Pornographer
Japanese Drama - 2018, 6 episodes
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39. Last Twilight in Phuket
Thai Special - 2021, 1 episode
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40. Kissable Lips (Movie)
Korean Movie - 2022
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41. Florida Banjeom
Korean Drama - 2021, 8 episodes
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42. Dark Blue and Moonlight
Taiwanese Drama - 2017, 12 episodes
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43. Tinted With You
Korean Drama - 2021, 8 episodes
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44. HIStory2: Boundary Crossing
Taiwanese Special - 2018, 8 episodes
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45. Where Your Eyes Linger
Korean Drama - 2020, 8 episodes
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46. Kimi no Koto Dake Mite Itai
Japanese Drama - 2022, 4 episodes
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47. First Love for the Third Time
Korean Drama - 2022, 6 episodes
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48. WISH YOU : Your Melody In My Heart
Korean Drama - 2020, 8 episodes
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49. HIStory2: Right or Wrong
Taiwanese Special - 2018, 8 episodes
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50. Star and Sky: Sky in Your Heart
Thai Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
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51. HIStory: My Hero
Taiwanese Special - 2017, 4 episodes
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52. Be Loved in House Special
Taiwanese Special - 2021, 1 episode
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53. You're My Sky
Thai Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
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54. HIStory: Obsessed
Taiwanese Special - 2017, 4 episodes
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55. Pornographer - Spring Life
Japanese Movie - 2021
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56. Why R U?
Thai Drama - 2020, 13 episodes
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57. Craving You
Taiwanese Drama - 2020, 10 episodes
I wanted to like this show a lot more than it did. I felt like it started and ended strong, but there was a big stretch of episodes in the middle that were just downright boring and uninspired. Cute pairing though, and props to this show for hiring an actual gay actor (even if he didn't come out until after the show finished airing).
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58. Dark Blue And Moonlight Special
Taiwanese Special - 2017, 4 episodes
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59. HIStory: Stay Away From Me
Taiwanese Special - 2017, 4 episodes
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60. Love by Chance
Thai Drama - 2018, 14 episodes
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61. Color Rush
Korean Drama - 2020, 8 episodes
I enjoyed the concept of this show a lot more than the execution. The leads didn't really have chemistry at all, and I felt like the supernatural-esque element of the show was underutilized.
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62. My Sweet Dear
Korean Drama - 2021, 8 episodes
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63. Ocean Like Me
Korean Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
Han Gi Chan became one of my favorite BL actors after watching Where Your Eyes Linger, and being paired with out gay star Holland seemed like it would be a dream. Unfortunately, there is very little redeemable about this show. Their performances are solid, there are some beautiful shots in this show, the OST is good, but the storytelling is pretty dreadful, to be honest. A waste.
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64. Check Out
Thai Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
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65. Bad Buddy
Thai Drama - 2021, 12 episodes
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66. The Circumstances of Pungdeok Villa Room 304
Korean Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
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67. Love Storm
Thai Drama - 2022, 13 episodes
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68. Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?!: The Movie
Japanese Movie - 2022
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69. Takara-kun to Amagi-kun
Japanese Drama - 2022, 8 episodes