An interesting story whose end is unfortunately botched
What is interesting about this series is that it shows how a person tries to get on with his life by dealing with his own past traumas. We learn again that it is difficult to cut ties with our parents even when they have been and still are abusive. We also see how difficult it is to deal with harassment at work.We also see a story where FWB relationships are not incompatible with caring, which is appreciated.
The problem is that by the time all the issues need to be resolved - I'd say by the middle of episode 8 - everything is rushed and glossed over. There are no details and it seems that the only objective, all of a sudden, is to make fan service with scenes all more sweet than the others. The last episode, which is not unpleasant to watch, has not an ounce of realism. Too bad for a show that was trying to show aspects of life in a somewhat credible way.
In conclusion, this series loses an opportunity to stand out positively from other series of the same style.
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Open-minded? This series worth a look
Bedfriend isn’t for everyone, and that’s totally okay. It touches on sensitive topics like sexual harassment, so definitely watch with discretion. If that kind of content isn’t something you’re comfortable with, it might be best to skip it.As the title suggests, the story revolves around a friends-with-benefits setup. I actually appreciate how the series handles that, it feels pretty realistic, since situations like this do happen in real life. However, there were a few scenes that felt a bit dull or dragged out.
I know some viewers dropped the series or complained about the explicit scenes, but honestly, the nudity makes sense in the context of the story. It adds to the realism rather than just being there for shock value. Still, it’s definitely not a light or fluffy watch, you need to go in with an open mind.
Overall, it’s not a perfect series, but it’s not bad either. It’s one of those shows that hits differently depending on what you're expecting.
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This review may contain spoilers
Green Flag King and Sad Baby Uea
King is so gentle to Uea. He understands his trauma and makes sure that whenever Uea is around him, he feels safe and comfortable. King is a green flag; he was a player in his past life and slept with many different people, but as soon as he realizes he likes Uea, he changes himself to be the person that Uea can like because he knows that Uea hates players. King also remembers little details about Uea - like when they are eating after giving the blood test, and he tells the waitress to make the food less spicy because Uea doesn't like spicy foods - King is always there when Uea is in trouble even if he's not with him, he always finds him and gives him comfort. He accepts his trauma and doesn't make him feel ashamed or inadequate - Like when King was behind him drying Uea's hair, and Uea had a flashback to his stepdad and freaked out. King looks so sad and concerned about him -I liked that they showed us the trauma that Uea went through (even though I skip every rewatch with this family because I hate them) because it paints the picture of why Uea is timid and scared to love someone and receive love. After all, his family never showed him love; they also made the trauma realistic because Uea went through Sexual assault as a child, and sometimes that carries into adulthood, and unfortunately, it happened to him at work. Uea (as a character) needed someone like King to show him love, kindness, and compassion.
I think this has the best spice. You can see that they both really care about each other. You also see Uea slowly giving in to King, letting him into his world, and letting himself fall in love with King.
I wish we could've gotten a wedding special or had one in Middleman's Love because I would've loved to see them get married with all their coworkers/friends, with Jade and Gun being King and Uea's best men. Unfortunately, that probably won't happen since James is doing his own thing now, but we can never say never.
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Chocolate skin baddie gets cock blocked by sexy red head
It has been 3 years, and I have finally finished this show. Uh, yeah, lots of feelings, and they aren't positive. I would give it a 7 (8.3) out of 10. I am gonna say what I liked, what I didn't, and then an episode overview (this is a pretty short review because this show does not give me a lot to work with).James and Net are both good-looking and great actors. They both did well in this. The mom's character. Till the very end, she was terrible, and I loved that. Her son got molested, assaulted, groomed, and she didnt believe him every single time, and that was good fucking character writing, because so many parents actually do this to their kids, and it is terrible. And that's it, the show is long, but there is not a whole bunch that happened in this.
UEA CHARACTER HAS POTENTIAL TO BE GREAT. And then they one oversexualized the FUCK OUT OF HIM and two babbied him. Awful character writing on that part. I think they played into the fact that James is good-looking a little too much, especially with the way they oversexualized him, especially with Net's character; it felt very like victim-blaming, I can't lie. Like because he is oversexualized, he deserves what happened to him, like that was just all off. Just terrible. And the babying. He got assaulted, I understand why he shuts down, but they treated him like he could never move on, never get over it, and that lowkey pissed me off. Bad character writing for a character that could have been otherwise great. JUST BECAUSE WE ARE BOTH HOT DOES NOT MEAN WE HAVE GOOD CHEMISTRY. And I am not just saying that because they are no longer a pair. These two don't have chemistry, I can't lie to you. ZERO CHEMISTRY. Like I can't, they are just so awkward, and most sex scenes felt out of place and like Uea is forcing himself to be with King, and that goes back into oversexualizing him, fuck ass show. The start was terrible. They jumped the gun too fast, and the plot buildup was god awful, and that set the tone for a show with so much fucking filler, it makes you WANNA DIE. DRAG PLOT. It hit episode 6 and became a drag plot. Literally no one cares, let's wrap this shit up. They ran this shit through the mud, with the terrible plot writing and character writing. The romance building was terrible, and I wish they had done it better. Random arranged marriage plot, dude shut the fuck up. GET THESE ADS OUT OF MY FACE, I SWEAR TO GOD. One-dimensional fuck ass side characters. The ending was rushed and mid, and so was the show. So much wasted potential. Okay, that's it.
