I know that I make a lot of sarcastic posts on Only friends: Dream on, but I wanted to take the time and write a semi analysis. *puts smartass cap on*
I think the biggest mistake people make when watching this season is expecting it to recreate the exact same experience as the original. Because it doesn’t, and honestly, it’s not trying to.
The original thrived on chaos.
It was messy in a very “real-life but amplified” way: university students, nightlife, hookups, bad decisions, blurred boundaries, and relationships that constantly imploded. The appeal was how impulsive everything felt. People cheated, lied, fell in and out of love quickly, and the story didn’t slow down to justify it. That unpredictability is what made it addictive.
This season, on the other hand, shifts the entire framework. Instead of chaotic student life, everything revolves around a theater production. And that changes everything.
This season is less about random mess and more about constructed mess. The drama comes from ambition, performance, and emotional projection. The characters aren’t just reacting, they’re performing, both on stage and in their relationships. That adds a layer of symbolism the original never really had.
Love becomes something that can be rehearsed, manipulated, or mistaken for a role.
And this is exactly where a lot of the criticism comes from.
A lot of people feel like this season is less real or less intense, but what they’re actually reacting to is the difference in tone.
The original felt raw and spontaneous. This one feels deliberate. The conflicts are tied to the play, to casting decisions, to artistic ego, so instead of explosive, unpredictable drama, you get something more controlled and layered.
There’s also the issue of attachment.
The original cast and pairings were lightning in a bottle. People didn’t just like them, they got invested.
So when this season introduces a new central dynamic (Jack, Dean, Raffy) and only loosely connects to the old world, it creates distance. For some, it stops feeling like a continuation and starts feeling like a separate story using the same brand.
And yes, the pacing is different. The original throws you straight into the mess.
It takes time to establish motivations, rivalries, and emotional stakes. If you’re expecting instant chaos, it can feel slow.
But here’s the thing: that doesn’t make it worse, it just makes it different.
In many ways, this season is actually more cohesive.
The theater setting ties everything together. Every relationship, every conflict, every emotional breakdown connects back to the production.
Competing for a role becomes the same as competing for love. Jealousy isn’t just romantic, it’s professional.
Rejection isn’t just emotional, it’s public, performative.
That gives the story a kind of thematic depth the original didn’t prioritize.
The characters are also interesting in a different way. In the original, a lot of the appeal came from how impulsive and morally messy everyone was.
In this one, the characters feel more purpose-driven.
Their conflicts aren’t just “who slept with who,” but “who gets chosen, on stage and off.” That dual layer makes the drama feel more intentional, even if it’s less shocking.
And that’s really the trade-off.
This season loses some of the original’s raw, chaotic energy.
It doesn’t have as many instantly viral, jaw-dropping moments. It’s less explosive. The ensemble also feels less evenly balanced, since the narrative centers more heavily on the main triangle (Jack-Dean-Raffy).
But what it gains is structure, symbolism, and emotional continuity.
It’s less about random destruction and more about how people slowly unravel when love, ego, and ambition collide.
If Only friends is about messy people living their lives with no filter,
then Only Friends: Dream On is about messy people trying to perform control....and failing.
And whether you prefer one over the other really just depends on what you value more: chaos or intention.
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