Only Friends (2023)

Not Everything We Thought It'd Be, But Still a Great Show

Let's be honest. We as fans got collectively way too into this show. People were piecing together fan theories and character motivations like this was Game of Thrones or something.

And it wasn't that.

The show is exactly what it sold itself as, the story never venturing beyond the expected. But you know what? That's okay, because it was still a well executed show. This was the closest to realism that I've seen in BL- especially in Thai BL and the characters were great, complex and messy. Just being in the fandom while this was airing was like riding a crazy tidal wave, and I enjoyed every second of it.

Top notch acting, nobody dropped the ball. Were there storylines that I liked more than others? Yes. We're there couples that I was rooting for and others that I was actively rooting against? Yes. But not once did the quality dip, and it really felt like they told a complete story, and that was the story they wanted to tell. Also, the music was fantastic.

I wouldn't be mad if they decided to do a season 2, is all I'm saying.

Citeste mai mult

Oh my...

Well...this is the story of a dysfunctional friendship group with lots of toxicity and poor behaviour. I guess there must be some friendships that are this bad in real life, but my advice would be to run.

Straight off in the early episodes, there are a number of NC scenes. They are the kind that leave much to the imagination...but also don't....(the car scene!).... Neo (Boston) as a jealous, sex obsessed 'good friend' is not what I expected, but he's very good at it. Mark (Nick) as the lover who wants to be a permanent fixture in Neo's life is heartbreaking to watch. It's that feeling of desperation and longing that is almost too much to bear. There's a particular scene that really showed all the pain of wanting and finding out the truth and he was great.

What I like: Neo's acting - I've only seen him in roles where he plays the slightly silly friend, but his role as the jealous, selfish friend, is well acted. Mark's acting: I thought I didn't know who he was, but then realised he was in Moonlight Chicken. Such different roles and he's so good. I think I love him! ? Khaotung (Ray): complex character, well acted, great facial expressions (as usual)

What I don't like: there are parts of Neo's role that feel like he's a cartoonish villain. Force: I don't like the character and not impressed by his acting.

It's like reading a book and you want to know what happens in the next chapter, so I'll be watching until the end.

Just watched episode 6 - Book's acting in this episode was top tier (no pun!). I haven't liked his acting before, but the last scene was brilliant. So wicked and so cool, but so full of raw emotion.

This is becoming crazy! It was heartbreaking to watch Mark's character as he sobbed, but what a good actor! There are so many self-serving characters that I can't look away....

I'm still watching this toxic mess and every week, Neo's acting and character get better.

Episode 9: what I liked: First (Sand) and Khaotung (Ray) have great lines and have such tender, sweet scenes. Loved it. Neo's acting (obviously!)
What I didn't like: not sure I like Papang's character (Daddy (ugh!) Dan) - a mix of needy and a little creepy

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"Only friends" is the least common type of relationship in this series

Overall, it's a good series and I recommend it to anyone who wants to enjoy a teen drama with hot scenes. I thought the stylistics were good and so were the songs, the performances were good and the couples worked well. I found the ending a little too sappy, which didn't fit with the rest of the drama, but that's what's common in this genre. A combination of Elite and Asian drama that works.

Full review SPOILER ALERT:
I want to make it clear that this story has several triggers, red flags and almost 100% toxic characters. All four of the friends at the beginning already have certain warning flags, and the added characters, as the word says, only add more flags (for the most part). The kittens and problems are well developed - for the most part - which makes the series a good example in some situations - such as Ray's alcoholism. Did I expect more? Perhaps the ending, but otherwise the show delivered what it promised. Despite a few flaws and loose ends, I liked it a lot.

