I knew that either Semantic Error or Bad Buddy was going to be in the top two, but I am so happy that you acknowledge and recognize Heartstopper in your list. Glad that you watched "Blueming", because that series was an absolute surprise release from South Korea.
@@matthewjay660 Houston, I watched that episode around 3 am our time early yesterday morning. My mind is STILL in the doorway of Togawa's apartment with those two.
@@VixenByNight72 It pleases me that the younger man's the seme. It breaks stereotypes and boring tropes. C'mon Nozue, take his hand! Love's knocking at your door. Just answer the door.
First i was unsure whether to put Heartstopper in the list, however it fulfilled the BL criteria, else it would have been Semantic Error and Bad Buddy 1 and 2. And thanks for the info, I ma yet to catch up on the 4th ep of Old Fashion Cupcake.
@@blcritic Once, Old Fashion Cupcake ends, it will be added immediately to my Top 5 list for 2022. I love when an unknown and surprise series, immediately captures the viewing audience. I didn't add Heartstopper to my list, because I just couldn't add it, without knocking out my other favs from South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. It definitely has a place in my Top 20 list.
Here's my list for mid 2022* @edited on July 4, 2022 1. Bad Buddy 2. Semantic Error 3. Blueming 4. Old Fashion Cupcake 5. Not Me 6. To My Star 2 7. Plus Minus 8. DNA Says Love You 9. SCOY 10. First Love, Again 11. Cherry Blossoms After Winter 12. Absolute BL 2 *Very first time, that I don't have any series from the Philippines on my top 10 list!
Philippines, they had Rainbow Prince which might be in my worst section, At end of the world something was a p*rn fest, Papa, what is love? was okay, but on even in my top 20.
For the sake of completion and transparency, I think your edit of 7/4 should mention the names of the two series that fell off the list. And put *asterisks* by those that missed the June 30 cut-off so future readers can see where the freshly finished series entered the discussion. But this past weekend also compelled me to revise my list by adding the same two series you did. I might swap the order, but both ahead of Plus & Minus.
I did not see Teddy Bear, but I really liked your other choices. My Ride aired after changes in producers, cast and streaming platforms, so I think it's a miracle that we got to see it at all.
I'll put in a plug for Plus & Minus (Taiwan, Viki/GaGaOoLala), which just aired its finale last weekend. Its reviews on MDL have clearly split the peanut gallery, but count me among those who rated it higher than its MDL average. (Disclosure: I contributed a lengthy review. First two paragraphs are spoiler free.) I'm not sure it will remain Top Ten for me by the time I see the series I missed on this list and whatever is ahead in 2022, but I currently have it about fifth. Whether or not it retains pride of place, it will still be worth catching. It may be worth watching just for cameo appearances from seven actors from five (count 'em--5!) previous Taiwanese BLs. Based on our prior discussions, members of this crowd will appreciate a series focused on older characters in the workplace whose outlook on life reads a bit wiser than BL series normally offer.
@@j_scott I will let you find the others, but one is not strictly speaking a cameo but a supporting player. The actor who played Papa Fu appeared somewhere in Trapped. I don't remember him from that, but I was only on his MDL profile in the first place because his face felt familiar. And Trapped was the only one of his past works I've seen. I did not catch that lead actor playing Fu Li Gong had a prominent role in Make Our Das count, but Li Gong, as a lead, isn't in the cameo list anyway.
@@dramacreature554 most of those cameos are pure (glorious) fan service, but that one pair plays a substantive part in the story in the episodes in which they feature.
Our lists consistently end up looking similar even though we apply different criteria and assign different weight to the criteria we share. So I always feel confident I will like something that shows up on your list that I have yet to see. That said, my formula of evaluation attributes bonus scores to BL series that can be double counted as LGBT genre. Heartstopper is an LGBT series that can be double counted as BL (for the reasons specified in the video). And it gets high marks for acting, writing, directing. And that most personal of grades for a BL series: how happy it made me feel while watching. In those four areas, Heartstopper equals Bad Buddy and Semantic Error. But I'd rank Heartstopper comfortably ahead of Semantic Error, which in the fashion of K-BL never tackles head on explicit LGBT content beyond boy likes boy. In Heartstopper, boy liking boy has ramifications and realities that ripple across friend circles, family relations. My rankings also reward longer series, like Bad Buddy because sustaining brilliance over 12 hour-long episodes is a greater accomplishment than a series with fewer eps of shorter runtime. So, I will take the next six months to ponder which one to rank ahead of the other.
I absolutely adore Heartstopper, it felt like home, you know, growing up in 2 commonwealth countries in Southern Hemisphere, the Grammar schools, the compulsory uniforms, and the gloomy weather (depicts my time in Christchurch, NZ, which is known as the most English city in Southern Hemisphere, though extremely homogeneous in terms of race) and the diverse races ( My time in Sydney) and of course Rubgy.. like you said, i had constant smile while watching it, as I was remembering my school years. I agree about the lengths and I had to think twice about putting Semantic Error and Blueming way up in the list.
It's now six months later, Christmas Day, in fact. I had seen neither *My Ride* nor *The Miracle of Teddy Bear* when this video first aired. But consider the attributes highlighted in the above comment from June as those I value heavily when I grade a BL series: strong story, ability to make me happy, length of story, and fidelity to LGBT representations of the real world. Both series score highly with these criteria. Not only would both series have landed on my list, they'd have been much higher than 9 or 10. *Teddy Bear* is, without argument, the most LGBT genre series from Thailand that I've ever seen. Ep12 alone offers the most cogent articulation of the need for gay civil rights in Thailand put forth in a BL episode. [Mr Critic's "non-review" of the series from April recognizes the show as a trailblazer but underappreciates, in my view, just how important that is.] If the BL genre represents psuedo-gay life as "fluffy" and "idealized," the LGBT genre has a reputation for emphasizing the depressing, dark, and difficult aspects of being gay. In fact, that's why we all loved *Heartstopper* so much. It is, unmistakably LGBT storytelling; yet, it is refreshingly free of darkness--all good feeling and sunshine. TMOTB, by contrast, comes across as tonally more alike with most LGBT genre fare. The series serves up moments of depression, darkness, and difficulty. It is a worthy entry to the international canon of coming out stories, and is, in its way, brilliant. Judging it as BL, against a stack of fluffy BL series, does it a disservice. Notwithstanding its melodramatic lakorn trappings and fluffy BL leanings, this Thai production is easily one of the best representations of gay life produced in 2022--anywhere in the world. It should have been higher on this mid-year list, and it ought to own pride of place on the year-end list as well.
I am so happy you mentioned My Ride. Even though there was some angst it was a fluffy comforting series to watch with two leads who you rooted for from the beginning. I hardly see anyone talking about it which is a shame because it was an anticipated series but I think delays really hurt it. True definition of an underrated series.
I loved semantic error to bits. I got curious watching bl (even though I read bls for yrs) coz seoham of semantic error really won me. But comparing the simple plots of semantic error and bbs, I give points to bbs more since it progressed. I understand that semantic error manwha is ongoing so for me I compare BBS EP1-6 to Semantic Error EP1-8. And just with ep5 alone, bbs won my ❤️. Though I agree semantic error is such an easy watch. Not much drama. Just feel good. And it has better cinematography. But BBS is my winner for feel good show😊. (I liked heartstopper too but I dont want to count it coz the author wants to distance herself from bls making it sound like her material is superior than bls sooo I let her be.)
He he... Many people will agree with you about Bad Buddy's success because of Ohm & nanon 's acting. The plot was simple too thin to be memorable. They got many other things right which resonated with gay people along with believable acting,... That's what I have understood from all the discussion on Mr Critic's BB videos.
