Oh no words could describe my feeling right now..I've just done rewatching my favorite thailand drama for the second time and I still couldn't bear watching the end of it. All I could say is that it is definitely absolutely very touching and heart wrenching. Give it a try eventhough you're not a thai drama lover but this series is worth watching.
This drama was aired on TV2 when I was in Form 2 (2004). I was back at home for weekend on Friday, when I switched the channel to TV2 and accidentally found this drama. The part that I watched at that time was when the hero protecting the heroin from being assassinated by an unfaithful soldier, a betrayer. But I was unable to watch the consequence of the story given that I had to go back to hostel where we were not allowed to watch tv during the weekdays. The only full episode that I watched was the part when the hero was in prison and the heroin secretly pay a visit to him. It's the part full of sad romantic words. But the ending part, I was only able to ask mum to watch it for me.
At the end of 2007, after I finished sitting for my SPM, I had an opportunity to watch it until the end part but sadly is I only could understand what was happening until the 8th episode as there were no english subtitles for the rest of the episodes. Despite of that, I still cried when I watch the final episodes. Even until now, the english subtitles only available until 8th episode and I'm dying to hope for the lakorn to be englush subbed until the end.
Summary taken from Crunchyroll;
After The Ruler of Yasothorn state was assassinated, his daughter, Princess Tippayarat-Darakumaree is relegated and live her life as a common girl. She accidentally meets Anothai, a son of the former right-hand soldier and he just knows her as Dara, a common girl. They become friend and develop to love each other later.
With his intention and his father's hope, Anothai attends the military school because he dreams to be a soldier to protect his country as that his father implant him since he was a child. Finally, he can be a soilder as he wish and becomes commandant later. Anyway, he just realizes the truth that Dara, a girl who he loves, actually is the third crown princess of Yasothorn. Anothai is very sorry to know that a common man like him can never reach a royal princess like her. But with his great love, he intends to do everything to help her to succeed the throne as a Queen of the Confederation State although his duty have to exchange with his life.
Let me tell you what the story is all about.
Unlike the common thai drama, this series revolves around the story of love between a faithful commander and royal princess, and the war and fight between the two states of Yasothorn and Khemarat.
Anothai means the sun whereas Dara means the star. They accidentally meet each other at a deserted island when Anothai save Dara from being drowned. Dara was told that an island not far from her royal house was very scary and even haunted by ghosts. She was curious to know the truth so she went rowing her boat there but the weather suddenly got worst and the raining made her boat turned upside down and she fell into the lake. Luckily Anothai was there as it was his favourite place to spend his leisure time. From then on, a friendship grew between them which later developed into love.
But little did Anothai know that his beloved friend was actually the third Crown Princess of Yasothorn, who is loved by the Crown Prince who is also his buddy at the military camp. Anothai realised that there is no way he could be together with Dara as they were from different classes, but his job as a soldier allowed him to protect his princess through every means he could achieve. Even though his duty has to be changed with his life. His only hope was to put Dara at the highest place as possible.
Credits to the main cast, Jesadaporn Pholdee as he was able to expressed his emotion effectively and successfully makes people sympathize with the fact that he was just a common man. From funny to serious to a sad role, he definitely able to convey that through his face expression. the director made a wise choice by choosing him to be the main leader for the cast. In case you want to know, some people told me that Tik and Aom really cried during the scene at the prison where Anothai waited for his death sentence. Even behind the scene, both of them looked very affected with the scene.
Comment on the plot:
There are actually a lot of signs telling us that the hero would die at the end based on the scripts mentioned by Anothai himself.
- When Dara told her name to Anothai, he was like a bit surprised. he later told Dara that Dara is actually not a good name as acoording to the meaning of their names, when there is Dara there won't be Anothai and when there is Anothai, there could not be Dara. this means they will not be together at the end.
-when Dara gave him a gold ring, Anothai promised that he will always wear the ring until he dies and wished to be buried with the ring in his finger
- During their meeting at the island after knowing Dara is a princess, Anothai told Dara if one day he die, he would like to be buried at the island so that he could dream of everything sweet that has happened to them at the island.
-Anothai always told the Chief of Defense that he is always ready to face his death, he even told Dara that sooner or later, the fact that he would die of defending his country would surely happen.
