Bad Buddy – Series Review & Ending Explained

BL Romeo and Juliet

Bad Buddy draws clear parallels to the classic Shakespearean tale Romeo and Juliet. The story is about the two feuding families and the young star-crossed lovers caught in the crossfire of the hatred. There are a few changes, of course. Thankfully, there's no tragic death at the end. This BL series is also a lot more lighthearted and contemporary, like a modern love story that could realistically take place in the 2020s.

The family drama is introduced early in the premiere, but it doesn't become a prominent storyline until the end. We save the epic melodrama for the last few episodes. In the meantime, Bad Buddy focuses on the animosity between Pran's friends and Pat's friends from university. I think that's a smart decision. The family tensions can get emotionally heavy, so you don't want to start a romantic comedy with that kind of melodrama.

Instead, Bad Buddy begins with the relatable & flexible storyline about two rival school factions, the architecture department vs. the engineering faculty. Their conflict is dramatic enough, but it doesn't feel that serious. Therefore, it's a far better way to introduce the protagonists and showcase their playful flirtations. You'll laugh at the rapid banter between Pran and Pat. You'll tense up at their well-choreographed physical altercations. The two protagonists are on opposite sides and can't seemingly get along, creating an exciting dynamic that propels the early episodes.

Pran and Pat

The two lovable leads play a huge part in making Bad Buddy a successful BL series. Pran and Pat are well-developed protagonists with distinctive personalities. They have complex backstories, realistic strengths and weaknesses, as well as funny quirks and eccentric habits. Their characterizations are vividly crafted, helping to make this series come alive. I feel totally connected with these protagonists and their transformative journeys.

Pran is a gentle and sensitive character, demonstrating intelligence, responsibility, and good manners. He's a well-adjusted young man, the type of perfect and precocious child that would make any parent proud. I also love his style and creative flair. Pran is always well-dressed and his beautiful room is decorated like a Pinterest board. Sometimes, his personality can be too neurotic and insecure. That's where Pat comes in, helping him laugh and relax instead of fussing over perfection.

Pat is charming and confident, exuding infectious energy that lights up any room he enters. He has a cheerful disposition, childlike playfulness, and a cheeky sense of humour. Pat is the type of goofball who brings joy everywhere he goes. I like that he's a lazy slob with a roguish disregard for etiquette or rules. His juvenile antics make me giggle, although I acknowledge the character's likability stems from the actor's natural charisma. Sometimes, Pat can be too inappropriate and obnoxious, but Pran will keep him in check and make sure he behaves.

Both characters have such endearing personalities, making each episode of Bad Buddy delightful to watch. Don't ask me to choose my favourite between Pran and Pat, because I love them equally~ Look at them! How can I possibly pick one over the other? 😚

Toxic masculinity

Beyond the romantic comedy elements, Bad Buddy explores toxic masculinity, shining a spotlight on undesirable behaviour perpetrated by men. You may have noticed an overpowering macho vibe coming from this series, more than the usual amount you expect in BL. Between the physical brawls and intense rugby matches, there's a lot of hypermasculine aggression on display. These young men are frequently angry, quick to provoke conflicts with fists, kicks, and guns.

The male posturing is most prominent in the early episodes, defined by bruised egos and petty jibes. The conflict between the two university departments began over watching a sports game in a bar. Pat and his friends escalate the tensions, refusing to brush aside an insult due to their pride. All Wai did was stick up his middle finger. Yet, he gets subjected to days of bullying, physical assault & workplace humiliation. Pat's friends are jackasses who relish in abuse, and Pat himself is an active participant who succumbs to mob mentality.

Bad Buddy makes a case that toxic masculinity is amplified in group settings. Notice how Pat's worst moments are when he tries appearing in a specific way to please others. Pat feels a constant need to assert himself to look "manlier". He bullies Wai to protect his reputation as a tough guy on campus. He also lies to his dad about playing on the rugby team instead of acting in the theatre play. Pat's character represents the performative masculinity that many men feel pressured by their peers & families. However, he drops the bravado around Pran's positive influence.

