Shine (Orchestric Ver.) (2025)

Sometimes shine means surviving the mess and not just looking pretty!

This isn’t your regular popcorn BL where two pretty boys flirt under fairy lights and call it a day. This drama throws us headfirst into late 1960s to early 1970s Thailand, with student protests, political unrest, family power plays, and a couple of messy love stories that refuse to stay cute for long. It’s ambitious, dramatic, sometimes painfully slow, but also the kind of drama that slowly grows on you.

At the center of the story, we have Trin. He is a freshly returned professor who went abroad, got a fancy education, read way too many books on morality and came back thinking he could change the world. The only problem was that the world does not bend that easily. On first glance, he is an example of what an idealist looks like in a realist world, but once we scratch that intellectual exterior, he is just a man still figuring out not just politics, but love, loss and why the hell he feels so drawn to someone as chaotic as Tanwa.

Then there is Tanwa. If Trin is bottled-up intensity, Tanwa is glitter in human form. He was this free-spirited hippie type, all colour and laughter, the guy you think doesn’t take anything seriously… until you realise his chaos is just a cover for very real issues. He hides grief under jokes, he masks loyalty under carelessness and when he finally lets his guard down, it hits harder than any lecture Trin could deliver.

Together, these two are opposites in the best and worst ways. Watching them stumble into each other’s paths felt less like “love at first sight” and more like “love at fifth breakdown.” Somehow, they balanced each other out. But as much as I adore them, I can't help but was expecting more romance. It felt underfed but maybe a little more to justify those strong emotions.

But honestly, if we are talking about sizzling chemistry, the crown might belong to Krailert and Naran. Where Trin and Tanwa are all about the slow-burn romance, Krailert and Naran are pure forbidden spice.
Krailert is in the military, married and duty-bound. Ohh, and also gay. Naran, on the other hand, is a journalist who is sharp-tongued and already engaged ( because clearly one doomed relationship wasn't enough). When they met, it was anything but gentle. It's reckless, desperate and dripping with that forbidden love tension.
I know it's a moral crash, but somehow I couldn't help but root for them despite them sometimes making trash choices. It felt illegal, but they were magnetic in a way only fictional disaster couples can be.

We also have Victor, who is equal parts irritating and endearing. He is young, idealistic and a little naive but I couldn't help but root for him. His crush on Trin could have been a disaster, but the writing handled it really well. He was brash and bright, and somehow I wished he had escaped that hell to live a life he deserved. *sigh*

What works best is how layered the characters feel. Everyone is dragging around some kind of baggage...political, personal, or both and the drama doesn’t sugarcoat it. No one felt like a picture-perfect character. The best I could define all of them was contradictory, messy but very humane.

The Ladies of Shine also deserve an honorary mention. They weren’t front and center, but lowkey they held everything together for the most part..silent but so powerful. Especially Moira not bending to societal pressure.

Edit : I went and re-watched the scene with Dhevi in the last episode and somehow I thought it was the years of sufferings speaking, but no she was just being petty and selfish. I have no honor left for her to give!

It felt like love in a pressure cooker where one wrong move ruined lives, but somehow danger also amplified the intimacy. Watching Lert and Naran cluth each other like drowning men while the world burns and Trin and Tanwa side by side talking about hope and despair, is the kind of romance that thrives on extremes but feels very intimate.
Also, the NC scenes were choreographed really well, leaving no stone unturned. (I wish I were exaggerating xD)

But it isn't without flaws. The politics subplot is very heavy-handed and sometimes it felt draggy and a bit boring. It might be a personal issue because I don't enjoy the politics trope much. Also, at times, I felt too much spotlight was given to different subplots, which could have been given to the main couple.
And while Trin and Tanwa’s relationship is sweet, there are moments where their intimacy feels rushed. There is also a constant heaviness that can get exhausting.

As for the acting, it is pretty solid across the board. Apo as Trin was perfect in my eyes, especially in the emotional moments. I can't even nitpick. Mile as Tanwa brought the chaos and had the perfect brat energy when needed but quickly balances it out in serious moments. Son and Euro, as Lert and Naran were excellent too. They just made me sometimes forget the political subplot, and I just waited for them to meet in another dusty corner to make bad life choices.

The production team understood the assignment and pulled the '70s vibe well. I like the costumes and cinematography overall. The only thing that I had an issue with was Miles's wig. He looked really good with long hair, but it felt pretty unnatural.

