Only Friends (2023)

so bad its good until it becomes just bad

i was mostly watching this for the trainwreck and i didnt really expect any good resolutions but i was still floored by how bad it ended up being. the first half is at least some kind of messy fun, but the further it goes, the more wattpad-y the writing got... none of the characters are worth rooting for, none of the stories are worth seeing to the end, although i suppose it ends exactly like you would expect it to from such a middling show. it really feels like fanfiction that has weird things happen every chapter that gets updated weekly to keep the readers clicking and reading lmao. first's acting carries and bostonnick had some fun moments for a while, but eventually even that can't carry the show anymore. still i hope first gets some actual good script one day i will be tuning in

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WATCH IT IF YOU WANNA HAVE FUN ?

La historia empieza a desarrollarse muy bien para ser el primero capitulo, igualmente se puede ver hacía dónde se dirigirá y lo que se puede esperar.
Dentro de las actuaciones la de Neo y Mark es algo que definitivamente tenemos que destacar, es decir, se podía sentir la tensión sexual entre los personajes en sus escenas, me sentí comp si estuviera de mal tercio jajaja
En cuánto al soundtrack, la canción de Khao es increíblemente perfecta para la serie ! La necesito en Spotify YA!
No se cuántas veces voy a repetir el capítulo hasta que salga el siguiente, esta ganas de querer saber que va a pasar que te deja la serie es un buen indicio.

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if only I could binge watch the whole series at once.

so I’m going to keep this short and sweet since there are plenty of other reviews here that reflect the same thoughts as me.

Only Friends was a show I didn’t expect a lot from, I don’t know why.. maybe because it’s very ambitious considering all the actors in this. Let me say though.. instead of shooting itself in the foot this drama is just so gritty and raw and graphic and it’s good!

Only Friends has a range of relationships and the characters are all weaved together with characters hooking up with eachother and being friends. The amount of stories and things going on isn’t overwhelming to me. Instead I am finding myself buying into the stories and commentating aloud about who is a red flag, who is getting the short end of the stick, and who I want to get together.

In short this drama is entertaining. It’s got so much it’s doing and it’s a lot more than I thought it would be. A lot more sexy, a lot more thought provoking, it’s got so many good things going for it. GMM isn’t getting stale at all, here they are thriving.

This whole drama from start to finish had twists and a plot running through and weaving through multiple characters and scenarios. My only problem I guess is blatant fanservice with pairings doing certain things and he last episode has a lot of fluff that some characters didn’t act in their right mind of like themselves.

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Something sweet... Something spicy

When I first started this series, I did not expect much. Granted that it had a lot of "spicy" scenes, but I had hoped to some degree that it will provide a semblance of depth among its character.

Which they did-- to a degree.

But, reading other reviews that had tackled on those topics, I will simply list Pros and Cons of this show. Warning on spoilers.
Pros:
-OST and the Intro video. It just matches well with the overall show aesthetic.
- First and Khaotungs characters Sand and Ray. These two could have a series all on their own and it wouldn't be much different, to be honest. A lot of the characters in this show are quite human -- meaning they are both good and terrible. Sand is not perfect but compared to Ray he is a saint. An absolute wonderful person that from start to finish I only wished he got the best ending. Ray's complexity is spot on, and for someone like me who had been in close contact with someone extremely alcoholic, their portrayal is eerily familiar. That and the chemistry of the two actors is just beautiful.
-Boston. Don't get me wrong, he is terrible. Like the walking red flag. His lack of remorse and his selfish nature is not an uncommon trait. It's seen in the real world, and I have to praise Neo's acting because people did dislike Boston a ton.
-Mew. I like Mew, and I like his transformation era but his character sometimes came off as trying too hard.
-Nick. I love Nick, despite him bugging the car and falling deeply in love with Boston, he still ended up with the best version of himself. And that's someone who will love themselves and choose themselves. It's always hard to waste away when in love, and it's beautiful that Nick recognized that and decided to step away.
-Nick and Sand. Friendship is top tier despite the hiccup here and there.
-The way they ended one friendship as well, which shows that sometimes we outgrow people and we can't expect that same level of closeness there when it had crumbled to dust.
-Therapy session as important to get over addiction is a plus.
-Recognizing that growth is not linear.
-Mond the actor.
-I know people say that this show is very queer-- which I agree, it is. But it feels more like the show showcases strongly just how much a person's sexuality can evolve and how much that can reflect in how they interact with people around them.
-Mixx~

