Queer Ranking of LGBTQ & BL Series: S Tier

This drama, about the impermanence of everything in life, is at turns adorably tender, devastatingly beautiful, tragically heartbreaking, achingly melancholic, and sharply hilarious. It always feels mature and real in a very literary way (compare to So Long, See You Tomorrow (2021)): it uses unrealistic language to express deeper truths about the reality of life. The story and writing capture the spirit of being a gay twenty-something (not only for experiences I actually had, but also for experiences I didn't have), presenting a full salad of emotions - just like life - in its examination of how our lives are always filled with endings and beginnings, and of where suffering comes from in relationships (compare to Happy Together (1997), but this series goes much farther). Cinematography is always polished and occasionally stunning (e.g. as in the end of ep. 4 and middle of ep. 5); it varies between episodes according to the director, each of whom brings their own unique artistic flair (e.g. the use of longer takes in ep.s 7-8). Perhaps because of this, the production feels as if it were a series of four ~2-hour movies, rather than a more conventional 8-episode kdrama; I think this creative choice makes the series more interesting. The soundtrack is beautiful (and scored more like a film than a conventional kdrama), with great balance between music and silence.

I recommend this drama to anyone looking for a deep "realness" in depicting all the joys, pains, and resentments of gay life. This series extends the trail blazed by Life Is Beautiful (2010) for gay storytelling & representation in k-dramas - something no other higher-budget k-drama has done during the fourteen years between these two series.

Strong story, stylish graphics, amazing cinematography (with some stunning  framing and lighting and color grading, handheld shots, and use of aspect ratios). This series covers heavy topics (depression, abuse, bullying, homophobia, self-love), but it's also so freaking cute (especially the way Cha Yeo Woon smiles at Tae Myung Ha omg)!! It's like a tonal/stylistic/thematic cross between Our Dating Sim (2023), Semantic Error (2022), and The Eighth Sense (2023). This is embodied in its hybrid of a BL world and a more realistic world, and in the delightfully surprising introduction (from a more traditional k-drama production style) of sequences with a more indie-horror style (like in Kiss of the Rabbit God (兔兒神) (2019)) in the middle of the series accompanying a big shift in the tone of the story. In the way it synthesizes and extends the kinds of ideas seen in those earlier series, Love for Love's Sake stands out as a a unique creative work.

Personally speaking, it was quite unsettling to see many of my thought patterns (not just in 2023, but also over the past 15 years)  reflected in Tae Myung Ha's behavior and choices. While The Eighth Sense made me feel seen in my emotional struggles, Love for Love's Sake seems to hold up a mirror to me and ask me to show myself more self-compassion; no other show has felt like it was designed to speak to me quite so directly.

I recommend this for anyone who wants a series with both cuteness overload and a thoughtful and thought-provoking story; and also for anyone who enjoyed The Eighth Sense. This series has enough depth to the storytelling that it should be watched multiple times for full appreciation.

This gorgeous series feels like a indie queer film production in the artistry of the cinematography, in the strong creative voice of the writing, and in the musical direction of the soundtrack. Despite care given to the production, sometimes the transitions between scenes are a bit awkward - but in an endearing lower-budget indie way. I love the subtle and naturalistic way this series depicts mutual attraction, desire, and angst through the acting and the directing. A few things are wrapped up somewhat suddenly and neatly in the ending, but the show's treatment of trauma and depression stand out above all else (though a series released the following year, Love for Love's Sake (2024), also tells a deep and compassionate story about depression and self-love).

I would recommend this series for someone who wants a story which puts mental health front-and-center, which knows what it wants to say and how it wants to say it.

This beautifully melancholic and gentle little series thoughtfully reflects on death, loss, memory, and grief. Here, queerness appears as a quiet troubling of the categories of "alive" and "dead", a stepping-outside of the accepted progression of time, an embodied heterotopia - but also only a transient refuge before returning, transformed, to this world. In the process, the death of a loved one becomes refigured as a way for the departed to tenderly embrace and guide those left behind.

I would recommend this for anyone who needs to feel affirmed in their experience of grief.

