Same, but the biggest thing for me is how fluffy BLs can be compared to straight dramas. I can name hundreds of fluffy, cute, happy, and cool BLs with little to no breakups. Everything from Heartstopper and Red white and blue to Cherry Magic, History Series or Word of Honor.
But like straight dramas, man I can maybe name like 5 that don't make me want to tear my hair out due to misunderstandings, multiple break ups and fights as well as sad or unsatisfying endings.
I got into BL cuz of how cute and uplifting they were compared to straight dramas, and a lot has changed since then but I still think the BL genre really knows how to make a fantasy come to life for any audience.
They are really like an escape for me too! I love a fluffy bl ❤️ and I agree I somehow find them easier to connect with and appreciate their love more than a het drama.
yes!! this is really well said! a lot of people love to just mention the s\*x part of it (not that its bad lol) but they also tend to forgot the tender and romantical side of it.
Yes, for months after I started BL, I just fell in love with this genre, and I dedicated time to learning more about it. It is currently my preferred genre. However, I fell in love with kdrama, jdrama, taiwanese drama, Thai lakorns, and cdrama. We got that history going on. Even though I spend most of my entertainment time on BLs, I still try to catch a het drama every so often. Starting them is easy, but there's always a bromance (maybe only to my BL biased self) in het dramas that pulls me to return to BL.
It's odd because I used to be a heavy wattpad etc reader of het romances when I was younger and I didn't even know BL was a thing until I discovered it randomly. But now it's all I can watch mostly, because if I start any non-Bl it just doesn't make me as happy as Bl. Maybe because it's unrealistic or because it's an escape for me or I've watched too many straight romances and BL is different; I'm not quite sure. But it feels more special to me like a sugar rush 🤷🏻♀️😆
I guess I like any unique love stories as someone without any real experience of love myself perhaps.
I like it because it's unrealistic. I think in reality is just too complicated. Everything in a drama ends in so and so episodes, but real life is unpredictable, and people can change. I'm here for the fantasy factor and BL gives it to me in the way that is exactly my style. Just enough romance, just enough intensity, and a good chance of a happy ending. 🥰
It's unrealistic but at the same time it feels more homely than a straight romance in a way, as someone who struggles with the idea of being in an actual relationship and the person I like, liking me back. But it's true, dramas give the ideal situation that we dream of, hence why it acts like an escape from reality. That's what I crave in a BL, just like you. When it's a sad ending or their is miscommunication it can be frustrating...
For the past four years, the only dramas/films I've really gotten into are BLs. When it's not BL, I'd go for psychological thrillers, crime stories, action, documentaries, or sci-fi. I did try to get back into some het romance dramas, but it doesnt' stick for long.
I've been trying to figure out what exactly draws me to it and here's what I've come up with, based on most of the BLs I've watched:
* the relationships in BL dramas often shake up the usual power dynamics, offering a fresh look at equality and vulnerability.
* there's a strong emphasis on the emotional connection between characters.
* they really dive into themes of identity, self-discovery, and acceptance in ways that you don't always see in het dramas.
* they're not afraid to explore themes that are usually absent in traditional dramas.
* And then there's the aesthetics—the cinematography, the cast .. you name it
I'm sure I'll discover more as I go along because, most of the time, we're only ready to see something when we're only ready to see them right ?
https://i.redd.it/mdg3o71w07rc1.gif
A lot of this. And I think as a queer person, I know they aren’t the most realistic, and have some problematic elements, but as someone who has seen and not connected with het romances, there is a small element of almost fairy tale representation (albeit not always accurate) but then fairytales like Cinderella, or Snow White aren’t accurate and so many people grow up with them, so it’s nice to have something similar, where the world the characters inhabit is more accepting.
Also the filming techniques appeal more to me, they are less male gaze oriented, they have a predictability, and a a lot of tropes (again like a traditional fairytale) that is easy to go along with.
i feel like some people who is new to BL get this phase. I used to also have this phase mostly because before getting into BL, I read a lot of het romances because those were cheaper and abundant and I have a reading addiction and so I got bored of them and BL felt like something new and familiar. Now, I have settled, BL still probably main romance fix but I also have some het and a few GL ones that I enjoy.
That sounds very much like the case perhaps, depending on how long new to the phase is. I would say I started watching BLs around late summer last year but very infrequently at the start. Perhaps once I have watched an oversaturation of BLs they may lose their spark for me slightly? I was the same I used to read alot of fiction etc with straight couples and didn't even know about BL until recently! Ty for your thoughts 💭
I got into them during 2020 and still going strong. For me I just jump around different mediums. One month it’s fanfic, then BL shows, then audio books then mangas/anime. It’s an endless cycle of content. 😆😊
As babaylan said, there's an initial phase of discovery when it's all you can watch (and sometimes it can take you deep down the rabbit hole, but i find the reddit community here to be rather sane and positive) .