@@zahrabjinu Agreed. The plot was very simple, which makes what P'Aof did with the directing, screenwriting, along with giving Ohm, and Nanon the breathing room, to give life to the characters of Pat, and Pran, is what made me continue to tune in, each and every week of its initial run. I have talked/posted/praised this series so much on my Twitter, that I got long-term and jaded daytime soap opera fans, to start watching BLs via them asking me questions about BBS. Which platform is it on? How old are Ohm, and Nanon? They have that many series as the main leads, and they're both not even 25?!
@@VixenByNight72 did the jaded soap opera fans follow through? And if so, did they like it? [I would think soap opera fans not only would appreciate the soapy elements of BL, but also that the stories actually end!]
@@johnmaster3748 They really enjoyed Bad Buddy, and are amazed at all of the different types of series, that are available to watch. I recently sent out my recommendations for South Korean BLs a couple of weeks ago.
@@VixenByNight72 True, Nanon is a child actor and just yesterday YT algorithm threw up his bit role in a series when he must have been 14 . But he looks tired nowadays in his reality show called Upvel. He needs a break.
@@j_scott Same here!KinnPorsche is another level right now and I know, that To my star s2🤩🤩😍😍, will be also included in my top list. Triage is not bad, the chemistry between main leads is so good and I cannot wait till november, cuz there should Between us start. My WinTeam🤩 and I forgot Plus and Minus 🤦♀🤦♀, shame on me 😂😂
@@sova-we8tv Triage isn't legally available for me to watch yet, but it's on my list when/if I can get it. I do like Plus & Minus. It was really sweet. Looking forward to Between us. Another Boun/Prem series called Even Sun starts this week, but I'm not sure it has an international release. I hope so!
@@j_scott I know about Triage from people's reaction on youtube.That´s why I wrote,it is not bad and the chemistry between main leads is good. I´m from Europe and I mostly watch all youtube´s available series. And there alot of app for the series
I’m not ranking BLs here because of a simple reason that I haven’t watched many of them. What motivated me to write this comment was “You Are My Sky”. I really wanted to begin with the sentence “I don’t know why this series was underrated ?” But I couldn’t because I know why ? I was among those who overlooked it mainly because it lacked well-known actors to interest me. At the moment I have been watching half of the series (ep 6) & had mixed feelings. I regret I didn’t pay attention on it at first & feel great I gave it a go at last. The cinematography of the show is worth praising as well as the pacing. It was artistically shot & wisely written. They had also balanced the timing for all couples quite very well. The plot is touching, all actors are good looking. It’s too soon to say if “You Are My Sky” is going to impress me since there are 6 episodes left to watch. Just hope anyone who hasn’t watched it yet may consider giving it a try since the first half is nothing but excellent.👍👏🏼❤️
I expected you're my sky in the list too. Beautiful cinematography. Although the screenplay could've been a bit better, most of the actors pulled off their roles very well.
I liked that one, and I agree about the cinematography. I didn't think the main couple had much chemistry, though, which caused me to not like it as much as I like some others. It's certainly worth watching.
Rak Diao and You are my sky can share that spot, I think. The problem with Yms is too little Bl time compared to sports, competition etc, IMO. Though, personally, I found it different and actually liked it. Besides, Semantic error, I haven't rewatched any Bl even though I may have liked it. Blueming and Semantic error are the most memorable ones for me.
I agree with Zahra, I have considered YMS too, but it didn't made into the final list for the reasons pointed out by Zahra as well as the Main lead was really weak in terms of acting, I solely blame the casting directors in this case. The 2nd and 3rd couple were more interesting for me than the main one.
I am not familiar with Rak Diao, but now I want to give it a try. I'm ready for some funny after the angst-fest that is To My Star 2. Like you, I wouldn't put SCOY in my top 10. I keep saying I'll try it again (I stopped after ep 4), but I keep finding new BLs that I'd rather watch. Heartstopper! This inclusion will bring back the discussion we had on your previous video about whether non-Asian countries can successfully (or will successfully) produce BL shows. My argument is that yes, they can. Heartstopper is also on my to-watch list that grows longer by the second. Semantic Error is also my number 1, with Bad Buddy at number 2 and Not Me at number 3. Unless KinnPorsche screws up and doesn't stick the landing, it will probably come in at number 2 and knock BB and NM down a notch.
I've also missed Rak Diao previously. It will skip ahead on my priority list as well. For me, Heartstopper 's inclusion does not invoke the discussion from last week because Mr Critic makes the rules for his list. In any event, I just intended to outline the contours of debate, not to take a position on the subject. If it seemed so, it's because I played Devil's Advocate after you argued in favor of inclusion. 😇
I've tried to watch Rak Diao (twice!!), but I'm one that hasn't ever been a follower of sitcoms, especially the ones from the mid 1990s onwards (I may have watched one season of "Friends", "Seinfeld", "Fraiser"), but that laugh track is nails on the chalkboard annoying to me.
@@VixenByNight72 Ohh. Is it that bad?? I'll give it a shot, but I may not be able to get past it, either. Kind of like the Japanese BL actors with the jacked-up Manga hair.
@@VixenByNight72 strictly speaking, a laugh track is recorded laughter added to a production. The three series you mentioned were all three-camera sitcoms "filmed before a live studio audience," so the laughter is "real." Though recorded laughter can be added to audience laughter like a hybrid. In any event, Rak Diao sounds like M*A*S*H or Malcom in the Middle: single-camera filmed shows with recorded laughter added. Or "nails on the chalkboard" territory for you. I don't mind the canned laughter unless it overwhelms the material. So that factor shouldn't influence my take on Rak Diao.
I have not seen Rak Diao, My Ride, or all of Miracle of Teddy Bear yet. My top 3 is solely based on how much I re-watch the series. Semantic Error takes the top spot because I have lost track of how many times I have watched this show. In second place is Not Me because I rewatch certain scenes frequently but not necessarily the whole drama. This is applies for Bad Buddy which is in the third spot. Simple. ;)
Rak Diao is available fully subbed on youtube itself. I recommend you watch that, though the laugh track might be a bit off putting, but once you get past 2-3 episodes, they do not bother that much.
Fun list - I assumed Best Buddy would be #1 - shows the bounty! I have rewatched your top two and they are wonderful. Worth noting is Heartstopper cast many first time actors who may not have been the most well built or beautiful but were attractive in their own way and acted at a high level. One I would put in my top 3 is another Japanese series subbed by Furritsubs: Favoritism of the Gods- for a body swapping drama with a bored minor deity and his talking dog sidekick- this had depth and complexity.
Kitty, I really liked it too but mainly see it put down. I watched it, enjoying the relationship and hoping for the little restaurant's success. A lot of people expect too much from BLs.
Such a good list that I (mostly) agree with. I did like Blueming but the second to the last episode seem weird to me and that pushes out of my top 10. I did not get the chance to watch The Miracle of Teddy Bear so it is also not on my list. Here are is what my list would be: 1. Heartstopper - well done, feel good series. The actors are all great. 2. Bad Buddy - Ohm and Nanon were nearly pitch perfect 3. Not Me - I like the political aspect and the relationship between Dan and Yok 4. My Ride - a sweet and lovely story. Perhaps a bit dated but liked a story that was set outside of a school setting. 5. Plus & Minus - lots of cute cameos, great leads, and i am always a sucker for shots of one of my favorites cities in the world. 6. Semantic Error (if it had longer and more episodes it would rank higher). For me, G.O.A.T. Korean BL. 7. Rack Diao - so glad you had this on your list. Once you get used to the bad laugh track, it is great series. 8. Mr Unlucky Has No Choice But to Kiss - cute leads, interesting take of college students actually going to class and learning 9. The Man Who Defies the World of BL - interesting parody and lots of cute guys and interesting introd 10. Something in My Room - i liked the supernatural aspect and the leads. Sadly i saw the edited version and hope to see the uncut series someday. EDIT 2: After talking to a friend I felt I had to give an honorable mention to Dear Doctor, I am Coming for Soul. Interesting premise and appealing leads.
