#markouwen

Shows where height difference is flipped 

Ooo, I haven't had this question before, but it's pretty rare and I can't recall many off the top of my head. (I am so glad you like AePete, they remain one of my favorite couples of all time.) 

Any places with a weak seme/uke is gonna just ignore mostly ignore height difference, so most Taiwanese stuff. The main couple in H4: the one doing the pursuing is shorter than the guy he is after, but it's not very seme uke, more semiuke... if you get what I mean. Mark is shorter the Ouwen in Love Is Science, but yeah, their dynamic is more confident gay + disaster bi himbo who becomes confident gay... or something. 

I LOVE THEM. 

I gotta make a BL cut of this damn show. 

erm, where was I? 

Pure is shorter than pretty much all his lovers in My Gear and Your Gown including Folk, of course. Au is petty darn tall for a Thai actor, and Fiat is short. 

I wouldn’t be surprised is Jeff is shorter than both Barcode (KinnPorsche) and Gameplay (Ingredients - no seme/uke tho). Speaking of, the guy Gameplay was paired with in that awful office romance last year that shall remain nameless (because I cannot remember the title), he was shorter than Game. 

FrankDrake whenever Drake is in the seme roll, so 2gether series. 

Dunk is def taller than Joon (Sky in My Mind).

Akk & Aye if you count Aye as the seme, which I am not sure I do. (The Eclipse)

Sea is a bit taller than Jimmy in Vice Versa.

SeaTin maybe? (Friend Forever) 

I Am Your King, but, yeah.... 

Mork is shorter than Tawan in My Ride, same crossing of the tracks as AePete, but no seme/uke. 

Probably about the same height: 

2gether, Bright might be slightly shorter than Win. 

Tay might also be slightly shorter than New (Dark Blue Kiss). 

And Singto shorter than Krist (SOTUS). 

Phuwin might actually be a bit taller than Pond at this juncture too (FUTS, NLMG). We’ve been watching him grow since My Tee. Speaking of, he’s certainly taller than Neo (did you forget they were once paired?), and I think Luis is also a bit taller than Neo (FUTS, Eclipse). 

Karn might be slightly shorter than Nut, but like MaxTul (Together with Me, Manner of Death) that’s just never been a thing with their dynamic. (Grey Rainbow, Dear Doctor)

Forgotten Plumbing, maybe too? Those two seemed about the same height, with Yoon maybe a little shorter. 

And a note,

Tinted with You, would we call the ACE boy the seme? Then it ranks too. 

Kabedon 1 ( the door is opened still)

Kabedon 2 ( the hangers ?!!!)

Back tat in white hotel sheets

Bonus : Favorite room/hotel of love is THIS THING in Secret Crush on you

Here are some of my favorite BLs that feature mature characters with adult problems. Of course the definition of “mature” is pretty culturally specific but I did my best. 

1. Old Fashion Cupcake 

Japan, Viki & GaGa  

This show had me from the moment they broke the egg yolk with the chopsticks in the opening credits for episode one. It’s about a younger man with a long cherished crush on his boss (ten years older and going through a mid life crisis) who decides to save and seduce said man with pancakes. It’s wholesome, comforting, sexy, and a very necessary narrative about still having hope, interests, and openness to affection at any age. It’s coming of age/queerness packaged in a subtle critique of expectations around masculinity and love and loneliness... and it’s beautiful. Full review here. 

2. To My Star (movie) 

Korea, Viki 

It’s is a touch quirky to get into, but utterly charming once it hits its stride. This is the ultimate grumpy/sunshine pairing plus the most appealing light-filled kitchen of our dreams. Full review here. 

3. My Ride 

Thailand, GaGa 

Thai BL grew up with this pulp - a truly lovely and special little show featuring the extremely rare pairing of sunshine/sunshine AKA a cinnamon roll couple. Mature explorations of relationships using one of the softest, sweetest and most innocent friends to lovers vehicles. Kindly, overworked doctor meets broken-hearted motorcycle taxi driver in an “other side of the tracks” slow burn romance. The support cast is excellent, making for great friendship groups and family dynamics. With honest queer rep that adds to, but doesn’t impede the story, and genuine conversation about the nature of class, wealth, and classism, not to mention communication, honesty, and respect for boundaries, you can’t go wrong with this show. In other news, I am a sucker for a single dimple. Full review here. 

4. Be Loved In House: I Do 

Taiwan, Viki 

Cute classy office set BL with a few plot raised eyebrows, but no other concerns, plus ALL THE TROPES and a general sweet softness that’s pretty rare from Taiwan, who usually prefer to go hard. Full review here. 

5. Mr Cinderella 

AKA Chàng Lọ Lem - Vietnam, YT

Higher production values and experienced BL actors plus two charismatic smoldering leads with good kissing and comfortable body language makes this Vietnam’s objectively best BL to date. But it’s Vietnam, so for me the characters aren’t exactly mature. Full review here. 

6. Like In The Movies 

AKA Gaya Sa Pelikula - Pinoy, YT 

Karl runs short of funds and ends up becoming housemates with Vald an out and proud chaos gay. This leads Karl into an identity crisis and journey of self discovery. This kind of forced proximity trope is really common in BL, but what Gaya does is handle it in a messy honestly queer way. It includes Vlad’s attitude in response to Karl’s shaken behavior, and the frustration many out queers feel in this exact situation. 

