Muffinhunter

So I guess I'm a little late considering it's now 2024 in most places, but well, better late than never. I tried and failed to rank top 20 or even 10 kisses... I just couldn't remember them all or even choose... but most of my top couples have some pretty great kisses, so at least there's that! I can, however, rank my favorite BL pairings from 2023, so... let's do it! I will be ranking these from least favorite to favorite because I think it's more fun that way... Also I credited all the gif makers at the bottom but I did list the tumblr user for each specific gif underneath. If someone wants me to remove their gif, please let me know and I will so! I just wanted to pretty up the post a bit.

Also, to clarify, any couple on a show that is currently airing and not complete yet is not eligible to be on the list for 2023. Trust me, there were many I wanted to include!

Honorary Mentions:

Tinn & Gun | My School President

So, spoiler, a different GeminiFourth pairing will be on the actual top 10 so I didn't really want to include both pairings on the list, but I really did love the two of them in My School President. G/F just have such a wonderful and natural chemistry. The way they always look at each other just feels so pure and sweet. I really like pairings where one is secretly pining for the other, but Tinn/Gun also sorta had a hate/love ISH thing going for a little while. The progression of their relationship to actual boyfriends was just so fun to watch and really well done.

Dong Wook & Do Hyun | A Breeze of Love

I watched this BL so quickly that it didn't really resonate with me as well as some other series, which is why these two didn't make the top 10, however, I really enjoyed their relationship on the show. I love hate to love pairings and I found their backstory scenes really sweet as well. I also thought they had a really nice chemistry and there were some strong kissing moments for a kbl.

Jihan & Jaejun | City Boy Log

I didn't include these two on the main list for two reasons, one: the show is not over yet... i don't think? and two: this technically isn't a BL drama? IDK anymore, but regardless I love this series and this couple so dang much! I love the realness of them filming themselves and how their relationship is portrayed so subtly until their feelings just sort of emerge. They have some really wonderful and special scenes or moments together that we don't typically get on other series. I am anxious to see where the rest of the story goes and I hope the actors get another opportunity to work together. The side pairing is great too!

Top 10!

#10. Segaski & Yoh | My Personal Weatherman

I can admit that the big draw to this show for me originally was the sexy scenes and moments, and while I do think the series could have done with some more scenery changes and better storylines, considering the time frame, I enjoyed watching the relationship between the two characters develop. It's nice to get a friends with benefits type of relationship and see how it progresses into more than that. And for a JBL it was nice to see some high heat with a happy ending.

#09. Ze Rui & Zong Yi | Kiseki Dear to Me

Honestly don't even know what to write about these two or how to explain why I like them, because there wasn't anything particularly special about their dynamic that typically draws me in, but I just really enjoyed the actors chemistry together and I really liked the progression of their relationship and how well they meshed together. Their kissing was extremely natural too.

#08. Su Yu & Wu Bi | Stay With Me

SIGH. THESE TWO. So I mean, I understand the criticism of this show and their relationship. So many things are implied but personally I felt like the end half made it pretty clear that these two were 100% a romantic couple. (just wish it was clarified when that change happened) But the progression of their relationship from hate to love was so beautiful to watch. Even if it was just a friendship it was worth it imo to see how close they got. Fair warning, the finale episode is not the best lmao, but I hope we get a second season to sort of fix it? Fingers crossed on that one.

#07. Ai & Songkhram | Destiny Seeker

These two were so damn fun to watch, I really loved the hate to love thing at the start that quickly turned into love (Or I guess always sort of was???). The actors had such a great chemistry together and they had so many fun little moments and bantery scenes together. While the rest of the series felt a little flat for me, their connection continuously kept me interested.

#06. King & Eua | Bed Friend

Firstly, these two are HOT AF, and I really loved the friends with benefits storyline between these two, but more than that, we have a perfect character imo with King, who was continuously there for Eua and always trying to help him and make him understand how much he really cared. The show could be very dark at times but I love that King was always sort of the shining light for Eua.

#05. Wan & Ki Tae | Our Dating Sim

This was definitely one of the cutest BL's of the year and this couple falls into that category well too. I really loved seeing them re-connect. I love that they were old best friends (with feelings) that had a lot of issues to sort through and we saw some adorable flashback scenes as well as current scenes. I also love that they got together and were mostly happy instead of having a lot of intense drama.

