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#only friends spoilers

moonkhao · 8 months

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Sand. Can I ask you something? Are you and Ray going out?

ONLY FRIENDS | Ep 5

#only friends the series #ofts #only friends spoilers #first kanaphan #khaotung thanawat #raysand #bostonnick #my edits #onlyfriendsedit

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forcebookcorner · 7 months

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Parallelisms

Book Kasidet, Mond Tanutchai and Force Jiratchapong as Mew Witsarut, Boeing and Top Tanin in Only Friends Episode 1 and 10 (2023) [X] [X]

#only friends the series #only friends ep01 #only friends ep10 #only friends spoilers #topmew #boeingmew #top tanin #mew witsarut #Boeing #forcebook #book kasidet #force jiratchapong #mond tanutchai #My Gifs

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nemesis-21 · 9 months

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Drake really showed up, served cunt, and then left. What a legend.

#only friends spoilers #only friends #only friends the series #thai drama #thai bl #bl drama #drake laedeke #gmmtv

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syrena-del-mar · 8 months

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Boston, the Machiavellian Prince?

Okay, okay, this is definitely too early into the show to establish anything definite, but I wanted to write my thoughts of the first two episodes down to see if I still agree with my initial assumptions at the end. Boston, so far, has been as messy as I wanted him to be when I first saw the initial trailer all those months ago. What makes him interesting and so unlike the others, is that he's incredibly calculative, to the point that the show explicitly refers to him as 'The Hunter'. Personally, when I think of an individual being designated as 'The Hunter', I tend to correlate it with Machiavelli, so it's no surprise here that Boston reminded me of the his renown work, 'The Prince'.

If you know anything about Machiavelli, specifically in ‘The Prince’, he establishes that it's important for a Prince to hunt so that way he is actively learning more about his kingdom, in turn that knowledge maintains his power. Now a Machiavellian Personality is one of what is coined the "Dark Triad", which refers to the three personalities: Narcissism, Psychopathy, and Machiavellianism. Essentially, while they are all distinct, they all fall under the callous-manipulative personality type. As @trilliastra pointed out, that deep red coloring with the soundtrack on Boston really mimics the type of portrayal that is typically seen in psychological horror films. Now bear with me, I don't necessarily think that if someone falls under this personality type it's an instant signifier of "evil" or such notions, but I do think that it takes a larger effort to be agreeable and overcome their more malevolent tendencies, but some don't. So it'll be interesting to see how Boston navigates this side of him that has been consistently show to us.

Now before really diving into the deep end, I'm first going to give a little more information regarding Machiavelli's The Prince and how this works itself into psychology, then I'll be breaking up my analysis into the typical Machiavellian Personality Traits with the correlating quotes from 'The Prince'.

What is a Machiavellian Prince?

If you're not familiar with Machiavelli's ‘The Prince’, let me give you a brief rundown. Essentially, ‘The Prince’ is a political treatise that was utilized to provide advice to rulers on how to gain and maintain power effectively, essentially throwing out morality altogether in order to reach their goals. The central theme really revolved around the idea that to be an efficient leader, one needs to ensure that they are both cunning and adaptable to allow their kingdom to survive in the struggles of power. Similarly, these concepts directly relate to the idea of personality psychology, specifically the Machiavellian personality.

A Machiavellian individual, or personality type, refers to one that exhibits traits that are outlined in ‘The Prince’, specifically the use of manipulation and the belief that the ends justify the means. When it comes to interpersonal relationships, a Machiavellian individual tends to their own interests, manipulates situations and exploits others to achieve their goals. They place an emphasis in having a strategic focus solely on their own self-interest, so as long as they reach their desired end-goal, they're satisfied (even if it means burning bridges).

Manipulation through Vulnerabilities to Establish Control

"At this point one may note that men must be either pampered or annihilated. They avenge light offenses; they cannot avenge severe ones; hence, the harm one does to a man must be such as to obviate any fear of revenge." -Chapter 3, The Prince

In this case, we see this blatantly in one specific scene with Nick and Boston, where Boston uses the knowledge that he acquires almost as a knife. Nick had come clean about his own insecurities and Boston is quick to use that as a 'pet name', completely disregarding that Nick didn't like to be called 'Kinky head'. He's using the one moment that Nick had become vulnerable with him in the guise of a friendly jab, but also an incredibly threat that he is more than aware of where to aim where it hurts for Nick if he crosses any line that Boston has already established.

