Duang with You

Nice but uhmmm

I really liked Duang with You, don’t get me wrong but it really cringed me out at times. Of course I love the acting and characters but there were times where Duang acted too childish in my opinion rather than someone who is supposed to be in college, but he was endearing at times as well. Also, it’s pacing was kinda slow, it took quite a while for them to get together and problems kept coming in a way that was trying the drag the whole thing out. But, it a nice but one run was good and I wouldn’t go out of my way to sit through this again. But, it was overall nice, I liked the stories, and loved laughing at some scenes!

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Convincing chemistry saving sluggishly paced story

I quite enjoyed this BL featuring the romance between grumpy music student Qin and sunshine art student Duang. The cat and dog energy was in full force with them, making their dynamics fun and sweet to follow.

I really liked the way that TeeTee played Duang...It might have felt like A LOT in the first quarter of the series but as I get used to it, I became quite endeared by the character...which I must admit is probably a mirror of how Qin, the tsundere cold student felt, facing the over the top puppy energy of his suitor. The romance beginning could have felt stalkerish for some but I was charmed by the sweetness of it all, as well as the unexpected layers of the two main characters.

Was it without flaws? Certainly not. The pacing was properly sluggish, with a lot of screen time devoted to competitions and school aspects that did not really matter in the grand scheme of the story. Half the series felt like fillers but still, as I got more and more endeared by their relationship, I followed quite happily the less inspired moments of the story.

Another big flaw of the story is coming from the secondary couple played by Otto and North. I had a good prior feeling about the cast, having watched all the seasons of DMD Friendship, but unfortunately Otto and North definitely needed more time to be able to carry their storyline, which was clumsily written and felt very awkward with the recurring English talking...Maybe sticking to just speaking Thai would have already helped them? Having said that, I quite enjoyed the other relationships with the friend group being really cute to watch when bantering with Duang.

The production value was very good. DoMunDi production is proving once again that they can really develop a vibe specific to a show while maintaining great filming quality. It just feel done with care and budget. The soundtrack was not outstanding though, except the credits song, nothing really memorable to me, which is a bit of a shame given the central place of music in the story.

I would recommend this to people that are looking for a sweet student BL with a sunshine x grumpy romance. The story could definitely be better paced and not every arcs is worth that much screen time...But the romance evolution, the unexpected deeper moments really save the series and make it worth a try.

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Not the best, but still good

It's been like 4 years since I've actually finished a Thai BL, and somehow Duang With You was the one that pulled me back in. I'm such a sucker for the golden retriever x grumpy/black cat trope that I already knew this was so for me

Storyline and Writing

The story itself is pretty simple... golden retriever Duang falls for the much more reserved Qin and decides he's going to break through all those walls Qin has built around himself. That's basically the backbone of the whole series and I don't think the show is trying to be anything more complicated than that

And honestly... I'm okay with simplicity when the characters are interesting enough to carry it

What I liked most was that the romance isnt really about Duang fixing Qin. It's more about Duang consistently showing Qin what affection can actually look like. Qin is someone who has become so used to withholding himself that even receiving something as simple as affection or reassurance can feel unfamiliar to him. So I liked the way Duang slowly and slowly gets through to him instead of Qin suddenly changing overnight

The show also deserves credit for not turning Qin's background into endless trauma porn. There is obviously heavier material there but the series doesn't make that suffering the entire identity of the character or use it as an excuse to manufacture drama every five minutes

Though. I appreciate that the show doesn't make queer happiness feel like something that has to be earned through suffering. It doesn't completely rely on homophobia, family rejection, or endless angst to create conflict

But at the same time, I can't completely ignore how idealized the world of the series can feel. Everyone is so accepting like all the family, friends, community, basically everyone around the couple. It creates a very comforting world but sometimes it also makes the story feel a little too sheltered from reality. And because the show deals with queer relationships, that contrast becomes more noticeable. I don't necessarily think a BL needs to traumatize its characters to feel realistic, tho. I actually appreciate that this one tries to imagine a world where queer people can simply be loved and supported. Maybe, I just wish there were a little more texture around that world

Characterization & Acting / Trope Execution

The chemistry was chemistrying and a lot of their interactions felt really natural to me. Even when the writing got a little too sweet for me, I was still invested because I genuinely liked watching these two together

I also really liked that Duang isn't written as the typical masochistic, super-masculinized BL lead. He's obviously very soft and expressive, but he's still his own person. He's scatterbrained, chaotic and sometimes completely ridiculous, but he's also surprisingly emotionally perceptive. That's what kept him from becoming just a walking golden retriever joke

And actor's performance is honestly impressive because you have no idea how difficult this character to play naturally

That kind of exaggerated, puppy-like, animated energy can become annoying very quickly if the actor is just mugging for the camera. But TeeTee somehow manages to make Duang feel like an actual person underneath all the comedy

Duang also does something important whenever the tone gets serious: he knows when to stop being chaotic. You can actually feel him becoming more emotionally present when Qin needs him which makes his kindness feel like a character trait rather than just a trope

Qin worked for me too. I liked that his characterization wasn't just "cold guy who secretly likes the sunshine boy". There is an actual reason he's so guarded and I liked watching those walls come down gradually.

