Only Friends (2023)

We need season 2 for Nick and Boston happy ending

This series was sooo good. I really enjoyed watching it.

I would make it a 10, but I have to say that Mew and Ton weren’t the kind of couple I liked. It was sometimes boring for me to watch their story, because (for me) Ton is the typical perfect-rich boyfriend, who did something wrong, yes, but TOO perfect, like rich and a good person. I’m sorry, I don’t intending to make anyone uncomfortable, it’s okay whatever couple you like.

The couple that amazed me was SandRay, since the very beginning. They way it changed through the time they spent together, and juat how powerful they are. The fact that they are the only couple that had things clear since the moment they started dating; even though Boeing appeared and messed up everything a little, Ray always had things clear about his feelings for Sand since they were together and managed to handle everything just like a total BOSS. Sand and Ray are so cute and hot at the same time and they are the kind of couple that inspires other people.

It was a very good decision, making Nick choose himself instead of fake or little love. And even though Boston is a bit too much, it is a very very important character for this series cause he is the start of almost everything and the one that opened Nick’s eyes, for what he really wanted. I just feel like I need season 2 for a happier ending for Nick and Boston, because I really liked them as a couple, even though they where painful sometimes… But I really think Boston is gonna change into a better person when living in NY, so I’d love to see him coming back to Thailand and seeing Nick again and them starting all over, like adults and amazing strong new people… I would be awesome, truly awesome.

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Successful series

Only Friends the series is a completely different kind of bl series. This series is wild, spicy, interesting, but towards the end it is also a bit romantic and cute. The series starts very wild and exciting right at the beginning and I think that is why the series has aroused the interest of the viewers. The series itself is perfect, but I would have liked to see a different ending, for example that Boston and Mew are friends again or that Boston and Nick get together. I would have hoped and wished that the ending would have been different, but that's just the way it is. I would still give this series a 10/10 because it is still a successful series and I think the story is perfect. The series has also one of the best OST. theme songs.

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Toxicity never ends

Stunned. GMMTV did a great job of pulling another project with wild and extremely intimate scenes with numerous actors. There were too many problematic characters and I am well-entertained by the messy turn of events now and then. Yet, the plot twists weren’t as impactful as I expected them to be but at least they show how to properly deliver a complicated Western-like way of living. Almost all of them taste each other lips, not by a simple smack but literally in an assertive way of kissing.

This show also served as Force and Book Redemption acting compared to their previous projects with bland and non-sense storylines. I guess that they perfectly fit bad boy characters and they survived with the help of the other actors who did a great job playing their respective roles. Mark Pakin once again, ate this show. He was too fragile, bold, and crazy in love with someone who didn’t even consider him a romantic partner. Boston is all about lust and I am happy that in the end, Nick realized how important self-love is, and chose to cut ties with Boston.

All of them have their red flags but if I were picking my favorite character, it would be either Sand or Plug. Although Sand is another man who is admittedly weak for Ray, compared to the rest of the gang, he is probably the least person who will cheat when he's in a relationship. Plug, on the other hand, left me an impression despite his short screen time. The boy was too sincere to be in a serious relationship with Yo, the bar owner. Maybe, he stole my attention because of his handsomeness and being someone new in the industry.

The OST is a banger too. It has an energetic vibe and upbeat music that fits the tension between the casts. The angst was somehow dynamic and cool but I still believe that they can do better. Subjectively speaking, I was hoping that either of the three couples would end up together in the finale since it was more mature and acceptable. But in reality, you can’t hide the fact that such people exist, those who re-entered a toxic relationship and tried to fight the pain of the painful past within themselves.

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Absolute Banger

Other than being completely bored by our main (?) pairing, everything else was absolutely amazing. There was not an episode that went by that didn't have me screaming and questioning the morality of my own life haha. These characters are so loveable and the ones that aren't you hate so much that you love them anyway. I have rewatched it twice since the first binge and can't believe GMM pulled out such an absolute banger. You're even forced to care about the most minor characters, on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen with them in their own lives. I haven't found a drama like this in ages and I'm not sure I will again for a long time.

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They all NEED therapy! But OMG i love this chaos!