Sand and Ray
Even with all the mishaps, they're the best couple. Sand is my favorite, by far one of the characters who left me with the warmest heart and even when he annoyed me I wanted to wipe it off. Sand is the most sensible character in this whole mess, hard-working and focused, he works hard to ensure that his dreams are built gradually. But when Ray appears out of the blue, everything becomes more complex. Their "just friends" relationship was never going to happen, because from their first interaction the flirtatious chemistry comes on like a strong gust. Sand has her worries about her mother and especially problems with her father, but she doesn't let them get to her and is always very confident about her decisions.
Ray, on the other hand, is the complete opposite. He's always had everything he needs, everything money can buy, but he's equally ill-at-ease with his father and lost his mother at an early age. All this has turned him into an emotionally unstable, alcoholic young man. To make matters worse, his first love is his best friend, who obviously doesn't feel the same way, which only makes him feel more incapable and inadequate. He annoyed me many times and wanted to shout at my computer screen for it, but I soon understood his motives and the apologies and crying came... the crying broke me. Because even though it's something toxic, we can't demand wisdom and resilience from a young man who doesn't have the stability for it and Sand knew what he was dealing with from the start, yet he still decided to face it and help the man he had started to love.
I believe that the two of them met to fill in each other's gaps, but since that doesn't sustain a relationship, little by little they began to mold themselves as a couple, resolved their differences and managed to understand each other. I'm suspicious because it was my favorite couple. In addition to the chemistry of millions, the two manage to deliver deep arcs and conversations. The gradual development and involvement of the two, their stories and how they intertwine in a natural way... I'd happily watch a BL drama with just the two of them. This left me frustrated, because even though they end up together, I felt that more was missing. It deserved more development and a much better script.
PS: if you can bear to read to the end, you'll understand that the problem isn't the idea or the characters, but the poorly developed script

Top and Mew
A relationship built up too quickly and that didn't get me down enough. Top is a catch and wants to prove that he can get Mew. Mew, on the other hand, was a little nerd who was very calm when a hot guy showed up to shake him up and break his psyche.
The actors have chemistry, which is what helps them both work. The rest is just walking backwards. Mew is a virgin and has no experience with relationships and that's what the series wants to show, but when they actually sleep together - which I thought was very fast, with no development - everything is different. Because when you have a character who finds the first time special, you expect the relationship to be a little more delicate and that doesn't happen. Basically, the couple is destroyed by the script. Regarding Top's betrayal, I'll just say this: I wouldn't go back. The ending needed them together, okay. But Top is very forced, both in his relationship with Mew and afterwards when he tries to win him back.
I liked Mew until he started trying to forgive Top. I even liked the rebellious version, but then when he goes to give Top a second chance, it's a back and forth of anger and hurt, where at every moment he throws the betrayal in his face, only to end up together with the phrase "I've forgiven you, but that doesn't mean I'll forget". Guys, you can't sustain a relationship like that. Only in fiction hahaha. I also found it very hypocritical of him to throw so many things in Boston's face, when he was standing there with Top stuck to the back of his head. Their ending is cute, but it doesn't matter what they do, because the couple would still be average due to the weak script.

Boston and Nick
First of all, Nick needs therapy. That's all I could think about during all his scenes. The point is that Nick isn't as innocent as he seems - he's my baby, but I have to be realistic - because he knows what's going on at all times. Both in terms of his relationship with Boston and in terms of Boston's interest in Top, he still let Boston make a fool of Mew. That's my only quarrel with this character. If he wants to be in a bad "relationship", okay. It's his choice, but knowing that someone else could get hurt and not do anything about it, just to protect a trashy boy.... There's no defending it.
As for Boston, I honestly feel sorry for him. No relationship in his life is deep. Not with his family and not with his friends. He has a "God complex", he's always right, he's selfish, he's manipulative, he's a bad friend, boyfriend.... He's simply incapable of having a healthy relationship with anyone and of accepting his own mistakes. So he represses his desires, because in my opinion his thing is not monogamy, maybe an open relationship would be best for him. He's always looking for a problem to get into or where to put what's between his legs, which ends up causing more problems for him - as in the case of him sleeping with his friend's brother.
What he does to Mew is simply unjustifiable and, in the context of the series, unforgivable. As a friend, I don't know if I'd have the stomach to forgive him. You can tell that he doesn't care if his actions hurt the people around him, even if they are "important" to him. As if nothing he did would have consequences. He only really starts to care when he's alone, so it's too late for almost any relationship he wants to save. He screwed up with Ray, with Mew, with Top and with Nick. Chueam is the only one who had any mercy. People forgave him, but they also didn't want him around anymore. A couple that really wouldn't work - and we understood this once and for all at the end - simply because they want different things and think very differently.
It's a shame that they didn't work out in the end, because I had hoped for a better development for Boston. Where he would really find himself alone and gradually change his thinking, confessing that he loved Nick. Even though Nick deserved better, I was still hoping for a good ending, but the two of them ended up alone. A waste of chemistry, since that's the only thing they have left.