"Interesting take of college students actually going to class..." was anyone else bothered to the point of distraction that the psych class was held in the foyer of the building?
@@johnmaster3748 I, as always, liked your comments on the series. Your point about being able to sustain excellence for 12 episodes for 45-60 minutes is spot on!
I Liked your list, somewhat similar to mine. I had to take out Something in My room and Plus Minus in the last minute to make way for Rak Diao and Miracle of Teddy.
I think it is rare to find a perfect series, most of the time there is some flaw. I remember when I saw the first promo for Semantic Error, I went WOW, and I rushed to tell BLC about it. It lived up to that WOW and more, it really is a masterpiece. If some one new to bl asked me what series should I watch first, I would say Semantic Error for sure. Number two took me by surprise, Heartstopper is really good (but have to admit I had kinda forgotten about it) is it bl?? Maybe more LGBTQ+ coming of age series. It should be on this list just because people for sure should watch it. It has had a lot of promotion and press, I love how intelligent the actors are in interviews as opposed to the fluffy fan service of so many Thai actors. But I do watch alot of TicToks and it is interesting to see young gay peoples comments about wish it was really like that. For all the good things about Heartstopper remember it is a fairy tale, it would be nice if life for young gay people was really like that. At the begining of the year we all thought Bad Buddy was the one to beat, but as the year goes on I think it will slip further down the list. I think no one can fault the great acting of Ohm and Nanon but Bad Buddy had it's faults and as time goes on maybe good acting is not enough. The daily promos of the Ohm/Nanon ship and other drama kinda leaves a bad taste in the mouth. For me Blueming may have been my number two choice, I loved that series, maybe not perfect but I will remember it. I think I will leave my list like that and wait for the year end. With To My Star 2 just missing the list by a few days and KinnPorsche almost finished (episode 13 was good) there is alot to be said in the future. I think it is a little sad in the first 6 months we have had something like 40 Thai series in that time and so few that are really good. A side note, had the good luck to meet a fellow commentor. We had a nice dinner and wonderful time talking, nice to meet the real person behind the words. This last weekend I got to finally see my partner of 5 years, who I have not seen for 2 and half years in person because of Covid. Talking on video chat keeps you going but being able to hug the person you love is so WONDERFUL. Wow think I am going to cry.
@@blcritic Yes I meet Mini, really really nice lady, hope she has a great holiday. Watching To My Star 2 was very difficult for me because it is about people who really love each other but are so different and how do you work that. In the bl world in the end we get our happy ending but in the real world it is not really like that. To realize the person that you truely love is also the person that drives you crazy can be heart breaking. Two and half years is enough time to understand what does not work and one weekend is enough to understand that you can not change people. Happy to part on good terms, home alone, no happy bl ending here.
I'd put You're My Sky over My Ride, but honestly only because I really like seeing characters grow, and it felt like Tawan and Mork didn't really grow as characters (especially Tawan), while Thorn and Fah both helped each other through a lot and became better because of one another. But Tawan and Mork were better people to begin with and didn't actually have much in the way of anything to overcome, so maybe that's unfair 🤣 otherwise I agree with your list fully!
I really like hearing that ohmnanon carried bbs. Yeah, most critics and haters will say that is the only reason why bbs is good. But I've marathoned several bls in a month before I discovered bbs, and I dropped most of them coz of the crappy acting. I thought that was the standard of bls. It even validated my stand for years to not watch bls coz of the shitty acting. But I never thought 2 actors can do a master class of acting in a bl. Blew my mind. 😍😍 Now I am more open to watching bls despite the shitty acting coz not everyone can be nanon and/or ohm.
There's a certain backlash that came from some viewers regarding BBS, because of how easy Ohm and Nanon were able to portray the characters of Pat and Pran. They also didn't give off the "make sure everyone knows that I'm straight vibe", and how comfortable they were with being able to show the growing emotional, mental, physical, and sexual bond between those characters was amazing.Along with the very minimal fan service, that they didn't do, during the initial airing of the series. GMMTV didn't feel the need to release any workshop videos, showing Ohm, Nanon, and the rest of the cast, having to do assignments in front of the camera, to showcase them learning how to touch one another, so that the audience could get a taste of them together, before the series aired.
@@VixenByNight72 I feel like anytime a BL series generates the level of buzz and adoration that BB did during its run, an equal and opposite reaction from naysayers and detractors follows soon after. (SEE also: 2Gether.) It's as if any series becomes too visible, potentially mainstream, then the segment of BL fans that wants BL to remain a secret niche thing (e.g., "cool") pounces all over its success by vociferously magnifying its perceived flaws. (Hmm, so does my derisive take on Cutie Pie exemplify the trait I just denounced? [Looks at self in mirror.] Nah. That dreck deserved every bit of scorn I could heap on it. Because bad writing ruins good acting, cinematography, and sound track.)
@@johnmaster3748 Let’s not speak of that particular series. 😃 😀 😄 That backlash was weird, because it started right after episode 5 had aired. It triggered something.
Yeah, a lot of so called 'fans' said that, it is not that the other fronts like direction, screenplay, dialogues and cinematography is not good in Bad Buddy, they are good, but had they made it without Ohm and Nanon, it wouldn't have this level of popularity, esp the difficult scenes where the actors pulled it off pretty easily.
@@blcritic Yup. I literally cannot picture any other actors, in those particular roles. It feels like, BBS was made specifically for Ohm, and Nanon. They put their stamp on it.
Your list is so helpful. I'm new to watching BL's so catch up has been helpful with all your vids. Can I ask. Does anyone know where I can watch Not Me?
I thought the expectations of BL fans ruining the BL industry, As one a piece of Art, this kind boring, no something new, just be a fantasy thing that can't grow up...so disappointing
Now I think I should have done a review of Heartstopper. But these netflix shows so difficult to screen record and they are pretty fast to claim copyright.
@@johnmaster3748 not yet I have kept it for later. I have to renew my membership too. But I did look it up on Yt... So many youtubers have talked about it. It has been loved a lot and it seems to be fun and heartwarming. I will see it John.
I just realized your list doesnt include the most hyped thai bl that recently ended that irked me the most. I only watched your top 5 so I will now try the rest coz I now know we have similar taste.😊
Last year's mid-year review episode didn't rank the series, just labeled a bunch of series as Hit or Miss. Any particular reason you altered the formula this year? Any chance for a Dishonorable Mention video? The Comments here feature a great deal of consensus around the Top of the list. The real fun debates would be about which are the Misses and why. Nah. On second thought, you dishonor a series that some people love to pieces, and blood will run in the Comments.
This year I had plans for Good, Bad and Mediocre, and was thinking of throwing a lot in the mediocre section, but we have so many BLs in this 6 months, I was actually scared by the sheer number while I was compiling the list. It would have been like 25-30 min video had I gone that path. hence, this year I am doing 10 best, 10 worst and 10 BL which could have been better. The worst ones will be pretty controversial, and I think i will put disclaimer at the beginning that I am not against BL. lol
@@blcritic so I have proceeded to the third episode of Rak Diao. I can ignore the intrusive laugh track. I cannot ignore how insufferable Diao is as a human being. BL is seldom tethered to reality anyway, but come on: a probationary employee that subordinate would get fired. A vindictive landlord that capricious would lose the tenant or get sued for violating lease terms. The premise* has the potential to be funny, but Diao is wholly unfunny. Humor is a very cultural thing, but what part of this tickles the Thai funny bone? What is this outsider just not getting? Or do I just need more patience? *--I want to object to the inevitable romantic relationship between a junior employee and his direct supervisor. But I will assume newfangled Western attitudes about sexual harassment in the workplace remain a work in progress there.
@@blcritic the disclaimer probably just needs to assert that your opinions are your own, and that part of the fun of these discussions is to enjoy the differing points of view. You'll get flamed anyway, of course. But you'll also have set a tone for the rest of us, whose emotions and intellects have matured into rational adulthood.
