Country Boy 2 – Series Review & Episode Guide

Keptawan is a teenager who lives in the countryside, where his mother runs a bedsit. The business used to struggle financially. It has become more successful thanks to a recent marketing campaign by Nabdao, Keptawan's new friend from the city. When Nabdao last visited the bedsit, he exchanged contact information with Keptawan. The two teens stay in touch via phone calls and text messages.

Keptawan leaves his rural hometown to work in the city for several weeks. He begins a new job at his uncle's coffee shop as a barista. Unfortunately, Keptawan struggles and makes careless mistakes all the time. Sometimes, he serves the wrong orders or spills the drinks. His uncle constantly chastises him, using derogatory language because Keptawan comes from the countryside.

After his arrival, Keptawan has called Nabdao to inform his about his new job in the city. The two teens agree to meet up. However, Nabdao is busy with school exams during this time. His sole focus is on studying and he doesn't have time for socializing. As a result, Nabdao and Keptawan still haven't seen each other after weeks have passed.

Country Boy 2 begins with a promising premise. The lead steps out of his comfort zone, leaving his rural hometown for the first time. His coming-of-age journey could've highlighted the cultural differences between living in the countryside and the city. Unfortunately, the main character has few meaningful encounters or memorable experiences. This meandering sequel barely scratches the surface of its limited, lacklustre, and lightweight narrative.

The first episode is slow and mundane. Country Boy 2 dedicates thirty minutes to inconsequential scenes that don't advance the plot, develop the protagonists, or showcase the romance. Barely anything significant happens in Keptawan's barista job other than him making small careless mistakes. The tension with the uncle exposes his character's prejudices, but Country Boy 2 doesn't dig deeply into this conflict. Worst of all, the two leads have banal interactions, only communicating via phone calls & text messages.

Thankfully, the second episode picks up momentum. Keptawan and Nabdao finally meet face-to-face, giving us long-awaited BL content. I like their heartfelt chat as they watch the sunset, a well-written moment with gorgeous cinematography. Their other exchanges are juvenile, but the sweet and gentle tone is a right fit for this wholesome teen drama. The drawback is everything feels rushed, an avoidable problem if the series didn't waste so much time previously. Country Boy 2 could trim the filler in the first half and expand the relationship properly.

Keptawan and Nabdao need substantial development as a couple. They only share a handful of scenes, not enough to establish a persuasive bond. Even if we include the first season, all their interactions are casual and trivial. How well do these two characters actually know each other? They lead separate lives, chat several times, and communicate superficially. Their connection feels more like a platonic friendship than a schoolboy crush. Instead of falling in love, I only see a pleasant camaraderie confused with a blossoming attraction.

Country Boy 2 comes from an indie filmmaker, but it has solid production values. Like last season, this small-budget series looks respectable with its simple yet elegant visual presentation. The young leads also appear comfortable on-screen. The actor playing Nabdao (Mon) is adorable, a perfect match as a love interest in a cute teen BL drama. I have a slight criticism for his costar (Oak), who needs more restraint over his expressions and mannerisms. His overeager reactions seem theatrical sometimes, and he should dial down the performance by a notch.

Country Boy 2 ends on a happy, heartwarming note. While the charming finale doesn't excuse all the aforementioned flaws, it leaves a positive impression and softens my complaints. Overall, this sequel improves upon its predecessor. I thought the first season was an amateurish effort, whereas this follow-up just needs skillful tweaks here and there. However, the storytelling is still clumsy and the romance lacks substance. Compared to other decent BL dramas, I'm sorry to say that Country Boy 2 does not meet satisfaction.