The Most Popular BL Drama, Ranked

Choose the drama you think is the most popular!

Author: Gregor Krambs
Updated on Apr 26, 2024 06:30
In the world of television, audiences often seek stories that resonate with their experiences and aspirations, particularly within the niche of BL (Boys' Love) drama. This genre, focused on romantic relationships between male characters, has cultivated a dedicated fanbase eager to connect with narratives that diverge from mainstream media. By instituting a system where viewers can vote for their favored shows, fans have the unique opportunity to highlight the series that best depict their interests and values. This voting-driven ranking not only serves to acknowledge fan-favorite series but also guides new viewers towards high-quality content within the genre. As votes accumulate, the list dynamically shifts to reflect the changing tastes and emerging trends within the BL community. Participation in this voting process ensures that each fan's voice is heard and plays a crucial role in shaping the landscape of BL drama representation.

What Is the Most Popular BL Drama?

  1. 1
    74
    votes

    2gether: The Series

    Director: Weerachit Thongjila
    This Thai drama gained immense popularity worldwide for its heartwarming storyline and excellent chemistry between the lead actors. It follows the story of a college student who pretends to be in a fake relationship with a popular musician to avoid advances from his female admirers.
    2gether: The Series is a Thai boys' love drama based on a popular novel written by JittiRain. The story revolves around a fake relationship between Tine, a handsome and popular university student, and Sarawat, a talented musician. The two are forced to pretend to be a couple after Tine asks Sarawat to pretend to be his boyfriend to escape the advances of a persistent girl. As they navigate their fake relationship, Tine starts to develop real feelings for Sarawat.
    • Genre: Romantic comedy
    • Original release: February 21 - May 15, 2020
    • Episodes: 13
    • Main cast: Vachirawit Chiva-Ar), Bright Vachirawit Chiva-aree
    • Based on: 2gether: The Series novel by JittiRain
    2gether: The Series in other rankings
  2. 2
    40
    votes
    This Thai drama is beloved for its unique storyline and relatable characters. It follows the story of a timid freshman who falls for a popular senior but struggles to confess his feelings.
    Love by Chance is a popular BL (Boys' Love) drama that tells the story of two young college students who unexpectedly fall in love amidst various challenges and conflicts. The series portrays their journey of self-discovery and navigating their complex feelings for each other.
    • Year: 2018
    • Genre: Romance, Drama
    • Episodes: 14
    • Duration: 60 minutes per episode
    • Country: Thailand
    Love by Chance in other rankings
  3. 3
    18
    votes

    SOTUS: The Series

    BitterSweet
    This Thai drama explores the relationship between two college freshmen, one of whom is assigned to be the other's mentor. It's a heartwarming story of love, friendship, and self-discovery.
    SOTUS: The Series is a popular boys' love (BL) drama that originated from Thailand. It is based on the novel of the same name written by BitterSweet. The series follows the story of Kongpob and Arthit, two freshmen at the prestigious, and sometimes brutal, Engineering Faculty of the Siam Institute of Technology (SOTUS). As seniors, Kongpob and Arthit navigate their roles in the university's hazing system, while also dealing with their growing feelings for each other.
    • Country of Origin: Thailand
    • Genre: Boys' Love Drama
    • Original Release: August 20, 2016
    • Number of Episodes: 15
    • Average Episode Duration: 45 minutes
  4. 4
    23
    votes
    This Taiwanese drama is a thrilling mystery that also happens to have a beautiful love story at its core. It follows the story of a detective who falls for a suspect in a murder case.
    History 3: Trapped is a Taiwanese BL drama that aired in 2019. It is the third installment in the 'History' series and gained significant popularity among BL drama fans worldwide. The story revolves around the relationship between two young men who find themselves caught in a complicated web of love, secrets, and dangerous alliances.
    • Genre: Romance, Drama
    • Original release: June 16, 2019
    • Episodes: 20
    • Running time: ~60 minutes per episode
    • Country: Taiwan
  5. 5
    9
    votes

    TharnType: The Series

    Thitiwat Ritprasert
    This Thai drama explores the relationship between a confident, openly gay college student and a shy, homophobic engineering major. It's a beautiful story of how love can change even the most closed-minded people.
    TharnType: The Series is a popular Thai BL (Boys' Love) drama that follows the complicated and intense relationship between two college students, Tharn and Type. Tharn is a charming and openly gay freshman, while Type is a homophobic, hot-tempered, and popular sophomore. As they are assigned as roommates, their initial animosity slowly turns into a deep and passionate romance, tackling themes of acceptance, personal growth, and love overcoming prejudices.
    • Genre: Romance, Drama
    • Country of Origin: Thailand
    • Original Language: Thai
    • Number of Seasons: 2
    • Number of Episodes: 26
    TharnType: The Series in other rankings
  6. 6
    6
    votes
    This Taiwanese drama follows the story of a successful businessman who becomes obsessed with his ex-boyfriend, leading him to make some drastic decisions. It's a dark, intense, and emotional story that will leave you on the edge of your seat.
    HIStory: Obsessed is a popular BL (Boys' Love) drama that was released in 2017. It is part of the HIStory franchise, which consists of separate stories exploring different themes within the BL genre. Obsessed focuses on the love story between Shao Yi Chen, a university student, and Jiang Jing Teng, a police officer. The series delves into their complicated relationship as they navigate societal pressures and personal struggles.
    • Release year: 2017
    • Genre: Romance, Drama, BL
    • Episodes: 20
    • Running time: Approximately 15 minutes per episode
    • Language: Mandarin
    HIStory: Obsessed in other rankings
  7. 7
    11
    votes

