My all time favorite and comfort BL
Bad Buddy is without a doubt one of the best BL I have ever watched. The chemistry between the characters, their acting, the story, the setting is just perfect.The acting and character development of Ohm and Nanon is just flawless.
One thing I would like to suggest to people who are yet to watch this series is not to watch the teasers of the next episodes before watching them, especially the final episode.
I was able to predict the final episode just by looking at the teaser and was a bit disappointed when I watched it as I thought my prediction is just a part of the actual story.
I recently read the novel and found out that the story is quite different from the series, I find that the story is better in the series whereas the ending is better in the novel.
I think the novel's version can be presented as season 2, the timeline being before the final episode.
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Just a friend
I really love this drama...the most...its Nanon's 1st bl drama and he nailed it like a pro.....i would rewatch the whole drama for a thousand times.. Too...its sooooo good....i really want a special ep. ...as i want more..i will support both of them.in their other upcoming dramas.....their friendship is the best..too...susuna♡this drama had everything we required it had no toxic relationship ...it was a a pure bliss..their love was potrayed in the best way...ever.....P aof.....really did the best work ever....as it will always remain no. 1 for me...the memories will always stay with me....forevaWas this review helpful to you?
Wow!
Let me just say I have never been so invested in a BL drama before. I don’t usually write reviews about shows but this one needs it!I have enjoyed this show since episode 1. I knew in the first 10 minutes that this show was going to be something.
The story is very trope BL plot, but the writing helped the story so much. The writing was amazing. I also loved the dialogue about how there are certain topics in BLs that need to be squashed (husband/wife, top/bottom, “I’m only gay for this person.”). They also made everything so seem less when going from transitions.
The acting was amazing! I loved both of the acting of Ohm and Nanon. I had seen Nanon in some shows but haven’t really watched Ohm. Now I’m binging shows he’s in because I thought he did such a great job in this show.
The music is good and I like the songs.
Overall this is my favorite BL and it will be hard for something to top it.
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One of the Best Thai BL ever
In short, its one of the best Thai BL ever - no toxic relationship, no unnecessary dramas.Just love the fact that the two leads have a very healthy relationship. They solve misunderstandings very quickly, there is no hide-and-seeks between them. There is no one who's constantly hurt and sad. Pat is also really boyfriend material who is really supportive and considerate.
The acting of the cast is also great. The chemistry between the two leads is so natural and comfortable to watch.
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Effortless
Effortless as in it is so effortlessly great, the plot is one we have seen so many other times but I firmly believe that if p'Aof wasn't the director and if he had gone with other actors than OhmNanon, this drama could have gone either way. Their chemistry truly shined and made the characters great and with p'Aof directing style it worked so well, he let them improvise and have fun with the roles and it shows.P'Aof also brings up and breaks stereotypical tropes in the BL world.
Bad Buddy the Series is a show, if you get through it will be your comfort show, and everyone watching will fall helplessly in love with both Pran & Pat. Characters are relatable, the story is funny with hints of angst, and the soundtracks are great.
Ohm & Nanon are such great actors and they delivered such believable performances.
Bad Buddy isn't without it's flaws BUT those flaws are nothing compared the amazing performance by the cast, director, screenwriter and all of the staff.
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Two people who can't be friends can't help but be more than just friends.
I have had my fair share of Thai BLs over the years but there is something very special about this one that makes it stand out from the rest.It's about two people who were born to be rivals because of their parents but that rivalry soon grows into friendship and into love. The story is something that is new or different, it's been seen and done so many times before in every language ever possible, Romeo and Juliet being the most classic example. But the directors were able to take that simple plot and execute it so well that it stood out from anything else.
The story was fresh, all the nasty and evil BL norms were thrown out the window and a fresh plot was given. For the first time after a very long while, a healthy BL couple was introduced to the audience. They didn't have one strong lead who was good at everything and one weak lead who was only just average. There was no abuse or rape and it wasn't romanticized either. None of the leads forced the other to do something and they talked through every problem they had.
It had the light and fluffy feeling that you look for in such a drama which takes place in university. And for once it actually felt like a normal university drama where everyone was doing things that a normal university student would do. What I really like is that the cast were also quite young and in university age themselves so it actually felt like you were watching a campus drama. You didn't have a bunch of old people trying to act like young adults and you could see the youthfulness in the cast's faces make it enjoyable to watch. The drama shows the nature of young adults so beautifully by showing their rivalry, the way they joke around and just live their life to their fullest. The cute little scenes when they are teasing each other, flirting and singing songs together.
There is a certain charm to Bad Buddy that makes you attached to it, and it is an attachment that you won't be able to let go of easily. I have never seen any Thai BL that can compete with Bad Buddy and I don't think there will ever be one.
