Bad Buddy

Bad Buddy...Great Series

I know you are all probably thinking to yourselves...how in the world is this girl only reviewing Bad Buddy now? I realize that this BL is a staple for all the BL fans out there...one held to the highest of standards, and even 4 years since its release it is still widely talked about. And you know what? With good reason. I put off watching this series since I knew that OhmNanon were no longer a pairing but then...I saw GMMTV's Starlympics 2024...and saw that viral moment between former partners Ohm and Nanon and everyone WENT CRAZY. It was all over my feed and their chemistry in just those 5 seconds were all I needed to say "you know what, it's time to watch Bad Buddy". So let's get into it.

Story/Themes:
What is there to say about the story? It seems simple enough right? Enemies to Lovers, a modern take on Romeo & Juliet, except switch out Romeo with goofy Pat (Ohm) and Juliet with proper Pran (Nanon). I think what makes this story not so mundane as the rest of the Romeo & Juliet remakes (besides it being LGBTQ) is the innocence of it and the deep dive they took on Pat & Pran's organic yet secret journey from rivals into friendship then love. It was fluffy and I loved that it seemed like a natural progression of realizing one's own queerness. Nothing seemed cringey, there was no queerbaiting, no "who is the girl in the relationship" nonsense, just two dudes who genuinely fell in love with one another and it was beautiful. I, for one, resonated with Pat the most, the way he came to terms with his bisexuality was very similar to how I came to terms with mine. I also loved that the series acknowledged bisexuality as an actual orientation and not just as a stereotype for people who are "confused" or "horny", willing to sleep with anyone. Pat only had eyes for Pran, once he had his eyes set, that was his person, and you know what....same. The last 2 episodes really tore my heart into pieces, that TWIST. They had me going there. I think what really sold it for me was that even though they think their relationship is a secret, their parents know they didn't actually break up but leave it alone. The tears I shed. It was hopeful.

Acting/Cast:
Oh my god, I honestly don't know how many times I cried over PatPran. Episode 5. Thats it, thats the post. The last 5 minutes of episode 5 I rewatched about 20 times, and it wasn't because of the kiss. It was because of the god d*** emotions that their kiss brought on. Pat coming to terms with his feelings for Pran, Pran realizing that the guy he secretly liked forever but had convinced himself otherwise liked him back???? Ohm and Nanon had me in TEARS. Their performance was unbelievable, the chemistry they both have with one another is truly other worldly. To the OhmNanon shippers that can't let that ship die.....I get it. I get it. Those two made me believe in love again, truly. Well done to the casting directors for putting those two together, even if it was for a little while, the magic they created together was worth it. Ohm and Nanon took us on a journeyyyyyy, their hidden glances, hidden touches, hidden gestures to each other really tied the story together. There is so much more I want to say about these two, but it was just perfect.
Their friends, Wai (Jimmy) and Korn (Drake) were great additions to the story. They were given just enough of a backstory to give the general plot a way forward without stealing the spotlight from PatPran. I will say the gag of the century was when Wai outed their relationship in front of the ENTIRE architecture faculty. Seeing that curtain fall and the mics booming with Pat and Pran's flirting, I was SHOOK. Wai did them dirty with that, for sure. He was a whiny little brat though when their relationship got out, I'm glad he got the f*** over it. Korn was actually really funny, I enjoyed Drake's performance of him, and loved that Korn was captain of the PatPran ship, being a supportive friend as soon as the relationship got out. Thank you for your service Korn.
The wlw couple, Ink (Milk) and Pa (Love)...I wish we saw more of them. They were cute together and I love that they were some of the only people who knew and supported Pat & Pran's relationship.
The parents.....the most annoying people on the planet. Like leave your children out of your problems my god.

Music:
A lot of Pat & Pran's relationship circled around music and their "anthems" or songs that reminded them of each other were so freaking cute. The song Pran wrote for Pat???? Sobbed. Also, I would like to point out that normally when I see a guitar in a BL series I brace myself for cringe. I pray to the heavens that the actor knows how to play it, and normally I am very disappointed. Not this time though. Not this time at all, Nanon did that. Heavens opened up and heard my prayer. We got an actor who can actually play the d*** guitar. Hallelujah.

Rewatch Value:
I am not quick to give out 10s. I have only ever given out one other 10 for another BL and this series has become my new favorite, and my new comfort show. I cried more than I have ever cried watching a BL. I cried tears of laughter, tears of joy, tears of sadness. My emotions went for a f***ing ride with this one. I highly recommend giving this one a watch or a rewatch if you are into the following:

-enemies to lovers trope
-actual musicians
-dimples
-tear soaked kisses
-xylophones
-secrets
-BEACH/environment friendly products
-smiley faces
-unhinged t-shirts
-photography
-fights
-family drama
-fluff

So yeah, I will def be rewatching this show again and again.

A BL masterpiece.

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The most healthy relationship ever!!!!!!!

