#A First Love Story

[absolutebl]

I'm a bit lost on what to watch right now, but I have this huge gaping hole in my chest that needs to be filled with some good BLs. I absolutely adore Old Fashioned Cupcake, To My Star, We Best Love (the drunk confession scene had me reeling). I'm not a huge fan of Thai BLs, because of the way it's shot and the humour, but I did really enjoy Not Me, 1000 stars and Bad Buddy. Do you have any recs?

Prestige BL to watch RIGHT now

You said you absolutely adore:

Old Fashioned Cupcake

To My Star

We Best Love

And are not a huge fan of Thai BLs but enjoyed:

Not Me

1000 Stars

Bad Buddy

This leads me to conclude you like "prestige BL".

My Recs for Prestige BL:

Our Dating Sim, Korea Viki - might be a bit soft for you, but truly great

Our Dining Table, Japan Gaga - soft and a little slow but quality

Blueming, Korea Viki

The Eighth Sense, Korea Viki - this one, THIS ONE, this one you will LOVE, go watch it RIGHT NOW, thank me later

The New Employee, Korea Viki

Unintentional Love Story, Korea iQIYI

Roommates of Poongduck 304, Korea Viki

Tokyo in April Is..., Japan Gaga

About Youth, Taiwan Gaga - you don't list any high school stuff but this is BL so I had to include one

DNA Says Love You, Taiwan Gaga - really, trust me, make it through the first 3 eps, it's worth it

My Tooth Your Love, Taiwan Viki - the premise seems odd but it's very endearing and quite complex

A First Love Story, Korea YT - this is a Strongberry short but if you haven't seen it it's very much your style

Older stuff that May Be Your Style

Addicted: Heroin, China Viki (If you haven't seen this, it's and early BL that kinda paved the way to the style you like, so worth watching for that reason alone)

Life: Love on the Line, Japan Viki (go for the director's cut)

Restart After Come Back Home, Japan Gaga? Viki? (not sure who has this one but I think you'd enjoy it)

Long Time No See, Korea Gaga? (Strongburry's first longer offering and it's wonderful, well worth tracking down)

Where Your Eyes Linger, Korea Viki

Like In The Movies, Pinoy YT

Airing right now, Sept 2023

Might be right for you and would allow you to join in the chatter here on Tumblr

Kisseki: Dear to Me, Gaga (Taiwan, mafia, so far very good but just started)

Dangerous Romance, YT (Thai but two of GMMTV's best actors)

I Feel You Linger in the Air (historical, it's really great, Thai, hard to find in USA)

Only Friends, YT (not quite BL, very queer messy gays, Thailand's answer to Queer as Folk)

If you are willing to try some Thai BLs I suggest:

Moonlight Chicken (review here)

He's Coming to Me

The Eclipse

And if those work you could try more from this list:

Hope this gives a few things you haven't watched yet!

(source)

[chicademartinica]

BL Tumblr vote for the storyline of the next Strongberry drama ! Give the OGs of KBL some love. In Strongberry we trust.

@absolutebl @respectthepetty @petrichoraline @yemme @bengiyo

[blmpff]

A First Love Story (2021, 15min) 2/2

Korean short by Strongberry, available on YouTube (in 2 parts) and Gaga (the 2 parts as 1 episode).

Jaesung visits his boyfriend Mingyu while on a leave from his mandatory military service.

pt 1/2

[gabrielokun]

[equalv]

South Korean tv shows with lgbt* characters

Because so many people liked my post for german tv shows with queer characters, I thought I‘d compile lists for other countries as well.

