BEST BL and GL of 2024 with

[@Greywaren96]

My hidden gem is Monster Next Door, literally my favorite BL of the year

[@marieschmidt1262]

*BL TOP 10* For me ranking this years show was hard. I watched a total of 66 BL’s in 2024, and up until May I literally had no potential shows that in my mind would, could or should end up in my top10. So many mediocre shows, so much uninspired writing, too many tropes being reused, so many shows that were okey and left me feeling entertained - but just didn't leave me with that exciting feeling. But I did manage to put a list together, that I'm okey with. Allthough tbh their indivindual ranking is for the most part interchangeable. 1. Meet You At The Blossom: Objectively this show probably shouldn't be on the top of my list, but reality is, that this show was the one that excited me most this year. I was truly excited about tuning into each week. I couldn't get enough. It was my first Chinese historical drama, lakorn/soap opera-style (I haven't watched The Untamed), and I was really amazed about the cinematography, the sound, the clothes. Everything was gorgeous. And the "magical elements" I usually find teedious, was used very well. And even though it dragged some of the plotlines, the story was really good. And the chemistry between the main leads was amazing! 2. Unknown: For the longest time this was the only show I actually felt would end up on my top10 list. Everything else was just not good enough, and so I did start to wonder, if I actually liked the show for itself or if it was just a matter of everything else sucking. But I absolutely loved it. The development of our main leads relationship from "siblings" with a parental relationship to lovers was done really respectful and with a great portray of real life emotions, when these taboos happen. And it does happen. 3. 4 Minutes: This show was the one that generated the most debate and discussion this year, a lot of theories, and interpretations and as such it has to be this high on the list. The story was intriguing and confusing at times, a real mystery. Many got frustrated and confused by the way they told the story, the actual construction of the story telling and development, but I felt like they developed it naturally, without giving the gag away. The only issue for me was that the second couple was far more exciting that the main couple, but I'm not gonna hold that against the show. 4. Love Is Better The Second Time Around: This Japaneese show really made me feel good. Two former teenage boyfriends get a second chance ten years later after being torn apart because their families won't accept them. It's about mending a broken heart and healing abandonment trauma. What's not to like? 5. Blossom Campus: For some reason many didn't seem to like this show, perhaps because it was to campy. The story itself has been told before, a serious student meets a happy go lucky guy, who doesn't really take life to serious - and as a result his emotional walls break down and he learns to enjoy life and fall in love. But I really enjoyed myself watching it. It was cute, sweet and fun. And sometimes it's just nice to watch something like that, something that doesn't require to much brain cells. And the cute poppy-like main lead was just adorable. 6. Last twilight: This show was hard to rank. On one hand, it was one of the most incredible shows I've ever watched, it had the potential of being in the top of the ultimate top tier list. But on the other hand, they unfortunely ruined the ending and the whole premis and the message of the show in the last two episodes. I've never felt so betrayed and dissapointed by a show ever. And so I was actually thinking about not adding it to the list at all, but I can't in good conscience leave it out. Because up until ep10 it was flawless. So let's all just pretend it was a 10 episode series, okey? 7. My Stand-In: This was also hard to rank. When I watched it, I was really excited, I liked the body swap story and the idea of the main leads falling in love again as someone else. So my inital opinion was that it was gonna be in my top3. However as I've been able to reflect on it since it ended, there are a few things that doesn't sit well with me and annoy me - both in the way the story was told and the development of the romance. So I can't rank it higher than at 7. 8. Century Of Love: I started watching this only for DaouOffroad. I watched their first show together last year, and I loved their chemistry. But I actually really liked the story. I'm not usually a fan of time travel or sci-fi elements, it usually come of as lazy writing for me, but in this show they used it to their advance - having a person undergo societal and cultural changes in regards to their view on sexuality. 9. At 25:00 In Asaka: This show was just a good story. It's about a former college friend turned into an idol crush. However with a twist. 10. The Sign/Battle Of The Writers/Jack&Joker/Pit Babe: I'm gonna cheat here and group these four together. I don't think any of these four shows are good in quality. However all four couples BillyBabe, TutorYim, YinWar and PoohPavel have so much chemistry that I tuned in to watch them through the most ridiculous and nonsensical crap. And I am not even sorry about it. • If "See Your Love" and "Our Youth" had finished in 2024 it would probably have changed this list completely!!! *LGBTQ TOP 5* So for years I have heard people make the distinction between BL's and LGBTQ-stories, but in my opnion it's been more of an "acadamic" discussion. I understood the premis of the discussion, but to me I've considered them all BL stories on a spectrum. Maybe because the shows that were mentionshed as LGBTQ-stories didn't actually feel that different from BL's as people seemed to suggest (like Manner of Death, I Told Sunset About You, and Moonlight Chicken). But in 2024 I finally got it. There IS a difference. BL's may show a boys love story, but they do not portray "gay" life experience. And while some BL's do have elements of LGBTQ representations or discourses (like the shows mentioned above), as a whole they do not portray gay life. And as a result of that realisation, I have decided to devide my list in two: A BL-top10 and a LGBTQ-top5 - because it feels wrong to rank them against each other, now that I fullheartedly understand and see the difference. 1. Love In The Big City: We follow the life of a gay man, living his life with ups and downs, navigating love, sex and a religious mother. This show deserves all the awards! 2. Smells Like Green Spirit: An wonderful, uplifting and heart breaking show about a femme boy living in the country side in the 90's, secretly cross dressing at home at night - but who dreams of the freedom he thinks the big city can offer him. It has feel good, tragic and yet very reel endning. 3. Let Free The Curse Of Taekwondo: An amazing show about two teenage boys who finds happines with each other in the midst of a life with child abuse, but they are torn away from each other due to bad choices on boths part. 4. Happy Of The End: A very dark and hard to watch show about two guys living a life on the dark side of the law, but finds happiness with each other. 5. I'm gonna cheat here. Since this is the first time I've done a seperate LGBTQ representation list, I have to mention Myeong Gyon & Yeong Jun (from His Man 3) and how they meet on a dating show a year after breaking up, having to deal with the reality that one had ended their relationship by ghosting the other; and DaiShun (from The Boyfriend) who met each other on a dating show, being very different people, but so drawn to each other that they had to give each other a honest chance and their journey as a couple was/is incredible to watch. BEST NC SCENE* : I am not one of those who shy away from the fact that I enjoy NC scenes in my BL's, and I don't see why it should be considered almost a guilty pleasure to enjoy them? Also, some of these actors work hard on those scenes - so I'm purposly calling them out. *TutorYim* and their "double" NC scene in ep 9 of Battle Of the Writers was just amazing - they do two very erotic scenes back to back (pun not intented, lol). Funny enough, they also did my favorit NC scene last year (in Cutie Pie 2). They have this amazing balance between being shy and coy and at the same time hungry and horny. GUILTY PLEASURE/HIDDEN GEM: Caged Again. A penguin and a black panther turned human fall in love and fight an illegal animal traficcing ring. The main couple is so cute, it's hard to handle and their chemistry is incredible.

