Abhiroop Das
Directed by Emma Bucht and Susanne Thorson, Netflix’s ‘Diary of a Ditched Girl,’ also known as ‘Halva Malmö består av killar som dumpat mig,’ is a Swedish romantic dramedy about Amanda, a young art designer who is struggling to find true love. Desperate, she courses through the entirety of Malmö, trying one way after another to land a date with the man of her dreams. However, all progress seems to go to waste eventually, leaving her bitter at every turn. The story, which is an adaptation of Amanda Romare’s eponymous novel, explores a number of potential relationships, some conventional and others entirely original, and taps into their psychological aspect. Each potential suitor brings something unique to the table, but that does not always translate to a beautiful dynamic. Ultimately, it is up to the protagonist to find her rhythm and decide who she wants in her life the most. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Amanda and Emil Choose to Reboot Their Relationship
After a season full of ups and downs, Amanda has the time to reflect on all the choices she has made and the people she has developed a bond with. Throughout her slow downward spiral, the only positive addition to the protagonist’s life is Emil Wester, a friend turned date who brings a level of emotional sensitivity unlike anything she has experienced before. However, their dynamic goes sour following a night full of bad decisions, as Emil gets drunk in a nightclub and chooses to ignore his commitment to joining Amanda at a themed costume party. This rejection hits Amanda the hardest, and, frustrated, she decides to call it quits before the relationship even manages to take shape. In the end, she has a change of heart and visits Emil’s house for a heart-to-heart. There, the duo decides to start from scratch, this time with a conscious effort to be better. As the couple has passionate sex, a new chapter begins in their shared life ahead.
Emil and Amanda’s love life starts with a bumpy ride, as she initially ignores him in favor of other potential partners. However, their eventual first date turns out to be special, and it is only amplified by how they explore their sexuality. But the emotional touch to their dynamic ends up scaring both of them, triggering a cool-down period where Amanda struggles to make sense of things. Emil similarly hits a wall and, out of frustration, quits online dating platforms entirely. When their paths cross once again, the couple realizes that they understand each other deeply and are not interested in superficial pleasures as much as they are in something that is fruitful in the long term. As such, Emil and Amanda fit like two peas in a pod, and a quick timeskip confirms that the strength of their relationship has only increased. This marks a strong point of contrast with the protagonist’s other stints, all of which end in some form of failure.
All of Amanda’s Past Flings Turn Into a Learning Experience
Over the course of the inaugural season of ‘Diary of a Ditched Girl,’ the other relationship with engagement potential turns out to be between Amanda and the bartender, Jonte. While the two have an affectionate start, the latter’s evasive nature, coupled with his complicated history of drug abuse, leads the protagonist away from him. Though the characters return to the picture a few more times, the possibility of a concrete relationship between them remains in the dark. Another potential partner introduced into the story is Amanda’s roommate, Benjamin Montaque. Although the two appear to be a match made in heaven, with their tastes and lifestyles falling in sync, Benjamin makes it clear that he is not romantically interested in her. Worse, he describes her as a person without boundaries, while casually wondering why she is still single. This insensitive remark leaves Amanda heartbroken and more dejected with the idea of true love than ever.
One of the steamiest developments in the plot comes with the faceless stranger, whose profile on the dating app has no face or personal details. This completely anonymous presence strikes up a sensuous dynamic with Amanda purely through chatting platforms, and she eventually decides to meet him. The stranger turns out to be a dashing man, older than her, and most notably, a person fond of BDSM, an erotic practice that plays with the concept of dominance and submission. When the two have sex, and Amanda speaks of the wild experience very fondly, her sister figures out that there are deeper currents flowing underneath. While Amanda’s time with the stranger is sexually charged, it is nonetheless a part of her coping mechanism. Throughout the story, the intermingling of love and sexuality has remained an important subject for her, and the string of failed dates forces her to confront her darkest feelings before finding an answer in Emil.
Amanda and Emil’s Love Life Must Pass One More Hurdle
Although Amanda and Emil’s ship appears to be on course for a smooth sailing, a last-minute hiccup threatens to unravel everything they have built together. While celebrating in a nightclub, Emil runs into Jonte, and the two strike up a conversation. From a distance, Amanda watches in horror as her worst fears stand inches away from materializing. As it turns out, the night Emil didn’t attend the costume party, she made her way to Jonte, and the two had sex. Though it was a moment of emotional distress for her, it can still lead to some uncomfortable questions. In particular, Emil might not be happy about how quickly she was ready to move on from him. While this line of thought erodes much of the emotional context to her actions, this has been the modus operandi for many of the characters. As such, in order for them to move forward, sincerity and understanding in their relationships remain the core tenet.
Amanda’s love life is largely molded by the good, the bad, and the ugly dating experiences she has, but that does not exclude some of her own mistakes. In particular, her tendency to repress her emotions often creates situations where she goes all out in a short burst of time, as indicated by her destroying the art installation that she and her sister had painstakingly made from scratch. Furthermore, as Adina points out, the protagonist tends not to hold back on her thoughts, and while that has proven itself to be a good trait at times, her lack of restraint often leads her down a road full of hurt. To that end, the protagonist’s journey of learning to take control of her emotions remains at the core of the narrative. Though Amanda’s pairing with Emil is left on shaky grounds by the end of the finale, the experiences she has accumulated promise a better future ahead.
Read More: Is Netflix’s Diary of a Ditched Girl Based on a True Story?
