Messy but Fun

Only Friends, a 2023 Thai drama, follows Mew, Ray, Boston, and Namchueam - a group of business students running a hostel together – who blur the lines between friendship and romance.

This series is a breath of fresh air. Unlike the standard Thai BLs, Only Friends explores the complex dynamics of friendships and romantic relationships. The characters are flawed, sometimes to the point where you don’t cheer for them. Their relationships are complicated and often frustrating but very realistic and raw. Although the plot follows the friends running a hostel together, I find that the real plot lies in the characters' relationship development and character growth. It left me gasping and screaming whenever something happened, although I do wish the plot focused more on how their friendships/relationships affected the hostel business.

All the characters have very different personalities and face unique issues. The series touches on problems of jealousy, unfaithfulness, dishonesty, and addiction and how they impact characters' relationships with others. But it also shows the significance of growth, honesty, forgiveness, and self-love. Most importantly, it emphasizes that all actions have consequences, good or bad.

The actors did a great job portraying their respective characters, however "Neo" Trai Nimtawat, who plays Boston, does a phenomenal job, I truly enjoyed his performance. I wish more emphasis was put on Namchueam and her relationship with her long-term girlfriend instead of adding characters such as Atom and Boeing who in my opinion only served as a distraction and didn’t have such an impact on the plot. I was invested in some relationships more than others but was happy with how they all developed.

This drama was aesthetically pleasing to watch. I loved the dark-lit bar and club settings. Cool locations around Bangkok created great atmospheres for certain scenes. Big applause to the styling team for giving us amazingly dressed characters as well as interesting interiors. The music was good as well; I appreciate that they included some Western songs.

Overall, Only Friends is a well-produced, enjoyable drama, more realistic and sexual than your typical GMMTV drama. If you enjoy dramatic relationships this one is for you!

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Delightful High School BL

My School President is a story about the student body president Tinn who has a secret crush on Gun, the head of the music club and lead singer of the band Chinzhilla.

I absolutely adore this drama. It’s cute and fluffy, but at the same time, it addresses more serious topics such as academic pressure, family dynamics, sexuality, and the struggle between following your ambitions and compromising with reality.
Fourth and Gemini do a fantastic job portraying their respective characters. Their acting is heartfelt and they capture the sincerity of the characters perfectly. Tinn’s and Gun’s relationship evolved slowly and naturally, making their love feel genuine. I also appreciate the important role of supporting actors and how their individual stories affected the main plot.

Music is something I don’t notice in Thai dramas however the OST for this drama was amazing. The title track “You Got Ma Back” and side track “Come Closer” conveyed playful and romantic emotions enhancing my engagement with the plot.

Overall, My School President is a delightful high school drama, with cute romance, great character growth, and wonderful relationship development. Officially, it's one of my favorite BLs so far.

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