This review may contain spoilers
Duang with You is overhyped and overrated, but it was fine I guess..
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.
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This review may contain spoilers
There's no way everyone watched this with a straight face...
SPOILERS AHEAD FOR LAST EP SORRY..First of all, the effects and editing were so bad. When they started to shoot down their little hideout, the effects of the shooting were FRYING ME. Was the hideout made of metal? How did it not go through? Another thing that pissed me off was just how, when people got shot, it didn't look realistic at all. The effects were sloppy, and the fake blood was, too.
The whole family thing with Pheem was fine i guess. The whole plot of the show was who was going to get the hospital, which kinda made NO SENSE. Did the whole family just want power over each other?? Evil villians I guess. Pheem's backstory is kinda sad. I mean, his mom did die, but how come he didn't die in the car crash? Unrealistic, like I said. The whole rivalry with his brother felt repetitive. His brother and his bodyguard had the potential to become a thing, but we didn't get anything. I was actually rooting for them. Pheem's sister, I feel, they wanted female representation to run too, but knew in the end, Pheem would end up on top? The whole family just pissed me off.
Pheem's character. In the beginning, we see him and feel bad for him, right? Pheem had a downfall as soon as he got control of the hospital, making him become a villain. He became obsessed with control and power; he seemed to forget how he was bullied by the power? To the point where you shoot your own lover..okay cause I was wondering..?
The romance acpect of it. The idea of Than just becoming his bodyguard randomly when they were lowkey enemies does not go over my brain. Yeah, Than saved him and shit, but cmon now. I bet he didn't even get paid. Then literally did so much for Pheem, to the point where he got shot like a thousand times, and didn't die? Same with Pheem..The whole lovey-dovey period was one episode long and ended as soon as Than found out Pheem was evil. AND THEN PHEEM SHOT HIM??? WHAT. Pheem acted like he did nothing and then PROCEEDED TO SHOW UP AT THE HOSPITAL AND BRING ORAGE JUIICE AND FLOWERS?! HE PROCEEDED TO CRY AND ACT LIKE HE WAS THE VICTIM. Than did not deserve his ass, but then it was so easy, and he forgave him in the end? I liked how he dropped him and left him. Period, as he should..BUT THEN OF COURSE HAD TO COME BACK BECAUSE PHEEM WAS IN TROUBLE. Also, the idea of them meeting as kids just didn't stick with me. How convenient they met. I guess it was cute for Than to protect Pheem when they were kids and called him "Thunderman" or whatever it was. Unnecessary, I'd like to say, but it was a fun idea.
The final episode. I will not try to spoil it, but let's just say I had to 2x speed that because it was so bad. Everyone was thinking Pheem died, and then he didn't? Unrealistic again. The whole family dying, and then Than and Pheem just living happily ever after? Sounds like they got tired and lazy at the end. What happened to the hospital? Did the police just say, oh they shot eachtoher lets pack it up. Did Than become a police officer after this? WHY DID HE FORGIVE PHEEM IN THE END? Holy pmo.
The first eps were the only good ones of the whole show. I don't recommend it, but I love the actors and the acting was okay, so?
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