I have to say straight off the bat, I love this show. It's by far one of my favourite BL's and shows in general. Hell I wish we had more of it! Let's start with an easy section, music. I have not stopped listening to Kahotungs Ost for this. I love his music, and the song for this show is fire! I love the references to all the rock and indie bands in the show as well, seeming as I listen to a lot of rock music myself. It was nice to see so many bands I like being referenced, As for the rest of the music it was amazing, and every song fit perfectly with the show.
Next we have the story. Holy hell, I don't know where to start with this beautiful chaos. I both love the story and in some ways hate it. I feel like it could have been more brutal and realistic than it was. But i'm someone who like mentally messed up scenarios and psychological messes, so.... But overall the story was brilliant. we got to see a lot of different aspects to each character. We got drama, love, hate, mental health problems, addiction, anger, sadness, comedy, just everything all wrapped up in 12 episodes. They got quite realistic with a lot of scenarios which I enjoyed. It really was like watching a bunch of 20 year olds doing what 20 year olds do. Try and figure out life and mess up a lot (but obvs on a more dramatic scale). I like how to show touched on some serious topics, like Ray's addiction for example. Most shows may add these topics in, but hardly touch on it. But with this show they actually showed us quite a bit and didn't just brush over it, which is really refreshing to see.
Now the cast! There couldn't have been a better cast! Every single actor in this show did amazing, and i'm not just talking about the main cast or the cameo's. I'm a big fan of some of the people who were in this show, so some may say i'm biased. But i'm being 100% honest when i say they all did such an amazing job. Everyone had very different characters, with their own stories and problems. And every single one of them made their characters their own, and made us feel everything those characters were feeling. Whether it was a simple scene which made us laugh, or an emotional one that made us cry, they all made us feel. And for that i applaud every cast member! You guys did amazing!!!

To conclude, this is one of those shows where no matter what i write or try to tell someone, it can't fully express how good this show is. It's one of those you have to watch yourself to see why people love it so much. If you haven't watched this show, i recommend you do. Part of me wishes i waited until it was fully released so i didn't have to wait a week each time for a new episode. Cause once an episode finished i instantly wanted to know what happens next. This is one of those addictive shows, that throws every emotion at you, and no matter how much you shout at your tv cause someone is being stupid again, you can't help but keep watching the chaos unfold. So if you haven't watched it, i say get to watching and i hope you enjoy. And if you have watched it, how you doing?
Now i'm off to re-watch this amazingly chaotic series again!

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It's a hot mess and I am here for it!

It’s fair to say that this series was a mess. Mostly in a good way, but it also had a few downs. But let’s start with the good first. I liked the plot, it gave us a little bit of everything – love, hate, friendship, cheating, breaking up, second chances… The OST was amazing, it definitely made it onto my playlist. The cinematography fit the plot well, I liked the darker tones. The styling was on point too.

The characters were very different from one another, which made following their stories all that more interesting. They were not stereotypical and there was more to them than just being queer. I think that’s important, and I am glad we are moving further and further away from those kind of queer representation in media.

The acting was amazing. All the actors and actresses did an amazing job, not that I expected anything less. Their chemistry was incredible, they showed so much emotion through their eyes or simple touches. There were a lot of emotional scenes, many of which included Khaotung. He is so expressive in such scenes; he really gives his all.

Top & Mew: I absolutely hated the whole idea behind Top being a “top guy” and how Mew is below him. This is something that has been especially pushed forward by Mew’s friends, and I think that is what bothered me the most about it. Top is rich, good looking and popular, and can get anyone he wants. And he makes it a game to get with whoever he sets his eyes on. Mew is supposed to be sweet, innocent, and reliable. He is the most serious member of the friend group. Once things start to go wrong between Top and Mew, I think they both show their true colors. Top is manipulative, he doesn’t like being told not, and doesn’t respect other people’s boundaries. Mew is not as innocent either. He can be just as manipulative, vengeful and knows how to play dirty. I liked how at some point they both realized the trust between them was gone. There will always be hurt and betrayal lingering in the back of their minds. So, to give each other a second chance requires more than just love.

Sand & Ray: There are people who need to be needed and there are people who need others. Sand and Ray are very much like that, with Sand being the one who is always there for Ray. Ray is battling an addiction and has other mental health problems. He is used to solving everything by throwing money at it. Sand doesn’t have much to his name, but he is proud of who he is. He is loyal, caring and often goes above and beyond for others. I liked Sand’s confidence, he refused to be second best to Mew who Ray thought himself in love with. Neither of them is perfect, they both got their hands dirty one way or the other. I can’t decide if they are good together or not. As Ray said, when he beats his alcohol addiction, he might end up addicting to Sand. Personally, I don’t think that’s the solution. If he relies on Sand too much, the other might start to resent him for it. At one point, Sand is bound to get tired of always giving and taking care of Ray. And Ray might resent Sand for not letting him be free.

