Sigh I heard a lot of good things, so I decided to give this series a go. Wanted to watch more korean BL.
I'll say some good things and that is the production, directing and acting was good. The theme songs and OST was good. I really love the main character Tae Kyung a shy character who really came out of his shell and became an amazing character at the end. I felt so bad for all the misunderstandings and crap he had to go through, all he wanted was to have friends. Noh Shin Woo also grew on me, the amount of screentime he got was so minimal even though he was the main love interest. But what Noh Shin Woo tried to help his friends and not give up I really admired him.
Ok I have to be honest this was the most frustrating series I've watched. I think Utsukushii Kare is a better drama then this. I never felt like I've hated fictional characters ever and I've found two people who I hate and detest so much ever. That's rare because I usally don't hate a lot of characters from a BL drama.
1st of all Shin Da On this pathetic jerk of a character. I swear most of the episodes was spent Shin Da On misleading Tae Kyung with his over kindness. I understand that Shin Da On has a overpleasing complex towards other people and needs to be nice to other due to his nature. I think the problem is most of the episodes and focus was on Shin Da On being too nice to Tae Kyung only for Shin Da On to chicken out and hurt Tae Kyung (who done nothing wrong). He can't speak and tell the turth in case he hurts people, but in doing so he really hurt Tae Kyung. It made my blood boil when the drama focuses on Shin Da On and not Noh Shin Woo (who IS IN LOVE with Tae Kyung).
It's not only in the last few episodes that they really focus on Noh Shin Woo and Tae Kyung relationship, which is frustrating because Shin Da On took all of the screentime when he's not that important in the story. I wanted to see more of Noh Shin Woo and Tae Kyung not Shin Da On misleading Tae Kyung. It was so hard to watch.
Of course I have to mention Lee So Hee, I've never seen such and selfish and ugly female character in a drama like ever. Lee So Hee is the definition of possessive, toxic and creepy. I am scared that there are female character like Lee So Hee existing.
I am sorry I can't really say that I enjoyed this drama as much as the rest of the comments did.
Huh? I don't want to sound rude but BL means Boys Love it means the two males have to confess their love to each…
I understand that BL came from fanfics, but those fanfics were of the author wanting the two male characters to be into a more romantic relationship rather then a platonic one.
Most Japanese and even Thai BL stories are about male characters getting into a romantic relationship even if there's little skinship like no kissing. I have never heard of a BL that consits of bromance only it's always a romantic relationship.
I think the various censorship has blurred the lines/boundary between BL and bromance. Cherry Magic and Ketai Hatsukoi had romance but no kissing making the BL very tame even bromance like. There's also China that censors BL and only makes the relationship bromance when it's meant to be romantic.
A good example of ture bromance is Kamen rider build that I am watching for Inukai. Sento (Inukai) and Banjo (Eiji Asako) chemistry is damn amazing and I love seeing these two interact and fight together. But remember that Kamen rider build is a kids show and is'nt romantic at all, I can't see Kamen rider build as a BL because the chemistry between the two mains is amazing, that's just dumb.
Fans of BL dramas are the most demanding fandom that I've seen from the huge amount of BL shows coming out, they expect the male leads to confess their love and kiss with a happy ending to qualify as a "good" BL series. I guess they feel really happy and fulfilled from watching a good romance between men.
I agree the chemistry between Shirou and Ichirou is amazing without the romance. But I guess if they were in a more romantic relationship it would make the show even more special.
I get annoyed when I see the question of "Is it BL or not?" just enjoy the show and find out later.
I guess that the japanese word for "public enemy" is "Chika".
Here's the thing about Chika.
In the manga she's barely in the story at all, she's almost like a non threat to Shirou. Chika I think exists to improve the backstory and character for Ichirou.
Chika is in volume 1 and 2 then does'nt come back until volume 5. She's not in volume 6 and 7.
