gay/bl shows that arent set in high school/university

the title says it all

cw etc copypasted from my other list

includes upcoming bls (cws will be added after i watch them) , excludes ones i dont think are worth watching in any capacity lol

no caption means i have nothing to say haha (because i probably havent watched it yet)

rey jul 19, 2020
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  • HIStory3: Trapped

    1. HIStory3: Trapped

    Taiwanese Special - 2019, 20 episodes

    9.5

    cw:  this is a gang drama  so there's death, violence and all that jazz. attempted rape in episode 14 (or likely 7 if you're watching on viki), unhealthy age difference between the one heterosexual couple

    scores

    story: 9/10
    characters: 10/10
    pairings: 9.5/10
    anger scale: 4/10

  • 3 Will Be Free

    2. 3 Will Be Free

    Thai Drama - 2019, 10 episodes

    9.0

    cw:  transphobia, death of a (minor) trans character, suicide, casual homophobia, casual biphobia, gang violence, rape, attempted rape,  domestic abuse, murder, nsfw, cheating, nudity

    made me cry?  yes

    scores:

    story: 9/10
    characters: 10/10
    pairings: 8/10
    anger scale: 4/10

    this is the best show about polyamory ever made. while i cant recommend it to everyone (it gets pretty heavy) i think if you can deal with the cws above i think you will love this show.
    the transphobia, rape, homophobia, domestic abuse, etc. are portrayed as appropriately despicable.
    this show has a main character who is a trans woman played by a trans woman! lots of feminist and lgbt+ positive messages.. and its also sex work positive!! which is so rare and really refreshing

  • The Untamed

    3. The Untamed

    Chinese Drama - 2019, 50 episodes

    9.0

    cw: death, so much blood, suicide, hanging, death of a family member (or many, many family members), ghosts, zombies (essentially)

    made me cry? i haven't stopped crying since, actually

    scores

    story: 9/10
    characters: 10/10
    pairings: 7.5/10
    anger scale: 5/10

    you've probably heard of this show/the novel it's based on (mo dao zu shi), or the web manhua, or the donghua, if you've been on the internet before. the rumors are true! it's about as good as you imagine based on the hype and maybe more so.
    yes they censored the canon gay element but the subtext is so obvious youd have to be like, Really straight to not pick up on it
    you can tell that they love each other, even if they dont kiss onscreen or get married for real

    and the appeal of the show doesn't end at the relationship between the leads. no, it's an intriguing story about family (including found family), murder mysteries, morality, what it means to be good or evil, and marxism

  • Long Time No See

    4. Long Time No See

    Korean Drama - 2017, 5 episodes

    8.0

    cw:  murder, homophobia, homophobic bullying, gang violence

    made me cry?  yes

    scores

    story: 8/10
    characters: 9/10
    pairing: 10/10
    anger scale: 3/10

    an assassin who falls in love with his target.... And it has a happy ending! now that's just really sexy

  • He's Coming To Me

    5. He's Coming To Me

    Thai Drama - 2019, 8 episodes

    8.5

    cw: death, discussions of death,  terminal illness
    ok so. mes (the ghost) meets than when than is just a little child (and mes is a 21 year old. and a ghost) and then they dont meet again until than is around 18. and than takes mes home with him when hes like 20.  honestly it's a bit uncomfortable but.. on the other hand they don't fall in love until after than takes mes with him. and the progression didnt make me feel uncomfortable
    unfortunately theres an uncomfortable bit at the very end where than asks mes if he already thought of his kid self as cute / implying attraction.. which was Really bad. doesn't help that hamburger magazine did a cmbyn inspired photo shoot with the main actors
    but that's really as bad as it gets. if you ignore those things it Never feels like mes was attracted to than's child self... so yeah
    SPOILER: also it turns out that mes used to date than's mom when he was still alive but i think its handled appropriately (also they broke up because he realized hes gay)

    made me cry?  a lot

    scores

    story: 9.5/10 (really unique!)
    characters: 6/10 
    (bit weak unfortunately)
    pairings: 7/10
    anger scale: 4/10

    ok so TECHNICALLY this one is set in university as in 4/5 of the main cast are university students but most of the story takes place outside of it and its an intriguing mystery drama you should definitely watch

  • Because of You

    6. Because of You

    Taiwanese Drama - 2020, 10 episodes

    7.5

    cw: attempted rape (not between any of the couples), death of a family member

    spoilers but.... this is NOT incest. theyre not related. dont worry

    god i like this show so much. its way too short! but oh my god! its so short and yet so so good, i admire that so much.