I agree, and the initial portrayal of Diao makes it hard to watch the series. I also mentioned that in my video about Rak Diao or in the comment section, as the character of Daio needed really good acting, and the first half Win was not able to pull it off. However, he improves slowly as I think they shot the series in serial order. About the video, I am working on it now, but I think most will agree as there were a lot of worst BLs than the supposedly hyped one i wanted to include. I have to be fair here. lol
@@blcritic don't try to do 10...unless you can identify 10 that are genuinely bad! I mean, don't pull from the mediocrities just because you need to fill out a list of 10. Also, it may be worth dividing the bad into categories---bad actors, bad chemistry between the leads; bad writing or story development; reliance on offensive elements like non-consent or jealous female stock characters; bad production quality; shows that just underdelivered. I suggest that because I think a Top Ten list can away with "I just really liked this show," but to label a show as bad you kind of have to justify it. Then you can also acknowledge that even a bad show can have positive qualities. "Although the actors did a great job, the lousy writing let them down and the series as a whole suffered." [Thats not a veiled criticism of any specific series.I could apply that critique to at least four 2022 series so far.] I'm sure you'll find the balance between fair criticism and piling on. (I posted to MDL a harsh review of The Cupid Coach last year. Kind of always felt guilty about it since they clearly lacked the resources of other series. So maybe that was piling on?)
*Top 10 best BL series of 2022 from January to June__* 10. 00:51 *My ride* Thailand/ heartwarming cute/ Absolutely loved it. 09. 01:11 *Miracle of teddy bear* Thailand/ emotionally intense/ absolutely loved it 08. 01:42 *Fukou Kun Wa* Japan/ Haven't watched it yet/ planning to watch it 07. 02:05 *Man who defies the world of BL 2* Japan/ Haven't watched it yet/ planning to watch it 06. 02:32 *Rak Diao* Thailand/ Comedy and sexual tention/ Absolutely loved it 05. 03:06 *Not me* Thailand/ intense romance/ Absolutely loved it 04. 03:40 *Blueming* Korea/ Intense and heartwarming/ Just loved it 03. 04:02 *Bad buddy* Thailand/Sexual tention, heartwarming and cute/ Absolutely loved it 02. 04:39 *Heartstopper* USA/ Beautiful cute and heartwarming/Just loved it 01. 05:29 *Semantic error* Korea/ Sexual tention with intense stares through hate and love/ Absolutely loved it
BLC: I guess I had my crankypuss face on when I checked out Heartstopper as a new Netflix entry. Because I trust your opinion and that of John Master I look forward to viewing it later tonight with a better attitude.
It's the first time I disagree with your video...Rearranged your list according to my thoughts🤭🤭🤭 (and maybe you should have included Plus & Minus? it is top notch...) 🔥Bad Buddy- My no1 series! Loved the story, acting, Rhythm, different locations, all supporting cast. Ohm and Nanon are amazing actors!!! 🔥Not Me- it almost shared a championship with Bad Buddy, its no2 because some of the things that happened where too difficult for me to understand and I had to read BL WATCHER to get the plot (it's a must read review, in my opinion) . I think OffGun are the "Rolls-Royce" of BL couples, And it had the best BL scene of the year- Jumping under the rainbow flag!!! 🔥Heart stopper- it was really good, also the GL part. heart-warming, feel good drama. 🔥Semantic Error- Loved it but I thought it was too reserved, something in the energy was a bit off for me. 🔥My Ride- Loved it!!! Mork's dimple is all you need and want! couldn't get my eyes off his smile. I didn't like the waste of time with the unworthy ex, Loved their scenes together and the development. 🔥Blueming- it was nice but not more than a B- for me, Not enough of a story or character development 🔥Fukou Kun Wa- Loved it but IT FEELS INCOMPLETE!!! I felt like it ended in the middle of the story, they kissed at the beginning and ??? nothing at all? why? show us proper development of intimacy please...Not necessarily sex scenes, just simple couple intimacy. 😳Man who defies the world of BL 2- is it BL or parody of Bl? loved it but not sure it should share the same list as bad buddy/not me/semantic error . 😕 Miracle of Teddy Bear- I dropped this one because of the way Nut treated the poor teddy... I know other people love this drama, I hated it. 😕 Rak Diao- Dropped it because I couldn't hear anything but audience laughter
my top 3 also include the top three in your list, but in a different order 1- bad buddy, because I like everything about BBS. This series makes me happy, sad, angry, jealous and what not. Acting, direction, chemistry, songs everything is sooo good. 2- Heartstopper 3- Semantic error If possible I will put both in the second spot. I still remember how much I have waited for each episodes of semantic error and the emptiness I felt after the series was ended. For me Heartstopper was like reading a book and getting lost in it fully. This series also did great justice in portraying the problems faced by LGBTQ community.
Galaxy Quest is a parody of science-fiction films generally and of Star Trek films in particular. No doubt, however, that the parody film is itself sci-fi. Also, if you ask ten random Star Trek fans to list the five best Star Trek films, at least seven will include Galaxy Quest on their tally. "Sure, I know it's not actually a Trek film," they will explain when you protest. "But that movie does Star Trek better than most Star Trek does Star Trek." Obviously, I wish to push back against the notion that a parody BL may not be a BL. You may dispute whether Man Who Defies The World of BL belongs on this Top Ten list because it isn't good enough, and I'd respect your opinion as your own. But if you want to insist on saying it shouldn't be here because parody BL isn't BL, then I'll be happy to take that debate!
P.S. if you want to argue The Man Who Defies The World of BL is ineligible for this list because it's not really a series but a movie disguised as episodic TV, I will stand beside you. Lol
For me Bad Buddy was the Best BL so far this year. Mainly due to the great acting done by the 2 leads!
I knew that either Semantic Error or Bad Buddy was going to be in the top two, but I am so happy that you acknowledge and recognize Heartstopper in your list.
Glad that you watched "Blueming", because that series was an absolute surprise release from South Korea.
Dallas, "Old Fashioned Cupcake" episode 4 is out today.
@@matthewjay660 Houston, I watched that episode around 3 am our time early yesterday morning. My mind is STILL in the doorway of Togawa's apartment with those two.
@@VixenByNight72 It pleases me that the younger man's the seme. It breaks stereotypes and boring tropes. C'mon Nozue, take his hand! Love's knocking at your door. Just answer the door.
First i was unsure whether to put Heartstopper in the list, however it fulfilled the BL criteria, else it would have been Semantic Error and Bad Buddy 1 and 2.
And thanks for the info, I ma yet to catch up on the 4th ep of Old Fashion Cupcake.
@@blcritic Once, Old Fashion Cupcake ends, it will be added immediately to my Top 5 list for 2022. I love when an unknown and surprise series, immediately captures the viewing audience. I didn't add Heartstopper to my list, because I just couldn't add it, without knocking out my other favs from South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. It definitely has a place in my Top 20 list.
Here's my list for mid 2022* @edited on July 4, 2022
1. Bad Buddy
2. Semantic Error
3. Blueming
4. Old Fashion Cupcake
5. Not Me
6. To My Star 2
7. Plus Minus
8. DNA Says Love You
9. SCOY
10. First Love, Again
11. Cherry Blossoms After Winter
12. Absolute BL 2
*Very first time, that I don't have any series from the Philippines on my top 10 list!
Mikey will sing about his despair for missing the cut! Maybe dance, too. With his shirt off, preferably.
@@johnmaster3748 RP was a campy diversion, which was much needed.
Philippines, they had Rainbow Prince which might be in my worst section, At end of the world something was a p*rn fest, Papa, what is love? was okay, but on even in my top 20.