There's a lesbian couple - Chueam and April - who are cute, but very little explored. I found this sad, because I was very curious to see how they would develop. Another point is Boeing, what a disgusting guy and how much chaos he caused with everyone. He tried to finish off Top and Mew, and when he didn't get his revenge, he tried to get back with Sand. Ridiculous opportunist! It's a pity that this only happened at the end of the plot and I'm sure it was just to pad out the script - which it didn't need to because we had some loose ends that were poorly resolved.


If you liked this review, I invite you to read my other reviews here. I always update my account every time I watch something new. You can help me by liking and following me here on MyDramaList.

Thank you for reading this far, XOXO <3

Citeste mai mult

Wonderfully messy

I like many others have been counting the days for this show to air. As usual GMMTV has another iconic show on their hands.
The acting: I already knew the acting was gonna be good because of the beautiful pairings we had for the casting but I was still so pleasantly surprised at how much more everyone had gotten even better. Khaotung and First blow me out of the water every single project they do but this one right here is the one! Just breathtaking. THE CHEMISTRY.
Force and Book are another pair that have stolen my heart. Book has really shown how versatile he can be going from a boss and a babe to only friends. When I heard Mark and Neo we’re gonna be paired up I was so excited. People were upset that Louis wasn’t going to be with Neo but I just knew Mark was gonna be such a good pair with Neo and give us what we needed. And I was not wrong. Like I was nowhere near wrong. Like at all *insert the blushing emoji.”
Finally GMMTV has given Mark his time to shine instead of giving him the side character treatment.
The story: the story is messy as hell and so scrumptious. This show does a beautiful job at discussing difficult topics and showing the process of not so pretty consequences. I really just want to highlight GMMTV for not giving all of the couples “happy” endings just because the pairs have wonderful chemistry. One of my favorite things to come out of this show is you should love yourself and not lower your standards for no one. Absolutely gonna miss this series forever hoping for a season two.

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Only friends forever.

I need to vent.
I absolutely loved the series so much that I watched it again. This, being the second time I watched it, I see it in a different perspective than I did a year ago when it released.
Even then...it never stops hurting.
The ending.?

Okay, let's start by mentioning the positives.
I love the cast. Neo Trai, First Kanaphan, Khaotung Thanawat, Mark Pakin, Book Kasidet, Force Jitrachapong, and Lookjun Bhasidi as always never failed us. I have absolutely no problem with the cast, hell, even Nonnie Pitchaporn did such amazing acting(Does it run in the Kirdpan family to be this cute?). Sand and Nick probably had to be the best-written character ever. On top of that, they were so relatable and real, except Nick always lowering his bar. Ray's healing era was instantly my favorite. And Boeing was legit the character who stepped in, kissed everyone by Nick, and left. Slay kind, you dropped this?.

Then, storyline. If you're into messy storylines, you're gonna love this. I did <333333
I bet everyone is going to hate Boston the most, but not for me. I surprisingly never liked Top. The reason was, Boston came off straightforward, he was like 'Yeah, I'm an asshole' but Top on the other hand came off as a manipulator from the get-go. He manipulated Mew by making his confession grand. So...yeah, there's that.

Okay, improvements. To be honest, I loved everything.......except........ForceBook. Wait, no don't get me wrong. Their acting is really good, as amazing as ever. But after seeing them act in light hearted and fun series like Enchante and Boss and a Babe, they were almost fit for it. Their individual acting itself was amazing, but as a serious ship, they were slightly off. But by their masterpiece of an acting, that flaw went simply unnoticable.

Overall, the experience is great.
I am very sad over the fact that Boston didn't change. I fully expected him to and I thought the ending would be Nick and Boston don't ehri merry way to New York, but sadly I was wrong. But we can accept Nick's decision as good humans. I also loved the ending, clearly, they sort of accepted Boston and let go of their past fury against each other.
So yeah, I suggest you watch it. And when you do, have a good time <3333333333

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A Rollercoaster of Emotions: A Late-Night Binge-Watch

When I first saw Ray with his head resting on the toilet seat, I knew he was the one. Have you ever watched a movie or a drama and felt an inexplicable connection to a character? Ray was that person for me—twisted and flawed, yet profoundly relatable. Life has a way of molding us into unexpected shapes, and Ray’s journey resonated with me.

