Um Conto de Mil Estrelas (2021)

Interesting premise, bad execution.

I honestly do not understand all of the 10 star reviews this show got! I mean sure, it was pretty good, but the plot line and characters fell flat and undeveloped.

It felt like the "rich vs poor" trope was used in a shallow, plot-convenient way. Like why do we never actually get into the
awfulness of Torfun's death? We just glossed over the fact that the dad bought his kid's way to the top of the heart transplant list? There was a truly half-hearted effort on Tian's part of trying to get justice for Torfun. At no point in the plot does Tian even consider trying to change how rich people can pay their way to just about anything in Thailand. He never even contacts the friend that killed Torfun with his car. It was mentioned like once that his parents paid his friend out of jail. He makes no real effort to even face the injustice head-on. He barely acknowledges these facts and yet we are supposed to support the "redemption arc" of this guy? He (sort of) kills this woman, steals her literal heart, steals her job, steals her home, steals her journal, and most of all steals her (sort of) boyfriend?? How is this justice? At what point does he redeem himself? Sure, I liked Tian's character, he was likable, but he did not even attempt any sort of real justice. I believed his heart was in the right place, but that just isn't enough for a redemption.

So, we established this show isn't here to get justice. Sure, whatever, not everything has to be so deep and hard-hitting. So how was the romance? nonexistent. It was barely a bromance until like the last 20 minutes of the last episode. I didn't get any sort of attraction between the to main characters! Honestly, I really thought that Phupha was straight for the entire series. I'm still not convinced he even likes boys. I at least thought that Tian's character was pretty good and multidimensional enough, but Phupha was maybe the FLATTEST and least interesting main character I have ever seen! We learn almost nothing of his backstory, nothing about his feelings, nothing about his supposed grief for Torfun. He felt like a completely fictional character. He embodied all of the stereotypical stoic big man ideals so perfectly that they actually forgot to give him a personality! While I didn't find Earth's acting to be particularly bad, he never really delivered the idea that his character actually liked Tian for the entirety of the show. No chemistry whatsoever. I think Earth did what he could, but bad writing just can't be overcome.

They also made the choice to set this in some sort of fantasy world that never mentions the word "gay" or coming out or experiencing homophobia. This in itself isn't always bad, but this is really not the story where this works. It was trying to be hard-hitting and meaningful, yet fantastical and idealistic. They invented this fantasy world that takes place in an impoverished village in northern Thailand? The whole show is about struggling yet they don't want to talk about the struggles that gay people face.

Final thoughts: All of the suffering that the villagers go through is easily solved to further the plot and romance. Even still, the plot and romance managed to be bad. The acting wasn't horrible, the kids were actually really good. There was also wayyy too much product placement. There weren't any clear subplots or side romances. I don't recommend this show to anyone.

Leia Mais

There goes one more BL from my favourites. It's really difficult to find a good BL series such as this one. The story, the acting it's perfect. I'm so glad that I found it and watched it, it sure made me cry a few times. I like just how many emotions it causes in the audience, I like that it shows that happiness does not come from however much you may have, but from the people in your life. It also shows that we should treasure what we have instead of wanting more. And even with such a great story, it wasn't going to be that good if it wasn't for the amazing acting. Especially in BL shows, the chemistry between the characters is something really important, of course not only in BL but If they didn't have such good chemistry it was going to be very awkward for both the actors and the audience.

Leia Mais

Great great great, until it isn't...

A Tale of Thousand Stars follows the journey of Tian as he embarks on a path of self-discovery, transitioning from a life of wealth in Bangkok to a small remote village. After receiving Torfun's heart through a transplant, Tian is granted a second chance at life and endeavors to atone for his past misdeeds while carrying on Torfun's legacy in the village, where he encounters Chief Phupha.

I held high expectations for this BL series and was initially drawn to its story. Although the beginning of the show felt a bit slow to me, I understand the necessity of establishing the backstory and introducing the characters. Each episode delivered raw emotions from the characters, and the small romantic gestures often brought a smile to my face. However, despite being described as a BL series, I would label it more as a bromance. While the main characters flirt with each other and it's evident they have feelings for one another, the lack of physical affection, their stubbornness, and the overall plot began to frustrate me as the episodes progressed. It took about seven out of the ten episodes for Tian and Phupha to finally have a private moment together and share their feelings, and even then, it felt like an awkward and brief interaction with no type of intimacy.

The turning point in the series for me was when Tian finally confessed to the villagers that Torfun had passed away, and her heart was transplanted into him. This is when the plot took a drastic turn that started to annoy me. I disliked how the entire village and forest rangers blamed Tian for not disclosing Torfun's death and for receiving her heart. Tian had uprooted his entire life to assist in fulfilling what Torfun had begun in the village, doing everything in his power to repay her for her heart. Despite his efforts, the village turned its back on him in an instant, without providing a proper explanation. Moreover, Tian incorrectly presented himself as the direct cause of Torfun's death, which added to my frustration. Phupha, in particular, preached about not judging a book by its cover, but his initial action was to judge and publicly criticize Tian in front of the entire village, without knowing the full story, and then proceed to act rudely by telling him that he had taken enough from Torfun and should leave.

