Bad Buddy (2021)

THE STANDARD THE BLUEPRINT!!

yall when i say this is the best show ever i MEAN IT! like i dont mean best bl ever NO i mean best show ever in television history worldwide. i have watched plenty of kdramas, cdramas, western shows and bad buddy has been by far the best show ever created i am not even exaggerating one bit.
pat and pran are the most healthy and cutest couple ever and the actors ohm and nanon did a phenomenal job bringing them to life. the side characters have meaningful growth and come so far and it all feels natural and realistic. the conflict is established rly well and the angst hurts sooo good!
i got so many butterflies from watching patpran throughout the show. i was audibly squealing and kicking my legs in the air. ive never been this whipped for two ppl before other than the leads in hometown cha cha cha.
this show breaks so many stupid stereotypes bls have placed in the past in such an effective way! i hope future bls take notes for real. this is a new era for quality bl productions i think.
the music slapsss!!! normally im not always too fond of the music in thai bls but this show got literal bangers. every song hits even the background music in the rooftop scene in ep 6 T_T
words cannot explain how much this show means to me. i think it transcends cinema and media in general. it is its own category. a true masterpiece that is fun, witty, swoonworthy, and charming. i would recommend this to locals who dont watch asian shows bc its that good!

Lire davantage

a very good BL drama

Well, I started watching this because I like BLs especially Thai BLs and I saw this was the latest one and people were giving very high reviews so it piqued my interest and I started watching.

The first two episodes were not my cup of tea, what with two groups of gangsters fighting constantly and I thought the male leads also looked weird. That was the initial impression so it didn't spur me to want to continue watching, I halted for a week or so and only decided to continue after again reading the high reviews, people giving 10/10, it must be something good.

So I continued watching on, and the story did get better when they moved to the university dormitory. Things became interesting when the male leads stayed opposite rooms by coincidental, yes, really too coincidental and cliche but anyway I didn't bother about such cliches because dramas are mostly like that, otherwise how can they create a story out? More importantly, I started enjoying seeing the leads' interaction with each other, their constant teasing of each other and the realisation that what they feel for each other was more than just friendship. The pace was just right, I didn't feel bored at all. In fact, I enjoyed the scenes in the uni dormitory the most, every time when the scenes moved to the uni dormitory, I was eager to see what interesting interactions the leads would have this time.

As for intimacy of the leads, when they realised their liking for each other, I did not expect their kiss to be so soon and I want to specially mention, the kiss was really hot, I mean, that to me was a real kiss and a passionate intense one, not just lip-touching I see in numerous dramas. This drama has one of the best kiss scenes I have ever seen in any drama, if not the best, it was so good that I have to rewind and watch again and again.

I want to mention about the interaction between the main leads, unlike other BLs I have watched before, their dialogues/interactions are filled with sarcasm most of the time, they like to tease and make fun of each other, all done with an underlying love and want for each other. This, I really thought was a refreshing change and the main reason why their interactions were so interesting to watch. In fact, obviously they liked each other, but they refused to admit to each other, and instead played this game whereby whoever admitted having fallen in love with the other first was the loser and thus each of them started to do things for the other, treat the other especially lovingly to entice the other to admit having fallen for him. It was meaningless, yes, but it was interesting and refreshing to watch, all executed well.

If I were to say something negative about this drama, it would be the ending when Pran and Pat were in Pat's house drinking. When they started chasing each other around the house towards the end, I did agree with a comment made by one of the reviewers who said that their relationship in this very last scene felt more like very close brothers/friends than lovers, it felt like the main leads became their real selves, not acting anymore, they wanted to have fun themselves and wrap up filming LOL. But still, just this very last scene during the ending did not affect the rest of the drama much, just a little blemish there, would have been perfect and I would have given 10/10 if they had ended making love on the bed LOL. In addition, not sure whether it was because the director did not want to show much when they were in bed, unlike other BLs, there was no passionate kisses etc, every time when they were sleeping together in bed. I felt there was still some conservativeness there.

