There is nothing messier than feelings, especially when it comes to romance, jealousy, and human desires. And nothing takes messy feelings and molds it into a chaotic whirlwind of desire quite like GMMTV’s Only Friends: Dream On, the sequel to its equally messy predecessor Only Friends.

Set against the creative chaos of a performing arts program, Dream On pulls together a group of drama, directing, art, music, and dance majors whose ambitions and impulses quickly spiral into a tangled mix of competition, casual intimacy, and vulnerability. At the center of it all is Dean (Mix Sahaphap Wongratch), an actor cast in the stage production of Romeo & Romeo and directed by his ex, Jack (Earth Pirapat Watthanasetsiri). Their unresolved past simmers beneath the surface while Raffy (Boom Tharatorn Jantharaworakarn) quietly covets the role Dean has landed. Meanwhile, Dean attempts to manipulate Jack’s younger brother Rome (Aou Thanaboon Kiatniran) into pushing Raffy out of the picture entirely.

Elsewhere within the production, rookie lead actor Arnold (Joss Way-ar Sangngern) unknowingly becomes the focus of Tua’s (Gawin Caskey) long-harbored feelings, adding another layer of emotional tension to an already volatile ensemble. Between upcoming rehearsals, rivalries, and lingering attraction, the stage may be set for Romeo & Romeo, but the real drama is unfolding offstage.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I pressed play on the first two episodes of Dream On, but what it’s delivered so far has honestly exceeded my expectations.

Not only does this season quickly fall headfirst into the mess that ex-relationships, jealousy, and the hunger to come out on top can create, it’s also surprisingly relatable.

I know that statement probably earns a few raised eyebrows, but having spent a fair amount of time over the years behind the scenes on plays, television sets, and other productions, I can say that creative spaces can be full of tension. Building something together, especially when egos, ambition, and emotions are involved, doesn’t always stay neat and tidy. And when it does unravel, watching it unfold from the sidelines can be its own kind of spectacle.

The opening episodes lean into that idea almost immediately. We’re dropped right into the casting process for the upcoming stage play Romeo & Romeo, followed by the inevitable casting party, which serves as a celebration and an emotional shake-up. It’s at both the auditions and the parties that precede and follow it that we begin to meet the personalities behind the production and see the first sparks of trouble and entanglements that will drive the series forward.

It is also where we see the actors behind these characters show what they’re capable of bringing us week after week.

Earth Pirapat is intriguing as Jack, the play’s director. There’s something fascinating about how he plays Jack as both steady and emotionally uncertain. He clearly has a strong instinct for talent, yet he also seems almost incapable of resisting the urge to stir jealousy between the man he once loved and anyone else who catches his attention. Earth balances that push and pull well, letting Jack’s lingering desire and underlying frustration simmer beneath his determination to make the production succeed.

Mix Sahaphap, meanwhile, might be the performance surprising me the most so far, and we’re only two episodes in. I wasn’t entirely sure how I’d feel about seeing Mix take on a more antagonistic, jealousy-driven character, but he’s completely sold me on it. His Dean is seductive, calculating, and more than a little manipulative, yet Mix still threads in a familiar warmth that makes Dean oddly difficult to dislike. I find myself irritated by his behavior while also understanding exactly why people around him are drawn in. That delicate balance is exactly what a character like Dean needs.

Then there’s Joss Way-ar and Gawin Caskey as Arnold and Tua. And honestly? They’re kind of adorable. I wasn’t expecting to walk into a series built on messy romantic entanglements and immediately want to pinch two characters’ cheeks, but here we are. There’s already a hint of future chaos. Tua nudging Arnold into auditioning for the play isn’t entirely innocent, but their dynamic currently carries a softness that offsets the more volatile relationships around them. Arnold’s easygoing nature paired with Tua’s quietly lingering crush gives their storyline a sweetness that feels almost precious. Of course, that calm doesn’t last long. The surprise reappearance of Boston (Neo Trai Nimtawat), one of the most notoriously chaotic characters from the original Only Friends, suggests that whatever stability they have now probably won’t remain untouched for long.

And finally we come to Aou Thanaboon and Boom Tharatorn as Rome and Raffy. I should probably mention that I’ve only recently become familiar with Aou and Boom through Perfect 10 Liners and Memoir of Rati, but I quickly found myself drawn to the way they work together onscreen. There’s a natural rhythm between them that elevates whatever scene they’re in, whether the tone leans toward humor or tension. Their chemistry is strong partly because they complement each other well, but also because both actors are capable of holding their own individually.

In Dream On, that dynamic plays out through Raffy’s very obvious crush on Jack and the frustration that spills over into his physical connection with Rome. Boom plays Raffy’s longing with just enough bite to keep him interesting, while Aou’s Rome carries this mix of confusion and magnetism. He doesn’t quite understand why his brother Jack seems to draw people in so easily, yet he can’t seem to resist Raffy either. Their interactions are messy in a way that feels emotionally grounded, which fits the tone of the series perfectly. And I’m utterly addicted to their story.

I’ll admit that my favorite pairing in these first two episodes is Raffy and Rome, largely because the rival-lovers-to-possible-true-lovers-to-possible-heartbreak energy between them is absolute fire. It takes a real sense of ease between actors to pull off scenes like the bathroom and car moments without them feeling stiff or uncomfortable, and Aou and Boom handle them with complete confidence. There’s no awkwardness, only tension and chemistry that leaps off the screen.

Raffy’s struggle to step into a leading role while chasing the approval and heart of a director he clearly admires, all while trying to escape the shadow of his accomplished mother, adds a layer of vulnerability that tugs at my heart. And then there’s the way Rome looks at Raffy, like he wants to devour him, which is somehow both unsettling and electrifying at the same time. It’s intoxicating to watch.

From the limited time I’ve seen Aou and Boom on screen, what’s impressed me most is their ability to make supporting or ensemble roles feel magnetic. Even in scenes shared with a full cast, they manage to pull focus as if the spotlight naturally belongs to them.

All in all, one of the things I’ve always appreciated about the Only Friends universe is how well it thrives on ensemble storytelling. Bringing together a cast full of strong performers creates space for shifting alliances, unexpected chemistry, and moments where entirely different dynamics take center stage. The appeal isn’t only the romantic tension or the drama, though there’s plenty of both, but also the unpredictability that comes from watching these characters collide in new combinations.

And I’m more than ready to see where that chaos leads.

For all its messy entanglements, the first Only Friends also managed to dig into heavier themes such as addiction, self-destructive choices, and complicated friendships in ways that lingered beyond the more soap-like drama. It’ll be interesting to see whether Dream On follows that same path as the story unfolds.

Either way, if you’re in the mood for a series that thrives on desire, rivalry, and emotional volatility, Only Friends: Dream On is already shaping up to deliver.

You can catch Only Friends: Dream On now streaming on GagaOOLala.

Rating- 4.5 out of 5