A Tale of Thousand Stars

Watch this one if you want to have an emotional rollercoaster. (In a good way!)

This started a little slow for me, but picked up a lot by episode 5 or so. It is beautifully acted and visually pleasing. Mixx is seriously a fantastic actor. He does such a great display of emotion in his facial expressions. I was worried that this was going to be a story about how he always fell short of Torfun, or everyone compared him to Torfun all the time, but it wasn't that. Torfun and Phupha vs Tian and Phupha were completely different relationships and I thought that was very well handled.

The last two episodes put me THROUGH IT. I sobbed so much. So maybe save those if you are not ready to be absolutely wrecked emotionally.

My only real complaint is that I was so freaking starved for physical contact by the last episode that the kiss and the last credit scene was NOT enough. Hopefully this is delivered more in Our Skyy 2.

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Twinkle, twinkle, little star - How I wonder what you are

And if one day I could count 1,000 stars, I would certainly wish to watch this film again, with the original emotions of the first time. "A Tale of Thousand Stars" tells a beautiful story like a fairy tale with melodious tones from the mountains of Northern Thailand. At first impression, surely everyone would exclaim that the film's title is so beautiful, full of dreamy and mystical colors, and usually the title portrays the nature of the film as clearly as possible. And indeed, the film has created a story as beautiful as a painting, not the noble beauty of princesses and princes, nor solely a dreamy pink color, but a beauty full of poetry and feelings emanating from the flavor of mountains and forests, love, heart, and soul of each character.

The film isn't simply about a prince meeting his knight, about the "puppet" and the "green giant"; the fairy tale in the film tells about their village, about life, focusing on beauty from the farthest hills. Everything originates from the heart of a volunteer teacher who died in a traffic accident and was given to Tian's body. At first, such a trope gives the feeling of a tragic and tense body swap story - but the moment he decides to return to the mountainous area with "Hill of a Thousand Stars" to fulfill the wishes of the heart's original owner in his body, I knew that "A Tale of Thousand Stars" would be a truly bright fairy tale, bringing light, heading towards light, and radiating light like stars.

In a place where electricity is scarce, where you have to go to the stream to bathe, where you have to go to the market in town to buy goods, a beautiful love story blossomed. Indeed, "the brightest star shines in the darkest sky" - difficult circumstances make the warm human connection of all the villagers shine brighter, illuminate the eyes of ethnic children, the sense of responsibility to protect the country of the forest rangers, the sacrifice of everyone to protect the peace of the village.

In the end, after many events, amidst the gloomy sounds of mountains and forests and many imminent dangers, viewers, like the young volunteer teacher SeeTian, see the sky clearer, see that difficult mountainous region more beautiful, see that the shortages here are nothing compared to the happiness he received. And then, along with 999 other stars, Phupha found his final star, the brightest one, coming from the city. Just like how Tian accomplished the most difficult task, more difficult than apologizing and recognizing mistakes: deciding to forgive himself, returning Torfun's fairy tale book to her to write his own story; both he and his Chief opened their hearts - "If you want someone's heart, sincerely give yours first."

Hidden in the love story born and grown from misunderstandings, reassurance, and the purest emotions, the love that sparkles like starlight bringing healing flavors to both, "A Tale of Thousand Stars" also speaks about other humanitarian ideas such as forgiveness, faith, self-acceptance, sacrifice, responsibility to the homeland, happiness lying in dedication to life. After watching the film, I suddenly found life more meaningful, warmer, and brighter. The film reinforces viewers' faith in life, like healing. "If you are confident that what you did today was right, then you don't need to worry about tomorrow's mistakes" - the film teaches us to slow down, enjoy every moment in life, find joy and ourselves from the smallest things, about how to find passion and pursue the right direction.

I like the film's storytelling, very everyday, familiar, rustic, and gentle, also mixed with some humor. The climactic situations of the film aren't exaggerated, resolving conflicts quickly mainly because the characters' personalities are very good. The character building is consistent and appropriate, the chemistry is super stable, and, oh my, Mix's acting superbly conveys emotions. At the end of each episode is a small quote, not too grandiose but good and familiar.

Finally, "A Tale of Thousand Stars" is a very complete fairy tale, about the film's atmosphere, characters, story, humanitarian meaning, ideology, and the ending that points towards a very sparkling future. However, sometimes the film wasn't very engaging for me (probably because each week only one episode was released, so at that time I got tired of watching, who knew I would drop it right before the climax episode, I have to say I also like the sadder episodes a bit more), the pace of the film isn't slow and is just right but maybe when I watched it I needed something "faster." The music is good, truly ethnic yet melodious, suitable for both sad and happy moments, and the dialogue, oh my, so cheesy but adorable.