Overall, as my headlines goes, it is a very good BL drama, one of the best I have watched: good relationship development, interesting and refreshing interactions and passionate intense kisses. I recommend anyone who likes to watch BLs to watch this drama, it should be one of the BL dramas you should not miss if you enjoy watching BLs.

And I have to specially mention two things, I was surprised by the GL between Pa and Ink, never expected to find GL in a BL drama, well, more of pleasantly surprised because it was executed well and the other thing was the looks of the main leads grew on me, I mentioned above in the first two episodes, I thought Pran's and Pat's looks were weird to me, but no, I was wrong, their looks grew on me as the episodes moved on, I became attracted to them and yes I liked Pran's mesmerising dimples too!

Lire davantage

it's just plain delightful

This is my first time writing a review, so bear with me, but I absolutely had to in order to give Bad Buddy the praise it deserves.

STORY

Bad Buddy's bare bones plot isn't necessarily anything we haven't seen Thai BL do before; GMMTV loves engineering and architecture university students and an enemies to lovers plotline (not only is it enemies to lovers, but it's Romeo and Juliet inspired). While this plot structure tends to be a drag for me (this is the only BL in my top five to take place at a university), the execution is so well done it feels like you're watching something completely different from other university-centered BLs.

To me, this is because of two reasons:

First, the simplicity of the plot allows them to lean into the characters and their development, and they really take advantage of that. From each lead's first scene—Pat and his gang chasing after Wai and Pran taking his time to put his art supplies away before going to save Wai—they feel like real people and we care what happens to them. And by the time they get together, we know them each as individuals rather than some kind of ship dynamic. I've also never seen a BL manage to carry on this same development with its side characters; Wai, Korn, Paa, and Ink all stood out in their own ways, and I never felt the urge to skip their scenes so I could get to the main plot quicker.

Second, it's more self-aware than most BLs of its era are. We're seeing a bit more of a shift toward that now, but Bad Buddy is one of the first I've seen this from. They poke fun at some of the tropes often used by BLs, especially the "wifey" thing. I think we as an audience can get more enjoyment from a show that's willing to lean into some clichés while subverting others.

One last thing I'll say about the plot because I think it's important to my love of this show, and just how well the plot was executed: I hate, with every fiber of my being, the trope where we find out they knew each other in the past, whether it was a secret or they forgot about it. I always find it incredibly annoying and it never adds anything to the plot. But, you guessed it folks, it just works here. I think it's partially because it's never really kept a secret. We learn more about Pat and Pran's past friendship as the series continues, but it's never poised as some kind of big reveal. Second, it DOES contribute to the plot in this show. Without spoiling, it gives us further insight into the characters' lives and families, as well as helps us understand their present motivations.

ACTING/CAST

I mean... come on. This entire cast is just fantastic. I could spend paragraphs praising all of the side actors before we even get to Ohm and Nanon, but I'll spare you. Let me just say this: all of the actors are great on their own, but it's like they managed to put together the most complementary group of all time. No matter the combination of characters put together on screen, there was so much chemistry and it felt like watching real (if a bit exaggerated, of course, but I digress) interactions between people with histories with each other.

Ohm and Nanon are some of the best I've ever seen, and for guys so young, it's incredible. I think they particularly shined in Bad Buddy because the roles of Pat and Pran played to their strengths. Ohm seems to have the same kind of ball-of-energy athlete vibe that Pat has, while Nanon's got the chill musician thing that Pran has. It's also quite obvious that they're close in real life, because their chemistry is just off the charts. I've watched so many BLs where characters get together because it's "supposed" to happen. But throughout Bad Buddy, I could just feel the love they shared for each other, even when they didn't even know it.

Last thing I have to note about the acting is THAT scene. I'm really avoiding spoilers in this review, so if you know, you know. If you still haven't watched, when you get to the scene with Pat, Pran, and Wai... you'll know. Literal chills.

CRITICISMS

Can I just say this show is perfect and move on? No? Okay, well, while this show is nearly flawless, in my opinion, I do think the storyline had a few hiccups.