    Until We Meet Again

    Studio Wabi Sabi
    This Thai drama explores the theme of reincarnation as it follows the story of two college students who fall in love but are tragically separated by death. They are later reincarnated and find each other again, leading to a beautiful love story.
    Until We Meet Again is a popular BL drama that revolves around the love story of two couples whose lives are intertwined across different lifetimes. The drama explores themes of reincarnation, true love, and fate. As the characters navigate through obstacles and challenges, they are faced with the question of whether their love can withstand the test of time.
    • Release Year: 2019-2020
    • Genre: Romance, Drama, Fantasy
    • Director: Linx Ba Thanh
    • Main Cast: Balloon x Saint, Earth x Katsamonnat
    • Number of Episodes: 17
  8. 8
    4
    votes
    This Thai drama is the third installment in the "Kiss" series and follows the story of a couple who must navigate their relationship when one of them gets a job opportunity overseas. It's a beautiful exploration of the challenges of long-distance relationships.
    Dark Blue Kiss is a popular BL (Boys' Love) drama that follows the complicated love story between Pete, a seemingly straight engineering student, and Kao, a confident and openly gay medical student. Despite their initial differences and the obstacles they face, including family expectations and past relationships, Pete and Kao find themselves drawn to each other and navigating the ups and downs of their evolving relationship.
    • Genre: Romance, Drama
    • Release Date: 2019
    • Country of Origin: Thailand
    • Original Language: Thai
    • Number of Episodes: 12
    Dark Blue Kiss in other rankings
  9. 9
    9
    votes

    He's Coming to Me

    Studio Wabi Sabi
    This Thai drama is a heartwarming story of a ghost who falls in love with a living boy. It's a unique and beautiful story that explores themes of love, loss, and acceptance.
    He's Coming to Me is a popular BL (Boys' Love) drama that revolves around the supernatural romance between a lonely ghost and a high school student. The story follows the ghost named Mes, who has been lingering in the same spot for over 20 years, and Thun, a kind-hearted student who can see ghosts. As they gradually develop a deep bond and become friends, their relationship takes an unexpected turn.
    • Genre: Romance, Supernatural
    • Director: Bundit Sintanaparadee
    • Writer: Anek Amornyothin
    • Number of episodes: 8
    • Original release: March 1, 2019 - April 19, 2019
    He's Coming to Me in other rankings
  10. 10
    7
    votes
    This Thai drama is a classic in the BL genre and follows the story of two high school boys who fall for each other but struggle to navigate their feelings in a society that doesn't accept their love.

Missing your favorite drama?

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Discussion

Ranking factors for popular drama

  1. Audience Engagement
    Measure the level of audience engagement through social media, online forums, and fan clubs. Pay attention to the number of likes, shares, comments, and overall discussions about the drama.
  2. Viewership Ratings
    Check the national and international viewership ratings to determine the popularity of the drama among its target audience. This may include television ratings, online streaming views, and video downloads.
  3. Number of Episode Rewatches
    A high number of re-watches indicates that many people love the drama and want to watch it again. Multiple rewatches are a clear sign of a show's popularity and quality.
  4. Awards and Nominations
    Consider the awards and nominations that the drama has received. This includes both industry-based awards, such as those given at TV/film festivals, as well as audience-based awards, such as popularity awards from online polls or fan-based events.
  5. Critical Acclaim
    Assess the critical reception by examining reviews from both professional critics and viewers. This will give an idea about the drama's quality, impact, and storytelling. High praises and good scores typically indicate that the drama is popular.
  6. Cultural Impact
    Determine if the drama has become a part of popular culture by analyzing the extent to which it influences other forms of media, fashion trends, language or catchphrases, and inspires fan art, fan fiction, or other fan-based activities.
  7. Cast Popularity
    Take into account the popularity and chemistry of the main lead actors. A strong fan base for the lead actors can contribute to the overall popularity of the drama.
  8. Sales and Distribution
    Evaluate the success of the drama in terms of sales, including streaming, DVD or Blu-ray, and merchandise. A drama with high sales usually indicates its popularity and acceptance among the audience.
  9. Spin-offs and Adaptations
    A popular BL drama may inspire sequels, prequels, or adaptations in other formats, such as novels, comic books, or films. This is a clear sign of the drama's impact on the target audience.
  10. Longevity
    Assess the staying power of the drama in terms of popularity and relevance. A drama that remains popular and frequently discussed long after its original airing is a testament to its lasting appeal.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most popular BL drama. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or drama is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

  • 2620 views
  • 184 votes
  • 10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each drama once every 24 hours. The rank of each drama is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most popular bl drama

BL dramas, also known as Boys' Love dramas, have become increasingly popular in recent years. Originating from Japan, these dramas typically feature romantic relationships between two male characters. The genre has gained a significant following in Asia, with many popular BL dramas originating from countries such as Thailand and China. However, the popularity of BL dramas has also spread to other parts of the world, with fans tuning in from all corners of the globe. The growth of online streaming platforms has made it easier for fans to access these dramas, contributing to their increasing popularity. With a diverse range of storylines and characters, BL dramas have captured the hearts of many fans worldwide.

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