From that point onward, the story failed to captivate me any further. While I anticipated a redemption arc once everything was clarified, I had already grown tired of the series by that stage. Additionally, the lack of affection or meaningful moments between the main characters left me yearning for more. We were only given occasional intense gazes from across the room and a single kiss. The romantic aspect of the show began to drag, despite there being numerous opportunities for intimate moments that went unexplored.

Aside from the plot, I believe the most significant takeaway from the series was Tian's personal growth. I genuinely appreciated the personal journey he embarked upon and the transformative impact his new life had on him. The story is undeniably inspiring, even if other aspects left much to be desired. A Tale of Thousand Stars is a compelling show that encourages viewers to find inspiration within themselves and undergo personal growth.

Leia Mais

The real MVP of this superb tale is...

Before I start I want to get 2 things out of the way:
1. What an amazing series! GO WATCH IT!!!
2. @ mix and earth: STOP EYE-F*CKING EACH OTHER IN FRONT OF THE CHILDREN!!! /half joking /light hearted / positive

This was a BL that was on my list for a longgg time. The unusual themes of death & guilt got me interested at first because it's not something that is typically portrayed in a BL series. I also think that because it is not a BL centered around high school/university it also set 1000 Stars apart. The finale was so so so good and I felt satisfied with the ending. The tale ended and I cried SO hard! In short, the show did not disappoint!
The love story is a perfect slow burn and comes with all the comedic elements of one with the classic 'will they won't they?' and this creates a nice balance with the serious moments! Amazing writing! And of course, the director is the amazing Aof!!!
Some of the plotpoints I was able to guess, but it wasn't bad because it felt more like I was just lifting the curtain that the director put there for me to discover so that was nice!

The whole cast was great! At first I didn't think I would be a big fan of earthmix, but goddamn their chemistry??? every time they made eye contact i felt like i should look away and give them some space, or perhaps a room. Haven't had that before with some other acting duo.
The ensemble cast was also great, I mean we got Drake, Champ, White whom are all great actors in my book! They do comedy very well!
And the kids omfg they were so cute i could eat them up!!!
But, of course, the real MVP was Dr. Nam!!! He is literally the best wingman and best phi for Tian EVER!!! The amount of times he made me laugh with his clever quips and jabs at both Tian and Phupha!
Gosh he worked so hard to get them together and it all worked out in the end! (although the flirting with other girls was a bit weird but i'll let it slide bc i like him too much)

The OST also really fits the country vibe and made me so emotional...the voice matched very well with the emotions.
Would I rewatch it? I don't know because I think I'll cry too much again.

Leia Mais

Home is whatever makes you happier.

I feel like i have a lots of things to say and none of them will ever be enough to express how much beautiful this BL was.
The story of this show is just so damn gorgeous and during all episodes i sincerely couldn’t stop loving all of characters. Tian’s character developed is beautiful, the way he looks at “his” kids and the villagers and recognize them as his friends and family is beautiful. I love how every villager slowly opens their hearts to Tian.
Phupha’s character is such an enigma that we slowly understand as the series progresses and flows. How he shows his love and care for Tian through his eyes it’s amazing.
This BL was like the sun peaking through the clouds after the storm. Aof I hope you have a free pass for heaven or whatever happy place that’s somewhere out there. It’s my third BL wrote by you and keep surprising me. Man, I love you.
Longtae and Tian besties forever.
Here are some quotes from this BL TO MAKE YOU FCKING WATCH IT FOR GOD SAKES PLEASE DO IT:

“Where we feel safe and happy, that place is home” - Chief
“So this is the happy feeling from doing something for others” - Tian

Also Drake my sweet boy you really are everywhere, give him a main role please, he deserves it.

Leia Mais

Beware: slow burn ahead

I LOVE slow burn. The fact someone could wait for you for years on end just to get with you is honestly the standard. I've seen reviews about this show saying that this show was just a tease because they only kiss once in the last episode but do you not see the acts of affection that the main two have throughout every episode? I swear some people are just blind to affection. Aside from that, this show has a really cool premise. The story of a person who gets a second chance at life and using it to their fullest potential is really amazing and the storytelling is so good! You should definitely give this a watch!

Leia Mais

This series is full of magic and love

I adored this series, love the actors and the leads chemistry is great. The storyline fit and showed emotion, ups and downs and good character growth. I wish it had a bit more then one kiss but lots of beautiful touching moments. My only downside was the leads parents, which I found to be very messed up with forcing Tain to do schooling at the end in USA instead of letting him pick where he wanted to go. Sadly the parents were the only downside to the series not allowing him to live his own life. The series is a must watch and look forward to future stories as well, loved it.

Leia Mais

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Leia Mais

A Brilliant Drama...Not Really a BL Though

In preparation for the anthological Our Skyy 2 series, as I had already seen several of the included BL stories (Bad Buddy, Vice Versa, and Star in My Mind), I decided to watch A Tale of a Thousand Stars (ATOTS) with a friend. Going into this, I have to say that there was a lot I liked about the series, but both my friend and I thought that, despite it being good as a drama, as a BL, it left a lot to be desired.