Cons:
-Debating if this is a pro or a con, or it should be it's own genre but these people - Mew, Ray, Cheum and Boston had never felt like a friendship group to me. Even at the beginning. Which supposedly is the thing. There was lack of anything to prove they all had gone through things together, unless you can see them drinking and starting a hostel which really doesn't show much. Apart from Ray and Mew that had a scene that showed how or why they are close-- the other two seemed like props to me.
And don't get me started on Cheum, that character was a bad friend no matter what anyone says and quite oblivious to things that matte
-Mew and Top. I do not understand why they still ended up together. I felt Top is such a boring character. He is like Boston but not, and the whole fire trauma wasn't nicely done enough to make him more human. I get second chances and whatnot, that he was tricked or whatever-- but he sometimes just come off creepy and nosy and people like to say that's because of love. After people commenting that Mew is his type, how come Mew was the one that converted him to being monogamous? There' s just so many things about this couple that could have been executed better to have that satisfying end-- all I got out of them was they should not have been endgame.
-Top and Sand past resolution was a bit rushed and strange. Hating them, then exposing Top and then by the end they are both buddy buddy. Meh. Did not expect a fight but a better situation that would have connected them better despite the past, would have been better.
-Atom and in extension Cheum again, just you'll get it when you watch it. Before this, Cheum was a meh character to me, then that scene happened and she was just-- deplorable. Her only redeeming quality was her when she was with her girlfriend.
- Mond the character Boeing. I get that his past with Sand and Top can be a moving force in their respective relationships, but the execution only made it feel that his existence to the story was so unnecessary.


Other creative decision you can ignore or accept but those listed above is really what stuck with me. However, overall, I still did enjoy the show. It's quite a journey, especially when you had to wait for the next week. I slightly envy those who would be coming in now and can binge watch it until the end. And I praise the actors for giving life and personality to the characters they portrayed. A different kind of series from the usual GMMTV produced ones, that's for sure.

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Raunchy and spicy!

Defining the line between friendship and romance is frustrating. Through a series of hijinks, three pairs of youngsters each had tryst and left some yearning for more, while others simply want to have fun. What happen when different expectation and jealousy arise? Will they have their happy endings?

“Only Friends” is not the first Thai drama I started, but this is the first one completed and now it’s hard to find another one that is just as engaging. Watch this if you're looking for a raunchy and spicy BL! It hits the spot right from the get-go.

There was no boring moment and a lot happened in each episode. I'm impressed by how the plot is cohesive enough to keep me invested in all six leads. Beyond the excitement of watching BL relationships, I enjoyed the conflicts. Since everyone has flaws and complex feelings, it makes the angst feels so goooooood! Some twists and turns are soapy, messy and predictable, especially by the last few episodes when they introduced more supporting characters, but I am satisfied with how it concluded by the end.

Among the performances, Mark Pakin Kunaanuwit (Nick) stands-out from the start! He can ignite chemistry out of nothing, even without a partner he is hot. Also, Khaotung Thanawat Ratanakitpaisan's (Ray) showed a great acting nuance. What could've been better is the production value in some scenes the music is too loud, shaky cams and bad lightning, but it's acceptable and did not detract me from binging it!

-Jan 2024, Yovita
Find me on Instagram: @kdramajudge

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I didn't take this show that seriously - And you shouldn't either

I want to start this review by saying that this show doesn't take itself seriously, and neither should you.
I started watching this show because I'm familiar with the actors, and I knew they would do a great job. I wasn't wrong; this show has some amazing acting that manages to convey all the right emotions.

But aside from that, the actors couldn't possibly save this show from the bad writing. The narrative lacks depth, and it keeps going in circles. I get that they had to maintain a certain level of drama, but why not thicken the existing plotlines instead of creating unnecessary ones? Instead of focusing on the main characters relationships, how they had to improve themselves, or maybe what goes outside the relationships (jobs, families, etc.), they created a bunch of side characters and useless drama that adds no substance to the story. They came and went, sometimes without a clear resolution.