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It's very cute, one of my favorites

I've never had time to write a review about this bl, and it's very cute, very well-developed, and I think it's still the best gmm production to date, there's something special about this work, the novel is already excellent, but the adaptation has managed to be just as good, it's good when you finish watching something and start looking for more information about the characters, this connection is not just any production that manages to make with its audience, here they have succeeded, every year I end up watching this work again, because this tale will always be eternal for me

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Amazing but SLOW ASF

This show is amazing, the storyline and emotions are so deep. EarthMix's acting is phenomenal, you can really see the conflicts on their faces and their chemistry is insane. Of course its GMMTV so it isn't without a few cheesy tropes like the close proximity stares etc but the drama and beautiful production makes you ignore it. At first I was a bit confused - this was my first show that involved soul swapping/reincarnation (I hadn't seen Vice Versa, Cupid's Last Wish etc yet) but this was simpler to ease me into that idea.
I cried through half of the end episodes, I felt so bad for Tian but also completely understand Phupha and the rest of the villagers having loved Torfun so much. I loved all the side characters as well that this was an easy watch, the doctor and other soldiers are so funny and a good comedic relief from the grief.
Like I said this show is so good and definitely underrated - however it is SLOW BURN. If you liked Only Friends bc they sh*gged in the first few eps this show isn't for you, they don't kiss until like the last 10 minutes or something, even my mum who had watched half of it over my shoulder was sat there going 'JUST KISS HIM ALREADY' - girl was getting impatient with Phupa.
Anyway, WATCH THIS SHOW RIGHT NOW.

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Beautiful BL with a few issues

I binged this entire series in about 13 hours and it was well worth it. I really enjoyed the story, I liked all the characters (which doesn't happen often for me) and I liked the intrigue.

Was it super innovative? Not really, the plot was pretty easy to see through but it was well executed and I was holding my breath the entire time, waiting for the other show to drop. And when it did, it was truly heartbreaking.

Now, what I do want to mention however is a few things I found very tiring. The pacing is SLOW. SLOW SLOW SLOW. I enjoyed it in the love story because it had me screaming "JUST KISS" at the screen multiple times (during the airport scene, I was both crying and laughing because lol the parents) but the overall story dragged a lot. Which is strange given that the show had only ten episodes.

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A nice change of scenery with great chemistry but not a show I would re-watch

While Earth has been in several BLs, he hasn’t had a breakthrough in his acting until ATOTS, which I think really proved to be his best performance to date.

Although actual kiss scenes are rare in this series, there are many solid moments with exceptional chemistry. Phupha and Tian are something else when they’re playful or engaged in banter. The relationship is slow to take off but there is always palpable tension in the background.

However, I found it completely unnecessary to have Torfun/Torfun’s organ donation as a plot device. It also didn’t make sense to have Torfun’s death (and by extension, organ donation) as one of the potential ‘tensions’ between the villagers and Tian. Once again, totally unnecessary as 1) this is illogical and 2) there were other better points of conflict in the show anyway.

Read my full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2021/12/08/a-tale-of-thousand-stars-2021/

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A Tale of Thousand Stars: A Heartfelt Journey of Redemption, Love, and Destiny

"A Tale of Thousand Stars" is a masterpiece that transcends the usual boundaries of the Boys’ Love (BL) genre, offering a profound story of love, redemption, and self-discovery. Released in 2021, this Thai series, based on Bacteria’s novel of the same name, combines breathtaking landscapes, an emotionally rich plot, and remarkable performances to create an unforgettable viewing experience.

One of the most impressive aspects of A Tale of Thousand Stars is how it sets a new standard for the BL genre—proving that a compelling story doesn’t need numerous kissing scenes, sexual tension, or explicit moments to leave a lasting impact. Instead, the series relies on a heavy plotline, emotional depth, and well-crafted character development to tell a beautiful love story. The slow-burn romance between Tian and Phupha feels genuine, building through shared silences, subtle glances, and acts of kindness that are far more powerful than any overt display of affection.