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secret lovers, Romeo & Romeo, sunshine/tsundere, enemies-to-friends-to-lovers, GL side plot
GMMTV’s flagship BL started 2022 on a BANG (okay no actual banging but you know what I mean), starring heavy hitters Ohm & Nanon in a pitch perfect university Romeo & Juliet masterpiece that will give you domesticity meets pain whiplash throughout and jet lag at the end. Great production values, killer acting, and some conscious effort to correct for half a decade of Thai BL’s anti-queer mistakes. GMMTV, we forgive you. More.The bar has been raised, Thailand.
An adaptation of the y-novel Behind the Scenes with established BL director Backaof (1000 Stars, He’s Coming to Me, Dark Blue Kiss) who took steps (strides even) to correct for some of GMMTV’s own past BL mistakes with regards to queer rep. Production values were high (if more workmanlike than cinema-licious). Heat levels were pretty low but Ohm had his shirt off a lot (thank you) and the acting was absolutely stellar.
In the end I loved Bad Buddy.
The family struggles and toxic friendship group made it a little bit difficult for me to take at times so I am not certain how much rewatch potential it has. We shall see. However the ending was unexpectedly satisfying if not typical for romance.
Live blog of this one is here.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
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Holy Hell
OMG!!! This is one the very first BL I am rating 10/10 it was totally awesome!!The only con I have with this is that I watched it ongoing and boy last friday on the last episode it was bitter sweet!!!
Just the best BL you will find out there. Why? Because it's healthy, it's well written, the actors actually has good chemistry and, the most important, ALL ELSE BEING EQUAL, this is the BL drama that will end all BL dramas – PERIOD!
The Music was really awesome and the characters were so well matched and paired up that you could feel the love between them. The story was fantastic and the best part there was no cat fighting or back stabbing or any parents getting in the way.
They stood by each other and worked out they issues together. Although the storyline enemies to lovers is pretty cliché and over used but if it’s done right it came be so beautiful and Bad Buddy does an absolutely perfect job at this.
Watching Bad Buddy is a marvelous way to end 2021 and start 2022…
My Friday nights are sure going to be empty... anyway let go and re watch of this awesome drama in one sitting!!!
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This review may contain spoilers
Love that breaks all the rules
Bad Buddy is one of those series that you finish with a silly smile on your face and an empty feeling in your chest because it’s over. It’s the kind of story that sticks with you, not just because of the plot or the characters, but because of the way everything is handled with so much care, sensitivity, and love. Directed by Noppharnach Chaiwimol, or simply P’Aof, this work stands out as one of the most genuine and revolutionary BLs from GMMTV and honestly, one of the best ever made.The premise seems simple: two boys from rival families who grew up hating each other, but end up falling in love. A classic “enemies to lovers,” right? But Bad Buddy takes this cliché and breaks every stereotype. Here there is no submission, no “husband and wife” role, and no toxic love disguised as passion that many dramas still insist on romanticizing. What the series delivers is a balanced, mature relationship built on communication and respect. Pat and Pran are two characters who tease each other, challenge each other, but above all understand each other and that is beautiful to watch.
Ohm Pawat and Nanon Korapat, who play the main couple, are simply flawless. The chemistry between them is tangible, so natural that many times it doesn’t even need words. There are moments where they say everything just with a look, a subtle smile, or the silence that fills the scene. It’s rare to see such sincere and expressive acting, where every touch and glance carries more emotion than any love speech. They can be intense, funny, and incredibly tender, and that makes Pat and Pran more than just a BL couple; they are a real couple, alive, with flaws and dreams, fears and courage.
P’Aof’s direction is another high point. Every scene seems to have been thought out with heart. The cinematography is light, the settings are symbolic, and the editing gives space for the viewer to feel, not just watch. There is an absurd delicacy in the choice of shots, pauses, and metaphors that run through the whole narrative. One example is episode 11, where Pat talks about “quitting the bar,” a metaphor for the breakup. These subtleties make Bad Buddy an almost poetic experience, where everything is there for a reason, and every detail has weight.
The soundtrack deserves special mention. There are only three original songs, but each has an important emotional role in the series. “Just Friend” marks the first episodes, symbolizing Pran’s suppressed feelings. “Secret” represents Pat’s awakening and recognition of love. And “Our Song,” used in the final episodes, is practically the couple’s anthem, the celebration of the love that faced the world and won. Each track appears at the exact moment, and it’s impossible to hear them without remembering the scenes that made you cry, laugh, or just sigh.
The script is also surprisingly smart. It doesn’t need forced plot twists or caricatured villains. Even the secondary characters are treated with respect and lightness, like the couple Pa and Ink, who completely avoid the idea of female rivalry that ruins so many other stories in the genre. In Bad Buddy, women are not used as tools to generate jealousy or drama, and that is such a relief.
