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absolutebl · 1 year

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Hii. Can you tell that I'm always camping on your Tumblr 🤣🤣 I'm so sorry but you are becoming like my ultimate informant about anything bl related!!! Anyway

Any bls where the main leads are already an established couple??? I've watched so many bls and I do like them but I want to watch something different than the same thing like 2 guys falling in love.

BLs That Feature an Established Couple

Yes there are quite a few (I am assuming you don't want reunion romances, like Our Dating Sim, or you would have said). There aren't a lot of GOOD ones though. Unless otherwise stated, I wouldn't recommend any of these. So I have put RECOMMENDED next to the few I actually think you might enjoy.

In the mainstay BLs out of Thailand etc... this is usually handed off to a side couple (or a pair established in a previous series):

Yes, but it's the side couple

Top Secret Together (cafe advice gays = pair is an IRL couple)

My Secret Love (ParkLee)

Ai Long Nhai (dads are played by IRL couple)

Love Stage!!! (Thai version) RECOMMENDED

My Ride (uncles) RECOMMENDED

TonhonChonlatee (AiNhai, connected to the characters of Ai Long Nhai, different actors)

2 Moons 3 (3 side couples previously established in 2 Moons 2, different actors)

The En of Love universe will established a couple in one sequence, like GunBar in Tossera, and then show them together in all subsequent ones like Love Mechanics and Future the series, often played by different actors. - SOMEWHAT RECOMMENDED

DNA Says Love You - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

My Lascivious Boss - RECOMMENDED

There are a few where they are an established couple (and everyone else knows) they just idiots. I'm thinking about couples like PaperFah in Second Chance, under appreciated little gem of a Thai pulp you might want to try (especially if you are a KP fan).

They Together, They Just Idiots

Second Chance - RECOMMENDED

Cupid's Last Wish

My Only 12%

Cutie Pie - RECOMMENDED

Puppy Honey 2 (couple established as sides in Puppy Honey)

Friend Forever

I Am Your King

Ingredients - RECOMMENDED

My Secret Love (TimMai crumbs)

Theory of Love

Kimi no Koto Dake Mite Itai

Peach of Time

Where Your Eyes Linger - RECOMMENDED

Because of You (sides)

Plus and Minus - RECOMMENDED

Cupcakes & Him

BLs That FEATURE Established Couples

Takara & Amagi (sort of, it opens on a confession) HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

What Did You Eat Yesterday? HIGHLY RECOMMENDED (this is probably what you are looking for)

Eternal Yesterday

Jack o'Frost

Takumi-Kun 2-6 (or however many their are, same actors from 2 on)

My Beautiful Man 2 (couple established in My Beautiful Man) - RECOMMENDED

Happy Ending Romance (but the LTR is toxic and doesn't last)

To My Star 2 (couple established in To My Star)

Faded (short) - RECOMMENDED

HIStory Obsessed

Papa & Daddy 1 & 2

Goodbye Mother

Monster in Law

That's My Candy

Close Friend 2 (couples established in Close Friend, same actors)

Dark Blue Kiss (couple established as BL side in Kiss series, same actors) - RECOMMENDED

Don't Say No (couple established in TharnType 2, same actors)

TharnType 2 (couple established in TharnType, same actors, plus new side couple in established relationship)

SOTUS S (couple established in SOTUS) - RECOMMENDED

Together With Me The Next Chapter (couple established in Together With Me)

Reminders (couples sort of established in Love By Chance and Love Sick, same actors)

All the Our Skyys (of course)

Gen Y 2 (main and side couple established in Gen Y, same actors)

This post dated early 2023, not responsible for updating with BLs that finished their runs AFTER this date. Reunion Romances & Friends w Benefits tropes not included.

(source)

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absolutebl · 2 years

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BEST OF 2021 - BL Edition!

Hella subjective utterly erratic awards of little import and no impact. But I love them, okay? Only includes shows that completed their runs in 2021.

BEST KISS 2021

THE WINNER: TharnType 2

There were some killer kisses in BL this year, but basically no one on earth (let alone in BL) can beat out MewGulf in this category. I’m a big fan of the soft sweet candy kiss in the final TT2 episode, but really any of them were great and there were A LOT. (Episode by episode trash-watching recap here.)