#04: Yamato & Kakeru | I Cannot Reach You

This was one of my favorite BL's of the year and their relationship was a huge part of it. I thought I was more into hate to love, but clearly, based on this list, that isn't always the case. There is something so sweet and adorable about best friends turned to lovers. I really love too when we see one side pining for the other, so this couple was extremely enjoyable to watch!

#03. Chen Yi & Ai Di | Kiseki Dear To Me

Good Lord these two... they had the perfect formula for my favorite type of pairing. Hate to love, drama, tension, angst, one-sided pining... it was so painful to have to wait every week for more. But god, it was worth the wait and their chemistry was just so good, their kisses were phenomenal too. Def. a memorable pair and a show I will be rewatching very soon!

#02. Li Ming & Heart | Moonlight Chicken

These two... so much to say about them and yet I don't really know where to start. Gemini and Fourth just work so well together and I felt like this duo was even deeper than in MSP. They started out on bad terms but quickly became close and I really loved the progression of their relationship and then I adored how we also got to see them together as a couple too. My favorite thing about them was how hard Li Ming worked to try to understand Heart and how he learned sign language for him and encouraged him to get to know others like him and to put himself out there. They also had such a fun banter with playful moments and scenes. It was just so damn pure and sweet to watch with no unnecessary or stupid fillery drama.

#01. Jae Won and Ji Hyun | The Eighth Sense

This was my favorite BL of the year, so it makes sense that it contains my favorite BL couple of the year too! Something about this pairing just felt so much different than the typical KBL pairing. The show itself was so much deeper and had a more serious tone than we typically get, which was amazing. The actors nailed the roles and you could really feel the tension and longing between them right from the beginning. I loved their storyline so much and the actors seemed so comfortable together.

THANK YOU to all these wonderful humans for making the most amazing gifs that I used in this post!

Prestige BL to watch RIGHT now

You said you absolutely adore:

Old Fashioned Cupcake

To My Star

We Best Love

And are not a huge fan of Thai BLs but enjoyed:

Not Me

1000 Stars

Bad Buddy

This leads me to conclude you like "prestige BL".

My Recs for Prestige BL:

Our Dating Sim, Korea Viki - might be a bit soft for you, but truly great

Our Dining Table, Japan Gaga - soft and a little slow but quality

Blueming, Korea Viki

The Eighth Sense, Korea Viki - this one, THIS ONE, this one you will LOVE, go watch it RIGHT NOW, thank me later

The New Employee, Korea Viki

Unintentional Love Story, Korea iQIYI

Roommates of Poongduck 304, Korea Viki

Tokyo in April Is..., Japan Gaga

About Youth, Taiwan Gaga - you don't list any high school stuff but this is BL so I had to include one

DNA Says Love You, Taiwan Gaga - really, trust me, make it through the first 3 eps, it's worth it

My Tooth Your Love, Taiwan Viki - the premise seems odd but it's very endearing and quite complex

A First Love Story, Korea YT - this is a Strongberry short but if you haven't seen it it's very much your style

Older stuff that May Be Your Style

Addicted: Heroin, China Viki (If you haven't seen this, it's and early BL that kinda paved the way to the style you like, so worth watching for that reason alone)

Life: Love on the Line, Japan Viki (go for the director's cut)

Restart After Come Back Home, Japan Gaga? Viki? (not sure who has this one but I think you'd enjoy it)

Long Time No See, Korea Gaga? (Strongburry's first longer offering and it's wonderful, well worth tracking down)

Where Your Eyes Linger, Korea Viki

Like In The Movies, Pinoy YT

Airing right now, Sept 2023

Might be right for you and would allow you to join in the chatter here on Tumblr

Kisseki: Dear to Me, Gaga (Taiwan, mafia, so far very good but just started)

Dangerous Romance, YT (Thai but two of GMMTV's best actors)

I Feel You Linger in the Air (historical, it's really great, Thai, hard to find in USA)

Only Friends, YT (not quite BL, very queer messy gays, Thailand's answer to Queer as Folk)

If you are willing to try some Thai BLs I suggest:

Moonlight Chicken (review here)

He's Coming to Me

The Eclipse

And if those work you could try more from this list:

Hope this gives a few things you haven't watched yet!

A tiger has stripes, I have eyeliner.

typical nights inbetween trials.

based on this post hh :

typical nights inbetween trials.

based on this post hh :

Magnus: *curious* where did you get that?

Alec: let me see *takes picture, blushes* amm Magnus?

