BLISS RATING: ★★★★+
“That’s not a friend, that’s literally a lollipop; you want to unwrap them, taste them, lick them…but too much of it will you give diabetes.” – Quote From Only Friends: Dream On
Deliciously back-handed and sinister is the best way to describe this series. And I loved it. It is the ultimate ‘soap-opera’ that sings to you majestically. It is three love stories each more vapid than the other. Yet compelling watching. Two are far more intriguing than the main one for me. So let us start with the most likeable to the least dynamic.
The couple that began the rockiest and with the least chemistry, is the sincerest because they went through stages of development of their relationship that many, if not most gay couples, face. Perhaps not in the same way, but in the same method of development. Raffy (Boom Tharatorn) is a son of a famous actress and wants to be the lead in the play that Jack (Earth Pirapat) is directing. However, he has a formidable competitor in Dean (Mix Sahaphap), who not only is a far better actor than Raffy, but he is also the former boyfriend of Jack. Raffy also has feelings for Jack and is trying to woo him as well, which from the very beginning, Rome (Aou Thanaboon) tries to warn him is a fool’s errand. In reality, Raffy’s commitment to acting is only superficial; he would rather be behind the camera, so to speak.
What begins, however, between Raffy and Rome is a union based on physical lust/needs – at first. But as their rendezvous begin to become more frequent and intense, a deeper bond forms. Neither wants to admit to it but through a process of very pragmatic developments, they actually do form a quasi-romance that becomes a base for a subconscious affection. While it appears to be rocky at times and always stormy, it is based upon natural consequences from forthright developments of dealing with their issues head on. While not always smooth, their relationship always seemed the most genuine and sincere to me because it was based on truth and veracity.
The second connection is a Pollyanna one and falls apart because its foundation is not based on candor. Tua (Gawin Caskey), involved in the play’s production, is drawn to Arnold (Joss Way-ar). Tua is a reliable individual who is always thinking about the welfare of others. He ‘lies’ to get Arnold involved in the production of the play. Later, because the foundation of their budding relationship is not solid, the tables are reversed and it becomes Tua’s turn to feel hurt from Arnold for not being sincere and truthful. The constant twisting of facts leading to very bad communication interconnections are a constant theme of Thai BLs which always lead to inevitable break-ups and/or mistrusts. This one is no exception. While they had a foundation for being an ideal couple, neither one began their connection on a solid foundation of honesty. In the end, however, this is all ‘glossed over’ with a Pollyanna paint brush.
The obvious main focus is the on-again-off-again bond between Jack and Dean. Their relationship is certainly dramatic. Dean had been less than truthful in their original relationship which caused their irreparable schism. As much as Jack tries to remain ‘friends’ with Dean, Dean is a manipulator and an exploiter. In all honesty, it is hard to like someone like Dean. While we can understand his actions and maybe even find excuses for his actions, he is not a decent individual. He manipulates when he does not to. And Jack is not at all innocent in any of this. He falls into the trap that Dean sets in almost all cases and is so easily manipulated by him. I could not feel anything for him except disappointment.
Who really S.T.O.L.E. this series? There are a lot of characters in this series but the most perplexing to me was Boston played by Neo Trai. Boston is certain a character who one loves to hate. He influences several different key players here, basically trying to sleep with as many as he can. He is a character who invests his physical being with someone only for its immediate rewards and pleasures; once he senses the relationship is becoming too serious, he is gone. He is not into commitment – until he realizes he has lost the one love in his life. Boston for all his faults, does manipulate but does so for others to see their own faults and how those faults hinder their current or ongoing relationship. In a weird way, he acts like a glue to mending relationships but of course is more than willing to swoop in should the relationship fail. Neo Trai plays this rather complex role with surprising intensity yet only from his point of view. He never looks like he is actually trying to help others but then that is exactly what he is doing. There always seemed to be a sadness in his face, almost like envy that they had something he wished he had. While the role is short, it is way more dynamic than is projected.
This is a very messy and chaotic series that at times is exacerbating to watch. It slips so much into the standard soap-opera mindset of how characters are supposed to act and behavior. At times, one just wants to shake the protagonists and say what is wrong with you. You fell for this before; why are you falling for this again?
But it is exactly why we watch these series. It brought a charm and wit that was sharp and crisp for a change. And surprisingly adult-like in solutions. Do not look for any real plot to the story. It just goes from one conflict to another with the superficial love storylines in between. Every one of these characters is flawed and to some degree unlikeable. There is jealousy, obsession, emotional blackmail, messy desires, dishonesty, mistrust, and a lot of pain. The emotional pain components are done well, which gives these characters heart and a relatability factor. So, in a sense, we find them compelling to watch even if they are not the most moral or ethical standard-bearers of the day. They become intriguing. Thus, the series is astonishingly entertaining and certainly keeps one’s interest throughout. For me, there is only one reason why this series did not end up being on my Apotheosis list. I hated the ending. I grow wearisome of Pollyanna endings. And it just could not bring itself to leave well enough alone. Not all relationships are meant to be. And the way Dean and Jack’s story unfolded, it is unequivocally clear that they should never be together. Ever. While their love was and is unbroken, their relationship is, without doubt, is. It is the trust and true commitment to one another that was shattered beyond repair from the very beginning. Once that boundary was crossed, it could not and should not be reversed. It was time to ‘move on’ for both.
I am sorry that the story did not carry it to its full conclusion. Not everything in life deserves a happy ending and their relationship did not warrant one either, again. Their love was not in question. It is the trust: the unwavering belief in one another. That was gone a long time ago and I am disappointed that the production wants to turn this yet again into a Pollyanna ending when in reality a death-blow mistrust had more than once had been conveyed by one or both principal characters. Neither Dean nor Jack learned the concept of maturation. Sometimes the best form of love is to stay away from one another.
However, if you want to be entertained galore with a deliciously soap-opera flair, this is the perfect series for you.
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