And about the ending, I think it is very justified considering the period it is set in. I couldn't see a better approach. I mean yes things would have been happy go lucky... but then it would stand against everything that the previous 7 episodes built.

Overall, I can't really say this is a comfort watch or even a proper romance BL. It juggles politics, romance, and personal growth with historical tension surrounding every decision. It's not perfectly executed but the writing doesn't just give us pretty faces in suits. It demands attention and occasionally tears.

I would 100% recommend it if you are looking for anything except the cookie-cutter BLs and don't mind morally grey characters. This will make you feel everything from love to frustration to heartbreak with just a little bit of awe.

Thank you for reading my review! <3 I hope you enjoy the drama as much as I did. I didn't realise that it was so lengthy!

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"I love dreaming, because in my dreams, you're actually mine"~ Victor ( Pov )

WARNING - This is my review according to my own feelings , if you don't like it then I have nothing to do . Don't come here to argue with me .

Shine is shining brilliantly . MileApo's " Kinnporsche " created a STANDARD for every BL watcher, so we had high expectations and look they actually haven't disappointed us . The cinematography was top tier , sometimes felt like watching a hollywood movie.


This is a tale of 1969-1971. Apo Natawwin's acting deserves all the awards. He literally gives micro expressions in every episode. His role Trin holds aura. But the most interesting part is Tanwa , how did Mile play this beautiful and unique role ? In Kinnporsche, he was a scary mafia but here is a free spirit. The duality is insane. Once again proved, how professional he is .


I have to talk about another important character Victor. You will naturally like him . He deserved the honour of a MAIN CHARACTER. The chemistry between him & Trin , Gosh this pair stole the spotlight for me . Sometimes I felt , Victor and trin had better chemistry than Tanwa and Trin . Not as a MileApo fan but as a BL watcher I really wanted this couple badly. Why not ? His love for Trin is pure but poor him .

Although shine is shining but in a corner of a dark room probably Victor's soul is screaming

"I love you like a silent movie loves a talkie—I can feel every emotion, but you can never hear me."


Give this drama a try , you will not regret.

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It's raw, it's dark, it's light, it's depressive, it's happy, it's sad - it's the full spectrum.

As usual I went into this "blind" - I did not watch trailers or read about it, I just knew it's playing in a tumult time for Thailand. Of course this is a drama and it does not represent historical accuracy, but it depicted quite accurate what the gist was. There were protests, there was political killings and there was a revolution (a bit later). Thailands military still has more power over it's goverment than any democracy should have.

This series is partly hard to watch. Not because it's bad, because it's so acurate, because the acting is so good and of course because it's so sad - in a good way. The company said this is not a BL, it's a gay story - and it mostly is. They did not disappoint in their description. There is only some fluff but mostly it felt really realistic.

Tanwa (played by Mile) is a typical end of 1960ties free spirit (they would have said hippie at the time), but without a direction. Trin (played by Apo) is more or less the opposite, he knows what he wants and he knows what he stands for. This two worlds clashes and after the traumatic events where Victor (played by Peter Deriy) died, Tanwa find the courage to move on by his mothers unreleased book (given by his father he was at odds). Then we have a second couple, the colonel and the journalist - a poetic love which could not be fullfilled, because the colonel decided to protect his love and sacrifices himself for it. I have read comments that say Dhevi is the villain, but of course she is not. The colonel used her (and her family) to advance his career and he had to pay the price for his decision. This also saved the live of his love the journalist. Is it nice? Of course not, but such were and are (sometimes) the realities we live in. It was quid quo pro - he gained social status which made him go through the ranks of the military into a powerful position and she gained just the man she loved even knowing he has no feelings for her. And in contrast to most BLs: She got not furious and made no scene. It's just realistic.

All the cast were really amazing. When you know that Tencent in the form of WeTV financed this project it's absolutly stunning that they did all that what they can't do in China with such a controversial story. Of course this is a hurtful story, this is not the typical BL fluff you may expect. This is raw, brutal, repulsive, sad but also poetic, happy and beautiful.

For me this is a 10, because besides the realistic approach, a good story and the production quality, it's the right step for Thai's entertainment industry to not just cater to the fangirls. The story is the star of this show and not just some fan-favorite actors. So, if you have not seen it, it's a must watch for me!