Boston's camera is another way he exerts his control, which can specifically be seen in how he uses it to take pictures of Nick after his night, positioning him, controlling the development of said picture. Pictures capture moments in time, Boston posed and captured an intimate, exposed, moment for Nick. Boston controls the image while Nick is left vulnerable. That image is fully in Boston's control; to do and develop as how he sees fit.

Now I'm not applying the idea of 'fear' in the sense of physical injury or corporal punishment, but the punishment that Boston seems to hang over Nick is leaving him. Boston is more than aware of Nick's growing feelings for him and he uses that in his interest, because Nick is so willing and eager to let Boston to have his way with him. Now this hasn't even been touched upon in the show, but there is also an almost societal-instilled fear that photos can bring, specifically intimate ones. It doesn't have to be blatantly stated by Boston the amount of damage intimate photos may cause emotionally (even if it's not spread), so when things turn sour, that photo and any personal information that he shared with Boston may very well hang over Nick's head.

Calculating Approach and Exploitation of Emotions

"A prince being thus obliged to know well how to act as a beast must imitate the fox and the lion, for the lion cannot protect himself from traps, and the fox cannot defend himself from wolves. One must therefore be a fox to recognize traps, and a lion to frighten wolves." -Chapter 18, The Prince

Now, @respectthepetty really did a great job at breaking down why Boston is referred to as the Hunter, specifically in the way that he consistently corners people to get what he wants, so for this part I'm going to jump off their meta. He consistently puts all his 'conquests' in a position where they are unable to leave, he puts them in tight spaces, he pins them on walls, he wraps his hand around their neck (one of the most vulnerable parts to a human due to the lack of natural protection and easy accessibility). They're all calculated positions that he puts his hook-ups in to establish that only he can give them the out, he's the one that establishes boundaries. We see this literally when he corners Top in the shower, who is the first that we hear to dare tell him 'no, he's not interested.' Boston doesn't let that sway him, because that's not a boundary respects because he wasn't the one to set it.

He's called 'the Hunter' because he knows how to play the game, he excels at it. He can be both the fox, when he plays the interested fling to Nick and Mew's best friend, and the lion when he shows who he truly is with Top. When he tells Mew to be wary, since Top never has a relationship that lasts longer than 3 months and his interest is likely to see if he can sleep with Mew, this doesn't seem to be a touching moment where he cares for his friend but rather an attempt to get Mew to push Top away, because we have no idea if that's really what Top intends. His calculative nature is shown again when Boston tells Nick, "You should be glad that you're my favorite." Man the phrasing of that, at least in the translation, is so incredibly manipulative, it really sets the tone that their relationship is fully transactional, lacking any deeper emotions that are typically found between lovers. It's not a factual admittance that Boston is enjoying the sex with Nick, but rather blatant acknowledgement that Nick should be grateful that Boston even comes back to him for the sex. Not to mention that he rewards Nick every time he acquiesces with a kiss or peck on the cheek.

In Spanish, there's a saying/insult that goes 'te va poner los cuernos', which literally translates to 'They're going to put the horns on you', but really signifies that they're going to cheat on you. That's why I couldn't help but find the irony when when Boston backed Nick into the horn/antler frame on the wall. And while here, Boston and Nick are in no set closed-relationship and they're both aware of that, Boston purposefully strings Nick along, dropping little personal information about his own life that will entice Nick and keep him present in their situationship.

Boston is willing to gamble with his intimate relationships and friendships, because he believes that he has the eagle eye's view on this playing field. He is willing to sacrifice anyone and everyone if it means that he is the one in control, he is the one people worship and claw their way to. To him it's only natural, because he has that sex appeal and he has never met anyone he couldn't triumph. Every one he sleeps with is a conquest. In his viewpoint, he is the kingpin, even in his group of friends, because he believes that he's the one that controls how his friends move since he knows how Mew is developing feelings for Top and is aware of Ray's feelings for Mew. This is a game to him and he believes that he's smart enough to come out the winner.

