Bad Buddy (Review)

Bad Buddy is the story about Pat and Pran, two enemies who live next door. These two hate each other ever since their parents (also) started hating each other. The story also follows their friends and their beef, and how Pat and Pran manage to find each other throughout the series.

Disclaimer: I wrote half of this review two weeks before the finale (Episode 10) and the rest three days before the finale (After episode 11). For one, my opinion does not changes because of any final episode (oppose to what happened with 'Fish upon the Sky' episode 5 was the iceberg), regardless of what it brings to the table. Same thing happened with '2gether', I tend to write about the OVERALL series, not about one episode. I write about acting, writing and direction, not about the writing in just one single episode, if that would have been the case then, I have a lot to complain about, but that's not what we are here for, and it's not fair. Second, If anything, refer to my 'Let's Talk about Bad Buddy' post in order to read a more flesh out post on the series. Third, please, do not leave or send me messages disagreeing in a disgusting way, I have my own opinion, and you can have yours, but keep your obscene words in your mind and do not write them in the comments or private messages.

Spoilers Ahead!

So, when I started watching this series I honestly didn't know what to expect. I was not really into the actors, nor was I trying to watch a GMMTV series. Also, the poster for this series was kinda... weird. And I think we can all agree. Needless to say is, I almost died with this series. I just loved it so freaking much, from the acting to the writing and just the overall series.

Lets start with the acting and casting. I am impressed, IMPRESSED. The actors are so good and have so much chemistry, like am I jealous? yes. Nanon, this guy is a master, he can deliver, he delivered, that's on period!. Ohm was great as well, I really loved how natural it felt whenever he was on screen, and as I mentioned in my 'Let's talk about Bad Buddy' post, I am not sure if its that these two are really good actors or is the chemistry between them that makes it real, makes it good. also, the actors did a really good job, I am always fed up with the supporting cast in many bls because of how bad some of them can be, and is even worse when your supporting character is key in the story, like imagine the horrible acting when you are supposed to shine in a series???. Anyways, the supporting actors, did amazing. I should say, Drake has improved, although he kinda plays the same characters in every series I have seen him in, he is actually really good in here(maybe because he plays himself ? lol), also, Love, this girl!, she has talent and I hope GMMTV does not ruin her. Jimmy, man, the amount of hate a character can get... but is Jimmy who shines, this guy knows what he is doing and he is a natural, he must be a sweetheart, but the fact that he nailed his character means that he has potential. The rest, really good, A.

The writing. So the writing, wow, the writing. I am really tired of talking about how simple, and monotonous bls have become in the past two years. We get the same and the same, and I should say, at first watching boy love stories made me tear-up (even with the horrible ones) but after some time, we need growth, meaning a more MATURE SCRIPT. That being said, 'Bad Buddy' has a simple story, but more mature and natural feeling to it. I should highlight different occasions in which this happened (If I forgot one then that means this series really did THAT):

• Not a toxic relationship. One of the things 'BB' nailed is the fact that their leads' relationship is a healthy one. I mean, it has its downs, but they are not running away from each other whenever adversities comes their way. (I mean, when Pran ran away from Pat in the rooftop that's something different, they were not in a relationship back then) and Pat never stopped looking for him, plus, Pran was not going to let him go, we know this, he wasn't nasty about it. Although they did try to hide their relationship for some time, but after everybody knew they were together, wow! they went all in. One has to understand Pran anyway, this is new to him and he knows his parents feelings toward all this, plus, you can tell he is trying to not "ruin" his reputation because that is was his mother has put in his head. Loved it. After the parents found out, they did not hide it, man, they went ALL IN!. We love to see it.

• Cute moments. So, I have noticed how bls lately are so unbalanced, is either too cute or too dry. Well, 'Bad Buddy' said, "not on my watch". This series was different, I really loved them holding hands, being there for each others, calling each other, giving each other space to be with their respective friends and more important, their kiss scenes. As much as some of y'all love to see men kissing, this one really made it feel normal. When I saw "2gether" I wasn't mad at the end, if you know you know, because I was satisfied at the overall execution. However, 'Bad Buddy' kiss scenes were not overwhelming or missing, these guys kissed like a normal couple, NORMAL!!! as it should. When they are together playing around, and *peck* or when they are teasing each other and Pran gave Pat a peck, man, this is the type of series I want to watch, the one that makes me feel like being with a man is normal, as it should.

• Coming out. So, coming out is not a big deal in most bls because you know... "I am not gay, I just like him" or "It's not any man, is just with him", you guys, I am using this as an excuse at some point, I swear. Anyhow, Pat said two things I really loved, "Maybe I am bisexuals? Pansexual? I don't know" and then "Maybe I have liked boys my whole life", yeah sure, it is not the same as "I am gay", but guess what? it is honestly valid, I bet we all felt the same way the first we realize we were in love with someone of our same sex. Writing great!.

• Supporting characters. They were supportive. I liked the central and the supporting characters in this bl, even the parents. although, I feel like a lot more could have been done when it comes to the parents, but it was balance enough. The friends were amazing, and just loved how they were not mad at their friends for being gay, but because their friends were not capable of telling them what was happening, instead, they lied to them. I think the parents issue was a little weird but funny, I mean I would be mad as well if my best friend stole my scholarship, but they behaved childish now lol, so I didn't really liked it, not that it wasn't funny, just that I felt like "Man, y'all pushing 40s grow up!!" otherwise, loved the fact that they were not mad at Pat and Pran for being Gay, ugh! that was beautiful, they were mad because of what happened in the past, Pran's mom even says that she wouldn't mind if Pran liked a boy, so, that was beautiful. Writing was great.

Direction. Well, P'Aof has done really good in the past, he is honestly one of the best directors on GMMTV so that's that. That being said, I didn't pay much attention to the direction because I was focused on the story... my bad.

I am gonna miss them, so freaking bad.

Overall: Bad Buddy is one of the best bls of 2021 and just in general. Breaking the stereotypes of bls, the monotonous story, the homophobic parents, the lack of chemistry and the lack of healthy relationships. 'Bad Buddy' did what a lot series wished they have done, from being the most talked about bl with over 1 million mentions on Twitter every Friday, to make me cry on ep. 11. that's legendary (lol). 'Bad Buddy' will go down in history as one of the standards, when you watch a new bl, you would think about 'Bad Buddy' before, and now you'll measure the writing to that of BB. I know that for sure, I say this because after 'Lovely Writer' I couldn't stop comparing every bl I watched so. Anyways, enough talking. 'Bad Buddy' is excellent, unforgettable and overall one of the best bls writing in history. PERIODT!

Grade: 10. This is a great story!