BEST DEBUT KISS 2021

THE WINNER: We Best Love

For first timers, this category goes to SamYu of We Best Love, who did a magical job at first kisses in a short run series. (The shorter the run, the less chance the actors have to establish intimacy and become comfortable with each other. Although, Taiwan is generally better at enabling actor intimacy than any other country, possibly because it’s a queer-friendly culture with good workshopping techniques.)

Anyway, tears running down their faces, post baby’s agro shouty confession, on a bridge (another trope) who doesn’t love this kiss? Plus they breathed into each other (how to act a kiss 101 that so many BLs don’t do.

I have to say, the contentious drunken sobbing kiss Sam gave us in season two almost took this whole category, if it weren’t for the struggle beneath all those tears and passion and consent... But really, THAT KISS (and you all know which one I’m on about) wasn’t so much romantic as it was pained and desperate, and it didn’t take this category because that kiss wasn’t about love, it was about loss and failure and regret.

It was, possibly, one of the best kisses in all BL, but it’s not the right kind of kiss to win a romance trope category.

I hope that makes sense.

I’m gonna throw a little love Thai BL pulps way, they gave us a number of charming kisses this year, but I was most taken with Second Chance’s PaperFah.

To My Star’s very final kiss was also in contention (Korea, who knew?), but We Best Love beat that one out because I’m a sucker for tears and SamYu... just GAH.

BEST DOCUMENTARY 2021

THE WINNER: Absolute BL AKA Zettai BL ni Naru Sekai vs Zettai BL ni Naritakunai Otoko AKA A Man Who Defies The World of BL

Honestly tho, it was also the only entrant in this category (unless you count Call it What You Want and Lovely Writer). Look, this was a work of genius. A meta commentary that can only really be thought of as Japan taking itself to task for its own tropes, pulling them out, examining and gently mocking them, but still bucking under the weight of expectation and history. I hooted with laughter. It’s insightful, charming, and AMAZING. (Full review here.)

BEST THEME SONG 2021

THE WINNER: Light on Me

A.C.E’s song Spark for Light On Me wins OTS. I have to say I also really liked both of Color Rush’s 2 entrants and Wish You’s cute little song, but as a K-pop enthusiast I was really happy to see an actual K-pop song sung by a legit group in a Korean BL. It legitimized all K-BL in a weird way, ya know?

BEST CASTING, DIRECTING & SCRIPT 2021

THE WINNER: A Tale of Thousand Stars

The story and execution were great, but the cast really elevated this show into something special. Everyone seemed to perfectly suit their roles and GMMTV made the most out of its stable. Combined with excellent production (and post production) values, 1000 Stars is without question GMMTV’s most mature, charming, and smart BL series. I think it should go down as one of the top BLs of all time. You should feel safe recommending this one to friends and non BL watchers.

BEST USE OF BL TROPES 2021

THE WINNER: Light On Me

Light On Me who drops multiple BL tropes with its two different seme’s for expert love triangle reasons but also uses them for pristine pacing, plot, and character development. Korea is the most strategic user of tropes and I love that they deploy them explicitly to serve narrative a not just to tick boxes. Light on Me is a master class in this technique. (If you write fanfic or romance you should study this show.)

Their best versions included (but were not limited to:

Minister the Artful Injury (for the love triangle)

Meet Me in the Library (for the love triangle)

Crash Into Me (for the love triangle)

That’s MY BOYFRIEND - Public Claiming (to show character’s seme traits and attractiveness of identity ownership and honesty)

Put Your Head On My Shoulder (to show seme character’s pining traits and softness)

Boys on Phones (to advance plot and tension)

Symbolic Gift Exchange (as a twist to show interest and call-back coupledom)

and Touch My Face (that subverted version of the ADORABLE squeeze thing they did to each other)

2021′S MOST UNEXPECTEDLY SOFT SERIES

THE WINNER: Be Loved In House: I Do

By far Be Love In House: I Do’s best quality was that the tsundere uke’s tsundere-ness was entirely sympathetic, he was utterly likable from the start. This BL cleverly leaned on great acting and beautiful trope execution to carry a rather weak story, but the two leads being impossibly soft with each other in the home absolutely slayed. Grumpy/tsundere is HARD to execute well, so I was impressed, especially from Taiwan who, let’s be fair, doesn’t really specialize in soft or clever BL. BLINID was both.