For the sake of completion and transparency, I think your edit of 7/4 should mention the names of the two series that fell off the list. And put *asterisks* by those that missed the June 30 cut-off so future readers can see where the freshly finished series entered the discussion. But this past weekend also compelled me to revise my list by adding the same two series you did. I might swap the order, but both ahead of Plus & Minus.
*Bold face print?* I didn't even know we could do that!
1 Semantic error
2 Blueming
3 Young royals
4 Heart stopper
1. Bad buddy
2. Heartstopper
3. Not me.
secret crush on you Ahhhhhh!! It was sooo good
My list.
1. Cutie pie
2. Star in my mind
3. Bad buddy
4. Until we meet again
5. Semantic error
6. The miracle of teddy bear
I did not see Teddy Bear, but I really liked your other choices. My Ride aired after changes in producers, cast and streaming platforms, so I think it's a miracle that we got to see it at all.
Yeah, My Ride went through a lot, and they really did put up a decent series. I think they missed out on promoting the series properly.
I'll put in a plug for Plus & Minus (Taiwan, Viki/GaGaOoLala), which just aired its finale last weekend. Its reviews on MDL have clearly split the peanut gallery, but count me among those who rated it higher than its MDL average. (Disclosure: I contributed a lengthy review. First two paragraphs are spoiler free.) I'm not sure it will remain Top Ten for me by the time I see the series I missed on this list and whatever is ahead in 2022, but I currently have it about fifth. Whether or not it retains pride of place, it will still be worth catching. It may be worth watching just for cameo appearances from seven actors from five (count 'em--5!) previous Taiwanese BLs. Based on our prior discussions, members of this crowd will appreciate a series focused on older characters in the workplace whose outlook on life reads a bit wiser than BL series normally offer.
I liked Plus & Minus, too, and it's in my top 10 right now. I caught two cameos, but not the other five. Now I want to try to figure out who I missed!
@@j_scott I will let you find the others, but one is not strictly speaking a cameo but a supporting player. The actor who played Papa Fu appeared somewhere in Trapped. I don't remember him from that, but I was only on his MDL profile in the first place because his face felt familiar. And Trapped was the only one of his past works I've seen. I did not catch that lead actor playing Fu Li Gong had a prominent role in Make Our
Das count, but Li Gong, as a lead, isn't in the cameo list anyway.
Plus and Minus was excellent. You are right about the cameos.
@@dramacreature554 most of those cameos are pure (glorious) fan service, but that one pair plays a substantive part in the story in the episodes in which they feature.
@John Master I assume you are talking about Jin Yu Zhen and Shi Lei from Be Loved in House.
Our lists consistently end up looking similar even though we apply different criteria and assign different weight to the criteria we share. So I always feel confident I will like something that shows up on your list that I have yet to see. That said, my formula of evaluation attributes bonus scores to BL series that can be double counted as LGBT genre. Heartstopper is an LGBT series that can be double counted as BL (for the reasons specified in the video). And it gets high marks for acting, writing, directing. And that most personal of grades for a BL series: how happy it made me feel while watching. In those four areas, Heartstopper equals Bad Buddy and Semantic Error. But I'd rank Heartstopper comfortably ahead of Semantic Error, which in the fashion of K-BL never tackles head on explicit LGBT content beyond boy likes boy. In Heartstopper, boy liking boy has ramifications and realities that ripple across friend circles, family relations. My rankings also reward longer series, like Bad Buddy because sustaining brilliance over 12 hour-long episodes is a greater accomplishment than a series with fewer eps of shorter runtime. So, I will take the next six months to ponder which one to rank ahead of the other.
I absolutely adore Heartstopper, it felt like home, you know, growing up in 2 commonwealth countries in Southern Hemisphere, the Grammar schools, the compulsory uniforms, and the gloomy weather (depicts my time in Christchurch, NZ, which is known as the most English city in Southern Hemisphere, though extremely homogeneous in terms of race) and the diverse races ( My time in Sydney) and of course Rubgy.. like you said, i had constant smile while watching it, as I was remembering my school years. I agree about the lengths and I had to think twice about putting Semantic Error and Blueming way up in the list.
It's now six months later, Christmas Day, in fact. I had seen neither *My Ride* nor *The Miracle of Teddy Bear* when this video first aired. But consider the attributes highlighted in the above comment from June as those I value heavily when I grade a BL series: strong story, ability to make me happy, length of story, and fidelity to LGBT representations of the real world. Both series score highly with these criteria. Not only would both series have landed on my list, they'd have been much higher than 9 or 10.
*Teddy Bear* is, without argument, the most LGBT genre series from Thailand that I've ever seen. Ep12 alone offers the most cogent articulation of the need for gay civil rights in Thailand put forth in a BL episode. [Mr Critic's "non-review" of the series from April recognizes the show as a trailblazer but underappreciates, in my view, just how important that is.] If the BL genre represents psuedo-gay life as "fluffy" and "idealized," the LGBT genre has a reputation for emphasizing the depressing, dark, and difficult aspects of being gay. In fact, that's why we all loved *Heartstopper* so much. It is, unmistakably LGBT storytelling; yet, it is refreshingly free of darkness--all good feeling and sunshine. TMOTB, by contrast, comes across as tonally more alike with most LGBT genre fare. The series serves up moments of depression, darkness, and difficulty. It is a worthy entry to the international canon of coming out stories, and is, in its way, brilliant. Judging it as BL, against a stack of fluffy BL series, does it a disservice. Notwithstanding its melodramatic lakorn trappings and fluffy BL leanings, this Thai production is easily one of the best representations of gay life produced in 2022--anywhere in the world. It should have been higher on this mid-year list, and it ought to own pride of place on the year-end list as well.
KinnPorsche? Cupid's Last Wish? Dear Doctor? Triage? You're My Sky? Rainbow Prince? KeiXYaku? Cherry Blossoms?
kinn Porsche and Traige are still airing, so it is difficult to rank them before completion. Others didn't made into the top 10.
I am so happy you mentioned My Ride. Even though there was some angst it was a fluffy comforting series to watch with two leads who you rooted for from the beginning. I hardly see anyone talking about it which is a shame because it was an anticipated series but I think delays really hurt it. True definition of an underrated series.
I think the production house missed it on marketing properly.
I loved semantic error to bits. I got curious watching bl (even though I read bls for yrs) coz seoham of semantic error really won me. But comparing the simple plots of semantic error and bbs, I give points to bbs more since it progressed. I understand that semantic error manwha is ongoing so for me I compare BBS EP1-6 to Semantic Error EP1-8. And just with ep5 alone, bbs won my ❤️. Though I agree semantic error is such an easy watch. Not much drama. Just feel good. And it has better cinematography. But BBS is my winner for feel good show😊. (I liked heartstopper too but I dont want to count it coz the author wants to distance herself from bls making it sound like her material is superior than bls sooo I let her be.)
He he... Many people will agree with you about Bad Buddy's success because of Ohm & nanon 's acting. The plot was simple too thin to be memorable. They got many other things right which resonated with gay people along with believable acting,... That's what I have understood from all the discussion on Mr Critic's BB videos.
@@zahrabjinu Agreed. The plot was very simple, which makes what P'Aof did with the directing, screenwriting, along with giving Ohm, and Nanon the breathing room, to give life to the characters of Pat, and Pran, is what made me continue to tune in, each and every week of its initial run. I have talked/posted/praised this series so much on my Twitter, that I got long-term and jaded daytime soap opera fans, to start watching BLs via them asking me questions about BBS. Which platform is it on? How old are Ohm, and Nanon? They have that many series as the main leads, and they're both not even 25?!
@@VixenByNight72 did the jaded soap opera fans follow through? And if so, did they like it? [I would think soap opera fans not only would appreciate the soapy elements of BL, but also that the stories actually end!]
@@johnmaster3748 They really enjoyed Bad Buddy, and are amazed at all of the different types of series, that are available to watch. I recently sent out my recommendations for South Korean BLs a couple of weeks ago.
