BL, danmei adaptations and bromance
Explicit BL can't air in China, so the industry adapts danmei novels into 'bromances' where the romance lives in the subtext — and the subtext is the point. The Untamed and Word of Honor are the two pillars; Addicted is the banned 2016 series that started it all.
1. The Untamed 陈情令
201950 epMandarin · subs: English + 17 moreActionCrimeDanmei
The gateway C-drama for most international fans. A xianxia bromance adapted from the danmei novel Mo Dao Zu Shi (魔道祖师) by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu. Start here if you have never watched a Chinese drama.
2. Word of Honor 山河令
202136 epMandarin · subs: English + 14 moreActionHistorical
Wuxia bromance adapted from the danmei novel Faraway Wanderers (天涯客) by Priest. Smarter writing than The Untamed, slower start, bigger payoff.
3. Addicted 上癮
201615 epMandarin · subs: English + 14 moreBLLGBTModern Romance
The BL web series that got pulled by censors after 15 episodes in 2016 — and made its two leads famous anyway. Historically important; watch it as a time capsule.
4. Nirvana In Fire 瑯琊榜
201554 epMandarin · subs: English + 14 moreHistoricalPoliticalWar
Widely considered the best Chinese political drama ever made. A revenge-and-strategy story adapted from Hai Yan's novel. Zero romance, all brains — 54 episodes that never drag.
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