han1ac

So much wasted potential

So I have not seen the original series, this was my first introduction to the characters and I knew next to nothing about them going in.

I liked how the main couple's relationship started different than in most other series I have watched - when kicking things off with casual sex, there was a lot of potential for it to form an interesting dynamic balancing horniness with developing emotions but then... none of that happened? There was 0 horniness. They continued to be awkward and not touch eachother for about 70% of the series and even when they had had sex multiple times, Team still continued to behave like he had never touched another man and it was just weird to see. Kisses between them were particularly bad and all the sex scenes very stiff and uncomfortable.

They could have done so much with the backstory as well, it was always about Team but even then, they just showed the one flashback over and over again and even that became a little stale. The climax of that story was emotional if a bit stiff but I did enjoy watching it.

As for acting, it was.. ok, they didn't really have much to work with and everything was so stereotypical without any big surprises. Team started out as a whiny and chidish, and continued to be that way the whole 12 episodes. Win was better, I could actually see some caring and loving emotions in him. I loved Mannow, she was so weird.

Tul/Waan and Mannow/Pruek were my favourite couples even though they both got a very little screentime. But at least they actually seemed to enjoy touching and spending time together, which was fun to see and I bought the idea that they could be a couple. Prince/Bee did seem promising too but I have to admit I skipped 90% of their scenes, mostly just because I found the ABC gang so very annoying.

One thing I have to say about music, I didn't really pay attention it, it did not improve the visuals in any way but the reason I rated it particularly low was the sound editing(?) I guess? The mics used were very bad and you could constantly hear kind of gross mouth noices which was pretty upsetting and distracting.

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Real mixed bag

I adore FirstKhao, who doesn't, and they were the only ones I was familiar with before going into this show, but I've got to be honest Style and Fadel were the only ones that kept me going with this one.

I think of the four, Dunk's acting was the weakest, but Style as a character is so so SO annoyingly lovable, I didn't mind that much. His cheeky, confidence bewitched me like it did Fadel lol. He had the funniest lines, and I love that he was a mechanic specifically, such a macho job combined with his croptops and fabulousness was delightful. His dad was also great fun.
Joong blew me away, Fadel was such a complex character and he really played the hell out of it, all barely restrained emotions, scared and angry, it was beautifully done! Together their relationship really got to grow and bloom as they started to actually open up and care for each other. Also, in my heart they are a true vers couple, Style is too bossy and Fadel deserves to be worshipped.

Of First and Khao I don't really have anything bad to say acting wise, they were great as always, but their characters reeally fell flat. Bison was interesting in the beginnig, hot tempred, into kink, sweet and spicy both, but as soon as the romance started, his character kind of devolved into nothing but lovesick puppy? With Kant, he obviously was playing a character in the beginnig, being so charming and suave, I was hoping there to be some surprise, some change once the ruse ends but... there was nothing? Still as in love, still charming just much of the same. With their relationship, they threw away anything unique and different, (i guess they forgot Bison was into bdsm? like he was prepared with all that stuff, it wasn't an act?) but there wasn't really any growth besides the ruse and recovery from that.

Plot was nonsense lot of the time, but I didn't really mind. The dates were always cheesy, often cringy, but at least the sets were pretty. I'll admit I fast forwarded through most of the KantBison dates, since they really got the short end of the stick with the cheese and cringe.

I won't be rewatching this show, but I will watch StyleFadel compilations on YouTube.

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I preferred this to the original show

Fools in love, that basically sums it all! The reason why I liked this more than the original show is that they are that much more secure in each other, excluding few bouts of dramatics, and it was just lovely to see how their relationship had evolved from the show.

Acting is great, their faces are so expressive and I especially enjoyed watching Shiro who is much more subtler but still like, so clearly in love. And now, in addition to through his cooking, learning to show it more explicitly. (Which Kenji is freaked out by lol)

Meals and recipes looked delicious as always too, especially those caramel apples, I really have to try them at some point!

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High school romance at its best and worst

This show is about high schoolers so of course it's going to be embarrasing and cringy at times, but that is so well balanced with funny writing and extremely lovable characters that I had no trouble watching this show. I was grinning from ear to ear in pretty much every episode.