@@VixenByNight72 True, Nanon is a child actor and just yesterday YT algorithm threw up his bit role in a series when he must have been 14 . But he looks tired nowadays in his reality show called Upvel. He needs a break.
1.Semantic Error,hands down! 2.Bad Buddy. 3.Not me. 4. Cherry blossoms after winter. 5.Mr.Unlucky
That's my list exactly. KinnPorsche will probably knock someone off when it finishes, though.
@@j_scott Same here!KinnPorsche is another level right now and I know, that To my star s2🤩🤩😍😍, will be also included in my top list. Triage is not bad, the chemistry between main leads is so good and I cannot wait till november, cuz there should Between us start. My WinTeam🤩 and I forgot Plus and Minus 🤦♀🤦♀, shame on me 😂😂
I absolutely loved Cherry Blossoms After Winter!
@@sova-we8tv Triage isn't legally available for me to watch yet, but it's on my list when/if I can get it. I do like Plus & Minus. It was really sweet. Looking forward to Between us. Another Boun/Prem series called Even Sun starts this week, but I'm not sure it has an international release. I hope so!
@@j_scott I know about Triage from people's reaction on youtube.That´s why I wrote,it is not bad and the chemistry between main leads is good. I´m from Europe and I mostly watch all youtube´s available series. And there alot of app for the series
I’m not ranking BLs here because of a simple reason that I haven’t watched many of them. What motivated me to write this comment was “You Are My Sky”. I really wanted to begin with the sentence “I don’t know why this series was underrated ?” But I couldn’t because I know why ? I was among those who overlooked it mainly because it lacked well-known actors to interest me. At the moment I have been watching half of the series (ep 6) & had mixed feelings. I regret I didn’t pay attention on it at first & feel great I gave it a go at last.
The cinematography of the show is worth praising as well as the pacing. It was artistically shot & wisely written. They had also balanced the timing for all couples quite very well. The plot is touching, all actors are good looking. It’s too soon to say if “You Are My Sky” is going to impress me since there are 6 episodes left to watch. Just hope anyone who hasn’t watched it yet may consider giving it a try since the first half is nothing but excellent.👍👏🏼❤️
I expected you're my sky in the list too. Beautiful cinematography. Although the screenplay could've been a bit better, most of the actors pulled off their roles very well.
I liked that one, and I agree about the cinematography. I didn't think the main couple had much chemistry, though, which caused me to not like it as much as I like some others. It's certainly worth watching.
Rak Diao and You are my sky can share that spot, I think. The problem with Yms is too little Bl time compared to sports, competition etc, IMO. Though, personally, I found it different and actually liked it. Besides, Semantic error, I haven't rewatched any Bl even though I may have liked it. Blueming and Semantic error are the most memorable ones for me.
I agree with Zahra, I have considered YMS too, but it didn't made into the final list for the reasons pointed out by Zahra as well as the Main lead was really weak in terms of acting, I solely blame the casting directors in this case. The 2nd and 3rd couple were more interesting for me than the main one.
I am not familiar with Rak Diao, but now I want to give it a try. I'm ready for some funny after the angst-fest that is To My Star 2.
Like you, I wouldn't put SCOY in my top 10. I keep saying I'll try it again (I stopped after ep 4), but I keep finding new BLs that I'd rather watch.
Heartstopper! This inclusion will bring back the discussion we had on your previous video about whether non-Asian countries can successfully (or will successfully) produce BL shows. My argument is that yes, they can. Heartstopper is also on my to-watch list that grows longer by the second.
Semantic Error is also my number 1, with Bad Buddy at number 2 and Not Me at number 3. Unless KinnPorsche screws up and doesn't stick the landing, it will probably come in at number 2 and knock BB and NM down a notch.
I've also missed Rak Diao previously. It will skip ahead on my priority list as well. For me, Heartstopper 's inclusion does not invoke the discussion from last week because Mr Critic makes the rules for his list. In any event, I just intended to outline the contours of debate, not to take a position on the subject. If it seemed so, it's because I played Devil's Advocate after you argued in favor of inclusion. 😇
I've tried to watch Rak Diao (twice!!), but I'm one that hasn't ever been a follower of sitcoms, especially the ones from the mid 1990s onwards (I may have watched one season of "Friends", "Seinfeld", "Fraiser"), but that laugh track is nails on the chalkboard annoying to me.
@@VixenByNight72 Ohh. Is it that bad?? I'll give it a shot, but I may not be able to get past it, either. Kind of like the Japanese BL actors with the jacked-up Manga hair.
@@j_scott 😉 😜 😃 😀 😄
@@VixenByNight72 strictly speaking, a laugh track is recorded laughter added to a production. The three series you mentioned were all three-camera sitcoms "filmed before a live studio audience," so the laughter is "real." Though recorded laughter can be added to audience laughter like a hybrid. In any event, Rak Diao sounds like M*A*S*H or Malcom in the Middle: single-camera filmed shows with recorded laughter added. Or "nails on the chalkboard" territory for you. I don't mind the canned laughter unless it overwhelms the material. So that factor shouldn't influence my take on Rak Diao.
I have not seen Rak Diao, My Ride, or all of Miracle of Teddy Bear yet. My top 3 is solely based on how much I re-watch the series. Semantic Error takes the top spot because I have lost track of how many times I have watched this show. In second place is Not Me because I rewatch certain scenes frequently but not necessarily the whole drama. This is applies for Bad Buddy which is in the third spot. Simple. ;)
Rak Diao is available fully subbed on youtube itself. I recommend you watch that, though the laugh track might be a bit off putting, but once you get past 2-3 episodes, they do not bother that much.
@@blcritic Adding to my never ending watchlist. I am watching My Ride right now. You were right that Mork's dimple is on another level. ;)
Hehe... I am all in for Mork's Dimples!
Fun list - I assumed Best Buddy would be #1 - shows the bounty!
I have rewatched your top two and they are wonderful.
Worth noting is Heartstopper cast many first time actors who may not have been the most well built or beautiful but were attractive in their own way and acted at a high level.
One I would put in my top 3 is another Japanese series subbed by Furritsubs:
Favoritism of the Gods- for a body swapping drama with a bored minor deity and his talking dog sidekick- this had depth and complexity.
I'm currently watching "Favoritism of the Gods" at episode 5, and it's an interesting topic to focus on, in a series, with high school students.
@@VixenByNight72 glad you found it- let me know what you think when/if you finish
@@VixenByNight72 where does it stream?
@@justdave3153 I will. Have you watched "Kimi no Koto dake Miteitai" yet?
@@VixenByNight72 no hadn’t even heard of it!
You like it?
My top 5 so far is: heartstopper, Your my sky, semantic error, the miracle of teddy bear and Love stage
Did Love Stage ever get fully subbed? The last I saw, subtitles only went through about episode 7.
@@j_scott the version on AISPlay RUclips channel is fully subbed now
I don’t know if I’d put it in a top five, but I liked Ocean Like Me.
Kitty, I really liked it too but mainly see it put down. I watched it, enjoying the relationship and hoping for the little restaurant's success. A lot of people expect too much from BLs.
Such a good list that I (mostly) agree with. I did like Blueming but the second to the last episode seem weird to me and that pushes out of my top 10. I did not get the chance to watch The Miracle of Teddy Bear so it is also not on my list.
Here are is what my list would be:
1. Heartstopper - well done, feel good series. The actors are all great.
2. Bad Buddy - Ohm and Nanon were nearly pitch perfect
3. Not Me - I like the political aspect and the relationship between Dan and Yok
4. My Ride - a sweet and lovely story. Perhaps a bit dated but liked a story that was set outside of a school setting.
5. Plus & Minus - lots of cute cameos, great leads, and i am always a sucker for shots of one of my favorites cities in the world.