I’ve been watching BL’s a little while now and this is the first time i’ve seen such a good and healthy relationship between the main couple. It’s sincerely and honestly one of the best dramas i’ve watched. The friends to lovers story is hilarious and cute and sweet and so so so healthy. The characters development, the way the always talk and try to work things out in the most respectful way possible is sincerely amazing. Their friends are so damn supportive and they stay with them until the end, without ever questioning anything, without being such asssh8les. Pat’s sister is the most adorable person ever, the friendship between Wai and Pran is so supportive, so important, so beautiful. Koran’s character surprised me soooo much, he really is the best friend Pat could ever ask for, just like Wai is for Pran. Ink’s character is so important and amazing too, I loved and admired her so much. Overall everyone should watch Bad Buddies Series because is honestly one of the best BL’S out there. The actors who played the main couple have such a cute chemistry and they are frankly adorable. Everyone one in this show is cute tbh. LOVED IT.

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It deserves all of the praise it received

I can't believe i have seen a bl like this. Honestly I'm not a big fan of thai bl cz mostly includes unnecessary comedies and i don't like the acting. But this bl changed my perspective completely. I have to give a big shoutout for Nanon. Omg his expressions are everything. I don't remember last time i rewind a scene just to praise the acting of a character. His dimple smile and eyes carried all the emotions perfectly.

And the storytelling..oh i liked that they didn't force the characters to be gay . It was really smooth and every character was given proper time to grow as well as we audience got enough time to connect. A must watch for all the bl lovers

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A BL Drama for the Queers and such a fresh breath! Sets the bar high for the industry.

23.5 is airing currently and after watching the 1st episode, I found out that Milk & Love (the two actresses who play the lead couple in 23.5) are also a side GL couple in Bad Buddy! I didn’t even know there‘s a lesbian couple in BB, when I added the series to my watch-list a year ago.

Bad Buddy was really good actually. I was surprised by how good – I had not expected such a fresh breath in many aspects!

It often reminded me of SOTUS & SOTUS S... But it’s more of an “updated”, more modern version of S. It’s like what S & SS could’ve been, if homophobia hadn’t been such an issue back then.
Which is nice. S had been (and maybe still is) a classic in the (Thai) BL fandom, but essentially is very outdated already. BB shows how much the world/genre has changed – for good. How much we’ve grown. A new, better generation started.

While most BL Dramas are made for straight women, this series feels like it’s been made for us, the Queer community.
PatPran’s relationship is so healthy, so natural and just happy vibes. They’re not together because the “kisses are hot”, but because they’re each other’s safe space. All the physical stuff that comes with most romances is more like a side bonus for them, but not the main reason for the relationship.
They communicate and respect each other’s boundaries. They fight for happiness and don’t let jealousy get the better of them. (Thus resulting in plot points being cleared quickly, without unnecessary dragging.)

Not only that, it also calls the toxicity of other BL Dramas out, especially those that are very heteronormative & stereotypical. Plus it shows how to do it better. Some quotes as an example:
1.) “I can’t say exactly when. I don’t even know for sure when I changed. Maybe I’ve liked men for so long, but I just realized it.” – Pat
“I thought you’d be like: ‘I’m straight but Pran is the only guy I like.’” – Pat’s sister
2.) “Does calling me a wife make you feel superior?” – Pran to Pat

And finally: SWITCHES!!!

Not only was it not heteronormative, it also had no homophobia.
Just like Only Friends, a world where queerness is simply normal and not very special anymore. That was for example shown when a guy had a crush on a girl, but that girl was on a date with another girl and he realized he was totally third-wheeling, so he stopped pursuing her and accepted his “heartbreak”.

Generally, female characters are treated well.
I’ve mentioned it in my review of Only Friends already, but even though BL Dramas have women as its target audience, female characters are usually treated the worst, for some reason.
Not here.
Except for Pat’s attitude towards his sister, there was no misogyny present at all and females are actually respected. As you can see in the example above, GL isn’t seen as “girls being girls” either.

Parents actually seemed like parents.
Writing a realistic & natural family dynamic is apparently difficult everywhere in the world. But gmmtv managed to write the parents as people, not just characters who have a certain role in the MCs’ lives. Conversations felt natural, not scripted, and their dynamics felt real.

The “rivals to lovers” trope was also really well done. Even though they were more like frenemies, their rivalry didn’t magically stop once they started dating. Their bickering totally continued and they used that to their advantage in the relationship (e.g. by pushing each other through competing).

I loved the comedy.
Just like in Only friends, no one served as the comedic relief, everyone had funny scenes. Scenes that went along with the story and weren’t forced in. Scenes that felt natural, not written. Scenes that will still make you laugh even after re-watching it for the 10th time.

The actors' chemistry is just as wonderful as in Only Friends. Maybe even better, since PatPran’s relationship was much more explored on the romantic level, than any of the couples in OF.

~

Mixed feelings:

Upon first watching, I wasn't much a fan of Pat's personality, but that's mostly because of his attitude and the way he was treating his sister (Pat's family dynamic generally is rather toxic, compared to Pran's). But he warmed up to me in the 2nd half and especially when he was using that "charm" of his to help Pran out. Plus, Pran didn't let Pat win as easily, so there's also that. They balance each other out and you can see why the universe paired them up.