Pran

Pran exudes a different aura from the other male characters in Bad Buddy. He's thoughtful, sensitive, and emotionally intelligent. These qualities are evident in the first scene, where he's asked to join the campus brawl. Instead of jumping impulsively into action, Pran takes the time to pack up his art supplies. While the comedic moment was played for laughs, it also showcased his calm and level-headed personality. Pran joins the fight to protect his friends, not because he wants to thrust his chest and assert his masculinity.

Pran subverts various male constructs throughout the drama, from defying small stereotypes like handwriting to challenging Pat's views on heteronormativity. He's also close to his mom, enjoys artistic pursuits, and maintains good personal hygiene (including make-up remover, btw). These traits are not widely associated with the traditional male identity, but Pran exhibits them proudly and openly. He presents a different definition of manhood, showing there's another way to be a guy without the ego or aggression.

I love Pran because he's considerate and highly attuned to other people's emotions. In Episode 8, the couple has a minor tiff when Pran flinches after his boyfriend takes a picture of them. Pat brushes off the moment like it's nothing. Nonetheless, Pran leaves a sea of memo notes as a creative apology, boosting his boyfriend's spirits. Later, he goes to lengths to cheer up Pat after a tense call with his dad. Pran's empathy and compassion shine brightly in many instances, making his character so lovable.

Heteronormativity

Bad Buddy is full of incredible BL exchanges, including a spectacular rooftop kiss that still makes my heart pitter-patter. However, the best moment in the series is not an inherently romantic interaction. Instead, my favourite scene is in Episode 9, where Pran visits an injured Pat at the hospital. Pat just finished a call with Wai over the police incident. Wai teases the couple's intimacy, and Pat responds with a cheeky remark by calling Pran his "wife". Pran waits until his partner finishes the call before asking him a pivotal question.

"Does calling me a wife make you feel superior?"

Damn, Pran just dropped the mic. He destroyed male chauvinism, toxic masculinity, and outdated heteronormative notions with one concise line. I was utterly shaken that Bad Buddy delivered a powerful, elegant statement about BL culture. Of course, Pat immediately backpedalled and covered up his comment as a joke. However, the remark is based on his deep-rooted insecurities about asserting his masculinity in a gay relationship. His character has a heteronormative outlook, perceiving romance only in terms of girlfriends and wives until he meets Pran.

What makes this well-written scene better is Pran's poised demeanour. He never loses his patience or composure. Pran remains relaxed by making a tactful joke, reversing the roles to demonstrate his point. Pat feels silly using pet names like "hubby" and "wifey", but he isn't humiliated or shamed. Pran defuses an uncomfortable confrontation with calm humour, turning it into a learning lesson for his boyfriend. Best of all, the moment doesn't feel preachy or heavy-handed. Bad Buddy is smooth at delivering its thematic messages under the subtle guise of romantic comedy.

Good buddy

This series is called "Bad Buddy" to highlight Pat's bad behaviour, bad habits, and bad blood with his neighbour. However, the story is also about Pran being a good buddy to Pat. He is a positive influence for his companion, rehabilitating him on gender norms and redefining concepts about the male identity.

When Pat behaves problematically, Pran will call him out on it. Pat spent his life acting like an uncultured manchild, but everybody dismissed his antics with a casual "boys will be boys~" mentality. His parents don't interfere, his sister has no influence, and his friends actually egg on the buffoonery. Pran is the only one to challenge this attitude, encouraging his bad buddy to grow as a person.

After spending time with Pran, Pat becomes noticeably less aggressive, less boorish, and less callous. He even starts using the makeup remover for himself! Pat becomes a more sophisticated gentleman and an all-around better guy near the end of Bad Buddy. He exhibits significantly less toxic masculinity while demonstrating maturity, empathy, and substance. This transformative character development is inspired by Pran, the best role model in his life.

Pat

Although I have concentrated on Pat's faults so far, I love his character and cherish his many virtues. His charm compensates for a lot, but he's also loyal, devoted, and resilient. Episode 6 is a fine showcase of Pat's best qualities. After the rooftop kiss, Pran's insecurities take over, afraid of confronting their new relationship dynamic. He gives Pat the cold shoulder, offering no excuse. Imagine kissing someone and they treat you like the plague. It can't be a good feeling, right?