Power Struggles

“And here comes in the question whether it is better to be loved rather than feared, or feared rather than loved. It might perhaps be answered that we should wish to be both; but since love and fear can hardly exist together, if we must choose between them, it is far safer to be feared than loved.”

-Chapter 27, The Prince

In this case, for Boston what P'Jojo tweeted rings in my head. While he stated it in a more literary way, essentially Boston has an ego. He likes having first pickings and this shows with how he's reacting to the fact that Top is willing to chase Mew, but doesn't necessarily want to have a second round with him. His hubris is his achilleas heel.

Now we haven't seen much of the conflict that is going to arise between Mew, Boston and Top, but we are seeing much of Boston's reactions to what is going on between the two. Boston uses that using Mew's virginity is a weapon, he's the one that is the first to throw it in Mew's face. Boston sees virginity as a detriment, as a stain, a symbol of not being wanted, because he finds his power behind being lusted for. @athousandbyeol, prior to the show even airing, brought up the point that Nick became his favorite because of his availability, Boston objectifies Nick. Nick serves a purpose, an outlet to get rid of the frustration that Boston finds himself accumulating with this pseudo power struggle that he has with both Mew and Top.

He has no consistent leverage over Mew or Top, because Mew doesn't care about his virginity (not in the way that Boston does) and Top does not actively chose nor chase after him, instead Boston is the one that has to be one that corners Top. It's why it drives him a tad nuts that Top is seemingly taking the idea of a relationship with Mew seriously, because it was never part of his plan for Top to actually get interested. That's an ego blow, but there is one person that he consistently has power of: Nick. Even though Boston is aware that he's seeking more, what's to define their relationship, he only gives him two options: Fuck Buddy or Friends with Benefit. And though neither are what Nick truly wants, he still chooses one, because that keeps Boston around and Boston knows this, he counts on this power he holds over Nick. For every damage he takes to his ego with MewTop, it gets soothed and stroked by Nick, literally.

Final Thoughts

“A man who is used to acting in one way never changes; he must come to ruin when the times, in changing, no longer are in harmony with his ways.” - Chapter 25, The Prince

Now, the labeling of Boston as a potential Machiavellian Prince (personality), does not dictate that he is inherently evil and that he will always be, or is, the villain. It's true that he manipulates and is merely interested in pursuits that are personally beneficial, which in turn may hurt others. Yet, the concepts of "evil" and "good" are incredibly binary. So far, we have no idea as to why he behaves as he does or whether he had past-experiences or personal insecurities that shaped him. It doesn’t mean that the pain he inflicts on others will be okay as long as there is a reason or sob story, but it will give us more insight into why he is the way he is.

Machiavellianism is typically easily written off as an evil form of being but arguably, it's just another behavioral guide on how to respond to challenging circumstances. There's a lot of labels that we can so far apply to Boston, narcissist is one that I see floating around a lot as well. Yet, narcissists typically lack self-confidence and overcompensate, Machiavellians typically believe that they are the best and as such do whatever they can to achieve their personal goals that they believe that they deserve. Personally, with what I've seen so far, Boston falls under the latter rather than the former.

I think simply writing Boston off as the "villain" or "evil" is simply disregarding the potential nuance that his character may bring. This show does a great job at showing how messy Boston is and even the different types of messy that they all are. It's important to keep in mind the broader context in which Boston is acting in to fully be able to understand who he is an individual and the consequences that his action may bring. It'll be interesting to see if he comes out of this a changed man or more set in his ways.

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thatgirl4815 · 7 months

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What's Left? / Spoilers

Since we're now officially over halfway (sadness), I thought I'd once again compile all the scenes we have yet to see from trailer and the OST MVs. (In some of the clips in the 'So What?' MV featuring Top and Mew, particularly those with Ford in them, I struggle to tell if it's purely conceptual or if those scenes will actually take place in the series.) Some of these appear to be BTS photos too…

Cast/Crew Spoilers:

*I'm sure there are things I've either forgotten about or overlooked, so if there are more to add to this list please do not hesitate to let me know 🙃

First said Ep 11 is 'perfect,' with a lot of happiness and affection. This is most certainly a lie.