Honorable mention to Golden Blood.

Only Thailand would DARE be this soft with a bodyguard romance. I didn’t expect SunSky and their side dishes (PitchBank) to be so tender and sweet with each other.

BEST MICROFILM 2021

THE WINNER: A First Love Story

Look I adore Hey Rival: I LOVE YOU! but it was still very Vietnamese and so rather flawed in execution. Korea’s Strongberry, on the other hand, have been perfecting the BL microfilm genre (and, let’s be fair, kind of OWN it) since 2017. They are true masters of their craft and yet A First Love Story is still one of the best things they have ever produced. It’s two episodes of about 8 minutes each that manage to perfectly portray the sweetest friends-to-lovers confession ever. It’s joyful, and gentle with its characters, and a little hot.

How on earth do they manage to leave us yearning for more yet completely satisfied at the same time? It’s like the perfect amuse-bouche, that one finger food at that one cocktail party that you will never forget. You are a ridiculous human if you haven’t spent 16 minutes with these two boys. Go watch it now. Or go watch it again. It’s time VERY well spent.

BEST UNIVERSITY SET BL 2021

THE WINNER: Nitiman

This Thai BL pulp had sympathetic characters, a solid tsundere uke redemption arc, and a fantastic pining seme who yearned without bullying, grooming, or gaslighting. Plus when they were together, they were ridiculously soft. But it also had a realistic portrayal of university life, bisexual awakening, and friendship groups. Bummer about the ending. (Full review here.)

BEST HIGH SCHOOL SET BL OF2021

It’s a tie!

THE WINNERS: Light on Me & Kieta Hatsukoi

Korean BL Light On Me managed to portray the angst of high school, social media, and coming out in a refined almost elegant way with all credit given to the uke character for honestly and brutal communication. It had a great friendship group, good teacher character, and even managed to treat Plot Device Girl with integrity. Also the white blue color pallet throughout was very pleasing and classy.

Japanese BL Kieta Hatsukoi AKA My Love Mix-Up! snuck in under the wire to tie Korea’s gem at the VERY end of the year. It was also all teen angst and dramatic crisis over haircuts and text messaging but it was so Japanese slapstick extreme about it. It was a one-show meme-generator and Aoki’s face was a picture of comedic mobility. It was charming origin yaoi in a way that represented for the manga roots of the genre where as LoM was basically showing us how far we have come. Also Kieta Hatsukoi was so Japan’s style where LoM was so much Korea’s, it’s fun to watch two countries separated by the same genre. These two shows exist in equal, if opposite, flip sides of the same coin. How could I decide between the two? The award goes to both.

BEST QUEER REP 2021

THE WINNER: My Lascivious Boss

While it did have pacing issues and some questionable content at the beginning, MLB’s unabashed queerness carried it though and ultimately elevated it with camp. It never felt like mockery or punching down, it felt joyful, and very new wave BL. It’s as if Vietnam is starting a process of handing out HEAs to all the letters of LGBTQ+ in BL style - I love this look for them. (On YouTube - full review here.)

BEST WARDROBE 2021

THE WINNER: We Best Love: Fighting Mr. 2nd

Mostly I’m classifying WBL as one series aired in two parts, but for this category the second half really takes the gold. THOSE 3 PIECE SUITS on Shu Yi. How Liu Bing Wei always coordinates his tie to Shi Zhe Yu’s suit. It was an absolute pleasure to watch. I never winced once.

BEST HISTORICAL 2021

THE WINNER: Nobleman Ryu’s Wedding

A historical setting allowed this BL to use some seriously old fashioned romance tropes (arranged marriage and evil step-sisters) but also modern BL stylings like fake relationship and secret identity (drag) plus some cute gay panic. It was a lot more gentle than any historical BL to date, which is Korea stamping the sub-genre with its mark and standing up to China’s darker traditions. It reminded me of 12th Night more than anything else which just happens to be my favorite Shakespeare play. For all these reasons, I adored it. (Full review here.)

