A Man Who Defies the World of BL (2021)

 A Man Who Defies the World of BL is a comic series, and at first you may think there is not a definitive storyline, but you would be wrong. Even Mob, in his rebellious status, will fall for a BL thrope, and he will fight for his love. Truth be told, at one point, I shipped him with Toujou, his brother Ayato's love interest, but that would have not been fair to Ayato, who is indeed a nice character and whose love story is cute. This series is quite interesting also for the romance lovers, you can make fun of yourself looking at how easily you fall for a thrope in the series we love to watch. HEA (for now, but there is season 3 coming). You can see it on GagaOOLala, Viki and WeTV. Heat Level: 2/6.

Heat Level:

1/6: glances, caress, hugs, no kisses

2/6: kisses, closed mouth or camera angles

3/6: full kisses, clothes on

4/6: full kisses, some clothes off, hands above the waist, pants stay on

5/6: most clothes off, they have sex, but it’s masked, no sexy sounds

6/6: full nudity mostly hidden by camera angles, they have sex, sexy sounds

Don't Say No (2021)

 For the oldtimers BL series lovers Don't Say No is a must watching, being in the same universe of TharnType and Love by Chance. The vibes are similar, and it's basically the redemption story of Fiat, that in TharnType 2 came out as a spoiled brat... and that in Don't Say No remains a spoiled brat! But if you like his type, well here it's played at full. He is petty and vindicative, but, and this is a big but, he is not cruel. He is just used to be the center of Leo's life, and he knows he is allowed to behave badly, cause Leo will be there and patch things for him. So in a way, it's Leo's fault, but Leo is more than willing to continue this course, so, after all, their relationship is perfect. HEA. You can see it on GagaOOLala, iQIYI and Viki. Heat Level: 5/6.

Heat Level:

1/6: glances, caress, hugs, no kisses

2/6: kisses, closed mouth or camera angles

3/6: full kisses, clothes on

4/6: full kisses, some clothes off, hands above the waist, pants stay on

5/6: most clothes off, they have sex, but it’s masked, no sexy sounds

6/6: full nudity mostly hidden by camera angles, they have sex, sexy sounds

Fish Upon the Sky (2021)

 Fish Upon the Sky was a nice comedy and romance. The thrope is common, Pi falls for Nan, not knowing that Mork is in love with him, actually Pi thinks Mork is trying to steal Nan. What follows is the usual college romance, with Mork openly courting Pi, and Pi obtusely misunderstanding everything. The circle of friends is quite nice, and I like also the character of Nan, who is actually the cupid between Pi and Mork instead of being the obstacle. HEA. You can see it on Youtube. Heat Level: 3/6.

Heat Level:

1/6: glances, caress, hugs, no kisses

2/6: kisses, closed mouth or camera angles

3/6: full kisses, clothes on

4/6: full kisses, some clothes off, hands above the waist, pants stay on

5/6: most clothes off, they have sex, but it’s masked, no sexy sounds

6/6: full nudity mostly hidden by camera angles, they have sex, sexy sounds

Embracing Love (2005)

Embracing Love is about two male adult movie actors who try to go mainstream. During an audition for the main role for a theater movie, they are asked to perform sex in front of the camera. For both of them is the first same-sex experience, and consequently they are both attracted to each other. For the rest of the anime, Kyousuke Iwaki and Youji Katou are trying to juggle between their private and publice lives, without losing in either field. I quite like the struggle to maintain restrained their attraction to each other, especially when they are asking to act in sex scene in front of the camera: to everyone is clear they are not acting at all. The anime is good, but sometime it's lacking in explaining what is happening: for example, it's not clear that this is their first same-sex experience, therefore it's difficult to understand their reticence at being involved with each other. Said that, I like a lot the anime and I bought the manga. The anime is basically just the first two volumes (they translated 6 of them and many more are available only in japanese). If you like the anime as I do, I suggest to buy the manga, it gives even a better enjoyment of the anime.


Manga: amzn.to/4eRN5uJ

Doukyuusei (2016)

Doukyuusei is quite the stylish anime, the drawing has a fairytale feeling, despite being a contemporary story about an high school romance. It's delicate and sweet, but quite satysfying. The only thing I don't like is the character of the teacher, who is basically preying on one of his students... There is no drama happening, but I really didn't like that part of the story. Anyway the romance between Hikaru Kusakabe and Rihito Sajou is a slow blossoming, like the change of seasons, and when it will reach its apex (just feelings, no sex), it will be rewarding for everyone.


Manga: amzn.to/3Wft36e

Junjou Romantica (2008)

Junjou Romantica is about 3 different couples; in all of them there is an age gap, sometime not so huge (4 years between Nowaki and Hiroki), but enhanced by the fact Hiroki is already a college professor, while Nowaki is still a student; in this couple, the seme is actually the younger man, and this is a counterposition to their difference in social steps. Misaki and Akihiko have 10 years between them, and here the older man is also the seme, but Akihiko had a complicated family background, and there are some traits in his personality that are showing the insecurity this has generated in him; Misaki, with his youthful enthusiasm, is creating around Akihiko the family embrace he is missing. The last couple is also the one with a considerable age difference, 18 years: You and Shinobu; Shinobu is the former brother-in-law of You, and when You divorces his sister, Shinobu forcefully enters You's life. He has always being in love with You, and he will do everything to have the older man admit his feelings. There is a lot of sex in this anime, but it's not graphic. I mostly enjoyed all the couples, maybe not so much Misaki and Akihiko at first, I felt like Akihiko forced Misaki into the relationship, but maybe, considering Akihiko's background, he didn't know better.