For me, the major one is that there wasn't enough discussion about the outing of Pat and Pran. I was very happy to see a show where everyone was very accepting of the characters' sexualities, so the outing had more to do with certain "alliances," for lack of a better word, but I wish the show would've touched on the effects a bit more. We also forgive the character who's at fault a bit more quickly than I would've liked.

CONCLUSION

Overall, this is a must watch on the BL scene. I laughed and cried several times, and would sell my soul for a season 2 (or even just a Between-Us-Special-esque series where we get to watch Pat and Pran being domestic and cute with no actual plot).

Everyone say thank you, P'Aof.

Lire davantage

WHY BAD BUDDY REPRESENTS THAI BL INDUSTRY'S SUCCESS STORY ?

You know a show is great when you purposefully ignore its flaws and focus on its enjoyable aspects. This choice does not stem from a bias but from a desire to appreciate the uniqueness of the show. Bad Buddy is everything and much more a BL fan can ask for. This show represents more than ten decade journey of Thailand attempting to hone its craft and ultimately becoming the premier BL industry in the world. My review will try to answer…. why this show is gaining massive praise? Why it’s not over hyped and worth a watch? And most importantly, why fans will remember this for a long time? I have avoided spoilers so feel free to read.

1. Script is GOD
This might sound like a cliché taught in every film school class, but alas this is the golden truth. The most satisfying aspect of this show is the level of attention that was paid at the scripting stage. The pre-production of this show i.e. story writing, scripting, character developments and narration was well thought off. The two main characters were drafted with great attention to details. The story wasn’t unique but Bad Buddy is the example of how good writing can be the key factor behind a show’s success. Of course, a massive amount of credit goes to the novel “Behind the Scenes”, but the production team did a great job in making the story authentic.

2. Music on Point
Over the years I have started giving great importance to the OST of a show. A good soundtrack can either accentuate the atmospherics or understate the emotions of characters, both decisive for the reception of a show. Bad Buddy has an excellent soundtrack which adds a new dimension to an otherwise generic story. The retro synth-pop with slight pop-rock influences will give nostalgic feels of 1980s teen movies (especially prom centric scenes). It’s hard hitting yet easy on the ears. The standout tracks are Just Friends by Nanon, Same Page by Tilly and Secret by Kacha.

3. Right Focus
For a long time, one of the most consistent criticisms I’ve had for Thai BLs is their unnecessary attention to 13574789 numbers of couple in a specific series. The biggest reason this show has hit the right chord with the audience is because it paid undivided attention to the protagonists. Even though there was one more GL couple, they appeared in the second half of the series and did not divert the story narration. This was good decision making at the scripting level, which heightened audience’s interest in the main leads.

4. Avoided Problematic Trends
BLs are many times notorious for misrepresenting the LGBTQ community. One of the most commonly seen tropes is a protagonist denying his sexual identity. With statements like “I’m not interested in other boys but only him” constantly used in so many shows, it was refreshing to see that the main characters were more accepting of their identities. Similarly, consensus, communication and trust seen as hallmarks of a good relationship were ever so present in their relationship. This positive development signals how far the industry has come and enthusiastically welcomed by viewers.

5. Basic Done Right
The story is very Romeo-Juliet-esque, frequently portrayed by thousands of movies and dramas across the world. The lovers trying to keep their love alive in a society that’s hell bend to tear them apart has been a textbook romance formula. You add enemies to lover progression and you get a delectable series with a right amount of buildup, angst, tension and chemistry. Bad Buddy has all the classic old school basics of romantic movies. The buildup of their relationship is just right, not instant love neither slow zone galore. These choices prove that the audience do not mind cliche, barring they are presented convincingly.