A-Z

A First Love Story (2021) (mlm) | YouTube

Jaesung (Kim Hyeongwon)

Mingyu (Jung Jaewoon)

Blueming (2022) (mlm, wlw) | IQIYI

Hyeong Daun (Jo Hyukjoon)

Cha Siwon (Kang Eunbin)

Cha Siyeong (Moon Hyein)

Choco Milk Shake (2022) (mlm) | YouTube

Jungwoo (Ko Hojung)

Choco (Lee Jaebin)

Milk (Kim Seonghyuk)

Uncle (Park Seungbin)

Girlfriend Project Day 1 (2022) (wlw) | YouTube

Ahn Gain (Park Hyunwoo)

Song Heeram (Bing Hyejin)

His Man (2022-) (mlm) | IQIYI, Gagaoolala | reality tv

Season 1

Kim Changyu

Kim Seonyul

Jeon Eunchan

Lee Jeonghyun

Kim Changmin

Leon Hyukjun

Lee Hyeon

Hokeep

Season 2

Shin Sungho

Oh Minsung

Kim Yoonghee

DABIT

DAENYOL

Lee Junseong

Yang Hyunjin

Joon Seonwoo

Jazz for Two (2024) (mlm) | IQIYI, Gagaoolala

Han Taeyi (Ji Hogeun)

Yoon Seheon (Kim Jinkwon)

Seo Doyoon (Song Hangyeom)

Lily Fever (2015) (wlw) | YouTube

Kim Kyungju (Kim Hyejoon)

Jang Serang (Jung Yeonjoo)

Love Class (2022-) (mlm) | Viki, Gagaoolala

Season 1

Cha Jiwoo (Han Hyunjun)

Lee Roa (Kim Taehwan)

Kim Namjun (Yoo Hyukjae)

Season 2

Lee Hyun (J-min)

Shin Maru (Lee Kwanghee)

Oh Minwoo (Woo Hyowon)

Kim An (Kim Yongseok)

Yoo Joohyuk (An Jeonggyun)

Kim Sungmin (Jung Woojae)

Love for Love's Sake (2024) (mlm) | IQIYI, Gagaoolala

Tae Myungha (Lee Taevin)

Cha Yeowoon (Cha Joowan)

Chun Sangwon (Oh Minsu)

Ahn Kyunghoon (Cha Woongki)

Love Tractor (2023) (mlm) | IQIYI

Seon Yul (Do Won)

Suh Yechan (Yoon Dojin)

Kwon Inseo (Yang Seungbin)

Merry Queer (2022) (mlm, wlw, trans) | Gagaoolala | documentary

Kim Minjun

Park Bosung

Yoo Taeyoon

Lee Minju

Im Garam

Lee Seungeun

Our Dating Sim (2023) (mlm) | VIKI, Gagaoolala

Shin Kitae (Lee Seunggyu)

Lee Wan (Lee Jonghyuk)

Semantic Error (2022) (mlm) | VIKI, Gagaoolala

Jang Jaeyoung (Park Seoham)

Chu Sangwoo (Park Jaechan)

Choi Yuna (Song Jioh)

She Makes My Heart Flutter (2022) (wlw) | YouTube

Gangseol (Byun Jihyun)

Jung One (Park Somi)

Yubin (Choi Jiwon)

Sarang (Kang Nayoung)

Leera (Ahn Yeonsun)

The Eighth Sense (2023) (mlm) | VIKI

Seo Jaewon (Lim Jisub)

Kim Jihyun (Oh Juntaek)

To My Star (2021-2022) (mlm) | VIKI, IQIYI

Season 1 & 2:

Kang Seojoon (Son Woohyun)

Han Jiwoo (Kim Kangmin)

Our Relationship Ended Before It Began (2023) (wlw) | YouTube (only Ep 1 and 2 are available for free right now, but I still wanted to share this series (Link))

Yoonah (Park Hayoung)

Kim Ahyoung (Park Sanha)

Note: For this list, I decided not to add a symbol for shows that center queerness, because in a way all of these shows do that and at the same time almost none actually do. Queer characters and their love stories are featured in every show in this list, but most of them do not address any other queer aspects of their lives and only some address the fact that they are queer at all. This is not a critique of South Korean shows, but just an observation of their current media landscape and added as context, in case you are interested in watching.

[petekaos]

I don’t think I should let him go like this.

A FIRST LOVE STORY 2021 / 퍼스트 러브 스토리

[ealeczander]

korean bl dramas ~ part 2

thank you @happinesshobi for the suggestions 🥰 even though it was so long ago you probably forgot you did it

/ part 1 / part 3 /

[wanderlust-in-my-soul]

Currently Watching - April

I am back 😊

Because I love a good little list - in alphabetical order! 😊

Regularly updated during the month, latest update 27.04.2023

This may contain spoilers!

