A Simple Story Made Unforgettable
I started Bad Buddy because of the overwhelmingly positive reviews and the way people kept describing it as one of the best BL series ever made. The story itself is not completely new: two boys from rival families grow up believing they are supposed to hate each other, only to eventually fall in love. What makes the series special is not the originality of the plot, but the way it is written, directed, and performed.
Ohm and Nanon gave two of the strongest performances I have seen in a BL. Their chemistry feels natural, but what impressed me most was the emotional depth they gave Pat and Pran. Ohm made Pat warm, funny, confident, and vulnerable, while Nanon expressed so much through Pran’s eyes, silence, and body language. Pran is a character who hides most of what he feels, yet Nanon always makes those emotions visible.
The rooftop scene is, for me, one of the greatest romantic scenes in BL history. Its power does not come from the kiss being sexual or visually bold. It comes from everything the kiss represents.
Pran has spent years suppressing his feelings, carrying his family’s expectations, and believing that a relationship with Pat could never truly work. When they finally kiss, he is not simply happy. He is relieved, terrified, overwhelmed, and heartbroken at the same time. He finally gives in to his feelings while already knowing how difficult their relationship will be because of their families.
Watching him kiss Pat while crying made the scene feel like a confession, a surrender, an emotional breakdown, and a victory all at once. Years of pressure, rivalry, fear, and hidden love were present in that moment. That is why I consider it the best kiss in BL history. Many series can create a more explicit or passionate kiss, but very few can create one with this much emotional weight. Every time I watch the scene again, I still feel the same impact.
I also appreciate how the series avoids or challenges many tired BL tropes. There is no “I am straight, but I only like you” excuse, and the relationship is not forced into traditional husband-and-wife roles. Pat and Pran feel like equal partners. Their relationship is built on friendship, communication, mutual support, and a deep understanding of each other.
The ending is also happy in my opinion. Pat and Pran remain together and continue living their lives without allowing their parents to control their relationship. I actually appreciate that the parents do not suddenly become completely different people. That would have felt unrealistic. Not every parent changes completely, apologises, or becomes openly supportive. Sometimes they only soften, stop interfering, or quietly accept what they cannot change.
The real victory is not that Pat and Pran fix their parents. The victory is that they no longer need their parents’ approval in order to love each other. They choose their own happiness and stay together despite the conflict around them.
The series is not perfect. The conflict between the faculties sometimes feels exaggerated, Wai’s decision to expose their relationship is resolved too quickly, and the family feud can occasionally feel more dramatic than necessary. However, none of these flaws take away from the emotional power of the main relationship.
Bad Buddy proves that a simple story can become exceptional when it is written, directed, and performed with care. It is funny, romantic, emotional, and deeply comforting without becoming shallow. More importantly, it gave me scenes and emotions that stayed with me long after I finished watching.
Overall, I would give Bad Buddy a 9.5/10. It is not perfect, but it is one of the most emotionally effective and well-acted BL series I have watched, and it absolutely deserves its reputation.
Ohm and Nanon gave two of the strongest performances I have seen in a BL. Their chemistry feels natural, but what impressed me most was the emotional depth they gave Pat and Pran. Ohm made Pat warm, funny, confident, and vulnerable, while Nanon expressed so much through Pran’s eyes, silence, and body language. Pran is a character who hides most of what he feels, yet Nanon always makes those emotions visible.
The rooftop scene is, for me, one of the greatest romantic scenes in BL history. Its power does not come from the kiss being sexual or visually bold. It comes from everything the kiss represents.
Pran has spent years suppressing his feelings, carrying his family’s expectations, and believing that a relationship with Pat could never truly work. When they finally kiss, he is not simply happy. He is relieved, terrified, overwhelmed, and heartbroken at the same time. He finally gives in to his feelings while already knowing how difficult their relationship will be because of their families.
Watching him kiss Pat while crying made the scene feel like a confession, a surrender, an emotional breakdown, and a victory all at once. Years of pressure, rivalry, fear, and hidden love were present in that moment. That is why I consider it the best kiss in BL history. Many series can create a more explicit or passionate kiss, but very few can create one with this much emotional weight. Every time I watch the scene again, I still feel the same impact.
I also appreciate how the series avoids or challenges many tired BL tropes. There is no “I am straight, but I only like you” excuse, and the relationship is not forced into traditional husband-and-wife roles. Pat and Pran feel like equal partners. Their relationship is built on friendship, communication, mutual support, and a deep understanding of each other.
The ending is also happy in my opinion. Pat and Pran remain together and continue living their lives without allowing their parents to control their relationship. I actually appreciate that the parents do not suddenly become completely different people. That would have felt unrealistic. Not every parent changes completely, apologises, or becomes openly supportive. Sometimes they only soften, stop interfering, or quietly accept what they cannot change.
The real victory is not that Pat and Pran fix their parents. The victory is that they no longer need their parents’ approval in order to love each other. They choose their own happiness and stay together despite the conflict around them.
The series is not perfect. The conflict between the faculties sometimes feels exaggerated, Wai’s decision to expose their relationship is resolved too quickly, and the family feud can occasionally feel more dramatic than necessary. However, none of these flaws take away from the emotional power of the main relationship.
Bad Buddy proves that a simple story can become exceptional when it is written, directed, and performed with care. It is funny, romantic, emotional, and deeply comforting without becoming shallow. More importantly, it gave me scenes and emotions that stayed with me long after I finished watching.
Overall, I would give Bad Buddy a 9.5/10. It is not perfect, but it is one of the most emotionally effective and well-acted BL series I have watched, and it absolutely deserves its reputation.
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