Most Honest to BL’s Roots

THE WINNER: Utsukushii Kare

Given, Utsukushii Kare, and Kieta Hatsukoi all could have released in 2015 as live action yaoi and absolutely no one would have been surprised. They were seriously old school in a PTSD flashback kind of way (if reading yaoi and watching the first live action versions gave you PTSD, which it certainly could have if you were young enough.)

But Given and Kieta Hatsukoi leaned slightly softer, and therefore felt a touch more modern, because Japanese BL is so rarely soft. On the other hand, Utsukushii Kare was harsh as all get up, angry with us and itself, reminding us about whipping boy, and attack dog, and spoiled prince.

This is what an entirely unreasonable tsundere really looks like.

This is what a weird obsessed stalker seme really looks like.

This depicted the collateral that any relationship involving these archetypes causes to everyone around them.

It was exactly as weird and as messed up as any 2000′s yaoi: emo af and hella warped, entirely true to itself with no attempt made to modify its POV for modern sensibilities or current BL fandom. It didn’t pander to us in anyway, and I fucking loved it for that. This is not just live action yaoi in its purest form, it’s Japanese cinema, uncompromising.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

MaxTul

Starting with Bad Romance in 2016, MaxTul are one of the longest running, funny & game, and apparently healthy actor pairs in Thai BL. Never once did they sail their ship astray, miss a port (or a pun), or fail to raise the rainbow flag to honor the queer community (for queens and country).

We are deeply grateful for their service to fandom.

We of the BL navy salute you.

(I’ll stop now.)

BEST BL THAT WASN’T A BL 2021

THE WiNNER: The Devil Judge

For a show that was meant to be a dystopian court thriller, these two gents got awfully domestic. Is Korea taking its tips from China’s bromance tradition now?

Anygay, these two were husbands by about episode 3.

Everyone agrees.

Even them.

MOST CHARMING BL 2021

THE WiNNER: To My Star

This little series was quirky as all goddamn getup, but so cinnamon roll adorable out the other side I forgive it all my initial confusion. The grumpy chef and neurotic actor (human puppy) pairing really worked for me. Both actors were great, the kitchen and cafe settings were lovely, and the ending was a peach. Utterly charming.

MOST REWATCHABLE BL 2021

THE WINNER: We Best Love

We Best Love is amazing, just the chemistry alone holds up to multiple rewatches, and THAT drunk scene in part 2! There’s some pretty epic pining in BL, but Gao Shi De pines for Olympic gold, and I happen to love watching a seme suffer. Again and again.

The story is weak but the performances are so good they entirely sweep away a flawed plot, thin narrative arc, and time jump character development. It’s rare for me to like a show DESPITE the story, We Best Love stands with To My Star as one of the few. All told this series is GREAT, I am probably rewatching right now. I want a Viki movie version yesterday. (Full review here.)

BEST BL 2021

THE WINNER: Color Rush

In a surprise upset Korea stole the gold from top contenders Taiwan (my beloved) and Thailand (the power house). Under STRONG competition from We Best Love, To My Star, Lovely Writer, and 1000 Stars, Color Rush took the top spot.

What can I say? I absolutely LOVE this BL.

What really won it for Color Rush was the brilliant allegory and the ultra clean concept, not to mention Korea’s pitch perfect production values and a heavy dose of classic yaoi filming technique.

Color Rush managed to be both ground-breaking, nostalgic, and charming all at once. I could write a thesis on it. I kinda did.

Winners based on my definition of BL.

(source)

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absolutebl · 3 years

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I would like to formally congratulate Thailand. As of July 2021 they have now produced more BLs in a year than they have in previous years. Also more BLs than any other country ever.

Go Thailand!

Here’s the list as of July 2021.

Country Boy

Hidden Love

Love Poison 2

Call it What You Want

My Bromance 2

Siew Sum Noi

Hometown's Embrace

My Boy

Top Secret Together

Golden Blood

The Yearbook

The Best Story

Love Machine

The Cupid Coach

Close Friend

Brothers

Fish Upon the Sky

Evening Cafe

Once in Memory

Tonhon Chonlatee

Gen Y

Y-Destiny

Second Chance

Nitiman

Manner of Death

1000 Stars

Lovely Writer

I Promised You The Moon

(I count year of production by when the last episode aired, AKA award eligibility year.)

