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Only Friends thai drama review
Voltooid
Only Friends
1 mensen vonden deze beoordeling nuttig
by Trika
dec 14, 2023
12 van 12
Voltooid
Geheel 9.0
Verhaal 9.0
Acting/Cast 10.0
Muziek 10.0
Rewatch Waarde 9.0
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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
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