Only Friends

A car crash you can't look away from

Are all the characters good people? No. Do I still love and root for them? Yes. Only Friends is one of the best paced and most thrilling Thai BL's out there and makes several creative choices that pay off (for instance the mockumentary style interviews with the characters). This series also has a phenomenal soundtrack and an intro that I never not once thought of skipping. I will now do my best to explain the characters and their dynamics:

SAND: A very caring and compassionate man who works hard to get that bag whilst studying at University. He ends up falling for an alcoholic, self centered, rich boy who turns his life around. (He is also a very talented musician.)

RAY: The rich boy in question. He's an asshole but he has trauma that explains his behavior. He has been in love with Mew forever, and starts a fling with Sand before sorting out his feelings.

TOP: I hate this guy bro. He is an insincere man with no self control who "quits" his playboy ways in order to date Mew.

MEW: I also hate this guy. He is the "nerd" of the group with a sweet guy persona. In reality he is petty as hell and self destructive (although the reason for his downwards spiral was kinda valid). Mew is not a bad guy and actually cares about his friends but I couldn't help but dislike him.

BOSTON: A selfish man engrossed in hookup culture (he a baddie he know he a ten). He uses his "i don't care about anyone" attitude as a shield and does bad things to the people he loves in order to feel better about himself. Boston has a slight obsession with Top after hooking up with him once and eventually develops a soft spot for Nick. (Even though he is objectively the worst person in this show he is so charismatic I can't help but like him).

NICK: A man who falls in love with and grows protective over Boston after becoming his regular hookup. Nick seems like such a sweet guy and its sad to see him become so desperate over Boston, who he knows full well will never commit to anybody. Does Nick make some poor decisions along the way? Of course. But he's in loooooove you can't blame him.

Namchueam: A lesbian queen who is the only thing holding this collapsing friend group together. She is an amazing friend who isn't afraid to put others in their place. Namchueam and her girlfriend April, have the most stable relationship in this series by far.

So what are you waiting for? Watch this show and enjoy the absolute mess unfold. (At least one couple gets a happy ending).

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They're all idiots, your honor

This so clearly needs a second season.

I'll keep things vague but maybe add a reply with hidden spoilers below, but in general the comparison to The L Word is spot on. I love overly dramatic soapy shows, and this brings the DRAMA. The music is outstanding, everyone is beautiful and impulsive, the production values are pretty good but not perfect, and the connection to real world things like jobs and how many stripey shirts any one individual should own are tenuous at best.

AND. I finally get why some of the popular pairings appeal to fans, which I didn't before. I might even give A Boss and a Babe another chance based on watching this. I am now officially a Mark fan. I see you, GMMTV.

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Love the drama.

Love SandRay and the pool scene with Boing, this show is pretty much problematic people trying to put their shit together while being depressed and drunk I guess but still love it.

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BEST GMMTV series of the year?

STORY: I didn't expect a good story from a series that focuses on messiness & (let's be honest...) sex. But the story has some twists along the way. There are 1-2 magic moments that wows you in (almost) every episode.

ACTING: Khaotung as Ray deserves acting awards! He's (arguably) the best Thai BL actor this year. First as Sand supports him so well. FirstKhaotung is the Thai BL CP that shares a similar level of acting skills (which is rare).

Neo & Mark Pakin's acting are surprising GOOD! They need to be main leads in other series.

Book has 2 scenes that wows me. I was like "Book can act!"

Force is good at side eyes (which he does often in Only Friends.) He's also hot so he fits the character (Top).

MUSIC: The team has great taste in music (3 music types for 3 CPs). The music fits the scenes well. It helps you feel the characters' emotions.

Rewatch value: SandRay (FirstKhaotung) have MANY memorable scenes. Gonna watch them again some time.

At least 2 of their scenes should win (or at least be nominated) for BEST Thai BL scene of the year.

SUMMARY: Only Friends is Director Jojo & Ninew's BEST work so far. They should do a season 2 in the Only Friends Stay (hostel) setting. And add new main characters like Mix, GUN, & Earth...

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It had potential

In the first 9 episodes this series was addicting. After that, it became a little bit boring and I really lost any interest in Mews and Tops story.I think the last three episodes could been shorten into two or even one. Or they could written a better storyline with Boeing.