[@FemmesReact]

Thank you for the list! You've watched so many BLs!

[@marieschmidt1262]

@@FemmesReact For real! I sometimes wonder where I find the time? 😂

[@AnnaClara-lx7bq]

Ayaka is in love with Hiroko mentioned 🎉🎉

[@cosmo4792]

we love to see only boo appreciation

[@user-luciddream]

my top shows are probably love for loves sake, jack & joker, dff (wasn't sure if it was 2024 but topher mentioned it so i will too) and pluto. i have criticisms of pluto but i was just so invested and namtanfilm has me in a chokehold so ive got to mention it. not technically a bl but it kind of is. high school frenemy was probably my favourite show but its only a honorary bl so it gets an honorable mention.

[@eah4452]

i also loved the camera work in Blue Canvas!

[@FemmesReact]

It’s so unique and emotive!

[@anastasiaterry3639]

Last year Mew & Tul got engaged in real life. I hope they the best they just went to Iceland. I'm just so happy for now. I hope they have a beautiful wedding 🤵🏻🤵🏻 Well that's mines❤

[@atwtfan1]

I ended up having 13 BL's that I watched over and over/loved. 1.4 Minutes 2.Unknown 3.Love in the Big City 4.Spare me your mercy 5. The On1y One 6.See Your Love 7.Let free the curse of taekwando 8.Our Youth 9.This love doesn't have long beans 10.Happy of the end 11.Wandee Good Day 12.Your Sky 13.My Stand In. I enjoyed this year-end review. I'm going to add the BL I shouldn't like but I do: Double Exposure. 🤷‍♀🤷‍♀

[@TrineMortensen]

I think my two guilty pleasures of 2024 was City of Stars and Monster Next Door.. I really liked the storylines in both shows and I didn't really go into them with any expectations.. Also I didn't really know any of the actors so it was really nice with some fresh faces..

[@FemmesReact]

So many shows I wasn’t aware of!

[@TrineMortensen]

@FemmesReact I can really recommend both.. City of Stars was really a joy.. I almost forgot I watched it, because I watched soo many shows.. But right away when I remembered it I remember exactly what is was about, so I take that as a good sign 😊 It also have amazing charaters that actually communicate 😉 Monster Next Door was really just a cute show tbh and I feel like it really took up some important topics, and so did City of Stars 🥰

[@VixenByNight72]

@TrineMortensen Loved "City of Stars"!! That series IS still very topical regarding how the personal lives of performers in ANY entertainment industry should have some limits from being explored by their so-called "fans".

[@TrineMortensen]

@VixenByNight72 Yes that's why I really liked it.. They handeled the whole idol story so well 😊

[@ceeaich]

Loved Monster Next Door! Cute and simple story ❤

[@kiara-yd5vv]

can someone tell me what is a mask character? what is she talking about here 1:23:50? my top 3 GLS: the loyal pin the secret of us affair best main couple goes to FreenBecky side couple Aylin Luna ViewJune hidden gems 23.5 and chaser game w

[@FemmesReact]

@@kiara-yd5vv Kayla means ‘masc’ as in masculine.