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I THINK I LOVE YOU

Sometimes you watch something that leaves you feeling so much and yet not enough, this drama was one of such works. Plot wise, after the many high school bls, this story was exactly the something different I was looking for. Though, was it really something different? Cuz this is literally the current world situation, only difference is, it comes with a side of rainbow and it has its own background soundtrack.

Listen, before I start this review, I need to get this off my chest. No one but the people responsible are at fault for Victor's death. From how I saw it, nothing could have saved Victor that day, no matter what, he would have died. I saw a lot of people angry at Tanwa for not telling Trin until it was too late. People, did we watch the same thing? Did you not see the kind of character Victor was? That boy did not take no for an answer. How many times did Trin reject him and how many times did he keep insisting? And since Trin became their teacher, did he not constantly advice them against the protests, and did Victor and his friends listened to him? No, so did you think Victor would have listened to him this time? Victor was about to leave, and felt he owed it to his friends to stand with them one last time, there was nothing anyone would have said that he'd have listened. Even his mother said after his death, 'he died fighting for what he believed in,' so she knew it herself, Victor would have been at that rally no matter what.

Trin & Tanwa
So yes, I was angry when Trin took some of his anger on Tanwa for Victor's death. It hurt that after seeing the way Tanwa's father treated him, Trin hit him and then left him. Trin got Tanwa to stop running away and faced his emotions, to open his heart and love, and then, he left him, and ran back to France. And the moment he said he was leaving I dead ass went, 'Yes, ran away, of course running away is your speciality, you did it when your girlfriend died too.' So yes, I was in my feelings andwas like, yeah if those two don't end up together I'd be fine with it, let them heal and move on, Tanwa don't need to be around whatever quilt Trin is feeling. But.

But, but, I also understood Trin. It's in human nature to think we could have done something to make a difference when things like this happens. Would Trin had been able to talk Victor out of going this time, when he hadn't been able to talk him out of anything so far? Would he have reacted the way he did if he'd known Tanwa actually warned Victor, but Victor made him promised not to tell him? We'd never know. Cuz at that moment, giving the information he knew and the hurt he felt, he reacted accordingly, so I understood Trin, but it still hurt that at the end of the day, Tanwa was the one who was left behind again, cuz in trying to please two people at once, he ended up breaking a promise and losing the man he loved.

But Tanwa grew, and it was beautiful to see. We met him as this carefree hippie who didn't care about anything, just here to enjoy life and make paper cranes. But with Trin he changed and it was nice, but then everything fell apart for him again. First he broke, completely, but slowly, he put the pieces together and I was so happy for him. Thanks to his that one friend with the hair who never gave up on him. That father, all he did was be a father like he was supposed too, so he gets no thanks from me.

As for Trin he actually left France and came back home to make a difference, and he didn't sit on his arse, and actually worked on making change, though when the side he choose got hard he left again. Sure he said he could continue doing the work he was doing out of the country, and perhaps he could, a pebble thrown at one end of the ocean could make a tsunami at the other end of the world, so yes he could, but for half of the finale, I felt like he was running away, probably, he was doing both. And I don't blame him, this was the second time his pain was being written with the same ink and ending.

Personally, I think they'd both would have survived on their own if they hadn't ended up together again. But, I'm glad Tanwa learned to respect himself, choose himself, and grow before he decided to speak out and then go and try to make things right with Trin. They both needed that time to sort out their feelings and heal, and they were stronger for it when they got back together.

Krailert & Naran
I am surprised one of these two didn't die. I am not gonna lie, I watched this whole drama thinking Krailert was a coward and he was gonna die a useless death. Yes, I was cheering on him, happy when he was all in love and hating on clothes and playing piano, but my opinion of him was not much.

Cuz really, he was in a marriage he didn't want. He did what his superiors told him with little to no opposition, and most of the time his best effect was to wish the soldiers under him would listen to him, and make sure his nephew wasn't anywhere near whatever disaster was coming. Even the day that Victor died, yes he tried to save the students, even tried to send Trin out on some errand to save him, but in the end because he didn't really hold any respect or power in the army from his soldiers, after all this years, his men disobeyed him, and he ended up losing the one trusted man he had.

And it wasn't that he didn't try to do the right thing or speak up, it was just that he held so little power, that his voice and effects meant little to nothing in the long scheme of things. Yes, he did what he could, but it wasn't enough, which got me thinking with how much power his father in law held, how the eff did he end up with none but that dude with the cigar ended up with so much? Was it because he was too kind, too nice for a profession in politics when he'd rather be playing the piano naked? Either way with a family like his wife's backing him, him basically ending up a 'yes, sir' dude at work was unfortunate. Though his ending was an unhappy trophy husband, so really, short end of the straw.