As for Sand, he's such a sweet guy. I mean, he saved my Ray and made him a better man. What could be more perfect than that? I admire his hardworking nature, the way he takes care of the people he loves, and his deep bond with his mom. It pained me to see him cry or suffer, but such is life.

Mew's situation is perplexing. I felt anger toward Top for betraying him behind his back. It's as if fate inscribed in red ink, 'Innocence gets you hurt.' Mew possesses a forgiving heart—a quality I lack. If I were in his shoes... well, let's not dwell on what I'd do.

Top is still not my cup of tea from the first time I saw him. His character resembled a predator toying with its prey, inflicting wounds and then licking them. Perhaps my bias influenced my perception, but anyway...

And then there’s Boston, a lost soul who struggles to understand love and how to be loved. When he settled down, I hoped he'd find stability. Alas, he stumbled again, losing something precious. Boston reminded me of a thirsty lamb in a desert, bypassing an oasis to wander deeper into scorching sands. Sometimes, we all need a wake-up call—a metaphorical smack on the head—to alter our course.

Nick, the sweetheart, faced perpetual bad luck in love. His heart woke up one day and chose unrequited love. I'm relieved he eventually found self-awareness and escaped the torment he inflicted upon himself. Innocent face, wounded heart—sweet Nick.

The friend group was f**ked up to the core, probably why I sometimes wish I remained friendless to avoid the drama, betrayal, and complicated love dynamics.

The series itself was a whirlwind of emotions. Stellar performances by the actors, perfectly crafted scenes, and an engaging storyline held me captive. So here I am, writing this review at 5 a.m., fueled by my all-night binge-watch. Was it worth it? Absolutely.

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Boston is the winner kkk ?

In a show where the word love is misused because it hardly exists. Everyone is just on for a good duck. All of us be ashawo haha.

Boston makes it on my list of beloved characters. Of course in real life I would not wish even my worst enemies a Boston in their lives haha. But got to give to the guy he stayed true to himself, he was an a***hole through and through and unapologetic about it. That’s what we call consistency haha. Too bad someone was hell bent on taking him for who he is and supposedly loving him no matter what.

I loved Sand. I adored Ray. I cared less about the other couples. These two were the only reasons I kept watching, the reason I’m giving this “interesting show” a 9. My fav couple they were not perfect but whatever they had was so much better. Sand was perfect for Ray. Ray was a douche sometimes but he quick to realize his mistakes and seek out Sand. Unlike Boston the Ashawo, who even had the audacity to f someone while on a date with his bf.



Spoilers
I sympathized with Nick. I get it all he wanted was love, but he was looking for it in the wrong person. The only time I was genuinely annoyed with Boston was he forged a lie to hook up with Top. But I didn’t blame him much for breaking Nick’s heart because he at least had the decency of telling Nick so many times before that he would not give him what he wanted. He was honest with him, he told him he is an ashawo and was not willing to be anybody’s bf. It’s Nick who insisted on sticking around. At first I thought all Nick wanted was to be loved, so I was happy for him when some one, Nick’s showed genuine interest in him and was even willing to be his bf, but Nick only had his heart set the ashawo.

I never bought into Top and Mew’s love. First of all I was annoyed by how Mew’s so called friends were so eager to get him laid. Was like let the guy be, he will get there himself when he wants to.

Anyhow going into the show I knew exactly what I getting into so not gonna complain about any of the “interesting” stuffs.

Everyone is an Ashawo in this series ?.

Most problematic lines/ scenes for me.
There were so many of them as expected
But this one’s stuck with me.


Mew telling Ton: I’m going to finally sleep with Too because I’m afraid he will get bored of me I don’t.

Ray wanted to have a threesome with his bf and his bf’s ex. Was like this show has gone too far with fan service.

I predicted that Sand and Top were also going to kiss haha since I saw everyone was kissing everyone it didn’t matter whether or not they’re “dating” other people.

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Obsessed with RaySand

I really enjoyed watching this, even though I actually prefer to watch cutesy, sweet, no-angst shows, which I would say this isn’t.