At first, the reason for the feud seemed pretty anti-climatic. The way it was built up and given it’s a drama, you’d expect something more “extreme”, more devastating.
But after re-watching and imagining myself in the person’s situation, who was the most hurt by the reason, it is actually pretty dramatic. I guess the problem was just how they revealed it, that made it seem like it’s not really worth being so upset about it, but if you really think about it and put yourself in the shoes of the person (and think back 30-40 years, times were different), it gets more understandable. And totally valid.

The zero waste village was rather contradicting. As an environmentalist I do like the idea and am glad that gmmtv uses their popularity to talk about these things. However, on the other hand, the amount of plastic they've used and continued to use, as well as promote brands that are just plastic...

~

Overall I love it, it's become my favorite of gmmtv.
I watched it on the 12th March 2024 the first time and re-watched the entire series just one day later. I'm swooned and can't help to come back to them.

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10 estrelas

achei q o bl em si foi um "breaking stereotypes" mesmo a história sendo "cliche" tiveram bastante coisas q eu e talvez muitas pessoas não esperam em um bl, como por exemplo um casal safico, o fato do pat ser o cara muito músculo e mesmo assim ser um bottom. Eu particularmente gosto bastante da história, achei legal esse lance de Romeu e julieta versão gaykkkk, além do cast ser impecável, caras nos temos o Drake e o mark no mesmo cast, nanon, love, milk, ohm pawat, Jimmy!!!( lembro q na época de estreia o elenco era super unido, postavam coisinhas toda hora, sem dúvidas um dos melhores casts se não for o melhor. No geral, sou apaixonado nesse bl, o melhor bl do aos!

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NOT MY BL ROMANCE TOTALLY

Yes, you've seen it on my headline. This is not my BL romance that I need but this is one hella CUTEST, CHEESIEST and MOST ADORABLE couples in the BL Drama world.

The plot goes from your usual enemies to lovers. This shows the struggles of two young men who fell in love with each other despite of their family circumstances. I love how they choose the parents' rivalry as the reason of the two main characters competing with each other. The setting of the drama is very common but they made the atmosphere of the whole series to the next funniest level, Thanks to the non-stop comedy!

What can I say about this epic casts aside from nailing their roles so hard? Nothing but praise-worthy!

This is a must-watch! Although I was a little bit worried in the first episode, but I was smiling and laughing so hard all throughout the series.

Recommendable drama!

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"Good luck, buddy."

Dawg, that was so good. The average for it was 9.45, so I rounded up. The highest was a 10, which I gave the last three episodes, and the lowest was an 8.5. This was a really good show. Two straight men in love were the vibe of this and I am all here for that. Their chemistry was so good, the tension between these two was crazy, so fucking crazy. These two, oh my god. I loved them together so much. Just the vibe they gave off, was so warm and I loved it. It took me a long time to finish because I was having a hard time getting into the show at first. It took me 16 days to complete, which is a long time because it usually takes like a day, but it's okay because this was a good show. We have some generational beef. It's joining the two, now three, that I have at a 9.5 stars because this lived up to the hype. The show was light work on most parts, but some parts were hard to get through because I am anti-description and tend to be confused very easily. They fell apart a lot, and that was a lot for me. But they came through at the end. The whole world was out to get them. Their friends hated each other; their families hated each other, and because of that, they felt obligated to hate each other. Which turned into love, wow, my favorite, some rivals to lovers! It lived up to the hype. The shows were good, the acting was good, and the singing was good. I don't like singing in Thai dramas, but the last song that was sung in the 11th episode was really good, and I was vibing to it. Their kiss scenes were really good, as was that last part of the last episode. Yes, always yes. I ate this for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, bro even the goddamn midnight snack; it was so good. so very good. I am going to rewatch this for sure. A killer ending to an even more killer show. I would recommend it; this is really good. Okay bye!

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One of the best BLs to exist.

This was almost perfect. Because honestly nowadays we come across more lust focused or slightly overdone and cringe thai BLs and it makes me sad. But this was such a delight to watch. This was the most naturally done enemies to lovers and how their relationship grow over time. Their chemistry is everything and those damn eye looks were well done. Its makes you smile and cry for these two rivals turned to lovers and we can see it from day one because thats how they are towards each other!

The actors are so naturally comfortable with each other that sometimes you forget this is not real. Nanon is such an expert with expressions, its brilliant. Definitely watch this one for enemies to lovers, friendships, banter and beautiful chemistry. I wish something this profound is created again.

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Bom mas não ótimo

É uma série muito boa mas eu não achei tão incrível assim como as pessoas falam.
O motivo do Pran e do Pat teren se aproximando foi meio sem sentido, eu acho que poderiam ter desenvolvido mais essa parte, ficou parecendo que eles só jogaram um motivo aleatório pra eles se aproximarem e saírem logo do "enemies".
Mas o relacionamento do Pran e do Pat foi bem desenvolvido e é bem fofo ver a relação deles se construindo.
Mas algo que senti falta foi das cenas de beijo, não que os atores não tenham entregado nas cenas de beijo(pelo contrário aliás), mas na série teve poucos beijos.
Tirando isso eu gostei bastante da série!!!

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