Boston & Nick: The two really took us on a ride of love, hate and longing. They started of as friends with benefits, but Nick wanted more. I am sure Boston knew that and took advantage of it by constantly telling Nick he is his favorite. Boston doesn’t like commitment; he doesn’t care about school. He likes being free and doing whatever he wants, whenever he wants it. Nick is a cutie with a darker side. He is very possessive and when he gets attached to someone, he doesn’t see their flaws. Most of what they did either to one another or to those around them is inexcusable and nasty. However, both of their shortcomings are addressed and talked about, between the two of them and with others. I can understand the two of them forgiving each other, but I was bothered by the fact that Boston only turned to Nick when everyone else left him. It made it seem like he only sees him as his last option.

Cheum & April: they might be the only solid couple. We don’t really get to see the two of them that much as the series is focused on the other couples more, but I liked the two. Cheum seems to be the most level-headed member of the friend’s group, even with all of her flaws. I did find her too pushy, especially when she was trying to get Mew and Top together. She is very loyal, which can also be seen as a flaw as she often lets that cloud her judgement. April is a sweetheart. She puts up with her girlfriend’s crazy group of friends the best she can. The two of them were able to talk through their issues, even if that talk was brought up due to others. They still did the mature thing, talked things out and were honest with one another after.

A lot of the things were not properly addressed or talked about enough. Atom, Cheum’s little brother, and what he did to Boston. Even after telling the truth, Atom was just patted on the back. What Atom did promotes a very problematic idea about people lying and victimizing themselves when things don’t go their way. Last but not least, Boeing. What was his purpose? He literally went from character to character, trying to hook up or / and date them. His reasoning is never explained or addressed.

That ending though… I mean, we all expected him to show up at some point, but does that mean there is a possibility of S2?

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every week was a roller coaster of emotions

not gonna lie I never expected gmmtv to put out a show like this. They toxic Charakter trades, the addiction to alcohol/drugs and that they would stir up the couples constellations they established in many projects. It is been a long time since I was so invested in a BL. The story and characters were all imperfect and had their flaws wich made it soo realistic.
All actors nailed their roles but especially Neo. It is his first time not playing a comedy character and he was giving his all. Also he and Mark had such a good chemistry but I am glad that they didn't end up together. For this he would have needed more improvement like Top. I wasn't sure if I would have want him and Mew to be Endgame but the script was well written and showed us how hard it was for both of them to find back to each other and overcome the past.
I also found Mond played a good antagonist and I have been waiting for an interaction between him and First since Not Me. This series made me feel a thousand things and once and frustrated me every week anew. But I will miss it now that it's over. I liked the ending but with the Cameo and that Boston could grow more as a character I would like to see a second season.
Overall this is one of the best BLs Gmmtv has ever done! And the acting was superior.

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The GGMTV boys grow a pair

This series gets some hate for not being the usual school type BL from GMMTV but sometimes you need to do something for a different more mature minded audience. In the UK Queer as Folk in 1999 or Skins in 2007 probably did a similar jump from the 'norm' and providing scenes designed to shock.
The headline talk with many people will be about it being more risky with NC scenes but t really needs credit for the story which although not perfect did a really good job of keeping viewers interest in each of the relatively large cast and intertwining their stories.
The cinematography seemed a sterp up for GMMTV as well with some scenes giving me vibes of more a european production.
In some respects the final episode was a let down as the pacing was a bit erratic and was the only one I felt like fast forwarding bits of, but the ending for each character was decent.
It's the first BL I've seen that gave such a big hint of a potential series 2, so lets see what 2024 brings

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Do you like gossip and want to have fun? This is for you

I'm actually shocked at how much I enjoyed this drama. Maybe I was in a good mood, but I was really taken by the various stories of the boys. But let's do a more specific analysis.

Story (9)
As I said, the stories of the main characters really grabbed me. I think the various characters are realistic enough to be almost hard to understand, but if you try you can understand all of them and empathize with (okay not with all of them but almost). It's not the typical GMMTV bl, but it's a breath of fresh air. Small note: the sex scenes are done well and well chosen.

