This review may contain spoilers
Great series and great acting!
I really enjoyed the fact that this bl is different from the usual school setting. The story was emotional but sometimes funny. Having read the book I was worried how they would end the series but no worries, it was great.The acting was so good with the standout actor being Mix who played Tian. He was really able to portray so many different emotions through facial expression alone. It was really impressive. Along with being handsome he is truly talented. I had never heard of him or seen him in anything but I hope I will in the future. Earth who played the chief was good also with the standout scene coming at the airport with the kiss. Even how Earth moved his head after the kiss allowed me to see his inner emotions. Very powerful scene. The actor portraying Longtae has been in many series and once again added so much to the series. I loved him in Tonhon Chonlatee and 2Gether and he was just as good in this.
If I were to be hyper critical, it would be 1) lack of kisses in the series and 2) the very small part for Drake who should have had a bigger role. Although explicit affection isn't necessary to show the connection, it would have helped the series seem more than a bromance.
All in all, it was an exceptional series with great directing and acting. I appreciate the changes made to the series to give a happy ending. I would love to see this go into a season 2.
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THE WORLD IS WAITING FOR SEASON 2
After the series ended, I had experienced the emptiness and I cried continuously for 5 days, can't work on my stuff but my friend said, I have to rewatch it until I fully accept the fact that 1000 stars are done airing. after two weeks I have finished rewatching the series for the fourth time and I recovered <3 I still miss them tho.After that two weeks, my Grandfather brought a Black Labrador, and the moment I saw the Dog I know that I will be named him Phupha <3 ... Phupha cheered me up even though he makes a stern face and show his attitude to me <3 and I even tailored him a camouflage uniform <3 before bedtime, I'm singing the theme song to him so he can sleep fast <3
My uncle adopted a yellow-orange cad who likes to go outside so I named him Tian <3 I love both of them so much, they made me feel alive.
I'm saying that the series was REMARKABLE AND WORTH WATCHING, most of the fans could not easily let go of the series because of the OUTSTANDING efforts from the actors to the Director, Scriptwriter, and Staffs, and the Music putting up together making a BL MASTERPIECE OF THE CENTURY.
I'm very Proud of the people in front and behind this series <3
SO PLEASE WE NEED SEASON 2 with MORE FLIRTING PLEASE 55555555555
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This review may contain spoilers
Must Watch!
This is my third BL series and I am SO glad I decided to watch this. I saw many reviews saying this is setting a new standard for BL(s) and I can see why. The story itself is different from most romantic shows/lakorns that I’ve seen. I enjoyed how healthy and mature the characters are and how REAL growth actually takes place (especially for the main character Tian). LOTS of kudos for the diverse subjects this show touches on: forgiveness (especially learning how to forgive yourself — I teared up when the village chief tells Tian that the hardest thing about forgiveness is to learn to also forgive yourself), second chances, how having money and riches does not equate to real happiness, conservation of nature, etc.I also saw some comments that episodes 8-9 weren’t as enjoyable to watch due to the climax of the conflict/reveal of Tian’s secret. However, I think those 2 episodes really showed Tian’s growth as well and Phupha’s genuine love for him. Phupha understood that Tian came to the village with the primary reason to fulfill Torfun’s last wishes and hasn’t had the chance to truly appreciate and enjoy his second chance at a new life. Despite the 2 year separation that takes place, it makes me appreciate that Tian took Phupha’s advice and saw what else life and the world had to offer him, because it meant his choice to come back and begin his future with Phupha was his very own decision, not because he just didn’t want them to be apart.
Finally, this is probably and (might just be) the first and only lakorn/show where I completely enjoyed watching two people fall in love by staring into each other’s eyes for 10 episodes. The ending forehead kiss and final kiss on the cliff were 10x more special because you see, as each episode goes by, how much the love between Phupha and Tian grows every time they look into each other’s eyes.
