Low ratings, production issues, and creative challenges have plagued the novela "Mania de Você," currently airing on Rede Globo, leading viewers to label it as "Agonia de Você" due to its disappointing narrative and execution. The brainchild of writer João Emanuel Carneiro, the show was initially positioned to be another champion of audience engagement, with marketing focused on its lead actors, including Nicolas Prattes, Chay Suede, Gabz, and Agatha Moreira.
Despite these high hopes, the show has faced numerous critiques since its launch, reflecting poorly on its storyline and character development. Many viewers felt the narrative was indecisive, struggling to find its footing between being categorized as either a series or novela. The unfortunate outcome is evident as audiences tuned out, finding it difficult to watch entire episodes without losing interest.
The most affected by this mediocrity appears to be Nicolas Prattes. Once seen as the star and romantic lead playing the character Rudá, he is now considered more of a background player, reduced to emotional scenes flooded with tears. Many were left questioning whether they were watching "Mania de Você" or merely witnessing variations of his previous characters. The plot development took another hit when the decision was made to kill off Rudá, as he no longer contributed meaningfully to the storyline, causing even greater consternation among fans.
Critically, Prattes repeated the trope of the "suffering protagonist," but some pundits believe he never had the chance to showcase his full acting potential. Rather than boosting his career, this role is seen by many as detrimental, lacking the depth one would expect for such a high-profile casting. "Uma pena porque eram das mais positivas as esperanças no início. Agora é tentar chegar ao fim da melhor maneira possível," reflected comments on the show’s direction and cast by the entertainment site Portal LEODIAS.
On top of this, heightened frustrations culminated in the rise of public petitions targeting the character Rudá. Over 1,800 signatures were gathered from fans appealing for his character's removal from the storyline. "Rudá é um personagem de Mania de Você que não agrega em nada na novela," the petition noted, emphasizing widespread dissatisfaction with his portrayal and role within the narrative.
Prattes, for his part, has taken to social media to address the fallout. After his final filming days, he shared via Instagram snippets of the song "Livre Estou" from Disney's Frozen, which fans took as emblematic of his relief to exit the show. "Gostaria de ressaltar que não me incomodo com isso. Eu faço novela para o público, não para mim. A resposta do público é a resposta de Deus," he expressed, indicating his commitment to audience satisfaction over personal grievances.
Meanwhile, Globo seems to have drawn a line under "Mania de Você," announcing its conclusion shortly before the introduction of the highly anticipated remake of "Vale Tudo," set to premiere on March 31. The network is heavily investing promotional efforts to revitalize its drama offerings and to reclaim viewer attention. The performance of "Vale Tudo" is now seen as pivotal for the future of Globo's dramatisations, creating urgency and anticipation among followers eager for revitalized storytelling following what many have dubbed the draggable experience of the current novela.
With the imminent end of "Mania de Você," and the buzz surrounding "Vale Tudo," the stakes are higher than ever for Globo. Viewers and industry insiders alike are watching closely, curious if the new series can perform where its predecessor faltered. Only time will tell if the network can salvage its standing amid shifting audience expectations and create compelling narratives moving forward.