    i want more bl with leads from two different countries. please

    one of the couples is in high school but its not the main focus

  • To My Star

    7. To My Star

    Korean Drama - 2021, 9 episodes

    9.0

    cw: internalised homophobia, nonconsensual kiss

    really good show about a popular actor who gets into a scandal and has to live with a cute chef to hide from journalists and they fall in love and stuff. great characters great acting all in all just really good

  • Ossan's Love

    8. Ossan's Love

    Japanese Drama - 2018, 7 episodes

    7.5

    cw: sexual harassment (from the chief) shown in a comedic light, nonconsensual kissing

    made me cry?  no

    scores

    story: 7/10
    characters: 9.5/10 
    0.5 points deducted because of chief
    pairings: makiharu/10
    anger scale: 7/10

    this show kind of made history. it became huge in japan, even outside of the lgbt community! it won a bunch of awards! and apparently it helped make the country take a step further towards gay acceptance which is huge - and it opened up the possibility for future gay tv shows and movies (which are being made!) and all that in itself is already incredible.
    there are some chunks of the show that i really dont like (namely almost everything involving chief and his crush for haruta) but the rest is really good and wholesome and funny. i appreciate it
    season 2 can die

  • Friend Zone 2: Dangerous Area

    9. Friend Zone 2: Dangerous Area

    Thai Drama - 2020, 16 episodes

    8.0

    cw: homophobia

    the long awaited sequel to friendzone 1. delivers on what it set out to do AND theres a lesbian couple :D

  • Friend Zone

    10. Friend Zone

    Thai Drama - 2018, 12 episodes

    8.0

    cw: cheating, attempted rape

  • The Lover

    11. The Lover

    Korean Drama - 2015, 12 episodes

    cw: some nsfw, internalized homophobia

    takujae are just really cute and iconic

  • Beloved Enemy

    12. Beloved Enemy

    Chinese Drama - 2017, 15 episodes

    7.5

    cw: attempted rape, drugging, violence

    if this wasnt based on a bl novel i probably wouldnt even put it here but it IS and thus, here we are. this was basically stripped of anything that made it gay, with vague subtext at best. so it doesnt do its job as well as the untamed or guardian but hey! this show has women who are their own people with agency and that is what ultimately sold me on it. while the corporate drama gets a bit dry, there is enough gratuitous violence to keep you entertained if youre into that

    i think to get anything out of it in a gay way you really have to be into the dynamic between the two leads which i wasnt 

    i dont know man. this show is good but its barely gay. so dont watch it if thats what youre looking for.

  • Yandai byway no.10 - Season 1

    13. Yandai byway no.10 - Season 1

    Chinese Drama - 2016, 10 episodes

    5.5

    cw: homophobia, internalized homophobia, forced kisses, sexual harassment

    well, this show is unfinished of course. season 2 never got made and probably never will. so you have to go in expecting a. unsatisfying cliffhanger ending
    other than that this show is alright, its a bit ridiculous, hang hang is insecure and lashes out because of it which creates....drama, that feels a bit ridiculous in places. some stuff doesnt really make sense. but hey when its cute its cute and when its funny its funny!

  • The Moment

    14. The Moment

    Thai Drama - 2020, 4 episodes

    5.5

    cw: fake attempted suicide

    this series is fine. it may feel disorienting at times and is a bit overly dramatic for my taste but its nothing Offensive (outside of that fake suicide attempt)
    managed to convey a surprising amount of depth in just 4 short episodes

  • Advance Bravely

    15. Advance Bravely

    Chinese Drama - 2017, 30 episodes

    2.5

    cw:  transphobia, homophobia, stalking, assault, animal death (a chicken), attempted surgery without consent (they tie him up and everything, and then its played for laughs a bit), probably the most misogynist show ive seen in a while

    ok so this show..... has it's sweet moments... sometimes? and it has a certain aesthetic going that i support but other than that this show is.... pretty bad. and the novel is even worse

  • YYY

    16. YYY

    Thai Drama - 2020, 6 episodes

    cw: a little bit transphobic

  • Pornographer

    17. Pornographer

    Japanese Drama - 2018, 6 episodes

    cw: pretty explicit nsfw (haha), teacher/student porn (as in. that's a pornographic story within the show. not referring to the two leads theyre both adults)

    this has a kiss with tongue in it and i think for that alone its kind of legendary

  • Mood Indigo

    18. Mood Indigo

    Japanese Drama - 2019, 6 episodes

    i havent seen this one but its the prequel to pornographer so. nsfw definitely

  • The Stranded

    19. The Stranded

    Thai Drama - 2019, 7 episodes

    cw: death, being stranded, injury...more death, probably

    i havent gotten past ep 1 because it hit me too hard. this is a misery fest

    hey but it has lesbians too!