First of all, I didn't forgive Top and I don't feel like he actually redeemed himself enough, but maybe it is realistic that Mew forgave him anyways. But I still felt really annoyed watching their cute scenes after they became a couple again.

Secondly, the Boeing storyline was really weird. It would have been interesting if he actually had wanted to date Mew, but instead he was a one-dimensional bag guy. Also, It was really unnecessary that he tried to get together with Sand. And why did Sand just accept it? I feel like this should have been resolved better, as it seemed like Sand wasn't sure if he should pick Ray over Boieng.


Anyways, I still like Sand and Ray together, even though it was unrealistic that Ray suddenly became a better person and suddenly forgot his trauma. To be fair though it makes sense, as Ray is very impulsive and changes his mind easily, I still feel like him improving this quickly should have backfired.
Another "couple" was Boston and Nick. In my opinion, they were the best written couple, even though they broke up, which was the perfect end for them. Boston couldn't have changed that quickly and he didn't. Also, I liked watching Nick's character development!

Would I recommend watching it? Actually, I would, if you like messy drama. It may not be the best written story, but it sure was entertaining.

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Messy but in a good way

I truly enjoyed this show, although I have to admit that for me as a couple First and Khao stole the show.
The story is messy, the hookups, the break ups and makeups are a lot, but as incredible as it may be it does work. The script is quite good which made it not only easier to follow the mess that is the life of this group of characters but it also made it believable and entertaining.
Are there a lot of NC scenes yes there are but this series also found space in itself to touch on tough subjects, an example would be addiction which is very well dealt with.
The actors did an amazing job, for me First, Khao and Neo stood out in this, Neo's character in particular. He made it so easy for us to hate Boston but at the same time care for him, which just shows how good of an actor he is.
I didn't really care much for Mew's villain arc but it did add to the series interestingly.
The mess that was Bosto-Top-Mew-Ray-Mew-Sand-Boeing-Top-Sand-Ray, I'm sorry what?

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A Bold and Gritty Dive into the Messy Realities of Love and Friendship

"Only Friends" is a Thai BL series that dares to push boundaries with its mature themes and complex character dynamics. It's a refreshing departure from the overly idealized storytelling often seen in this genre, presenting a raw and gritty portrayal of relationships and personal struggles.
The show tackles a range of compelling and thought-provoking themes, including trauma, addiction, self-love, infidelity, and even blackmail. These are not just surface-level mentions but integral parts of the characters' lives, making the story feel grounded and relatable.
The characters themselves are impressively multi-dimensional, each with a mix of good and bad traits. Unlike the perfect archetypes often seen in BL dramas, the characters in "Only Friends" are flawed, sometimes deeply so. Most of them could be described as "walking red flags," yet this adds to their relatability and keeps viewers invested in their journeys.
Unfortunately, the execution isn't without its flaws. Some of the acting performances occasionally fall flat, which can pull viewers out of emotionally charged scenes. Additionally, certain plotlines feel rushed, leaving some story arcs unresolved or lacking the depth they deserve.
Despite its imperfections, "Only Friends" stands out for its bold approach to storytelling and its willingness to delve into difficult, real-life issues. It's not a typical BL drama—it's messy, emotional, and unapologetically honest, making it a must-watch for those seeking something more than just lighthearted romance.
This series isn't for everyone, but if you enjoy morally gray characters and stories that make you think, "Only Friends" is definitely worth your time.

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Not what I was expecting

I hope this isn’t going to be the norm for GMMTV BL series now. Too mature. I love my sweet, cute, funny GMM actors. There was very little of that. The storylines for each couple was dark and intense. Lots of backstabbing and lies. Focused mainly on addiction. Alcoholism, Drug use, and Sex addiction. Some of it was resolved, some not. My heart broke for Nick and I was disappointed there was no happy ending for him. Hopefully he got together with his coworker. He seemed nice. I’m sure lots of people like this but I was too upset the whole time to enjoy it.

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I loved it and I didn't

This was total mess.
But.
I wanted to watch it for First and I am glad I did. He nailed the character so well. Once again his eyes and smile was everything. Sand is my most favourite character. Sweet, kind, knows what he wants but gets little confused once facing the feelings in front of his eyes. Guitar player as well - yeah you had me there 😁

Nick was also my favorite. I was rooting for his happiness.
Every other character was total mess. One big red flag after another on almost every step..

P.S.: I am not fan of smoking but that smoke kiss was something really hot. Great job guys.

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