Bad Buddy Rewatch and Analysis by BenedictTan

Bad Buddy EP 1 Revisited

Pran reunited with Pat after three years. Significant moments include the time when Pran spoke about Pat to his mum during the meal. From his eyes, it was quite obvious that he still has that feeling for Pat even after three years.

Pat kept on following Pran, following him to sign up for the Freshy Music Contest and then climbing into his room, all these are also subtle signs of how he himself is reliving those feelings he had for Pran since back in high school (since on a hindsight, now we all know that Pat himself also already has feelings for Pran since back then). Him protecting Pran from his own gang proved just all that.

(They knew that both of them didn't want to be each other's enemies, but that time, their circumstances didn't allow them yet. It took a while as we now know, how they gradually emerged from those struggles between the Engineering and Architecture students - hint: the rebuilding of the bus stop and other events after)

Then Pran took that watch out from his box. That watch wasn't working, but he made it work again, symbolic of how their 'suspended' story has now resumed again. That watch was the very first moment when the young child Pran realised that he does not have to be enemies with Pat. Their secret friendship began that night young Pat returned the watch, and in the present, their renewed secret friendship restart again that night too when they added each other on LINE and Pran began wearing the watch.

That watch was the beginning of their story. And thanks to Pa, not only that in the past, when she almost drowned, that became the catalyst of them coming together, just as in the present (in EP 1), Pa helped to bring them back together again, 'Pat, please promise me you won't hurt Pran. You know well why.'

Then that parallel between the past and present, when Pat rescued Pran from his own Engineering gang, as compared to the time when the young Pat climbed into Pran's room to return his watch (which he then reenacted again in the present). Those brought back memories to both Pat and Pran. Their story had been suspended for all those years. Yes, that watch is symbolic of their feelings that transcended time itself.

That separation must have been painful for both of them (Pat in EP 5: 'It's distressingly lonely for me'), but by stroke of luck, they were brought back together. Dissaya (Pran's mum) said that she wouldn't have transferred Pran into that college/university if she had known that Pat studies there. (Partly this is thanks to both their parents not on speaking terms with each other)

Bad Buddy EP 2 Revisited (Part II)

When Pat's dad came to his dorm room and almost caught Pran being in the room with Pat, that was one of the first moments when many of us noted the amazing way that Nanon portrayed Pran and his emotions. Pran overheard everything that Pat's dad said, and how he basically told lies to Pat about what actually happened. Both of them of course knew what actually happened, but Pran was really hurt because he was the one who realised his feelings first and then was taken away by force. He was reliving those painful moments again as he laid hidden under the bed.

At that high school time Christmas concert, Pran has finished the 'Just Friend' song that he made together with Pat, and it was actually Pran's way of trying to convey his feelings to Pat, in how he realised that he no longer felt towards him just as how normal friends do. Actually Pat himself have felt something similar too, although he wasn't fully aware of these feelings yet back then.

When Pran's mum, Dissaya and his father came to abruptly interrupt the Christmas concert and Pran's singing, it was reality crashing hard down on both Pat and Pran, and especially Pran who was trying to break from that toxic relationship and boundaries that their two families set all around them. It was also back then when we first get a hint of the feud being mainly the issue between Pat's dad and Pran's mum. Pran's dad kept on looking at Pran's mum, and it was obvious that it was her who was especially furious at her son being in good relationship and likely a friend to Pat.

(We only got to know the reason all the way later in Episode 10 final part)

All these came to Pran as he was under the bed during the time when Pat's dad was in Pat's room. He didn't want to endure that pain of being separated from Pat again, and from what he heard from Pat's dad, he realised that it was kind of futile to try to continue on. Pran still definitely liked Pat at that time, and he began to be attracted closer to him. That is why, he wanted to move out from the dorm and find a new place. He must have thought that it is better for him to get away rather than to continue deeper and suffer more.

