Bad Buddy (2021)

Thank you for an another one-of-a-kind Thai BL that simply made their viewers thrilled

Bad Buddy proves that no matter how plain the trailer is, the result may be different. Honestly, I had low expectations before watching it since I am running out of BL to watch and the storyline is another kind of childish story brought by GMMTV (conflicts about the two departments and the unexplained childlike war of their parents at the beginning) but in the end, I was wrong.

It’s all because of how OHM and NANON pull the whole show in the most gratifying moments for the viewers. Those stares, facial expressions, and their little gestures boosted their love bond to its maximum level. Ohm Pawat can undeniably be paired with anyone, he exhibits the needed chemistry without fail and holds the personality of his character like it is his own. His sex appeal gets more and more intense; having such a handsome face, a sturdy build of physique, and a shrill yet gentle voice. On the other hand, Nanon Korapat did a fine job in his first BL role. At first, I was hoping for Chimon instead of Ohm but things turned out remarkable for OhmNanon who had an exquisite showpiece tandem.

I started to like the show the instant they moved to their dorms. They’re so funny and obviously they’ve been flirting with each other the whole time. Since Pran had a crush on Pat ever since they were young, the sleepover scene was painful. One-sided love really hurts like hell. Imagine being on his side and yet, he only thinks about another person (episode where Pat wants to confess to Ink). Pran has no other choice but to pretend not to be taken away by his own emotion. Thank goodness that jealousy can always be a big help for someone to realize their real feelings for the other person, pushing their romantic desire to the limit. Me, myself, am also a fan of this type of scene in which I can see the other side bursting out with envious romance.

The big shock for me was witnessing an early kissing scene. It is not just a simple touching of lips but more on eating each other's lips. The portrayal of emotion during the rooftop smooch was incredibly eminent. Prior to the kiss, it was really bad for Ohm to breath hysterically because I find it a nuisance before their intimate clip. Anyways, the after effect of the kiss drove the potential to unveil their feelings but as expected both of them are as firm as rock and didn't want to admit their feelings that took them a whole 1-2 episodes for them to be real boyfriends. Taking their time on testing the water -one is trying to stay away yet the other one chooses to pursue and even willing to enter the Lion’s den just to be able to have a chat with Pran. (Architecture volunteer camp episode)

After opening up their feelings despite being persistent, their flirting moments were really something to be envious of. The good thing about the show is how the director executed fresh new ideas of sweet sequences such as the ketchup kiss, the written statement on a tissue roll, vibing the song inside the car in the cutest possible way, etc. The amount of romantic excitement I felt every episode is more than enough to build a castle full of butterflies. Also, creative strategy of product placement, not making it too cringe and trying to push over, compared to other Thai shows. They also simulated in a mocking way the typical BL phrases like “I don’t like men, I just like you” and by calling each other as “husband & wife,” who think that romanticizing these norms will make the scene extra special. Among GMMTV’s BL works, this definitely stood as one of their quality tier shows, next to A Tale of Thousand Stars and other of my personal favorites.

The revelation episode was something that I guess for a whole week that the title “Bad Buddy” is dedicated to Wai. He didn’t deserve to be a good friend of Pran. I understand his hatred and feeling of betrayal but he’s actions were too much. Exposing them to the public is not something a real friend will do. But then again, forgiveness always creates a new path for their friendship to bloom so I bought it. Another big disclosure is the reason for Pat and Pran’s father and mother’s conflict. I think it was not a cliche idea after all since the agony of Pran’s mother is valid. She lost her chance to achieve her dream because she was betrayed by her most trusted friend who turned out to be Pat’s father. Unique and realistic revelation. If I am Pran’s mother, there is a 90% possibility that my hatred towards Pat’s dad will last forever. Especially, if that person is your neighbor -the one closest to your own home.