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Self Redemption turned to Self Discovery & Bromance
What will a spoil young brat with heart case did if he has 2nd chance to live?I hardly cry in any dramas that I am watching but this drama really makes me cried so much especially from episode 8 onwards. One of the best so-called BL dramas that I have watched so far besides Taiwanese BL series under WBL & History. What I like on this drama is the flow of this story, it was not too slow or draggy and how the ML - Tian turns over a new leaf after he get a 2nd chance to live under another person heart which brings him to meet another ML - Chief Phupha. This story is so heart-warming & down to earth. Both ML & even the supporting roles e.g. Dr. Nam, Tian's best friend - Tul & the heart donor - Torfun was great. The background of this drama is magnificent & personally I like all the OST in this drama too. If you are expecting skinship in this drama then very sorry this drama has the least skinship but a lot of body language & emotional elements. If you are still considering of watching it then my advise is just give it a try since it's only total of 10 episodes but make sure you get ready a box of Kleenex with you.
Great work to all the production crews especially the director of this drama for directing such a wonderful drama. Another point that I like on this drama is every ending of the episode there will be a phrase / proverbs being extracted from the dialogue of this drama which I find it to be very meaningful & useful for us to ponder on it.
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hands down THEE best I've ever watched
Oh god I don't even know where to start. The sheer excellence of this show!!!Warning: This review WILL have spoilers coz I can't NOT spoil stuff, apparently.
First of all, the acting!! I can't believe this is Mix's acting debut, you could feel every emotion of Tian from just his expressions... brilliant, just brilliant. Earth is flawless, as usual. EarthMix's chemistry was just out of this world. The supportive cast was also so good, including the kids.
Plot wise, I think this might be the most fleshed out BL. The fact that the premise and setting itself is so different opens up new avenues for plot and character development that are rarely addressed in BLs.
For one, I think the development of Tian and Phupha's relationship was really well done. They start out with Phupha thinking Tian is some rich brat here to collect brownie points and Tian thinking Phupha is unfairly harsh on him and their view of each other slowly progresses with Tian showing responsibility and a genuine desire to be a good teacher and Phupha softening towards Tian. One thing I like is that even when Phupha is shown as being harsh, he's not outright abusive, which is a very common way to portray the so-called "hard exterior" characters. I'm not sure if it's just Earth's acting (coz he definitely has that big brother vibe that just makes everything sound sincerely caring) but even when Phupha is "harsh" to Tian, it comes off as genuine worry and care for Tian and he actually gives productive advice instead of just insulting him. (I realize that's a pretty low bar but that's where we're at with "tsundere" portrayals, unfortunately)
Tian's character is genuinely interesting. He's privileged and to some extent spoiled, but he is self-aware and it is something that digs into his conscience. Most of his young adulthood was spent traumatized by his imminent death. He also has a very obvious defense mechanism, when something threatens to overwhelm him, he puts on a facade of nonchalance, and this extends to even the possibility of his own death: he almost immediately accepts it and just asks how long he has. It also shows when Phupha confronts him on things that are very obviously eating at him, but he immediately shuts down and acts as if he isn't bothered. Though it usually dissolves fairly quickly and you can see him get visibly overwhelmed (again, kudos to Mix's acting), I think this defense mechanism is interesting to note.
I also love the character development of Tian. He starts out as someone who doesn't see himself living long enough for his life to be meaningful, and so he acts out through your typical rich brat debauchery. When his heart gives out, he doesn't expect to wake up, but he does, and this prickles at his conscience because it took someone else losing their life for him to get this "second chance" that he didn't consider himself to be deserving of. The more he learns about Torfun, the more he feels survivor's guilt as he thinks her life was much more meaningful, culminating in him realizing that he didn't just benefit from Torfun dying, the car race he started was directly responsible for it. His journey to Pha Pun Dao is one of a tormented and guilt-ridden man seeking to redeem himself by living the life of the person who saved his. At this point he's still a fairly shallow person, his trip to Pha Pun Dao is all about him feeling better about himself, and he has no plans whatsoever about how he is actually going to handle his new occupation.
