I've actually given this a lot of thought and I think a lot of it is on Gavin being a weak actor.
Don't get me wrong Jeremiah is in a one side competition with his brother and there are times he guilt trips Belly in their relationship during season 3, but I don't buy him as this master manipulator because that requires a level of forethought we don't really see from him in any situation really. If anything he's just incredibly immature and impulsive.
Let's take the scene in season 2 when Belly tells him her and Conrad are going to be a thing. From his pov, his childhood friend has come back this summer with a glow up and he's developed some form of feeling for her and 2 weeks ago they kissed and something has been going on between them for the last week, but now she's saying that actually we're not going to be official because me and your big brother are. The same big brother that he's always comparing himself to. On paper I completely understand why Jeremiah would feel like the rug had been pulled under him and why he would be hurt (even if it is like what did you expect when you inserted yourself in this mess but he's 16/17 so I'll give him a pass), but the hurt doesn't come across with the way Gavin plays it and instead comes across as a massive temper tantrum. His acting choices and line reading are sometimes so bizarre and odd and I wonder why the director isn't stepping in to be like Gavin lets try it a different way instead. Unless they are and that's the best they can get from him.
I think Gavin was hired for his ability to play the happy sunshine guy, which he does fine enough at I guess, but he was never tested to see how well he can do the more serious and complex stuff which is a shame because he's one of the main 3 yet pales in comparison to Lola and Chris. I also think his weak acting is why Jeremiah doesn't work as a romantic lead but that's an essay for another time.
In conclusion, Gavin's acting is wack.
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