First also said there is a scene in Ep12 where Khaotung out-acts himself.

Both Book and Jojo have made comments about Mew's wild side/Reputation era causing him to spiral out of control. (We've already seen some of this but could suggest more going forward.)

In an interview today, First hinted that Sand will soon do bad things (source).

Khaotung said once before that everyone will come to understand their true feelings over the course of the series.

FK said in an interview before the series' filming that their characters would be together in the end.

Have yet to see what the official OF Twitter account deems the 'hottest scene of life' (source).

Jojo has hinted at a threesome (not sure how much to believe this.)

Jojo also commented on the possibility of a Sand/Nick kiss on his Instagram story.

In a pre-series' interview, First said he has a romantic scene with someone other than Khaotung whom is he is also close with. (Mix has acted sus in interviews/on socials, so it could be him.)

Ok, that’s everything I can think of! Hopefully there are no glaring hints I’ve forgotten about, lol.

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forcebookcorner · 6 months

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Force Jiratchapong and Book Kasidet as Top Tanin and Mew Witsarut in Only Friends Episode 12 (2023) [X]

#only friends the series #only friends ep12 #only friends spoilers #topmew #top tanin #mew witsarut #forcebook #force jiratchapong #book kasidet #my gifs #Their chemistry is unmatched #I will miss Topmew #They're so cute

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discomain · 7 months

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Mew: "I love how you sound during sex." Top: "Oh? How do I sound?" Mew: "Like this...."

THE BEST MIC DROP OF THE SERIES holy shit now we know why Force & Book were looking forward to this episode.

We knew that he was going to find out, I did not expect him to be so iconic about it. Like I didn't really want him to get hurt, but also I hope he never stops pulling stunts like this. I hope he never forgives them and lives in his dramatic revenge era for the rest of the series.

#only friends the series #only friends spoilers #ofts #topmew

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heretherebedork · 7 months

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Ray finally getting Mew like this is immensely painful because it plays on so many of the ideas that this show has been leading us to, again and again.

Mew loved Top because he represented someone fixing themselves for love and when Top toppled. Ray was in his shadow. Ray, who cannot fix himself. Ray, who needs more than Mew can give to heal his wounds. And Mew will try to love Ray because Ray represents everything he refused and everything that lead him to Top.

And Ray loves Mew not because he loves him but because Mew saved him. But now Sand has saved him as wall and Ray cannot distinguish different kinds of love and care because he's known so little and so he cannot see the difference between his and Sand's relationship and his and Mew's but he loves too much to hold back.

We've now seen Ray, twice, try to finish his own destruction because he looks at the people around him and is convinced there's no way they love him enough to keep carrying such a burden. But now that got him what he's always thought he dreamed of but it's not going to fix anything.

Boston is no longer the one with all the power and influence. He's lost all his friends and their connection and he's lost Nick (even if he hasn't) and he's alone the way he always knew he would be alone but before he expected it to happen and in a place he didn't see coming but he's still there and so are they, all looking at each other from across the room.

Mew feels horribly guilty for letting Ray drive off drunk and about punching him on the dance floor and so now he's going to try to love him but he doesn't love him that way. Ray is his rebound from his first ever relationship and he has no idea how to cope with that or how to cope with Ray.

Sand is realizing how broken and fucked up Ray but he has no idea that depth of Ray's self-destructive tendencies or the way Ray doesn't understand love or romance because he's got no guide and nothing but pain to lead him here.

Nick already knew how fucked up Boston was but he didn't really believe that it would ever be used against him, that he would be the reason Boston would suffer and his urge to protect Boston regardless of how much he hurts him is so, so dangerous.

There's just so much pilling up and coming together and it's going to break again and again because everything they build and create is on a house of cards made of damage and pain and broken boys and shattered hearts and burdens and alcohol and fear and need and desperation.