7. Cherry Magic 

AKA 30 Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard AKA 30-sai made Dotei Da to Mahotsukai ni Nareru rashii - Japan, Crunchyroll & Indie Subbed

The sweetest fluffiest magical realism BL, packaged as a pinning office romance, very low heat (practically chaste) but the cutest. Of all the ones on this list is dithered a bit over this one, oh it's great but it is a bit slapstic and camp and I wouldn't necessarily call the relationships grown up. A couple of the characters are pretty immature. Full review here. 

8. A Tale of Thousand Stars 

Thailand, YT 

With great casting and cinematography this drama nods at BL tropes but manages to elevate them (and itself) with a strong mature story concept about a spoiled rich kid who gets a heart transplant and becomes a teacher it order to pay out survivor’s guilt. On the way he falls in love with a local park ranger and contends with his own classism and escapist tendencies. Everyone seemed to perfectly suit their roles and GMMTV made the most out of its stable. Combined with excellent production (and post production) values, 1000 Stars is without question GMMTV’s most mature, charming, and smart BL series. I think it should go down as one of the top BLs of all time. I feel safe recommending this one to friends and non BL watchers. 

9. Wish You: Your Melody in My Heart (movie) 

Korea, Netflix

Set in the music industry featuring a talented singer and the pianist who falls in love with him (and his music), subtle and achingly adorable. 

10. Oh! Boarding House 

Korea, Viki 

Spoiled rich kid in financial straights has to manage a boarding house full of quirky characters including: bratty cousin, wacko writer, adorable bestie with a crush, and the new hot jock (love interest). All in all, this show ended up being A LOT better than I expected. It was uneven in its attempt to reconcile early sitcom style with a serious love triangle and genuine romance but the quality of the performances and the kind and honest treatment of the characters make it definitely worth watching (you just need to get through the first few eps while it finds its legs). Full review here. 

MORE FROM KOREA

Nobleman Ryu's Wedding - grey 

Behind Cut - Viki 

My Sweet Dear - Viki 

The Tasty Florida - Viki 

Ocean Likes Me - Viki 

You Make Me Dance - Viki (one character is in college but doesn’t really act that way) 

MORE FROM TAIWAN

See You After Quarantine? - Viki

Plus & Minus - Viki

MORE FROM JAPAN 

Restart After Come Back Home AKA Risutato wa tadaima no ato de - grey 

There’s actually quite a bit of Japanese office set stuff, I just don’t like most of it. 

Honorable Mention 

Love is Science? - Taiwan, Viki 

Mark and Ouwen have got to be one of my all time favorite side couples. LIS? is a noona romance with added mature het couple as well as these two, mostly interwoven. So that's a big buy in for just side BL, but this is Taiwan so everything is a touch quirky and the BL boys are beautiful, earnest, and high heat. They rep for one of Taiwan's favorite dynamics: the bisexual himbo + the confident gay, but these two are just LOVELY, plus tiny queer family! 

Word of Honor - Chinese bromance Viki & YouTube 

I don’t rec Chinese stuff often, because I believe in censoring the censors, but this show is one of my favorite of the post 2016 censored bromances. It’s two murderY assassins, and they are so effing gay for two boys who will never be allowed to kiss. 

What Zabb Man! - Thailand, YouTube 

WZM was better than we have any right to expect with decent pacing and a foodie theme threaded through the narrative as both love language and plot driver. Basically CEO falls in love with a street vendor’s food, recruits him to work in his hotel, falls in love with him, and that’s the beginning. Class struggles! Kitchen drama! Papaya pounding (not a euphemism)! Chef poaching (not literally)! Spicy scenes (yes literally)! It’s all so delicious. Full review here. 

Some More - Korea, GaGa 

One of my favorite of Korean queer house Strongberry’s shorts, one character is kinda in college (but it’s not important). It’s worth every second of your time.  

Like this?

BL’s NOT set in High School or University 

High Heat BLs list (mature content rather than mature characters) 

11 BLs with the BEST Chemistry 

from an ask from @stilessderek dated Aug 2022, not responsible for awesome maturity after that date. But you should leave a comment about it. 

ooo, good question

Favorite BL Disaster Bis!

Aoki in Kieta Hatsukoi AKA My Love Mix-Up! 

Mark in Love is Science?

Hao Ting in HIStory 3: the BL that shall not be named 

Li Cheng in HIStory 4: Close to You. At least for a bit then he gets all over confident and super sappy. 

Pete in the Kiss series

Vee in Love Mechanics.

Jin in Nitiman. 

Pick in Puppy Honey.

Fuse, poor thing. What a COMPLETE disaster. (Make it Right) 

Phun & Noh (Love Sick), the goddamn heirloom disasters. 

I decided characters like Pat in Bad Buddy and Shi Lei in BLIHID were more confident bi kings than disasters. Also I didn’t include those I don’t really like, like Dome in You’re My Sky or the cafe owner in My Lascivious Boss. 

As usual with bi identity in BL, I either trusted the narrative (in that it showed me the character dating more than one gender and not as a front) or the character said/implied a bi/pan identity.