(Pat himself also felt very bad, because in the past, based on what he heard from his family and friends, he must have blamed himself for causing Pran to be transferred away, and they didn't even have a proper goodbye back then.)

That leads eventually to the new place scene, where Pat came to the place Pran wanted to move to, and then he and Pran ended up playing with each other and Pran falling atop Pat just before the agent lady stepped in. That was the moment when we see the determination that Pat has in making their relationship work again. He said it because he felt guilty and wanted to be the one who wanted to move out, but subconsciously, that's because he can't let Pran go again a second time.

And for Pran, he realised that he began to fall more and more for Pat. He saw a glimpse of what could happen to them, that they may yet be together. That agent lady obviously didn't want the two 'lovey-dovey' boys to do anything there, and therefore likely lied that the place was full. You can see how happy Pat was when he heard that. It was fun for him to tease Pran that way, but at the same time, he too wants Pran in his life.

Both of them didn't realise it back then (and neither do we), that this is yet another important and fortunate step (if Pran had managed to move out, then everything might have ended back there and then) in the development of their relationship. They were getting closer without them realising it. 

Bad Buddy EP 3 Revisited (Part II)

Pat and Pran's time at the ruined bus stop as they planned the rebuilding together was gold. There we saw for the very first time the hint of the reversal of roles and the versatility of both characters in their relationship as it would be hinted on and implied many more times in the subsequent episodes.

Pat willing to roleplay as the 'wife' and as a 'hot Engineering girl' for Pran must have touched and melted his heart so much (I would, if I were in Pran's shoes). That also helped Pran to gain the inspiration on how the bus stop would be rebuilt and constructed. While we all may laugh at all the cute words Pat was speaking to Pran (in a high pitched voice), we can see how amazing his thought process is. Pat, behind all that vulgarness and rough appearance actually hid an amazing mind.

Already we witnessed how just earlier on he managed to turn the situation in the presentation room 180 degrees with a mere twist on the bus stop design (based on something he just saw barely moments earlier). For Pran, Pat would do anything, and that bus stop night scene proved just that.

Then, as Pat later then returned the guitar to Pran, Pran must have been so overjoyed to get his guitar back. It had been with Pat all along, and it represented how Pat had keep Pran close to his heart all those while, just as Pran himself never forgot about his feelings for Pat after they were separated in high school. The returning of the precious guitar to Pran marked the moment when Pat and Pran began openly reaching out to each other.

(That partly explained the pain that Pran would experience in the end of EP 4 later on, when Pat admitted that he liked Ink. Pran must have thought that it would be possible finally, for them, to like each other, and that his unrequited feelings and liking Pat may finally become a reality - will cover this more in EP 4 Revisited)

Bad Buddy EP 5 Revisited (Part I)

In the aftermath of the confession scene, we saw Pat and Pran in the early morning hours and how they bickered, which honestly felt like as if they were already together as a couple.

(This is a prelude to the EP 8 morning scene - which is after they were officially together)

Pat got to know Pran’s password ‘Pransocool’ and saw the collage of photos in Pran’s laptop. That he was able to see it immediately means that Pran might have been looking at them just earlier on, and he was finalising the ‘Just Friends’ song while reliving those high school Christmas concert moments. Pat found out how Pran had been treasuring those moments, which certainly did something to his heart.

Then we saw how Ink appeared, saying how Pat and Pran appeared to be lovey dovey to each other. As mentioned, she was really their cupid, helping them to articulate their hidden feelings for one another. When Ink later had the dinner with Pat, Ink’s order of egg noodle with three wontons immediately reminded Pat of Pran’s habit of ordering exactly three wontons.

Pa suggested the four signs to Pat, testing them on Ink, all of which failed, and instead, their ‘date’ ended up becoming our first glimpse of the upcoming InkPa couple. By stroke of luck and chance, the music shop called Pat, who decided to go to the shop and met Pran there just at the right time.

