mango

Disclaimer!! This is my opinion, and let me know if you disagree or agree!

So first off, I want to start with Duang's character. The show makes him out to be a person who is the "golden retriever" in the relationship, but it just didn't do it for me. I found his character sometimes annoying and frustrating. Why? He's supposed to be a college student, but acts like he's five. I get that might be his personality, but why are you sticking out your tongue like a dog? Honestly, the only time I found his behavior funny was when he was actually making a joke, not acting like he was immature and a baby. I'd honestly would have liked to see more of his serious side and vulnerable side, but there were only two moments, so I guess not? I might seem like the fun police, but I don't find it funny when an adult acts like a baby. Leave that to the millennials.

Next, I want to get into Qinn's character. Opposite of Duang and his "golden retriever" personality, he is perceived as the "black cat" of the relationship, but as it didn't work out for Duang, it didn't work out for Qinn either. I found his character to be not self-centered, but ignorant. Qinn gives Duang permission to pursue him and doesn't even show a slight interest in the first 5-6 episodes. I also found it stupid of the writers to set up the beginning like that just for Qinn to not give the slightest shit and get annoyed every time Duang popped up. He didn't even start being interested until episode 5 or 6. I know his character is closed off because of his past with the trauma and ex-crush, but come on. Couldn't you just reciprocate with just a "I like you back, but I don't know how to show it" or something along those lines? I would have liked that, but Qinn just didn't do that.

Now, the whole plot was a good idea. An extroverted college art student pursuing a career as a cold jazz singer who also went to his college. It had potential, but due to the writing and pacing, it felt odd. Qinn not recepricating til episode 6 gave off that Duang was a creep and stalkerish. I know it was not like that in the show, but if you think outside of the show. Even when they did get together, it felt like they weren't. I don't know.

The relationship aspect of it was ehhh. As I said throughout this whole review, it took a while for Qinn to warm up to Duang. We finally got them together in episode 6, I'm pretty sure. Oh wait, WRONG! Qinnn's ex comes in and fucks up shit. Not like there wasn't shit going on, but it was unnecessary for him to try to win him back now, when he could have done it before Duang came into the picture. The whole ex-plot line was in early high school, and the main plot line was in early college. Correct me if I'm wrong, though. The ex would have had a lot of time to make up with him in that crunch of time before Duang came in. Also, the way Duang handled the ex coming in just had me like, what happened to the Duang who apparently "never gave up" and just became sad. Pmo.

Qinn's trauma and backstory were not well done, as they could have been. As I said, it was a good idea, but they absolutely didn't handle it well. As a kid, the babysitter his parents got "abused" him, not like hitting, but tried to make Qinn eat dirt and yelled at him. Kinda off putting and bold. That is very traumatic, and I understand why that would make him the way he is, but I wouldn't think that it would make him socially distant in a relationship. The scene where he yells at his parents for not being there for him was fine. I liked how Duang comforted him and calmed him in his arms, a moment where I didn't find Duang's character immature. THEN, in the next scene, Qinn's mom is rubbing him and hugging him? What happened to being mad?! The parents and Qinn didn't even go into a stage where they were trying to find ways to get back with him; the writers just skipped it. Another issue with the pacing.

The side story with Jamie Marvis. I don't wanna say I hated it, but I just was kinda confused. They were meant to be a sexy and intimate couple. But instead, they got barely any screen time, and had no spicy scenes, while Qinn and Duang had multiple, and didn't seem like the couple to do that after they got to be in a couple and be emotionally intimate first; however, they didn't. A side note to JamieMarvis is the English-speaking. I didn't hate it, but found it unnecessary and kinda cringe. Although they are following the novel, so I guess go off kings. I would have liked to see more of Jamie being inspired by Duang and trying to get Marivs to be his actual boyfriend, but their trope was friends with benefits, so.

The acting was okay. Nothing jaw-dropping, the only "good" acting was when Qinn was yelling at his parents. When Qinn acted sad, it didn't feel genuine and just felt like ehhh. What could I say about Tee Tee's acting and Por's? They could improve, but this is their debut series, and the acting was alright, so I can't be mad. Not to mention, they were in a singing group first, so I can't be harsh with them.


Overall? I think this series could have been written better, acted better, and honestly? It is kinda overhyped and overrated for a series with a mid-plot. I've seen better shows that are so much, well, I wouldn't say better, but in my opinion, with elements that Duang with You just didn't have.