Sex, stares and gay romance: inside the Thai BL series boom

Thai BL (Boys’ Love) series have exploded into global pop culture. From streaming platforms and international fan meets to trending hashtags and sold-out merchandise, these romantic stories between male leads are now a global phenomenon, and they show no signs of slowing down.

From fan cams on TikTok to meme-worthy scenes lighting up Reddit and X, Thai BL dramas have quietly, then not-so-quietly, become one of the biggest global obsessions in queer media. While the West gets occasional hits like Young Royals, Heartstopper or Red, White & Royal Blue, queer fans are increasingly looking abroad for the kind of emotional, unapologetically romantic storytelling they are not always finding at home. Right now, Thailand is delivering.

Thai BL has become a movement, driven by a new generation of actors, fan communities and online culture. Whether you’re watching for the longing stares, the forbidden love tropes, or simply some very good drama, there has never been a better time to start.

What are Thai BL series?

Bad Buddy (Image: Provided)

The term BL originates from Japan’s Boys’ Love genre, which has long focused on romantic or sexual relationships between male characters, usually created for and consumed by women. In Thailand, the genre took on a life of its own in the early 2010s, first gaining popularity through novels and fanfiction before being adapted into television dramas. LoveSick: The Series, released in 2014, is widely credited with kick-starting the Thai BL industry as it exists today.

What sets Thai BL apart is its cultural lens. These are shows made in a country with visible LGBTQ+ communities, and where same-sex marriage was legalised in January 2025. Thai BL dramas often blend familiar romance tropes – enemies to lovers, fake dating, love triangles – with local settings, Buddhist influences and, increasingly, political undertones. Over time, production values have risen, storylines have matured and performances have grown more nuanced. The result is a genre that has moved beyond being simply cute or heightened, becoming layered, emotionally rich and, at times, deeply meaningful.

Why are Thai BL dramas so popular?

Breakout pairings such as MileApo from KinnPorsche, EarthMix from A Tale of a Thousand Stars, and JossGawin from My Golden Blood have developed such strong on-screen chemistry that fans often begin to follow them beyond the fictional worlds they inhabit.

In BL culture, these pairings refer not just to characters, but to actor duos who repeatedly play romantic leads together. Some appear across multiple series or projects, allowing audiences to stay emotionally invested as they follow the actors from one story to the next. Even when the actors reunite in a new show, they are almost always playing entirely different characters rather than continuing the same relationship, yet the familiar chemistry carries over and becomes part of the appeal. Studios understand how powerful this dynamic is, and market it carefully by promoting the partnership and its emotional intimacy without claiming the relationship exists off-screen.

My Golden Blood (Image: Provided)

Accessibility has also played a major role. In the UK, many Thai BL series are available free (and legally, with English subtitles) via YouTube, Viki and iQIYI. The openness of Thai studios to international audiences, including English-speaking viewers, has fuelled the genre’s rapid global growth.

Although originally created for female audiences, Thai BL has found a growing following within LGBTQ+ communities. For viewers in countries with limited queer representation on screen, seeing two men fall in love, even in an idealised or romanticised way, can be powerful and affirming.

“For many of us who grew up without queer content and from various backgrounds, having this kind of representation means a lot now, so finding my way into the world of BL felt very natural. It’s validating even if it’s idealistic and romanticised,” shares viewer and content creator Jovi.

What are the most popular Thai BL series?

Thai BL and queer-focused series have also succeeded by exploring a wide range of relationship dynamics and character types. TharnType drew huge attention with its opposites-attract storyline, following Type, a homophobic university student whose assumptions are challenged when he falls for his openly gay roommate Tharn.

Theory of Love (Image: Provided)

A year later, during global lockdowns, 2gether became a breakout hit, introducing many new viewers to BL through its lighthearted take on the fake-dating trope. At the same time, Thailand’s queer storytelling continued to push beyond traditional BL boundaries. 3 Will Be Free stood out for its depiction of a polyamorous relationship and was widely praised for its broader LGBTQ+ representation.