IDK why there's a whole debate going on over if it's Bromance or BL.Implied-If your definition of 2 main characters…
Huh? I don't want to sound rude but BL means Boys Love it means the two males have to confess their love to each other (kissing is a bonus) for the story to classify as a BL series.
Bromance is different, the two males are very close with each other in terms of their relationship. Friends can live with each other, hold each others hands, hug but they still would still only be friends only. There's nothing romantic in bromance.
Kei x Yaku is a series that walks on a fine line between bromance and BL. In the manga the relationship seems bromance at 1st but it turns into something more looking like BL.
I guess fans just want to know straightaway if this a series is BL or not. Otherwise they would not waste their time and watch something else. The problem with Kei x Yaku is that we just don't know until all 9 episodes airs.
Currently in the manga: No, but they are getting there. Honestly it might take 10 more volumes before Ichirou…
So far the drama follows the basic premise/investigation plot but lot of the events from the manga is not in the drama.
Episode 1 of the drama is complelty different from chapter 1 of the manga. Chapter 1 of the manga is very straightforward there is no fight club. The fight club is a drama original element. Basically the fight club does'nt exist in the manga.
Episode 2 of the drama has elements from volumes 1 and 2 of the manga (shirou's flashback and meeting Chika). But the drama cut out a lot from the manga, there's an onsen part in volume 2 that was completly cut out. Shirou sleeps with more older men other then Osu, Shirou almost get killed by one of the guys he sleeps with. ect I could go on.
Many people ask if this series is BL or bromance, as if his life depends on it ... seriously ...In principle,…
The more I read interviews from suzuki and the more I watch the various promotions. This series is just going to be a bromance.
Suzuki from his latest interview has read the manga and he just thought it was a bromance/buddy cop drama. No mentions of the romantic development after volume 3. I wonder if he only read volume 1 and 2 of the manga only.
With only about 9 episodes for this series and so much plot happening from the main investigation I don't think there's going to be any time to fit the romantic elements from the manga to the drama version. Plus the drama version is going to resolve the ongoing investigation from the manga in it's own way. It going to be tough.
But IF this drama series manages to suprise us and include the romantic elements of the manga into the drama then I will be impressed.
can someone tell me if they end up together in the manga ?
Currently in the manga: No, but they are getting there. Honestly it might take 10 more volumes before Ichirou or Shirou admit any sort of feelings towards each other lol.
So I lowkey was watching this series mostly for Songpol / "Paul". But I really enojyed this seriesIt was such…
It really freaking sucks that Songpol and Jarunee had the short end of the stick in terms of their endings.
For Jarunee she had cancer so she had to die. That's how it is sometimes
God for Songpol, that really hurt. But it was the most realistic outcome for him. He could of not confessed and stayed as Paul to be with Phiphu but he would'nt be ture to himself. So in the end he could'nt be with anyone. But him being with Phiphu has given the self confidence to Songpol to be more open about himself. I really felt for Songpol.
At least San, Jaya and Amonthep had happy outcomes.
Thank you for this. I am so tired of reading the BL vs. Bromance discourse. That being said, I did find out about…
I personally hav'nt finished watching the Banana fish anime. But the story Banana fish is very tragic. The relationship with Ash and Eiji is more close to soulmates rather then being lovers, so yeah their relationship is more close to bromance then romance I though. I don't think Ash and Eiji confessed to each other.
After Ash's death Eiji still remembers Ash and he still effects him, he still has a picture of him. Banana fish like Kei x Yaku is more about the action plotline of the drug with underlying development of Ash and Eiji.
Kei x Yaku is kind of similar to Banana fish in terms of it has an investigation main plotline and an underlying relationship between Ichirou and Shirou. The only difference is that I don't think Ichirou or Shirou are in risk of dying, I think the mangaka would want to keep the two alive by the time the manga story finishes.
Thanks for the spoiler! Some people haven't read the manga, you know!!! :(
I can give a flat out answer: We don't know
We are still early in to the drama version, by the time all 9 episodes air we will have a better understanding.