Pat doesn't give up on their relationship despite Pran's standoffish behaviour. He's even thick-skinned enough to join a random field trip, ignoring the animosity from Wai and his clique. Pat is determined to reach out to Pran, no matter what it takes. Later in the episode, there's a scene where Pran calls Pat an asshole on the beach. You can see Pat is visibly annoyed, but he doesn't retaliate. He rises above the pettiness, shrugs off the contempt, and maintains his high spirits. Episode 6 concludes happily when Pat's persistence pays off as Pran warms up to him.

What makes Pat so remarkable is his fierce, unwavering loyalty to Pran. He remains a devoted companion through the good times and bad times. Sometimes, Pran gets confused with his feelings or struggles with self-doubt. However, Pat is always there for him, displaying unconditional support. He acts as a pillar of strength when Pran suffers from bouts of personal weakness. You can act moody with me, but I'll still be your buddy. I'll smile through your silent treatment, crack jokes to counter the insults, and cheer you up until we're friends again.

Secret relationship

Pran doesn't feel comfortable dating in public. He can be as flirty and goofy as Pat when they're alone. However, Pran acts self-conscious about showing affection around others. He doesn't want to broadcast his relationship and opposes Pat for suggesting they're more than #JustFriends on social media. Pran is against the performative nature of romance, believing love is just between two people. He doesn't see the need to involve outsiders and celebrate their intimacy before them.

The desire for privacy is not exclusive to gay romances. However, discretion is a predominant trait among same-sex couples, as they wish to avoid judgment or danger. Bad Buddy is clever because it draws parallels to this LGBT theme using a similar storyline. The series never references homophobia directly at any point. Instead, it uses a universal plot to subtly convey the gay experience to a broad audience. You may or may not interpret Pran's secrecy as a product of his sexuality. That's what makes this narrative so smart, because it carries unique meanings for different viewers.

Unfortunately, Pran and Pat aren't adept at hiding their relationship. These guys try to sneak around with their secret dalliances, but they're frequently exposed.

• The first time is when they get caught in an embarrassing position before their university peers.
• The second time is when Pat's dad confronts them in the mall, assaulting Pran and humiliating him.

Poor Pran's worst nightmare keeps coming true, as he gets outed in the most public places imaginable. I felt so bad for him in Episode 10, where he cried after a terrible day of everyone discovering the truth. He got slapped by his mom, shoved by Pat's dad, and shamed in front of everyone. The power to control his own narrative is stripped away from Pran, as his private relationship becomes a public disgrace. 😢

Wai

Let's shift the focus to Wai, a controversial figure responsible for outing his best friend. I have complicated feelings about his character, fluctuating between sympathy and irritation. The bullying against him is horrendous. Beating up someone because they gave you the bird is overboard in the first place. What's worse is that Pat's friends provoke Wai at his workplace, baiting him into losing his temper and his job. These malicious assholes made Wai's life hell and I feel terrible for him.

Despite his sad circumstances, Wai irks me because he's annoyingly belligerent. There are many times when I want him to just stand down and mind his own business. Stop making provocative comments. Stop escalating the tension. A lot of the drama in Bad Buddy could be avoided if Wai showed more composure. This guy wins a rugby match, walks past the losing team, and can't resist making a smug remark about poor sportsmanship. Why are you like this, Wai!? Why do you have to be such a douchebag!?

Wai's response to Pran and Pat's relationship is infuriating. I understand his vendetta against Pat. I also recognize that he feels betrayed by Pran, dating the jerk who bullied Wai. However, Wai has no authority to get involved with his friend's relationship. He definitely doesn't have the right to out Pran in the most humiliating way, a rotten move with no justification. If you're upset at your friend, confront him in private instead of targeting his secret vulnerability before a crowd.

King of chaos

Bad Buddy never calls out Wai on his problematic behaviour, brushing past his toxic entitlement and evil antics merrily. "I need to forgive you, huh? Otherwise, I'm an asshole." is genuinely the worst apology ever after outing someone. In defence of Wai (*takes a gulp*), I don't think his intentions were homophobic. His actions stemmed from narrow-minded pettiness instead of a deliberate attempt to weaponize Pran's sexuality. Nonetheless, his actions come with harmful consequences to gay couples and I cannot excuse what Wai did.