6. Semantic Error (if it had longer and more episodes it would rank higher). For me, G.O.A.T. Korean BL.
7. Rack Diao - so glad you had this on your list. Once you get used to the bad laugh track, it is great series.
8. Mr Unlucky Has No Choice But to Kiss - cute leads, interesting take of college students actually going to class and learning
9. The Man Who Defies the World of BL - interesting parody and lots of cute guys and interesting introd
10. Something in My Room - i liked the supernatural aspect and the leads. Sadly i saw the edited version and hope to see the uncut series someday.
EDIT 2: After talking to a friend I felt I had to give an honorable mention to Dear Doctor, I am Coming for Soul. Interesting premise and appealing leads.
Good list, David. I like reading the particulars of why your list slots out as it does..
"Interesting take of college students actually going to class..." was anyone else bothered to the point of distraction that the psych class was held in the foyer of the building?
@@johnmaster3748 I, as always, liked your comments on the series. Your point about being able to sustain excellence for 12 episodes for 45-60 minutes is spot on!
@@johnmaster3748 the layout did seem odd. I would not do well in that setting becUe the seats do not have a back to them!
I Liked your list, somewhat similar to mine. I had to take out Something in My room and Plus Minus in the last minute to make way for Rak Diao and Miracle of Teddy.
I think it is rare to find a perfect series, most of the time there is some flaw. I remember when I saw the first promo for Semantic Error, I went WOW, and I rushed to tell BLC about it. It lived up to that WOW and more, it really is a masterpiece. If some one new to bl asked me what series should I watch first, I would say Semantic Error for sure.
Number two took me by surprise, Heartstopper is really good (but have to admit I had kinda forgotten about it) is it bl?? Maybe more LGBTQ+ coming of age series. It should be on this list just because people for sure should watch it. It has had a lot of promotion and press, I love how intelligent the actors are in interviews as opposed to the fluffy fan service of so many Thai actors. But I do watch alot of TicToks and it is interesting to see young gay peoples comments about wish it was really like that. For all the good things about Heartstopper remember it is a fairy tale, it would be nice if life for young gay people was really like that.
At the begining of the year we all thought Bad Buddy was the one to beat, but as the year goes on I think it will slip further down the list. I think no one can fault the great acting of Ohm and Nanon but Bad Buddy had it's faults and as time goes on maybe good acting is not enough. The daily promos of the Ohm/Nanon ship and other drama kinda leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
For me Blueming may have been my number two choice, I loved that series, maybe not perfect but I will remember it.
I think I will leave my list like that and wait for the year end. With To My Star 2 just missing the list by a few days and KinnPorsche almost finished (episode 13 was good) there is alot to be said in the future.
I think it is a little sad in the first 6 months we have had something like 40 Thai series in that time and so few that are really good.
A side note, had the good luck to meet a fellow commentor. We had a nice dinner and wonderful time talking, nice to meet the real person behind the words.
This last weekend I got to finally see my partner of 5 years, who I have not seen for 2 and half years in person because of Covid. Talking on video chat keeps you going but being able to hug the person you love is so WONDERFUL. Wow think I am going to cry.
Wow you met our Minimini Tiger? Nice. And I am so happy for you. god 2.5 years is a long time.. finally... my best wishes are with you both. Hugs!
@@blcritic Yes I meet Mini, really really nice lady, hope she has a great holiday.
Watching To My Star 2 was very difficult for me because it is about people who really love each other but are so different and how do you work that. In the bl world in the end we get our happy ending but in the real world it is not really like that. To realize the person that you truely love is also the person that drives you crazy can be heart breaking. Two and half years is enough time to understand what does not work and one weekend is enough to understand that you can not change people. Happy to part on good terms, home alone, no happy bl ending here.
Aww... well I believe in destiny... Whatever is bound to happen will happen.. we just need to look forward and enjoy life. Hugs!
I'd put You're My Sky over My Ride, but honestly only because I really like seeing characters grow, and it felt like Tawan and Mork didn't really grow as characters (especially Tawan), while Thorn and Fah both helped each other through a lot and became better because of one another. But Tawan and Mork were better people to begin with and didn't actually have much in the way of anything to overcome, so maybe that's unfair 🤣 otherwise I agree with your list fully!
Actually i had YMS in the list, however, I later decided to add Heartstopper and all the others were pushed 1 step back and YMS was out of the list.
I really like hearing that ohmnanon carried bbs. Yeah, most critics and haters will say that is the only reason why bbs is good. But I've marathoned several bls in a month before I discovered bbs, and I dropped most of them coz of the crappy acting. I thought that was the standard of bls. It even validated my stand for years to not watch bls coz of the shitty acting. But I never thought 2 actors can do a master class of acting in a bl. Blew my mind. 😍😍 Now I am more open to watching bls despite the shitty acting coz not everyone can be nanon and/or ohm.
There's a certain backlash that came from some viewers regarding BBS, because of how easy Ohm and Nanon were able to portray the characters of Pat and Pran. They also didn't give off the "make sure everyone knows that I'm straight vibe", and how comfortable they were with being able to show the growing emotional, mental, physical, and sexual bond between those characters was amazing.Along with the very minimal fan service, that they didn't do, during the initial airing of the series. GMMTV didn't feel the need to release any workshop videos, showing Ohm, Nanon, and the rest of the cast, having to do assignments in front of the camera, to showcase them learning how to touch one another, so that the audience could get a taste of them together, before the series aired.
@@VixenByNight72 I feel like anytime a BL series generates the level of buzz and adoration that BB did during its run, an equal and opposite reaction from naysayers and detractors follows soon after. (SEE also: 2Gether.) It's as if any series becomes too visible, potentially mainstream, then the segment of BL fans that wants BL to remain a secret niche thing (e.g., "cool") pounces all over its success by vociferously magnifying its perceived flaws. (Hmm, so does my derisive take on Cutie Pie exemplify the trait I just denounced? [Looks at self in mirror.] Nah. That dreck deserved every bit of scorn I could heap on it. Because bad writing ruins good acting, cinematography, and sound track.)
@@johnmaster3748 Let’s not speak of that particular series. 😃 😀 😄
That backlash was weird, because it started right after episode 5 had aired. It triggered something.
Yeah, a lot of so called 'fans' said that, it is not that the other fronts like direction, screenplay, dialogues and cinematography is not good in Bad Buddy, they are good, but had they made it without Ohm and Nanon, it wouldn't have this level of popularity, esp the difficult scenes where the actors pulled it off pretty easily.
@@blcritic Yup. I literally cannot picture any other actors, in those particular roles. It feels like, BBS was made specifically for Ohm, and Nanon. They put their stamp on it.
Your list is so helpful. I'm new to watching BL's so catch up has been helpful with all your vids.
Can I ask. Does anyone know where I can watch Not Me?
RUclips
GMMTV's youtube channel here - ruclips.net/user/gmmtv
Thank 🙇 you both so much. ❤
I thought the expectations of BL fans ruining the BL industry, As one a piece of Art, this kind boring, no something new, just be a fantasy thing that can't grow up...so disappointing
Where can i see Heartstopper? I didn't know about that one. Your list I agree with it.
Netflix. And that should be true globally for this one.
@@johnmaster3748 ok, thank you.
Now I think I should have done a review of Heartstopper. But these netflix shows so difficult to screen record and they are pretty fast to claim copyright.
@@zahrabjinu did you watch it yet? Did'ya? It's short! Won't take long!
@@johnmaster3748 not yet I have kept it for later. I have to renew my membership too. But I did look it up on Yt... So many youtubers have talked about it. It has been loved a lot and it seems to be fun and heartwarming. I will see it John.
I just realized your list doesnt include the most hyped thai bl that recently ended that irked me the most. I only watched your top 5 so I will now try the rest coz I now know we have similar taste.😊
Heheh... I think I know what that most hyped BL is. Well Being good and Being popular are 2 different things.
I really liked your list, but what about you are my sky.
