Enemies to lovers is a fairly common trope in BL dramas, and I've seen it used with varying degrees of success, but never as well as in this drama. Here it was very nearly perfect because for once, we have an actually healthy relationship. The story didn't feel cliché, the reasoning behind people's actions while, perhaps a bit overblown, were still understandable to an extent, and the development of the leads relationship felt very natural. This was just a very well done drama that was a joy to watch.

The story is centered on our two leads' families who have been enemies for years due to business reasons. Or so the boys were told. They were raised to constantly compete with each other and thus have been enemies since childhood. However, there have been moments when they've connected and had a tenuous friendship during this time, though its doubtful either one would admit that it was a friendship. Once they reach university and their two faculties start to collide and they also discover they live right across from each other, feelings start to emerge and the rest is history. One of the things I really appreciated about the story is the parents' rivalry wasn't over a failed romance. I feel like that is used a lot and is extremely cliché. I think what actually happened is so much worse and is far more justifiable for what transpired afterward. Don't get me wrong, they blew things way out of proportion with dumping their problems on their kids, but by the same token, I also kind of get it. The pacing was quite good. There were a few draggy moments, but for the most part, the story moved along well. I really enjoyed the relationship build ups of both Pran and Pat and Ink and Pa. I felt they both developed quite organically, and I was excited to see a well done lesbian relationship in a BL. The few times I've seen them in BLs, they've been done pretty badly. And the ending was hilarious and so very them.

The acting was quite good all around but Nanon and Ohm definitely take the cake with their chemistry. They are both talented actors together and apart. Together they just play off of each other really well, their interactions are very natural, and, again, their chemistry was fantastic. Apart, Nanon I feel is very expressive with both his eyes and more subtle facial expressions while Ohm is more open with his facial expressions and uses his body more. I enjoyed watching both and the supporting cast was great as well.

The characters were all so varied and interesting. I really enjoyed getting to know all of them and see them grow. The character development was great and the best part for me was that while all of them grew as people, they also stayed true to themselves. For example, while Pran and Pat figured out their relationship, realizing that they loved each other, the potential consequences of that love, and developing a mutual respect for each other, they still ultimately remained true to themselves and I appreciated that while their attitude towards each other obviously changed from enemies, there were some things, like their competitiveness and way of speaking to each other that really didn't. Pran though is overall just such a sweetheart and his fear of them being found out just kind of broke my heart. He's loved Pat for so long and now that he has him, I think he's just terrified of losing him. Pat is also a sweetheart in his own way. He's a prankster, but he has a good heart and he'll do pretty much anything to help Pran or one of his friends. With Pa and Ink, I found their growing relationship to be very sweet. There were hints of it when Pa was still in high school and then once she was in university and the two were able to spend more time together, it became quite obvious that there was a mutual attraction. I liked both girls' characters. They were both strong women which I definitely appreciated and Ink's possessiveness of Pa made for some pretty hilarious scenes. Korn was just adorable as Pat's friend. I loved his loyalty to Pat and how supportive he was of his relationship with Pran once it was revealed. That scene with him refusing to let Pat sit with them and then popping up ten seconds later to give him food was so freaking cute. I also really enjoyed his relationship with Wai there towards the end. I almost could have shipped him with Wai, but I think I prefer that they left them as friends and colleagues. Wai has me a bit divided. On the one hand, I overall liked his character. On the other hand though, his exposure of Pran and Pat's relationship was super messed up. That's not something you do to your best friend. However, I can also understand how betrayed he must have felt and in the heat of the moment, he wasn't really thinking through his actions, so I'm willing to give him some grace. He came through with the video to clear Pat which he didn't have to do although an actual apology would have been nice. Again, I really enjoyed his friendship with Korn and their banter at the end of the drama. I don't really have much to say about the parents that I haven't already said other than that I thought their acceptance of their kids' sexual orientation was awesome.

The best part of this drama, besides the fantastic story, acting and characters, was just how many stereotypes that typically pop up in BLs that it absolutely destroyed.
-The husband/wife labels that pervade most BLs were chucked right out the window. Pran calls Pat out for calling him his wife and when they reverse the roles, Pat realizes how it sounds. His reasoning was simple enough, he just wanted to show that they're closer but Pran essentially says they don't need to use the label of husband/wife, they're close enough as is as boyfriends. It's a sweet moment that also highlights that there really isn't a need to place labels in LGBTQ relationships as to who is perceived as stronger/weaker.
-The only gay for you stereotype is also removed here. Not only does Pat candidly state that he is bisexual saying that he likes all genders but Pran also essentially states that he is gay while saying that he may someday like girls as well. Pa actually makes fun of this stereotype within the same episode. The whole scene is pretty great.
-Enemies to lovers relationships seem to always have some degree of toxicity to them. Writers and directors are good at making them look cute and fluffy on the surface when in actuality they're very unhealthy. I have definitely fallen prey to some of those in the past. What is so refreshing about Bad Buddy is that there is none of that here. There is no toxicity, their relationship is genuinely healthy. Yes, it has its ups and downs like any relationship, but they work through their problems together, they actually communicate with each other. Neither one forces himself on the other, there's a mutual respect and love, despite their bickering and occasional disagreements.
-The defined top and bottom stereotype is gone. In every BL I've ever seen, one character is always the top and the other is always the bottom. From my perception, they completely tossed that in Bad Buddy and went with a versatile relationship which was super interesting and also refreshing. I think its something that should definitely be more common.

The OST was fantastic. Music honestly plays a subtly major role in this drama. It's music that initially brought Pran and Pat together as they wrote Just Friend?, music that broke them apart when Pran's mother found them playing together and transferred him, and then music that brought them back together when seeing Pran play their song made Pat start to realize his feelings. Besides that, there's also the song that Pran writes for Pat declaring his love. And the scene there at the end of Pat and Pran singing together was so sweet with Pran's mom hearing them and leaving them be. I loved her little smile. Nanon's voice is amazing, I could happily listen to his songs on repeat for days.

This is frankly the BL to put all other BLs to shame. It has set the bar so high that it will truly be hard for any others to top it. Everything about it was just so incredibly good. I honestly wish I had watched it sooner because this is what a BL should be. I cannot recommend this drama highly enough and it is one I will absolutely be coming back to in the future.