#only friends #only friends meta #only friends spoilers #ofts #bl series #thai bl #bl drama #thai drama #thai series #thaibl #thai bl series #thai bl drama #asian lgbtq dramas #asianlgbtqdramas

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firelise · 6 months

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good to have it confirmed that when Ray says "threesome? I'm down." he means "kiss another man in front of me, go on, I dare you.🔪"

#only friends the series #and I support him #only friends #ofts #i mean i knew that all along but just good to put a neat lil bow on it #only friends ray #only friends spoilers #sandray

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stormyoceans · 7 months

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not to be that person but if i were nick i would have been across that table and on this man's lap SO FAST daddy dan organized that job interview with no intention to be subtle or professional

#TOO MUCH?#YEAH OKAY TOO MUCH #BUT ALSO CONSIDER THIS #HE IS LITERALLY SO HOT #@ NICK GET IT SON #only friends the series #only friends spoilers #papang phromphiriya #m: txt

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syrena-del-mar · 7 months

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Threads of Boston's Intimacy: Crochet, Cotton, and Connections

So I've been tracking and locating most of the outfits that each character has been wearing since episode 1, mostly because I like the choices that wardrobing department made (and wanted to know the brand of the pieces) and also because some of the shirts worn were so incredibly on the nose (looking at you Drake).

I've seen so many talk about Mew's own fashion transformation and how much it says about his style transforming from his own to Ray's. But Boston has a bit of his own transformation in his style since he lost Nick and the rest of his friends.

This week, we finally see Boston back in his crochet shirt when he pays a visit to Nick's electronic store. And it got me thinking as to why Boston style went through such a switch up at the exact time that he lost his friends, Nick, and he was no longer actively "hunting" around for someone else to sleep with.

Crochet Tops Pre-Audio Leakage

Fashion and the wardrobe that characters wear typically tell a story. We've seen that the Only Friends team has deliberately chosen specific tops to accompany the actual visual and verbal story-telling that occurs. Drake's infamous nude-painting collage button up, which I'm still unable to locate, immediately comes to mind. Boston's fashion is not an exception to this, and I'm leaning on to the side that not only the visual prints on the clothes he wears is important but also the textile of the garments are communicating his emotional landscape. For the first arc, while Boston did wear some ripped cotton shirts, they were sparse and far between as he mostly wore some variation of a crocheted or knit top. (Please keep in mind, that going forward, when I refer to crochet tops I also include his knit shirts but opted to not to state it in favor of being succinct and avoid repetitiveness.)

Crochet tops are known for their intricate and openwork patterns, because of those open patchworks, most crochet tops are, at some degree, see-through. I can't help but think that it symbolizes Boston's willingness to be transparent, he's very much up-front with what he wants physically and takes on an attitude of 'what you see is what you get.'

The very nature of crochet is delicate, it's one of the few methods that is unable to be recreated by machinery due to the intricacy and complexity, which the same could be said about the complexities it takes to manage the multiple sexual encounters that Boston has. There's an ease and comfort that Boston finds in his one-night stand, because he's used to it, he's able to navigate the complications, whether that's people catching feelings. Even with all his non-committal connections, he's transparent and authentic to himself, he navigates the intricate landscape of all his entanglements how he saw fit.

The crochet tops encapsulate Boston's ability to weave the threads of his emotional connections with transparency and authenticity, even if they are fleeting moments since he has no expectation of remaining in Thailand. The crochet tops he wore were a poignant symbol of his approach to his relationships.

Solid Cotton Tops Post-Audio Leakage

The last time we saw Boston in his colorful crochet tops, prior to episode 10, was during his confrontation with Mew at the pool in episode 7. Now Boston's full transition to mainly wearing solid cotton tops following cutting Nick out of his life and concurrently being cut out of Mew's, Cheum's, and Ray's life is another substantive symbol that his clothing is an emotional response to his emotional state. Solid cotton tops are known for their practicality and sturdiness, which a stark contrast to the intricate and delicate features of any crocheted garment.