A glorious comedy with a hilarious and unique premise, snappy banter and directing, great friendships, and an nuanced exploration of queer spaces as well as differences across generations of queer people. I was wheezing with laughter throughout this series. The approach to the plot was also refreshing, where the development of a romantic relationship was just one part of the characters' many-faceted stories through the series - rather than being the sole reason for the story. It actually makes the romance even more compelling, although I now feel more single than ever.

I recommend this for anyone who wants a hilarious yet thoughtful lesbian romcom.

A really meaningful series which subtly portrays the insecurity and drama of early-twenties young adulthood. The slow-burn romance is funny, cute, and tender. The actors deliver solid performances; the little sister has a really cute and funny dynamic with her brother and girl crush with one of the side characters. Cinematography is occasionally exceptional, but it's generally good and vibe-y; a few scenes have amazing color treatment and lighting is always thoughtful. Some scenes seem to have been cut because a few other scenes seem to refer things which were not introduced, but the series's clear creative voice shines through despite these small nitpicks.

I would recommend this as a mature and healing story about insecurity and childhood traumas; about filmmaking; and about vulnerability and self-love.

A fresh story with relaxed pacing, a cute and mature slow-burn romance, an appropriate amount of humor, and good production. Characters are lovely, and they undergo meaningful development. And the characters and their relationships come to life through the show's portrayal of how they are embedded in their community. This series, in its look at social issues beyond LGBTQ topics, partially sits within the BL genre but also shows how an LGBTQ series can expand the bounds of what "BL" can be without necessarily aligning with or trying to transcend the genre. The perfect mix of humor, tenderness, cuteness, slow-burn romance, and drama. This series embodies the spirit of loving and caring for people and the land.

I do have some questions about ethics and responsibility of how the show represents indigenous cultures in rural communities (in this case, an Akha village), as well as how it frames the experience of short-term volunteering in these communities by outsiders.  But the fact that this drama has a sensitive-enough treatment of the subject matter, that it portrays depth and complexity in the local villagers, that it actually raises some of these questions itself (e.g. about Tian's saviorism, carelessness, and unintended consequences), shows the quality of the writing, direction, and production of this series.

The drama towards the end of this series offers an interesting prompt to think about causing harm, building accountability, and learning to forgive oneself. I've never seen such a nuanced exploration of key ideas of transformative justice in a TV series. It makes sense that this comes up in a show based on the relationships people have as a community.

I would recommend this for someone who wants to watch a show with a romance whose story and drama revolves not around the romance itself or relationship insecurities, but around being/becoming a member of a community and growing together. And also a bit of a tearjerker.

Gorgeous cinematography, amazing acting, poetic story. The storytelling offers a tender and breathtaking exploration of friendship, young love, and self-discovery, as well as an intense and heartwrenching drama about the struggles of coming of age and first love.

I would recommend this as a show for someone who wants to see filmmaking elevated to artistry in Asian LGBTQ-related genres, or for someone who wants to watch a cinematic masterpiece with a coming-of-age story.

Being single past 30 is (not entirely) jokingly seen as "gay death" in the US; and with "boys' love" as a genre dominated by stories about high schoolers or university-age students, this refreshing story stands out for a quirky plot point: the main character gains the magical power of mind-reading because he is still a virgin past 30.

Following the adorkable main character as he adjusts to his newfound powers, the show takes a hilarious  and heartwarming look at social anxiety, self-esteem and insecurity, and the gap between how we perceive ourselves and how others perceive us; and delivers it through cute and funny characters. Bonus points for an ace/aro side character and a sweet love interest who looks like a daddy salaryman version of Monsta X's Wonho! With a very unique and well-written plot and good production, this show is a joy to watch, and it carries affirming messages and a nice commentary on society.

I would recommend this for someone who wants a warm and wholesome BL comedy with a good heart and, great production, and good acting/writing which reflects manga-esque stylistic conventions (e.g. exaggerated emoting for comedic effect).

