THE CROSSOVER

By Rich Paschall on 07/09/2023 • ( 1 )

The Return of Bad Buddy, Part 2, by Rich Paschall

In Bad Buddy episode one of the anthology series, Our Skyy2, Pat and Pran were once again in competition Each wanted the auditorium for their faculty play. When Pat decided to give in and let Pran have it, they learned it was not that simple. The professor told Pran that since his play was based on a true story, he must have permission from the story’s owner. Teacher Tian had posted his diary, A Tale of Thousand Stars (ATOTS), online and Pran wanted to adapt it for the Architecture students’ play. Through deception, Pran left Pat behind and set out for the mountain village on his own. He wanted to show Pat that he did not need his help to get the signatures.

Crossover

At first, there is a misunderstanding as to why Pran has arrived at the village. His attempts to explain himself are sidetracked by a dispute between Chief Phupha and Tian. The teacher is upset with Chief for not going to his parents for his birthday again this year. Pran finally gets to explain to Tian his reason for arriving. Tian agrees to sign the permission to use ATOTS but thinks the Chief will not do it. In fact, he does not even know Tian posted his diary online, nor has he read it.

While Tian is cooking dinner for Chief, Pran, and himself, the Chief arrives with another he found “losing his way.” You knew that Pat was going to arrive before long.

Pat: “Hey Pran, my Buddy. I thought we wouldn’t see each other.” (With a big grin)
Pran: “Well if it isn’t my Buddy, Pat.” (not sounding very pleased)

At dinner, Chief thinks that both Pat and Pran are volunteer teachers so Pran speaks up and explains the purpose of his visit. He hands Chief the script. Chief does not feel it is right and says he will never sign. The buddies can not leave with just one signature.

That night we can have a couple of throwback moments for Pat and Pran. You may recall Pran tickling Pat when they both went for the same dorm room. Now Pat tickles Pran who can’t see because he is wearing an eye mask for sleep. In Bad Buddy Series (BBS) Pat has a Nong Nao doll for sleep but now Pran has a Nong Nao eye mask. Have you noticed the number of times Pran has tickled Pat under the chin? You certainly knew the opposite was going on in BBS.

Pat arrives

Since Pran is not making any progress in getting the Chief to agree to sign the permission letter, partly due to Pat’s “help,” he goes to the waterfall where he can yell. Pat soon shows up and asks Pran if he needs his help. Chief and Teacher are fighting over who fell for whom first.

Pat: “Have you forgotten?: We fought because of these things too. Don’t you think it’s familiar?”
Pran: “You’re right.”

You may recall that several episodes of BBS were a competition between Pat and Pran to see who could win over the other first. Who liked who first was still brought up even after Pran seemed to have lost the competition. Pat asks Pran to follow what’s in Tian’s diary so they can try to figure out who fell for the other first.

Pran: “You’re just asking me to play in the water with you.”

Well, of course, he is! The buddies will play in the water similar to the time they did in Episode 6 of BBS. This will be the point they introduce the OST (Official Soundtrack song) into the story. You will hear Ohm Pawat singing “My Word.” He has become an accomplished singer and the feel of this song is just right for Pat and Pran.

When they leave the water Pran asks if Chief secretly watched the teacher play in the water because he likes him. Pat says yes, just like when Pran secretly watched Pat take off his tee. You may recall Pat trying to get Pran’s attention in BBS by taking off his t-shirt and pouring water on himself at the rugby field. Now he plays Chief and asks the Teacher (Pran) if he likes it. Pat has a perfectly sculpted body with no apparent body fat. Pran pokes his six-pack abs.

Pran: “I don’t. Chief Phu’s body looks a lot hotter than yours.”
Pat” “Eh? [Pran walks away] Hey, wait. When did you see his?”

“Chief Phu’s body looks a lot hotter…”

The comparisons do not end as Pat and Pran will now play Chief and Teacher again as they have to put up the mosquito net. Viewers of ATOTS will recall the scene. When they agree that the Chief and Tian must have kissed, it allows Pat to sneak in a kiss. When they are under the net and ready for bed, Pat suggests it is like their honeymoon trip. When Pat snuggles up to Pran you see Pran laughing because Pat’s breathing is tickling the back of his neck. You probably recall Pat breathing on the back of Pran’s neck during play rehearsal in the original series. From there it goes on to…we get the point. BBS and ATOTS never need to show a lot of skin or drawn-out love-making scenes.

The next day Pat and Pran conspire to bring Chief Phupha and Tien together at a karaoke party hosted by Yod. The karaoke equipment does not work properly and Chief and Tian never get to sing together. Entertainment duties pass to Pran who sings Secret from BBS.

Pran: “Hello everyone. I’m Pran. Actually, my boyfriend and I also fought about who fell for the other first. But in the end, it isn’t important. What matters more is that we love each other. That’s why I wrote this song”

This is a great moment for BBS fans as it introduces a favorite theme from the original. Pran’s singing blends into the actual closing theme by Kacha Nontanun. The song seems to bring Chief and Tian together. Tian has too much to drink and Chief takes him home. The dispute about attending Tian’s birthday is renewed when Tian finds an invitation letter from his mother in the mailbox. Pran follows Tian into the house while Pat follows Chief back to the party. Pat challenges Chief to a drinking competition. If Chief wins, Pat agrees to go home but if Pat wins, Chief must sign the permission form.

Meanwhile, Tian remembers that the proof the Chief fell for him first is in Torfun’s diary which is buried at Pha Pun Dao on the mountain. Drunken Tian wants to go up the mountain to get it at night, and little Kampung pops up and offers to show them the way. Off they go with Pran reluctantly following.

Chief and Pat got too drunk in the competition and it was considered a draw. The next morning they discover that Kampung, Tien, and Pran are missing and must be headed to Pha Pun Dao. Chief, Yod, and Pat head out to search for them. Perhaps you noticed that the watch Pran wore from the end of Episode 1 of BBS until the end was also being worn now. Pat finds it by the bridge where Pran nearly fell over confirming the trio went that way.

The search that follows is also a search for understanding their own feelings. What do they discover? That is what Part 3 of our review will discover.

My Word (OST. Our Skyy) – Ohm Pawat

See Also: “The Return of Bad Buddy,” Part 1, Welcome Back, Pat and Pran, SERENDIPITY, July 2, 2023.
“The Art of Bad Buddy Series,” Clues, Hints, Irony, and Chemistry, SERENDIPITY, October 16, 2022.
Next Up: “The Architecture Students’ Play,” The Return of Bad Buddy, Part 3, SERENDIPITY, July 12, 2023.