actually, yes only friends: dream on IS more boring and less impactful because they refuse to let the couples commit to or do anything outside of their set ships
the first season of only friends was so buzzy because they WENT THERE. it was messy and frustrating at times and sure it definitely created division in certain sides of the couple fandoms, but the messiness is supposed to be the heart of only friends, is it not? that was what they promoted it around and they're still promoting ofdo in the same way and yet the supposed mess is not messing.
almost kisses and almost hookups just feel shallow and surface level, and it makes it hard to connect with the stories and find the drama intriguing when there's no tension or mystery around where things are going to go. there's no question if the ships will end up together
and even the drama within the individual pairings beyond just the hookups and romantic aspect lacks that tension. everything just feels smoothed over bc they don't want anyone to be viewed in a truly "negative" light by the viewers. they don't want anyone in the main cast to be a "bad guy".
i think this speaks to a larger trend people have noticed with gmmtv projects not wanting to commit to drama or anything in a show that questions their official ships... but i also think it speaks to a larger issue with fans in that they are not separating the ships from the fictional characters and couples they're playing.
if you're genuinely getting upset over seeing your fave actor sharing a fictional kiss with a fictional character outside of their set ship... it's time to step back and examine your relationship with ships and shipping culture.
and a large production company building their entire production around not wanting to upset the fans is not a good look. gmmtv is scared and refusing to let ships mix because of the fan backlash and personally, i think that's a problem.
i don't really know where i'm going with this but i just feel frustrated bc i was actually excited to see aouboom take on these spicy and messy and perhaps toxic roles and i just feel BORED and that sucks