He messes up several times in the early days, but he grows step by step with the help of Phupha and everyone else in the unit and the village. He forms genuine bonds with the people around him and earns their love as well. His struggle with impractical goodwill vs genuinely helpful resourcefulness is also well highlighted. The first arc ends with the fallout from his secrets about Torfun, and with its fairly neat resolution the second (shorter? not really) arc centering Tian and Phupha's relationship begins.
While I was pretty frustrated with ep 9, this conflict was actually fairly reasonable. Phupha is absolutely right in thinking that Tian might benefit from a return to his old life to re-evaluate what he wants from his life, coz Tian actually has never considered at length what he actually wants from his life - first he expected to die young and any hopes were futile, and then he was too busy fulfilling Torfun's wishes to think about his own wants. But the way he went about it, hurting Tian's feelings to "make the decision easier" for him, was a dick move. Tian is a grown adult and should be allowed to make his own decisions, it's really annoying when a character assumes they know better for a person and ends up hurting them in a major way. Tian was actually at his lowest point in this phase believing that nothing in his interactions with Phupha had come from a place of genuine care from Phupha's side. This might be my only major gripe with the plot, this was unnecessary suffering that wasn't even adequately explainable and seemed out of character for Phupha to knowingly inflict such pain on Tian - as I mentioned, he was usually an understanding and compassionate person. Honestly, when they had a genuine conversation later, I could actually agree with Phupha's side and probably Tian could too. They could've easily skipped the first half and the show would probably get a perfect score on story from me.
I also enjoyed the arc leading up to the ending, from Tian genuinely considering what he wants from his life and actively updating Phupha even if he doesn't get a response back, to the heartwarming airport scene, to him coming back two years later professionally qualified to be a teacher and still wanting to teach in Pha Pun Dao and still wanting to spend his life with Phupha. Tian was turbulent through most of the story and questioning the worth and purpose of his life, so it is only fitting that the story ends at a point when Tian has reached a clear and decisive conclusion about his life.
Random tidbits I liked about the plot:
- the fact that Torfun's wish, which is a driving point for much of the plot, turns out to be something that Tian already accomplished
- Tian and Phupha's conversations. Idk I just love them a lot. Especially the whole cliff scene the night before Tian leaves and Phupha's letter in Torfun's journal.
- the somewhat nuanced commentary on wealth, even though they don't really address it in a significant way
Minor gripes about the plot:
- the fallout over Tian's secrets was somewhat contrived and resolved too quickly. Why didn't he tell them everything in the first place? Making them believe he killed someone they loved when just two sentences more would've clarified everything seems strange. The "oh Dr. Nam suddenly rechecked the documents for kicks and discovered the timings don't match up" resolution followed by the quick shootout resolution of the Sakda plot that had been dragged out for weeks seemed a little rushed.
- the villagers' mood swings were even more abrupt and unexplained than mine when I'm on my period. To be fair hardly any series has actually fleshed out minor characters beyond a singular dimension, but this one actually raised my standards a fair bit so these things annoyed me more. The villagers hardly had any dialogues and acted like a one-dimensional monolith that switched for or against Tian at a moment's notice. Coz of this you don't really form any attachment to the villagers, unlike the kids, which made that otherwise tearjerking goodbye scene with Tian somewhat awkward: these were the same mfs giving him the stinkeye two days ago, and now suddenly he's the most loved teacher with no prior resolution?
- I understand that the series essentially centered Tian and Phupha was in a relatively stable place in life, but I wish his side of the story was fleshed out a little more beyond just falling for Tian. You don't even really see him coping with Torfun's death beyond occasional flashbacks for "oMg-ToRfUn-AnD-tIaN-aRe-So-SiMiLaR" moments. The story didn't necessarily *need* this but it would have been a good enhancement.