The only things we know is that the drama is promoted heavily as a "bromance" crime drama, and the source manga has light BL tones. It looks like the drama version is going to differ from the manga version.
From watching the flashforward from episode 1, It felt really bromance to me.
I keep coming back to this comment section because the series just has me rolliiiinnnnggggggg.It's also not doing…
Thank you for this, I don't think Kei x Yaku is a pure BL series anyway. It is a crime/action drama 1st with hints of romance 2nd (or because the mangaka wanted to ship a policeman with a Yakuza).
Omg I really want to see Atsuhiro Inukai do another series with Akaso Eiji as well! They look like they are really close snice they were together in the Kamen rider series. Atsuhiro Inukai and Akaso Eiji follow each other instagram accounts (which is so cute!)
I would BE SO HAPPY if Akaso Eiji was a character in Zettai BL VS with Atsuhiro Inukai. But with Akaso Eiji being really busy with his own popularity I don't think that's is going to happen (sadge)
I'm confused, I heard they kissed in the manga tho🤔 or have they just not made out? I think they'd reach to…
The kisses only happen in the manga, again they are not romantic/steamy in anyway if you were thinking about that. The kisses in the manga are situtional/questionable I think.
The drama version already has cut out one of the kiss scenes from the manga (volume 2 in the onsen). I don't have much hope they will include the other kiss scene (from volume 5) in the drama version.
Lol it will be another 10+ volumes (if the mangaka drags the story out) in the manga if Shirou and Ichirou even get to confessing to each other. I don't think we will ever see Ichirou and Shirou make out at all because the manga is published with Kadokawa which is general manga publisher and not a BL publisher like onBlue.
I am just someone who followed and watched the series for 12 weeks with no prior understanding to the novel (I did buy the novel but never finished it). I acutally finished this series completely because I remember that I don't finish most Thai BL series.
I would say that so far Bad Buddy is my favourite/best Thai BL series that I've seen so far. Ohm and Nanon in particular made this series so fun to watch. I loved every minute the two were on screen and Nanon seriously impressed/won me over with his acting and singing skills.
Sure there were some parts that were hard to watch, but overall I really enjoyed this series. It's going to be hard for another Thai BL series that can top or even match this series. (The only one I think that could do it is the Eclispe).
I am going to miss this series but looking forward to future BL series GMMTV releases.
Idc if this ends up bromance or bl because the plot and characters are A+, but at the same time... Ichiro just…
The back touching was in the manga as well, so it was not put in there for fan service.
The context where the back touching was in the manga was different. Ichirou and Shirou were in the onsen at that time. Ichirou actually asks Shirou for premission before touching his back. Ichirou acutally says to shirou that his tattoo was beautiful and it suited him. But I thought it was'nt romantic to me it just like a bonding moment between the two.
I have to comment on the amount of comments there is asking if this show is BL or bromance and where to read the…
I am not saying I hate the manga of Kei x Yaku, the art for Kei x Yaku manga is beautiful. I low key have a crush on manga's version of Ichirou, Ichirou is gorgeous in the manga and is my type of man (and shirou's type of ideal guy as well lol).
I read of lot of comments saying that Suzuki is handsome, and I think he is handsome. I get distracted by his lips. I think his lips are too big! But that's my personal view.
The manga version of Kei x Yaku mixes in a lot of elements well, like the crime, action, mystery, the meaning of life and some elements of love/soulmates. It's like a melting pot of various genres. It's not really a pure BL series (like cherry magic or pornographer)
I have to comment on the amount of comments there is asking if this show is BL or bromance and where to read the manga.
1st of all if I were to judge Kei x Yaku as an BL then it's terrible/trash. In the manga the kisses are not romantic and are situtational/questionable. Currently in the manga Ichirou and Shirou have not confirmed their feelings to each other at all. There's really cute bonding scenes between the two and some fan servicey flirting between Ichirou and Shirou but it's no where romantic or steamy compared to other pure BL series. But I will say that the metaphorical statments it makes about soulmates/the meaning of life is really good.
