Only Friends
Only Friends
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Only Friends

"No more friends."

8.4
Yr 2023
Rt 55m
Status Ended
Drama
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Series Brief

Overview

Mew, Ray, Boston, and Namchueam, a group of business students running a hostel together blur the lines between friendship and romance. Mew has been focusing on his studies, setting aside no time for sex and relationships. To help them with their business's design, Boston introduces the group to Top. Boston didn't anticipate Top's interest in Mew, and he isn't happy with the turn of events. Economics student Sand wants an exclusive relationship with Ray, but Ray has feelings for Mew, and he's not interested in settling. IT guy Nick finds a sex tape in Boston's phone and ends up in a friends-with-benefits relationship with him. However, Nick wants something more.

Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 78 /100

Critics and viewers generally received Only Friends as an entertaining, deliciously chaotic Thai BL drama. The series earned praise for leaning into drama, toxic dynamics, and flawed protagonists rather than trying to present idealized characters. Many appreciated its depiction of messy relationships, chaotic love triangles, and intense interpersonal conflicts among university friends.

Reviews praised the strong acting from the ensemble cast and noted how smoothly the various interwoven plotlines were executed. Viewers highlighted the show's balance of genuine queer relationship drama, humor, and betrayal, noting that it felt refresing and unapologetically entertaining despite the abundance of relationship red flags.

However, the show was not without its detractors. Some reviewers noted that beneath the steamy drama and chaos, the series still relies on familiar Thai BL tropes. Critics looking for deep character development, heavy emotional intensity, or meaningful social themes expressed disappointment, viewing the plot as somewhat formulaic.

“This was such a messy series, but in a good way!”

“The whole series is incredibly well acted and the various plot lines interweave brilliantly...”

“This felt more like a genuine queer messy-gay series...”

“...if you are looking for character development, emotional intensity, and social themes, this production will be a disappointment again.”

Why fans love it

Only Friends trades the typical sweetness of the boys' love genre for a jagged, heightened reality. It maps a social web defined by sexual tension and messy entanglement, as a circle of business students navigates blurred lines between long-term friendship and casual romance. The series leans into its own friction, utilizing tropes like the school play to mirror the performative nature of the characters' relationships.

Kanaphan Puitrakul and the ensemble cast dwell in a constant state of angst that keeps the narrative pulse high. Every interaction carries a sense of volatility, often underscored by raw physical contact. By grounding the drama in the claustrophobic setting of a shared hostel, the show turns internal navigation into a series of public confrontations. It is a portrait of intimacy that favors biting exchanges and shifting alliances over easy resolution.

Featured Players

Cast

Credited 45
Regulars 10
Longest run 15 eps
Trai Nimtawat
Trai Nimtawat
as Boston
Pirapat Watthanasetsiri
Pirapat Watthanasetsiri
as Jack
Kanaphan Puitrakul
Kanaphan Puitrakul
as Sand
15 episodes
Sahaphap Wongratch
Sahaphap Wongratch
as Dean
Thanawat Ratanakitpaisan
Thanawat Ratanakitpaisan
as Ray
15 episodes
Way-ar Sangngern
Way-ar Sangngern
as Arnold
Jiratchapong Srisang
Jiratchapong Srisang
as Top
15 episodes
Gawin Caskey
Gawin Caskey
as Tua
Show 37 more
Kasidet Plookphol as Mew 15 episodes Tharatorn Jantharaworakarn as Raffy Pakin Kuna-anuwit as Nick 13 episodes Bhasidi Petchsutee as Namchueam 12 episodes Thanaboon Kiatniran as Rome Patsit Permpoonsavat as Timmy Pitchaporn Kirdpan as April 12 episodes Jennie Panhan as Yo 12 episodes Nattanon Tongsaeng as Pete Teeradech Vitheepanich as Plug 12 episodes Kirati Puangmalee as Atom 12 episodes Sattabut Laedeke as Gap 2 episodes Tanutchai Wijitvongtong as Boeing 4 episodes Phromphiriya Thongputtaruk as Dan 4 episodes Waranya Waewsawat as Bua 2 episodes Pitsupee Ployninpet as Ning 2 episodes Saifah Tanthana as Ray's father 2 episodes Tanawat Singneo as Sun 2 episodes Gandhi​ Wasuvitchayagit as Kiattisak Kiatkangwan 2 episodes Nattakrit Wachiraboonserm as Beam 2 episodes Netsrithong Damrongsakul as Sand's mother 3 episodes Supakorn Kantanit as Ray (young) 1 episode Chanidapa Sommitthanakul as Summer 1 episode Kittiporn Rodvanich as Pink 2 episodes Mapord Nuttayothin as Auditionee 1 episode Worapon Tapaopong as Ice 2 episodes Dujdao Vadhanapakorn as Ranchalee 1 episode Vasorn Bhawavaralertsakul as Bas 1 episode Tiheethawat Kantasri as Top (young) 1 episode Yanisa Sermsatanaswat as Amm 1 episode JEKD as Himself 1 episode Tonhon Najarn as Jack's father 1 episode Gojinmontouch Jirawongtaworn as Student 2 episodes Thipakorn Thitathan as Win 1 episode Suphakorn Sriphotong as Gameplay 3 episodes Sapol Assawamunkong as Audience 1 episode Panachkorn Rueksiriaree as Timmy's friend 1 episode
Signal Match

Similarity

Where Only Friends overlaps with other shows, and exactly what they have in common.

Keyword Cloud

Keywords

infidelity university biting betrayal by friend angst queer friends with benefits boys' love (bl) intense bold melodramatic straightforward psychological romance friendship school play romeo & juliet students sexual content stage actor multiple couples lgbt
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
August 12, 2023
Status
Ended
Episode Runtime
55 minutes
Origin
TH
TMDB Votes
47