- I kind of hated the focus on Tian and Torfun's similarities. A lot of the times it was things Tian was blatantly repeating from Torfun's experiences and that played into Phupha's feeling of betrayal, but sometimes it was just ridiculous. Going into a "oMg-ToRfUn-AnD-tIaN-aRe-So-SiMiLaR" flashback over a fcking cabbage dish just had me facepalming. The worst was the scene when Phupha was drunk and Tian totally expected him to confess but the mf goes "yOu'Re So SiMiLaR tO tOrFuN i'M cOnSiDeRiNg ReInCaRnAtIoN". The way the smile slid off Tian's face... yikes.
Moving on, the music on this show is absolutely amazing. Every song was such a perfect fit for the scenes they were used in, and the main OST is beautiful. Definitely 10/10 material. As for rewatch value, well this review was after my first watch, but I'm already tempted to rewatch.
Overall, I initially gave this show a strong 9.5/10, with that 0.5 deducted solely coz of some small plot-related issues, but fuck it, I'm reconsidering it to a 10. It might seem weird that I said this was the best I've watched only to take digs at so many things, but the perfect show doesn't exist lol and this is definitely leagues ahead of its peers.
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ATOTS is not a typical BL.... It's a masterpiece
Right from the first ep that aired on 29th Jan all the way to today watching the final one on 2nd April... It's been a magical ride which has been put amazing well together by P'Aof and the entire cast including P'Earth and ofcourse everyone's big baby Mix.... They've just been amazing and I guess everyone is looking for more to come from this series..... And finally... P'Earth has the perfect pair up ...Feels perfectly natural...
As for the show itself, each and every episode has its own place and waiting week after week for the next one to air would be one of the toughest ordeals... Such was how amazing the show was...
You could see the show a 1000 times and still laught at the funny parts, cry at the sad ones and connect with each and everyone who's played a role in making this one of if not the best series out of GMMTV and needs a lot more recognition for the same...
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GMMTV is surprises as, I really thought that ATOTS have a sad ending or leave us in cliffhanger but ATOTS have a smooth sailing ending. Our wait for this series since October 2019 is very worthy.
The ending is super satisfying. I just hope for another season or at least special episode of ATOTS.
Thank you GMMTV for creating this masterpiece series. The supremacy of this series are really diverse. ATOTS gives us a moral lesson to our life. The feeling of being able to help others and love someone unconditionally is totally amazing. The series also have least skinship but the impact they made are remarkable to all viewers.
EarthMix and the cast's acting are really impressive they are all connected to each other and committed to their characters very well.
Thank you to ATOTS team who worked hard for this series your effort is finally paid off.
WE WILL NEVER FORGET THIS MASTERPIECE.
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What is essential in life?
I see that a lot of positive things have already been written about this wonderful series and I do not think that I can add much. From early on, I had the feeling that this could finally be a 10/10 again (ten stars for the Thousand Stars), and I was not disappointed.Was it without flaws? No. The series suffered from some annoying product placement, as we are used to from GMMTV. Also, the dialogues had their weaker moments and the music, while really memorable and fitting overall, was a bit over the top at times.
However, the flaws are forgivable. What I took away from “A Tale of Thousand Stars” was romanticism in its purest form. It did not stop at the slow-burn, yet still intense romance between the main characters, but involved the whole setting and storytelling. The story could have been about leaving one’s comfortable and predictable life behind to be with the person one loves, but it was just as much a story about personal growth after being confronted with what is essential in life. I admit that the way the series looked at the “simple life in the countryside” was naive and idealised, but in that it followed the traditional romanticist ideas about nature. Adding a romantic tale/myth to the mix worked very well. Thankfully, the format of the series allowed for a slow progressing of the plot and proper character development; every episode was able to deliver both strong emotions and true peace of mind.
The series made me think about my own life more than I could have imagined. What is essential and what are we willing to give up in our lives? For what reasons? Definitely a strong recommendation; I need to rewatch it myself as well!
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THIS IS IT. MY FAVORITE SERIES RIGHT NOW!!!
