My Magic Prophecy 1×05 Review: “The Star”

Thap steps up his plans to woo In now that Tul has shown up to challenge him. Meanwhile, back in Bangkok, things are heating up not only in the investigation, but also between Pong and Ton.

OK, when I first saw the pilot for My Magic Prophecy, I thought it was going to be a cute show that I could just watch every week and not think too hard about. But after “The Star”, I have to say that this is fast becoming one of my favorite series. I can’t remember the last time I squeed so hard at an episode of something. I feel like this episode had everything.

First of all, can I just say, I love having shows with adult characters because adult characters know what they want and don’t mess around. After the preview for this week’s episode, I thought that Thap would tell Tul he was In’s boyfriend just to have an excuse for him being there that wasn’t the truth. But for Thap to just flat out go, “Well, I was going to hit on you anyway, this just saves time,” was full-on perfection.

I mean, we all knew. We have eyes. Especially after last week’s episode, Thap was very much the smitten kitten. The morning after, In walking into the kitchen with the “blinding light of love” behind him, and Thap immediately burning breakfast, is just more evidence of that fact. And that In’s first instinct was to blow on Thap’s burn, rather than doing anything else, is proof that those feelings are not unrequited. No, we knew it was only a matter of time.

I really love the little detail of In dropping his security blanket as soon as everything was out in the open. Like he doesn’t need the blanket anymore, he has Thap. It’s so great when shows toss in things like that.

You know what was hilarious? There were so many scenes that were the literal embodiment of the “in front of my salad” meme. Tul’s face when Thap and In started flirting and seemed to genuinely forget he was there had me in stitches. Plus, I loved the ridiculous competitiveness, like the aggressive cooking. Jealousy is often a red flag in a character, but when it’s used for comedic purposes, it can be very entertaining. Like Thap getting the kids to pretend to be scared of him so that In will abandon Tul and come running. (And wasn’t that reveal at the end of the episode just the best thing ever?)

I genuinely loved Thap being so confident about his wooing skills. You don’t often get to see that in a series. (The last character I can think of like that is Style from The Heart Killers.) And it honestly was a hoot to watch. I also loved the confirmation that, yes, Thap has been interested from the very beginning. I think In didn’t want to believe he was telling the truth, but we all saw that connection from the start.

And oh, those scenes. That was some of the most exquisite yearning I think I’ve ever witnessed. Thap scolding In for making a deal to marry Tul if they were still single by 30 by showing In the difference you feel with a friend versus with a partner was so intimate and sexy. (And him being offended that they considered 30 old was hilarious because I completely agree with that!) The way Thap touched his chin, held his hand, and the way they called back to that later in the episode by having Thap make In feel his heart beat… Everything was just so well done. Jimmy and Sea are so natural with their chemistry that sometimes it’s easy to forget that you’re watching a series.

But that final scene… The hesitant way Thap touched In, when In admitted that he was worried about seeing someone’s future, which is why he’s never had a partner, was gold. The tension between the two of them, the slow way In tilted back into Thap, how Thap wiped away In’s tears? Specifically, that shot of Thap kissing his one eye while we see the tears rolling from the other? I swear my heart stopped. Does anyone else do it like Jimmy and Sea? I think not.

Something else about adult characters is the communication. Thap, at least, has been in relationships before and knows how to handle the difficult conversations. When In begs him not to love him, because he doesn’t want to lose him and they wouldn’t work anyway, Thap meets In on his level. I thought it was fantastic how he made In do a reading and admitted that he may not believe in Tarot, but he believes In.

Speaking of readings and Tarot, In continues having visions – and fainting. He has a vision of the village elder’s death, but says nothing when Tul asks. He doesn’t bring it up again in this episode, but you have to believe that it’s going to come back later. And when Tul and Thap are giving each other what is basically a mutual shovel talk, In has another vision. When he comes to, he clings to Thap, which implies that the vision was about him. But we don’t know what he saw.

Meanwhile, the investigation continues. Kasidis has actually been brought in for questioning, although he puts on a good act for the police. Ton isn’t buying it, though, and takes his concerns to Pong and Karn. Karn continues to act suspicious, and I am now firmly convinced that he has something to do with what’s happening. He’s acting too shady not to be involved. The question is, what’s his motive?

Pong mentions that if something happens to Tara, Kasidis will take over her spot as the hospital’s main investor, and no doubt he will take things in a direction that’s antithetical to health care. Pong says that Karn should make a move before that happens, but Karn insists they should wait for Thap. So I’d assume that, if he is involved, it’s probably for something related to that. But if that is what he wants, why does he not seize the opportunity? Is it really all about Thap?

He does slyly try and figure out where Thap is. Pong wisely reminds Karn that Thap’s in Singapore, even though Pong knows he isn’t. Which means that Karn knows Thap isn’t in Singapore. And he shouldn’t know that. (Also, Tul’s question about why no one can know Thap is a doctor – and In’s refusal to answer so as not to put Thap in any danger – just further convinces me that someone is going to find out Thap is there because he can’t help saving people.)

And of course, we see Pong and Ton growing close again. Despite how ridiculous I think it is when actors play themselves as teenagers, I do appreciate how they at least try to make them look younger with the styling. We can see that Pong and Ton were truly close when they were younger. I wonder why they lost touch?

In keeping with the theme of “The Star”, which is “we don’t have time for miscommunication”, Ton is out here asking the important questions. Like, does Pong have a partner?

That said, I do hope that we get some more scenes with the two of them before there are any major relationship developments. The fact that they were close as kids – something that we have barely seen so far – is not an excuse to speed run their relationship as adults. A side pairing doesn’t usually get the same amount of screen time as the main couple, but I still want to see the natural progression of their relationship. Right now, it seems like Ton is way ahead of Pong.

We are now halfway through this series, and I am even more seated than I was at the beginning. Will Tara wake up? Will the bad guys get foiled? Will Thap and In live happily ever after? What is going on with Thap’s younger brother, and is he a ghost or just, like, really quiet?

Author: Jamie Sugah

Jamie has a BA in English with a focus in creative writing from The Ohio State University. She self-published her first novel, The Perils of Long Hair on a Windy Day, which is available through Amazon. She is currently an archivist and lives in New York City with her demon ninja vampire cat. She covers television, books, movies, anime, and conventions in the NYC area.

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