So, I was so so so happy when in the finale he grew a pair and finally spoke out, though, what good it did him, he was immediately arrested and was about to die or imprisoned for life, until his wife came in to save him. But even so, I was so happy that he decided to speak up and to tell the truth, even knowing what consequence he would face. Both Naran and I were very proud of him.

Naran, spoke a big game of wanting change, of wanting to tell the public the truth, and for a while he was passionate about it and did it, but when he kept being silenced, he allowed himself to be silenced. Sure there wasn't much he could do with a boss like that, but thinking about it, he'd write, tried to push, be silenced and he'd let it go. He knew how horrible those politicians were, yet, he didn't really talked those student out of anything, just stood in the crowd with them with his camera, taking shoots and videos that never saw the light of day. Even Victor's father's book, in the end it was actually Krailert who called in that favour for him to get it published.

Yes, he had no power when against such powerful people, but the pen is mightier as they say, so... Anyway, I was glad he quit. And also, he could have had his own publication had he lied and stayed with his girlfriend, but it was good he didn't want to add to the pain by staying with her. I was happy he came clean and let her go, otherwise he'd have ended up in an unhappy, suffocating marriage like Lert did. Though, was a one way ticket to wherever he went any better? Probably.

Was their ending sad, yes, but again, I am still shocked not one of them died and they both made it alive. Though, are they even alive? He was forced to leave the country alone without even seeing the man he loved one last time, and Lert was threatened to remained in an unhappy, unwanted marriage as a live-in sperm donor. So, I say alive with huge question mark.

Secondary characters:
Dhevi :
I was not surprised one bit that Krailert's wife was pulling strings. Literally, her hair was never out of place no matter the time of the day, of course she was silently a force to be reckoned with. Woman to woman though, does forcing a man you know does not love you, plus in this case, wasn't even intimately interested in you, ever make this people happy? What did she get out of this? A husband who is dead inside? A baby? Bishes be crazy. Naran's girlfriend hit him with a shoe and moved on, what Krailert's wife did was just cruel. Girl why? And all that to save force cuz of social norms? What was the point?

Victor:
I liked that loser. He was so adorable when he was in love, and I'd admit, I was lowkey looking for drama and going, 'you know what, just one, one tiny kiss.' I know it would never happened cuz Trin saw Tanwa one time and was a goner rearranging his bookshelf in the middle of night, but still, I was delulu and wanted something, I'd have taken a very firm handshake even, In the end, he died for what he believed in, gone too soon, yes, but he left a mark on the friends he left behind and that counts for something.

Veera:
His death hit so hard, cuz at one point I was like, hmmm he loves the wife too much, you think he'd snitch? Shame on me for thinking bad of him, cuz he didn't. In the end whether for Dhevi or Krailert, he was loyal, and died protecting them. Poor boy didn't even get to attend his fake wedding. I still feel how sad and hard I cried during that episode where both him and Victor died, and with Mile singing Dawn in the background while everyone broke down in tears did not help. Damn that episode broke me.

Which brings us to why everyone on this cast needs to win an award, especially the four main leads. Everyone did so amazing with their characters and actually looked like they enjoyed coming to work and producing this amazing series for us. And it was an amazing series. I loved every moment of it. The plot was wonderfully executed, and everything from the cinematography, direction, editing, costumes, casting, script and the music made me like it more. Speaking of the music, the original soundtrack was amazing, I saved almost all the songs on the show to my playlist. Loved them!

I highly recommend this to all bl/drama lovers out there, cuz this is so much more than just a bl drama. The genre and topic might not be for everyone, but if you are looking for a drama with good plot, direction, acting and overall amazing production, give this one a chance, it's one of the best bls/dramas that I've seen that's come out of the Thailand. I am looking forward to more from the cast. BeOnCloud, thank you!

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I came for Miles and Apo, but I stayed for Son and Euro.

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

Even though I read the synopsis, I thought politics will be the backdrop of romance. In actuality, it’s the opposite. Politics is heavy and if you are not a fan, you might want to rethink unless you love the 1960s style and the actors.