#thai bl #thaibl #bl stats #asian bl #asianbl #tale of a thousand stars #1000 stars #brothers #khunkaow #close friend #paperfah #Golden Blood #Evening Cafe #Fish Upon The Sky #Second Chance #Y-Destiny

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absolutebl · 3 years

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Quick Pitch

Second Chance

Foundational Romance Trope? Friends to lovers

I have a real soft spot for the Thai BL pulps and this is probably going to be the best pulp of 2021 (for Thailand, Vietnam is nipping at the heels... in heels).

It brought us back into the high school sphere and YA angst in a big way. I happen to love this setting and these tropes (what can I say, blame my early days of Love Sick and Make it Right).

All three couples had good chemistry (half the main cast was already comfortable with BL) and while there wasn’t much story, the acting and production values were decent. Considering the last few years, I’m disposed to be very pleased with this offering.

Chris & Jeno were TOO CUTE

The final episode featured everyone in adorable single breasted suits (Tang Yi approves), some probable lesbians (well I’ve decided they’re lesbians, Harold), and all the tropes were executed perfectly.

Is it poor on post production, small cast, and terrible script? Sure it is. Is it weird that the Sirorattanaphanit brothers look like twins but this is never acknowledged? Yeah, it’s weird.

But the boys are charming. CHARMING I TELL YOU.

The fact that Brothers got 13 eps AND a second season, compared to this little gem is a goddam sin. And not the good kind.

This is one of the best BL pulps I’ve seen in a really long time.

You can watch it on Line and you should.

Youtube sometimes or Viki or... It’s around

#second chance #chrisjeno #paperfah #thaibl #thai bl #series recap #series review #bl revie #recommended bl

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absolutebl · 3 years

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This Week in BL

April 2021 Part 3

Being a highly subjective assessment of one tiny corner of the interwebs.

Ongoing Series - Thai

Second Chance Ep 3 - this is proper YA, they are dealing with actual high school issues, picking uni, first crushes, online dating, etc... We even got a senior prom trope which almost never happens in Thai stuff (just the freshman uni competition variant). Standard plot pacing means PaperFah’s kiss was too early, might indicate we’re moving to uni in the second half of the series? Tropes included: let me feed you, hand hold, black & white striped shirt, floppy drunk & first kiss.

Y-Destiny Ep 3 - the first MaxNat ep. Such fun to see them playing different characters. This one is enemies to lovers, tutor/student, but it’s using the “poor little rich kid loose cannon” archetype. Nat is doing his best, but it’s leaving me cold. Lots of tropes tho: boyfriend’s closet, floppy drunk, pillow clutch, the loom & water bottle.

Lovely Writer Ep 8 - solid installment, good use of many tropes. I really like the leads and I’m glad there isn’t much side dish action, SibGene gave us: punish, touch your face, boyfriend claiming, kissing, sleep cuddling, symmetry, rooftop, cheek kiss, hand hold, and pillow clutch.

Call It What You Want Ep 3-4 - couldn’t find the subs, don’t really care, will watch if it crosses my radar, otherwise I’m just not into it.

Brothers Ep 11 - the “everyone wants Chol” show continues (but WHY?), he and Tri are cute together, and now I kinda just want Prab to end up with the twins. I’m confused by the teachers, but Boston showed up (from UWMA), and my boys KhunKaow got together (YES!), so I’m ultimately delighted with the episode.

Fish Upon The Sky Ep 2 - the makeover happened, and we go from cute with glasses and braces to cute without them. (I’m reminded of those 90′s Pygmalion teen movies where the girl has glasses + ponytail and then *GASP* does not and *GASP* she’s HOT. This was the BL version.) Meanwhile, writers better be careful with Pi, he’s getting too tsundere to like. Did you see they gave AJ a 2gether music intro & pick up line? Well, it’s actually his brother JJ who plays Ohm in 2g. I cackled. GMMTV - you so cheeky.