Acting/Cast (9)
There is not much to say except that they are all TOP.
- First and Kao never fail, I found these characters more interesting than those in The Eclipse
- Force and Book are the new kings of adaptability, they are amazing and with a lot of chemistry whatever they do (and then well, the visuals)
- Neo is amazing as usual and I like to see him in such a serious but at the same time bitchy character
- Mark is a pleasure to see as the main character, he has a lot of potential

Music (8)
I am completely in love with the opening theme song. Khaotung did really a good job.

Rewatch Value (8)
I wouldn't rewatch it immediately, but it entertained me so much that I will rewatch it at some point.

Overall (9)
Overall it entertained me and was a good viewing, definitely one of my fav not-typical-bl.

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Wild Ride for a GMMTV Drama

Holy shit! I don't usually write reviews, but this show has got to be the messiest show I've ever seen. The more vou watch, the more vou understand the title of it.

Firstly, this is not for people looking for a typical 'romance' kind of drama. If you want your mouth wide open in every episode, crave intrigue, enjoy polyamorous relationships, and are into the shameless scenes this show is going to be top-tier for you. It offers adult content, opposites attract scenarios, and a complex narrative that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

One downside is watching Sand suffer for a dickhead junkie Ray for a long time, take care of him, always be there for him but still ended up getting played ???. It's frustrating, but it adds to the emotional depth of the story.

The acting was phenomenal, especially for a Thai BL drama. Not a single actor was lacking in their performance. First and Khaotung, in particular, absolutely nailed their roles. Their portrayals were convincing and engaging that they elevated the entire show.

If you're up for a wild, intense ride that breaks away from conventional romance tropes, this drama is a must-watch.

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Please give us Season 2, in 2024

I did a second rewatch of this show & I have a better clarity on my thoughts on this show.

Mew - Mew is easily my favorite character, even though they try to make him the "token virgin" he's much more educated and smart than you would think, starting, when you think he's going to be on this journey of losing his virginity but instead, he's smart and calculated, he doesn't stoop to anyone's level to get even but he lets them know he means business.

Ray - Ray is just your typical sad boy, who is a mess because his mom passed, his dad wasn't the warmest to him and he's in a one-sided love with his best friend. Ray only likes Mew more than a friend because Mew shows kindness to Ray in a way no one else has till Sand but Ray is afraid that if he doesn't act upon his likeness towards Mew, he might lose him. He doesn't understand that Mew will be his friend regardless. With Sand, his falling in love with him but it scares him because he doesn't want to ruin anything so he ends up self-sabotaging himself by pushing Sand away but then bringing him back because he loves him. It's not said in the show but I can see Ray as Polysexual because he said he could love more than one person at once. It was kind of sad seeing Ray not stopping him when Mew wanted to try all these bad things because again Ray was afraid Mew would get mad and leave him.

Ray & Mew - If this was a different universe & series, I could see Ray & Mew as a couple in multiple shows because they do have good chemistry together and their club scene after Top was honestly hot.

Sand - Sand is just trying to survive and make money for himself to reach his dreams but got sucked in back Ray & is falling in love and it's scaring him because he knows how Ray is. I do like how he's smart and doesn't fall directly into Ray, he thinks things through but he can't get past Ray's puppy eyes.

Ton - Boston is your typical "I get what I want" person and he doesn't feel any sympathy for anyone else feelings, like what he did to Mew, Ray had to say "Aren't you going to say sorry" and he just said "sorry" because he felt he had to, but he never said he was completely sorry for what he did to Mew. However, when Mew threatened him with the clip, he knew that Mew held power and could ruin him at any second. He also didn't understand that Top didn't want him anymore so he should've just moved on, More or less did with Nick but he knew Nick was Falling for him and he kind of used it, he would say sweet things to Nick so he would stay and sleep with him, and he sleeps with Cheum'a brother knowing that people he sleeps with falls in love with him and he just can't see that he has that power.

Top - Top is just top, he fell in love with Mew right from the start but instead of just saying goodbye to Boston, he kept letting him get closer, he knew that Boston didn't want them together but Top believed what he said about Ray & Mew instead of just asking him. He also couldn't leave Mew alone to let him get over what Top did or just try to have a normal conversation, he kept following him and being there when Ray was there knowing that Ray hated him.

Cheum - This poor girl was just trying to live happily with her girlfriend, but instead she got roped in the middle of all her friend's drama and problems, how she didn't just say "screw" all of you and left is crazy to me

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