As someone who built my walls high while grew up in an Asian household. I could really feel him. People tend to underestimate how much childhood and family dynamics can shape you and sometimes when you finally speak up, you're just seen as rude or ungrateful child. We don't need a lecture or a guilt trip, Duang is right, all we need is just that one hug and one sincere apology

I also get why Duang meant so much to him. Everyone seems to want to rush you into relationships, like you should just open up immediately because "the person likes you”. But someone like Duang, who's actually willing to wait and let you open up at your own pace, is pretty rare. And I think that's what made their relationship work for me.

Like.... isn't it beautiful when someone takes the time to learn the little things about you? Not just what you're like on the surface, but what shaped you, how you were raised, what you've been through, your traumas and all the parts of yourself you don't easily show??

That said, I think the actor playing Qin still needs some work in the heavier emotional scenes. His more restrained acting was much stronger for me than the big crying scenes. There were moments where I could see what the scene "wanted" me to feel, but his crying didn't completely sell it

Also, thankfully, the relationship never felt "too" heteronormative to me. There are still familiar BL conventions, obviously, but I didn't constantly feel like one character was being written as "the girl" in the relationship just because he's softer. Don't get me wrong, masc/fem pairing itself isn't what inherently makes a show heteronormative. It's more about how the seme treats the uke like a girl and how the audience forces those straight gender roles onto them. And the same thing applies to the wide part of the audience that strictly demands masc/masc pairings. A lot of that comes from homophobia and internalized misogyny because they just can't stand seeing a guy who's visibly fem or flamboyant

The other thing I pretty don't like was the second couple. Tho, I really appreciate the femboy bottom, I was already getting tired of the whole f*ck*ng buddy-friendship dynamic. There was potential but I don't think the writing gave them enough room to actually develop

Watching Experience

This was probably the biggest factor in my enjoyment because I was watching it after being away from Thai BL for around four years

There was something genuinely refreshing about seeing a Thai university BL centered around "art and music students". Back when I was watching Thai BL more regularly, it felt like every other series was engineering, medicine, or some variation of that. So even though "university BL" itself isn't exactly new, changing the environment and creative interests of the characters made this feel a little fresher to me

I also appreciated that the show was generally more interested in being sweet than creating unnecessary suffering. It has some heavy material, but it doesn't constantly try to make the audience miserable

My problem was that the sweetness eventually started becoming too sweet for me.

This is where I think I experienced a little bit of the Moonlighting curse (once the leads entered into a relationship and the sparks disappears). I'm not saying the series literally has that problem in the same way but it kind of felt repetitive. The show sometimes just keeps giving me sweetness without enough variation. Cute scene, cute scene, cute scene... eventually I was like "okay I am fed now"

So this is probably just my Japanese-BL-conditioned brain talking, but I honestly think I would've enjoyed this more with a slightly tighter runtime. I've been watching a lot more Japanese BL over the past few years, and I think I've just gotten more used to stories that are willing to be shorter and less repetitive. There were definitely scenes here where I felt like they could've been trimmed without losing anything important

And then there are the puppy sound effects

They were funny at first

Then they started happening so often that I began anticipating them before they even happened

It went from "okay that's cute" to "PLEASE STOP"

Production Value & Cinematography

For the most part, I thought the production looked good. The show has a very polished, bright, youthful or college aesthetic that fits the kind of romance it's going for and some of the performance sequences are exactly the sort of thing Thai BLs still know how to do really well

Thailand really knows how to do these performance/showcase scenes. I don't even know the proper production term for it, but whenever the characters are performing onstage or putting on some kind of showcase and sing their hearts out, they really know how to make those moments feel special

But I also think some scenes didn't quite live up to the production's apparent budget

The Japan scenes especially made me think, "you had Japan and cherry blossoms and THIS is the shot you're giving me???"