Besides that one ugly incident, Wai's characterization consistently shows he's exhausting as hell. He walks around with a chip in his shoulder. His hissy tantrums, angry outbursts, emotional terrorism, perpetual smugness, and insufferable self-victimization are too much for me. I try to sympathize with Wai, but damn, his personality is so difficult to like. 😒

With that said, I don't completely hate Wai either. I secretly enjoy a bit of chaos and messiness in my BL dramas, which he delivers in spades. Plus, the actor does an excellent job, really catching my eye with his performance. Overall, I appreciate Wai's ability to enter any situation and singlehandedly start reckless, unnecessary drama. Today, I'm gonna pick a fight with a pack of strangers! Tomorrow, I'm gonna shit-stir in your secret relationship! Wai sucks as a person, but he works as a disruptor. Bad Buddy wouldn't be half as eventful without his character, that's for sure.

Pa and Ink

Here's my hot take. I don't believe Ink acts hostile towards Wai because she sees him as a love rival. I think Ink is repulsed by Wai because she can smell the douche off him. She doesn't even try to hide her obvious contempt. Every time Ink sees Wai, her smile disappears, her eyes narrow, and her face turns to stone. Typically, she's cordial and chummy with every other character EXCEPT for him. Ink felt Wai's ~bad energy~ from the moment they met and raised her defences around him.

Initially, I also raised my defences around Ink. My fear was that she'd be the female love interest to come in between Pat and Pran's budding romance. Once I realized Ink was also shipping these guys together, I immediately relaxed and embraced her. Ink's character is pretty likable. She brings a strong, mature, and sensible femininity to the series, like a breath of fresh air amid the toxic masculinity.

The romance between Pa and Ink is a pleasant surprise, one that I champion wholeheartedly. I don't have much to say about their simple, straightforward relationship, but it was warm and gentle to watch. More BL dramas should start adding lesbian side couples to their series. In fact, I'm a firm supporter of mixing BL and GL storylines together. As Bad Buddy successfully demonstrates, these LGBT love stories are complementary and can coexist. Let's have fewer female characters getting rejected by guys and more of them finding love with each other instead.

Homophobia

Pat's father is another controversial figure. The best compliment I can give him is that he defies convention and doesn't express explicit homophobia. Am I twisted for expecting him to say something offensive about his gay children? I was so sure this bossy patriarch would be a raging homophobe and show his ugly bigotry at some point. To Bad Buddy's credit, the series avoids an obvious plot, making us focus on other facets of his character.

Bad Buddy's lack of homophobia is a deliberate storytelling choice. The parents and other straight characters never react to the two same-sex couples with anything but support. Like many BL stories, the series takes place in a safe, idyllic environment for the gay protagonists. Viewers can enjoy a fantasy escape as they watch the lighthearted romances that celebrate love without judgment. As relaxing as these stories might be, they don't always feel realistic. They're missing a few integral real-life experiences that make up the gay identity.

Bad Buddy is brilliant because it uses parallels in the narrative to convey LGBT ideas. The leads go through a familiar journey, showing discretion and worrying about family expectations. However, the storylines aren't related to their sexuality and they don't face homophobia. This series gets the best of both worlds, exploring the gay identity while retaining its fantasy escape. It remains a cheery romantic comedy on the surface, masking subtle themes that could resonate with relevant viewers. This duality is an elevated storytelling technique and I'm so impressed by Bad Buddy.

Pat's dad

What happens to the insensitive, entitled young men like Wai or Korn as they grow older? They develop into pathetic cowards that resemble Pat's dad. Decades later, Ming hides behind his family and can't admit to his mistakes. His ego is still so fragile that he won't apologize to Pran's mom for stealing her scholarship. Not that an apology could make up for his awful misdeed, but it was the least he could have done. Yet, Pat's dad doesn't even achieve the bare minimum, so small-minded and arrogant that he deluded himself into hating Dissaya.