6. NANON-OHM EFFECT!!
And finally, the crown jewels of the show are the lead actors themselves. It would be a gross understatement if one would say that they had a “good chemistry”. These two actors did not live their characters, they reincarnated as Pran and Pat. If the characters were written beautifully, then Nanon and Ohm did glorious justice in breathing life into them. And this is why this show is a must watch. The X factor, the USP, the único trait, the crème de la crème, the daebak factor of this show are Nanon and Ohm aka Pran-Pat. Because the story was well executed and the actors did a tremendous job in keeping their relationship natural, Bad Buddy successfully abated the need for cheap thrills to grab eyeballs, found in abundance in other shows. Pran-Pat will go down in the history of BL couple as one of the most endearing, passionate and healthy couples portrayed onscreen in recent times. This is their show, their journey, their pain, their friendship, their love and their quest in understanding emotions. As an audience we can only be glad to witness their transformation.

As a longtime BL watcher, it’s an absolute delight to witness Ohm’s growth as an actor. He has come a long way and his progress is displayed throughout this series. He was born to be onscreen and one can only hope for good projects to come his way. This was my first Nanon show, and he smashed my preconceived notions scene by scene. When I initially saw the poster and the trailer, he left me significantly underwhelmed. But he presented nuanced expressions and good awareness as an actor, which was not only delightful to observe as an audience, but also testament of his performing abilities.

Has Bad Buddy dethroned “I told sunset about you” as the greatest Thai BL show ever? No (Acc to me) But it is one of the BEST shows produced by the industry. Bad Buddy is hands down a spectacular show that deserves all the success that it is enjoying. Definitely in my top three Thai BL shows of all time. I cannot stress enough how good it is and why it deserves to be watched by the fans of this genre at least once.

Lire davantage

Great 'Romeo & Juliet' Remake and a Wonderful Emotional Rollercoaster Ride

I loved the story of this BL. It was fun, annoying, sad, upsetting, uplifting… a wonderful emotional rollercoaster ride.

The actors did a great job of executing their parts. Ohm Pawat Chittsawangdee (https://mydramalist.com/people/11765-chittsawangdee-pawat) was really the standout performer in this series. I love watching him act. I have watched him before in other series and you can see his skills improving.

I have the habit of always comparing the affection shown between the main couple in all the BLs that I watch to the performance of the actors in Tharntype (https://mydramalist.com/32555-tharntype-the-series). They are my shining example of the affection and romance I would love to see demonstrated in any and all BL series that I watch and Bad Buddy came really close.

As for re-watch value, I started rewatching scenes even before I finished watching the complete series. A scene that I have watched over and over again happened on the stage during rehearsal that involved a tshirt. I will not put a spoiler here but I really recommend watching it.

I have definitely added this to the list of my top 10 favorite BL series.

Lire davantage

Best BL of 2021

I began watching this series before it was completed and had to wait patiently for new episodes. Never have I been so anxious to know what happens to fictional people. I have never seen a story that captivates the unpredictability of emotions so perfectly. The complication of having family drama and the pressure of keeping everyone will be happy at what may seem to be the cost of your own happiness.

The story centres around Pat and Pran and builds so much that I honestly was wondering where they can go, but they found a way to not only keep it fresh but captivating. They are separated both at school and at home, due to faculty wars and family wars, which had me wondering if this series is really a BL because their was no one for them to be in the same space unless they are fighting. Then in the heights of emotions and battles, emotions get out of hand and then that balcony scene happened. I was literally holding my breath. The actors really showed of their skills in this scene, the will they wont they dynamics came to a head. the tension, the intensity, the emotion and the uncertainty had me at the edge of my seat. I was so worried about what was going to happen that I had removed the subtitles and tried to judge what was going on from their actions. This had me broken from the moment Pran walked off and left Pat standing there. I literally could not process it and I had to re-watch the scene with the subtitles only for every word to pull at my heart to have it finally ripped out when he walked off.

When it finally began to look like they got everything figured out, the curtain drops and its back to square one. I felt for Wai the most because he actually was genuinely hurt by his best friend keeping secrets. The writing on this show truely captured the essence of having to keep things a secret for everyone to be happy. While also showing that love has no limits and doesn't require much for you to have all you need. That moment when they returned home because they realise it isn't all about their happiness, made it worth so much more for me because too many times people forget your actions affect others.