Let's talk about the characters. I heard so many opinions about how every single one of them matured and improved themselves by the end of the series, but honestly, I don't see it. The only character that really changed throughout was Ray. He started as a very superficial, self-centered rich brat but managed to see how that hurt the people around him and decided, at his own volition, to change. Even though there is still room for improvement, we can assume he won't fall into the same traps again if Sand is by his side.

Can we say the same thing about Boston? No. Although he decided to apologize for all the trouble he caused and start a serious relationship with Nick, the last episode speaks for itself. He didn't change his habits, and he is not willing to. He only tried to do so to satisfy Nick's wishes. At the end, he still hurt his feelings by cheating on him at the bar and acting like it wasn't that important. It's clear he didn't learn from his mistakes. My only hope is that Nick manages to find someone better than Ton and love himself a bit more, even if right now it's clear he still has feelings for him.

As for Top, he's somewhat of a mysterious type. The story didn't dive as deep into his character as I wanted. From the very beginning, I had a strong belief that he had sincere feelings for Mew, despite falling victim to Ton's manipulation, which resulted in him cheating on Mew. And so, when he called Boeing, his ex, over, I was very surprised. It was unexpected because Top didn't seem like the kind of person who would risk Mew's trust after working so hard to regain it. I'm left wondering how Mew forgave him so easily for that. Did Top truly change, or are there more layers to his character that we didn't get to see?

Let's also touch on the fan service aspect of the show. Towards the end, it became noticeable that nearly every character kissed each other. It left me wondering if these scenes were primarily for viewer enjoyment rather than serving a deeper purpose in character development or plot progression.
The end of the series was also left open, leaving many plotholes behind and keeping the potential for a second season.

In conclusion, if you're up for a light and occasionally brilliant watch, this series has its moments. But if you're into something with a more serious and coherent storyline, you might want to look elsewhere.

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Insufferably Decent

Only Friends follows an empty plot full of messes and unnecessary reconciliations between the most insufferable characters imaginable. An attempt to portray the different problems LGBTQ+ college students may face, its message remains unclear.
I enjoyed the first few episodes, but my enjoyment declined as it went on. I like to believe the shippers of these pairings ruined the show's initial direction.
These actors deserve more than to be recognized as part of a ship. Khaotung and Mark stole the show with their performances, and Neo proved his versatility as an actor.
A decent GMMTV series, I applaud it for its execution of mature content.

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Only Friends are not real friends

[Episodes 1-6]
Honestly, watching ForceBook in here is like watching an extended version of themselves from 'A Boss and a Babe'. I know the actors have been friends for years (both extremely talented actors) and I didn't want to compare but unlike in ABAAB, there's a strong sense of familiarity between Top and Mew when they're supposed to be strangers. It could be the director's choice/style but I don't like it. There's no spark between them like there was with Gun and Cher.

I'm a huge and I mean HUGE fan of the friendship genre so when all the friends in here are shit, it's a major turn-off. First off, everyone refused to take Ray home and allowed him to drive drunk. There was a plot hole here; Boston clearly said he couldn't take Ray home because he wasn't free and yet somehow Mew heard it as 'I can/will' because in the next scene, while on the phone with Ray, Mew asks 'where's Boston? He said he'd take care of you'. I'm sorry but weren't you there??? You even asked the question that was shot down??? Secondly, if Mew is a virgin, there has to be a reason for that but his friends don't respect that and Namchueam went as far as suggesting he loses his virginity to a random hot guy. Are we in high school? Thirdly, Boston's friendship with Mew and Ray is so messy it ain't even funny. Mew and Boston threw each other under the bus on multiple occasions. Mew basically said Boston was easy and Boston made Mew out to be a liar and manipulator. I don't care how much you want a guy, friends don't do that. At least not real friends. I don't understand why friends this toxic thought a hostel business for a group project is a smart idea. I mean, I get it. If someone else is pouring their hard-earned money into my business and there's no consequence if we fail then I would do it too but wth?

I liked the idea of them running a hostel together BUT NOT for a uni project. I thought going into the series, they would already be running one. For a group of third-years, I'm surprised they party and have sex more than study and/or work. At this point just drop the uni part and it'll become a 100x better series. Since episodes 2-3, I've been skipping Top and Mew parts (only when they're together alone).