Magnus: *smiling* I don't remember, I might be drunk when it was taken *gets closer to Alec to look better*

Max: ha that's funny

Alec: I... I want to keep it

Magnus: of course darling *kisses Alec's head* but I can give you this view anytime

Alec: *blushes more*

Prompt #31 - “I can’t keep kissing strangers and pretending that they’re you” + Magnus

“It’s just wasn’t right,” Magnus said into the phone. “I’m not saying it’s bad. It’s good. But it just wasn’t right. Do you get what I mean?”

There was no response to that. He balanced it under his ear as he got ready for bed, careful not to drop it. 

“Some of them are gorgeous of course. There was this man. Tall, dark and handsome. Just like you. Now. Now. No need to be jealous, darling!” Magnus said quickly. “He was such a fine man. But when we kissed at the end of the night…I mean, it was a good kiss. But he was the same height as I am. So when we kissed…He didn’t lean up that one inch like you do. Do you get what I  mean? It just wasn’t right.”

He sat down in front of his dressing mirror and gently put on his night lotion, his hands moving automatically thanks to centuries of muscle memory. 

“Then there was this woman. Sophia..Or Sylvia…I don’t know,” he shrugged. “She had the most gorgeous eyes. Blue like the sky. Like two beautiful dahlias. But…But they weren’t the blue I am used to, you know? They are not the blue of the midnight ocean. Not the blue I want to drown in. Not the blue of my magic and my soul. It just wasn’t right.”

He put on his pyjamas and hopped into bed, putting the phone on speaker and falling back against the velvety pillows. 

“I liked Anwar of course,” Magnus smiled, thinking of the other man. “We dated for a couple of months. A sensible man. I think you would like him. And damn, he had such great style. He would wear these couture sweaters that were so fluffy that I was even scared to touch them. But…there weren’t any frayed edges. No holes for me to me to pick him with my finger. It just wasn’t right.”

He turned to his side and picked up the phone again and put it off speaker. 

“The point is,” he said theatrically. “It just wasn’t right. It’s so much harder than I thought. I mean, I knew it wasn’t gonna be easy. I was prepared. But damn!”

The quietness on the other side of the phone killed him. Magnus clutched it so tightly to his ear that it almost hurt. But he didn’t care. He just wanted to hear something from the other side. Anything. 

A tired, exasperated sigh that was often accompanied with an eye-roll. That deep but shy laughter. The sound of a comforting kiss. Or just his name. 

Anything at all. 

“The point is,” Magnus said again slower this time. “I can’t keep kissing strangers and pretending that they’re you.”

He stared at the screen, the name piercing an arrow through his heart. His archer boy.

“If I keep comparing everyone I date to you then I am doomed,” Magnus laughed dryly. “Because you were wrong, you asshole. There isn’t anyone like you out there. At least not for me.”

And there never will be. 

“I just want you to-”

There was a loud beep and he was rudely cut off. Magnus groaned in frustration and dialed the number again. 

“This is Alec Lightwood-Bane,” the voice he liked best in the world said. “Please leave a message after the beep sound thingy. I will get b...JACE PUT THAT DOWN!!!”

Beep.

“What was I saying?” Magnus asked. “Oh, yes! I just want you to know that it isn’t easy. I mean, don’t feel bad about it or anything. That’s not my intention of course. Just know that you were…you were so completely…You’ve ruined me, Alexander. If you ever thought that I would just move on…I mean, I probably will. But I just want you to know that it isn’t easy. You did not make it easy for me.”

He smiled. 

“That’s not a complaint by the way,” he added quickly. “It’s a compliment. Thank you for not making it easy. Thank you for filling my life with so much love. If you were-”

“Hey.”

Magnus looked up from the phone. 

Familiar hands gently took the phone from his hand.

“That’s enough for today, okay? How about we go to sleep now?”

“But I didn’t even get to tell him about that vampire lady who asked if you were an extra on Avatar!” Magnus said. “What was she thinking? You weren’t even alive at the time!”

“Yeah, not your best pick,” the boy laughed. “But I was kinda flattered actually.”

“Five more minutes?” Magnus tried to do his best pout. 

“Bapa,” Max said softly and covered him with a blanket. “Go to sleep.”

Magnus knew there was no winning with his son. So he decided to talk to Alec tomorrow. He had so many stories he wanted to share. So much he wanted to say. But of course the voicemail only gave him two minutes. But Magnus had always loved a challenge. 

“Does it hurt?” he said hoarsely.

“No,” Magnus said. “It’s just the remnants of magic. It doesn’t feel any different than if it weren’t there

The Lost Book Of The White