1. A Boss and A Babe (8/12 on Youtube)

I wasn't a big fan of ForceBook after watching Enchanté, but I really think it works in this drama. Cher is getting an internship at a gaming company. In his free time he runs an ASMR channel and the boss is a big fan of his voice (a thing I can't understand) and they start talking in the evenings so Gun, the boss, can finally manage to fall to sleep.

2. Bokura no Shokutaku aka Our Dining Table (4/10 on Gaga)

Hozumi Yutaka likes to cook and is good at it, but he can't eat infront of other people. Meeting Tane and his older brother Ueda Minoru his life seems to change and he may finally have found what his body and soul were longing for. A true comfort watch right now.

3. Happy Merry Ending (2/8 on Gaga)

As often with korean bls, this one is soooo short! Just 15 minutes per episode. But it was a good first epside. We meet SeungJun and JaeHyun and from the first moment we know that these two really find each other interesting. A wedding singer and a pianist. A wedding singer with social anxienty and trauma. I am invested!

4. My Story (2/10 on Youtube)

Every now and than I like to watch a pinoy-bl. The first episode was a mess and a bit boring, but I have a strong second-lead-syndrome! I love the secondary couple and they just slept together in one bed, but that was so cute! Looking forward to the next episodes!

5. Our Skyy 2 (2/16 on Youtube)

Can I be honest? The first story wasn't my thing. I enjoyed Never Let me Go, but this was not that good. Perhaps it was the time-travel-thing or some of the cringy dialogues...who knows. I am still looking forward to all the other episodes!

6. Step by Step (2/10 on Gaga)

Employee meets boss without knowing who he has met and crushes hard on him, just tells him what everyone thinks about the new boss and is just adorably clumsy infront of him. I like it a lot. I adore the friend group! I hope we get to see them support Pat a lot.

7. The Promise (7/10 on WeTV)

I like it. Are there cringy moments? Yes. Are there slapstick moments I can hardly deal with? Yes. Are there plotholes that bug me? Sure...but! I like it. I like Nan and Phu together and I love the slow burn and am I well entertained. I also enjoy little Party being the jealous king he is, who deeply care for Nan and if latter would choose him, i wouldn't be that angry!

8. Tin Tem Jai (8/10 on Gaga)

And we took 45 steps back and the show is kind of annoying like before...Park has no right to be this jealous...Just let Tin have a sweet first romance. You obviously can't give him what he needs or wants. Just let him date his senior...

9. Watashi to Otto to Otto no Kareshi aka Me, My Husband And My Husband's Boyfriend (4/10 on gaga)

Misaki is married to Yuuki. She nows something is off, because he doesn't really have interest in getting sexual with her. On the day before their wedding anniversary she sees him kissing a man infront of their home. It is her former student Shyuuhei, who also has a crush on her. Now they have to find a way to deal with everything. And I am on board!

10. Zenra Meshi aka Naked Dining - Love, Life and Liberation (2/12 on Gaga)

Everybody has their own way to release stress. Ichijo Futa eats naked. When he goes to his dead grandmother's house, he meets Miki Mahiro, who finds out about his eating preference. I don't know what will happen in those 12 episodes, but it is funny.

Finished in April

Series

1. Unintentional Love Story

I love this one and I will watch it again. The story is good, the acting is good too and I really liked the chemistry of the characters. It felt real and yes, I don't care about the dead-fish-kisses. Do I like them? Nope, but it doesn't smaller my joy of watching the show. I guess I just like series in general which deal with artsy stuff like pottery or books. It has quite a good vibe and a good portion of angst. Highly appreciated and recommended. A solid 9,5 out of 10 for me.

2. Bed Friend

This was a hard watch sometimes. Not just because Uea's life was really hard and full of trauma, but because he overcame his problems because he was loved by another person. Love can heal everything. That is something I don't believe and I can't tolerate in my media. Love can definitely help you, but not heal you. Uea needs help and not just the D. But this is fiction, I get it. 6 out of 10 for me.