Overview time, over the span of 3 years. "I feel like I was thrown into the water and couldn't swim. I am giving this show a chance because I have been really excited for it. But so far, I am disappointed. I was really disappointed. There's not enough plot buildup—a full 41 minutes—and I don't know any of the characters." "The scratches were such a good scene." "Just too bad plots on top of each other." "James is gorgeous. TEAR ME TO PIECESSSSS." "Also, we are proposing but have been together for about a year and 20 minutes on screen. Bruh. One-dimensional parent characters, I fear. Oh, I did not know the two shows connected. Rushed mid ending."
People no longer have to pretend this show was heat, because NetJames are in the dirt. I think this is a pretty skippable show. Okay bye!
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I really liked it.
I enjoyed this series a lot. Good story and very well acted by James and Net. The other actors didn't act as good but they were low profile in the series so it didn't bother me so much.I loved the OST!
I expected quite some spicy bed scenes, but it was not really a problem that there weren't.
Overall, i liked it a lot and will definatly watch it again.
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Not too bad but also not good
First of all this could be a nice series but there was a lack of story line. There was no base in the story and it felt like the writers tried to show lots of stuff in less time or they had enough time but it was badly written. One thing i liked about bed friends are the nc scenes i could watch them without getting cringed other wise I always close my eyes when this types of scenes come. The actors are great but not properly used they didn't get the chance to explore their emotions it felt like king is always in a grumpy mood or something maybe I am the only one who felt this way.Was this review helpful to you?
she might be trashy, but she's also terribly cute, sooo ?
look, imma be honest with you: she's trashy, she's lowkey traumatising (all those fucking FLASHBACKS bro- shit was literally triggering), & she's terribly style-over-substance, but she's fun!'bed friend' is not gonna be doing anything grandiose like change the landscape of BL or whatever, but she's there to hold your hand when you wanna watch something mindlessly fun & floofy & if you wanna watch this painfully cinderella-but-even-MORE-traumtised little baby grow from his abusive, awful past & find true love in the form of this 'player' who we literally never see flirt with ANYONE over the course of the show since he's so fucking whipped for his boy, 'bed friend' is the show for you !
so yeah! you're definitely gonna have to skip past sizable chunks of the show if specific topics trigger you (I AM *SO* SERIOUS ABOUT THIS- THIS SHIT GAVE ME THE WILLIES) but it's overall a really cute little bl to binge as your bad decision of the night!!
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Just needs a plot change to make sense!
Just change the plot and it would make more sense! Reading the plot before watching, I thought I knew what the story would be like… but it didn’t follow… I think it makes more sense to change the plot to match the story! Could it be a little better and things to improve it? Yes. But was it bad? Definitely not! I genuinely really enjoyed this drama! The main thing I wished was that we had more background of Uea and King, a bit more information into when they first met and why Uea thinks all those things about King at the beginning. A few more flashbacks of those two would have been nice.King is such a beautiful kind soul, he genuinely cares for Uea and I’m sure he did from the very beginning, but Uea is a little bit of a closed book, which isn’t surprising with a mother like that and all the trauma he has. It’s clear King had feelings for him since the start, Uea just needed to trust him more and open up to him a bit sooner. I honestly think Uea’s mother is probably the worst mother I’ve ever seen on a BL drama, her character is awful! There was definitely chemistry between them and when that particular music began, you knew they’d be a steamy scene coming!
Also, don’t even get me started on that move King did in episode 1! Doing a 180 turn off the floor and straight onto Uea. What in the magic was that!! I couldn’t believe it, I had to watch it more than once. I’ll definitely be following Net’s next projects for sure!!
