A few months ago this little show called ‘Duang with you’(DWY) started popping up on my twitter timeline and it looked interesting enough for me to give a chance to the first episode that had just come out. I was instantly hooked. Admittedly, at the beginning I thought Duang’s character (TeeTee Wanpichit Nimitparkpoom) was a bit cringe and I couldn’t really understand Qin (Por Suppakarn Jirachotikul) for he only spoke a few quite rude lines, but as a veteran in the Thai bl industry I know better than to trust the pilot of a show, therefore I decided to stay on board and wait for the following episode. Eight weeks later and I’ve come to cherish these characters like it hadn’t happened in a while.
This show does not “love-bomb” you, it lets you organically fall in love with it just as the two main characters are doing with each other. That’s what happens when the evil production studios involve actually good writers who care about the story they are telling and who are not only relying on shock value and fan service to bring the plot forward knowing that a lot of the people who consume these products will be satisfied with the bare minimum.
Since NC scenes have become more and more prominent in the Thai bl industry a lot of shows have actually been using them to pique the viewer’s interest (‘My stubborn’ I’m looking at you, what the hell was that?!), but there is a fine line between enjoying queer love stories, which will inevitably feature sex as it is a natural occurrence of life, and fetishising them.
In DWY episode 7 the protagonists are openly talking about sex, their previous experiences, what they liked or disliked and it was honestly so refreshing to see. Through Qin being clear and direct about it we are finally witnessing healthy communication. The purpose of that specific scene is to make the viewers realise that having sex is not a question of one overpowering the other and that if they simply talk it out and work together they will achieve the best possible outcome.
You do not become sex positive by just having your characters go at it like bunnies in heat through scenes that are taking the plot absolutely nowhere; it is important to show that communicating builds stronger relationships and ultimately leads to a better understanding of one another’s mind and body.
Most of the time this kind of shows leave everything up for interpretation and since the ships are fixed you are already subconsciously aware of how it is going to play out before even knowing who the characters are, thus reinforcing harmful stereotypes queer people have been trying to rid themselves of for years.
Being the “top” in a bl is both a physical and metaphorical position. They are stronger, more masculine, cooler than anyone else and impossibly hot. On the other hand “bottoms”, when they are not portrayed as the classic goofy/quirky type, are often used to carry out tragic storylines like past sexual abuse, family loss, bullying and so on. The problem with archetypes in 2026 is that the characters will most likely end up feeling two-dimensional and flat out boring. Narrative arcs do not need to be crazy intricate to be enjoyed, a lot of the time a simpler storyline but with interesting character writing will be more appreciated by the general public.
This is why I like DWY, they managed to make Duang and Qin feel real while not losing the magic of a romcom. When we see them struggle with family, school or the relationship their reactions are always extremely human, they do not only think about how to overcome a situation but also about the emotional impact it had on them. There is honesty and rawness in the way they relate to each other because they know that trust, patience and open mindedness are at the basis of all healthy relationships. Both Por and TeeTee did an incredible job at conveying everything their respective characters were going through.
Now, for the most part the writing of this show is amazing however there is one thing that does not sit right with me and that is how they are handling the second couple. Marvis and Jamie are barely given a scene per episode, building a fully flashed out relationship with such little screen time is impossible and a disservice to your characters. We get to know more about Jamie because he is Duang’s friend but we know virtually nothing about Marvis. Their relationship is developing off-screen and as far as we, the viewers, are aware of they are now in a friends-with-benefits kind of arrangement and it seems like they are slowly getting cozier with one another. Side characters are just as important especially because sometimes you need a break from the protagonists’ drama. I am honestly interested in what they have to offer for they are both incredibly charismatic, but at this point I sadly think we will not be getting much out of them.
All in all this show is a breath of fresh air in the world of Thai bls, it started off quietly and it is finally getting all the flowers it deserves. It is not a perfect series, but at least it manages to give complexity and humanity to its main characters. Finally someone understood that these actors are not just pieces of meat to flaunt in front of bl enthusiasts in order to convince them to watch the show. Baby steps.
If my writing has persuaded you to watch ‘Duang with you’ I will let you know that new episodes come out every Saturday and don’t forget to support the actors on social media!
