It took me a while before I felt ready to write this review because I enjoyed the series so much that I might have been overly enthusiastic if I’d written it immediately after finishing. So, I rewatched it, and I still feel the same way. Initially, my experience with "Duang With You" was rocky; I wondered what I would do if a guy like Duang pursued me in real life—a genuine Duang might have resulted in a black eye. However, after a couple of weeks, I found myself falling for this cheerful and kindhearted boy. At first glance, “Duang With You“ seemed like another typical Thai BL series set in college, following the familiar "opposites attract" trope. Duang, an arts student (to put it mildly – noisy and childish seems more accurate), experiences love at first sight when he hears Qin sing, and immediately tries to get closer to him. However, Qin, a musical student (and equally mild-mannered—grumpy and distant is probably a better description) initially rejects his advances. Eventually, Duang’s persistence pays off, and as he becomes more cautious and Qin starts encouraging him, the ice begins to thaw. Later in the series, Qin reveals that he had noticed Duang in high school, though it's unclear whether he simply recognized the quirky boy or already harbored a crush. Gradually, they become friends, and—as Qin opens up—lovers, with support from their closest friends. After those initial episodes, which felt like fairly silly comedy, the tone shifts noticeably later on. The relationship between Duang and Qin evolves from one-sided admiration to a genuine friendship, and it becomes clear that both characters are shaped by their families. Duang’s parents and older brother are all comedic extroverts who love each other unconditionally, while Qin's parents were largely absent during his childhood, and the nanny’s awful behavior caused him trauma—a situation they failed to recognize or address. Life didn’t get any easier for Qin when his first love left him, mirroring how his parents had previously abandoned him. It took a sensible, more mature person like Qin to bring Duang back down to earth, such as when he refused an expensive camera as a gift. Conversely, it needed someone as positive and openhearted as Duang to help Qin learn to trust others and let them get close to him. During a visit to Qin’s family home—his parents once again disappearing after a brief appearance—Duang and Qin finally work up the courage to ask each other to be boyfriends. Later, Duang arranges for Qin to meet his parents, and Qin confronts them about their role in his unhappy childhood and youth. The family reconciles, and Duang and Qin go on honeymoon in Japan. The series concludes as it began with a concert, but this time Qin performs a song he wrote for Duang. The writing is superior to that of most Thai BLs. Every element contributes to the plot, even if the importance of some scenes isn’t revealed until later. The supporting characters are integral to the story and help develop the relationship between the leads. I appreciate that the writers avoided unnecessary misunderstandings or drawn-out arguments, instead encouraging the characters to discuss their issues and resolve them—a practice applied to both couples. Fortunately, they didn't add superfluous side characters or typical evil exes, as seen in many Thai series. Even Qin’s former boyfriend is easily dismissed by Duang, and when he approaches Qin again in a bar, they settle the misunderstanding that same night. There were some aspects I didn’t enjoy. First, Duang's character can be overly childish and exaggerated at times. While it seems like the writers intended to highlight the contrast between the leads, Duang occasionally demonstrates more maturity than the script allows. Another thing I disliked was Qin buying a dog—again, I understand that this was aimed at younger viewers who love pets, but it felt unnecessary and didn’t add anything substantial to the story. I also found it silly when Duang acted and sounded like an animal, and the Thai BL producers’ fondness for “funny” sounds continues to irritate me. My biggest criticism concerns how Qin's trauma is handled. Serious childhood trauma can’t be simply "healed" by a romantic relationship; it requires professional treatment. This highlights a flaw in the writing: Qin’s parents are selfish, uncaring, and shouldn't be forgiven so easily. Responsible parents would have sued the nanny—who deserved to be incarcerated—and ensured their son received psychiatric care. These are examples of rushed and superficial storytelling, which are rare overall in this series. Despite these issues, I really enjoyed the series as a whole, largely thanks to the actors. TeeTee Wanpichit and Por Suppakarn convincingly portray their characters from beginning to end, with their most touching moments being the serious conversations before they become boyfriends. When TeeTee, as Duang, tells Por, as Qin, to “put all his fears and worries on him,” it says more about Duang than many of his silly actions, and these scenes showcase the actors’ chemistry and potential. TeeTee and Por also seem comfortable with each other, which is essential for believable intimate moments. Credit goes to both actors who, despite their youth and limited experience, successfully carry a series lasting around 14 hours. Then there are Jamie (North Chatchapon) and Marvis (Otto Sorranan), the second couple that triggered a serious case of "second couple syndrome." Thai BL producers often introduce a secondary couple to gauge audience reactions to potential new pairings. I remember experiencing SCS for the first time while watching “Until We Meet Again,” which made me fall for BounPrem. North and Otto were captivating in several scenes—the way they flirt and display mutual attraction is unmatched, especially when compared to Duang’s clumsy and childish flirting style. It's often the fate of second couples to receive limited screen time, but I hope we get a series with North and Otto as leads someday. Overall, “Duang With You“ was an enjoyable experience, bringing smiles for twelve Saturdays. It provided good entertainment, which is more than many Thai BL series achieve, making it my favorite Thai BL series of 2026 so far. Country: Thailand Episodes: 12 approximately 70-minute episodes Director: Kla Nathawat Piyanonpong Cast: TeeTee Wanpichit, Por Suppakarn, North Chatchapon, Otto Sorranan et al.

Source on TMDB