The performances of Earth and Mix are truly captivating, bringing out the vulnerability and strength of their characters. Earth’s portrayal of Phupha’s inner conflict—torn between his duty and growing feelings—is both subtle and powerful. Meanwhile, Mix, in his debut role, shines as Tian, capturing the character’s transformation from a naive city boy to someone who finds purpose and courage in the most unexpected place.

Visually, the series is a treat with its stunning cinematography that captures the beauty of Northern Thailand’s mountains and forests, enhancing the story's emotional impact. The soundtrack, particularly the theme song “Thousand Stars,” perfectly complements the series’ bittersweet and hopeful tone.

Beyond its romance, A Tale of Thousand Stars also highlights social issues, such as the challenges faced by rural communities and the sacrifices of volunteers and rangers. It raises questions about privilege, second chances, and what it truly means to live a life of purpose.

(-) My drawback with this series is Earth’s acting. I think the character of Phupha is portrayed as someone who secretly cares for and loves Tian—despite his indifferent and composed demeanor, he is actually very kind, emotional, and afraid of losing Tian. However, Earth falls a bit short in delivering strong facial expressions and emotional outbursts as Phupha. At times, he still seems a bit stiff, and his expressions appear flat in certain moments. Even so, I try to accept that it might just be how Phupha's character is truly meant to be.

In conclusion, A Tale of Thousand Stars is more than just a love story—it's a soulful journey that redefines the BL genre with its emphasis on emotional storytelling and meaningful themes. With its heartfelt narrative, powerful performances, and thought-provoking messages, this series is a must-watch for anyone seeking a BL story with depth and heart.

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I rate this series, which ended with the tenth episode just today, very highly for its absolute ORIGINALITY. Gone are the school desks, walking in the corridors and chatter about nothing.
The north of Thailand has started, a remote village on the border and the whole story can be read by anyone who hasn't seen it.

Story 7: already mentioned originality, I deducted three points from perfection for some illogicalities such as a heart transplant, mistaking it for a soul, stretching to the edge in some scenes, a completely unnecessary departure for two years to the USA at the end - when two beings love each other, that's how they should prove it to themselves and not that they go apart or that one of them, long grown up, has to obey mom and dad. It's just that two grown men couldn't grasp their love firmly by the scruff of the neck and face it, and behaved like sleeping flowers without mutual physical contact, which is inherent to love, infatuation and mutual attraction.

Acting 8: the way the characters were written, they didn't require any super-professional performances to the bone. I liked Tian the most (I won't mention their real names) then there was the 3-man line-up from Waterboyy The Series - Phupha, yes, he's nice, but that role was just as thankless as his previous roles in other series - INDECISION, Dr. Nam he was excellent and the role suited him very well and a friend from Bangkok Tul OK.

Sound 10: nothing to complain about, beautiful opening song
Processing 10: originality, professionalism
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Tento seriál, který skončil desátým dílem právě dnes, hodnotím velice vysoko pro jeho naprostou ORIGINALITU. Pryč jsou školní lavice, chození po chodbách a žvásty o ničem.
Nastoupil sever Thajska, odlehlá vesnička na hranicích a celý příběh si může každý, kdo neviděl, přečíst.

Příběh 7: již zmiňovaná originalita, tři body jsem z dokonalosti ubral za některé nelogičnosti typu trasplantace srdce, jeho záměny za duši, v některých scénách protahování až za hranu, ke konci naprosto zbytečný odjezd na dva roky do USA - když se dvě bytosti milují, tak by si to měly dokázat a ne že jdou od sebe a nebo, že musí jeden z nich, dávno dospělý, poslechnout tatínka a maminku. Prostě že dva dospělí muži nedovedli svou lásku uchopit pevně za pačesy a postavit se jí čelem a chovali se jako náměsíčné květinky bez vzájemného fyzického kontaktu, který neodmyslitelně k lásce, zamilovanosti a vzájemné přitažlivosti patří.

Herecké výkony 8: jak byly postavy napsány, nevyžadovaly nějakých superprofesionálních výkonů do morku kostí. Nejvíce se mi líbil Tian (nebudu uvádět jejich pravá krkolomná jména), pak zde byla tříčlenná sestava z Waterboyy The Series - Phupha, ano, je fajn, ale ta role byla stejně nevděčná, jako jeho předchozí role v jiných seriálech - NEROZHODNOST, doktor Nam byl výborný a role mu hodně sedla a kamarád z Bangkoku Tul OK.

Zvuk 10: nemám co bych vytknul, krásná úvodní píseň
Zpracování 10: originalita, profesionálnost

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