3. Chains of Heart

This is one of the most visually stunning shows so far. Really beautiful shots and scenery. Therefor I love it. The plot was confusing in the beginning, but later on it got clearer. Mr. Lue/Din and Ken were my favorites. I loved their scenes together, especially episode 9. But the ending...I had really hoped for at least one talk between those two. Ken can be angry at him and tell him, what he needed to tell and Din could just explain himself and his actions. But no...just an open end where it is implied that they see each other again at the 7th of the 7th month...still not very happy with this ending, but I can make my peace with it...soon, I guess. Still 8 out of 10 for me.

4. The Eighth Sense

Perfection. I have nothing more to say. For me, this was one of the best I have seen so far. I have a soft spot for gay surfer dramas, so me liking this wasn't that surprising for me. But it was a really good series and I will rewatch it soon and often! 10 out of 10.

5. Destiny Seeker

This one gave me so many good, nostalgic feelings! It is such a college bl, but with a twist. And the twist is steaminess! Especially in the later episodes. Really good kisses. Besdes that I love a good enemies to lovers story and the lovers part was just so...cute! Just awww! A nice, short series, which didn't get the attention it deserves! It is a 9 out of 10 for me.

Short Film

The Summer Pasta Recipe

Hee Joon visits his ex-boyfriend Seon Woo. Together they prepare an italien pasta recipe and talk about the past and their relationship. Breakups can hurt and sometimes we need time to get over them and if we manage to look back and be okay with the past, perhaps we can hope for the other person not to forget us. In the end I feel kind of melancholic. 7 out of 10 for me.

2. S.A.M.

This is a UK production. GagaOOLala says this: "A tender exploration of love, sexuality and disability." And that is exactly what you can watch here. It is a quiet short film and shows us, that prejudices can't tell you shit about a person. 8,5 out of 10 for me.

Movie

Dropped/On Hold in April

Past Senger (7/12 on Gaga)

It just doesn't get any better. It's just boring and I don't like t that much. There are better things I can do with my time. Perhaps I'll binge it when all the episodes are out. We'll see. For now I don't want to deal with it anymore.

Looking Forward to in April (with MDL-Links)

Chul-soo (April 4th on Gaga)

Our Dining Table (April 6th on Gaga)

My Beautiful Man Eternal (April 7th / no international release date)

The Summer Pasta Recipe (April 11th on Gaga)

Naked Diner (April 14th on Gaga)

My Story (April 15th on Youtube)

A First Love Story (Finally back on Gaga on April 17th)

Step By Step (April 18th on Youtube and WeTV)

Our Skyy 2 (April 19th on Youtube)

Midnight Love (April 22nd on Youtube)

At The Moment (April 24th on Gaga)

Happy Merry Ending (April 27th)

La Pluie (April 29th on Youtube)

[ilargeicontradictmiself]

I discovered strongberry and have to commemorate it somehow so im making a list of stuff i watched

>Choco Milk Shake (1,2 so far,waiting for the rest)(oh this is light and weird and good)(i thought one of the couples was going to be choco-milk but whatever, that's a failed attempt at ignoring spoilers for you)

>A first love story (oh oh really nice wow)

>Please tell me so (at this point i am going insane this is so good)

>the summer pasta recipe (bittersweet<3)

>Long time no see chapter one (because the rest needs money, different from the previous ones i am intruiged and for what)

>Graduation, present + propose (i was a little distracted but sweet)

>trailer for one night stand, too bad i cant see the whole thing

(update)

>Hold me (my sweet heart, amazing, showstopping, neverbeen done before) (okay nojokes, i dont think i see many couples that looklike them in these stories)( and they were adorable and they were good and i yeah, my sweet sweet heart)

[negrowhat]

Ma'me...sir....my lovely....I need you to know it's your fault (affecrionate) I'm now rewatching all the Strongberry shorts, and am now overly soft over silly things like belt loops and stolen minutes behind a school.

Though it did remind me I need to finish Long Time No See, so thank you for that. I shall now go be an emotional puddle on the floor. 🥺😩

NO BECAUSE THAT ONE IN THE GIF IS AN ALL TIME FAVE BECAUSE WTF WERE THEY SO FUCKING CUTE FOR???????? And also the HEIGHT DIFFERENCE???? For that short to be shorter than 10 mins it told such a sweet story. I'm sobbing at how cute that boy is!

