The Promise – 2023 Thai Series Review & Episode Guide

Nanfah and Phupha, also known as Fah and Phu, have been best friends since childhood. They attended high school and university together. Phupha's father passed away when he was young. Afterwards, his mother moved to Australia for a fresh start. Phupha stayed in Thailand to live with his grandmother on her farm. He remained close to Nanfah throughout adolescence. However, Phupha suddenly went missing one day. He relocated to Australia overnight, leaving Nanfah confused.

Nanfah has spent the past ten years trying to contact his missing friend. Phupha left behind no explanation before his departure. He also ceased contact for a decade. Nanfah's many email messages have gone unnoticed. In addition, he used to travel to Australia to search for his friend. He would hand out posters to random strangers. Nanfah met Khunkhao, a friendly local, during his travels. They befriended each other. However, Nanfah was unsuccessful in finding his friend.

A decade later, Nanfah works as an employee at a marketing agency. He is well-liked in the workforce. His best friend, Party, is always by his side. Other colleagues include Giegie, Man, and their boss Ken. Nanfah is a bachelor who lives alone. He is notoriously messy and doesn't look after himself. As a result, his apartment is a mess. Nanfah also owns a cat, Oliang.

One day, Nanfah is shocked when a new neighbour moves into the flat across the hall. Phupha has returned after a decade of absence. Both live in the same apartment. Nanfah is overjoyed to reunite with his best friend. Yet, he has many questions and demands an explanation for Phupha's disappearance. Phupha is evasive and refuses to answer him. Eventually, Nanfah gives up on inquiring about the past. He focuses on rebuilding their friendship. The pair gets along and quickly regains their familiar rapport.

Phupha has recently opened a coffee shop. He is passionate about the industry and runs a successful business. Meanwhile, Nanfah's agency has started a new marketing campaign and needs a civilian spokesperson. Ken believes Phupha would be the perfect candidate, matching the key demographics. However, Nanfah is concerned about approaching his friend. Phupha is notoriously introverted and clams up in public. Phupha doesn't want to accept the gig initially. Nanfah must find a way to convince his friend to join the ad campaign.

The Promise is a disappointing BL drama because it should have been better. The 2022 prequel told a sensitive romance between two childhood friends. I assumed the 2023 remake would carry a similar vibe, expanding the plot with additional substance. Instead, this new version loses many qualities that made the predecessor compelling. It lacks a cohesive narrative, suffers from pointless filler, and never surpasses the emotional highs of the original. The Promise botches a potentially epic love story and turns it into silly rubbish.

The Promise fails to highlight the history between the protagonists. Flashbacks are scattered throughout the episodes, making the story feel disjointed without sequence or momentum. The series neglects the early stages of their relationship, only showing glimpses here and there. Its streamlined narrative glosses over their high school and university experiences. There's so much missing material that could have fleshed out the romance. Without seeing how the leads fall in love, it diminishes the impact of their reunion years later. I don't feel emotionally invested in the couple's journey.

The short prequel benefits from a compact narrative that gets straight to the point. In contrast, the lengthy series is bloated with hours of meaningless nonsense. The story focuses too much on Nanfah's workplace, especially his obnoxious colleagues. I hate almost everyone in the supporting cast. They annoy me with their cringy comedy and eccentric personalities. Also, the plots simply aren't exciting. Many irrelevant scenes feel like random shenanigans, offering no entertainment value. They waste time and divert attention away from the central romance.

I enjoy Phupha and Nanfah's interactions. Their playful rapport evokes the familiarity of best friends who grew up together. Each beautifully filmed scene highlights emotional intimacy with a fun dose of sexual tension. The couple has a juicy backstory as Phupha returns to Nanfah's life after a decade of separation. When the characters navigate their repressed feelings, the story produces poignant moments. My heart was stirred when Phupha cried in his sleep. Yet, this friends-to-lovers journey takes too long to reach a climax. There is also an endless cycle of pesky love rivals.

Despite some frustrating behaviour, Phupha and Nanfah are sympathetic protagonists. They possess genuine likability, making me root for them. Phupha shines in heartwarming scenes with his lovable grandmother. Likewise, Nanfah is naturally charming in his everyday behaviour. Although both leads are endearing, they often overact during dramatic moments. They are too exaggerated in their theatrical performances. Nanfah's actor (Kiak) appears extra hammy. However, he has a talent for comedy and handles humorous encounters surprisingly well.

For most of the series, The Promise bores me with uneventful plots and unfunny antics. However, the story becomes so absurd during the last few episodes that I enjoy everything ironically. The corny melodrama, cheesy love triangles, and campy overacting hit the sweet spot, reaching the territory of unintentional comedy. Going into the sequel, I looked forward to an angsty love story filled with delicate emotions. Instead, this guilty pleasure cracks me up with its senseless stupidity. Contrary to my high expectations, The Promise deteriorates into a hilarious mess.