In the beginning once we get a POV switch and get to see the events from Tinn's perspective, that really made me fall in love with the show, that boy is so silly in love you can't but adore him. The Tinn/Gun relationship is sweet but what I didn't expect to fall in love with was the side couple of Win and Sound, their dynamic is so entertaining watch and their chemistry could really be felt.

As long as you don't mind teenager hijinks and problems, this is definitely a show to watch!

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Biggest surprise - please give it a chance

In the beginning the only reason I started watching this was because I heard the heat was good. I was very hesitant about the plot summary which didn't sound very good and by that point I didn't yet know it was a MAME show either, which tbh would have put me more off since I haven't been a big fan of the other productions from her.

However, it was a complete surprise on all regards!

1. With heat, it's really not that spicy. There is one sex scene (in the special) where they take a shirt off, otherwise it's just making out and clothes on touching. A lot of it, and implied sex, but it is rather tame.

2. Regarding plot, the summary is very much accurate, but there are layers to each character, and in my opinion, the reasons for everyone's behaviour are well explored, and everyone grows as a character.

3. Regarding TharnType being a MAME show, I've got to say it's easily my favourite. I've seen LitA, Wedding Plan and bit of Love sea, and they all infuriated me to a differing degrees. I'd say the acting and structure of TT is easily the best, there was a few too many diversions to side characters, and they brought in a lot of cameos into the last episode which I wasn't a huge fan of, but overall compared to some other stuff that's out there, not bad at all.

I honestly have never had this many thoughts and things to say about a series, so that should tell somethign. Overall, I was pleased with how the episodes were structured, the music and sound effects were a bit obnoxious but not to an extent it bothered me, and I liked all of the characters. Techno is one of my new favourite best friend characters, the ADHD king lol

(Also sidenote, it was so so nice to see a show without any super overt product placement that wasn't easily tied to the story, just made it feel more real!)

To talk about the main two a little bit, Type is defnitely going to be the most difficult for everyone to stomach. And I very much agree, he is an asshole, and started out completely awful, but the show allows you to see past this posturing, bully of a facade, into the reasons behind that.

Tharn on the otherhand is out and proud about his sexuality. His issues are to do with abandonement, and the insecurities that follow from that. I simply love him. I love when he said "I'll never stop loving men" I love when he refused to be ashamed like Type was, how he was able to be open and vulnerable when faced with someone who very much was not.

If you don't want to read my feelings vomit below, TLDR: the story might be hard to watch at points, and characters difficutl to love, but like I did with the show, I'd highly recommend giving it a try. It's gonna hurt, but I think the pain is worth the love.

AND THIS IS WHERE THE SPOILERS START (with tw for rape and sexual assault)

The core of Type's being, what has molded a lot of his adult persona is that he was sexually assaulted when he was 10(ish?). The show doesn't go into too much detail, but the key point where all of his issues stem from is when he explains that his assailant made him ejaculate, made him feel like he/his body was enoying the assault, which made himfeel dirty and ashamed.
When Type says "I hate gays" it's because he hates himself, hates how men make him feel, hates how dirty he feels whenever he gets arroused or attracted by another man. Like how animals make themselves look bigger and angrier when scared or in danger.
I honestly could talk about him much more than this I have serious feelings about Type. He is my special angry wet kitten.

About Tharn and Type together, their beginning could not be rougher or messier. Type is fighting against his immediate atteaction by being the biggest, asshole he can be. Tharn immediately clocks what he thinks is the classic "homophobic closet case" and responds with overt flirting.
It gets into sexual harrassment and assault, which can't be sugarcoated, and shouldn't be belittled - but at the point when it goes too far, when Tharn is throwing himself at Type, holding him on his bed, and Type reacts not with anger like he has so far, but with genuine fear and terror, Tharn immediately bacs off horrified. I think this is the point when he sees somethig else is going on.

Then in the following episodes they still fight, still act with dubious consent, editing of the show makes things a bit difficult to understand and I ended up thinking I had missed some scenes, but they do manage to establish themselves as TharnType, just sex, only in secret, and still with so much baggage over both their heads.
I honestly love them together. How Type slowly opens up to Tharn, how Tharn refuses to take all Type's bullshit. Do I thik their relationship was healthy in the beginning, absolutely not, but I was able to understand it. And they do grow together, and I loved watching it unfold.

And the sex scene in the ep 13/special is definitely in my top 5, so quiet, intimate - they are so familiar and comfortable with each other at that point, know each other so well. It was just beautiful to watch.