Boston's choice of solid cotton tops, we witness a visual and symbolic withdrawal into a more guarded emotional state. Boston is very much detracts himself from the lives of his friends as they had wished, only appearing when he has to. His tops and leather jacket, act as an armor, protecting Boston from the sudden emotional turmoil that he was subject to with the use of his sex tape and audio as revenge by his friends. It's as if Boston uses these shirts to construct a barrier between himself and the outcomes of his actions, a means to cope with the distress and instability that had suddenly appeared in his life. Intimacy wise, Nick had been the only consistent person he had and he had trusted him. Meanwhile Mew used his sex-tape as a threat to out him to his father, Boston took hit after hit. The solidity of the cotton fabric is a reflection of his resilience in dealing with those emotional challenges, he creates an emotional boundaries explicitly when it came to Nick.

The solid cotton shirts, in this context, show us Boston's need for a protective layer against the turbulent emotional waters that the revenge inevitably brings, it's his only sense of stability in an arguably tumultuous period. He had no plans on creating connections in Thailand because he knew his time was fleeting, his sexual prowess was more self-sabotage, even IF it brought him momentary bliss and happiness. But he had made those connections, with Mew, Cheum, Ray, and even Nick. It's why he withdrew, it's why he finds himself realizing that he has destroyed every good thing in his life.

Return to Crochet Tops and His Return to Nick

Boston is going through a journey of self-realization and self-actualization. He's more than his body and his body count, he wants more than that. I swear, his decision to return to his crochet tops when he sought out Nick was purposeful. The crochet-top, characterized by intricate and openwork patterns, is seemingly back to take center stage in his wardrobe, now signifying a complex shift in his emotional landscape.

There are hundreds of phone repair shops that he could have gone to. There are millions of other pictures that he could have used for his lock screen. He still chose Nick. He's still transparent. Boston has always been self-assured in who he wants and who he is, and even though to some degree he reaped what he sowed, he was also a victim. He was hurt by Nick, but he still wants the one man that sees him more than good lay. Nick saw him for who he was and still loved him for it, he wouldn't necessarily change him for it. Nick saw him for his talent, for his interest in photography, as an actual three-dimensional person in all his hypocrisy and sharp words. Nick verbally acknowledging this and choosing to let him go unknowingly moved Boston.

It was a significant step in Boston's journey of personal growth and self-awareness. He's realizing that he self-sabotages and purposefully hurts the people he cares about. He chooses to reintegrate himself into Nick's life, with all the complexity and vulnerability that comes out of their past relationship. He might not have said it directly, but the moment he handed his phone to Nick with the lock screen showing his favorite picture of Nick, he was being crystal clear.

When Nick seeks him out on the rooftop, Boston is back in his cotton shirt, because that's when he fully realizes that he created his own consequences. He finally realizes how much it hurts to lose his friend group, even though he though he had kept people at arm's length since he was always going to end up in New York. When Nick finds him, he's completely in thought on the verge of realization that he's self-destructive (not to dissimilar to Ray). So he has the protection back on, because dissecting yourself and your problems are painful and exhausting. He realizes that his actions resulted in his friends of three years either thinking he's low enough to blackmail and SA someone or smug that he's being accused of such. That's his breaking point and he needed that protection. It'll be interesting if we see more of his crochet tops from now on.

Final Thoughts

Since episode 1, Boston has always fascinated me. Now this isn't a 'in defense of' or 'look at my poor meow-meow' post either, but we as viewers have an omniscient-type of view of everything that has been happening and until today's episode, I wasn't really sure what pushed Boston to be so volatile. For the first time, we saw Boston be truly and completely vulnerable with Nick. He's finally the one that looked for Nick, who reached out to him, and he did it while being in his crochet top, just like when they first hooked up.

I'm not fully part of the camp that thinks that Boston likes sleeping around, and this isn't because of some personal moral scorn for "sexual promiscuity" and preference for "sexual purity", but more because it seemed like Boston was doing it more for the company while avoiding any really human connections that would make him miss Thailand if he were sent to New York. It became comfortable, it became easy, so while I do think he got momentary gratification, I don't think it truly made him happy. We have two episodes left and I'm truly excited to see where Boston's story and wardrobe leads us next.

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