Is the Thai BL Series losing its luster in 2023?

 Is the Thai BL Series losing its luster in 2023?

    Thai BL dramas have always been more popular than other Asian BLs such as Korean, Japanese, or even Taiwanese in recent years. However, it might be due to the number rather than the overall quality of particular shows. In 2023, there are several criticisms claiming that Thai BL dramas are more focused on numbers than quality. Are Thai BL series truly degrading in 2023? Let's see what happens in the blog.

#1. Quality trumps Quantity.

    Several years ago, the number of Thai BL shows every year was always less than ten or five, depending on whether the series was successful or not. In 2023, the numbers have multiplied tenfold, making it nearly impossible for us to watch every Thai BL produced since the beginning of the year. Because of this, there have been a few BL dramas that do not appear to be on par with prior Thai BLs from recent years, and some argue that the quality of Thai BL has declined and that it is now solely concerned with numbers. Although such argument may be valid, we need also keep in mind that Thailand has more production firms producing BL dramas than other Asian countries. So, it's not so much if Thailand has created a greater number of BL shows than other nations that influences the quality of the shows. This argument is only valid if that particular production company produces more but makes no advancement in terms of storytelling, cinematography, or even post-production. Although the number of Thai BL dramas has increased in recent years, I believe the quality is still not at its peak.

#2. Couples from the same BL

    The on-screen BL couples distinguish Thai BL dramas from other BL series. There are just a few other Asian BL shows that use the same on-screen pairings, but it's the norm for Thai BL shows. It's unusual for a certain production studio to pair up with these actors in various BLs. I'm not sure why the Thai BL company doesn't change the actor pairings on a regular basis, but it's probably due of fans. When a successful Thai BL drama generates a large audience for a specific on-screen BL couple, the production company tends to repeat the pair again and again since, first and foremost, their next project may also be successful thanks to fan support. Next, companies that employ commercials seek to optimize their revenues by investing in actors who already have a large following. Finally, some fans object to the thought of these actors collaborating with the others. However, repeating the same pair over the last few of years may indicate a lack of variety in the lead cast. Because of the same on-screen pairings, some stories may feel quite similar. This provides the sense that these stories are fairly repetitious, despite the fact that they are not totally the same. However, even with these disadvantages, producing companies would still do what they believe is best for their business. With GMMTV's annual event coming up this month, I'm still hoping for an interesting coupling for next year merely to give their actors a break.

#3. 2022 Was Too Exciting!

 

 

    Another factor that led us to believe that 2023 BLs were of lower quality was the excellent BL shows we saw in 2022. Last year, the BL community expanded as a result of the release of KinnPorsche in July, and according to Google Trends, KinnPorsche is the most sought Thai BL on the web, even surpassing 2gether The Series, which aired during the epidemic. Not only that, but in 2022, we'll see Zee and New from Cutie Pie, Jimmy and Sea from Vice Versa, Gemini and Fourth in My School President, and many more! Because most of these couples remain the same in 2023, some fans are hesitant to watch their new series.

#4. Fatigue from BL

    Watching the same thing over and over again may tire us after a while, leading to BL fatigue, which some of us are feeling. I actually had this from time to time, most likely as a result of seeing a lot of BL stuff and noting that nothing has changed in the core of the story. With so many Thai BL dramas to pick from, we have a lot to choose from based on our interests and, of course, genres. Even with those characteristics, these Thai BL aren't always engaging enough to spend time with due to bad writing, repetitive plots, or having the same cast again and over. When I was experiencing BL fatigue, I avoided watching BL shows entirely and instead focused my attention on K-Dramas or even K-pop songs in the interim to refresh my thoughts. When I rediscover interest in BLs, that will be the last time I will watch BL series again.

#5. K-BL and J-BL are improving!

    We received a large number of Korean BL earlier this year, and the most of them were far superior to the prior year. Japanese BL shows are likewise sticking to their formula of having distinct stories and storylines that keep viewers interested. Thai BLs performed well in the first half of 2023, although their quality isn't significantly improved as compared to former years. I've heard a lot of comments suggesting that Korean and Japanese BL shows are doing much better than Thai BL shows simply because people are more interested in those dramas. Although my perspective differs because most of my favorites this year are still Thai BLs, we can't alter the reality that most Thai BLs are still of poor quality. Although the Korean and Japanese BL series do not have the same budget as the Thai BL series owing to several sponsors and commercials, both are improving year after year. Aside from these, Taiwanese BLs are starting to make a splash this year, however we'll have to wait and see if they can keep it up in the next years.

    We may have varied perspectives about Thai BL dramas in 2023, but we all want these shows to improve in the future. Do you believe the Thai BL Series will lose its quality in 2023? Thank you for taking the time to read this! That's all for now; see you on the next one.