I could have done withotu the twist at the end, but the Lhong reveal still surprised me and I didn't really see it coming! The way it was handled was also, unnecessary but I do understand that it's a TV show and needs to be dramatic so I wasn't too bothered lol, and if you then think back afterwards to the last 1-2 episodes you have seen, you can pick out few points where the reveal was foreshadowed and can pick out things poeple siad that with added context mean a lot more - so that was still really cool.

I haven't seen the S2 yet, but I am going into it with a hopeful heart. I hope it will deliver!

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Maybe my favourite characters in BL

I loved these characters, I think they were all so well written, and for the most part extremely well acted as well, especially the main boys. Jihyun is a innocent country bumpkin but he's got sass and bite and he is confident in himself. Jaewon has so many problems but he seems indefinitely patient and kind. Aeri is a treasure, and Joopyu is probably the best "best friend" character I've seen in a while, it's all very believable.

And ah the acting, when things get dark you can see how shut off from the world Jaewon is, how his eyes are so lifeless, how he's just going through the motions. Until he sees Jihyun. It's 10/10 from me. Their relationship was so tender and even before they got together, you could clearly see the attraction in the looks, small gestures.

Editing in this show gets a little wild at times with some confusing cuts but some scenes hit you SO HARD. One I need to highlight is in the episode after Jihyun's accident, when the opening credits play completely silent, it set's the mood so well and feels really intense. Or when the scene gets dark and colourless when Jaewon is deep in his depression. It's all so so good and people much smarter and more eloquent have talked about it at leght - I can just say I loved it.

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Will make you cry

This was one of those shows where I cried in basically every episode - especially in the beginning where the overarching plot didn't take so much of the run time, the individual stories this show tells are so touching, and there are scenes in every episode that I cannot get out of my head!

What docks a point out from story for me is the ending, I would have much preferred a complete story rather than such an obvious lead up to a potential next season (I do not know if one is in the works?) and the events with the uncle were a bit over the top.

I can't praise the acting enough, everyone felt so real and you totally get sucked into whatever emotions they are portraying. Rewatch value is 10/10 for me, I have watched this show twice now and could easily go for a third round, espically of my favourite episodes.

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Exceptional

Moonlight Chicken has two perfect couples and I love them both for different reasons. Wen and Jim are basically love at first sight but it takes them a whole show to be able to act on it, Wen gets there quicker but he has his troubles to sort through as well. They yearn, are scared, are tired and just really want to find a some place to call home.

Li Ming and Heart on the other hand have a rocky beginning but after they get over it they become close so fast. Their relationship was the most special to me, and the way it was written is truly exceptional. They both just want someone to listen and believe in them. Acting from both of the boys is perfect, all the strong emotions, small facial expressions, they sold it so well and I love them both.

Finale was perhaps the least strong of the episodes, but I already rewatched it since I wasn't ready to let this show go.

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Excellent from start to finish

A Tale of Thousand Stars is probably the most solid BL show I have watched. The story makes sense and carries strong throughout, big events towards the end are hinted at as the episodes go on and there are no shock twists that come out of left field or drama just for drama's sake, it all feel earned. It is not a *realistic* story by any means but one that I could still belive!

Acting is much the same; emotions felt real, chemistry was great and even the side characters were enjoying and very well protrayed. I loved the ending too, the show really stuck the landing! This is probably the first BL show with music that I actually remember after finishing, there were a couple of really beautiful songs that I'm now gonna hunt for online, they really added to the story as well.

In the beginning I struggled with second hand embarrasment a few times but it got better after Tian learned and grew as a character. I've honestly got no complaints, and can highly recommend to anyone!

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Uncomfortable but compelling

These boys have SO MANY problems, they both need therapy but instead they have each other.

One content warning I would like to make since it caught me off guard and made me pretty uncomfortable, the main character Hira has two scenes where he imagines shooting his classmates with an automatic weapon. He is not a bad guy but deeply troubled, and it doesn't really get much better on the mental health front as the show progresses.
This is a very interesting show though, and there is so much to unpack and discover with both of the main characters and the POV shift on the 5th episode really helps with that and offers insight into how Kiyoi feels, and what has led him to become like he is.

I am very much looking forward to starting the second season and finding out where these two absolute messes go from here.

