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"I'm the chick and Chandler's the duck."
"I would've thought it was the other way around."

These sentences are from the television show Friends.

I think instead of the second sentence, using I thought it was the other way around is not wrong.

I don't know exactly what is different between that two sentences in terms of meaning.

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The would've changes the subtext of the sentence.

I thought it was the other way around. — simple statement, perhaps a little confrontational or contrary

I would've thought it was the other way around. — acknowledgement of a different understanding and acceptance of new information

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    In other words, "I would have thought it was the other way round [if you had not just told me that]."
    – Kate Bunting
    Feb 13, 2020 at 17:47

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