Manga: amzn.to/4bBZMH2

Love Stage!! (2014)

At this point I have seen the movie, the drama and now the anime of this story. They are all three comedy style, and in a way, good. I understand why someone doesn't like Ryouma Ichijou, he comes a little forcefully into Izumi Sena's life, and he really is behaving like a stalker at one point, but he is doing it out of a love he has cultivated for 10 years, and even if the object of that love is a man, he at the end doesn't care. So I cannot hate him. On the other end, Izumi Sena is really a spoiled child, he has always had everyone protecting him because he is cute... Ok, ok, I admit, Love Stage!! is a little stupid, but it's well drawn, and it was mostly sweet, therefore I liked it for what it was, a pleasant entertainment.


Manga: amzn.to/4cNHmnM

The Night Beyond the Tricornered Window (2021)

In comparison to the movie, the anime version is playing way more on the sexual tension between Kousuke and Rihito, and it's clear that Rihito is considering their a relationship. There is also a better explanation on the fact that Kousuke is feeling sexual pleasure when Rihito is using him as a conduit for the exorcisms, and actually Rihito suggest to Kousuke to profit of it, and if Kousuke wants, he is willing to do even more. Anyway the story is a little less gory than the movie, and there are even more characters involved, making it quite more complex. I think that, for once, I prefer the anime to the movie.


Manga: amzn.to/3WeVhOg

Sasaki and Miyano (2022)

Sasaki and Miyano was very sweet, a very standard high school romance but almost perfect to my opinion. It was to think that Miyano, the younger boy who starts to lend BL mangas to the older Sasaki is actually the one questioning their love. Sasaki, who has never had an interested in another boy, is the one who declares to Miyano his love, and he is also the one willing to wait all the time Miyano needs to accept it. For once there is absolutely no forcing these feelings on the uke, and actually, I think that saying Sasaki is the seme and Miyano is the uke is not even right... I can easily imagining that this couple, when the time will come, will probably have an equal level relationship.


Manga: amzn.to/4cOOmRm

World's Greatest First Love (2011)

World's Greatest First Love is from the same author of Junjou Romantica, and it's again about 4 couples (5 if you consider also the movie, which is about the couple I prefer, Takafumi and Zen. In World's Greatest First Love the concept, is, indeed, the first love. Starting from the main couple, Masamune and Ritsu, who first met in high school, and then, after a 10 years separation, are now colleagues. Masamune never forgot Ritsu, while instead, I had the impression Ritsu forgot about Masamune. This is quite strange, since it was Ritsu who had a 3 years long crush for Masamune when he was a teenager. The second couple is Shouta and Yoshiyuki, again childhood friends, and again first time lovers, even if they arrive to consummate their relationship as adults. The third couple is the one that probably I prefer, Chiaki and Kou. Chiaki has never being in love, despite having had quite a lot of lovers; he is pining for the perfect man and he doesn't want to believe that the younger, and more handsome, Kou is interested in him. He rejects Kou and does everything in his own to destroy the feelings Kou has for him. Of course he will not manage it. Isaka and Asahina are playing one of the thrope I prefer, that of the rich man and his valet, where the role of seme and uke are reversed: the valet is actually the seme, taking care of his uke in every aspect of the uke's life. Of course Isaka is completely dependent, in love and life, from Asahina. Takafumi and Zen, the couple who star in the movie, is my favorite. Takafumi has been in love with Masamune since their college years together, but Masamune, while accepting a sexual relationship with him, has never reciprocate the feeling. Zen will convince Takafumi that a first love that has never had the chance to blossom, is not real, and that Takafumi can have the real deal with him.


Manga: amzn.to/3WfrLYW

Sensitive Pornograph (2004)

Yes, Sensitive Pornograph is actually a hard-core story, but it's not just porn. There is actually a story, and I really liked the character of Aki, he is this sort of innocent character despite having had a lot of sexual experience. But he is innocent in love, all the sex partner before had his body but never reached his heart. And when he is rejected by Sono, it's hurting him, but he is not lashing against Sono. Sensitive Pornograph is a two stories anime, the two stories have no connection between them. The second one is just a vignette, more porn than romance actually, but again, not so stupid in the end. Again I liked the character of Seiji.


Manga: amzn.to/4cvadO9

Yes, No, or Maybe? (2020)

Not sure I completely understood the message of Yes, No, or Maybe?, and yes, for once, the sex scene was quite out of character. The story is cute, the romance is slow burning, and the characters are nice, so up until the end, and that sex scene, I was enjoying it. So, let's say that the writer wanted to make it funny, but it was a hige mistep I suppose.


Manga: amzn.to/3YdEInx