During the heated confrontation in Episode 10, Pat's mom makes a small yet crucial comment. She justifies her husband's behaviour, stating Ming's dad placed intense expectations on him. A crappy family situation doesn't excuse his underhanded tactics whatsoever. However, it contextualizes his actions and reflects a scary trend of harmful ideology passing between generations. We have seen Ming try to control Pat's life, from winning the music festival to playing on the rugby team. Now, we know this behaviour was trickled down from Ming's own domineering father.

"I thought you knew your priorities," Pat's dad says in Episode 8, devastating his son. Of course, these so-called priorities are meaningless goals dictated by Ming's ego. Nonetheless, Pat idolizes his father and adjusts his life to appease him. Bad Buddy has hinted that Pat was on the same trajectory as his parent, destined to carry the pattern of toxic behaviour. What rescues him from following in his father's footsteps is Pran. Pat is fortunate to have a kind and thoughtful boyfriend, gently steering him away from his dad's oppressive grasp.

Pa and Pat

Pat isn't the only one to suffer in his family. While Pa doesn't receive much focus, I'll still overanalyze her character and share a few observations. Have you noticed how little Pa's father cares about his daughter? There are various signs I picked up throughout the series:

• Go back to the family meal in Episode 1. The first line the dad says is, "Let your brother have that piece of chicken. He's hungry." Right away, we already know who his favourite child is.
• Naturally, Pa's dad never asks her to join the music festival or play any sports. All his attention and expectations are reserved for Pat, but not Pa.
• An unusual detail is the laundry situation. Isn't it a weird arrangement that Pat orders his little sister to wash his clothes at the dorm? Yet, their parents don't say a word, insinuating this unfair request is okay.

I bring up these examples to demonstrate a recurring theme with Pa's character. In the first few episodes, her role is seemingly to be Pat's servant, doing his chores and fetching him items. There's implicit patriarchy in their family, where Pa is conditioned to feel subservient and inferior to her brother. Basically, Pat is the golden child and she's the maid.

What I enjoy about Ink and Pa's relationship is their healthy dynamic. Unlike Pat, Ink treats Pa respectfully and doesn't order her around. Ink is like a mentor, helping this younger student adjust to university life. Growing up, Pa is used to looking after her brother. Now, somebody is taking care of her instead. Pa ending up with a woman is a defiant statement, shunning the patriarchal notions imposed by her family. She's finally free from her brother's shadow because Ink liberates her and instills a sense of independence.

Scholarship

In Episode 10, we discover the reason behind Pat and Pran's long-lasting family feud. Back in their high school days, Pat's dad sabotaged a scholarship opportunity for Pran's mom. Ming's underhanded betrayal caused Dissaya to miss out on her chance to go to university. She harboured this grudge for decades, defining it as the moment that ruined her future. Pat's father didn't even need the school grant, since he took over the family business after graduation. He only wanted it to boast to his parents.

This dramatic revelation plays out like a soap opera storyline, and I'm unsure if a few details hold up under scrutiny. What kind of scholarship is this if it can be undermined by a high school student's unsubstantiated rumours? 🤔 Nonetheless, I understand Dissaya's trauma and believe her anger is valid. She is an ambitious, intelligent woman denied the opportunity to advance in life because of male privilege and entitlement. Sounds pretty plausible, backed by years of history proving this exact concept.

If I was Pran's mom, I wouldn't forgive Pat's dad either. The consequences were severe enough that her lifelong grudge felt justified. What Ming did was wrong, and what's worse is he never owned up to his actions. It must've infuriated Dissaya how the scholarship thief continued to antagonize her with their business rivalry and other petty acts. According to Ming, they're "even" because Dissaya stole his worker (which isn't even true), exposing how broken his values are. Pat's dad is a trashy scumbag, and I get why Dissaya doesn't want her son to associate with his family.

Pran's mom

As much as I sympathize with Pran's mom, is it fair to transfer her grudge onto her child? Pran grew up to hate the family and kids next door without knowing exactly why. He is pressured into competing against Pat, placing an enormous psychological strain on his childhood. Pran also learned to sneak around and lie to his mom. He even feared that showing kindness to Pat or Pa would upset her.