Ongoing Series - Not Thai

HIStory 4: Close To You (Taiwan) Ep 5 - half way point. My poor confused babies. It was a really sweet episode... if what happened before hadn’t happened in the way that it had. Also, these boys have a GREAT friendship but are probably the worst advice givers ever.

Most Peaceful Place (Vietnam) Ep 3 fin - so cute! Our boys confessed and got together. There was an adorable mutual kiss (I love me a mutual, like Ingredients). Afterwards, they actually seemed to communicate with each other about both sex and their relationship. OMG. How original for BL! This was the last episode, so the series is short, but I still enjoyed it very much. RECOMMENDED.

My Lascivious Boss (Vietnam) Ep 1-2 - oh boy this one is rough, we started out with homophobia child abuse and moved on to family drama + drunken dub-con one night stand. But production values and subs are better than normal for Vietnam (You Are My Boy levels) + our queer babies are out & proud + it’s higher heat + I’m weak. So I’m watching.

Word of Honor (China) Ep 25-27 - honestly not much happened, lots of back story. Things are looking dire for the ghosts unless they can turn the Scorpion (I LOVE HIM, he’s my precious deadly baby). Don’t know how they managed to make loosing a battle with an immortal sword god ex-friend cute... but they did. Did some calculations and at 36 eps, mathematically speaking, ep 30 will be the equivalent of a standard BL ep 11. Should I be scared for next week?

Nobleman Ryu’s Wedding (Korea) Ep 1-2 - it’s so effing adorbs, soft bois do old fashioned tropes like arranged marriage + evil stepsisters meets the more modern fake relationship + secret identity in a surprisingly comfortable mix. It launched with baby is a floppy drunk, forced proximity, performative I saw you feed him, and some fun gay panic. It’s a lot lighter and faster paced than I was expecting, but this is Korea so I don’t know why I’m surprised.

Stand Alones

K-pop band OnlyOneOf dropped a new MV that is basically BL bait, using many of the tropes we know and love. I promise I’m not trying to lure anyone into K-pop I just thought it was interesting how consciously they’re yaoi dipping.

Spin-off We Best Love Fighting Mr. 2nd, Shou Zhen | the Only Love Letter Once Written (SERIOUSLY WITH THE TITLES TAIWAN?) anyway there’s a something or other 25 minutes featuring Pei Shou Yi and his boy that aired Friday. It’s about 10 minutes of reboot footage with 15 min of new content, mostly set in the past. It entirely rests on Chih Tian Shih’s acting, fortunately for us he’s great. However, it doesn’t substantially change or add to these characters’ arcs from the finale of WBL season 2. I don’t know if there will be more or if this was just an extra footage fan service.

COLOR RUSH GOT ITS MOVIE!!! Okay this is almost the tipping point for me to get Viki Standard. It’s listed at 1:56 minutes long but the original series had only c.120 running time - that is a lot of new content. Although i was disappointed by To My Star’s movie I loved Wish You’s, so I am hoping Color Rush got Wish You level treatment. That said, I feel Color Rush the series is damn near perfect already, hard to improve on perfection.

Breaking News

Close Friend the series got an updated trailer featuring MaxNat (no subs) so if you like them in Y-Destiny or in Why R U get ready for them to play different characters again, this time for a sports romance segment. Like Y-Destiny, Close Friend looks to be another series of vignettes (Original trailer) coming April 22.

2gether the movie (Thai trailer) was intended release April 22 but is now postponed due to a surge in C19 cases in Thailand.

Tell the World I Love You, a Thai BL movie that was supposed to release last week, is similarly delayed.

My Ride has been postponed indefinitely with no airing date.

The Miracle of Teddy Bear got a teaser vid, no eng subs.

Gossip

Thai BL actors Nanon (Bad Buddy), Yoon (YYY), and Mark Siwat (LBC, Bite Me) have tested positive for C19. Press releases stated they’re fine, tho filming has paused fore their various projects, obvs. (No word on whether Nanon’s current project was Bad Buddy or not, although it seems likely given his recent Arm Share episode.)

Next Week Looks Like This:

Some shows may be listed later than actual air date for International accessibility reasons.

Upcoming 2021 BL master post here.

Links to watch are provided when possible, ask in a comment if I missed something.

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