That kiss under the cherry blossoms should've been the cinematic moment. I wanted better framing, better use of the location, something that made the whole thing feel more memorable. Instead, some of those shots looked surprisingly ordinary considering what they had available

It wasn't so badly shot. I just kept thinking it could've looked so much better

Overall

I wasn't even planning to write a review because, honestly, the Thai BL community was one of the reasons I slowly stopped being as invested in Thai BL in the first place. After four years away, I wasn't expecting this to be the series that pulled me back in

But here we are

It's definitely not perfect, and I think I would've enjoyed it even more with a shorter runtime and a little less sweetness toward the end. The second couple needed more development, some of the heavier acting didn't completely land for me and the world can feel a little too perfect sometimes

But the characterization and chemistry carried it for me

Maybe I'm just incredibly predictable, but golden retriever energy x grumpy black cat will always get me

Tho, I asked for a golden retriever and they gave me a literal puppy, lol

8.5/10 stars

The 8.7 MDL score is fair tho and isn't completely unreasonable either, but at the same time, there are so many BLs sitting below that score that I personally think deserve more recognition. So I guess it's a little overrated, but not THAT overrated?? Idk, like, I can see why people are enjoying it and me as well, I just wouldn't rate it like a perfect 10

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Romance or restraining order?

Duang With You is a bit of a special case. Because what you're signing up for is a very non-enjoyable ride across ten (so far) episodes.

You never really know what the next episode will bring, but one thing is guaranteed: it will be absolutely filled (and I mean FILLED) with exaggerated sound effects, and Duang acting like a borderline obsessive stalker for a solid chunk of the show. Mostly tho, he behaves like an actual child. A grown man, acting like he’s five. And unfortunately, it doesn’t really improve as the series goes on, he remains just as frustrating throughout.

No shade to the actor, though. Honestly, all the actors are doing a great job, this is very much a writing issue, not a performance one.

The premise itself doesn’t really prepare you for the kind of “methods” Duang uses, so you go in more or less blind, and then it hits you like a truck. Him digging up information about a complete stranger just because he finds him cute might sound harmless at first but that’s really just the beginning. Soon enough, he and his friends (who, by the way, are far more interesting characters than he is) are literally following this guy everywhere. And sure, I’ve done similiar things when I had a crush, but I was 12. This is a COLLEGE student we're talking about. But hey, it’s fine, right? He means no harm, so it's cute :3

And even if you somehow get past that (which… good luck), there’s another issue: the drama. It’s there purely for the sake of being there. It adds no real value, and it’s hard to take any of it seriously because it all feels so hollow. Gotta admit, I had to skip them later on.

Qin, on the other hand, is actually a great character. He has a genuinely interesting backstory and, most importantly, doesn’t make me want to punch my screen every time he speaks. Meanwhile Duang, feels like the emptiest character in the entire show. Even some of the side characters have more depth than he does lmao. Which is honestly kind of wild and sad.

But the NC scenes? Absolutely delicious. If only the rest of the show matched that level of quality.

In conclusion, this show is probably one of the biggest messes I’ve seen in a while. It tries really hard to be quirky and funny, but instead just ends up being exhausting and, at times, genuinely irritating. The high rating set my expectations way too high only for them to get crushed almost immediately. Just another piece in the BL industry that unfortunately, brings very little to the table.

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Sinceramente no veo como esta serie tiene una puntuación de 9.0. Por favor si estas puntuación se los dan los fan a los actores; les voy a pedir que los apolen en las redes sociales pero no en páginas como esta donde se le da una calificación a un colectivo completo, en páginas como esta tenemos que ser sinceros porque lo que están diciendo que esta historia, guion, directores etc... Vale esa puntuación y en verdad esta serie no pasa de ser una más del montón. Tal parece que los guionistas se copian entre ellos. Saben pueden buscar entre las literaturas clásicas o las grande pelis a ver si la musa se les aparece y crean algo diferente.
Lo bueno que vi:
Fue la actuación de TeeTee Wanpichit Nimitparkpoom dado que tenía un personaje complicado, no todos los actores pueden hacer un personaje con este estilo artístico de “sobreactuación”. No es un estilo que me guste, la mayoría de las veces rechazo al personaje pero esta vez me reí muchísimo. Creo que lo trabajo muy bien.
La actuación en general fue aceptable con la excepción de las escenas de llanto de Por Suppakarn Jirachotikul. Horrible esa escena. Debieron grabarlas hasta ver la lágrima rodar por la mejilla.
Le agradezco al guionista o al director que no se le ocurriera la idea de emparejar a los amigos de duang con los de Qinn.
Lo malo que vi:
12 capitulo son mucho para una serie que no tenido contenido alguno.
Se habla del abuso que sufrió Qinn de niño, pero no del tiempo que hubo desde que finalizó ese abuso hasta la conversación con sus padres. Acaso no tubo otras personas buenas que lo acompaño ese tiempo mientras crecía y se desarrollaba como indebido. El psicólogo no le dijo que Qinn debía seguir en tratamiento esta que llegara a superar etc... Fue el único tema que tuvo valor aquí como para 12 capitulo pero el guionista o directores no les parecieron.
Pusieron a como un tonto en todos los sentidos. No solo en el aspecto romántico (que sería en este tema una sobreactuación dando paso a la comedia). El padre, el hermano, los amigo etc… le hacen burlas y para colmo Qinn lo mira como si él fuera una papa podrida o algo por el estilo y a eso súmale que no tiene sueños propios.En fin este personaje tuvo más escenas vergonzosas que comicas. Ablaro me gusto la actuacion de TeeTee Wanpichit Nimitparkpoom pero no el personaje “duang”