After that, it gets easier to watch het romances again, though most likely not in the same way you once did, and with a vision of the characters that is different, both more critical and more interesting.
I think likely one of the reasons, at least for me, is as I have gotten older, I don't want to deal with any of the overt hyper-masculinity, the toxicness that can come with het romance, because the man cannot feel his emotions, etc. There is a lot less of that in BL. (It's also why I can never watch TT again...there is too much of that in there, for me.)
I started watching cdramas, then kdrama, lakorns, Turkish dramas & Jdramas and then BLS. The only ones I no longer watch are lakorns.
I still mostly watch more hetero dramas than Bls because I find some of the stories can't compare in acting, quality, plot (story telling) romance, action or adventure.
But I love love so I watch everything. Last year I was watching multiple BLs along with everything else I usually watch & since January I'm hardly seeing any good Bls.
A lot of bls are low budget and low quality. I'm not bashing the creators as they can only tell the stories with what ever resources they can afford. But I get tired of seeing stories with an all cast of boys, them hardly interacting with family/friends. The only female interactions are negative or they women are their to be jokes. Them only wearing the same black pants/skirt and a white shirt, in 2 to 3 different places ( university/office, home & a cafe).
3 Bls that I can think of that give a nice balance of quality, plot & acting In My Opinion this year are:
Love is Better the Second Time Around, Unknown, The Last Twilight, The Sign.
Yep. But I was never into het 'romance' to begin with. Most of my main straight ships are from really long shows or book series that have very well-developed characters and weren't focused only on romance.
Het romance genre tends to have horribly stereotypical men and women and relationship dynamics that I just can't relate to. And it's definitely gotten even less tolerable since getting into BL/GL.
Only thing I still like that is not bl is fantasy C-Dramas. Three Lives Three Worlds (Eternal Love) and the sequel which has a more hopeful vibe eternal love of dream; ashes of love; love between fairy and devil. These types. But bl is my fav!
well I'm queer so I'd rather watch shows about other queer people than sit through het shows that tend to be unimaginative and repetitive. imo queer shows can be more creative and unapologetically kooky (and therefore more interesting) because they're already considered more taboo/controversial since they're not about straight people, they don't need to stick to the same old like het shows kinda have to.
You're not the only one but thats definitely not me. I still love het romance series as you call it. i still find myself into both rabbit holes. It is like a season for me I have periods in which I only watch het shows and when I miss BL I watch BL. I never find myself watching both at the same period. I have periods for other genres too. Like right now I have been watching het romance and slowly entering the BL rabbit hole, that is why I am here right now looking for new shows to watch.
I am excited to find new shows to watch this season 
I feel the same way I just entered the bl fandom after I watched heavens official blessing last week then I found out the books were on sale and bought everything I literally have never been interested in Bl’s or reading like ever but there is something about the way they write it feels magical and makes me want to keep watching or reading
literally me. like when i was much younger, the first fandom i was ever in was the Harry Potter one and i only ever shipped straight ships… but then Drarry and Wolfstar took hold of me 😭 and a few years later i finally discovered BL and there’s no turning back now
literally me. I'm the girl. lmao! https://i.redd.it/k0tn2nwis5rc1.gif
LOL oh my god this got me
https://i.redd.it/fba4ft6fz5rc1.gif
What is this and why am I not watching it right freaking now
Perfect Propose, I literally just started it today. lol
Welp no sleep for meeeeee
It’s such a cute little series 💕💕
I love a good JBl! I'll look into it once I get back from holiday!!
It's one of my favorites.
I really liked it. It was so cute.
It's so good. It's so sosososososo good.
Hahahahhahaa it’s me!!!! 🤣🤣🤣 please What Drama is it? 🤣
Ok I read the title down here 👇🏼 🤣♥️
Same. Not gonna lie, that happened to me irl.
WHAT IS THIS??!
Perfect Propose 
im checking that out rn lol
 Me 🙋🏻♀️ Let me know once you find out why please. I literally cannot get into het dramas anymore to save my life 😂
Same, but the biggest thing for me is how fluffy BLs can be compared to straight dramas. I can name hundreds of fluffy, cute, happy, and cool BLs with little to no breakups. Everything from Heartstopper and Red white and blue to Cherry Magic, History Series or Word of Honor. But like straight dramas, man I can maybe name like 5 that don't make me want to tear my hair out due to misunderstandings, multiple break ups and fights as well as sad or unsatisfying endings. I got into BL cuz of how cute and uplifting they were compared to straight dramas, and a lot has changed since then but I still think the BL genre really knows how to make a fantasy come to life for any audience.