The actor who portrayed Wai was good at being angry but bad at conversing casually along with most of the characters in the show. They’re casual talk with friends was so awkward; wearing a forced smile and uneasy eye contacts. Nanon’s group of college friends was kind but couldn't act well (especially Louis, who I think just stood there to fill the set). Ohm group of friends was the complete opposite; can act but aren’t too kind. They are like gangsters who have a huge ego and superiority complex who can’t keep a chill whenever they see a guy from the Architecture department. The character development of Korn was likely the same with other classic semi-antagonist who started doing bad but then miraculously changed to be good for the better. But if I am to choose who will be the best supportive actor/actress in the show, I’m gonna pick the woman who got the role of being Nanon’s mother. She literally eats the dramatic house attack on her ex-best friend's house.

Lighting up the mood, we need to appreciate how Pa and Ink brought smiles to our faces all throughout their shared moments together. GL story is rarely included in a show, but their on-screen character was too fit to each other making me feel lively and attached to their pair. Ink is a demure and caring woman and Pa is the clumsy and sweet girl, perfect match for each other. The siblinghood bond of Pat and Pa was also something deserving to be praised as well.

The OST. It was a well-arranged song for a BL show in which the main character started to question himself on the feelings he had for his friend. The lyrics of “JUST FRIEND?” was so beautiful for someone who had a secret crush to his friend or even having mutual feelings but still hesitant to confess. Nanon singing it was the perfect thing, his voice was soothing to both of my ears and heart. Absolutely one of my favorite Thai soundtracks!

Okay. That was it! I enjoyed the show and that’s why it deserves a high rating.

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absolutely amazing??

this show was incredible. i don’t even know exactly what to say. i almost didn’t watch this bc it seemed cliché, but it is NOT. most definitely not. even if it was, it’s so good i wouldn’t even care.

the acting was talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, showstopping, spectacular. all of the emotions were conveyed perfectly and realistically.

the plot was just never the same, totally unique, completely not ever been done before. this was romeo and juliet done right. so so right. it was enemies to lovers done right. practically no toxicity between the main characters while still having healthy banter.

also can we talk about the ost??? omg. so good. the best shows always have the best osts, you literally can’t disagree.

all in all, please watch this. i promise it’s worth your time. i’m sure you can tell by such a high overall rating that it’s worthy but still, i promise.

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Not The Typical RomCom

I can't say anything more than what others have said about this series. It's exceptionally well made.

One, the story. The premise is a typical set up. A little Romeo and Juliet or the story they will discuss in the series itself. However, what made this show endearing is how they built on that premise. You have two boys who were raised to dislike one another only to find out that they mean much more to each other than they thought. The main characters are good boys, both for when it comes to family and when it comes to friends. I can't describe them any other way, they have so much heart despite being slightly different form the other. I have so much to say about the script, especially the subtleties woven in between lines. My heart grew fonder for them when they portrayed a healthy relationship with open communication and consent. Something that should be celebrated. They also show relationships beyond the two main leads, branching out to their friends, family and the other people around them.

The story isn't perfect, but it has all the heart.

Two, the acting/cast. This is by far the best in chemistry among all of them. I will say that the main leads really acted well. I have watched a great deal of series, but the synergy Ohm Pawat and Nanon Korapat have is explosive. It's no surprise to me that they are close friends in real life because it shows. The way they acted screamed comfortable and the way they interacted with everyone else felt homey. The entire cast of this series feel like they are comfortable with each other and it adds to the beauty that is this story. Kudos to them for doing that so well.

Music. I like all the songs and the score of this series. Close to the topic at hand and the mood matches the events. Nothing else to be said except for you to experience it yourself.

I will miss Fridays anticipating for this series. It really is something different. From the story to the acting to the direction to the production, all of it felt well-rounded and done with care. Clearly, a lot of them enjoyed their time on set. It felt light and nice to watch it all play out on screen. I will miss Pat and Pran and their friends and family. I will miss the cute moments, the deep moments, the sad moments and the moments that made you feel understood.

I wish only the best for the cast and crew. They created something special, and I hope they continue to have that with them.