Nick is great but that's kind of it... I love Sand, he's the most logical and consistent. And finally, a genuine reaction when you hear that someone's parent passed away. I'm so tired of zoned-out-robot-voice-'I'm so sorry to hear that'. And I am super curious about his relationship with Top too.

I know I'm ranting quite a bit but I'm definitely staying on top of this series until the end for FirstKhaotung. I was excited to see FirstKhaotung and ForceBook's interactions but meh, unless the characters for Top and Mew change, I guess the behinds would be more interesting.

So far this is a 6.5/10 but we'll see how the later episodes do and if it deserves a higher rating :) Cheers!

Edit: 8/10 for episode 6's performance! Khaotung, First, Neo, Mark, and Book killing it!


Edit & updated on 10/29/2023: 7.5/10 for the [Completed] series
Finally done! This update is going to be an unpopular opinion for sure. As I had high expectations from the talented cast alone the finale has left me more than disappointed. Despite my criticism above and below, I’m not blaming the actors but the material they were given to work with.

This series could have easily been a 9 if not 10 out of 10, had they obliterated the university, hostel concept, and characters TopMew and AprilNamchueam. I love ForceBook and Lookjun, don't get me wrong, but I could care less about their characters. I skipped all of TopMew’s parts from episodes 3-12. I did not care for their back-and-forths. The hostel concept unaided is interesting, but not when it’s a byproduct of a uni project. I stand by what I've said above. Also, the only one who seemed to care and was running the business was Namchueam. If Mew, Ray, or Boston had any involvement, it was mostly done off-screen. We also never got to see what came of it at uni or how it was doing business-wise.

I hated, and I mean hated, all of the friendships except Sand and Nick’s. Other than referring to each other as friends, the four friends’ relationships lacked substance and were equally disconnected and unhinged.

Mew and Boston never felt like close friends, only that they had a mutual friend; Namchueam. Mew and Boston, even before Boston screwed up, never supported or cared about each other and were complete opposites in all aspects. They also looked down on each other. Mew and Ray’s friendship suffered when it was tainted by Ray’s one-sided crush on Mew. Making it impossible for them to spend quality time together without Mew unintentionally leading Ray on. Mew and Namchueam have a sibling-like relationship but the turn-off is Namchueam constantly pushes Mew into Top’s arms. I did not like her for that. Firstly because Mew was someone who had been protecting his virginity and relationship status until his third year in uni. Secondly, Top was a stranger and a player at that. Even if Mew was my enemy, I wouldn’t want his first relationship to be with a player no matter how handsome or rich said player is. It was just asking for trouble.

Ray and Boston aren’t close either though we learn that Boston would occasionally drive and take care of Ray when he drank himself drunk. Ray and Namchueam have an unbalanced relationship that isn’t built on trust but on Namchueam fancying Ray’s wealth. Except for Mew, at one point, no one bothered to help or improve Ray’s drinking, depression, and drug usage. The only time Namchueam made any attempt was when Mew was dragged into it. In other words, their lives outside of uni and the hostel don’t blend, affect, and matter to one another; it’s like watching three series in one.

I feel Mew and Namchueam are THE friends while Ray and Boston merely tagged along because they’re too rich to work, go to school, and had nothing better to do that didn't involve clubbing and partying.

Every time First is on screen, he’s always got my full attention as Sand is frankly likable and relatable. His characters’ backstories, interests, and hobbies stayed constant and he’s one of the few characters whose actions spoke louder than words. I like that he never told Sun that he’s his son. Yes, it’s sad that they might have missed out on a beautiful father-son relationship, but that was the reason Sand and his mother are best friends. Also, Boeing being Sand’s ex blindsided me. I completely forgot he had an ex who dumped him for Top. :/ And not Boeing dropping in the last three episodes just to kiss Mew, and make out with First, Ray, and Neo. Only Friends world is TINY

When a series is character-driven but most of them are unlikable, it makes it hard to power through. And it’s not even because of their toxic traits. Rather than ForceBook’s acting abilities, I think it was ForceBook themselves I couldn’t buy as TopMew. I have no expectations of TopMew but Force’s voice is too soft and although Mew acted with his life, his cute/pretty face isn’t intimidating. It might just be a me problem. It wasn't that they didn’t work but their real personalities softened the supposedly serious and intense mood of the series.
And precious Neo was struggling with Boston’s hardcore character. Instead of getting the sense that Boston was starting to care, he simply became depressed and moped around. I don’t understand his sudden sadness for losing his friends when they were never close and he didn’t attempt to rebuild bridges either until Namchueam invited him to the New Year get-together.

