Censored Chinese BLs I love for people who don't know what they are or want to find more.
Censored Chinese dramas refer to Chinese dramas that are based on gay source material and are adapted to screen, but due to strict restrictions in China, they must redact most of the gay interactions. Even so, Chinese productions work on a little budget and use workarounds to make the romance as clear as possible without getting taken off air. Some fail, some succeed. All of them make it pretty clear to viewers, though, that these characters are in love.
Also, for non Cdrama watchers, most Cdramas are LONG. I'm talking 30-45 minute episodes for 30 episodes on average, so if you want to start one get ready for an investment. There are shorter ones, but honestly, I think it's worth the investment.
Continue on for examples and recs.
The Untamed (2019)- The big boy. If anyone tells you they watch Chinese bromance, this one was likely their first. It is the most popular among these. It's on Netflix.
Word of Honor (2021) - Another popular one and this one got some of the most in your face gay shenanigans on screen. Also, one of their workarounds was having the actors mouth much gayer lines and dub it over (All Chinese audio is dubbed over in dramas). Maybe they just were at a good time period, maybe because the actors were so popular, maybe the censors were asleep, but we love her. Also, on Netflix.
Guardian (2018)- Another more popular one kinda makes a trifecta with the other two. This one got away with some good moments. I can only now find it on YouTube, but the audio sometimes gets cut off.
Killer and Healer (2021)- This one is a lot less popular than the first three. They got away with quite a bit but got even more cut out, but this one has its deleted scenes available to view online! Available on Viki and Youtube.
Winter Begonia (2020)- This one got a little bigger because of how artistic it is. It had a beautiful setting and costuming. They have a bit of a slow burn, but they definitely have their moments. Available on Viki.
S.C.I. Mystery (2018)- A household name purely because they got away with so much. Including a kiss disguised as CPR, sleeping in the same bed, etc. The budget is TINY, though, so if you can't handle everything looking like a set and poor graphics, this might not be for you. On Youtube.
Justice in the Dark (2023)- Not yet completed and has been on the back burner for a couple of years, but she's back baby, now airing in Japan. Pretty heavy on the gay, thus why they didn't pass censors after episode 8. I have no idea where to watch it. Fans are working on subbing.
Spirealm (2024)- Also one of the dramas that nearly didn't make it. Got put up, taken down, put back up on a different site. But she exists, and it is one of the gayest dramas on this list. I would say it beats out what Word of Honor got away with. On Viki.
Sleuth of the Ming Dynasty (2020)- This drama feels gay most of the time, straight for a short period of time, but they had nice moments, and they had a higher budget, directed by Jackie Chan, so you know the fighting is good. On Viki.
Advance Bravely (2017)- Started reading the book, but I have only seen clips of the show. It looks like it has potential in that older show, cheesy way, but they certainly got away with a lot because they were earlier in the timeline. On Viki and IQiyi.
Stand by Me (2023)- Haven't finished this one yet, but it is up there in chemistry. It was really hard to find, but it is on WeTV. No gifs unfortunately.
Honorable Mentions
Addicted (2016)- A canonically gay drama, the only canon gay drama to be made and released in China pre-ban. It is toxic, I warn you. It was made in 2016, prime toxic BL time. We must honor those who came before, though. It was canceled halfway through. Available on YouTube and Viki.
Meet You at the Blossom (2024)- Another canon BL, this one picked up in Thailand. The actors are Chinese, the language, and the backdrop. Everything behind the scenes is thai. It is also toxic, but less than Addicted, another win for Chinese BL, opening up possibilities.
The rest will not be based on gay source material but feel at the same level as the others on the list.
Mysterious Lotus Casebook (2023) - I feel that the new Chinese tactic to convey gay subtext and cover it up is to make everyone act equally romantic toward everyone, which in turn is creating polycules, which is lovely for me. This drama is no exception. Available on IQiyi.
Fangs of Fortune (2024) - A much larger and more complicated polycule complete with lesbians and straights. Available on IQiyi.
Silent Criminal (2020) - This one felt like it was supposed to be gay, and they tried to shove a female lead between them to diffuse the tension. Available on Viki and IQiyi.