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It went from fluffshit to something dark and deepshit
I initially watched The MiddleMan one. Comparing it that spinoff is a complete 180. It was such a dark prequel to be followed by loveydovey spinoff sequel. Dare i say, i love the chemistry of NetJames. Shame that they parted ways.The Plot was really that deep and just stuffed with themes of SA and abus3 mostly on Uea's part. I pitied his character bcuz he went through so much and was trying to really get a firm grip of whats happening around him. His terrible past, abusive mother, pervy stepdad, his ex cheating on him and harassing him and that one maniac executive to top it all off. Plot wssnt that significant enough to be examined thoroughly. It's in your face; straightforward. Without the excess fluff and bed scenes, the story revolves around past and current struggles of Uea. I kinda hope that his mother would get her marbles together but they didnt reconcile til the end. There was no change in their relationship. I mean i get it. Youve been disgusted by your own mother bcuz you're gay and all. It took decades to forgive her. I get that. I wont force my point too. King is the only light for Uea and it did to me as well. He helped the stressful scenes a bit easy to handle.
The negatives i could point out would be
1. The length of each ep. This applies to all bl series with lengthy minutes each episode. It drags by when the ep is long. We could cut it to like 20-30 mins, lol.
2. Unnecessary inclusion of that malicious higher-up. That son ovabitch is really getting on my nerves. Even if he do nothing, that's enough for me to slide my arm through the screen and smack him. I hate his persuasive and intrusive nature. The neediness toward Ueaand using quid pro quo is just plain and painfully disgusting. The series could do better without him honestly. That unsolicited visit to Uea's house is abominable. Just all of that.
3. Ex cameo scene. I hate that scene so much. Uea's ex harasses him in the parking lot. The producer could just have written it off as something we should move on. Hes unimportant to the plot. It's all nonsense getting him back to the scene. Yeah he cheated. That's it.
4. Uea's attitude. Bottom leads really has it. That annoying shitty ass attitude. Hes prone to pushing people away. I understand bcuz of stress and anxiety he undergoes. I find it also annoying that he likes to be in danger. Id be scolding him when he do something very stupid.
5. That stupid fixed match. It complicates the plot for no reason. That gave me major headache vibes. Im just glad it was brushed off that fast lol. That's less trouble if that's not considered while making this series.
For the positives. The plot is straightforward. The chemistry of two main leads. The good ending we had. Just all that.
Overall, this is a series. Not bad, not that mid bcuz it's deep. There were times I'm upset with things happening there. Sometimes i find comfort in filler moments just like those moments with Yim's character. He lightens up the situation. His character's persona is just a breather. Im just stressed out that sometimes i cuss Uea, his mother, the abusive executive and the stressful scenes in the series. I kinda enjoy the steamy scenes but that didnt deter me away to point out the flaws of this series. All in all, this is a decent series. What's done is done. The end.
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One of the most confusing aspects for me was Uea’s intense hatred toward King at the beginning. We’re told that King is a womanizer, but the show doesn’t develop their previous tension enough for us to truly understand why Uea rejects him so strongly. Especially considering that after their first night together, King seems to fall completely in love. That sudden shift doesn’t feel entirely natural or organic.
I also found their dynamic somewhat exaggerated. Uea constantly keeps King in a position of pleading, almost begging for physical affection. I understand that Uea carries significant trauma, and that clearly influences his behavior, but the series doesn’t explore that aspect deeply enough. It’s mentioned and hinted at… but never given the emotional depth needed to fully justify his actions.
As for the performances, Net really stands out. He convincingly portrays King’s desire and vulnerability, making his character feel genuine and emotionally invested. On the other hand, James’ character feels much flatter; at times even cold or somewhat arrogant, which makes it harder to emotionally connect with Uea.
Overall, I think the drama had strong potential, especially considering the themes it touches on. However, the rushed pacing and lack of deeper development in certain conflicts make it more of an entertaining watch than a truly memorable one.