My favorite: Krailer + Naran
The romance between Krailert (Colonel) and Naran (Reporter) is just WOW. Who would have thought I lived for their romance. It was fast and explosive in a good and bad way. It may not have been love-at-first-sight, but definitely some love-at-first-attraction before they officially met. Who knew flirting in a newspaper column would be so sexy. How about secret love letters through literature? A personal piano room in the library and a charming little rendezvous hideout? Add to that are some more tangible touching, kissing, hugging and getting the sexy on. I’m not just loving the lovey-dovey romance, but the clash in morals and their professionalism. The choice between standing up for what’s right and just, and following commands from your superiors. This forbidden romance has me in a chokehold (and I don’t use this term easily). Krailert and Nara gave me everything I want in a romance.


Miss the Mark: Tanwa + Trin
I thought Miles’ Tanwa and Apo’s Trin would be THE pair that sucks me in. But unfortunately, it didn’t quite hit the mark. I was interested in how the two very different individuals are attracted to each other. We have an idealistic and upright Professor and a hippie, pot-smoking Singer. Their characters are much deeper than what meets the eye. But when it comes to romance, they pale in comparison to Krailert and Naran. I feel that the politics and student uprising do not integrate well into their storytelling. Yes, the kisses are great, but the chemistry was not as good as in “KinnPorsche”. All the other side plots seem to keep them away from each other. In contrast, the politics is what made Krailer and Naran’s love story more interesting.


Not My Favorite: Politics + Side plots
I don’t hate political stories. I think “Shine” tries to send a message about a very important time in Thailand. But I do think the drama did not make all this interesting enough for me to be invested, at least not until the last 2 episodes. Victor and his friends brought a little excitement in the early episodes but then they started to annoy me. Victor’s little crush is nice especially the way he looks at Trin and I appreciate him knowing when to stop. But then, you have Veera’s crush, Victor’s dad, Ms Moira, corruption, Tanwa and his family drama…. Just too many side stories for such a short drama.


Having said all that, the acting is amazing. Everyone delivers and each main character has to deliver quite a range of different emotions. Cinematography is great and I love the 1960’s feel in costume, sets and music. A lot of care is given to make this drama look good. I just wish there’s more to keep me excited throughout the drama.

But because I was so moved by Krailert and Naran, they make it hard for me to give this drama lower than an 8.0-8.25. “Shine” just doesn’t speak to me as much as I would have liked. But I am sure many viewers enjoy it tremendously.



Completed: 9/21/2025 Review #627

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This is not your typical BL. THIS IS Men's Love

I rarely grant a series a perfect score, yet this one earns it without hesitation.

At its core is Trin, a young and educated professor recently returned to Thailand after studying abroad. Set against the politically charged landscape of 1970s Thailand, his story is one of self-discovery; both in terms of sexuality and personal conviction. Determined to contribute to his country without resorting to violence, Trin strives to support the working class while navigating a society deeply divided between entrenched wealth and a rising generation demanding change.

The series captures this political tension with remarkable nuance, portraying the push and pull between power, privilege, and resistance. What elevates it further is its parallel exploration of love, particularly through its second couple: a military spokesperson and a young journalist who find themselves drawn together despite standing on opposite sides of the political spectrum. Their relationship is complicated as one man is married, the other engaged but it is precisely this complexity that grounds their romance in reality and lends it emotional weight.

This is not a conventional boys’ love drama. Instead, it belongs in the company of prestige television, a production that could easily stand alongside HBO’s finest. BoC Productions delivers once again with exceptional craftsmanship: striking cinematography, seamless editing, carefully curated music, and meticulous costuming. Each element contributes to a work that is not only visually compelling but narratively sophisticated.

It is a bold, uncompromising series that avoids sentimentality, choosing instead to weave politics, romance, and personal awakening into something extraordinary. Every moment feels intentional, every scene carries weight. Simply put, it is flawless. I recommend it without reservation.

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A Mature and Underrated Gem in the BL World

When it comes to showing off their stunning male actors’ butts, nobody does it better than Be On Cloud. From KinnPorsche to 4 Minutes and now Shine… truly the masters of cheeks on screen 🍑😂

It’s so rare that I genuinely love both couples in a BL, but this series absolutely delivered. Apo and Mile already proved their magic in KinnPorsche, and now seeing Son (Krailert) for the first time was such a revelation, he’s like a stunning Thai god, beautiful and perfect in every way.
The attention to detail is incredible. From the 1960s setting, the vintage clothes, cars, and houses, the production team poured so much effort into making this drama authentic and immersive. Every episode held my attention, I was never once bored, and the story kept me captivated throughout.
The highlight for me is Krailert secretly seeing his lover. It powerfully portrays the struggles of same-sex relationships and the pain of staying closeted in the 1960s. The NC scenes are another standout. They’re not just erotic but also deeply romantic, with the hauntingly beautiful violin background music making them unforgettable.