One thing I am sure of after finishing the last episode is that I'd be prepared to watch it all over again.

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Non-Original Plot but Original in Execution

Let's be honest, we've seen the University plot with Engineering students many times before. There are many tropes that are represented in this drama but the brilliance of it is held with the phenomenal execution.

Story:▷▶ Honestly, the story has been done before but so has every other story. The telling of it is what's original, the drama openly mocks the problematic tropes in previous BL and addresses them in an exceptionally natural manner. The drama also doesn't rely on shock-value or any unnecessary quarrels between male leads which eliminates previous drama toxic tropes. Instead, the drama picks out its issues and deals with them nicely and allows the characters to be human and not pawns for melodrama. Pat and Pran have by far one of the healthiest relationships in BL, they communicate with one another and also don't shy away from being affectionate towards one another and truly feel like a real couple. Their comedic scenes and quarrels that they face is treated with maturity that communicates to the audience their feelings perfectly. The key theme is that the couples and friendship bonds feel exceptionally real in this drama and it gives a refreshing experience to watch! I've never been more impressed by chemistry amongst actors as I had been throughout my entire watching experience. This drama feels no need to exaggerate or stretch out cliché plot points, it instead approaches them at a natural pace and makes the character feel the consequences of their action at redeemable amounts. It's perfection in a simplistic plot.

Acting/Casting:▷▶ Perfectly done. Ohm and Nannon sells their roles perfectly, the two bounce of each other with phenomenal chemistry and control that draws the audience in and truly allows the audience to enter this drama's universe. Nannon's facial expression to portray Pran's sarcastic yet witty personality creates some of the best bonding scenes between characters I've ever seen. Ohm equally portrays a playful and charmingly childish Pat flawlessly through his body language and facial expressions. When it comes to the heart breaking/ raw moments between their characters, these two actors have mastered the skill in subtle expressions that are filled with extraordinary amount of emotions, which further adds to the atmosphere of their given scenes. I can't compliment them enough because this drama was truly amazing. Jimmy and Drake also deserve a round of applause by their comedic duo at the end of the series and their more serious quarrels at the start. Their characters had the best development as side characters and further added to the likeability of all the side characters. Love and Milk also did an amazing job at portraying a GL couple, their portrayal of their characters was very sweet and tender that was a pleasure to watch, I'd love to see them paired again!

Music: ▷▶ I loved it! There's not much to say as not much stood out to me, though the OST and how music was used to portray the growing relationship between Pran and Pat was done beautifully.

Overall:▷▶ This drama is truly worth a watch. It's not like other University dramas and it does not disappoint in its deliverance.

