I Promised You the Moon – Drama Review

Teh and Oh-aew are new university students who have moved to Bangkok to begin their four years of schooling. Both of them aspire to become professional actors, although they are studying at different schools. Currently dating, it is Teh's dream to get a leading role with Oh-aew by his side.

At his university, Teh joins the school's drama club, where he meets his new friends. There's Top, a famous actor who has already caught his big break in the industry. There's Khim, a struggling actress who can't land a leading role despite hundreds of auditions. And then there's Jai, an aspiring director who forms a close connection with Teh. While Teh enjoys hanging out with his theatre buddies, he's spending noticeably less time with Oh-aew.

Meanwhile, Oh-aew struggles to adapt to his university life. Even though Teh lives with him at first, the commute is too far between their schools. Oh-aew convinces his boyfriend to stay at the dorm instead. However, Oh-aew has been feeling lonely, homesick, and upset that he can't make any new friends. It doesn't help that Teh is paying less attention to him due to his extracurricular activities. Eventually, Oh-aew meets a friendly student named Q, who introduces him to his boisterous group of friends.

After a failed audition and harsh criticisms from his teachers, Oh-aew's passion for acting begins to wane. Oh-aew wants to switch majors from acting to advertising, since he has developed an interest in the subject from attending his friends' lectures. This decision devastates Teh, who thinks Oh-aew is giving up on his dream just because he's being influenced by his friends. As the tensions erupt, the two boyfriends realize that the directions in their lives may drastically diverge.

Like many fans, I was excited about I Promised You the Moon, the much-anticipated sequel of I Told Sunset About You. The first series was so well-produced, setting very high expectations since I know this team can achieve greatness. However, I Promised You the Moon was a relatively disappointing sequel, unable to match the masterful storytelling or the emotional tone as its predecessor.

Perhaps it's unfair to make comparisons and pit these two series against each other, but it's hard not to notice the difference in quality. During Season 1, the story is so rich and refined, delivering powerfully complex plots that tie together in a meaningful way. During the sequel, the story lacks the same oomph, despite its best effort to manufacture conflicts and complicate the relationship drama. The focus has shifted towards how Teh and Oh-aew are slowly coming apart as a couple, which isn't that compelling to watch.

One of the biggest problems is Teh, who crosses the line and becomes too unlikable. I can tolerate a complex character with personality flaws, but his actions are beyond infuriating as the series progresses. Midway through the series, Teh is involved in a ~dramatic incident~ that makes it difficult to redeem his character or champion his romance with Oh-aew anymore. Not that it stops I Promised You the Moon from dragging the melodrama on and on, milking the overwrought angst for all it's worth.

The strengths of I Promised You the Moon are obvious. The production in this BL drama is so polished and presentable, easily among the best in the genre. Early in the first episode, Teh and Oh-aew share an intimate kiss at the aquarium, a beautifully cinematic moment that is captured with the perfect ambiance. This is just one of the many examples where I Promised You the Moon dazzles with its artistic flair. Every scene is handled with care, paired with visually stunning camerawork, a snazzy soundtrack, and a very stylish atmosphere.

I Promised You the Moon benefits from the residue goodwill carried over by I Told Sunset About You. My positive feelings attached to the first series help soften the criticisms I have about the sequel. The impeccable production, the charming actors, and the strong romantic chemistry constantly remind me of what I love about this franchise. Nonetheless, the bottom line is that I Promised You the Moon underdelivered when it could have been so much better. This is still a decent BL drama, but the shortcomings prevent it from being another masterpiece.