Honestly, the Thai BL scene is crowded. You've got high-octane thrillers, heavy-hitting dramas, and university rom-coms that feel like they were birthed from a template. But then there's Star in My Mind. It’s part of the larger Star and Sky series, paired with Sky in Your Heart, and it’s basically the definition of "comfort watch." If you’re looking for a show that reinvents the wheel or breaks every trope in the book, this isn’t it. It doesn't have to be. It’s a story about Daonuea and Khabklung, and it works because it leans into the quiet, awkward reality of a high school crush that follows you into college.
You’ve probably been there. That one person you liked in high school. The one you confessed to right before graduation only to get shot down—or worse, get a vague answer that haunts your dreams for three years. That’s the emotional engine here.
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The Messy Reality of Daonuea and Khabklung
Daonuea is relatable because he's a bit of a disaster. Not a "clumsy protagonist" disaster, but a real-life "I can’t believe I just said that" disaster. Joong Archen Aydin and Dunk Natachai Boonprasert have this chemistry that isn't just about the kissing scenes. It’s in the way they look at each other when they think the other isn't watching. In Star in My Mind, the stakes feel massive to the characters, even if they're just typical university problems.
Khabklung is a tough nut to crack. Initially, he comes off as cold. Maybe even a little mean. But as the episodes roll on, you realize he’s just socially inept in a very specific way. He’s the "Star" of the campus, yet he has no idea how to handle his own feelings. It’s a classic miscommunication trope, but it’s handled with enough heart that you don't want to throw your remote at the TV. Usually.
Why the "Star and Sky" Structure Matters
GMMTV did something clever here. They split the series. First, we get the "Star" (Daonuea) and then we move to the "Sky" (his brother, Fah). By focusing the first half of the series entirely on the Star in My Mind arc, the directors gave the romance room to breathe. You aren't constantly jumping between four different couples. You’re focused on Nuea’s heartbreak and eventual healing.
People often compare this to other 2022 releases. It was a big year for Thai dramas. You had KinnPorsche exploding globally with its dark, gritty vibe. In that landscape, a show like this could have been buried. It wasn't. It stayed relevant because it’s soft. It’s the show you put on at 2:00 AM when you want to feel something warm.
The JoongDunk Phenomenon
You can't talk about Star in My Mind without talking about the leads. Joong and Dunk became an "official couple" in the GMMTV ecosystem because of this show. Their off-screen friendship—or "workship," depending on how cynical you are—fueled the show's popularity.
Joong was already a veteran in the industry, having been in 2Moons2. He brought a level of seasoned professionalism to the role of Khabklung. Dunk was the newcomer. That dynamic actually mirrored their characters. Nuea is wide-eyed and vulnerable; Klung is more guarded.
The Tropes We Love (and the Ones We Suffer Through)
Let's be real. There are tropes.
- The "Star" contest (Moon and Star).
- The accidental fall that leads to an accidental hug.
- The misunderstanding caused by a secondary character who just won't go away.
- The "I'm sick, please take care of me" scene.
They’re all there. But in Star in My Mind, they feel earned. When Khabklung finally starts showing his soft side, it’s like a payoff for a long-term investment. The show doesn't rush the confession. It lets the tension simmer until it's almost unbearable.
Visuals and Production Value
New Siwaj Sawatmaneekul directed this. If you know Thai BL, you know New. He’s the mind behind Love by Chance and Until We Meet Again. He knows how to frame a shot to make a simple hallway walk look like a monumental event. The lighting in Star in My Mind is particularly noteworthy. It’s bright. It’s airy. It feels like a dream version of university life where the sun is always at the perfect angle.
The soundtrack also did heavy lifting. "My Starlight," sung by Joong, became an anthem for the fans. It captures that yearning. That specific feeling of looking at the sky and thinking about someone who is miles away—or standing right next to you.
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Beyond the Romance: The Support System
Nuea’s friends are actually decent. In many dramas, the friends are just there for comic relief or to push the plot forward with bad advice. Here, they feel like a real support network. They care. They call Nuea out on his nonsense.
And then there’s the bridge to Sky in Your Heart. Seeing Prince and Fah in the background or in crossover scenes adds a layer of depth. It makes the world feel lived-in. You realize that while Nuea is going through his emotional turmoil, life is happening for everyone else too.
What Most People Get Wrong
A common criticism is that "nothing happens." If you're looking for a high-stakes plot involving corporate espionage or murder mysteries, yeah, nothing happens. But if you're looking for internal character growth, a lot happens.
Khabklung’s arc is about learning to be honest. He’s spent his life being the "cool guy," the one everyone looks up to. Admitting he’s been in love with a "junior" for years? That’s terrifying for him. Star in My Mind is a study in vulnerability. It’s about the courage it takes to say "I like you" when you’ve already said it once and failed.
Technical Details and Cast Breakdown
To understand the impact of the show, you have to look at the cast list. It wasn't just the leads.
- Joong Archen Aydin as Khabklung: The stoic, popular guy with a secret.
- Dunk Natachai Boonprasert as Daonuea: The sensitive artist who wears his heart on his sleeve.
- Mek Jirakit Thawornwong as Kuafah: The protective older brother (who gets his own story later).
- Mark Jiruntanin Traichakwin as Prince: The love interest in the second half of the series.
The series consists of 8 episodes for the "Star" portion. It’s a short, tight run. No filler episodes that drag on for ninety minutes. Each episode serves a purpose in the progression of Nuea and Klung’s relationship.
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Cultural Context: The "Moon and Star" Competition
If you aren't familiar with Thai university culture, the "Moon and Star" competition might seem weird. It’s basically a campus-wide popularity and talent contest. It’s a massive deal in Thailand and a staple of the "University BL" genre. Star in My Mind uses this setting not just as a backdrop, but as a pressure cooker. It forces the characters into close proximity. It gives them a reason to interact when they’re both trying to avoid their feelings.
Is It Worth the Rewatch?
Honestly? Yes. Especially if you're feeling burnt out by the more intense shows coming out lately. There's a certain nostalgia baked into the show. It captures that transition from adolescence to adulthood.
The "Our Skyy 2" special episodes also added a nice coda to the story. They showed the couple in a more established relationship, dealing with the realities of life after the "honeymoon phase" of the initial confession. It provided the closure that many fans felt they needed after the main series ended.
Actionable Insights for New Viewers
If you’re diving into Star in My Mind for the first time, keep a few things in mind to get the most out of it:
- Watch the Prequel/Special Content: There are often "behind the scenes" and special episodes on the GMMTV YouTube channel. They add a lot of context to the actors' chemistry.
- Pay Attention to the Art: Daonuea is an artist. His drawings and the way he perceives the world through his art are subtle clues to his emotional state.
- Don't Skip to the End: The slow burn is the point. If you fast-forward to the "big moments," you miss the tiny shifts in Khabklung’s behavior that make the ending satisfying.
- Follow Up with Sky in Your Heart: You really shouldn't watch one without the other. They are two sides of the same coin.
The legacy of Star in My Mind isn't that it changed the world. It's that it gave a voice to the quiet, lingering crushes we all carry. It’s a testament to the fact that sometimes, the most compelling stories are the ones that happen in the small spaces between two people trying to find their way back to each other.
To experience the full emotional arc, start with the first episode on the official GMMTV YouTube channel. Make sure to enable the official subtitles, as fan subs can sometimes miss the linguistic nuances of the honorifics used between the characters, which define their seniority and closeness. Once you finish the eight episodes of the Star arc, transition immediately into the Sky arc to see how the brothers' lives intertwine. This sequence is the only way to appreciate the thematic symmetry the creators intended.