The ending is exactly what the story deserved. No tragedies, no melodrama, no unnecessary suffering. Pat and Pran choose love, even if it means living part of it in secret. And that’s not cowardice, it’s a conscious choice of those who have already suffered enough trying to please others. They understand that their relationship only concerns themselves, and that message is powerful. It’s about protecting love without hiding from yourself.
Bad Buddy is an ode to the freedom to love. A series that shows true love doesn’t need to be loud or perfect, it just needs to be sincere. It makes you laugh, cry, fall in love, and believe again that love can really be beautiful and light. So, I have to say thank you, P’Aof, Ohm, Nanon, and the whole team for this masterpiece. Bad Buddy is not just a series, it’s a feeling, and it will keep warming the hearts of those who watched it for a very, very long time.
“You may think that someone like me cannot change the world, but I want you to know that this world cannot change someone like me either.”
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Pure Perfection
Bad Buddy Series is a masterpiece, the chemistry between Ohm and Nanon is impeccable and their acting is unexpectedly impressive. The interactions and sweet moments between them are natural and not cringy at all, their kisses and hugs are with emotions and heart-felt, not like some other BLs which only with heads-touching and cringy sex scenes. Moreover, this series breaks many stereotypes and also brings meaningful messages. This series is fun without any boring plots that wastes your time, and other characters are also on-point.This series makes us hope to live for that day that we can find a partner like them! I can say that Bad Buddy Series the Best BL series of this era!
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Changes the Direction for the BL Genre
Nothing that I can say will mean anything as I sure everything has been sad and no doubt better. This is an exceptional series and changes, or at least should change, the direction of BL series. It is not filled with breakable characters holding stuffed animals and whining and pining for another for 10 episodes. This is a genuine GAY love story not filled with crap about loving the person not the gender nonsense. Surprise! They are both guys and they know it and are not ashamed of it. How refreshing! They totally nailed these characters to the point that there connection was palpably real. I think there are certain series that literally changes the course of a genre. SOTUS is certainly one and 2GETHER is another (it really did) and this is the third. This series made gay relationships look real, normal, and frankly nice. THANK YOU!Read my full review at BLBliss.com/
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A near masterpiece of its genre
It's not really a review, it's a list of strengths (these are not just things I liked – these are the things that made the show successful) and weaknesses of "Bad Buddy". Generally speaking: it was the best BL I've seen, deserving high praise for direction, story, music and - most importantly - acting of Ohm and Nanon.== Strengths ==
1/ Dynamic of Pat and Pran
(1) Communication. They didn’t overanalyse things nor kept their problems and doubts to themselves – they discussed everything of importance (they argued like twice). Hence the often praised lack of toxicity, jealousy and stupid BL drama over nothing (BTW: a lot was said without uttering a word. I’m glad someone finally realized that on TV you don’t have to say everything, you can show certain things instead – with a gesture or a glance or a flashback). (2) They supported, took care of and respected each other for real. Pran calling Pat back in ep. 8 and making him feel better when he was low after an argument with Ming is one of my favourite scenes of the series – and there’s plenty of other examples of them being for one another. (3) Cuteness and banter. That’s self-explanatory, I guess. Don’t know how much of that was scripted, probably not much or none at all, but it made the two mains even more likeable. No wonder so many reactors called their relationship wholesome and healthy.
2/ Story structure and direction
(1) Simple premise and plot, no convoluted story elements (with one exception) complicating matters for the audience and the two mains. With a simple structure, the show was easy to follow. Not something widely known to BL screenwriters. (2) Focusing the story on Pat and Pran (minimizing plotlines of side characters) and then going one step further: making sure, since at least ep. 8, that no externally caused problems will destroy the relationship of the two main characters – not Pran’s fears about other people finding out about him and Pat from Pat’s IG posts, not the reactions of Pat’s and Pran’s friends, not the feud of their parents nor their wishes. Pat and Pran weren’t able to “change the world”, but didn’t let the world change them. It was their story, their love and they were in control, because they wanted it. And yes, faking a break-up and lying to their parents was an option they had the right to choose and use.
3/ Show’s self-awareness
It was a rom-com with a simple plot – and it didn’t pretend to be anything else. It also didn’t take itself too seriously – hence it was able to keep a light, optimistic tone for most of the time. Product placement was included as a necessary evil and treated as such – by both teleplay and the actors.
4/ Trope and stereotype busting
The show dealt with the “I’m straight, you’re the only man I like” trope in an unceremonious manner – laughing it out loud. It also dealt - in a more polite, but still firm manner - with assigning roles of wife and husband in same-sex relationships.