Do I need to say more? I LOVE THIS SERIES SO FUCKING MUCH THAT I'M STILL CRYING AT THIS MOMENT!!!Honestly, I was kinda skeptical about this at first because I watched Earth on his past series' before and I find it so hard to find any chemistry between his partners. so, yes, i was hesitant to watched this, and also because his partner is a rookie and I thought, naaah, they're not gonna make it.
AND BOY I WAS SO THANKFUL THAT I'M WRONG! THEY PROVED ME WRONG!!!!!
MIX SAHAPHAP is a ROOKIE MONSTER! a FREAKING ROOKIE MONSTER!!!! Imagine doing this to your debut series? Only Mix can relate *insert heart eyes* Remember the name, MIX SAHAPHAP WONGRATCH! he's gonna be big in this industry, I'm telling you!!!
EARTH PIRAPAT WATTHANASETSIRI, I freaking love him!!!! I've watched him a lot before and I've always thought that he deserves a much better role, a much better story line, a much better partner because boy, he freaking deserves only the best. And I'm so happy that he played Phupha because he nailed it!!! I can definitely say that this one maybe one or his best role ever.
THEY REALLY HAVE THE BEST CHEMISTRY EVER! (they've been friends for 7 years that's they're comfortable towards each other!!!)
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE WATCH THE SERIES!!!!!!
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This review may contain spoilers
The standard has been SET.
I have been watching BL’s for four years now, and A Tale of 1000 Stars is by far one of the most fulfilling shows that has been produced from this genre.The all-round quality of acting, directing, cinematography and screenwriting is impeccable and I have been having a hard time trying to bring myself to enjoy watching other current BL’s - the standard was that good. A Tale of 1000 stars had been sitting in my ‘To Watch’ for a long time, I couldn’t get myself around to as I was concerned the ‘Heart Transplant’ trope was going to result in Tian only being attracted to Phupha because he ‘became’ Torfun, but the progression of the show proved me wrong and I completed it in one whole night.
Acting / Cinematography / Sound Track
To begin with, this is by far one of the most unconventional BL’s out there - a masterpiece Backaof should be proud of. The depth of the narrative seems completely independent of the genre as a whole, and does not play into any of the common BL tropes, creating a series that is realistic, and a love story that viewers can truly immerse themselves in and connect to.
The aesthetic of the series is beautiful, I understand there was a lot of tropical weather to contend with, but the production remains top quality. The cinematic hues are washed with warm tones setting a warm, somewhat nostalgic mood.
The composition of the frame and cutting is extremely well planned, enhancing the natural chemistry between Mix and Earth. They portray the emotions of the characters they play realistically and these are perfectly captured on film. The tensions that are created through the aforementioned film techniques showcase their acting skills further, and viewers are able to clearly understand how the characters are feeling. Not to mention the carefully crafted soundtrack, there is no cheesiness, and the music matches the moods of the scenes perfectly.
Themes / Character Development
I find many BL’s focus on petty relationship drama, just trying to create a light-hearted and feel good story. The depth of ATOTS does not take away from the the ‘feel-goodness’ but successfully goes down a route that challenges themes of Identity and Class Divide.
The romance is intertwined with Tian’s story of finding himself immaculately. The role of both Phupha and Tian complement themselves in a way that their characters are both able to develop. By the end of the series, it is clear that they both have a clear individual of self, which makes for a mature relationship. Together they overcome guilt and regret, learn about forgiveness to themselves and each other and are comfortable with their relationship regardless of a class divide. They are both comfortable with their own purpose in love, contributing to their understanding of what it means for them to be together, and the strengths and weaknesses each of them has.
I absolutely loved the way Tian learnt about community. You could definitely see how the villagers felt about a ‘Rich City Kid’ coming to have a bit of ‘fun’ but the way Tian developed an identity within a community was a beautiful way to show his growth as a person, and illustrate his understanding of the value in life.