If you are looking for a drama, and are not overly interested in the romance, ATOTS is great! The main storyline is a story of Tian, a wild rich boy who likes to party. With a failing heart, his parents use their wealth and influence to jump the transplant queue and get him a new one. With his heart transplant a success, Tian's personality changes: he lets go of his party tendencies, and searches for information about the person whose heart now beats in his chest: a volunteer teacher named Torfun Chareonpon. Ultimately he decides to take her place as a volunteer teacher at Pha Pun Dao Village out of guilt. There he meets the villagers of Pha Pun Dao Village, including the love interest (played by Earth Pirapat Watthanasetsiri) who I will get to in a moment, and are one of the selling points of this. You will laugh, go "Aww!", and cry with these characters. The villagers serve as a contrast to his controlling parents, who, as well as being very rich, are very conscious of not just their own images, but the image of Tian as well.

Before my friend and I watched this series, I had been told by another friend that they knew people who had seen the show and thought it was the best BL they had seen, so I went into this with very high hopes. Sadly, apart from the fact that the lead couple was a same sex couple, for my friend and I, this was not the best BL we had seen -- it didn't feel like a BL at all. For me, a what makes a BL different from other dramas is that in successful BLs (At least ones I've enjoyed) the romance underpins and guides the entire plotline of the show. Now I'm not talking about every episode having a kissing scene, or a spicy scene. I knew the age rating was 13 and up, so there would be a lack of spicy scenes, if any were included at all. This was fine: a good BL story doesn't need those kind of scenes to be good -- and spicy scenes do not make up for poor storytelling, cinematography, or acting. I have not read the source material for ATOTS, though I know it was an adaptation, so I don't know how much the show deviates or remains faithful to the source material -- but for the series at least, it feels as though the story was written around Tian and his travels to the Pha Pun Dao Village, and then they realised the romance had to be added after.

Now I'm not saying the actors didn't have chemistry, because they did -- in general, I was particularly impressed by Mix's performance, and was surprised this was his first on-screen drama role -- but the chemistry was not strangers to lovers. If the story was rewritten and the ultimate relationship was a platonic one, little would change in the overarching narrative. That is how insignificant the romance felt to my friend and I as we watched. Even the 'most romantic' (and I say that loosely) moments in the final episode felt tacked on -- as though the writers had forgotten that there was supposed to be a romance in this story at all. The constant hugging in the final episode, and even the 'BIG KISS' did not warrant the build up the received: they were episode 4 kisses and hugs, not final episode, 'THIS IS IT' kisses. Worse than that though, we felt that there was more potential romantic chemistry between Mix's character, Tian, and Khaotung's character, Longtae.

As an objective non-BL drama, A Tale of a Thousand Stars is a brilliant story: it successfully explores the contrast between urban and village life, and the importance not just of camaraderie, but of finding one's self and who someone wants to be. But the series' BL elements feel added on to capitalise on the success of the genre. Again, having not read the source material, I do not know how successful the original work was at writing the romance into the narrative, but going into this expecting a BL series, my friend and I were very disappointed. As my friend said "it's not even a bad show like I liked it but?? there's barely any romance??" At first, the 'cute' scenes and scenes with potential romantic displays of affection were exactly that: cute and endearing -- and in the beginning made sense in the context of the characters' relationships with one another. But then as each episode passed, it kept happening, but went nowhere. It was almost like the writers were being comical at the expense of the audience: there was one scene in a later episode, where we are presented with an establishing shot of Phupha's living quarters, over which there is a very intentionally 'spicy' sounding Phupha voice over. Again, the age rating is 13 -- any spicy scene would have to rely heavily on implication. But the scene feels like a joke at the audience's expense because we know that there cannot be scenes of that nature in a show age rated like it is.

Overall if you temper your expectations of the series as a BL, and simply enjoy it as a pure drama with romantic/BL elements, you will enjoy this show. As I previously stated: the cinematography, acting (particularly Mix's), and non-romantic story elements are this show's strength. Remember that, and you will be golden.

Leia Mais

EarthMix giving EarthMix

Okay, so hear me out real quick! This was one of the first BLs I watched. EarthMix was all over BL TikTok and instagram understandably because they are incredibly talented actors with ridiculous chemistry off screen. So I went into it with super high expectations, but I feel like the chemistry wasn't 100% there as much as it should've been. I feel like the the love Mix has for Earth (and the character) throughout the show, was what carried it for me. NOW, with that being said, Earth brings the chemistry in Our Sky 2.

Anyways, fantastic show and plot. Mix absolutely kills it, like the feeling of guilt that he portrays throughout the show is next level and so understated when it needed to be, but then also very clear when it needed to be. I love how Tian and Phupha's relationship builds throughout the show. Was surprised they did such a long time skip, felt that it was a little unnecessary and just a way to move the plot forward without really having the characters talk through their problems, but still cute ending.

Would 100% recommend this show, but be ready to cry!

Leia Mais