Pat, you’ve got to stop doing this to me. We are not a thing, we are not even friends. That’s right. How can we be friends when our parents despire one another. How can we be friends if we live next door to each other yet can’t even talk? How can we be friends if we have to compete against one another in everything? You know what? When you were away, I was so damn happy. I didn’t have to compete against you. I wasn’t being paranoid. I didn’t need to know what your GPA was. I didn’t need to know which sports you were involved in. But guess what? It was so depressingly lonely for me. What we have now, what should we call it? If we’re not enemies, do you think we can be friends? Why? Do you want us to be friends? No. BAD BUDDY THE SERIES (2021)
Play is a large part of Pat and Pran’s relationship. All through episode 3, they partake in a number of ‘games’ that reveal the child-like nature of their dynamic.
Whether it’s because their relationship is stuck back in high school as it had been stalled by their separation or they are so used to engaging in competition, play is an undeniable and integral part of what makes their relationship so endearing and engaging. It’s nostalgic. It makes viewers long for a simpler time and gives the sense that innocent time together was stolen from Pat and Pran due to their family’s feud.
The Chopstick Sword Fight:
Pat and Pran are opposites that attract, they balance each other out which is why they work so well together.
When they engage in the sword fight, it’s as if they’re both denying that they actually find each other’s flaws and their differences intriguing rather than annoying.
This game also shows the power struggle in their relationship, as they fight in a low stakes environment to test the waters of what they are to each other.
Lastly, it serves as a distraction from the fact that they’re both willingly engaging in enjoying a meal with each other. If they fight, it’s not a date, is it??
The Hall Race:
This is a callback to the first episode when it is shown that they used to compete athletically as they grew up. Competition was the only organic way they could engage with each other without their parents becoming suspicious about their intentions.
The fun and silliness of this race gives them an excuse to enjoy each other’s presence because they can hide behind the guise of the ‘competition’, much like when they were younger.
Pat and Pran constantly use the language of ‘win’ and ‘lose’ with each other, as if they truly believe only one of them can leave each other of their interactions as a ‘winner’ when the reality is that they’re both winning simply because they enjoy spending time together.
Keep Away:
In this game, Pran has the upper hand and therefore, he acts boldly. Often we see Pat acting as the bolder and more forward of the two so this is a rare moment where Pran plays that role as he know he has more chance of ‘winning’.
It also shows that both of them enjoy this part of their relationship as Pran is the one to start it in this case. Even if he’s usually serious and strict with how he acts, for Pat, he lets down his walls and shares his silly side. Pran makes an exception for Pat - for Pat, he can step out of his comfort zone and be vulnerable.
The Can Telephone:
This is a symbol of the whole series so it’s obviously an important part of their relationship. The phone can speaks to the communication in their relationship being somewhat stuck in the past, as they are communicating through the mode of an elementary craft.
It also represents the secretiveness of their relationship as they have to hide it from both their families and friends. Telephone cans are often used by kids as an element of their secret treehouses so its as if Pat and Pran have now made their childhood rooms their secret shared space.
The paper airplane:
Much like pulling your crush’s hair when you like them, Pat shows affection not only by helping Pran but also teasing him. In this case, he’s also hiding his helpfulness in the form of an annoying gesture.
Pat is being true to his nature by ‘messing’ with Pran but the reality is that he wants to help Pran. We see this many times throughout the episode where Pat wants to connect with Pran but veils his true intentions by making it seem like he’s just likes ‘bugging Pran’.
Space Invader:
In many of these games, Pat and Pran use them as an excuse to get in each other’s space. This is because of their developing feelings for each other but also so they can test the waters of what the other is comfortable with in terms of physical boundaries.
We see this in the hall race, keep away, the elevator scene and also when Pran sprays Pat with the juice in the bus stop scene. They hide behind the ruse of ‘Horseplay’ to be able to have an excuse to touch each other and see what that means to each other.
Playing House:
This is the most telling scene in the whole episode. Pat suggests a ‘role play’ so that Pran can brainstorm ideas about the bus stop but it also gives them the chance to play the role of boyfriends.
They easily fall into their roles, calling each other ‘honey’ and ‘baby’, and using their imagination to ‘play flirt’. They both get so caught up in the role play and have fun with the interaction, showing just how easily they could transform their relationship to match their ‘play’.
It also seems like they’ve maybe interacted this way before as the dynamic seems both familiar and natural to them. Could it be that they used to interact like this back in high school?
Once again, Pat is using the power of play to help Pran. This also shows how beneficial this element of their relationship is for both of them, both as a way to bring out the best in each other and allow them to be themselves in front of each other.
Ultimately, the element of play in their relationship is exists because they’re trying to recapture the innocence of their relationship because it was taken from them.
With each playful interaction, they both become more and more engaged in the ‘game’ of their relationship.
So where will this ‘play’ lead them next and when will they be able to admit to each other that it’s all more than just a game?
