WingedBean

IMO, I think anyone asking fans/viewers not to compare this show to the 1st installment is calling for a tall order. You cannot have a predecessor like the OG Only Friends and expect people to scrub it off their minds to watch this. Like it never happened. That makes no sense. Not only do they share a name, but it's set in the same universe, and the OG cast keep popping in. Come on now.

The OG show was also messy, daring, and different. Far from anything we'd seen b4 in the Thai BL space. Of course, it's going to leave a mark that many will remember. Also, I don't expect a show like Only Friends to be relatable. If they were, I'd be seeking therapy and a new friend group, not sitting in my bed on a Friday to watch a TV show. I'm here to be entertained (and lowkey stressed out), not to find something relatable.

🎭Ok, now for my actual thoughts on this show, the couples, & plot.🎭

1. Jack & Dean
Their start was interesting enough. When Dean seduced Jack in the 1st episode, then Mix proceeded to break the 4th wall and stare deep into my soul, I was sat. I was ready for the mess, to learn what this unforgivable thing Dean had done to lead to the breakup, and to hate him. Turns out, I wouldn't hate Dean at all. In fact, I ended up disliking Jack instead.

God forbid, but if I had a partner like Jack... Bruh, I'd walk straight into Nairobi traffic. Just take me out, man. That man is so fucking petulant. Holy shit! When he got punched in ep 10, I stood up and clapped. A whole standing ovation in the living room. He'd had it coming for so long.

Now, I don't think the reason for their breakup was handled very well in this story. They broke up because Jack found out that Dean was side hustling as a host. And so he drank himself into addiction, hated Dean, and spent the rest of the show punishing him coz he could no longer trust him.

I have beef with that. I think that sex work or sex adjacent work should be handled very carefully, especially in this case, where familial circumstances and poverty led Dean to start hosting. And correct me if I'm wrong, but Dean never slept with any of the clients, did he?
He wasn't in love with any of them either. The man was poor, had to support his mother, was dealing with a sister who had an abusive bf, and didn't want to ask for money from his bf because, well, pride is a thing. Plus, moneyXromatic relationships are always a slippery slope.

Based on that, I'll say that the plot tried to be deep, but failed as they mishandled the topics at hand. Dean's poverty and family situation are only used to show that he's maybe untrustworthy, shame him into everyone thinking that he can be bought for sexual favours, and thus, hard to love. Like Jack was trying soo hard to love him. despite it all. Boo hoo, poor Jack *insert hard eye roll🙄*. Come on, man.

I wish that he'd actually cheated. Then all the drama, the name-calling, the mistrust, and the guilt that Jack (and others) kept throwing at and piling on him could make sense.

Side note 1. I need someone from the GMMTV screenwriters' room to sit me down and explain to me how alcoholism works. In the 1st installment, Ray was back to drinking after ditching rehab coz Sand's love and care made him all better. In this one, Jack, who went to rehab for drinking because he was oh so heartbroken, is back to clubbing and drinking with friends with zero repercussions. What...? How..? Fuck the science of addiction, I guess

2. Arnold & Tua
I don't have much to say about them. Friends-to-lovers has never been the genre for me, so I never have much to say about it. There was a lot of yearning and very cute, heartwarming moments with them. Definitely a change of pace from the mess that was the other couples.

I will, however, thank this show for introducing me to the ship that is JossGawin. I hadn't seen Joss b4 and the last time I saw Gawin was in 2023 in 'Be My Favourite.' I enjoyed their chemistry and acting, and cannot wait to see them in the just announced 'Round One.' I've seen parts of the trailer on Twitter, and it looks interesting. A little different. My interest has been piqued. Thank the gods I have a chance to see them in something since 'Replay' was cancelled.

Side note 2: I need to have a serious talk with whoever was in charge of styling Tua for this show. Y'all put Jack in those absolutely delicious fitted crop tops and put that on Tua?? What in the...🙆🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️. What were you trying to accomplish? What was the vision here?

3. Rome & Raffy
Now, if trophies were to be handed out to the couple with the most memorable NC scenes, they'd be taking them home. No questions asked. AouBoom is another new ship that this show introduced me to. Such incredible chemistry and good acting. Outside of their chemistry, their overall storyline was weak, though.

Rome was the good, long-suffering one, while Raffy was out there chasing and appreciating anything and everyone apart from the one person who showed him care. Yes, they got back together, but it felt a little rushed. Rome was really the 2nd option😭. Everyone left, and Raffy had no one, so he picked him. Tsk tsk.

I wanna see their future projects, but I'm weary of the upcoming 'Billionaire Biker.' I watched the trailer, and something about it gave me the vibes of 'A Boss and A Babe,' a show I could not complete. It's one of those GMMTV 'idol dramas', where the ship, their visuals, and their chemistry carry the show on their backs, while the actual plot limps and gasps for breath in the background.

🎭Other Thoughts🎭
a. The cameos from the OG cast were so much fun. I thought Sand & Ray cameos would be my highlight, only for Boston & Nick's conversation to come outta nowhere and take the cup. That was perhaps the best conversation in this whole installment. So heartfelt

b. Speaking of Boston, they used that man as bait. Had me all stressed out, only for him to work to push the couples together. Zero mess from him *sigh*. And then he had the most random 'come to Jesus' moment outta nowhere

c. What happened to the 100k that Pete stole? Yeah, he got exposed for the scheming, thieving, lying little shit that he was, but did he give back the money?

d. I wish they hadn't quickly dropped with that on-screen ship vs r/ship side plot that they started with DeanxArnoldxJack. I think that could have made a very interesting social commentary on the behind-the-scenes lives in the BL (and more recently GL) world

e. How did poor boy Dean end up in a high-rise with floor-to-ceiling windows? Did the pple behind the story forget that bro was poor? Or does rent in Thailand work differently than where I'm from?

f. Dean & Raffy's catty cutting fights were so fun to watch. Raffy was certainly in over his head trying to take on Dean.

g. Not enough 'cross kissing' for my liking

h. We saw Great in the 2nd-to-last scene. Does that mean we'll be getting a 3rd installment? If so, please, please bring back the mess - and tighten the plot

🎭Final Remarks🎭
Overall, the show is good. You can watch it, but perhaps lower your expectations on the messiness. It's nowhere near the levels of greatness set by its predecessor. The actors were good. The plot wasn't. It played it too safe and left many glaring plot holes.