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Worth the Hype.... Just go for it.

I just finished watching Duang with you, and honestly, it’s a solid 10/10. This show is absolutely beautiful in every sense—storytelling, characters, and emotional depth all come together perfectly. The characters feel so real and well-developed that you can’t help but get attached to them.

It truly lives up to all the hype and then some. By the end, I was left speechless—it’s one of those rare shows that’s hard to describe because of how deeply it resonates. I loved every moment of it, and it’s definitely something I’ll remember for a long time.

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A breeze of fresh air, a fresh plate of pancakes

If three years ago you would have told me that Domundi was going to produce a heartfelt, university romance where two autistic boys fell in love, while also discussing parental neglect and abuse, the risks of love bombing, and showcasing what is nothing short of a trauma response; all the while drizzling the corniest and most delightful humour on top of it – I would have probably laughed out loud.
Now, I am happy to be proven wrong.
Duang With You is, if I may continue with my syrup metaphor, a stack of pancakes. Complete with blueberry jam, whipped cream and syrup. Mistakenly, at first, I thought I was going to eat it the same way I ate 2gether: happily guzzling the sweetness of what is presented, while the tanginess of the blueberries would be an after taste a couple of episodes would give us after some sloppy pacing.
Once again, I love to be proven wrong, for Duang With You needs to be savoured pancake by pancake, episode by episode. Some pancakes you will enjoy with the funny whipped cream of Duang and his friend’s shenanigans to get Qin to fall for him. Some others you will also sponge in some of that delicious syrup when Qin starts to sweeten up for Duang. And then, you will get to the pancakes that have been soaking in the tanginess of the blueberry jam. And then, full already, you will realise that this show has been preparing you for one of the most graphic and well-acted scenes of child abuse. And the result of that on an untreated, traumatized young boy. You will look for a scoop of whipped cream, for a drizzle of syrup, but this show is going to tell you to wait, to understand that life comes with its horrors and its blessings, and that sometimes having the right person by your side is what you needed all along. Not someone to save you, or solve it for you: but someone who hugs you through it. Someone who just wants validation, an OK, the green light from you to be let in.
And then, it’s whipped cream and syrup again. You can still taste the lingering tanginess, but you know it’ll fade out eventually. It too shall pass.
I don’t think I can describe this any better, I don’t think I want to. This show is a genuinely beautiful experience, perfectly crafted and paced, and even more so acted by two debutant actors who committed to their roles with professional care and responsibility. The environment and setting of this show are constructed so meticulously, every detail helps you piece the character’s inside world like a fun little jigsaw puzzle. A small hint from Duang to help you fall in love with him. Domundi hasn’t come out to play, they are coming to clean out some tropes, and refresh the stale air of the Thail BL world.

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CAN I HAVE 30 MORE EPISODES?

I've been patiently waiting a year for their series; I was there the first day and now I gotta accept we'll not gonna see more eps. So, to say I'm sad it's just the least.

This show has become really special to me, maybe the fact that I'm a pttp fan helped with that but I really think It was an amazing series and not just Teeteepor, the rest of the cast deserves all that hype just the same!

Of course I still have my doubts about some things...like Qin's parents' storyline; I probably didn't expect it to be resolved so easily. Or Wave's limited screen time. So, did he or didn't he have a partner? I got excited about the Cherry/Tong situation and that was it? I definitely expected to know a little more about his character but that didn't happened.