Also, is it me or Neo wasn’t comfortable on rollerblades? His legs were shaky and he had to correct his balance a few times.

Luckily I watched episodes 1-9 as they were released each week before binging 10-12. Had I tried to binge the whole series I would have called it quits before I hit episode 6. And that would have been a bummer because Khaotung and Book’s performances in episode 6 were outstanding. Overall, this BL wasn’t for me, and personally, it’s a 5 out of 10 but I’m raising it to a 7.5 because although it's not my cup of tea, the majority enjoy it and I wouldn’t want to deter others from possibly checking and loving this series. Despite my take, it was still a well-done series.

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GROWN, SEXY, AND MESSY!!!

From the moment that this show started, I was highly intrigued for what was to come!!!

You have Sand who is a musician and who takes a liking to the character Ray and they start to have a thing going on. Ray is what most would consider to be an alcoholic who is hung up on his feelings for Mew. Mew is a seemingly "good boy" and what you could classify as the smart type. He is dating Top. Top is a classic playboy who views Mew as a conquest but those feelings could turn into love and be a sort of redemption for his growth as a character (we will see). Top is friends with Boston but they have a history of messing around with one another. Boston is what you would call a huge red flag and his toxicity shows time and time again. He messes around regularly with Nick. Nick is a character that you would want to protect with all your heart from Boston's messy ways.

So,
Sand and Ray = bed friends
Mew and Top = boyfriends
Top and Boston = friends? with a little extra extra on the side
Boston and Nick = friends with benefits

See how all of their relationships are classified using the word "friends"

All of these characters intertwine with one another as the show progresses and the audience comes to know of a lot of shocking revelations. It's one of those shows where it's like peeling back an onion because it's so layered. Every episode you find out something new or you find out that a character actually knows this or that character or may not be as they seem and it changes the trajectory of the show immensely.

What I love the most about this show is that you can't classify any of the characters as being "good" per say. They all to me have something within them below the surface. You can kind of classify them as morally grey because they do discourage the audience from identifying them as purely evil or purely good. The characters in this show are multi-faceted and multi-layered. While they may seem inherently messy or inherently goodie two shoes, they all possess more than meets the eye and this show delves into those intricacies which is very entertaining to witness.

I'm very interested to see how the story and characters progress. I know it's going to be FILLED with drama and I am READY for it!!!

I am also highly excited to see if they will finish strong with this show that is taking the BL world by storm currently.

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ANYTHING BUT FRIENDS

Let's be honest, were they really JUST friends? Within the relationships and friendships, there was little trust. But did I enjoy this series? HELL YEAH! I had been waiting for this series FOREVER.

The love triangles are love triangling. At this point, it was more than a triangle.

Sand liked Ray, Ray liked Mew, Mew liked Top, Top liked Mew yet cheated with Boston? AND MUCH MORE CONFUSION WITH WHO LIKED WHO.

Although this series felt like a HOT MESS which believe me, it definitely was at point with there being conflict after conflict, it was still really enjoyable. From the chemistry, to the acting, there were so many things I LOVED!!!

Before anything, let's give a round of applause to the acting. (???)

I've always admired all of the actors acting, especially in emotional scenes, but when it comes to Khaotung & First.. DAMN!! They get me in my feelings! GMMTV found such a jackpot when it comes to actors. Not only are they pretty criers, but they also get you emotional. (Me at least) The way Khaotung can express the emotions with his acting just amazes me. I truly do see SO MUCH more potential than what he already has. (Although he's already AMAZING)

Not only is the acting PHENOMENAL, so is the CHEMISTRY!!!! The expressions when looking into each others eyes.. OH EM GEE??. You could have paired any of the mains in this series and I wouldn't be mad. Mew (Book) and Ray (Khaotung) with their moments gave me BUTTERFLIES!! Sometimes it felt like they were endgame with their chemistry.