Kei xYaku as an action/mystery series in the manga is ok at the least, what the drama does is take that action/mystery and make it more exicting/realistic. I really loved the 1st episode of the drama compared to the 1st chapter of the manga. The 1st chapter of the manga was too rushed/fan servicey and the drama version was a better introduction to the characters/story I think.
Which brings me to the drama version, since the drama heavily promotes the "bromance" I really think that the drama is only going to show Ichirou and Shirou relationship as bromance only. There's still a lot of episodes to go, so we may still be suprised. I think if you are just watching the series hoping for BL, may I suggest to watch another conifrmed BL series. If you are open minded and are really in love with the world, characters and the ongoing story we are going to be in for a wild ride!
I am myself I am watching the series for Inukai's shirou alone, I am really in love with his acting and the way he got Shirou's character down 100%. I am not expecting the romance and that's fine I hope the way the drama will end the series is going to be good.
For those who want to read the manga, I am affaid there is no way to read this manga for free nor there is anyone translating this manga for free (because this manga series is niche and no one heard of it before the drama ver came out). What you can do is support the mangaka and buy the manga either physical via amazon japan or digitally via bookwalker/pixiv/palcy website. At least if you bought the volume you have your own copy for referance and have supported the mangaka legally.
1 
I'll say some good things and that is the production, directing and acting was good. The theme songs and OST was good. I really love the main character Tae Kyung a shy character who really came out of his shell and became an amazing character at the end. I felt so bad for all the misunderstandings and crap he had to go through, all he wanted was to have friends. Noh Shin Woo also grew on me, the amount of screentime he got was so minimal even though he was the main love interest. But what Noh Shin Woo tried to help his friends and not give up I really admired him.
Ok I have to be honest this was the most frustrating series I've watched. I think Utsukushii Kare is a better drama then this. I never felt like I've hated fictional characters ever and I've found two people who I hate and detest so much ever. That's rare because I usally don't hate a lot of characters from a BL drama.
1st of all Shin Da On this pathetic jerk of a character. I swear most of the episodes was spent Shin Da On misleading Tae Kyung with his over kindness. I understand that Shin Da On has a overpleasing complex towards other people and needs to be nice to other due to his nature. I think the problem is most of the episodes and focus was on Shin Da On being too nice to Tae Kyung only for Shin Da On to chicken out and hurt Tae Kyung (who done nothing wrong). He can't speak and tell the turth in case he hurts people, but in doing so he really hurt Tae Kyung. It made my blood boil when the drama focuses on Shin Da On and not Noh Shin Woo (who IS IN LOVE with Tae Kyung).
It's not only in the last few episodes that they really focus on Noh Shin Woo and Tae Kyung relationship, which is frustrating because Shin Da On took all of the screentime when he's not that important in the story. I wanted to see more of Noh Shin Woo and Tae Kyung not Shin Da On misleading Tae Kyung. It was so hard to watch.
Of course I have to mention Lee So Hee, I've never seen such and selfish and ugly female character in a drama like ever. Lee So Hee is the definition of possessive, toxic and creepy. I am scared that there are female character like Lee So Hee existing.
I am sorry I can't really say that I enjoyed this drama as much as the rest of the comments did.
Most Japanese and even Thai BL stories are about male characters getting into a romantic relationship even if there's little skinship like no kissing. I have never heard of a BL that consits of bromance only it's always a romantic relationship.
I think the various censorship has blurred the lines/boundary between BL and bromance. Cherry Magic and Ketai Hatsukoi had romance but no kissing making the BL very tame even bromance like. There's also China that censors BL and only makes the relationship bromance when it's meant to be romantic.