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Admirable BL drama

I request you to just go and start watching this series already buddy, because you are too late if you are reading all the reviews first and then going to watch.
I have been watching BL dramas since covid lock down, and I felt happy to see how people are directing the BL dramas with such a cute plots. I liked all the BL dramas I watched till now. Mainly GMMtv channel BL's are so adorable to watch. When ever I watch any drama I learnt something which is applicable for my present life. Bad buddy is one of such meaningful yet entertaining drama with cute plot twists.
When I first watched the trailer, I just fell in love with the plot and actors who played the role Pat and Pran. Bad Buddy is a journey of two buddies who born as rivals and destined to be together forever. The main thing in this BL drama is that there is no such people called toxic. Even though their parents are rivals they never over reacted to the Sexual orientations of their children and their friends were sad only because they kept their relation secret but never questioned about their relationship. This makes the series to re-watch as much as we want.
Each episode contains romance and comedy together with lots of emotions filled in it. Actors ohm and nanon were just awesome and their acting was so real they just walked into the character and done justice to the characters they took. The romantic scenes were so adorable and they are not too horny like other dramas( not only BL, But also other dramas). Many dramas just show us how main leads first fights with each other, then fall in love with each other, then a kiss / hug and directly jump into the bed scene. Many BL dramas were shown us that love between two people happens after that silly bed scene. I just got bored with these repeated plots. But when i watched Bad buddy series, i realized that this is the best drama out of all which is totally filled with correct sort of emotions and actions. This series also contains kiss scenes but not the forced one like other series.
Pat and pran characters just show us how a relationship should be maintained in a healthy way and how to respect each other's personality,taste,time,privacy, favorites, dreams, future goals,..etc. Even though their parents are not in a state to approve their relationship, they had never gone against their parents nor let their parents to destroy their relationship. They just continued their relationship together and faced the obstacles together by fulfilling each other career goals. There are many meaningful dialogues and romantic lines which i loved so much while watching and they made me re-watch the series for many times:
"We might not be able to change the world, all we could do was just adjust to it and live happily. We might not be able to change people around us, but they couldn't change the two of us either." - PatPran
"In the end one of us will win and the other one will lose. But if my victory puts my boyfriend in trouble, I'd rather lose" - Pat
"I can be anywhere, as long as i have you" - Pran
"Lets play Speedy quizzes, i don't want to just compete, I want to know you better" - Pat
"Just because I'm not telling people doesn't mean I don't like you" -Pran
Sacrificing little things for our love is necessary but sacrificing our love for other people is just foolishness. So just keep loving without any fear and give time sometime to make things go on our way. My kind apologies if i hurt anybodies feelings. I trust that this review may be helpful.

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Simple and heartwarming

Fulfilling smiles, heartwarming story, entertaining plot, and never ending bickering. This is a complete pack of entertainment and laughter in one! It is very light on the heart and easy to watch. Ohm and Nanon's chemistry is one of the most iconic and deep ones in the BL world! Nanon's cuteness and Ohm's 'never-give-up' attitude are lovely to watch. Pran's all-understanding smile is the cutest. Their secrets, sacrifices and care for one another makes it worth watching. This one makes you fall in love and leaves you begging for more! Thank you GMMTV for yet another blockbuster!

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The series that breaks all the LGBT stereotypes in filmography

So, I have been following the director's work for a while and honestly, at the beginning I was spooked that he would be directing this series, because if you know him as long as I have, you know that he has done some series that were not done pretty well - at least in my eyes.

But than the concept trailer came out after New Year and I was hooked on the story since the release and I had been waiting for it to drop for like centuries. I may be different from other people - since majority didn't enjoy the concept trailer and feared the drama, while I on the other hand loved the concept trailer and wanted the drama right away.

I really won't be writing about the plot of this drama, since you can read about it on here, but I really wanna point out why the rating is so high and deserves to be high.

The thing that first attracts me with any drama/movie is the acting and with this I knew beforehand that I would be pleased, because Ohm showed everything he could in the movie Dew - it was spectacular. With Nanon, I saw glimpses of his acting only - from teasers and trailers, but I also knew he was super capable and I was right. The dynamics these two have is just over the roof. The script was written as if for them, because they embraces the roles as if they were strictly made for them. I love that the director gave them space to improvise and usually you know how good the actor is based on improvisation and in this case - it helped the plot a lot.

Secondly, the whole relationship dynamic was done perfectly, because they didn't just get together out of nowhere, we got to see that both had the feeling of love in them, but it was suppressed by other people, which is new. Honestly, in a lot of LGBT dramas where there is some issue with other people, the couple decides to selfishly just focus on themselves and give flying F about others, but these two reacted in more realistic way for the culture they were raised in.

Thirdly, I see a lot of people saying that this series has won the hearts of many because of the skinship - which in my eyes is a total bullshit, because the actors only showed how majority of relationships work. I can name quite a lot of dramas where it is clear as a day that the director and whole crew makes money out of skinship (purposely making few kisses or ending an episode with a kiss to put emphasis on how special it is~). Honestly, kissing and touching is normal and favored in a lot of relationships, and the way this director put them in the show was so so unforced and natural that I was in awe - also the actors improvised a lot of kisses as well.

