John Ken

24 Favorite Japanese Actors In BL/Gay Roles Thru 2 Decades (Circa 2000-2022) Part 3/3 [Hitlist]

And then we have the final eight! You can browse Part 1 (24-19) and Part 2 (18-9) for additional perspectives. —Edited by TheFNGee #8 - Kimura Tatsunari Circa 2020 Gay Main role Kimura Tatsunari is the employee subordinate in Old Fashioned…

John KenSeptember 12, 2022

Features Hitlist

24 Favorite Japanese Actors In BL/Gay Roles Thru 2 Decades (Circa 2000-2022) Part 2/3 [Hitlist]

Part Two of this hitlist offers more Japanese names so may want to check it out. Here's Part One for you! You may see some "old names" below ... —Edited by TheFNGee #16 - Riku Hagiwara Circa 2020 Boys Love (BL)…

John KenSeptember 7, 2022

Final Impressions Movies

Your Name Engraved Herein – 刻在你心底的名字 (2020) – Full Impressions

Set in the late 80s when there was political change in Taiwan, Your Name Engraved Herein is simple and straightforward, yet it has an uneven (and satisfying) depth to it. Was it a masterpiece aside from being a monster hit?…

John KenAugust 24, 2022

Taiwanese Series Impressions

We Best Love: Season 1 & 2 -永遠的第一名, 第二名的逆襲 [2021] Series Impressions

Even with a convoluted, flimsy storyline and plot, We Best Love: No 1 For You and Fighting Mr. 2nd could have been among the best of the 2021 BL season. If not for the startlingly impressive on-screen chemistry between YU…

John KenAugust 17, 2022

Features Hitlist

24 Favorite Japanese Actors In BL/Gay Roles Thru 2 Decades (Circa 2000-2022) Part 1/3 [Hitlist]

The blur between BL and gay roles is not as distinct as it was decades ago. Because of the demand from today's BL audience, there have been lots of lists featuring (mostly) actors doing BL. But to appreciate the sort…

John KenAugust 12, 2022

Japanese Series Impressions

Given – ギヴン [2021] Series Impressions

At 6 episodes of less than 30 minutes each, the live-action adaptation of the manga Given (ギヴン) by Kizu Natsuki, comes to life - with angsty and inspired performances from the leads. Easily two of the most photogenic Japanese actors…

John KenAugust 10, 2022

Japanese Casting

Takara-kun to Amagi-kun – 高良くんと天城くん (2022) – Japanese BL

In one of the latest Japanese BL casting news, Japanese network giant MBS is launching Takara-kun to Amagi-kun - (高良くんと天城くん ) on 19 August 2022, just a week or so from the time of this writing. The lead actors are…

John KenAugust 7, 2022

Features Hitlist

12 Favorite Japanese BL Anime [Hitlist]

For the uninitiated, BL anime or Yaio are explicit. BL fans used to watching edited and censored stuff are fairly warned. From a list of 55 Japanese BL anime titles, I'm narrowing it down to my favorite 12. Ranking guide:…

John KenAugust 6, 2022

News Thai Casting

Self เราเห็นนาย (2022) – Thai BL

I just saw the teaser clip of this new Thai BL drama entitled Self, and it looks promising. The fact that dir. Ma-Deaw Chookiat of Love of Siam fame is attached to the show made me even more curious. —Edited…

John KenAugust 5, 2022

Korean Series Impressions

Light on Me – 새빛남고 학생회 [2021] Series Impressions

When you watch the silky, milky smooth, handsome faces of young Koreans in a BL setting, there's no way you won't get hooked. Trust me when I say the 2021 South Korean BL series Light on Me has such a…

John KenAugust 4, 2022

Japanese Series Impressions

Fukuo-kun Wa Kiss Suri Shikanai – 不幸くんはキスするしかない！[2022] Series Impressions

Light and bubbly, just about what you need when things are bad in real life. This cute and entertaining Japanese BL gives all the right vibes to enjoy alone, with friends, or even with a date! —Edited by TheFNGee This series…

John KenAugust 1, 2022

Japanese Series Impressions

Kimi No Koto Dake Mite Itai – 君のことだけ見ていたい [2022] Series Impressions

The stuff Japanese BL dreams are made of! Here we have two gorgeous MEN'S NON-NO WEB | メンズノンノウェブ models going for each other in a light-hearted mini-series that is understated as it is dreamy. —Edited by TheFNGee If you need to…

John KenJuly 31, 2022

News

Love of Siam celebrates 15 years in November!

The groundbreaking Thai gay movie, Love of Siam, starring Mario Maurer and Witwisit (Pchy) Hiranyawongkul, will celebrate its 15th anniversary this coming November 22, 2022. Written and directed by Chookiat (Ma-Deaw) Sakveerakul (Grean Fictions, Dew), it dominated the Thai award…

John KenJuly 30, 2022

Japanese Casting News

Minato’s Laundromat – みなと商事コインランドリー [2022]

Charming, with little pretense, this is one of Japan's latest BL offerings for 2022. Minato's Laundromat follows a long list of Japanese slice-of-life dramas with a BL slant. I'm particularly curious about the casting of Nishigaki Sho - who resembled…

John KenJuly 29, 2022

Impressions Thai Series Impressions

I Told Sunset About You – แปลรักฉันด้วยใจเธอ [2020] Series Impressions

Imagine the 60s and the 70s if kids had mobile phones. The merging of the old with the modern gives this Nadal Bangkok an excellent production. Set in the Thai resort city of Phuket, also in one of Thailand's least…

John KenJuly 29, 2022

Korean Series Impressions

Blueming – 블루밍 [2022] Series Impressions

To say that South Korean BL drama Blueming 블루밍 took the BL world by storm is an understatement. That is, for the most part of the BL universe. While some other parts took it for granted. Word of mouth about…

John KenJuly 28, 2022

Hitlist News

The Ultimate Thai BL Hitlist – Part 1 of 3 (2022 Edition)

Armed with a collection (and an archive) of Thai BL and gay romantic movies and TV series going all the way back to 2007, here is a recommended list of 20 of the best titles that Thai BL has to offer. While…

John KenMay 22, 2022

News Thai Casting

Never Let Me Go – เพื่อนายแค่หนึ่งเดียว – Thai BL (2022)

I was a bit curious about the title ‘Never Let Me Go’ since I read a book with the same title and the movie adaptation of that book. The author happens to be a personal favorite of mine – Kazuo…

John KenMay 20, 2022