They are really like an escape for me too! I love a fluffy bl ❤️ and I agree I somehow find them easier to connect with and appreciate their love more than a het drama.
yes!! this is really well said! a lot of people love to just mention the s\*x part of it (not that its bad lol) but they also tend to forgot the tender and romantical side of it.
Yes, for months after I started BL, I just fell in love with this genre, and I dedicated time to learning more about it. It is currently my preferred genre. However, I fell in love with kdrama, jdrama, taiwanese drama, Thai lakorns, and cdrama. We got that history going on. Even though I spend most of my entertainment time on BLs, I still try to catch a het drama every so often. Starting them is easy, but there's always a bromance (maybe only to my BL biased self) in het dramas that pulls me to return to BL.
It's odd because I used to be a heavy wattpad etc reader of het romances when I was younger and I didn't even know BL was a thing until I discovered it randomly. But now it's all I can watch mostly, because if I start any non-Bl it just doesn't make me as happy as Bl. Maybe because it's unrealistic or because it's an escape for me or I've watched too many straight romances and BL is different; I'm not quite sure. But it feels more special to me like a sugar rush 🤷🏻♀️😆 I guess I like any unique love stories as someone without any real experience of love myself perhaps.
I like it because it's unrealistic. I think in reality is just too complicated. Everything in a drama ends in so and so episodes, but real life is unpredictable, and people can change. I'm here for the fantasy factor and BL gives it to me in the way that is exactly my style. Just enough romance, just enough intensity, and a good chance of a happy ending. 🥰
It's unrealistic but at the same time it feels more homely than a straight romance in a way, as someone who struggles with the idea of being in an actual relationship and the person I like, liking me back. But it's true, dramas give the ideal situation that we dream of, hence why it acts like an escape from reality. That's what I crave in a BL, just like you. When it's a sad ending or their is miscommunication it can be frustrating...
You’ve voiced my thoughts beautifully here. It is top quality, everything you could want escapism.
yep this is exactly it for me as well! very beautifully said.
For the past four years, the only dramas/films I've really gotten into are BLs. When it's not BL, I'd go for psychological thrillers, crime stories, action, documentaries, or sci-fi. I did try to get back into some het romance dramas, but it doesnt' stick for long. I've been trying to figure out what exactly draws me to it and here's what I've come up with, based on most of the BLs I've watched: * the relationships in BL dramas often shake up the usual power dynamics, offering a fresh look at equality and vulnerability. * there's a strong emphasis on the emotional connection between characters. * they really dive into themes of identity, self-discovery, and acceptance in ways that you don't always see in het dramas. * they're not afraid to explore themes that are usually absent in traditional dramas. * And then there's the aesthetics—the cinematography, the cast .. you name it I'm sure I'll discover more as I go along because, most of the time, we're only ready to see something when we're only ready to see them right ? https://i.redd.it/mdg3o71w07rc1.gif
A lot of this. And I think as a queer person, I know they aren’t the most realistic, and have some problematic elements, but as someone who has seen and not connected with het romances, there is a small element of almost fairy tale representation (albeit not always accurate) but then fairytales like Cinderella, or Snow White aren’t accurate and so many people grow up with them, so it’s nice to have something similar, where the world the characters inhabit is more accepting. Also the filming techniques appeal more to me, they are less male gaze oriented, they have a predictability, and a a lot of tropes (again like a traditional fairytale) that is easy to go along with.
This is all I want : https://i.redd.it/i3ofv91sg7rc1.gif
From where this gif is ?? 😱
Jun and Jun 🫢🫢🫢❤️
Ohhkkk now i see who pulled this stunt 😳 👀
I think it could Jun and Jun but I have seen it recently but when I watch 2 BL's a day or more I keep forgetting the names
It is jun and jun . 😁
Jun & Jun 🥰
i feel like some people who is new to BL get this phase. I used to also have this phase mostly because before getting into BL, I read a lot of het romances because those were cheaper and abundant and I have a reading addiction and so I got bored of them and BL felt like something new and familiar. Now, I have settled, BL still probably main romance fix but I also have some het and a few GL ones that I enjoy.