This show truly was a rollercoaster of emotions with highs and lows, the best part about it is that, no matter which emotion they had someone right there with them. It was an amazing experience going through this part of their lives with them.

PS: If you have made it to the where the Pat's dad refused Pat's friend gift. Congrats to their parents for possibly turning into adults.

Lire davantage

Worth Every Minute

Story
The story of this series is simple - theation re are two families at odds, and the children of these families have a history that brings them together and keeps them together. There is a twist, the non lead sibling is a bit protective of the antagonistic family. We find out little details in between that lead to an unbreakable bond between two cast members. We see all the bumps on the way and how they forge this really RELATABLE attraction.

Acting/Cast
Before I saw episode 1 - this was an excitement. Ohm has always been a favorite and Nanon was really coming up. I expected them to have good chemistry, but I was absolutely blown way. After episode 3 - hell I was hooked. I understood why people did not like 1 and 2 - but i knew there would be something more coming after - and I was not let down. Everyone's character evoked the type of reaction the director wanted. If we wanted to be angry at a character - EVERYONE WAS ANGRY - if we wanted to feel bad for a character - EVERYONE FELT IT - It didnt have to be some convoluted storyline to evoke false rage in a cringe weird situation that wasn't plausible -- The emotions came out. And our leads. Holy SHIT. what a fantastic duo. There couldn't have been anyone else in GMM TV to do this. The trust with each other as actors, the love between the characters and their portrayers, the trust in the cast and crew, simply blown away. I have only felt this way twice before, in I told Sunset About You and Until We Meet Again. Less so in UWMA - I think Ohm Thitiwat had to grow into his character more, but he still pulled it off. Here, though, 1000 stars

Music -
When we got Just Friends? - we died. Knowing the significant of that OST was interwoven into the show. It was done in a way that was simple overall, but damn, so significant. When to OST changed for end credits, WE KNEW IMMEDIATELY - then we got Secret. It gave so much power to the actions of the characters. This was Pat falling after Pran, but falling so DAMN hard. Then P'Aof tries to mess up up again - with Our Song. Which has been playing since the beginning. And the significance of that being the underlying them throughout - My god When Pran sings Our Song in Ep 11 - it was so damn emotional.

Rewatch Value 10+
You haven't seen each episode 10+ times? WTF



Overall

I'm a little late to the BL world. I honestly didnt start till right before the pandemic. Started Dec 2019 with SOTUS on netflix. I loved Kongpob. Made my way to SOTUS S on netflix because I wanted more. From there, YT suggested Dark Blue Kiss which was still airing and Love By Chance i think or 2 Moons - Well, i just watched them all. SOTUS was my first

after those, Youtube suggested Until We Meet Again - 4 episodes were out, but i didnt know that. I watched the first 4 and then couldn't find episode 5. (It wasn't out yet). I just expected them to all be out. UWMA was the first one i watched weekly. It was so different it quickly became my favorite (After a 17 week involvement).

I've loved shows since, I've watched many weekly - Light on Me, FUTS, ATOTS, - And I enjoy the differences in them and what they offer. Even if its silly - Sometimes need a silly break.

But Bad Buddy Came along - and it wasn't the silly parts of the fights, it wasn't the story - The story is pretty basic.

But it was something simple. Love is love, and how do people in love work around that love.

There are things in this show I've done, and have realized, and have kept me around with someone - its an understanding

its an understanding that there are things when you are 20-25 that happen - sex, sniffing, pheromones, etc

there are things that are hard if you aren't out - family

friends - can be tricky but true friends are there for you

you have some people you rely on always - PA (then Ink - then korn then wai) - but wai is a bitch

And its not perfect, but you can whether that storm.


Im sooo damn happy with the realization of what a happy gay relationship is like. This is the first and only show that has show that a couple is 50/50 - and it takes 2 - it takes so much effort for that balance and its NOT BASED ON SEX ROLES.