But I'm definitely going to miss these months. If you follow the cast and pttp(you should)on socmed you know how fun and special these months have been and now I'm simply too attached to let duangqin go(I think i'll keep rewatching dwy until my final days)

To my dear por and teetee: THANK YOU. I don't think anyone could play duang and qin like you did. I'm so proud of you and I'm already happily awaiting your next project. I LOVE PTTP AND DUANG WITH YOU SO MUCH!!!

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For me it was average drama. It was watchable...
What work for me
The friendship shown in the drama was pretty good. The character Qin was what i like he wasn't typical "no communication" person that i thought he would be. He actually initiate to communicate/ discuss the problem with duang... he solve the issue in its bud no big misunderstanding between patners. The second couple has so much potential which left untouched i wanted to see more of their scenes but...
What didn't work for me
The duang character don't get me wrong but the "golder retriever" boyfriend was pretty cringe for me personally. From the beginning when he acts cute an all i was getting goosebumps... another point was the sound effect which was unnecessary it ruins the scenes for me. The duang actor acting was good when he acts serious/ mature but when acting cute it was not working. As for Qin trauma there was not enough time/ scenes that could actually be felt by audience as i expected...it was just a small part when the trauma has hunted qin for life which was not enough...i couldn't connect to the character than i expected.
If you're first time bl watcher this can be a starting drama also if you like fluff without much drama you can go for it. For now I'm dropping the drama at 10 if i feel like it maybe i will complete it in future.
Also important if you are watching it in YouTube you will get cut version please watch uncut version as in cut version there was many important scenes that were missing which connects the whole drama plot.

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Love Beyond Walls: The Golden Retriever and the Closed Heart

Duang with You is a thoughtfully crafted series that maintains a strong sense of balance throughout its storytelling. The introduction of Duang and Qin is charming and lighthearted, but their subsequent interactions quickly shift in tone, adding emotional depth and complexity. Duang embodies the archetype of a warm and devoted partner, falling in love with Qin at first sight, while Qin is initially guarded, having built emotional walls to keep others at a distance. Through Duang’s persistence, those defenses gradually begin to soften, allowing for meaningful character development.

The supporting characters, Jamie and Pae, play an engaging role in the background, subtly encouraging the progression of Duang and Qin’s relationship. Qin’s initially cold and distant behavior may feel frustrating at first, but as the narrative unfolds and his past is revealed, his reluctance to open up becomes more understandable and grounded in his experiences. But the resolution of Qin’s past could have been handled more effectively, as that part of the story felt somewhat rushed compared to the emotional buildup leading to it.

The contrast between the two leads is one of the show’s strongest elements. Duang is expressive, unapologetically affectionate, and unafraid to show his love, while Qin is emotionally restrained, socially distant, and protective of his vulnerability. This dynamic creates a compelling balance that drives the story forward.

While some viewers may find Duang overly energetic or occasionally irritating, I personally found his character very endearing. He reminded me of a friend I used to have in school. As for Qin, I have seen many people criticize or misunderstand his behavior, but I could relate to him to a certain extent. Balancing the desire to distance yourself emotionally while still maintaining friendships can be incredibly difficult. I still struggle with opening up and fully trusting people myself, which made Qin’s character feel particularly realistic to me. I appreciated Qin’s dynamic with his friends as it’s very similar to my friend’s group. They know him on a surface level, but there is still a deeper part of himself that he keeps hidden. That emotional distance, despite being surrounded by people who care about you, was depicted in a very authentic and relatable way.

One aspect I wish had been explored a bit more is Thiu’s role in the story. His initial persistence suggested a stronger emotional stake, which adds an interesting layer of tension. However, his arc feels like it wraps up too quickly, without fully exploring his emotional motivations or the weight of his involvement. I also would have liked to see a slightly more aggressive response from Duang during this period. While some may interpret Duang’s reactions as jealousy, they are more accurately rooted in fear, specifically the fear of losing Qin. But his restraint aligns with his character, as he consistently shows respect for Qin’s boundaries, even when it comes at the cost of his own feelings.

One of the most memorable scenes occurs when Qin finally begins to open up to Duang about his past, and Duang responds with a deeply heartfelt reassurance: “I don’t know if it’d work for you, but if your past memories hurt you, it’s time to let go of your younger self’s hands… and hold mine. I’ll take it from here”. The moment stands out for its emotional sincerity and marks a powerful turning point in their connection, capturing the essence of trust, healing, and emotional support that the series builds toward.

Overall, the series presents a cohesive and well-paced narrative that allows its events to unfold naturally. Combined with a strong soundtrack and visually appealing cinematography, Duang with You delivers a compelling and emotionally resonant viewing experience.

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