REVIEW: Bad Buddy the series [SPOILERS]

Image (c) GMMTV ~ Ohm Pawat and Nanon Korapat

This review contains spoilers for "BAD BUDDY THE SERIES" -- do not read if you do not want spoilers -- You have been warned.

BAD BUDDY THE SERIES -- 

Country: Thailand

Episodes: 12

Aired: Oct 29, 2021 - Jan 21, 2022

Aired On: Friday

Original Network: GMM 25, Tencent Video

Adapted from the novel "Behind The Scenes" (หลังม่าน ) by Afterday and -West-

Director: Backaof Noppharnach Chaiwimol

Screenwriter: Pratchaya Thavornthummarut, Bee Pongset Laksamipong, Best Kittisak Kongka

MAIN CAST: Nanon Korapat Kirdpan, "Pran"; Ohm Pawat Chittsawangdee, "Pat"; Love Pattranite Limpatiyakorn "Pa"; Milk Pansa Vosbein, "Ink"; Jimmy Jitaraphol Potiwihok"Wai"; Drake Sattabut Laedeke, "Korn".

I just finished watching Bad Buddy the series . I have to say while it has some small issues, it passed my #1 litmus test: it made me cry. (More than once.) The story is bread-and-butter-BL: takes place largely on a university campus, features main love interests who have to come out to themselves as gay first, and who have to hide their relationship, and who have a big, explosive reveal, and a happily-ever-after ending. It is lacking the annoying meddling females which is nice, particularly considering the main leads are not out from the beginning, and in fact, the two main female supporting cast become a couple in a refreshing GL side-plot. The series also included an emerging theme that is very positive: once the main leads acknowledged their relationship / attraction to each other, there was no backtracking, and their friends were supportive -- no more relying on homophobia to create plot tension, or using outmoded stereotypes to make the relationship seem more shocking. Unfortunately, they did still use the hokey ending that has become so popular in BLs lately: they throw in the final episode a protracted separation of 2 years (why is it always 2 years??) where the main leads are separated and it is made to look like they broke up. In the case of BAD BUDDY, they throw in a little twist where the leads pretend to break up, in a somewhat believable fashion -- one of the main things about Pran & Pat is their love of competition and when they had to keep their relationship secret it added a layer to it that they liked. I still think it's an unnecessary element -- the story is wrapped up, the main conflict of the plot is resolved and the big mysteries are all revealed, then boom they throw in this weird separation / break-up thing when the final episode should really just be FANSERVICE. Yes, they live happily ever after. 

A couple items I thought were strange or somewhat lacking: I think a lot of viewers questioned the on-screen chemistry between Pran & Pat, and a little bit of meandering / lost plot. 

image (c) GMMTV

Let's start with the chemistry thing. I do agree that the chemistry between the two leads was somewhat strained occasionally. Their relationship seemed more like bromance than a true love match. There was very little intimacy depicted between them which may have caused that perception. Interestingly, I thought their affection for each other was often very moving and the cuteness of their interplay with each other seemed very real. It was when the actors had to play out kissing or intimacy scenes that it seemed very strained. You might blame that on the actors feeling uncomfortable, but ironically, Ohm Pawat and Nanon Korapat themselves have a potent chemistry in their candid shots and behind the scenes stuff -- like, the ship has more chemistry than the on-screen affair. 

And a little bit on the plot, as it got pretty choppy there for a while. It starts out pretty straightforward: Pran & Pat's family are arch-rivals and have never allowed them to be friends, but that forbidden fruit was the basis for them to become friends regardless. Insert a bunch of flashbacks about them not being allowed to be friendly in spite of how hard they try, then finally they are reunited in college. Their rivalry is enhanced by them being enrolled in faculties that have a historic rivalry as well, and the fun and games begin as they are forced into each other's company over and over, largely due to their own hijinks, or that of their friends. The plot started to go a little off the rails near the end though. Once Pat & Pran are exposed as a couple to their university friends you would think they would just tell the parents to deal with it, but no. Instead, the mystery of why their families hate each other continues to deepen, and when it is fully revealed, Pat & Pran really had nothing to do with it. What's more, the idea that this family enmity was a huge secret, based on a lie, that no one had any clue about is pretty weak. Somehow we are supposed to believe that Pran didn't know where his mother went to high school, that she and Pat's father had been friends, and that Pran's mother did not go to university. It's just all too much -- who doesn't know where their parents went to school? And what parent would actively force their child to hate another kid because of a disagreement that happened before either of them were even born? It's far fetched, and more far fetched when you figure out the real truth. 

image (c) GMM AGENCE

I always like the end on a positive note, so I will also add that BAD BUDDY did not disappoint with the supporting cast hottie, in this case the adorably sweet Jimmy Jitaraphol as "Wai" (Pran's best friend) who is also finally getting a lead role in VICE VERSA. While he is assumed to be straight, Wai also comes across as very jealous a few times early on in the series and I thought they were setting him up to be part of a secondary couple, but that role on the show was actually taken up by a GL-subplot where Ink and Pa get together. While I was a little sad that I wasn't going to get to watch Wai kiss another guy, the GL plot was a fresh inclusion, whereas the BFF-is-gay-too thing is pretty well-used at this point. Regardless, Jimmy Jitaraphol is still delectable eye candy, and I did get my wish to see him in a lead role after all.... so long as VICE VERSA really premiers -- not sure it has had an airing yet. 

Overall, BAD BUDDY was a great series. I give it 3.5 Stars out of 5. ⭐⭐⭐1/2. I would give it a full 4 except that they really did rely on the university theme pretty heavily to carry the plot sometimes, and the weak plot premise hurt the story a little in the end (not the beginning.)