First off, I love RaySand’s story/romance it’s done so well and Khaotung and First do an amazing job acting. I will say I wasn’t really all that interested in MewTop, but that didn’t detract from the story too much. The acting is all quite good, I think this is a pretty top-tier cast (especially Khaotung, the way he portrayed emotions was really really good). Some emotional moments nearer the end did make me tear up, again the way Khaotung and First portray their characters is SO good. I also am a big fan of Neo, he did a great job (even though Boston isn’t the best).

I started this show not really thinking I’d even get through it, but mainly because I just wanted to give it a try- then ended up finishing it in 3 days. There’s a lot of messiness with the characters, and a lot of drama (and a lot of bad decisions made), and it makes for a great show.

I also really loved how the show talked about sexuality and consent and such were important and talked about. I see too many BLs living in some sort of fantasy world where consent is not given and it’s not a problem- not even talked about. Also there are some BLs that are just weird with pacing and the story and confusing, but this absolutely was not, the plot and pacing were very natural, the way characters react is completely natural. It was a very good watch.

I wasn’t even planning on writing this much, I just finished it so I think I have a lot to say about it. If you’ve actually read this, I definitely recommend you watch the show, and I hope you enjoy it.

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I think a very good study in human behavior. Funnily enough.

Explicit. Characters are of all shades of gray. When I say explicit it is definitely on higher end of explicit for a BL. And when I say I overall liked this watch, you may think it was those scenes but not really.

It was simply upredictable and exciting to see characters respond to plot demands. So dramatic! So fun! With burlesque quality to it. Cannot pinpoint it but I feel like I have been thrown into the OG Gossip Girl first watch. Does anyone get what I mean?

I was easily invested in the story of each of the characters, so much that I remember all of their names. And I do not have to say leave your morality at the front because these are not good people and they do not pretend to be.

At the beginning, everything and everyone seems superficial and thin like paper but throughout the show they flunctuate as people and do so in an honest and raw way.

The characters were developed with solid back stories that justified their actions in the drama, but were still unexpected when they struck you as audience. Ray was multi-layered character from the get go and fit Khao's emotional and vulnerable performance excellently. Even the lack of chemistry with Mew exemplified that his match was elsewhere. Sand was an absolute favorite in the way he was written, his sass was very well portrayed and his wimpy attitude was toned down but his cool and confident disposition. The chemistry was on point between the main leads.

Ton was consistent as hell in his immorality. He made me think so much. Even though I would condemn some actions in real life, the drama made me consider the angles of forgiveness and contempt and change ...and all in all, letting go. Nuncheon, I thought was useless in the plot. If judging from this as my first time seeing his performance, Force seems better person than he is an actor. In behind the scenes he was funny and charming, seems like a great guy to have around in any team --but his acting I just did not think was complex enough for the role of Top. Book was solid, nothing much to complain about. Mark Pakin the same case as with Force, this is my first time to see him acting and he did not impress, seems like a great guy perhaps the role did not fit. Also strange because his chemistry with Neo was not really lacking in the interviews and behind the scenes so I am not sure why I was not vibing with them. I am throwing all unpopular opinions here, sorry.

In all, a few things carried this drama: complex and unpredictable plot, refreshing mature script that matched perfectly with the scenography and Khao, First and Neo.

I know many people here rate it as trash, even tho I understand I would disagree. depends what you are looking for (or finding). With all those salacious scenes you expect to be kind of at the brink of oversaturation but characters were simply well written so you may end up caring more about what happens to them. Like me.

I think I liked Only Friends more than Eclipse, even though I think Akk fit better First than Sand did, and Ray suited better Khao than Ayan did... And well, I am First's fan girl first, and an objective reviewer (caring about your viewing experience) second, hihi.

Go for it. It's unexpected surprise. And 12eps only.

Thanks for reading.

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A great show that went off the rails somewhere along the line

Boy oh boy am I conflicted about this one! There are some things I adore about it, some things I absolutely hate about it and on the whole I suppose I'm just not quite sure where I stand.

Let me start off by saying that the acting and cinematography in this show are phenomenal, the soundtrack absolutely slaps, and best of all: it has some of the most realistic and multidimensional depictions of queer people and their lives I've ever seen in a Thai show.
Relationship boundaries are complex and shifting, sexual roles and preferences are fluid, and monogamy is often not all it's cracked up to be. For that alone the series scored big points with me.
Unfortunately though, they completely flubbed the ending in my opinion.