You're My Sky was good... however, I had to leave out so many good ones too as there were only 10 spots.
Im waiting for the bad buddy series 2
Last year's mid-year review episode didn't rank the series, just labeled a bunch of series as Hit or Miss. Any particular reason you altered the formula this year? Any chance for a Dishonorable Mention video? The Comments here feature a great deal of consensus around the Top of the list. The real fun debates would be about which are the Misses and why. Nah. On second thought, you dishonor a series that some people love to pieces, and blood will run in the Comments.
This year I had plans for Good, Bad and Mediocre, and was thinking of throwing a lot in the mediocre section, but we have so many BLs in this 6 months, I was actually scared by the sheer number while I was compiling the list. It would have been like 25-30 min video had I gone that path. hence, this year I am doing 10 best, 10 worst and 10 BL which could have been better. The worst ones will be pretty controversial, and I think i will put disclaimer at the beginning that I am not against BL. lol
@@blcritic so I have proceeded to the third episode of Rak Diao. I can ignore the intrusive laugh track. I cannot ignore how insufferable Diao is as a human being. BL is seldom tethered to reality anyway, but come on: a probationary employee that subordinate would get fired. A vindictive landlord that capricious would lose the tenant or get sued for violating lease terms. The premise* has the potential to be funny, but Diao is wholly unfunny. Humor is a very cultural thing, but what part of this tickles the Thai funny bone? What is this outsider just not getting? Or do I just need more patience?
*--I want to object to the inevitable romantic relationship between a junior employee and his direct supervisor. But I will assume newfangled Western attitudes about sexual harassment in the workplace remain a work in progress there.
@@blcritic the disclaimer probably just needs to assert that your opinions are your own, and that part of the fun of these discussions is to enjoy the differing points of view. You'll get flamed anyway, of course. But you'll also have set a tone for the rest of us, whose emotions and intellects have matured into rational adulthood.
I agree, and the initial portrayal of Diao makes it hard to watch the series. I also mentioned that in my video about Rak Diao or in the comment section, as the character of Daio needed really good acting, and the first half Win was not able to pull it off. However, he improves slowly as I think they shot the series in serial order.
About the video, I am working on it now, but I think most will agree as there were a lot of worst BLs than the supposedly hyped one i wanted to include. I have to be fair here. lol
@@blcritic don't try to do 10...unless you can identify 10 that are genuinely bad! I mean, don't pull from the mediocrities just because you need to fill out a list of 10. Also, it may be worth dividing the bad into categories---bad actors, bad chemistry between the leads; bad writing or story development; reliance on offensive elements like non-consent or jealous female stock characters; bad production quality; shows that just underdelivered. I suggest that because I think a Top Ten list can away with "I just really liked this show," but to label a show as bad you kind of have to justify it. Then you can also acknowledge that even a bad show can have positive qualities. "Although the actors did a great job, the lousy writing let them down and the series as a whole suffered." [Thats not a veiled criticism of any specific series.I could apply that critique to at least four 2022 series so far.] I'm sure you'll find the balance between fair criticism and piling on. (I posted to MDL a harsh review of The Cupid Coach last year. Kind of always felt guilty about it since they clearly lacked the resources of other series. So maybe that was piling on?)
I guess I missed something with Bad Buddy. It gets a lot of praise and it was good but I feel like a couple of other shows were much better.
Hey bestie 💕💕💕
💕💕
*Top 10 best BL series of 2022 from January to June__*
10. 00:51 *My ride* Thailand/ heartwarming cute/ Absolutely loved it.
09. 01:11 *Miracle of teddy bear* Thailand/ emotionally intense/ absolutely loved it
08. 01:42 *Fukou Kun Wa* Japan/ Haven't watched it yet/ planning to watch it
07. 02:05 *Man who defies the world of BL 2* Japan/ Haven't watched it yet/ planning to watch it
06. 02:32 *Rak Diao* Thailand/ Comedy and sexual tention/ Absolutely loved it
05. 03:06 *Not me* Thailand/ intense romance/ Absolutely loved it
04. 03:40 *Blueming* Korea/ Intense and heartwarming/ Just loved it
03. 04:02 *Bad buddy* Thailand/Sexual tention, heartwarming and cute/ Absolutely loved it
02. 04:39 *Heartstopper* USA/ Beautiful cute and heartwarming/Just loved it
01. 05:29 *Semantic error* Korea/ Sexual tention with intense stares through hate and love/ Absolutely loved it
BLC: I guess I had my crankypuss face on when I checked out Heartstopper as a new Netflix entry. Because I trust your opinion and that of John Master I look forward to viewing it later tonight with a better attitude.
Hope you liked it!
@@blcritic I did, BLC, and thanks for the hope.
It's the first time I disagree with your video...Rearranged your list according to my thoughts🤭🤭🤭 (and maybe you should have included Plus & Minus? it is top notch...)
🔥Bad Buddy- My no1 series! Loved the story, acting, Rhythm, different locations, all supporting cast. Ohm and Nanon are amazing actors!!!
🔥Not Me- it almost shared a championship with Bad Buddy, its no2 because some of the things that happened where too difficult for me to understand and I had to read BL WATCHER to get the plot (it's a must read review, in my opinion) . I think OffGun are the "Rolls-Royce" of BL couples, And it had the best BL scene of the year- Jumping under the rainbow flag!!!
🔥Heart stopper- it was really good, also the GL part. heart-warming, feel good drama.
🔥Semantic Error- Loved it but I thought it was too reserved, something in the energy was a bit off for me.
🔥My Ride- Loved it!!! Mork's dimple is all you need and want! couldn't get my eyes off his smile. I didn't like the waste of time with the unworthy ex, Loved their scenes together and the development.
🔥Blueming- it was nice but not more than a B- for me, Not enough of a story or character development
🔥Fukou Kun Wa- Loved it but IT FEELS INCOMPLETE!!! I felt like it ended in the middle of the story, they kissed at the beginning and ??? nothing at all? why? show us proper development of intimacy please...Not necessarily sex scenes, just simple couple intimacy.
😳Man who defies the world of BL 2- is it BL or parody of Bl? loved it but not sure it should share the same list as bad buddy/not me/semantic error .
😕 Miracle of Teddy Bear- I dropped this one because of the way Nut treated the poor teddy... I know other people love this drama, I hated it.
😕 Rak Diao- Dropped it because I couldn't hear anything but audience laughter
I love how u described whether a series is lit or Meh with emojis...
my top 3 also include the top three in your list, but in a different order
1- bad buddy, because I like everything about BBS. This series makes me happy, sad, angry, jealous and what not. Acting, direction, chemistry, songs everything is sooo good.
2- Heartstopper
3- Semantic error
If possible I will put both in the second spot.
I still remember how much I have waited for each episodes of semantic error and the emptiness I felt after the series was ended.
For me Heartstopper was like reading a book and getting lost in it fully. This series also did great justice in portraying the problems faced by LGBTQ community.
Galaxy Quest is a parody of science-fiction films generally and of Star Trek films in particular. No doubt, however, that the parody film is itself sci-fi. Also, if you ask ten random Star Trek fans to list the five best Star Trek films, at least seven will include Galaxy Quest on their tally. "Sure, I know it's not actually a Trek film," they will explain when you protest. "But that movie does Star Trek better than most Star Trek does Star Trek."
Obviously, I wish to push back against the notion that a parody BL may not be a BL. You may dispute whether Man Who Defies The World of BL belongs on this Top Ten list because it isn't good enough, and I'd respect your opinion as your own. But if you want to insist on saying it shouldn't be here because parody BL isn't BL, then I'll be happy to take that debate!
P.S. if you want to argue The Man Who Defies The World of BL is ineligible for this list because it's not really a series but a movie disguised as episodic TV, I will stand beside you. Lol
Come on... Galaxy Quest is not a Star Trek Film? lol .. Like you said.. they did Star trek better than Star trek.