5 new BL dramas to watch right now

There are way too many seriously good new and currently airing BLs. There are gangster love stories, college first loves, time travel romances, office enemies-to-lovers, and much more out there.

If you need help on what to start looking at next, here are some recommendations to point you in the right direction:

(Besides explaining the story premise, spoilers are kept to a minimum!)

1.”Sammy’s Children’s Day“

“Sammy’s Children’s Day” is a new BL from Hong Kong about the unexpected relationship between a genius college student and one of the most feared gangsters.

Kowloon Walled City is a lawless black zone in Hong Kong, where gang activity and death fights are not out of the norm. However, normal citizens without criminal ties also live here, despite how difficult it can be.

Chu San (He Chang Xi) accidentally became known as the town’s top student. Chu San studied finance at the University of Hong Kong and possesses genius subtraction skills and is a whiz at math. Despite where he lies, he despises gang activity and has vowed never to get involved with a gang.

One night, Chu San accidentally gets caught up in a gang fight and crosses paths with gangster Xia Liu Yi (He Yan Zhao), who is known for his ruthlessness and unsurpassed fighting skills.

After learning that Chu San is the town’s scholar, Liu Yi asks Chu San to write the script for the movie the gang’s film studio is making. Can’t say no, Chu San is forced to write the script, but he actually has no experience in writing scripts, let alone a love story.

As he becomes more entangled with Liu Yi and his gang, he finds himself in a sticky situation that puts his entire life plan in jeopardy. While Chu San is determined not to get involved in gang activity, Liu Yi has his eyes set on a new lackey.

Why it’s worth watching:
A violent gangster falling in love with a mild-mannered nerd is just good marketing; it’s one of those pairings that shouldn’t work, but it absolutely does. “Sammy’s Children’s Day” feels like a mix between “KinnPorsche,” “History 3: Trapped“,” and “Kiseki: Dear to me.” If you liked any of them, it’s a similar gangster-in-love-in-love story line.

Start watching “Sammy’s Children’s Day” now:

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2.”Feel what you feel“

“Feel What You Feel” is a feel-good college drama about first love between two very different freshmen.

From day one of school, you can see that Chen Ke (Liang Bei Yi) and Yu Lei (Sun Cai Zhen) are complete opposites. Chen Ke is talented in music and sports, but he is quiet and introverted and does not make friends easily. On the other hand, Yu Lei is social, outgoing and doesn’t mind being the center of attention.

When the two run into each other on campus, Yu Lei is immediately put off by Chen Ke’s seemingly cold, indifferent attitude. When Yu Lei sees that his older sister seems to be interested in Chen Ke, he becomes hyper-fixated on Chen Ke.

Seeing Chen Ke as a challenge, Yu Lei decides he must beat him every chance he gets and keep him away from his sister. However, Chen Ke is unaware of Yu Lei’s hidden agenda.

Why it’s worth watching:
“Feel What You Feel” is set in the year 2000 and has an analog vibe, and watching it feels a lot like switching out. It’s a warm and sweet love story about getting to know people the long way. It’s a great watch when you need a break from the heavier stuff.

Start watching “Feel What You Feel” now:

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3.”Wish on the shooting stars“

In “Wishing Upon the Shooting Stars,” the wish of two small-town best friends comes true, and they have each other only to find out.

He Xiang Yong (You Chung) is an aspiring artist who never got the chance to follow his dreams. He returns to his coastal town after losing his job in the city and reunites with his longtime friend Wan Zhe (Yu Chieh En).

One night, the two friends return to their secret hideout by the sea, and they each make a wish under the stars. While Wan Zhe wishes for an unforgettable love, Xiang Yong wants to be someone else.

When they wake up the next day, they are amazed to find that their wishes have started to come true. For starters, no one in town recognizes Xiang Yong, not even his own father. The only person who still knows him is Wan Zhe.

Seeing this as a chance to start a new life, Xiang Yong adopts this new identity with the help of Wan Zhe. Some quickly fabricated lies and stories get him through the door and working at his father’s hotel, but hiding who he really is becomes even more difficult when he meets Hao Wei (Chu Meng Hsuan), his teenage love.

Hao Wei knows all the real Xiang Yong stories, and he won’t give up until he finds the boy he once knew.

Why it’s worth watching:
If you had to choose between a fresh new life or a second chance at who you could have been, which would you take? “Wishing Upon the Shooting Stars” hits hard as a young adult story about missed opportunities and following your dreams. This drama is comforting, healing and set in a beautiful seaside town, but its hidden quality is its humor.

Start watching “Wishing Upon the Shooting Stars” now:

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4. “False fact lips”

“Fake Fact Lips” is a rivalry-to-love story about two colleagues whose incessant banter and competition eventually drives them to compete for love.

Yotsuya Ryo (Hori Kaito) and Shito Zen (Sato Yusuke) are self-proclaimed rivals with a feud that has reached a ridiculous level. After graduating high school, they assume their rivalry era is finally over until they end up working at the same office.

Ryo and Zen compete over everything, and working in close proximity only makes it worse. They bicker constantly, try to pick each other up at every turn and even carry their arguments home.

It is their bickering that leads them into a totally unexpected, unplanned argument about who is better in bed. One thing leads to another, and suddenly they make their next big bet: who can make the other fall in love first.

Their random arguments have always been wild, but this takes things to a whole new level.

Why it’s worth watching:
“Fake Fact Lips” is shaping up to be a hilarious office rom-com about a feud that is totally frivolous and basically runs on the intrusive minds of the leads. If you’ve been waiting to see Sato Yusuke in another BL lead role since 2022’s “Mr. Unfortunately has no choice but to kiss!,” the wait is finally over.

Watch “Mr. Unlucky Has No Choice But to Kiss!” also:

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5. “Always meet again”

“Always Meet Again” is a heartfelt Korean BL about loss and love and what would happen if given the chance to go back in time and rewrite your future.

The story begins in the present, where Jang Hye Seong (Woo Ji Han) is a successful artist but a recluse still haunted by his past. One day he reluctantly returns to his high school to give a lecture.

Memories of his high school days and a love that got away, he ends up in the art room and starts sketching a special someone from his past. A bright light flashed, and he found himself in a school uniform, back in high school.

Before he can even process what happened, Hye Seong meets Lee U Jin (Shin Jeong You), a boy he once fell in love with. But U Jin doesn’t recognize him.

Hye Seong regrets how things ended between them, and decides to do it right this time and stay by U Jin’s side no matter what. But the rules of the past and present and time travel are completely unknown territory.

Why it’s worth watching:
If you’ve missed the incredible chemistry between Ji Han and Jeong You since 2023’s “A Breeze of Love,” this is their new series that will finally make you relive how good they are together. “Always Meet Again” is another high school love that gets a second chance, but this time there’s a little magic in the mix.

Asya’s A BL-biased Soompi writer with a love for K-pop and all kinds of Asian dramas. Some of her favorite shows are “Psychopath Diary,” “Mr. Unfortunately has no choice but to kiss!,” “Light On Me,” “The untamed,” “Go Go Squid!,” and “Cherry Magic!”

Currently watching: “Sammy’s Children’s Day,” “Wish on the shooting stars,” “Feel what you feel,” “Always Meet Again,” “Fake Fact Lips,” and “Love Upon A Time.”
Looking forward to: “Love Class 3,” “Wu,” “Love Scandal,” “Don’t Be Too Emotional,” “Magic Lover,” “Mr. Fanboy,” “The Love Matter,” and “Be My Player Two.”