Only Friends 2 Finale: I Just Can’t Root For Jack and Dean Getting Back TogetherOkay, I finished Only Friends…
I LOVE your comment - thank you for writing it out so thoroughly.
I wonder how much of your comment hits the bullseye in the director's unhealed wounds and behaviors.
Season one had exactly that, which I cherished so much with it - what was not healed, where work did not bring the result of trust and connection, it was left behind.
While Earth and Mix are great actors and they nailed their roles, I really disliked that their characters ended up together. I would much rather prefer a healthy healing path for Dean than getting back together after so many wounds were inflicted.
Nick and Boston breakup, Nick taking his own side and framing it later as "I gave you all I could back then, and there is no single hug left in me for you" - all this will be the best breakup and relationship resolution for the toxic dynamic that it was. This was so important to see. Also, it was so realistic when Nick answered "we will see" if his new boyfriend treats him well. He now knows that it can happen and how it feels. Bostons behavior left scars like that. It had consequences.
With Jack and Dean it feels like there were no consequences. Just going back again to the place where it hurt.
there’s no romance between the leads, so don’t be fooled by the tags. what the story does focus on is platonic…
I disagree that it is friendship and not romance, as there were multiple things that screamed married couple when they lived together - I even thought at first that the marriage certficate was for them, and I was quite confused, as to my knowledge there is no marriage equality in Japan as of now.
But they were way too subtle for my taste - come one, can they at least confirm it one on one, between themselves? Otherwise it is like "only these two are not aware that they are married" kind of situation.
"there were so many opportunities to explore the characters in greater depth, but instead we get something superficial that tries far too hard to sound somber and heartfelt while never fully earning those emotions."
To those who say it is not as messy or is not as bold with NC-scenes: can it be that the NC-scenes boldness we refer to comes from Jojo's directing style&screenwriting? It seems to me that while both Ninew and Jojo direct wonderful NC-scenes, they are different, like two people see and feel things differently. Jojo is not mentioned as part of the crew for this season at all, and it might then create the difference that can come across this way. That it is not less messy, it is just a different way to see & show.
Jack and Dean may have reconciled, or at least performed whatever PR‑approved version of “we’re fine now”…
When it comes to Jack and Dean, we are in for a long ride here. It is only episode 3, and there are obviously deeper issues that will bring more instability. Jack had to go to a rehab - which is good because it means he took it seriously and treated it as his responsibility (although that we do not know yet - last season we have seen how long it took Ray to get to that point and how much hurt he inflicted on people around him. I love that here we see another part of that path - that of after the rehab, because it is does not end when a person leaves rehab).
We also see in this episode how Jack does not even want to remember that time - it is a strong sign of his balance being actually fragile. I think we will see down the line him spiraling into drinking at some point, because those parts of him were not healed yet.
Generally, what they said to each other during their fight is showing deep underlying issues from both sides that will keep reemerging until truly healed - and exes getting back together often ends up with a breakup because of such issues. I expect it to be painful.
However, I loved this moment of their reconsiliation so much. Sakuya of Hoshi Wa Utau says: "I think there are wounds that can be healed only by the people who inflicted them". No saying that we are helpless in the face of a wound, but the moments like these are so rare and so precious, regardless of whether it brings togetherness in the end.
That being said, I loved your point "You wanted your boyfriend to depend on you, but you never once built a space where depending on you felt safe." Thank you for saying that. I personally needed to hear that and I did not even know about it.
As for the messiness, this season is messy enough to me. Maybe it is a different kind of messiness, the one coming from a mix of genuine hearwarming emotions and crossing the boundaries. Eg Dean lying his way into Jack's aparatment screams boundary violation and is not okay from any point of view. In that same space him cleaning the place out felt so quietly caring. this alone showed the living connection stronger than any words or direct interaction could. These two things exist in the same space and it IS already messy as hell.
Raffy is already messy as hell, and it is only episode 3.
main characters dialogues feel more like a draft of a dialogue to me. Like what they say is the meaning and impression they should convey while the actual lines should be different.