PSA TO ALL MY KBL FANS! GO WATCH ALL OF STRONGBERRY'S CONTENT!

[absolutebl]

In Strongberry We Trust

I had a private ask about Strongberry recently so here’s some thoughts.

Strongberry is probably the most established KBL studio, they started in high production shorts/microfilms (as, indeed, did all of KBL) and still specialize in them. They also do some GL. They tend to have very good chemistry, work with professional actors (not idols), and will go high heat. They are now a division of Matchbox, and have been around and steadily producing content since 2017. The CEO is adorable. 

For YEARS Strongberry was the only studio reliably producing BL content out of Korea. And, sometimes the kisses were even good! For real... there was a time, not so long ago, when all we really got was KBL shorts and most of those from Strongberry. Dark days. Except for Strongberry shining one bright light of BL content. They are reliable, HEA, and high quality. 

Hence the fandom slogan...

#In Strongberry We Trust

They often pick odd (or underserved) premises but always execute beautifully. Their stuff is either on YouTube, Gaga, or pay to play on Vimeo, and they do move it around so my links might not always still be working. Vimeo earns them the most money. They are a small, struggling, queer-friendly studio, please support them and their content by not pirating or watching illegally. 

Here's my ranking of Strongberry's offerings.

1. A First Love Story

2021 YouTube short in 2 microfilms 

Tropes: childhood friends to lovers, home setting, soft tone, grumpy/sunshine pairing

Strongberry are true masters of their craft and yet A First Love Story is still one of the best things they have ever produced. It’s the only microfilm every to make one of my year end top ten list. It’s two episodes of about 8 minutes each that manage to perfectly portray the sweetest friends-to-lovers confession ever. It’s joyful, and gentle with its characters, and a little hot. How on earth do they manage to leave us yearning for more yet completely satisfied at the same time? It’s like the perfect amuse-bouche, that one finger food at that one cocktail party that you will never forget. You are a ridiculous human if you haven’t spent 16 minutes with these two boys. Go watch it now. Or go watch it again. It’s time VERY well spent.

2. Long Time No See

2017 Gaga KBL length series (total 1.5 hr, some places packaged as a movie)

Tropes: secret love, enemies to lovers, secret identity, assassins, catfishing, mafia, higher heat, grumpy/sunshine pairing 

One of Strongberry’s few longer pieces and I often wonder whether this is strictly BL. It’s about assassins on either side of a terf war who fall in love not knowing they are on opposite sides. Or do they? Good fight sequences, mature characters, high heat, very suspenseful, AND an HEA. If you like KinnPorsche you will LOVE this one.

3. Some More

2018 Gaga microfilm

Tropes: friends to lovers, hyung romance, self acceptance, countryside setting, soft tone, age gap, country boy/city boy

One of my most favorite of Strongberry’s shorts, about a city boy on a bike tour who gets injured and rescued by a taciturn, but (as it turns out) very gay, farmer. Mentions of pride, adorable supportive cousin. SO CUTE with excellent chemistry and featuring tropes I can never get enough of. 

3. Private Lessons

2019 Gaga microfilm

Tropes: student/teacher, jock/nerd, hyung romance, obsession, crush, university setting, May/December, age gap  

Given it is age gap and teacher/student (AKA P’ABL’s catnip) it should rate higher on my list, but the chemistry is slightly off. Stil I do love this one for the dynamic. Certainly worth watching especially if this is one of your fav yaoi tropes.

4. Step For You

2018 Gaga microfilm

Tropes: friends to lovers, sports, university setting, crush, jock/nerd, soft tone

About a reporter from the student newspaper who has to interview an older dancer and falls in love with him. This may not have been my first Strongberry, but it’s the first one I remember watching. 

5. Please Tell Me So

2021 YouTube microfilm (AKA That's My Mr.Right!) 

Tropes: crush, obsession, cafe setting, sunshine/sunshine pairing 

Cute barista (played by Han Hyun Jun star of Love Class) has a crush on his customer, musters up the courage to ask him out. 