Pran's mom believes she needs to protect her son from the evil neighbours, and I understand her uneasiness around them. Ming is a morally corrupt asshole. His wife is an enabler, who knew what transpired and still acted hostile toward Dissaya. Surely, these two wouldn't raise upstanding children with honourable principles. After all, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. No, the broad generalizations aren't fair to Pat or Pa. However, Dissaya's judgment is clouded by significant trauma, making her distrust that family irrationally.

While Dissaya's vendetta against Ming is justified, her thinking is too self-centred. Hating someone doesn't need to be a team activity, yet she adopts a stark us-versus-them mentality. If I don't like this family, you can't like them either! And if not, I'll transfer you to a different school! Dissaya is so blinded by agony that she doesn't realize her extreme views hurt Pran inadvertently. As her fury overpowers her parental instincts, she shifts the emotional toll of her feud onto her child. Antagonize Pat's dad all you want, but please leave Pran out of it!

Pran's guitar

The guitar is a sore point in Pran's relationship with his mom. He used to love music and joined a band with Pat. However, his mom was furious after discovering her son's secret extracurricular activity. She forced him to transfer schools, separating Pran & Pat for the next three years. Pran never played the guitar again since then. Pat kept the instrument on his behalf, returning it to the owner in university. Pran still hid the guitar from his mom, anxious about upsetting her.

Pran's guitar has various symbolic meanings. This instrument represents his camaraderie with Pat, which he gave up to appease his mom. It also reflects how Pran lost a part of his happy adolescence due to the ongoing feud. From Dissaya's perspective, the guitar is a token of her son's defiance. She taught him not to mingle with the next-door neighbours, yet Pran went behind her back and made a bad buddy. Pulling her kid out of school over a music performance is a dramatic and senseless move. The memory traumatizes Pran, who never wants to disappoint his mom again.

Pran is hesitant to play his guitar. He gives away the instrument in Episode 6, seeing it as a troublesome temptation. In the same episode, he avoids Pat after their kiss for that exact reason. Deep down, Pran wants to date Pat and perform music. Yet, he's too considerate of his mom's feelings and represses his own desires. Under Pat's charmful persuasion, Pran is slowly convinced to play the guitar and prioritize his personal happiness. Pran's song in Episode 11 is a culmination of his journey, liberating himself from the lifelong doubts as he openly expresses his love.

Past and present

Pran's mom returns the guitar to her son's bedroom in the final episode. Her gesture is symbolically significant, illustrating how she has changed her views from the past. This musical instrument used to provoke a painful memory between the two characters. Now, it has positive connotations, representing Dissaya's open-mindedness. You can play your guitar again, and you don't need to hide it from me anymore. You can love that kid next door, and your relationship isn't going to upset me.

Ming expresses similar sentiments, except he isn't as explicit with his feelings. You may have noticed an undercurrent of tension between Pat and his father during the finale. Although their characters used to be really chummy, they have businesslike exchanges these days. We also learn that Pat argues with his dad frequently and hasn't visited home in a long time. Pat maintains a happy façade during the dinner, but the relationship with his family is strained after the time skip. Unlike Pran and his mom, Pat can't fully reconcile with his dad over the past events.

What causes the rift? Maybe Pat thinks less of his father after learning about the scholarship scandal. Or perhaps there's resentment that his family won't openly accept his boyfriend. Regardless, the present version of Pat is remarkably different from his younger self. He began this series as a reckless macho bro who idolized his dad and antagonized Pran. Now, Pat knows better than to follow his father's flawed doctrine. His boyfriend's gentle nature has rubbed off on Pat, turning him into a more sensitive soul by the end of Bad Buddy.

Happy ending

Bad Buddy has a happy ending. However, the final episode throws a surprise curveball at the viewers, making us believe that Pran and Pat's relationship doesn't last after a time skip. It carries on the charade for half the episode, full of sad expressions and wistful glances from both leads. You are inclined to believe the characters have broken up because of the tensions between their families. However, the series then reveals their breakup is a deceitful act all along.