The top was a dud - 5 min
The Bottom was a 10/10

Things are fluid - and they are wonderful. And Loving, and there for each other, and someone who will walk BESIDE them -




Thank you for this BEAUTIFUL portrayal of an LGBT relationship.

Lire davantage

When it was great, it was amazing, but it did deserve a slightly better send-off.

Overall, I'd still give this show a solid 9 because it had moments that really made me think that this show was shaping up to be the best BL ever, and it was in many parts. The only reason I won't give it a 9.5 or a 10 is because many of the biggest conflicts that the series built up throughout the episodes were resolved very poorly (like the Wai situation) or not resolved at all (like the family beef, which was supposed to be the central theme of the story but was pretty much swept under the rug in exchange of an unexplicable time jump). Despite the not-so-great development of these two plot points, the show is clearly a step in the right direction when it comes to positive queer representation and it was clear to see the effort of the director and the scriptwriters to avoid some of the most annoying clichés from other BLs. I just wish they wrapped up the story as brilliantly as they handled the strongest episodes (5-8 and 10, in my opinion). Had they done that, I'd easily give this show a 10. It is definitely a show everyone should watch and definitely overall a better piece than your regular BL.

Lire davantage

Love in BL finally done right

Instead of talking about the stellar acting, directing and even music, I am going to talk about a few personal observations that made this show one of my favorite shows of all time.

We see the couple get together and stay together. We see them do small things that couples do and simple things like talking feels special. I generally dread couples getting together early in a show as that means contrived conflicts and inevitable breakup. Instead, we get one of the healthiest couples onscreen.

The characters in relationship feel equal. There's no toxic power dynamic. Both characters have strong personalities and they are never afraid to speak their mind to each other.

The conflicts are solved quickly without being drawn out week after week.

Homosexuality is not treated as a fantasy. Talks about sexuality, cute coming out scenes, addressing harmful tropes and stereotypes are all present. This show feels like it was made for us, the LGBTQ+ community.

One of my favorite scenes of intimacy in a gay show is in SKAM season 3 when Isak and Even just lay in a bed fully clothed, smoking weed, talking about parallel universes and figuring out their kisses. Well, this show has several scenes like that, where you will feel the intimacy and the love. Smell is used as a great device to signify love, only ITSAY had done this well before. The characters also understand consent.

I had an emotional breakdown because of this show and in the end all the crying was worth it.

Lire davantage

NEW favorite BL series!

I usually don't write reviews, but this series is too amazing.

The story may sound boring, like it's been done before. BUT Nanon and Ohm make this series SPECIAL! First the acting was top-notch. Nanon and Ohm are such great actors with great chemistry together. You can really see it throughout the series. The whole cast did a great job as well. This show breaks the stereotypes! P'Aof did an amazing job directing.

The music scores in this series were beautifully done. It fit the mood of the scenes so well. We have 3 OST's. I loved them all. Definitely check those MV's out!

I would totally rewatch this series. It is now my comfort show.

Overall, this show can join ITSAY as another masterpiece. ( for me at least). If you haven't watched the show, I highly recommend watching this series!

Lire davantage

The Story Has Its Flaws But Ohm and Nanon Carries The Show Effortlessly

I’ve been reading some of the other reviews to ascertain where I stand in terms of Bad Buddy as a whole. And after all that back and forth – reading both the negative and positive reviews, I can objectively say, with definitiveness, that Bad Buddy is the BEST BL that GMMTV has produced so far. Relative to other BLs produced by other studios, Bad Buddy easily soars up high in the list. Now, this isn’t to say that Bad Buddy is perfect, if anything, it tries to be (and it almost comes close) but is held back by a few faults of its own, but not for lack of trying.

MUSIC
I don’t think I need to say a lot in this aspect. We had three original soundtracks created specifically for this series, and that alone is enough to tell you that the music is on point (as it should be for music created for this specific show). One genius move they made was to hold back the lyrics of the opening melody until the very last episodes. This was a pleasant surprise for the fans as the song had been hiding under their noses!

