I didn’t expect much when I initially came across French BL series. When it comes to LGBT romance, Thai and Korean dramas tend to get the most attention throughout the world. But France has been quietly and persistently giving us powerful, compelling, and beautifully written queer stories in all kinds of genres, from coming-of-age to historical epics to political dramas to crime thrillers.
These aren’t just “boys love” to please fans. They show love, identity, shame, resistance, and progress in a layered, vulnerable, and often harsh way. Some stories take place in the silent hallways of high schools. Some span centuries and are still heard in the struggles of LGBTQ+ people over the years. And a few of them, well, they crushed my heart in the finest way.
Here are six French BL shows that I still think about. Not just because they were gay, but because they were authentic.
Top French BL & Gay Series
Skam France Season 3 (2019)
Country: France
Year: 2019
Genre: Teen Drama / Coming Out / LGBTQ+
Main Couple: Lucas & Eliott
As a remake of Norway’s cult series Skam, the French adaptation retains the emotional depth of its predecessors. Season 3 centers on Lucas, a teenager who falls for Eliott, a mysterious and charming transfer student. What starts as a quiet fascination turns into an emotional rollercoaster, as Lucas struggles with his sexual identity, fears of rejection, and the social pressures of being a closeted teen. Their story unfolds in the raw backdrop of high school, exploring love, mental health, and the beauty of being seen.
I didn’t expect to be moved by a remake—but Skam France’s third season completely shifted my perspective. This isn’t just a romance. It’s a battle fought inch by inch, where both boys are equals in courage and vulnerability. It’s about crossing fear, stigma, and internal doubt, and finding light at the end of the tunnel—together. Lucas & Eliott’s journey is full of tenderness, setbacks, and triumphs. Even if you’ve seen the original, this version deserves your full attention.
Fiertés (2018)
Country: France
Year: 2018
Genre: Historical Drama / LGBTQ+ Rights
Main Character: Victor
Fiertés (“Pride”) is a three-part miniseries that spans over 30 years of French LGBTQ+ history, from the election of François Mitterrand in 1981 to the legalization of same-sex marriage in 2013. Through the life of Victor, we see the evolution of personal and political struggles: love, shame, activism, and family. It is not just about one man, but about a collective fight for equality—framed through intimate, emotional storytelling.
Few series carry the emotional and political weight that Fiertés does. It compresses decades of queer struggle into three tight episodes without losing warmth or nuance. Watching it, I felt both angry and proud—angry that discrimination still echoes, and proud of how far we’ve come. It’s not about heroes in rainbow capes, but real people living honestly. It’s a reminder: Pride is not just a parade—it’s a memory, a resistance, and a right.
Les Garçons de Chambre (2014)
Country: France
Year: 2014
Genre: Erotic Drama / Suspense / LGBTQ+
Main Character: Léopold (and his twin)
Set in a luxurious hotel, this series follows Léopold and his group of bellboys as they juggle everyday jobs, secret lives, and moral dilemmas. Léopold has a peculiar side hustle at night—but one fateful encounter with an undercover cop derails everything. With a twin brother roped into the mess and a mounting tangle of mistaken identities, Les Garçons de Chambre blends erotic tension with suspense, dark humor, and a dash of queer fantasy.
This one surprised me. At first glance, it’s pure eye candy—but beneath the polished surface is a genuinely gripping narrative. The twin switch plot scratches a very particular fantasy itch, and the final episode left me itching for a Season 2. Sure, some details could be tighter, but the mood lighting and sexual tension are cinema-quality. Think: Call Me by Your Name meets Elite, with French flair and moral ambiguity.
Plus Belle La Vie (2004)
Country: France
Year: 2004–2022
Genre: Soap Opera / LGBTQ+ Romance
Notable Couple: Thomas & Florian
A beloved French soap set in the fictional neighborhood of “Le Mistral” in Marseille, Plus Belle La Vie weaves together the lives of ordinary people as they navigate romance, family, crime, and secrets. Among its many storylines, the love story between Thomas and Florian stands out—a tender but ultimately heartbreaking arc that explores betrayal, grief, and queer longing in the mundane rhythm of everyday life.
Thomas & Florian’s relationship gave this soap its soul. It wasn’t flashy or idealized—it was messy, flawed, and achingly human. The ending hurt deeply, but it also underscored the show’s unflinching honesty. It reminded me that even in the most everyday settings, queer love can be profound and tragic. Despite its soap roots, Plus Belle La Vie offered one of the most psychologically insightful depictions of gay romance on French TV.
Les Engagés (2017)
Country: France
Year: 2017
Genre: Political / Queer Coming-of-Age
Main Characters: Hicham & Thibaut
After leaving home, Hicham sets out for Lyon in search of Thibaut—a queer activist he kissed years ago. His arrival thrusts him into the world of LGBTQ+ rights organizations, where he confronts identity, community, and the complexities of adulthood. Les Engagés is not just a coming-out story—it’s about coming into purpose, power, and place in a society that’s still negotiating what equality truly means.
This isn’t your usual drama. It’s political, personal, and deeply honest. I appreciated how it handled both sides of queer experience—Hicham, a young Muslim man navigating new freedoms, and Thibaut, the disillusioned activist burning out from idealism. It made me think, not just feel. Les Engagés carries the emotional weight of Fiertés, but grounds it in the present. It’s one of the most important and underrated French queer dramas I’ve seen.
Les Innocents (2018)
Country: France
Year: 2018
Genre: Crime Thriller / Queer Subtext
Main Characters: Lucas & Yann
Two teenage boys secretly meet in the forest—only to witness a brutal murder. Terrified and desperate to stay hidden, they try to carry the secret without revealing their relationship. As the investigation closes in, the lines between love, fear, and survival blur. Les Innocents is a suspense-filled crime drama where queerness lingers in the shadows—never loud, but always present.
While not a romance at its core, Les Innocents had me hooked from the first scene. Yann’s ethereal beauty feels like something out of a fantasy novel, and Lucas’s inner conflict adds genuine emotional depth. Yes, the mystery has some loose threads, but the tension between the two boys—both emotional and existential—is what makes it memorable. It’s queer-coded, yes, but also beautifully acted and sharply paced.
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