I loved the coming out scene of Tian to Tul. The reaction, acceptance and support seemed so natural and is how it should be! The role of the supporting characters is often undercapitalised by BL’s but the function of a family unit, the supportive best friends and the guidance from the older members of the community really contributed to the development of the main characters.
Summative Comments
This is truly one of the few BL’s that successfully communicates realistic issues, and challenges the viewer to consider the way that they perceive their own value and life.
Finally, of course the love story was extremely satisfying - I think I was crying from episode 6 onwards, but by the end it was pure tears of joy.
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This Drama is PERFECT. Their HARD WORK is WONDERFUL
I just finished watching the last episode of "a tale of thousand stars" and it left me with so many emotions that i decided to write a review in order to pour them all out.For everyone who is still contemplating wether you should give this drama a try or not, i want to help you by saying "YES, you should definitly watch it". Without giving too much away, everything in this show is just so spot on. The story, the characters, the soundtrack, the cinematography, ... You can practically feel, how much work and thought were put into every single scene.
Everything makes sense. There's a read thread going through each episode, starting from the very first one to the finale. It never loses focus on the original plotpoint, still giving the characters and the storyline room for development.
What i personally loved most about the show, is the complexity of the different characters and their relationships towards each other. Their actions and feelings are not just black and white, right and wrong. There is so much going on on the inside and they were written so cleverly, that despite their complexity, they are still relatable and the viewer can empathize with them.
Last but surely not least, let's talk about he incredible chemistry between the two male protagonists. Every time Tian and Phupha interact with each other - heck, every time they even just look at each other - you can feel the tension and electricity going on between them. There are literal sparks flying around them. I salute to Earth and Mix for their fantastic performance.
In conclusion, I can nothing but recommend this show, It truly moved my heart and i am sure it will move yours as well.
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SOMETHING LIKE THIS NEED TO BE APPRECIATED AND LOVED!
SO HERE IS MY FIRST REVIEW IM NOT A PERSON WHO USUALLY EVEN THINK OF IT, BUT THIS SHOW MADE ME REALIZE THAT IT NEED TO BE REVIEWED SO HERE IT IS- FIRST REACTION WOULD BE " WHAT A SHOW" I MEAN IM VERY CYNICAL ABOUT BL STORIES AS I USUALLY SEE BL'S WITH LESS CONTENT AND MORE LIKE HENTAI PART .I MEAN ME AS A BL FAN IS NOT ONLY A HENTAI WE ALSO NEED STORY TO SEE I M NOT WATCHING 12 TO 14 EP JUST FOR SCENES . BUT THIS SERIES TICKS ALL MY BOXES ESPCIALLY CONVINCING POWER TO ACTUALLY MAKE YOU BELEIVE WHAT THEY ARE PLAYING IS NOT JUST A CHARACTER BUT THEM THEMSELVES FOR THE DEFINED SCREEN TIME AND I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE THIER ACTING SKILLS CAUSE THEY BOTH DID A EXCELLENT JOB CAUSE THIS IS NOT A NORMAL LOVE STORY WHERE TWO PEOPLE FELL IN LOVE , THEY SAY IT,SOME ISSUES IN BETWEEN , THEY COME TOGETHER AND THATS IT .NO ITS MORE LIKE A MATURE LOVE WHERE PEOPLE SAY LESS AND MEAN MORE . I LOVE THE DIRECTION ITSELF . THERE WHERE SOME DEEP MOMENTS AND WOW I STILL CAN'T GET OVER I WANT TO WRITE MORE ABOUT IT BUT IG YOU ALL WILL GET MY EMOTIONS TOWARDS THIS SHOW ! AND DO WATCH IF YOU HAVEN'T IT WON'T DISAPPOINT YOU ANWAY ENJOY WATCHING THIS BEAUTIFUL TALENTED COUPLE! IM ROOTING FOR THEM MORE! I HOPE THIS WILL HELP YOU !Was this review helpful to you?
