08-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Top 5 BL dramas on Netflix trending in 2025: From Thai to Taiwanese, best Asian romance shows
Boy Love dramas have exploded in popularity, especially in the OTT era where censorship's taken a backseat and people are finally opening up about their sexuality. Netflix, riding that wave, has been racking up massive numbers, these shows are pulling viewership on par with typical rom-coms, sometimes even more. The platform's lineup includes a mix of Thai, Japanese, and Taiwanese dramas, with big-name stars jumping on board. If you're hunting for your next binge in 2025, from love-at-first-sight stories to time slips, messy roommate dramas, and chaotic office romances, these are the top BL dramas trending on Netflix right now.
Also read: Netflix's new K-drama facing boycott in South Korea turns global smash hit with 100% Rotten Tomatoes score
One of the most-watched BL dramas on Netflix right now stars Joseph Chang, Ray Chang, and Kate Yeung. The Taiwanese drama quickly became a fan favourite with its story of inseparable childhood friends Shou Heng and Cheng Shing, whose lives are turned upside down when a new girl moves into town and falls for one of them. Their bond is on stake as they get tangled in high school drama and explore the ecstasies and agonies of love. The show earned critical acclaim and bagged four nominations at the 43rd Golden Horse Awards. Ray also took home the Best New Performer award for his role. Eternal Summer, released in 2006 and directed by Leste Chen, ends on a note worth watching.
Thai BL dramas have always been the go-to in this genre, delivering some of the most iconic shows to date. For example, KinnPorsche, a mega hit, though sadly not on Netflix. Still, the platform makes up for it with another cult-favourite: TharnType. While it's only streaming in select regions, it's easy to find elsewhere now. Sitting at a solid 8 on IMDb, the show follows Type (Gulf Kanawut Traipipattanapong), a college freshman, kind-hearted but deeply homophobic due to a childhood trauma. Tharn (Mew Suppasit Jongcheveevat), the new roommate he's forced to live with. What starts as a turf war with Type trying to push Tharn out of the dormitory slowly burns into something deeper. Sparks fly, lines blur, and neither backs down. The 2019 drama is based on the popular novel by Tee Bundit Sintanaparadee and remains one of the genre's defining stories.
If you're into mature-themed romances, starring Edward Chen, Tseng Jing-hua, and Leon Dai, this show, loosely inspired by a true story, will leave you in love and in tears. Based on director Patrick Liu's own experiences, the story rewinds to 1987, just as martial law ends in Taiwan. Jia Han and Birdy fall for each other while facing intense family pressure, homophobia, and social stigma. It went on to become Taiwan's highest-grossing LGBTQ film. Released locally in September, over a year after Taiwan became the first place in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage, the film won Best Original Film and Best Cinematography. It follows two male students, both musicians, whose exchanged glances turn into something beautiful. Conflict and reconciliation keep pushing and pulling them, until fate sends them in different directions
South Korea may have arrived late to the BL drama scene, but it didn't take long to blow up. For K-drama lovers who breathe rom coms, a Boy Love series like Wish You felt like a long-overdue gift. Starring Kang In Soo, Lee Sang, and Soo Bin, the show made it to selected Netflix regions. It is also available on different platforms where Netflix is not accessible. It follows a talented singer, songwriter and a same-aged keyboardist who sing their way into each other's lives. With soft-toned storytelling and heart-fluttering romance, the plot centres around two budding artists. Sang Yi recommends In Soo for the company's rookie discovery project, and this forces In Soo to move into the company residence. As they start living under one roof, their bond deepens. But falling in love was never going to be a smooth ride. They face one hit after another, stuff that threatens to rip them apart. Do they make it? You'll have to find that out inside the show.
It wouldn't be wrong to say Vachirawit Chivaaree, Metawin Opas Iamkajorn, and Sattabut Laedeke lit the spark that pushed BL trends into the Netflix spotlight. This Thai series follows first-year law student Tine, who finds himself relentlessly pursued by class bully Green (Gun Korawit Boonsri). Desperate to get rid of him, Tine begs the university's heartthrob, Sarawat, to pretend to be his boyfriend. Sarawat, cool and distant, agrees, what Tine doesn't know is that Sarawat has always had a soft spot for him. Neither of them saw the fake relationship slipping into something real. The mini-series became a global phenomenon, forcing the creators to release a follow-up season under pressure from fans who simply wouldn't let go.
