The Way You Shine (2023)

Great acting albeit with a clichd soapie plot

I was excited to watch this as I like both the main leads from different dramas (especially FF from History2 a BL)

Trigger Warnings: Suicide, Abortion

What they did well:
- Casting - top notch. You were behind the MC and really hated the others
- OST - sweet
- Kissing scenes - both Puff and FF are expert kissers
- I found myself wanting to watch the next episode
- The food porn - I was craving cake by the end of it.

What wasn't so good:
- The plot is ok but there are so many coincidences you would think it was based in a village not a city. Like there are literally only 4 families in this whole show
- The majority of the women are really unlikeable. From the mums to the 2nd FL to the sister Xia Anni they were problematic.
- Stalking seems to be normalised behaviour. No means No
- They resolved some issues quickly such as trauma and others were left with holes (e.g. the debt). Maybe they're saving it for the last 2 episodes but I doubt they could fill that many.
* 1 thing I didn't like is that the villains were noticeably darker skinned, highlighting a continued issue with the Asian media.

Overall a decent binge watch over the weekend and if you like that soapie style then definitely worthy of a watch.

I'll come back after the ending but that's it for now. Enjoy!

Post ep 24: Nothing to add except the mum stuff was resolved a little too easily. There was a lot of emotion at the end and it was well acted. The OST did the mOST with the paino and string instruments but, at this stage I would expect nothing less. I'm just glad they didn't give us amnesia in the last episode as with all of the cliches it could have gone there.

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Good acting, great chemistry, but too much melodrama

Okay, let's start this review by praising the highlight of the drama: the performance of the two main actors. They did really well, whether it was their solo scenes or the ones they acted together.

Chemistry on point, with great dynamics between the two main actors.

To me, the romantic scenes felt extremely natural. And , yes, the kisses! We had REALLY great kisses, like, real one kisses, not those ridiculous closed mouth kisses like in "Date With The Future". Long story short: i loved them both together and their development as a couple.

Speaking of the story now, the drama got off to a good start, despite the tone...a little? melodramatic and over the top, I really enjoyed this FL's dynamic working and struggling to rebuild her life after her father's death and the "marriage" to that asshole scumbag had come to an end.

However, after ML left the dessert shop, things got a little boring. I would really prefer him working there or opening his own branch. Despite that, watching the character maturing and seeing him become a man was really pleasurable.

I don't have much to say about the FL, in fact, in my opinion, she is the best character in this drama. She's an admirable woman, she knows how to defend herself but doesn't lose her poise or elegance -although she has many reasons for that - and she's never been mean to anyone, even though most characters behave like human garbage in this series

On the PROS side I would also like to add the abortion's discussion, the topic regarding sexism and prejudice towards women and their choices, especially divorced women, privilege and connections and the meaning of love.

On the CON side, as always, the over-the-top, Machiavellian family's interference bothered me, and it often comes across in a very unrealistic way. I can't believe it gets to this point in real life.
Also, female rivalry and the writers' vice for writing female characters as being extremely pathetic and dependent on male validation. That makes me sad. I really can't believe that the other two women on the series regular cast spend 24 episodes chasing after men who don't give a shit about them, and when it's finally over, they no longer have any lives or roles of their own. Well, at least ML's sister got some character development, even though she behaved like a child.
The FL's mother...oh, her.. honestly, she is an idiot. She left her daughter alone to support the two of them and still complained most of the time. I really could not stand her.

Well, in general, despite the typical and unnecessary female rivalry, melodrama and some caricatured characters, it was an interesting cdrama. Perhaps, having more episodes it would be possible to develop it better.

PS: It probably won't happen in the near future, but I hope to see these two actors as a couple in another drama

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