In general, it feels like 2 shows in parallel to me - one with the main characters and another one with the killer. How come we saw no interaction between Jade and Jay this episode? You brother is in danger, Jade!
right?!! I'm quite surprised by it because gmmtv always includes progressive topics in most of their series so…
and thank you for putting this list together! I also had an impression/expectation the BL stories to be more on the progressive side, and in the article I shared before they name some activists who campaign for abortion rights in Thailand.
And yeah - patriarchy sucks and should be dismantled.
right?!! I'm quite surprised by it because gmmtv always includes progressive topics in most of their series so…
I am also surprised. Here is what I found: abortion was decriminalized in Thailand only 4 years ago, and as of today women still face huge limitations in reality - in comparison to what the law now prescribes. Also, doctors are allowed to decline abortion if it goes against their personal beliefs or whatever.
I realize that JD can act in a plot that does not make much sense (to me) and I can even see that they are acting acting, and still I notice I watch them being lovey dovey with a wide genuine smile on my face.
I wonder how much of your comment hits the bullseye in the director's unhealed wounds and behaviors.
Season one had exactly that, which I cherished so much with it - what was not healed, where work did not bring the result of trust and connection, it was left behind.
Nick and Boston breakup, Nick taking his own side and framing it later as "I gave you all I could back then, and there is no single hug left in me for you" - all this will be the best breakup and relationship resolution for the toxic dynamic that it was. This was so important to see. Also, it was so realistic when Nick answered "we will see" if his new boyfriend treats him well. He now knows that it can happen and how it feels. Bostons behavior left scars like that. It had consequences.
With Jack and Dean it feels like there were no consequences. Just going back again to the place where it hurt.
And I keep worrying about the fish that Kant and Bison left to burn on the shore in episode 9.
But they were way too subtle for my taste - come one, can they at least confirm it one on one, between themselves? Otherwise it is like "only these two are not aware that they are married" kind of situation.
"there were so many opportunities to explore the characters in greater depth, but instead we get something superficial that tries far too hard to sound somber and heartfelt while never fully earning those emotions."
fully agree with you on this one.
Did I need romantic scenes? They would not hurt, but I am okay with the choices in that area.
Now what the hell was this chain of tragedies?
We also see in this episode how Jack does not even want to remember that time - it is a strong sign of his balance being actually fragile. I think we will see down the line him spiraling into drinking at some point, because those parts of him were not healed yet.
Generally, what they said to each other during their fight is showing deep underlying issues from both sides that will keep reemerging until truly healed - and exes getting back together often ends up with a breakup because of such issues. I expect it to be painful.
However, I loved this moment of their reconsiliation so much. Sakuya of Hoshi Wa Utau says: "I think there are wounds that can be healed only by the people who inflicted them". No saying that we are helpless in the face of a wound, but the moments like these are so rare and so precious, regardless of whether it brings togetherness in the end.
That being said, I loved your point "You wanted your boyfriend to depend on you, but you never once built a space where depending on you felt safe." Thank you for saying that. I personally needed to hear that and I did not even know about it.
As for the messiness, this season is messy enough to me. Maybe it is a different kind of messiness, the one coming from a mix of genuine hearwarming emotions and crossing the boundaries. Eg Dean lying his way into Jack's aparatment screams boundary violation and is not okay from any point of view. In that same space him cleaning the place out felt so quietly caring. this alone showed the living connection stronger than any words or direct interaction could. These two things exist in the same space and it IS already messy as hell.
Raffy is already messy as hell, and it is only episode 3.
In general, it feels like 2 shows in parallel to me - one with the main characters and another one with the killer. How come we saw no interaction between Jade and Jay this episode? You brother is in danger, Jade!
https://saafund.org/tamtang-noom-advocacy/
https://womenhelp.org/en/page/437/thailand-tamtang-group
And yeah - patriarchy sucks and should be dismantled.
https://www.safeabortionwomensright.org/news/thailand-thailands-abortion-law-was-changed-four-years-ago-but-access-via-public-hospital-services-is-still-limited/