As you are aware, I fell down the BL rabbit hole some time ago and haven’t been able to dig my way out. Do I want to? Well, not yet! It certainly helps when I have a whole group of friends who also enjoy watching. Especially the friend who is my BL and Bubble partner. For over a year now we gather for one day on the weekend and most major holidays and settle in for a good (bad?) day of BL, accompanied by a run to our favorite Bubble tea shop, Share Tea. (Minibubbles for life!) We’ve had some ups and downs, good shows and bad ones, ebbs and flows where we’re simulcasting up to 4 shows to times where we’re struggling to fill our BL plate. Unfortunately, for most of the summer we’ve been in a lag — while there have been some highlights, for the most part, we’ve just been waiting for the good shows to start playing. What we didn’t expect would happen is that they’d all start around the same time! So many it’s crazy. We actually had to start an Upcoming BL Calendar to keep track!
Welcome to the jungle that is our choices the BL series starting in September!
September 2
Love By Chance 2: A Chance To Love
Thailand – Series – 12 Eps
Continuation of Love By Chance with TinCan as the main couple. Can is learning about what love is and the obstacles that come with it. Kengkla tries to reconcile with No.
Will we watch? Oh yeah, no doubt. I’m trying hard to avoid spoilers on this but I do know that the original couple is broke up, at first it made me mad but someone told me it actually happened in the book so I’m bracing myself for it.
September 8
Boyband Love (BBL) is a BL digital series that revolves around LMTLSS (pronounced as limitless), a Pinoy boyband composed of Aiden, Danny, Jamie, and Rico who have one goal in mind – stardom! However, their journey won’t be easy as their personalities clash, and their personal vendettas get in the way. BBL tackles issues about the LGBTQ+ community with music industry as the backdrop. It aims to become an eye-opener to help the audience understand that everyone is equal and has the right to love, to dream, and to be treated as human no matter what gender preference each of us has.
Will we watch? I think so? but it seems angsty. Luckily Alix is nice and gives in to my ask to bunch the angsty episodes together so we can get through them in one sitting if we see it coming.
September 12
Oxygen: The Series
Thailand – Series – 13 Eps
Orphaned at a very young age, Gui, a fourth-year engineering student, has had to work hard and earn for himself for as long as he can remember. Still, through the test of time, he still has a soft demeanor and a smile on his face. Solo, a freshman in the Faculty of Music, can get anything he wants with a flick of his wrist. Money, fame, good looks, the boy has everything, except his smile. When Solo’s mother passed away, she took with her his smile. Nothing could fill this missing hole in him… that is — until one day when he sees a smiling boy working at a cafe. One night the two worlds collide in a small coffee shop. For a cup of hot milk and a warm smile, Solo finds himself back in the cafe every night. For a soft boy who reminds him of a husky, Gui finds himself waiting for a late-night visitor with a cup of hot milk, night after night. Night after night, the two boys continue to meet. At the same spot, at the same time, until they soon come to realize that they have become each other’s breath. A necessity. Just like Oxygen.
Will we watch? Did you read that synopsis??? Of course we’re going to watch this! Its actually been on the radar for a while now, I’m happy to see it finally have a premier date!
September 14
My Gear and Your Gown
Thailand – Series – 12 Eps
Meet Dr. Pai, a smart medical student, former head of the school’s academic club. He doesn’t have confidence about his facial appearance and lastly, he doesn’t believe in LOVE. Itt, a handsome engineering student and the former head of the sports club. No matter what happens, my gear only matches with your gown.
Will we watch? Yes? I can’t see us saying no to this one. Everyone looks cute. Looks like there will be some angst and will have not only the requisite white shirt but also the engineering student that’s a staple of the Thai BL.
September 18
Mr Heart
Korean – Series (short)
Despite the fact that things just never seem to go his way, Sang Ha (Lee Se Jin) always manages to find a reason to smile. A member of the school track team, Sang Ha loves to run, but distance has never really been his thing. For Sang Ha, sprinting is what brings him the most joy. Jin Won (Cheon Seung Ho), on the other hand, is exactly the opposite. A record-breaking marathon runner in high school, Jin Won is well on his way to becoming a marathon superstar. Determined to live up to the expectations of his coaches and colleagues, Jin Won cares about one thing and one thing only: running his next race. When Jin Won finds himself struggling to maintain his record-breaking stats, his coach suggests Sang Ha step in to help as a pacemaker. Disappointed in the coach’s decision, Jin Won is anything but friendly to his new partner but with time and determination, the two runners come to find they share a similar passion, both on the track and off. As the two become closer, they begin to realize their feelings for each have taken an unexpected turn. But can they move from friend to friendlier without risking everything they’ve worked so hard to achieve? The followup project to the popular BL drama, “Where Your Eyes Linger” (2020), “Mr. Heart” is a 2020 idol web drama directed by Park Seon Jae.