This is a series which was created by LGBTQ people, for LGBTQ people (and everyone else too), and it shows in the dialog, the characters, the themes explored by the writing, and the thoughtful treatment of the conflicts which the characters face. I would consider it as the best parts of BL combined with the best parts of indie gay media; and a hybrid of of romcom, drama, and realism. The emotional core of the story is about growing up and coming into identity, and the drama around this is executed heartwrenchingly and beautifully. This show is the kind I yearned for and never got to see as a gay asian american teenager growing up in Michigan, and I hope we'll see future shows following in the trail this series has blazed.

There's never a dull moment in this series. The dialogue and character interactions in this series are so well-written, and together with the acting you can see the foibles and growth of the characters. Code-switching in the dialogue is used in an interesting way with respect to class and identity. Shots are thoughtfully planned and well executed. Similarly, the beautiful soundtrack is used judiciously to take the emotional tenor of the scenes to the next level.

I would recommend this as a first Asian LGBTQ series to watch for someone who has watched non-Asian LGBTQ media, or for someone who wants a show that is true to the joys and struggles of being queer in the real world.

This is an innovative show which combines BL genre conventions with interesting characters, an unconventional interaction between the BL plot and current events, and really creative filming under the constraints of COVID-19. The series is about the interpersonal relationships between characters, but it is also deeply about their relationships with their contexts and the world around them. The result is a fresh take on BL as a genre which takes conventional plot points and sets a new standard within the genre.

For me, the strength of the plot is in the COVID-19 dimensions rather than in the BL dimensions. I was frustrated with the fight between the two main characters at the end of the series, but it was understandable in the contexts of the characters' personalities and insecurities; and it is maybe the most traditional element of "BL" drama in the series. Even so, this show is seriously skilled at manipulating our emotions (in a great, cathartic way) through the writing and acting, and in revealing the emotional depths of the main characters as they grow closer together.

I would recommend this as the first Filipino BL series to watch for someone who has watched BL media from other countries, or as a fresh dramatic take on what themes a BL series might explore.

This series is a breath of fresh air in the kind of story it tells. Every other entry in the S and A tiers of my list tries to go for a more dramatic or larger-than-life approach - those series which try to be more grounded in reality also have a bias towards an idealized view of romantic love, and even the slice-of-life series create bigger conflicts between the characters as an important source of drama. In this series, the conflict instead is about conflicts with societal norms, and internalized conflicts from those external conflicts. It perfects a realistic approach to queer storytelling about common everyday queer experiences and struggles (compare to Hanging Out (2016) in tone).

The story is cute, relatable, and at times hilarious. It's written and produced in a naturalistic style which makes the story feel realistic. It has good acting, editing, production, all-around strong storytelling - the pacing is relaxed, but not a moment of the 45-minute duration of this series is wasted. It captures some queer feelings really really well - e.g. the longing, the fear, the awkwardness, the sadness, the anticipation, the excitement.

I would recommend this to someone who wants to to watch a really lovely and relatable short series focused on a queer woman.

This is a long mainstream Korean slice-of-life series about a large multi-generational family which includes an adult gay son and his partner; their story is wonderful. I loved the sweet and pure depictions of the domestic relationships in the family (especially the gay couple and the parents), the ways they express care for each other through food, the ways they resolve conflicts through communication, and the rhythms of their daily lives. There is also a lot of gay asian filial angst (including family coming-out drama, which is perhaps the most dramatic and moving storyline in this series), as well as the gay couple struggling and eventually thriving against homophobia. I haven't seen such a couple in a mainstream k-drama since this show. Protect them at all costs!

Even though this series is already a decade old, the gay couple's story still features the deepest and most nuanced exploration of familial relationships around gay characters out of any series I've watched. At the time it aired, it attracted controversy and pressure for its positive portrayal of a gay couple amidst fierce disagreements about LGBTQ people in South Korea. The couple's storyline was truly ahead of its time and is still worth a watch; however, be aware that it is thematically more similar to more mainstream LGBTQ media than to BL, in that it doesn't hold back on acknowledging how difficult life was for LGBTQ people in South Korea around 2010. Note also that the couple is desexualized, because a more realistic depiction in that front would have caused even more of a controversy at the time.

I would recommend this for someone who wants a Korean slice-of-life family drama with a warm emotional core and without melodramatic cliches.