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Good series, better than expected
To be honest, I expected this series to follow in the footsteps of KinnPorche with lots of sex scenes and very little of anything else, but I was pleasantly surprised. First off, it has an actual plot, or at least a story that goes beyond the simple friends with benefits/romance. The characters faced some real issues and on the whole, it was well done. The actors were really good with the exception of one. Net and James were adorable and had amazing chemistry while the villains were easy to hate (which is the way it should be). The supporting cast was good, with one minor exception. Is it just me or does the actor who played Jade (I think his nickname is Yim) seem like he is way overacting pretty much all the time? Like his head bobs forward and he seems way too excited about bringing his friend a coffee. I'm not trying to disparage, because I thought what he did in Cutie Pie was good, so I'm guessing that was a directorial choice and as far as I'm concerned, it wasn't a good one. Other than that, though, all the actors were so good. Also, just want to point out that Mark is so good looking -- would love to see him in more shows. (Realizes that was slightly too much fangirl. Clears throat awkwardly. Back to the review!) Music was pretty good and I actually thought the addition of the "meows" during the kitten scene was so sexy. I really did enjoy their main theme song as well, though I don't care as much about the OST as others might. For me, the rewatch value was high. I thought the show really set itself above the others by actually having a relatable story and a decent romance at the the same time.Now on to the spoilers! (Which means, if you don't want spoilers, don't continue reading.) The story involved a lot of trauma for Uea and I really felt that James did an amazing job of making those emotions feel real. The child actor who played young Uea was also simply amazing. Having the grace to act that out at that age shows that he has a lot of talent. I think that showing that Uea was still dealing with the trauma long after the event was realistic. So many writers want to move on from the trauma so that the story can develop without it, but in actuality, if you've experienced this kind of thing, you know that it stays with you forever and informs your choices and becomes part of your self. That isn't always a bad thing, sometimes it makes you so much stronger, but it does inform who you become and falling in love with someone, no matter how good that person is, does not automatically erase all the bad things that have ever happened in your life. So I was grateful that this was treated with more realism than you often find in a romance. The way Uea continues to have relationships with people who hurt him is a reflection of reality as well. Many people who have been abused might become abusers or continue to chose partners who abuse them. I don't like it, but it's the truth. Then on top of that, Uea also met with more trauma at work with his new boss. While I don't fault the writers for adding more trauma (since it is a tv series and if nothing ever happened in the series, no one would watch it), but I did have one problem with King at this point. Uea is taken into the office by Krit and almost raped, but when he gets away, he has to deal with King shaming him for his behavior. As if he had a choice and could have said, I refuse to go to your office, boss. The mom did the same thing (victim shaming Uea when his stepfather sexually assaulted him) but when she does it she's the villain and when King does it, how are we supposed to feel? I honestly wanted to hit him and I really wouldn't have blamed Uea if he never spoke to King again after that. Then it got weird when Uea apologized to King. I don't understand why King wasn't the one apologizing as he was the one in the wrong. So that was one little problem I found with the writer's handling of this issue.
Also technically, though no one ever talks about it, Uea was also drunk the first time he had sex with King. Really, King took advantage of him, which could be considered rape. It was weird, because they even brought up a similar situation later. King finds Uea flirting with some guy at the beach bar and takes him back to their room. He doesn't have sex with him, because he's too drunk. Then the next day, he asks Uea for a reward and Uea says that not taking advantage of him when he's drunk is how it should be. So why wasn't that brought up after their first time together? Just a question. I'm going to just be personally annoyed by that and not try to call it rape, but I wish writers would stop using that trope unless both the participants are drunk. Then it seems less like one taking advantage of the other and more like a mistake they both made.
They also touched on mental health, because Uea seems to be taking a medication for depression. At least that's the conclusion I came to based on the subtitles. I love that they put that in this show. I mean what person who goes through that amount of trauma in his life and doesn't need therapy? I'm glad more writers are including mental health as a real issue without giving it a stigma and making it seem like a failure of the person who needs help.
There were some problems with things being disjointed and/or not being sure how much time has elapsed since the last scene. Especially at the beginning. Like why did Uea seem to hate King so much? Why not just be annoyed at having a playboy flirt with you and then leave it at that? Instead, for what seems like no reason, Uea really dislikes King and behaves that way. Also, I would have liked to see a little more development with King. It seems like he likes Uea a lot, more than just flirting but he knows that Uea doesn't like him. But there is no back story. When they start with the bed friend idea, it seems to me that King was thrilled because he already really like Uea and wanted to be with him, but knew that Uea wouldn't date him because he was a playboy so he uses the idea of friends with benefits to get closer to the guy he likes. Is that just me? Anyway, I think we needed a little more in the beginning to set that up better.
The NSFW scenes were good. Thankfully, they were not the entirety of the show and if you don't enjoy them, you can skip them pretty much entirely without missing anything. I think it's great that they included them, but they weren't the main point. Overall, the show was terrfic and because the character interactions and overall plot was interesting and emotional, there is a high rewatch value.
Lastly, this doesn't effect anything with the show, but does anyone else think it's weird that when you look up the cast, Tutor and Yim are both listed just after Net and James, but Tutor wasn't in the show at all except the very last minute of the very last episode? He had one line! I mean, why list him so prominently when he was basically not in the show at all? Sorry, just asking.
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King is a king of expressions!
All my stars are for Net as King because honestly the storyline was more for 6 episodes than 10. I hated the presence of Uea's mother and the whole bad boss scenario because why is Uea hurt so much?!But watch this for King and his expressions . His eyes talk and the way you can feel each smirk in your gut. Net needs more dramas tbh and i will watch them all because he is a great actor.
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