A good example of ture bromance is Kamen rider build that I am watching for Inukai. Sento (Inukai) and Banjo (Eiji Asako) chemistry is damn amazing and I love seeing these two interact and fight together. But remember that Kamen rider build is a kids show and is'nt romantic at all, I can't see Kamen rider build as a BL because the chemistry between the two mains is amazing, that's just dumb.
Fans of BL dramas are the most demanding fandom that I've seen from the huge amount of BL shows coming out, they expect the male leads to confess their love and kiss with a happy ending to qualify as a "good" BL series. I guess they feel really happy and fulfilled from watching a good romance between men.
I agree the chemistry between Shirou and Ichirou is amazing without the romance. But I guess if they were in a more romantic relationship it would make the show even more special.
I get annoyed when I see the question of "Is it BL or not?" just enjoy the show and find out later.
In the manga she's barely in the story at all, she's almost like a non threat to Shirou. Chika I think exists to improve the backstory and character for Ichirou.
Chika is in volume 1 and 2 then does'nt come back until volume 5. She's not in volume 6 and 7.
Bromance is different, the two males are very close with each other in terms of their relationship. Friends can live with each other, hold each others hands, hug but they still would still only be friends only. There's nothing romantic in bromance.
Kei x Yaku is a series that walks on a fine line between bromance and BL. In the manga the relationship seems bromance at 1st but it turns into something more looking like BL.
I guess fans just want to know straightaway if this a series is BL or not. Otherwise they would not waste their time and watch something else. The problem with Kei x Yaku is that we just don't know until all 9 episodes airs.
Episode 1 of the drama is complelty different from chapter 1 of the manga. Chapter 1 of the manga is very straightforward there is no fight club. The fight club is a drama original element. Basically the fight club does'nt exist in the manga.
Episode 2 of the drama has elements from volumes 1 and 2 of the manga (shirou's flashback and meeting Chika). But the drama cut out a lot from the manga, there's an onsen part in volume 2 that was completly cut out. Shirou sleeps with more older men other then Osu, Shirou almost get killed by one of the guys he sleeps with. ect I could go on.
Suzuki from his latest interview has read the manga and he just thought it was a bromance/buddy cop drama. No mentions of the romantic development after volume 3. I wonder if he only read volume 1 and 2 of the manga only.
With only about 9 episodes for this series and so much plot happening from the main investigation I don't think there's going to be any time to fit the romantic elements from the manga to the drama version. Plus the drama version is going to resolve the ongoing investigation from the manga in it's own way. It going to be tough.
But IF this drama series manages to suprise us and include the romantic elements of the manga into the drama then I will be impressed.
For Jarunee she had cancer so she had to die. That's how it is sometimes
God for Songpol, that really hurt. But it was the most realistic outcome for him. He could of not confessed and stayed as Paul to be with Phiphu but he would'nt be ture to himself. So in the end he could'nt be with anyone. But him being with Phiphu has given the self confidence to Songpol to be more open about himself. I really felt for Songpol.
At least San, Jaya and Amonthep had happy outcomes.
It was such a charming underrated series, and it made me think about my life right now.
After Ash's death Eiji still remembers Ash and he still effects him, he still has a picture of him. Banana fish like Kei x Yaku is more about the action plotline of the drug with underlying development of Ash and Eiji.
Kei x Yaku is kind of similar to Banana fish in terms of it has an investigation main plotline and an underlying relationship between Ichirou and Shirou. The only difference is that I don't think Ichirou or Shirou are in risk of dying, I think the mangaka would want to keep the two alive by the time the manga story finishes.
We are still early in to the drama version, by the time all 9 episodes air we will have a better understanding.
The only things we know is that the drama is promoted heavily as a "bromance" crime drama, and the source manga has light BL tones. It looks like the drama version is going to differ from the manga version.
From watching the flashforward from episode 1, It felt really bromance to me.
Kei x Yaku is more about the crime/investigation rather then focusing on the relationship.