The best episode for me is epiosde 7, it was a storm of heartbreak, truth, and sacrifice. Three moments stood out: Naran’s coming out, Victor’s tragic death, and the loss of the loyal Veera.
At the dining table, Naran finally gathered the courage to tell Dao the truth: the person he loved was not her, but a man. His words cut through the air like silence itself. Dao stood frozen, her world shattering in an instant. When he called her name, she turned, lifted her heel, and struck his face, not with her hand, but with something harsher, as if to say his truth was too vile to touch. In the 1960s, when same-sex love was invisible and forbidden, her slap was not only a wound of betrayal but a reflection of a society unable to accept love in its purest form.

Meanwhile, on the streets, blood painted the cry for freedom. As someone from Melbourne, I think of protests I have witnessed where, at worst, police use pepper spray to scatter a crowd. Yet here, in Thailand’s past, guns were raised against innocent students, their voices silenced with bullets. Among them, Victor fell. He was not just a man at a protest, he was a dreamer, on the cusp of a new life in America. His death was senseless, his future stolen. Tanwa’s silence to protect Trin now becomes Trin’s torment, for he will forever wonder: if he had known, could Victor have been saved? Little did he know, Victor had already been warned. My heart breaks for them both, bound by grief and guilt.

And then Veera. The most loyal, the most silent, the most unseen. He loved Dhevi in silence, hiding his feelings within the pages of a notebook. Those very words, his only confession, betrayed him, exposing him to blackmail and sealing his fate. He died not as a villain, not as a coward, but as a man willing to sacrifice himself for the Colonel and the woman he could never have. His death was not only tragic, it was cruelly unjust.

Episode 7 exposes a bitter truth: love can be punished, loyalty can be betrayed, and innocence can be crushed beneath corruption. Police who were meant to protect became executioners, and love that should have been celebrated became a curse. This episode is not just a story, it is a wound, one that lingers long after the screen fades to black.

This series deserves way more recognition. 10/10 highly recommended for anyone who loves BL done with depth, beauty, and heart.

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Shine (2025) Review: A Story Told Through Objects

I didn’t plan to get attached. I thought I was signing up for another pretty BL with good-looking leads and some historical flavor. Instead, I ended up sitting here with a lump in my throat, staring at ordinary objects that now feel heavier than they should.

That’s the trick Shine pulls off. It doesn’t just tell its story through dialogue or kisses. It tells it through things: a television buzzing with the moon landing, a boy’s notebook full of scribbles, a guitar strummed in secret, a cassette tape holding lives inside its plastic shell, a protest placard raised too high, a pool that goes from comedy to tragedy in one cut, a ruined roll of film, a camera left behind on a piano, a hat still hanging by the door, a one-way plane ticket.

None of these are just props. They are the afterimages of a time when love was dangerous, and memory itself was fragile. Each one reminds us that intimacy can bloom in the shadows, but history can erase it overnight.

And then there’s the music. Slot Machine’s Beyond the Clouds hits like a funeral hymn, looping back to the name of the studio itself. Be On Cloud, Beyond the Clouds. It feels like the company was destined to give us this story, one where love doesn’t float on clouds—it struggles to reach beyond them.

What makes Shine special is its honesty. Some characters survive. Some don’t. One couple grows old together, another is torn apart. It’s harsh, but it’s real. The series doesn’t flatter us with fantasy. It hands us truth: that love and survival don’t always overlap.

When I think back on Shine, I don’t replay the dialogue. I see objects. I see a TV glowing in a dark room, a notebook clutched too tight, a placard raised in protest, a roll of film exposed to light. These are the memories the show left me with. And maybe that’s the point. History doesn’t always remember the lovers. It remembers what they left behind.

⭐ 9.5/10
A drama that turns props into poetry, romance into history, and memory into survival.