This story could have had the perfect three act structure: the building of relationships, then the complete breakdown of those relationships, before finally rebuilding connections and salvaging whatever possible from the wreckage.
And for a while it really looks like that's where the show is going. I absolutely adore the first third of the series and am very much on board with the sheer chaos of the second third (I especially love the twist to Mew's character and think this could have been the perfect set-up for a truly interesting and subversive character arc).
But by the last third I was so furious about some of the writing choices made that all that goodwill pretty much went out the window.

I strongly dislike the way Mew and Top's relationship rekindling is handled (I think it's a great disservice to both characters to be honest) and I just couldn't get invested in their dynamic anymore.
Boston also gets done pretty dirty in that the show frequently blurs the line between "this character is a complete dick who is unrepenting and pretty much irredeemable" and "this character is simply polyamorous/prefers open relationships" which plays into negative and antiquated stereotypes.
And then there is Boeing whose inclusion is as unnecessary as it is deeply irritating. It detracts focus from two of the most important relationships in the show and pretty much ruins several character arcs in my opinion.

That being said the series does still have a great deal to offer: it is raw, touching, and real. It subverts a lot of tired old tropes of the genre while also skillfully addressing several important issues like consent and addiction. It is incredibly sex-positive and unabashedly queer and features several loving lesbian and trans couples (though none of them really get enough screentime).
And most importantly it's pure, chaotic fun.

In short I hope to see this production team create more shows like this in the future and hopefully learn from some of the mistakes here too.
I also would like to take this opportunity to grab GMM by the proverbial collar and inform them that they better wise up and make space for more authentically queer productions going forward without leading good projects awry due to unexpected audience demands dammit!

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Crazy little thing called love.

Oh boy. This series was a ride and a half, and I'm still not entirely sure about my rating.

There were points when I was so frustrated watching this, but it did a fairly good job at engaging me. I'm a sucker for complex relationship dynamics, and I think each of the pairs in this delivered on that tenfold. So to best assess, let's look at the couples.

Mew & Top: When I started, I wasn't sure about them. Mew's character was relatable for me, and I wanted Top to be a good guy -- but of course, nothing is that easy. The fist shaking and face palming done during certain scenes with them was numerous. Surprisingly, I feel they did a good job at redeeming Top. I was rooting for him by the end, and in a weird twist, I was annoyed by Mew. His character flip due to heartbreak was enraging at points, but they pulled it back together. This was the pair I was least engaged with, though. Also can we talk about the random storyline they threw in at the end? Literally insanity to me because it had zero development and felt like someone was like "but wait... fire!"

Nick & Boston: This dynamic hit so much on Queer as Folk, but couldn't live up to that series. Still, Nick was endearing, though naive. Boston was not meant to be likeable and they did a fantastic job of conveying that. I really wish they would've explored more of his character, especially after what Nick said to him about wanting to be loved. I feel like that hit so hard, but wasn't fleshed out. Furthermore, they tried to redeem Ton, but there was no real moral dilemma evident when he just repeated his usual patterns. I feel like if they wanted us to believe he had some signs of hope, they needed to show that more. Ton grew on me, but like mold grows in a poorly ventilated bathroom. I'm sad but happy in the end that Nick chose himself. Boston has some growing to do, and he can't do it if he is enabled.

Sand & Ray: I actually chose to watch Only Friends because I enjoyed First so much in Note Me. This couple is really the star of the show for me. Ray was so enraging at points, and I think Sand was such a beautiful person, which they conveyed well. They were ying and yang at points, but complimented each other. As someone who works with mental health and addictions, Ray was a particularly heartbreaking character. His one therapy session had me near tears, and I wish we could've seen more of his exploration. I would've loved for them to delve more into the dynamics of recovery and loving someone in recovery. Their chemistry was palpable. One thing that bugged me a bit is the lack of closure related to Sand's dad.

Boeing: Not a pair, but he gets his own line because he created so many feels. Love the actor, hate the character -- so basically, he did another great job at acting. He was like Ton but boss level Ton. Any time he walked into the room, I was ready to throw something at my screen.

The ending felt a bit flat, but I enjoyed by journey (well, most of it).

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