Wuliang (2020) - I gotta be honest, when I first saw this movie, I didn't get the hype, but after some time I really appreciate the visuals and themes that have stuck with me, I think it was just too short. Unavailable legally without a vpn.
Yin Yang Master (2020) - This movie was very much an enemies to lovers sub plot with a fantastical main plot that looks beautiful. Available on Netflix.
Any Lost Tomb Adaptation (2015-2025) - The ships in this franchise span books, movies, shows, comics, etc. They are visible in any adaptation, so feel free to explore.
A League of Nobleman (2023) - This one is also a nice polycule opportunity. It feels lighter than some of the others on the list, but still very much a bromance. Available on Viki.
Under the Skin (2022) - This one makes me more unsure whether it was intended to even be a bromance at all, but by the second season they definitely blossomed into something beautiful and they are backdropped by some amazing and unique plots and cases. There are also some sweet shipping possibilities within, but I don't want to spoil. Available on Viki.
My Roommate is a Detective (2020) - Now this one was definitely meant to be a bromance, but also a straight romance. Unfortunately, the female lead drove me absolutely up the wall, then when they had another chance with the same two leads and director to do another drama called Checkmate, it was boring, so... start at your own peril and be warned, I am no women hater, she is just... you'll see.
I know of more, but these are the only ones I have at least seen enough to suggest (or not) to other people. I thought all this time spent on this media might as well be used somehow. Hopefully this helps you find a new drama or a new type of drama or dramas in general. Happy watching!
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Most romantic moments of Addicted (2016) so far, to ME:
Gu Hai kidnapping Bai Luoyin, cuffing him to his bed, and vowing to keep him locked up there forever, then giving the world's most deranged love confession, admitting to feelings and desires he only feels safe saying out loud when he thinks Bai Luoyin can't leave him for it.
(then letting him go five minutes later when Bai Luoyin tells him you impatient asshole, I was coming over to reconcile with you when you kidnapped me)
"Don't cry. I can be your cringefail loserdad who cooks you terrible food and washes your clean underwear in the sink."
Back to back scenes of 1. Bai Luoyin bursting into "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" in English class 2. Bai Luoyin asking his dad how much money is left on his SIM card and then blithely snapping it in front of him to cut off his relentless ex's means of bothering him = I am now with you Gu Hai. I am bewitched, I am bothered, I am bewildered.
This is explicitly a series about two high school boys falling in love.
I've wanted to check this out for a while since I saw it mentioned in a paper on queer culture in the public sphere in China and found it's actually on Youtube with both English and Chinese subtitles!
Wikipedia's article on the series including its censoring etc:
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Addicted (2016) is so funny, it's killing me, Chai Jidan really does just know how to create little guys (and big guys) who are just suuuuch guys
- Gu Hai convincing his girlfriend he really hasn't been getting with other girls, because he hasn't, but could she please help him pretend to be poor so he can keep bothering this guy he's obsessed with who has been taking up all his time instead???? LMAO
- "I'm with you 24 hours a day and I've never seen you jerk off once"
- This whole thing where he can't stop touching Bai Luoyin and has already told him he can do anything Luoyin wants except leave him alone, and tries to claim it's normal for guys to masturbate and shower together, then introduces him to his friends who are like first of all no, he never touches us and won't let us touch him. Second of all, let us tell you how unrecognizably cute he is with his girlfriend! You wouldn't even know he's the same person. Bai Luoyin: What you're describing... isn't he just like that all the time with everyone? (/has only ever seen Gu Hai with him)
- The fun part for me is that I can't even tell how much Gu Hai understands of what he's feeling, when he really got angry over the idea that he was cheating on Lulu, and when he can be so shameless with Bai Luoyin and weather every rejection like it's nothing. But! He certainly understands more than Bai Luoyin does! sooo funny
- Gu Hai dognapped his uncle's dog as a present for Bai Luoyin. Surprise twist: He is now jealous of the dog because Bai Luoyin is more affectionate with it than him.
- Unrelated but: I LOVE that the rich parents want their two stepsons to move in with them and have spent the totality of the drama so far trying to get them to agree to come live under the same roof, to absolutely no avail on either son's end. Meanwhile both boys are regularly sleeping in the same bed under the same roof... just with the other, poor side of their stepfamily. Like what a premise. They're happy to move in together, they just hate YOU!!!
