Only Friends: Dream On (Thai Series)

Set within a performing arts program, this GMMTV series tracks university students navigating jealousy, ambition, desire, and complicated relationships. It feels as though the studio gathered nearly every lead actor from their previous projects, resulting in a cast filled with familiar faces. The narrative centers on three main couples alongside several side characters who play significant roles in the plot. Each of the 12 episodes lasts approximately 55-60 minutes.

The plot kicks off as students prepare for a stage production of Romeo and Romeo, with Jack directing and holding open auditions. While Jack’s ex, Dean, used to secure lead roles automatically in Jack’s productions, Jack declares that this time, roles are earned through the best audition. Dean attempts to seduce Jack in hopes of winning him back, but Jack rejects him. Meanwhile, Raffy hopes that landing a role will allow him to get close to Jack, though Jack shows no interest in him. This creates a cycle where Raffy, after being rejected by Jack, hooks up with Jack’s stepbrother, Rome, who has feelings for Raffy but is constantly brushed off. The third couple involves Rua and Arnold; Rua, who is Dean’s roommate, friend, and the show’s costume designer, has a crush on Arnold and encourages him to audition for the lead. Ultimately, Arnold and Dean secure the two lead roles, leaving Raffy with only a side part. As rehearsals progress, the boundaries between vulnerability, rivalry, jealousy, and love begin to blur. The series captures how emotions overflow when people collaborate on a creative project, as ego, ambition, insecurity, attraction, and old feelings all collide. Between the impulsive, jealous choices, the presence of old exes, and the casting rivalries, the story remains charged and engaging.

The writers attempt to balance a large cast, even if giving everyone equal focus is difficult. The series is full of manipulation, seduction, jealousy, and painful misunderstandings, yet it allows characters to make major mistakes without defining them solely by those errors, as everyone possesses genuine insecurities and flaws. We witness the reasons behind Jack and Dean’s breakup and their eventual reconciliation, only for a misunderstanding involving Dean and Arnold to threaten both their relationships and the play itself. Tension also persists between Rome and Raffy due to Raffy’s lingering feelings for Jack; it is frustrating to watch Raffy repeatedly chase Jack only to face rejection. My standout pair was Arnold and Tua, whose inherent softness provides a balance to the heavier surrounding drama. Even during conflicts, such as the situation with Arnold and Dean or Tua lying about actor pay, the issues feel grounded and real rather than destructive. While Jack and Dean are the central couple, their arc felt predictable to me, as they remain stuck between their past selves and who they became after hurting one another. The show succeeds because its characters are flawed, presenting desire, insecurity, and jealousy in a raw, unfiltered way that makes conflicts feel spontaneous and authentic. Additionally, the series leans into nostalgia by including cameos from familiar names and pairings from previous shows.

While I found the first five or six episodes quite enjoyable, the show eventually fell into a repetitive pattern, looping through the usual cycle of affairs, misunderstandings, breakups, and patch ups. That said, managing such a large cast is no small feat, and I respect the effort involved. Overall, it was a solid production that outshines many other shows in this genre.(7/10)