Together, these series show how varied narratives – from campus romance to rom-com to ensemble drama – have shaped the evolution and international appeal of Thai BL and queer media.

Exploring LGBTQ+ identities

There is also increasing demand for authenticity. Newer BLs often feature more grounded storytelling, such as Bad Buddy, which roots its romance in everyday university life and pays close attention to communication, conflict resolution and consent, or The Eclipse, which explores school hierarchy, repression and self-acceptance.

Others take on explicitly queer perspectives, incorporating more diverse LGBTQ+ identities, relationship structures and community issues. Not Me weaves together activism, queer friendships and political themes, while Only Friends explores complex relationship dynamics that move beyond the traditional two-lead format that defined early BL.

Not Me (Image: Provided)

The industry has also begun to foreground actors who are part of the LGBTQ+ community themselves, which many viewers feel contributes to more grounded and respectful portrayals of queer experience.

While Thai BL is often celebrated for its escapism, many series balance fantasy with genuine emotional stakes. Heightened scenarios – whether the innocence of a school crush or the intensity of a mafia storyline – become spaces to explore vulnerability, healing and self-discovery. Shows like A Tale of a Thousand Stars and Not Me go further, weaving in themes of grief, justice and identity. These stories resonate because they offer worlds where emotional honesty is rewarded, queer relationships are centred without apology, and characters are allowed to grow through care rather than punishment.

A growing and evolving fandom

Thai BL fandom is intensely global and deeply online. From subtitled episodes appearing within hours of broadcast to fan edits, reaction videos and translated interviews, fans actively make the genre accessible while creating new layers of meaning around it.

Theory of Love (Image: Provided)

Although the genre initially catered to straight female audiences, its reach today is far broader. Queer men, trans and nonbinary viewers, and LGBTQ+ fans across the gender spectrum have embraced BL, often bringing critical conversations about representation, tropes and whose stories are prioritised.

“I came for the romance, but I stayed because BL gave me space to think about how queer relationships are portrayed and where those portrayals still need to grow,” one fan shares. “BL is for everyone – queer, straight, female, male, and everyone in between. The fandom has never been more diverse.”

Best Thai BL series to watch

My Golden Blood

My Golden Blood (Image: Provided)

Joss Way-yar and Gawin Caskey share striking chemistry in this supernatural romance that blends danger, desire and destiny. The series marks their first on-screen pairing, and the tension between them has already drawn attention. Available on GMMTV’s YouTube channel.

Reset

A psychological thriller centred on fate, choice and second chances, Reset stands out for its structure and emotional weight. Ideal for viewers who like mystery with depth. Available on iQIYI.

Together With Me

Often cited as a modern BL classic, Together With Me follows Korn and Knock’s turbulent relationship with emotional realism. Led by Max Nattapol and Tul Pakorn, known collectively as MaxTul, the series became a fan touchstone and later connected to Manner of Death. Available on TV Thunder’s YouTube channel.

SOTUS

SOTUS (Image: Provided)

One of the earliest pillars of the Thai BL wave, SOTUS combines campus life, mentorship and slow-burn romance. Its influence continues to be felt years after release. Available on GMMTV’s YouTube channel.

KinnPorsche

Stylish and unflinching, KinnPorsche merges action and romance within the world of organised crime. Its ambition and production values reshaped global expectations of Thai drama. Available on iQIYI.

Not Me

Not Me (Image: Provided)

A politically charged series that explores justice, identity and love amid unrest. Starring Off Jumpol and Gun Atthaphan, the show challenges convention while delivering emotionally charged performances. Available on GMMTV’s YouTube channel.

My Magic Prophecy

My Magic Prophecy (Image: Provided)

Blending fantasy with contemporary romance, My Magic Prophecy balances humour, mystery and emotion in an imaginative take on destiny. Available on GMMTV’s YouTube channel.

A Tale of a Thousand Stars

A Tale of a Thousand Stars (Image: Provided)

Set in rural Thailand, this visually striking drama focuses on redemption, connection and quiet emotional growth. Earth and Mix deliver understated performances. Available on GMMTV’s YouTube channel.

Bad Buddy