Most memorable lines:
Dara: The governor in my opinion shall think of the people and do everything to make the country and the people happy by considering their duty for the country more than the wish of themselves. Importantly, they must behave as an ideal, have sacrifice, bravery and honesty especially when the country is in critical situation, it is their duty to sacrifice themselves to bring peace and happiness to their people.
A scene after Anothai saved Dara from drowning:
Anothai: What's wrong? Why do you make such a face?
Dara: Are you human or a ghost?
......
Anothai: You don't know how to row a boat, how can you come here alone. Luckily your boat didn't sink in the middle of the lake.
Dara: I can save myself.
Anothai: You're silly and boastful. So childish. I should have let you drown to death
A scene when Anothai told Dara he passed the military exam.
Dara: I think when you're a big soldier, you may forget Dara surely.
Anothai: No matter how big soldier I will be, Anothai always know that there's someone who always wait for me here.
A scene when Anothai dueled with Sihasak to save the Crown Prince Sittiprawat.
Prince: A man shall die but shall not be disdained.
A scene after Anothai got a fight with Sihasak and Manthra.
Dara: Anothai, what's wrong with your face?
Anothai: I got a fight
Dara: That's why you're late right? Men are always like this, always solve problem with violence. Who says women are ill-tempered? Men get more ill-tempered than women.
Anothai: But women always solve their problem by crying (This appeared in another version). Don't wait then. Just go back.
Dara: Stop being sulky. Come on I'll heal your wound.
Anothai: If I can get close to you like this, I would rather be hurt everyday.
A scene where Anothai and Dara spent their time besides the waterfall eating fruits.
Dara: I'm thirsty, can you bring me some water?
Anothai: Yes your highness. I'll serve your command.
Dara: (Bit puzzled) As the queen, I command you, commander.
Anothai: (Laughing) You're the queen?
Dara: ( Nodding) You're the soldier, so you must be loyal to the queen with your life.
A scene where Anothai told Dara they cannot see each other too often anymore.
Dara: How can I see you?
Anothai: If you see this grass flower tied at the harbour of the palace building, it means I come back. I will row the boat to put it there in the first day when I come back then the next day, you can come to see me here.
Dara: So if I see the grass flower, I will see you. ( This is the significance of the grass flower)
A scene where nanny told Dara she forgot to take the rose given by Crown Prince Sittiprawat.
Dara: Which flower I want to keep, I will keep it myself.
Nanny: What is this flower?
Dara: It's grass flower.
Nanny: It's just a grass flower, why do you keep it?
Dara: Who knows how important this grass flower is?
A scene in the prison.
Dara: I want to just be Dara who doesn't have anything except her old friend on the island.
Anothai: Time cannot be returned. We have to move forward. The future queen of Yasothorn should not let anyone see her crying.
Dara: This will be my last time. No one will see me cry. The rest of my life, I will live it for your dream even though I will no longer have a heart. My heart will die when you die. I will not love anyone else. I will always have only you.
Below are the meaning of two of the soundtracks of this Drama
Song: Trab Dai (As Long As)
Like a destiny,
drawing us close together,
Like it's impossible,
but now 2 hearts are bound,
Eventhough I have only empty hands,
I have strength to do everything for you...steadily,
because my heart commands me,
to fight through it though the way is gloomy
As long as the sky still has starlight,
I want you to know
that my love will never vanish
I will take care, support and protect your heart
with the life of this man who love you
No matter how much the sky loves the star
it's not different from my heart that I have for you...always
no matter how long it would me
i promise I will always love you
Song; Koo Mai Kuan ( Unworthy/unfit for each other)
It's like we're in different skies, different classes
Oh love, I have never dreamt that it could fly across the sky
Because you're a star
Because I'm a common man
But tonight a star floated down from the sky to the earth
with love bathing my heart
I know I'm not good enough as my heart dreams to be
Even though you say you love me, I'm still dismayed
Because you're so valuable but I'm nothing
I just have this heart for you
No matter how much I love you, how much I love you
Every breath is still to less to give to you
Because I don't have enough
Just thinking about it, I always feel hurt
My heart that I have for you is still too less
This starlight has never faded out of my heart
and you, who is like my dream, can you hear me?
Even though it is so dark that I can't see any path
But in my heart, there is still starlight
But in my heart, there will be only you forever............