Will we watch? Korean BL? Dur. Silly question. Plus these are ten minute long episodes, easy to squeeze into that crazy schedule.
September 19
Innocent
Taiwan – Series (Further note, it appears this was pushed to a later date)
“I love you not because of who you are, but because of who I can be in front of you.”
Because of an accident when he was fives old, Yu Shi had a second personality named Noah. Noah is a silent person without any emotions and desires. He protected Yu Shi’s as he grew until he met Wu Zheng. Yu Shi wanted to be with Wu Zheng, but Noah always didn’t trust Wu Zheng. Although Wu Zheng also has good feelings for Yu Shi, while Shaojie, the woman who has been set up with Wu Zheng continues to disturb Yu Shi. Yu Shi had a tragic childhood, but Wu Zheng made Yu Shi able to survive in this turbulent world. As a straight man with traditional male chauvinism, how can Wu Zheng break through the constraints of the world and face himself bravely?
Will we watch? I had to give this synopsis side-eye, read it a couple of times, but a split personality BL? With two cute guys as leads? You better believe we’re going to be watching this one though i could see us holding on it until we finish a few of the shows we’ll be currently watching by then.
September 25
Ghost Runner
Thailand – Series – 10 Eps
This is the story is surrounding Hart and Pukphong. Everyone who has come to the athletic camp has gone through some sort of scary experience. Just what exactly is the secret of the school and who is behind this?
Will we watch? Believe it or not we do have our limits and for Alix, that’s horror, I bet we’re going to be giving this one a pass.
September 27
My Extra Ordinary
Philippines – Series – 8 Eps
Ken is a popular and good-natured university sophomore who meets Shake, a shy freshman and university scholar, through a basketball game brawl. After settling their misunderstandings, the two young men are immediately drawn to each other. Although Shake and Ken’s close friends support their blossoming intimate relationship, Sandee, Ken’s childhood friend becomes envious and tells his conservative widowed mother — preempting their romantic love affair. Relationships are strained and tension mounts at home, Shake and Ken eventually find themselves parting ways. In an unfamiliar twist, the remorseful Sandee becomes a bridge and helps reunite Shake and Ken.
Will we watch? I mean, it looks super angsty and the Filipino version of makjang, but we’ve had some excellent luck with the Filipino ones we’ve tried so far. So long as we can get subs, we’ll give it a try, I’m pretty sure.
September 30
Your Name Engraved Herein
Taiwan – Movie
In 1988 when Martial Law Era ended, two Christian high school students, A Han and Birdy, met at the school band led by Canadian Priest Ou. One day, they were granted a day off to Taipei for the late President’s funeral. The two took a chance to explore the city and theaters, finding themselves inspired by brotherly love and freedom. Days after, A Han’s affection for Birdy has been awakened, but much-confused Birdy pushed him away by pretending falling in love with a girl. The misunderstanding separated them ever since until two decades later, the two men met again in a foreign city.
Will we watch? Honestly, I think I’m going to take a pass on this one unless Alix really wants to watch.
And this is just September, I believe there are lots more coming for the rest of the year though. On the other hand, unless we have dates in hand, I wonder if we should binge simulcast them all? Craming in as many as we can during our day? Or do we hold out? Ration them for the time where we hit another dry spell? Hmmm….I can only say I’m looking forward to Alix’s return from her foray to the east coast so we can watch Still2Gether that we held off on, finish Roommate (even though I’m super disappointed with how they shorthanded the show and I just realized I forgot to mention this one when talking about all the shows I’d watched on the podcast) finish Game Boys (though we have not been pleased with the last few episodes), drinking bubble tea together on her back porch as we chat, watch, all from a socially acceptable distance.
What shows are you looking forward to most? Any here you’re just going to take a pass on? Also, I’ll make sure to add them to the LGBT pages, the place where you can go to the next time need an answer to your BL dry spell!
BL and Bubbles Calendar – September 2020
BL and Bubbles Calendar – October 2020
BL and Bubbles Calendar – November 2020
BL and Bubbles Calendar – December 2020
BL and Bubbles Calendar – January 2021
BL and Bubbles Calendar – February
BL and Bubbles Calendar – March
BL and Bubbles Calendar – April
BL and Bubbles Calendar – May
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