We can't forget that OST either! It's on SO MANY of my favorite playlists and it will probably stay as one of my favorite OSTS from a series for a while.

This series SERVED!! Even with Monds annoying character, Boeing. (Love the actor, hate the character?)

Now.. Let's talk about the ending.. (Ep 12, a bit of 11)

Mew and Top have now made up SURPRISINGLY after everything within their toxic relationship, Nick and Boston are happy (but will that last?), we found out Boeing is Sands ex (if you hadn't already knew). Boeing just knows how mess every relationship up.

With episode 12..The beginning scene had my jaw to the FLOOR. This whole episode had me like "Ahh!! They're so cute" or "AHH WHAT DO YOU MEAN?" Sand and Ray apologized really quickly for what happened. I'm kind of glad that the whole friend group apologized (even though Boston isn't apart of it really anymore), and some of the couples got together. But am I a little disappointed? Just a tad. I was hoping Boston and Nick would be endgame, but I'm also happy that Nick will work on himself.

DON'T GET ME STARTED ON MIX'S SURPRISE CAMEO. I SCREAMED!! I WAS WATCHING IT ON MY BEDROOM TV AND SCREAMED INTO MY HANDS! MY CAT EVEN GOT SCARED AND RAN.


Overall, it was a fun watch. I would definitely recommend this to someone who needs a little spice in their life!

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So far this is...ok!

Let's start by saying Top Mew is not a couple that I'm really into, they are both attractive of course, the actor that play Top gained some muscle since his last series and he looks great, but I wasn't into them in Enchante and I'm not into them in this one either.

I like the other couples tho. Sand, Ray, Boston, Nick, their acting is more appealing to me. Their eye game is strong and they say a lot without saying a word. That's awesome.

Plot wise I think is weak, but I would say it's a nice watch, like it's good to fill the in-between of better series that I'm watching, you know what I mean?

I would describe this series as flashing a light on situations that have happened in my gay life which is interesting and entertaining but is not a series I'm painstakingly waiting for every week.

Now, I do love something and that's the music. That song is really good!

Overall, it's a very sensual series which I love but I guess I'm not that engaged. I will give it a solid 7.5/10 for now.

✨ Cheers!

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they have created heaven and hell for themselves...

when the first trailer came out, the hype was already there.this series felt different, fresher and rougher than the standard high school BL. And thankfully it delivered!
What makes this series so special is not the NC scenes,which while very risqué by GMMTV standards, individually are no more so than what other studios have been doing for a long time, but its characters. In particular, Boston, Ray, Sand and Nick are characters that most of us have probably met before or perhaps find ourselves in them.
That and the unsparing and revealing look at their dysfunctional relationships is what makes the series unique. It's not all sunshine and roses and not black and white. People struggle, act toxic, can't always define their feelings, have their own baggage of traumas. and hurt other people.
And that shows Only Friends like rarely any other series before and also the courage it takes despite all this behavior to get involved with another person and trust the feeling we call love.

Acting-wise, this series is always at the highest level. First and Khao can unleash all their talent, with characters as complex as Sand and Ray. Sometimes it's just nuances, a little shadow in their eyes, but they make you feel all the emotions.
But also in the scenes where the big emotions are asked for, the two deliver like no other and probably create some of the most emotional scenes in a drama of this year and with sand and ray have already created two iconic overly complex characters who combine vulnerability, security, selfishness and devotion in themselves
And Neo-Oh my God, finally give this man a leading role, because he is pure gold! He didn't just play the f*ckboy Boston, he was it! If you look at his other roles, he's probably one of the most versatile scene players GMMTV has to offer.
But Mark doesn't have to hide either, even if his role as Nick was a bit simpler, he was always convincing.And his character shines and shines more and more, the longer the series goes on.

Staying with the characters, we also come to the biggest negatv point of the series, called Top and Mew. Their characters seem more like stereotypes, their relationship not so believable and their story arcs feel strangely flat, and even though their relationship becomes more intense, I just didn't warm up to the characters too much.

Apart from that, one parts were too rushed and other parts were obviously designed to make even more mess.
But even in these parts, Only Friends is more entertaining than the competition, making it, in its worst parts, an entertaining mess and, in its best parts, a beautiful, fragile, unpolished paean to love and thus an undeniable drama highlight of 2023.

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