Lastly, the biggest stereotype this series has broken is for sure the uke/seme one, which I always hated. If people just looked at statistics they would know that a big percentage of LGBT community switch in sexual relations, okay? And I loved that they showed this in this series, because believe or not, this is the first. First in the Asian LGBT cinematography and that says a LOT! Yes, it is up to the couple how they want their sexual life to go, but come on! Who would believe that ALL those couples in those LGBT dramas do not switch and are strictly top or bottom!

In terms of music, I loved Nanon's songs, but I did quite miss the Tily Birds songs which were hinted from the concept trailer. Yeah, it did make a small appearance, but I want moreeeeeeeeee.

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A really nice change of pace

Okay, in all honesty, this show isn’t flawless or perfect; it could have definitely handled quite a few things differently in terms of specific episodes and characters (writing-wise and editing-wise). But it succeeds so well at achieving what it set out to achieve. As in, dismantling many tropes of the bl “genre,” giving us a healthy, happy couple living their lives and confronting what is essentially generational trauma. It really all depends on what you’re looking for and where you set your expectations. If you come into the show expecting drama, angst and heavy emotions, you’ll be sorely disappointed, but if you come into it understanding that it’s a rom-com at heart, this show will hopefully bring some joy into your life. It’s not very story or plot-driven, but it is very character driven (which I personally like a lot—and the acting is amazing). I’m honestly so happy that Ohm and Nanon were able to play such endearing, warm, happy characters. This is the type of show that queer audiences need and deserve, one that depicts a couple facing all of the problems that come their way, together (drama-heavy shows are good too obviously, but it’s definitely not the only way to tell a queer love story). I think we can use a little rom-com fun sometimes. It’s a show that’s a really nice change of pace.

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A Family Feud, A Secret Romance

Bad Buddy was one of the most highly anticipated BL's of last year and arguably this is one of the best to come out of GMMTV. Ohm and Nanon were a perfect pick for the main characters of a rom-com enemies to lovers fiasco with wild family drama, crazy faculty rivalry, and a quiet romance between two supposed enemies.
The one thing I found to be a dent to the plot was how weak the conflict was handled. This is an overall rom-com that contains multiple goofy scenes so it's not taken seriously, but during the more serious scenes it interrupts the wackiness and was weakly resolved.
Regardless, though, this series remains a high favourite.

The acting is incredibly well done. The line delivery, facial expressions, body language and more was expressed in a believable manner. All of the actors were great, but I have to give credit where it's due and that's with Ohm and Nanon's acting. It felt genuine and heartwarming with their scenes, they nailed their roles to a tee.

It's great to see the romance branch out and how the dynamics are at play. There is a sapphic side couple which comes as both a shock and a hopeful step in the right direction for more opportunities to have diverse queer couples in series. Their development felt natural and sweet in every scene... and dammit, I want more!

Pat and Pran's development throughout the series was strong. I love how their opposite personalities go hand in hand. The way they express their love for each other was something not often seen in dramas (at least from ones I've watched). It was typical couple bickering, sweet affection and true feelings communicated all wrapped in one... or two, haha!

This series is a perfect lighthearted introduction to Thai Queer dramas. It does not have any kind of bad stereotypes, just people in love despite all odds against them.

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Happy, Fluffy and Intense!

First and foremost, I have never watched a single BL from GMMTV. Hence, I dove into this one with no expectations, without any prior knowledge about common BL tropes. I was immensely surprised by how popular Bad Buddy was. Everywhere on Tumblr, I couldn't escape it. Well, lucky for me. I'm so happy that I watched this drama while it was still airing. One of 2021's good surprises.

Two rival families and also next-door neighbors attempt to etch their grudge upon their sons, starting a chain of events from Kindergarten to University. Pran and Prat, the aforementioned sons, have their own cliques, friends and interests. After a few years of separation, they are flung together in the same University. But, this time, they get to decide whether they really need to rekindle their grudge, or start anew.

