I’m on record for saying again and again that Korea is doomed to serve us up dead fish kisses.... and then 2022 happened.
I actually have in already down for my top trends of this year: “2022 the year Korea learned boys can kiss.” That said there have been a few in the past, and a recent DM chat made be decide to do this post about the times when Korea gave us good kiss.
Top 10 BL Kisses Out Of Korea (Despite Itself)
1. Semantic Error
The confession kiss. But honestly, all their kisses were excellent.
2. To My Star 1 & 2
The very last kiss in TMS1 is amazing, because it’s intentionally comparing itself to the reluctance of the dead fish kisses that came before, and as such it's intensity is used to showcase a narrative and character arc (in this case Ji Woo’s opening up to love). And despite my dislike of season two, the kisses were wonderful in that one too since they manage to show enduring LTR chemistry.
3. Just Friends
A shorter, older KBL and generally more gay and higher heat than the standard modern fare. But I have a real soft spot for this movie.
4. Blueming
Pretty much all of the kisses are good in this one. They don’t dwell and they are mostly more sweet than sexy, but all of them were well done and suited the complexity of this difficult little show.
5. Kissable Lips
I don’t like the end of this BL - it’s sad. But thank fuck (given the title) they didn’t mess up the kissing. They kinda HAD to get it right in this one show. I really am hoping the rumors that these two are doing another BL are true. I like their chemistry and I want them to get a better script.
6. Long Time No See
Blood covered assassins kissing, what’s not to love? Also the domestic sweetness that comes first in the kitchen in their skivvies is good too. And the bath. Looks it’s high heat and really well done. You are missing out if you have never watched this show.
7. Ocean Likes Me
It’s a solid sweet perfectly executed beach kiss. Couldn’t ask for more, really, certainly not from Korea.
8. Cherry Blossoms After Winter
Specifically the dream sequence kiss is the only good one we get. But it’s really good.
9. Oh Boarding House
Not many bothered to watch this BL because the first half is difficult to get through, but once the love triangle is established, it’s the physical attraction between the leads that results in the triangle falling out the way it does. Which means that attraction needs to be made obvious to the viewer. I thought they did a good job in this regard.
10. Tasty Florida
The DRUNK kiss. Gah, it’s great.
Wish You, First Love Again, Behind Cut, Nobleman Ryu’s Wedding (gat kiss!), Tinted With You, were also decent, subtle and chaste but not overly dead-fishy.
I gotta stop knocking Korea for their kisses I guess?
Korean BL Microfilms with great kisses?
Being Me
Some More (Strongberry)
(source)
This post is As of July 2022, not responsible for hot KBL smooches that happen after this date.
Finals: Pat and Pran First Kiss (Bad Buddy) vs Kinn and Porsche Goodbye Kiss (Kinnporsche: The Series)
[Submitted Reasons Under Cut]
Pat and Pran First Kiss: "There aren’t enough words to describe the way I felt the first time I watched this kiss happen. The buildup is immense, Pat is jealous but he doesn’t understand his feelings, Pran has been in love for so long he doesn’t want to even think there’s a chance. Pat talks about how damn lonely he was without Pran. He recontextualizes their whole relationship, yes they were enemies but they were also the only two people who understood eachother. And with that they’re not quite enemies, at least not anymore. And if they’re not enemies do you think they could be friends? When Pran asks, “Do you want us to be friends.” The hesitation before Pat just says no. It holds the weight of the world. And of course Pat is the one to lean in and cross that barrier, Pran is still petrified of his own feelings after years of beating them into submission. But once Pat has taken that leap and crossed that line you can see Pran say ‘fuck it’ and just go for it. If this is the only time he ever gets to kiss Pat then godammit he is going to make it worth it. Hands in each other’s hair like they couldn’t get closer to one another if they tried, desperation spills out of every corner of their kiss. And when then break apart, Pran is beyond devastated, he knows they could never be together, that this kiss might have been his one and only taste of something he has longed for, and he leaves Pat standing there for him to slowly come to the same bitter realisation as his face shifts from lovestruck to heartbroken. Ohm and Nanon raised the standard for every other kiss in any future bl. Not to mention the kiss happened when Pat was wearing a shirt that says ‘baseball mom.’ There is no other kiss that could be more deserving of this win"
Kinn and Porsche Goodbye Kiss: "it's about the EMOTION it's about the ANGST it's about finally having a glimpse at the freedom they've both dreamed of for so long and the pain of knowing that they will never have it but that in each other they can find a taste of that freedom and the pain and sacrifice that that entails. it's about the goodbye it's about the kinn kicking the ground and crying because he is willingly giving up the one good thing in his life to protect it it's about porsche being willing to cut off a hand for him for this man who put him through so much shit but that he LOVES because he has seen the true kinn, the real kinn, and the NEED to turn back and acknowledge that and that what they had in the woods was real and that kinn is worthy of his love. it's about the way that kinn staggers when porsche crashes his mouth into his it's about the arms wrapped around each other it's about the desperation to be as close as possible meaning that they hardly even move it's about the layers and layers of emotion folded into it it's about how porsche has to pull away and run so he won't turn back and so that he can give kinn what he wants (the knowledge that at least one of them will be free). it's about the fact that he does turn back. it's about them always coming back to each other. it's THEIR FIRST KISS IN LOVE OKAY IT'S EVERYTHING TO ME"
This scene has got me in a chokehold! There’s communication, vulnerability, it’s hot as hell and a little goofy. Did you say you have a praise kink? You like noisy men? Watch this!
Till the End of the World (2022) l ep 8 l dir. Anusorn Soisa-Ngim
Polcas around the world, rest on your damn laurels. Your boys did Thailand proud. They did fandom a solid.
Thank you OGs for reminding me how it's done. I was getting used to SloppyHot. And SloppyHot has its place, but that rooftop kiss was a top tear class act.
It was tender and sweet and respectful and joyful. It was eye work and breath work and years of practice.
How very far BL has come while still staying so much the same.
—I'm taking you to see shooting stars. You can make a wish for a speedy recovery on your knee.
—Did you check the forecast? Did it say anything about shooting stars today?
—Why should I bother checking? It happens every day, right?
Congrats to Pat and Pran's First Kiss For Winning Best Kiss in a BL!!!
That was certainly a tough competition! I had so many great submissions that even selecting the final lineup was hard, but congrats to everyone and thank you for participating!
I have to say, I kind of predicted this result based on the fact that this kiss received 4x more submissions than the second highest, easily being the most submitted entry to any one of these polls that I've run! But everyone else put up a very valiant fight!
Thank you again to everyone who participated, I hope you still had fun, regardless of who won or not! Keep an eye out for the poll for the next bracket topic that should be dropping soon after this is posted!