[@kiara-yd5vv]

@@FemmesReact oh got it

[@nangnono8991]

I feel like this should be titled ‘Favorite BLs and GLs,’ not ‘Best,’ because there’s no way Last Twilight wouldn’t be on the list, even if some people disliked the ending (which I personally loved). This feels more like a list of favorite couples rather than the actual best shows.

[@jsxhyz]

Yeah i also think so. Last Twilight was one of the best thing happened in 2024 and the fact that this series made me loved jimmysea 🫶🏻

[@ging9019]

I'm currently obsessing with Thamepo so I finally understand Kayla & I haven't watch the series that Topher kept on bringing but I understand him 😅

[@NduhMrsKimXiao]

Jack & Joker and We Are are the only Bls which truly stuck with me ...i can never move on from them

[@eah4452]

YES! Pit Babe! So happy to see some Pit Babe love! That's my top 1. I also love The Heart Killers, First Note of Love, Dead Friend Forever, Love for Love's Sake, and We Are, oh and also Happy of the End!

[@FemmesReact]

Omg ain’t gonna stop, ain’t gonna stop 🤣

[@user-luciddream]

i agree that we need to mix up the couples from time to time because ngl some couples get boring after a while. my ghostship was view and bonnie during high school frenemy. i think we need more ambiguous or open endings. not everything needs to be tied up with a neat little bow. in general, less reliance on the familiar tropes and format or structure is what i would like.

[@VixenByNight72]

My Top Favorite BL/GL Couples of 2024: 1. Kang and Moo from Only Boo 2. Junior and Sun from Caged Again 3. Minase and Hirukawa from Our Youth 4. Itsuki and Fuyu from Chaser Game W and Chaser Game W2 My Top Favorite BL Side Couples of 2024: 1. Jaonine and Nokia from Knock Knock Boys! and Caged Again 2. Sailub and Pon from PitBabe 3. Ahn Se Min and Jung Yeo Joon from Boys Be Brave My Top Favorite Hiddens Gems of 2024: Chaser Game W2 Love Is Like A Poison Reverse 4 You Knock Knock Boys Monster Next Door

[@FemmesReact]

The side couple from Boys Be Brave deserve more screentime!!!

[@sukorn5701]

I recommend " High School Frenemy"

[@sukorn5701]

Nobody talk about "Last twilight " that is good story and touching. I know some of you bias Thai BL and GMMTV BL(the reactors who put glasses are very bias), Even though Thai BL , GMMTV, Thai BL company, Thai entertainment try a lot to help to drive BL industry to be known to the world to be openly LGBT all over the world, even Muslims country that we have fan from Muslim also. It's not only commercial, But some Thai BL is touching heart also. and want people around the world look gay or boy love couple are normal things

[@eah4452]

my fave ships were CharlieBabe, FadelStyle, JohanNorth from Fourever You, and MinQ

[@AskMe-fl2sm]

For me,I don’t have top 10 bls bcz not one bl hitting me hard. Highschool frenmy is the only one that gave me evrything i’m looking in a bl drama.so all top 10 positions belongs to high school frenmy for me.

[@jaylin7457]

You should count "High School Frenemy (version Thai)" is BL ,also. Because Plot, Story, Romance, Skinship , It's a such very good plot of BL. And For me High school frenemy is the best BL 2024

[@asmart7101]

Spare me your mercy

[@marieschmidt1262]

Before I give you *my* Best of 2024, I have to share my thoughts on The On1y One - obviously everyone is entitled to their opinion, at the end of the day it's about individual taste, which can't really be compared - I just think it's really interesting how we as audiences can percieve and interpret shows so differently. So in my opinion, The On1y One is the most homophobic show I've ever watched! We have two couples. Our main couple, who in my opinion at no point shows any type of attraction or lingering feelings towards each other, at best it's a bromance, if even that. The second couple is the teachers, who I thought up until ep10 was already an established couple living in the closet, due to work, and that their story was about coming out(going public. In stead we get a half told story about nothing and them meeting somewhere in Europe. So we litterally have no BL plotline in the entire series! But what really pissed me off was the plot line about Tian's dad. Through the whole show he's being portrayed as an abusive and absent dad, someone both Tian and his mom is scared of, we even see Tian with cigerette marks on his back, insinuating the dad was violent. But it turns out it was all about the dad having an affair with a man, and so now they hate him and portray him as abusive, when in fact the cigerette burn was just an accident. He wasn't abusive, he was just gay. What in the h*ll kinda BL story is that? No. Just no. I was actually disgusted by the show!

[@ceeaich]

This was a great long conversation (much love), so there’s so much I could comment but the only thing in my head are the words “Gameboys NYC” whhhaaaaatttt….????!!! 😎🥹