Pat felt exactly everything as her sister out there mentioned in the four signs earlier. First was that touch between their hands which must have caused Pat’s heart to beat faster. This was followed by them staring at each other’s eyes, and him wanting to know if Pran was taken by other people (asking if the one he called was his date). These things showed Pat that the one he truly loved and liked was Pran after all.

Bad Buddy EP 6 Revisited

After the rooftop kiss scene, Pran couldn't believe what had just happened. He had kissed Pat back because it was his repressed desires and emotions all coming to the surface at once. It's him unleashing all that long kept desire after so many years, and finally having that desire responded and reciprocated by Pat.

At the same time, he was hesitant because he still clearly thought that Pat liked Ink (refer to the beach conversation of Pat and his drunken friends later below). That confession which Pat made at the end of EP 4 was still very fresh and painful for Pran, and those feelings are things that he did not want to endure. Hence, he tried to keep it cool and calm, and stayed away from Pat as much as he could.

But he didn't realise just how determined Pat was to win him over. Pat pursued him all throughout, even to the point of daring to come to his house and meeting with his mum in the process (we see a glimpse of the issues between Pat's dad and Pran's mum, which would be revealed in full in EP 10, a few episodes later).

And Pat willingly waded into a literal warzone by coming along to the Architecture camp, when clearly no other non-Architecture students joined it. He went all the way to try to get Pran to talk to him regarding what happened on the rooftop, regarding their feelings and all. But Pran wasn't ready yet at that time. He was also worried to do so in front of all of his friends. Nonetheless Pat never gave up, and kept on trying.

During the beach games, Pat got the same plant on the nametag as Pran, 'Sweet basil', which according to the ancient Greek tradition is a symbol of hatred that gradually turned into love. Although it wasn't a direct Thai tradition or custom, it's probably one of the small symbolism to highlight the gradually developing nature of their relationship. Pran was still playing hard to get, but Pat was determined to communicate with Pran, and when Pran fell backwards, Pat protected him, placing his hands behind Pran's neck to guard him.

Pat used the opportunity of following Uncle Tong and Junior to the village market to have that precious time just for him and Pran at the market and then later on at the beach. It was in those scenes that the ice/barrier between them begin breaking down one by one.

Pran has been trying to put up those barriers to prevent him from getting hurt again. In the earlier part of the episode before he went to the camp, he had that conversation with Wai when he entrusted his guitar to the latter (this action would come back to haunt Pran later on), where he said, 'If we know how it's gonna end, it's better not to start at all, isn't it?' He knew how their relationship would be a difficult one if he chose to pursue that path with Pat.

But again, Pat didn't give up, staying close to Pran, and at that beach, we see how those barriers have pretty much completely dissolved as they had their sweet time alone together, playing in the water before that beautiful heart-to-heart talk by themselves. They opened up with each other for the first time after the rooftop kiss, and speaking about their past.

(Those beautiful words by Pran, when he said that he was angry when he was transferred out because of Pat and his mum, 'That was anger, but not hatred')

Then coming back to the scene where Pat ended up with Wai in the same group for the night, and how he irritated him and the other Architecture students with his actions, which led to Pran worrying about Pat. Eventually we saw how Pran kept on defending Pat and tried his best to keep Pat from danger, as indirect reference to show us how Pran cared for Pat, and he was finding his courage to stand up for him.

We have in the end, how Pran 'confessed' to his friends to stop them from attacking Pat and made them drunk. That confession was actually true. He was still hurt that his first love (Pat) was seeing other person (Pran still thought that Pat liked Ink). He said that he wanted to take a break, and it still hurt him.

Later, Pran and Pat both met at the beach, and when Pran tried to walk away, Pat held his hand firmly, telling him by his actions that he won't ever let Pran go and walk away again, after all the times he tried to walk away from Pat since the rooftop (EP 5). We had more conversations between them, finally clearing the air between them, no more understanding, and them 'competing' and making a 'deal' with each other, to see who will lose and declare their love first.