    technically the initial setting is a high school or uni or sth but thats..Not the premise of the show. as you can probably tell

  • Ingredients

    20. Ingredients

    Thai Special - 2020, 21 episodes

  • Love Trap

    21. Love Trap

    Chinese Drama - 2020, 10 episodes

    havent finished this one... the production value is so low but what can we expect

  • Gameboys

    22. Gameboys

    Filipino Drama - 2020, 13 episodes

    havent seen it

  • A Tale of Thousand Stars

    23. A Tale of Thousand Stars

    Thai Drama - 2021, 10 episodes

    cw: heart failure/heart condition, car crash

    having seen half of this i can say its.. pretty good. its not really the sort of show i enjoy but if the basic premise speaks to you you will definitely love it. its very dramatic but also sweet

  • Hello Stranger

    24. Hello Stranger

    Filipino Drama - 2020, 8 episodes

  • Kinou Nani Tabeta?

    25. Kinou Nani Tabeta?

    Japanese Drama - 2019, 12 episodes

    havent seen it but i hear its really good

  • My Bromance

    26. My Bromance

    Taiwanese Drama - 2018, 12 episodes

  • The Ambiguous Focus

    27. The Ambiguous Focus

    Chinese Drama - 2018, 6 episodes

  • Diary of Tootsies

    28. Diary of Tootsies

    Thai Drama - 2016, 12 episodes

  • Diary of Tootsies 2

    29. Diary of Tootsies 2

    Thai Drama - 2017, 12 episodes

  • Happy Together

    30. Happy Together

    Taiwanese Drama - 2015, 15 episodes

    7.5
  • Men with Sword

    31. Men with Sword

    Chinese Drama - 2016, 30 episodes

  • Guardian

    32. Guardian

    Chinese Drama - 2018, 40 episodes

  • Tian Ya Ke

    33. Tian Ya Ke

    Chinese Drama - 2021, 36 episodes

    cw: selfharm, murder, death, hanging, suicide

    Really good so far!!!! ive been watching it on yt so im behind but yknow.  its a chinese show so all the gay is hidden in subtext *i cough loudly* VERY obvious subtext... is calling each other soulmates even subtext anymore

  • WISH YOU : Your Melody In My Heart

    34. WISH YOU : Your Melody In My Heart

    Korean Drama - 2020, 8 episodes

    4.5

    pretty cute :)

  • Hao Yi Xing

    35. Hao Yi Xing

    Chinese Drama - 0000, 58 episodes

  • You Make Me Dance

    36. You Make Me Dance

    Korean Drama - 2021, 8 episodes

    hmm... a loan shark who moves in with the guy who owes him money because his dancing moved him to tears so he decides to support him in his endeavors  to win a dance audition.. under the pretense of wanting him to get the money to pay him back asap lol. they fall in love and its all really cute. loan shark is a male wife

    the ending is a biiit melodramatic and rushed but its still really adorable

  • Lovely Writer

    37. Lovely Writer

    Thai Drama - 2021, 12 episodes

    3.0

    cw: acted sexual assault (in the show within the show)

    didnt expect this one to be anywhere near as good as it is so far. love the shade it throws at the bl industry and community 

  • KinnPorsche

    38. KinnPorsche

    Thai Drama - 2022, 14 episodes

    8.0

    this one is gonna be about horny mafia men lol

  • We Best Love: Forever the First

    39. We Best Love: Forever the First

    Taiwanese Drama - 2021, 6 episodes

    8.0

    ok this one is set in university but the sequel isnt and also its like, pretty good

  • We Best Love: The Runner-Up Strikes Back

    40. We Best Love: The Runner-Up Strikes Back

    Taiwanese Drama - 2021, 6 episodes

    cw for sexual assault/basically rape, nonconsensual kissing

  • 30Sai made Doteida to Mahotsukai ni Narerurashi

    41. 30Sai made Doteida to Mahotsukai ni Narerurashi

    Japanese Drama - 2020, 12 episodes

  • Manner of Death

    42. Manner of Death

    Thai Drama - 2020, 14 episodes

  • Ryu Sun Bi's Wedding Ceremony

    43. Ryu Sun Bi's Wedding Ceremony

    Korean Drama - 2021, 8 episodes

  • Craving You

    44. Craving You

    Taiwanese Drama - 2020, 10 episodes

    7.5
  • Tinted With You

    45. Tinted With You

    Korean Drama - 2021, 8 episodes

    7.5
  • Dear Doctor, I’m Coming For Your Soul

    46. Dear Doctor, I’m Coming For Your Soul

    Thai Drama - 2022, 12 episodes

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