After Pran and Pat have returned from their trip, they devise a sneaky plan. Both agree to lie to their families about breaking off the relationship. That way, their parents won't feel upset about them dating anymore. Yet, Pran and Pat meet each other in secrecy, maintaining an undercover romance behind their parents' backs. They continue this discreet dating arrangement after graduation. Pran moves to Singapore for his architecture job, while Pat starts working at the family business. They still maintain a healthy long-distance relationship.

Pran returns to the country to attend a high school reunion, where he and Pat pretend they don't get along. Except it's an act to throw others off the scent. In reality, they are giving each other coy smiles and giggling over the phone afterwards. When Pat and Pran are alone, their relationship continues to be as sweet as ever. They even go on double dates with Pa and Ink, who are still dating. Wai and Korn also know about their secret relationship. These two former enemies are friends now and even manage a bar together.

Pran and Pat's parents

Although Bad Buddy has a happy ending, not every storyline concludes idyllically. Pran's mom and Pat's dad never resolve their differences, continuing to antagonize each other. There's no tearful apology. The characters don't have any heartfelt chats. Against expectations, nothing gets wrapped up neatly in a feel-good, sentimental arc.

These two feuding families simply continue their day-to-day lives, despising one another from a distance. The lack of closure is messy and inelegant, just like real life. The decades of animosity between Pran and Pat's parents are too dire to overcome. It wouldn't have made sense for Dissaya to simply forgive Ming just because their kids are dating.

However, the series hints that the characters might have slightly softened their stances. When his enemy's mail is accidentally delivered to Ming's house, he makes an effort to put it into the other household's mailbox, a very neighbourly thing to do. His small gesture is quietly observed and acknowledged by Dissaya. The viewers are left to assume that maybe, just maybe, their relationship has a chance of getting better. Or perhaps they'll go back to arguing about garbage bins on the next day. Who knows?

Coming out

Since their parents still don't get along, Pran and Pat continue hiding their relationship to avoid worsening the family tensions. It sucks they can't date in the open or visit their boyfriend's houses without sneaking around. When Pran brings a souvenir for his father-in-law, Pat vaguely says it's a present from a "friend". When they attend a high school reunion, these guys must pretend they barely talk. After dating for many years, they are still each other's dirty little secret. 

Despite their secrecy, they are not miserable. The couple giggles to themselves, believing they're so sly for pulling the wool over their parents' eyes. Yet, Pran and Pat are unaware that their families already know about them. As usual, they're terrible at being discreet, leaving behind obvious clues in their not-so-secret rendezvous.

However, Ming and Dissaya don't get upset about their children dating. They pretend to turn a blind eye and maintain neutral reactions. It's an improvement from the worst-case scenario, a promising sign that Pran and Pat's parents already accept their romance. Bad Buddy suggests that they'll be met with support and tolerance when the guys are ready to "come out".

Ending explained

Bad Buddy deliberately chooses not to resolve all its conflicts in the ending. Pat and Pran's families still don't get along. Their animosity forces the couple to continue sneaking around and hiding their love to appease their parents. The conclusion is unsatisfying on purpose, refusing to give the viewers a tidy resolution that wraps up all the storylines neatly. Yet, this ending is thematically powerful, even if you might feel frustrated by the lack of closure.

At the end of Episode 11, Tong gives significant dialogue that reflects the themes in the ending:

"What I do might not be able to change the world. But it surely changes my attitude towards this world. You might think one man can't change the world, but I want you to know this world can't change someone like me either."

Let's apply this sentiment to Pat and Pran's situation. No, they can't change the feud between their families, who might disapprove of their romance for a lifetime. However, Pran and Pat can control their ability to work around the circumstances. They've learned to disregard the family drama and continue having a relationship anyway. While they must make compromises, their feelings for each other remain the same. Ultimately, Pat and Pran are still happy, regardless of their parents.

This series teaches us that some circumstances in life will always be out of our control. We can't force two feuding families to get along, just like how we can't convince bigots to accept LGBT relationships. We must admit our limited ability to influence certain external factors. That's simply the inelegance of life. The best we can do is strengthen our convictions and hold firm to our personal values. Don't change who we love based on what other people want. Even when faced with compromises, let's not allow others to alter the source of our happiness.