Is it cliché plot? Yes. But, it was a cliché done right. Right upto the ending.

The drama was a wholesome package. It had family, siblings, friendship, career, character growth and everything so neatly arranged, acted and directed that right now, I have nothing to complain about. I've not seen a single drama of both the leading actors. Their performance literally blew my mind and there were scenes where I would simply feel their emotions and smile like crazy because it was so unbelievable. That's some Oscar level acting. •_○

We slowly watch the two opposing rivals grow closer and support each other, ready to force real conversations when things go wrong. It was a simple plot, but the depth of sincerity and time the entire crew took to bring it to screen is palpable from the final product.
There were no unnecessary misunderstandings or time leaps that were senseless.

(I'll forever remember that one tumblr post that went: P' off, I'll be under your bed tonight.)

Shout out to characters like Wai, Korn, Pa, Ink, the theatre Big-Bro and Nang Nao who were a few memorable ones.

And last but not the least, the people who chose the BGM better get a pay rise. Because it was absolutely heavenly and pulled all the right strings, making the scenes indelible.

My review sucks and I know it. Bad Buddy is a story that needs to be experienced and I'm at a lose of words to describe my feelings.
9 is much too high a score, but this is definitely one of the most excellently made dramas I've ever seen. I'm so happy I watched it. The hype didn't lie for once. And thank you, tumblr, for bringing this to my dashboard and eventually making me watch it.
If you are seeking a satisfying and sweet, yet slightly angsty and serious escape from reality, definitely give this one a try!

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Healthy healthy healthy all the way!

Food analogy: Pure guilty sweet chocolate..best cheat diet as well as not cheat food.
I probably can't say anything new that already hasn't been said in other reviews. I can just agree on all the 10 on 10s this series is getting and argue with everyone who is not giving this a 10 on 10.
By far, the best. Just the potrayal of the characters in this modernized romeo juliet is out of the bounds. And let it just get out of the way that they couldn't have casted better. I am so glad to have given this series my time of the day and you would too.
Story: Quite generic tbh but you won't be bored for a second.
Music: Keeping the title track in my workout playlist forever. And the Ost's are mind blowing.
Acting: Least amount of overacting and oh that chemistry.. oh that kiss.
Rewatch value: you will be crazy not to rewatch and revisit this sweetness.

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a show filled with all the best tropes in the best way

Bad Buddy was my first foray into the world of Thai BL's which was a world i was hesitant to step into because of how much content there is, but i gotta say...what a show to pick as your first.

I spent 12 weeks watching the story of Pat and Pran and their journey from being so called enemies to the most loveliest couple that I have seen on tv in a long time. I contribute that all to the fantastic chemistry of Nanon and Ohm and the very apparent comfort they have with another that translated so well on screen for their characters. The show had such a nice balance of high comedy moments and then moments where you're crying because you can't bear the thought of something bad happening to these boys who deserve the world and more!

AND THE MUSIC! i would be remiss to not mention the music in this show! It helps that they had Nanon as Pran because that boy can SING. He provided two very lovely and heartfelt songs that are so very special to the show and i will forever have them on my playlist to remind me of the 12 weeks i got to spend watching this series.

I have to shout out to the inclusion of the ink/pha side couple which was VERY unexpected but oh so welcome! So often we see the female addition to the main couple be there for drama and then have little to nothing in the show to offer after, but bad buddy thankfully did not go down that path and instead gave us a sweet little romance that was presented so sweetly even with the short amount of time.

Overall, this show had a lot to be happy about: a feel good romance, well crafted angst, sweet side couples, hilarious group dynamics, GREAT soundtrack, and a general good vibe about everything.

I wouldn't take back a single moment spent watching this show whether it was alone or with a group of friends and I hope others who decide to give the show a chance also have the best time getting to see the beautiful and heartfelt romance and story of Pat and Pran - two boys who weren't allowed to be friends and then decided they couldn't be Just Friends ):)

I could not recommend this enough! Well worth the watch!

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