(This would happen at EP 10, at that staircase scene in the Architecture building, when Pat declared his love openly for Pran, while Pran was 'swept off' his feet by all that Pat told everyone about him and by his declaration of love)

(Back then, at that beach, they affirmed their relationship with each other, and indirectly professed to each other that they liked each other. They weren't officially boyfriends yet, but in their minds, they already were. The seaweed scene at the end confirmed just this)

Bad Buddy EP 7 Revisited (Part II)

Pat came to the Architecture play audition, surprising Pran who didn't know that Pat was able to play xylophone as required for the role of Riam. It was at this occasion (which was chronologically placed later in the episode), that Pat used the excuse of his roleplay as Riam to speak indirectly to Pran (whom he placed in the role of Kwan, his partner) regarding his intentions and thoughts,

Pran has always been very reserved in revealing his feelings and especially his relationship with Pat before others, and Pat has always been very persistent as shown in his efforts during the Architecture camp at the zero-waste village and the bet he made with Pran, to make the latter more comfortable in exploring their new relationship, through the competition they were so well accustomed to.

Hence, Pat again wanted to reassure Pran through his words (in the charade as Riam), that his love for Pran is indeed genuine, real and pure. Pat has indicated from then on, as he would later reveal, that he was more than willing to lose rather than to continue to play the game and bet, because he simply has loved Pran so much (and Pran felt the same way too).

Pat and Pran's fake 'double date' with Ink and Wai immediately afterwards served to confirm to both of them their feelings, while at the same time confronting their greatest insecurities. Pat has always been jealous of Wai, while Pran has always been insecure thinking that Pat still somehow liked Ink (even when Pat had said at the end of the previous episode that he didn't think that way). A part of them, Pat and Pran both still had that insecurity, which they revealed to each other by their rather comical competition, that they really loved each other so much, and that bet and game was really getting nowhere.

Then we have that iconic scene in Pran's room (where first we saw how well Pat knew Pran, when he paid attention even to the sad emoji on Pran's door handle), and how he did all to lighten Pran's mood. And all these culminated with the unplanned visit by Wai who was returning Pran's guitar and guilt-tripped Pran somewhat to take over his role in the music production of the Architecture play, while Pat was listening to all of that, hiding behind the sofa.

It was a scene where Pat must have really been so hurt, as he found out how the guitar that he had kept all those years (a symbol of their love), had been so casually passed on to Wai for keeping. Even more hurtful for Pat, was just how readily and freely Pran could agree to Wai's requests (or perhaps even demands), when he could not even freely ask him to be his boyfriend.

It was this moment that Pran knew that it was worth losing the bet, and to be brave to fight for their relationship, and not to run away again, knowing how he had hurt Pat not once, but twice. First, when he was transferred in high school, and then, with that same guitar kept by Pat for all those years handed over to Wai just like that, and Pat discovering it in the worst way possible.

I know many of us may wonder why Pat didn't seem to be affected that much by this later on. However, this is one way for us to realise that Pat would stop at nothing to love Pran, to fight for their love this time. He would not let Pran go again, and even if he had to endure hurt, and to swallow his pride, he would do so. (Remember that later on in EP 9, he would even go as far as getting shot to protect Wai, as part of his numerous efforts to get Wai to talk with Pran again - this is consistent with his character).

Then, Pat didn't want Pran to just declare his love there on the rooftop because he knew that by doing so, Pran was simply returning a favour, and not genuinely showing his love.

Hence, he chose to end the bet in the best way possible, by coming to Pran's rescue (his knight in shining armour), that gave Pran such assurance and happiness, relief and joy, that Pran could not have said no to them becoming boyfriends.

And yes, they became official boyfriends after that, at the end of this seventh episode. Pran feeding Pat the curry is the reply to Pat, that yes, he wanted him to be his boyfriend ('I want to cook for the one I like'). That curry is the symbol of Pran's love.