ACTING/CAST
If I were to specify the one thing that carried the whole show from start to finish, it would be Ohm and Nanon, and I’m not saying this lightly. Both Ohm and Nanon have received praise for their acting chops in their previous work. And so it is no surprise that a combination of them is deadly. With their experience and being friends in real life, their chemistry could only have been absolutely and effortlessly phenomenal, and it is. They have delivered what is arguably the best kiss in a BL, and more! As for the other casts, aside from the older actors and Love, it's just that their characters and the story did not lend them enough screen time to flesh out any outstanding performance, but that isn’t to say they’re bad.

Ohm and Nanon’s chemistry is unquestionably the best asset of this show, but you would be pleasantly surprised about Ink and Pa’s chemistry as well. Although they only have a very limited amount of time, it wouldn't be easy to miss and feel that spark between the characters. And of course, we got a tease of WaiKorn, but I never expected that ship to sail anyway. Overall, aside from Ohm and Nanon, the acting and cast were ok and are nothing to worry about.

STORYLINE
The story is nothing new. And where Bad Buddy stumbles (sometimes slightly, sometimes on its face) is in its story. The first few episodes were the weakest (no surprises there) with the seemingly incessant and objectively childish quarrels between the two gangs. The story tries to subtly redeem these characters through dialogues that try to correct for what we would consider toxic traits and mindsets in today’s world. Ultimately, we see the culmination of this Act as a way to bring the two lead characters closer together.

In the latter parts of the story, we are introduced to the conflict arising from the two characters hiding their relationship from their friends. Wai’s redemption arc is another matter that sparks debates even among avid lovers of the series. In my opinion, the resolution to this conflict was ok yet unsatisfactory, it leaves me on the fence.

The main thing that keeps on coming back, the biggest outlier is the seeming resolution of the conflict with the parents plus (*gasps*) another time jump. This is also not surprising given the fact that our expectations have been set from the beginning that this familial feud is the root cause of their rivalry in the first place. For some, time jumps are lazy and most of the time jarring.

I have some misgivings about the time jumps if I'm being honest to myself... But if it serves to move the story forward, then so be it... But I need some morsels and crumbs, please? My only wish is that we’d been given more time to see the parents’ relationship progress. Alas, I also understand that it may have been too wieldy (story-wise) trying to fit all these sub-plot points into what is already a dwindling number of episodes. And even now as I write this review, I'm conflicted about how I feel about it. Leaving this to the viewers' interpretations maybe is its biggest shortcoming.

Stumble it may, Bad Buddy redeems and picks itself up and brings itself up to new BL heights through the subversion and callouts of some of the most common tropes and stereotypes in BL (and did I mention the insane acting performance and chemistry of Ohm and Nanon, yes).

It rightly calls out and corrects the errant ways of previous GMMTV BLs when Pa explicitly takes a jab like “I’m straight but Pran is the only guy I like.” Its side female characters diverge from the usual and tired trope of a crazy ex-girlfriend or a secret admirer; the show instead turns this on its head by creating them to be wholesome supporters and reliable catalysts for the lead characters’ relationship. It also pokes fun at the seme/uke/top/bottom/wife/husband expectations in a queer relationship which is inherent in a heteronormative society – “Does calling me a wife make you feel superior?” Its GL side couple is given space to breathe and grow and not serve as fillers.

Moreover, and this is VERY important, there is no homophobia in this show. What this does is it normalizes queer relationships as if there’s absolutely nothing wrong with them, which there isn’t (not debatable)!

I know that I’m missing many more points that I could add to tell you that this show is worth your time. But to summarize, Bad Buddy’s flaws and imperfections are totally outweighed by all the positives about the show, chief among them Ohm and Nanon’s performance. There may be times when you may feel slightly disheartened by the turn of events but Ohm and Nanon are sure to compel you to stick to the ride for the rest of the way.

OVERALL, Bad Buddy is a show that puts a spin on the old Romeo and Juliet story, doing it well enough and in a queer context at that. It gives you enough and may leave you wanting more. IT'S A DEFINITE MUST-SEE!

Lire davantage