The Promise – 2022 Thai Series Review & Summary

Phupha and Nanfah are university roommates who have been best friends for a long time. They even have their own secret handshake. Despite their different majors and class schedules, they still constantly hang out. The pair promised to always stay involved in each other's lives.

Others have noticed their close bond. They speculate whether Phupha and Nanfah may be romantically involved. Both guys are single and good-looking, so people appear interested in their love lives. Gigi, a student with a crush on Nanfah, talks to Phupha to clarify the rumours. He confirms they are just friends. Likewise, Nanfah insists their relationship is strictly platonic.

Nanfah wants to enter a dance competition. The grand prize is a trip to Vietnam. Nanfah coerces a reluctant Phupha to be his dance rehearsal partner. They attend lessons together. However, Nanfah plans to enter the contest with his other friend Deena. Phupha notices their rapport, which bothers him. He becomes jealous when Deena seems to be chummy with Nanfah.

Phupha seems annoyed their dance lessons are used to bring Nanfah and Deena closer. After witnessing a cozy exchange between Nanfah and Deena, Phupha becomes upset. He threatens to move out of the dorm room. Yet, Nanfah insists he doesn't have a romantic relationship with Deena. They're merely dance partners. Phupha feels relieved and reassured. However, his jealousy signifies Phupha doesn't see Nanfah as just a friend. There may be romantic feelings between them.

Years later, Phupha and Nanfah are no longer friends. Contrary to their promise, they lead separate lives and don't stay in touch. An adult Phupha comes across an old photograph of them together. He reminisces about their past memories, wondering where their friendship went wrong.

This review is about The Promise, a 2022 Thai BL series. The first episode is titled "Phupha", while the second part is named "Nanfah". They are the prequels for the 2023 remake of The Promise, which has a similar plot with the same actors. You can consider The Promise 2022 an early prototype of The Promise 2023. In addition, the Thai version of The Promise has no relation to the 2022 Vietnamese BL drama with an identical title. There are three BL series called The Promise, but they tell different stories.

The Promise delivers a stellar first episode that exceeds expectations. The series has created a riveting emotional arc in only thirty minutes, which is no easy feat. This story begins by depicting a warm, authentic friendship. Phupha and Nanfah's cute dance lessons introduce the characters, highlight their personalities, and tease a romantic spark. The beautiful visuals and the actors' smooth chemistry enhance the alluring ambiance in these scenes. Between the enigmatic smiles and the loving gazes, The Promise quickly establishes a pairing that viewers want to champion.

The first episode focuses on Phupha's perspective, portraying the anguish of his unrequited love. He sees Nanfah as more than just a friend and feels tormented since his crush isn't reciprocated. Nanfah casually breaks his heart without even knowing what's wrong. Phupha goes on an intense journey with many ups and downs. He swings from distress to relief back and forth. His sympathetic experiences are worthy of pity, making you understand why he reacts dramatically at the story's climax. As his character agonizes, The Promise has my emotions in a chokehold.

Perhaps the first episode sets the bar too high, but the follow-up pales by comparison. The plot shifts to Nanfah's perspective as he reflects on his broken friendship. However, the romantic atmosphere has dwindled since the leads separated for a long time. They only interact in quick flashbacks, which are too short and lack impact. The story also introduces a new love interest who receives little development. Most of all, the events seem implausible. I'm skeptical as Nanfah approaches strangers to ask about Phupha. His efforts feel futile, like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Despite the declining quality, the second episode still contains delicate moments that tug at my heartstrings. This BL drama's strong suit is that it can evoke emotional responses from the audience. It helps that both leads give compelling performances throughout the series. Phupha's actor (Kun) carries his scenes with a versatile range, portraying his character's many fluctuating moods. He displays infatuation, rage, hurt, and desperation convincingly. Likewise, his costar (Kiak) has a gift of conveying melancholy. His wistful eyes can shimmer with unshed tears.

The Promise has a cliffhanger ending. It doesn't resolve tensions, leaves relationships undefined, and makes you ponder unanswered questions. Understandably, the prequel refrains from a definitive conclusion and saves the best material for the remake. The lack of closure is unsatisfying, like a book without a final chapter. We must wait until the new series for the rest of Phupha & Nanfah's journey. Overall, The Promise 2022 offers a promising preview of an epic love story. If it recreates the calibre of the masterful first episode, the 2023 version seems quite intriguing.