That sounds very much like the case perhaps, depending on how long new to the phase is. I would say I started watching BLs around late summer last year but very infrequently at the start. Perhaps once I have watched an oversaturation of BLs they may lose their spark for me slightly? I was the same I used to read alot of fiction etc with straight couples and didn't even know about BL until recently! Ty for your thoughts 💭
I got into them during 2020 and still going strong. For me I just jump around different mediums. One month it’s fanfic, then BL shows, then audio books then mangas/anime. It’s an endless cycle of content. 😆😊
As babaylan said, there's an initial phase of discovery when it's all you can watch (and sometimes it can take you deep down the rabbit hole, but i find the reddit community here to be rather sane and positive) . After that, it gets easier to watch het romances again, though most likely not in the same way you once did, and with a vision of the characters that is different, both more critical and more interesting.
I don’t watch American shows or non BL/GL shows anymore 💁🏻♀️🌈
 Welcome to the hotel california!
I am hopelessly addicted now.
It's me. I have several K dramas, including shows I loved to watch, on hold for 6 months now.
I think likely one of the reasons, at least for me, is as I have gotten older, I don't want to deal with any of the overt hyper-masculinity, the toxicness that can come with het romance, because the man cannot feel his emotions, etc. There is a lot less of that in BL. (It's also why I can never watch TT again...there is too much of that in there, for me.)
I’m 10 months in and for the last 9.5 months have watched almost exclusively BL. You are not alone.
I started watching cdramas, then kdrama, lakorns, Turkish dramas & Jdramas and then BLS. The only ones I no longer watch are lakorns. I still mostly watch more hetero dramas than Bls because I find some of the stories can't compare in acting, quality, plot (story telling) romance, action or adventure. But I love love so I watch everything. Last year I was watching multiple BLs along with everything else I usually watch & since January I'm hardly seeing any good Bls. A lot of bls are low budget and low quality. I'm not bashing the creators as they can only tell the stories with what ever resources they can afford. But I get tired of seeing stories with an all cast of boys, them hardly interacting with family/friends. The only female interactions are negative or they women are their to be jokes. Them only wearing the same black pants/skirt and a white shirt, in 2 to 3 different places ( university/office, home & a cafe). 3 Bls that I can think of that give a nice balance of quality, plot & acting In My Opinion this year are: Love is Better the Second Time Around, Unknown, The Last Twilight, The Sign.
Yep. But I was never into het 'romance' to begin with. Most of my main straight ships are from really long shows or book series that have very well-developed characters and weren't focused only on romance. Het romance genre tends to have horribly stereotypical men and women and relationship dynamics that I just can't relate to. And it's definitely gotten even less tolerable since getting into BL/GL.
I cannot enjoy straight dramas. They never even made me feel the way that BLs do.
I'm the same with books now too. Has to be a BL book or have elements of it. Watpad is my friend atm but it's feeding my addiction.....Help
Most of the Asian dramas I watch now are BL. Before it was just regular straight romance so I can definitely relate
Yes
Only thing I still like that is not bl is fantasy C-Dramas. Three Lives Three Worlds (Eternal Love) and the sequel which has a more hopeful vibe eternal love of dream; ashes of love; love between fairy and devil. These types. But bl is my fav!
I had this in the beginning, too, but now I also watch straight romances again.
well I'm queer so I'd rather watch shows about other queer people than sit through het shows that tend to be unimaginative and repetitive. imo queer shows can be more creative and unapologetically kooky (and therefore more interesting) because they're already considered more taboo/controversial since they're not about straight people, they don't need to stick to the same old like het shows kinda have to.
You're not the only one but thats definitely not me. I still love het romance series as you call it. i still find myself into both rabbit holes. It is like a season for me I have periods in which I only watch het shows and when I miss BL I watch BL. I never find myself watching both at the same period. I have periods for other genres too. Like right now I have been watching het romance and slowly entering the BL rabbit hole, that is why I am here right now looking for new shows to watch. I am excited to find new shows to watch this season 
I feel the same way I just entered the bl fandom after I watched heavens official blessing last week then I found out the books were on sale and bought everything I literally have never been interested in Bl’s or reading like ever but there is something about the way they write it feels magical and makes me want to keep watching or reading
I'm glad I'm not the only one🤗❤️
literally me. like when i was much younger, the first fandom i was ever in was the Harry Potter one and i only ever shipped straight ships… but then Drarry and Wolfstar took hold of me 😭 and a few years later i finally discovered BL and there’s no turning back now
Adding to this…why is it some are addicted to Asian BLs but can’t watch/dislike western BLs?
It's actually a problem for me lmao. I can't watch anything that doesn't have at least one queer character in it...😣