6. My Pistachio

2018 Gaga microfilm

Tropes: friends to lovers, crush, hero worship, hyung romance, university setting, play within a play, grumpy/sunshine 

7. As if You Whisper

2019 Gaga movie

Tropes: friends to lovers, self acceptance, music industry setting, grumpy/sunshine pairing

8. Confidential Coffee Break

2021 Vimeo microfilm

Tropes: mature romance, long term relationship, self acceptance, university setting, one act

It’s a monologue piece about two closeted older gay professors discussing changing times and the nature of acceptance (self and others) in modern day South Korean academic environment. 

9. Hold Me

2021 YouTube microfilm

Tropes: friends to lovers, self acceptance, high school setting

10. Sweet Curse 

2021 Gaga short

Tropes: horror, paranormal elements, ghost story, possession, obsession, gay friendship group, everyone wants that one boy, bad/good

This is a low-gore atmospheric horror, with some very high heat. I’m not saying it’s in the top 10 just because of that, but I am saying when Strongberry does high heat it v good and v gay. 

OTHERS

My Personal Trainer - 2019 short Gaga. It v silly and v gay. Influencer has crush on his personal trainer. 

Secret Roommate - 2020 short Gaga, Cohabit, self acceptance, home setting, family, coming out 

Fingers After - 2021 microfilm Vimeo. Cohabit, morning after, home setting, pining, sunshine/tsundere pairing. 

Secret Spectacles - 2017 microfilm Gaga. Very silly again, friends to lovers, paranormal elements, university crush.

Table Manner - 2018 microfilm Gaga. Cohabit, self acceptance, home setting, long term relationship 

The Summer Pasta Recipe - 2021 short YouTube, reunion, self acceptance, grumpy/sunshine.

There my be a few more I don’t know about, MDL doesn't seem to have a sort function for production company. 

NEW! 

Choco Milk Shake 

2022 YouTube KBL length series (total 1.5 hr) 

Tropes: cohabit, F2L, paranormal elements, home setting, soft tones, sunshine/tsundere. 

Two pets, a cat and a dog, reincarnate as humans to visit their old owner. Stongberry gave us a full length BL on YouTube! It’s a BL miracle and an endless delight. It was wonderfully cute, unexpectedly hilarious but expectedly silly, a little too poignant, occasionally gut wrenching and with a somewhat expected weird (but happy-ish) ending. The actors playing the two pets must have had the best time. As, indeed, did I watching it. Jealous Milk made me cackle so hard it scared the actual cat on my lap. Choco was perfectly cast, and the chemistry was ultimately decent. In Strongberry I still trust. Thank you thank you, may we have another, sirs?

Two Other KBL shorts worth checking out:

Just Friends? 

2009 Gaga short 

I consider this one of Korea’s first actual BLs. Boyfriends, one of whom is on military leave, trying to decide on coming out and their future together. Bonus for out gay director and queer activist. 

Being Me 

2018 short Gaga 

A summer of love for two long term besties who have basically always been boyfriends, but when a girl tries to date one of them, they finally realize it. Beautifully filmed and a STELLAR ending kiss. 

(source) 

[doorajar]

Choco Milk Shake, Ep 4, 3:40

New waiter to barrista: "What kind of draft beers do they have ?" "Asahi." Both laugh. Japan's largest brewer, as seen in Korea ?

Wow--FOOD AS MEMORY. Have we seen this before ? Heretherebedork ? ABL ?

At the end of Episode 4, my YouTube feed goes right to ... A First Love Story. Oh, Strongberry !

[bl-recs-and-reviews]

A First Love Story is a short Korean BL and I was able to watch it on YouTube. And it also has a part 2. It's a great short story! I think all totaled it was like 20/30 minutes between the two.

Thank you so much!

I'll definetly watch it!

[blmpff]

A First Love Story (2021, 15min) 1/2

Korean short by Strongberry, available on YouTube (in 2 parts) and Gaga (the 2 parts as 1 episode).

Jaesung informs his best friend Mingyu of his enlistment for mandatory military service shortly before doing so, which leads to confession.

pt 2/2

[contactlessdrivethru]

just finished opla mood

[pomidaea]

Thank you encyclopedia