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Sky deserves better

I made an account on this site just to say that Rain sucks as a friend. I'm watching ep 9 rn and this guy just gives the keys to someone who his friend has multiple times expressed as not liking. C'mon dude your best friend is sick, surely you can have someone being your work to you if you really need to do it gods.

As a more general review... I have almost dropped this series multiple times but then decided to power through and just skip any cringey or awkward parts which makes the episodes half as long. Idk sex scenes are fine, not feeling the chemistry between the first pair. Sky deserves better, him and Sig are my favourites.

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Gem of a show

I don't have any intelligent things to say, but this was such a beautiful family dramedy about the beautiful oddities we all have, the things that make us all weird and special, and how those things can be difficult to understand or accept, even when it's with family - especially when it comes to family.

Okita Makoto was so much at times, my weakness to second hand embarrassment made it difficult to watch him put his foot into his mouth, but there was such an earnestness and love for his family and friends that shone through it all, which made it so rewarding to see him improve himself and grow. All of the actors were excellet (Daichi's boyfriend was a bit of a stiffer portrayal, but that was the character, and he was lovely in the end too)

This definitely goes to my list of things to re-watch when life feels tough.

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There is nothing here that I will remember in 2 months time

First of all, I want to apologise for Chopper, sorry king for ever doubting you, you were the highlight of this show. I love that his character was not made to be jealous or competetive towards Nueng, he was just a really good egg and Perth did a great job with him.

I stopped watching this show in the 8th episode when things were supposed to be tense and exciting but it really didn't carry. I found the writing quite boring and annoying in places, there were some highlights and scenes I really enjoyed, which made me finish the show eventually.

Things I enjoyed:
+ boys looked handsome
+ I think their chemistry was ok and when they were being physical it didn't look like they had to force themselves to touch each other, it was all quite nice!
+ overall good production quality, there were pretty shots, the sound quality was fine
+ the moms, they were both cool! I liked Palm's mother especially

Thing that were meh:
The characters were all pretty thin and one note.
Palm never really got away from the role of servant/bodyguard even when he spent time with Nueng and they were officially together. His dad was throwing away his life at first, then in span of one conversation he was okay leaving two teenagers go against a crime boss on their own and peaced out never to be seen again. I liked Nueng better. He was almost fighting against Palm to be let do normal things and chill and relax, he didn't want to be put on pedestal and that was great to see, this wasn't taken far enough though in my opinion - he just often kind of gave up when Palm continued to insist that he should just rest while he works.

Plot was nonsense, like it did hold together but you shouldn't really pay too much attention to it. Most annoying thing was at the end.. first Nueng leaves at night, leaving a note behind saying "Love yourself, live your life without me" and Palm doesn't listen and follows and they have a teary reunion. Then couple episodes later Palm leaves in the middle of the night, leaves p much the exact same letter to Nueng and he still believes it? Sigh, it just wasn't very interesting.

Also, the 'Never Let Me Go' cap they made Palm wear looked like it was too small for him and that always made me laugh lol

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The potential was there

I really want to like this show more than I do.

The characters were both very interesting, but the editing, pacing and the script really hampered the potential they had. In the big moments I found myself confused, going wait, why are they saying these things? What do they want? Which obviously lessened the impact those scenes had.

The actors I though did all a great job, no complaints there!

As characters, Jiwon ended up coming across as more frustrating, than anything else, but I do understand the intent behind what the writers wanted for him. For me his actions just didn't translate properly. For example, when they were taking a break, Jeongu seemed to be keeping in touch, texting him, but somehow Jiwon still thought they were breaking up? Didn't answer even once? Like the ball was in his court, and idk, it was frustrating to be so confused about the internal monologue.

As for Jeongu, I actually really liked his character! When he realised he had a crush on Jiwon, it was the cutest thing, and the show portrayed his confused and besotted feelings very cutely, it was very entertaining.

The kissing, touching and physicality of the two was actually excellent, felt very natural, no foot of air between their bodies when they were kissing lol. Their first time was very well done too, both little shy, both little nervous and very careful with each other, it felt very realistinc!

The side characters were both great, and I wish them all the happiness in the future lol - "half of the group is gay" *awkward side-eye* made me giggle, they had great chemistry too.

Overall, some really high highlights, muddled in the middle. Won't be watching this again, but don't regret finishing it!

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