Omg I really want to see Atsuhiro Inukai do another series with Akaso Eiji as well! They look like they are really close snice they were together in the Kamen rider series. Atsuhiro Inukai and Akaso Eiji follow each other instagram accounts (which is so cute!)
I would BE SO HAPPY if Akaso Eiji was a character in Zettai BL VS with Atsuhiro Inukai. But with Akaso Eiji being really busy with his own popularity I don't think that's is going to happen (sadge)
The drama version already has cut out one of the kiss scenes from the manga (volume 2 in the onsen). I don't have much hope they will include the other kiss scene (from volume 5) in the drama version.
Lol it will be another 10+ volumes (if the mangaka drags the story out) in the manga if Shirou and Ichirou even get to confessing to each other. I don't think we will ever see Ichirou and Shirou make out at all because the manga is published with Kadokawa which is general manga publisher and not a BL publisher like onBlue.
I am just someone who followed and watched the series for 12 weeks with no prior understanding to the novel (I did buy the novel but never finished it). I acutally finished this series completely because I remember that I don't finish most Thai BL series.
I would say that so far Bad Buddy is my favourite/best Thai BL series that I've seen so far. Ohm and Nanon in particular made this series so fun to watch. I loved every minute the two were on screen and Nanon seriously impressed/won me over with his acting and singing skills.
Sure there were some parts that were hard to watch, but overall I really enjoyed this series. It's going to be hard for another Thai BL series that can top or even match this series. (The only one I think that could do it is the Eclispe).
I am going to miss this series but looking forward to future BL series GMMTV releases.
The context where the back touching was in the manga was different. Ichirou and Shirou were in the onsen at that time. Ichirou actually asks Shirou for premission before touching his back. Ichirou acutally says to shirou that his tattoo was beautiful and it suited him. But I thought it was'nt romantic to me it just like a bonding moment between the two.
I read of lot of comments saying that Suzuki is handsome, and I think he is handsome. I get distracted by his lips. I think his lips are too big! But that's my personal view.
The manga version of Kei x Yaku mixes in a lot of elements well, like the crime, action, mystery, the meaning of life and some elements of love/soulmates. It's like a melting pot of various genres. It's not really a pure BL series (like cherry magic or pornographer)
1st of all if I were to judge Kei x Yaku as an BL then it's terrible/trash. In the manga the kisses are not romantic and are situtational/questionable. Currently in the manga Ichirou and Shirou have not confirmed their feelings to each other at all. There's really cute bonding scenes between the two and some fan servicey flirting between Ichirou and Shirou but it's no where romantic or steamy compared to other pure BL series. But I will say that the metaphorical statments it makes about soulmates/the meaning of life is really good.
Kei xYaku as an action/mystery series in the manga is ok at the least, what the drama does is take that action/mystery and make it more exicting/realistic. I really loved the 1st episode of the drama compared to the 1st chapter of the manga. The 1st chapter of the manga was too rushed/fan servicey and the drama version was a better introduction to the characters/story I think.
Which brings me to the drama version, since the drama heavily promotes the "bromance" I really think that the drama is only going to show Ichirou and Shirou relationship as bromance only. There's still a lot of episodes to go, so we may still be suprised. I think if you are just watching the series hoping for BL, may I suggest to watch another conifrmed BL series. If you are open minded and are really in love with the world, characters and the ongoing story we are going to be in for a wild ride!
I am myself I am watching the series for Inukai's shirou alone, I am really in love with his acting and the way he got Shirou's character down 100%. I am not expecting the romance and that's fine I hope the way the drama will end the series is going to be good.
For those who want to read the manga, I am affaid there is no way to read this manga for free nor there is anyone translating this manga for free (because this manga series is niche and no one heard of it before the drama ver came out). What you can do is support the mangaka and buy the manga either physical via amazon japan or digitally via bookwalker/pixiv/palcy website. At least if you bought the volume you have your own copy for referance and have supported the mangaka legally.
Just wanted to get this off my chest.