5/ Intimacy done correctly
BB features real kisses instead of the "traditional" GMMTV awkward lip-pressing. Ep. 5 rooftop kiss (The Kiss, Mother of All BL Kisses, Kiss of the Century) and ep. 11 evening beach kiss were amazing. The show also addressed sex-related issues – sometimes through metaphors, sometimes openly. According to many comments Pran and Pat are both versatile (I got that feeling myself after ep. 11 and 12), which – even if it wasn’t stated directly – is of note, also from the trope-busting perspective.
6/ Inclusion of a GL plotline
Cute, short and to the point. Story-wise it wasn’t a necessity, but it got the deserved praise – which shows that people want GL content.
7/ OhmNanon
I'm mentioning this last, but the casting of the two mains was the shows biggest asset. Would the story work with a different cast? Probably. Would it be a success? That depends. It needed a coupling of two attractive, young guys with enough chemistry to get us emotionally involved and convince us, that we’re watching a cinematic masterpiece. I've seen some great chemistry in other shows, ATOTS chief among them, but OhmNanon’s chemistry was of the charts, beating everything I know (including EarthMix) and lifting this simple rom-com with a basic plot to a cosmic level. With eyes glued to the screen, I followed the show week for week, watched reaction videos to savour OhmNanon's scenes together again and again. Mesmerizing. If you’re not convinced about the importance of chemistry in a production like this – compare BB to “Fish Upon the Sky” (Pond and Phuwin had little to no chemistry) or “Tonhon Chonlatee” (Podd’s and Khaotung’s chemistry was one of the very few good things in that show and the only reason I rated it at 7.0 and not much lower). OhmNanon is a powerhouse and a force of nature. I'll say what I've said elsewhere: OhmNanon is the superior ship. Amazing.
8/ Music
Kacha's "Secret" is an optimistic song appearing several times to indicate that things are improving/the situation isn't as bad as we think (see first use in ep. 6 or ep. 12), I liked it upon listening to it for the first time. All three songs by Nanon are not just part of the soundtrack, but actually get used within the show: the first is "Just Friend?", in-show written and performed by Pat and Pran, and then covered in-show by guest starring Gemini and Ford, the second - though played mainly for laughs - is Sizzy's and Nanon's "Love Score" (the car scene in which Pat - or rather Ohm - interprets the song, is priceless), and lastly we get "Our Song", presented in-show as Pran's work-in-progress since his high school days, completed and performed in ep. 11 (an instrumental version of the same song is used in the opening credits of every episode). I loved how all those songs were not just used, but entwined into the story. In a post-credits scene of ep. 12 we even get a brief callback to "Same Page?" by Tilly Birds, which was used for the first trailer of BB. There's more of good music used in the show - like the musical backgrounds during the rooftop kiss scene in ep. 5 or Pran's and Dissaya's confrontation in ep. 10. Special praise for his input into the shows score goes to Ohm for his xylophone performances - the one in ep. 8 is emotional and powerful (I remember several reactors staying silent for that whole scene – so captivating were the visuals and the music).
== Weaknesses ==
1/ Outing without consequences
Wai in “evil bitch mode” (that's a quote, btw), revealing Pat and Pran to everyone in the theatre, was a scumbag many loved to loathe (Jimmy did a great job there); lack of consequences of that, Pran’s attempts to make up with Wai and Wai’s convoluted “redemption arc” were all let-downs. A short, simple and honest scene with Wai apologizing to Pran and Pat would clear the air. A connected, but smaller let-down: the initial reaction of Korn, Mo and Chang. What was the point of them acting like jerks for one scene - only to be Pat's friends in the next one?
2/ First 20 minutes of ep. 12
Keeping the audience in the dark for the first 20 minutes of ep. 12. Unnecessary and pointless – especially for all those watching the show once all episodes aired. It did – in combination with very manipulative previews for ep. 12 – make a lot of people watching the show wonder what really happened. The sigh of relief when Pat opened the door for Pran and said “You said you’d sleep at your house” (indicating they’ve been together this whole time, with Kacha’s song confirming that everything is okay) was heard all over the planet – but it wasn’t necessary to have us go through what preceded it.
3/ A world without homophobia (again?)
I understand that the tone of the show was meant to be light and there couldn’t be too many obstacles the two mains had to overcome, but – seriously – we got another GMMTV show taking place in a fantasy world free of homophobia. Real Thailand, real Asia and the real world are still homophobic. I’m dragging the real world into this because – once ep. 11 and previews for ep. 12 – a lot of people discussed Pran’s and Pat’s break-up in “real-world” categories, explaining to the wider audience (meaning: to the comment section) that in Thailand/Asia parents have an actual hold on their children, need to be respected and so on. The showrunners apparently shared this attitude (hence the 4-years-long deception explained in ep.12), so I feel like including the lack of real-world homophobia in this list of the show’s weaknesses.
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