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Best Side of Beautiful

The best from Thailand and BeOnCloud. Without a doubt there has never been anything of this calibre and I applaud everyone involved in this production. Shine lived up to the expectation and it's name. Apo, Mile, Euro, Son, JJay, Nok, Kob and Por. Every actor embodied their character fully and made beautiful art. Every week was viewed with a bitter sweet feeling as I knew the culmination would bring a pain that couldn't be escaped. What was won would never overshadow the magnitude of what was lost.

Shine started with Trin arriving in Thailand after a tragic event, hoping to find himself. There he would meet two people who would have a profound and everlasting effect on his life. Tanwah and Victor. Polar opposites vying for his attention. Tanwah offered freedom from the claustrophobic environment he barely breathed in and Victor, passionate conviction in his beliefs. Freedom won but at a cost no one was ready or willing to pay. Causes and effects burst forth shattering dreams and lives along the way. The sobering reality of life would eventually play out.

We now have Krailert and Naran both fighting on opposing ends for the same goal. To shine light on the corruption and the figures pulling the strings. Krailert given the option to marry Dhevi or die as his lover did, chooses to live. I will still not call it a marriage as there really wasn't another option. But in living he stumbled upon Naran, his intellectual equal who proved to be a worthy adversary in and out of the library room. Their fire would burn bright but too bright for them to hold onto. Power plays behind the scenes, long put in action would see them reluctantly go their separate ways. One would be silenced and neutered for the other to be free. Dhevi played her hand well. Optimistically I hope that an end will come. One can only deny onself before ultimately seeking what one desires. Here I will add, Dhevi was not worthy of anyone's love, let alone Veera's. Veera's death was painfully in vain in more ways than one.

Moira, a power player in her own right, held secrets both open and privately. She watched from afar, and only released what needed to be known when it was best suited. A true survivalist. One to be admired. She mingled freely with all the power players with none having a hold on her.

Sucha, possibly an eternal pot head, would deliver wisdom in periodic spurts which impacted those around him and added to the bits of humor that would liven a mood when it became too deep. JJay, did well here.

I intentionally went not in depth with every titbit or the specifics of Shine. My hope is that after reading, someone would be interested to view this beautiful piece of work on their own and reflect on the choices made by each character. Whether right or wrong, they embodied the best and worst of humanity.

Shine, I think I love you

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BOC, did you atleast kiss the brick before throwing it?

Pain & trauma wrapped in a pretty packaging & adorned with bows.
If you approach this as just another BL, you will be disappointed a bit. This is so much more. There is plot & politics that goes hand-in-hand with the romance. The pace is a bit slow, it lags in some places, but overall it's engaging enough. The production quality is very good, even better than KP. They spend serious money & it shows. The frames are top notch & the cinematography is incredible. This show is excellent in the technical side. Acting was okay. Songs were all beautiful & adds to the narrative.

The issue most people have with is the main couple. They have excellent chemistry, but their relationship as Trin & Tanwa could've had a bit more depth. It doesn't get much traction until the finale (the scene by the seine was beautiful). After much hardships of their own, they do get a happy ending.
Now the second couple, they broke my heart & made me cry. Their relationship felt more prominent & interesting, only to suffer the worst fate. Krailert's ending was the worst out of everyone. I don't want to see anyone defending Dhevi, because she knew he was gay & was the one who told her father to do what he did. Women are the victims of the narrative in most cases but not this one.
The politics might be boring to a lot of people, but it's a personal preference. These are real things that happened & still happening all around us. It could've been a bit more cohesive, but overall it is a great show & worth watching.

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Dare to be Different

One of the most anticipated BLs of the year, the comeback series of ApoMile. Visually, it did not disappoint. The cinematography was absolutely stunning, every frame felt like it was pulled straight from a high-fashion editorial. The production design was rich, layered, and clearly expensive—like, you could feel the budget in every scene. It had that glossy, cinematic sheen that made it stand out from the usual BL fare. What really set it apart was how bold it was. It felt more like an art film than a typical BL series. You could tell the creators wanted to push boundaries and elevate the genre. That said… the storytelling didn’t quite match the visual ambition. Some scenes dragged on way longer than they needed to, and the emotional beats—while intense—sometimes tipped into melodrama. There were moments where I found myself wishing for tighter pacing or more dynamic dialogue to keep things moving. It’s like the show was so focused on being beautiful that it forgot to be engaging in parts. Still, it’s a solid watch. ApoMile’s chemistry is undeniable, and the ambition behind the project deserves props. I’d give it a respectable 3.5 out of 5 stars—worth watching, but not quite the masterpiece it could’ve been.

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