Shine (Acoustic Ver.) (2025)

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.
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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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 (for the uncut version), 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 actors. So, if you have not seen it, it's a must watch for me!

As usual a slight derank for the cut version because this version should not exist at all!

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Not your typical BL...​BUT​ it is a proper Men's Love

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

If you are expecting your usual lovey dovey BL, this is not for you. This is far better than any series that Thailand had produced so far.

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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Second Couple Carried The Show…

I don’t know about anyone else but the side couple are the only reason I’ll say this drama is ACTUALLY worth watching.

Wait, do I even call them the “side couple” when episode 1 - 6 was basically about them???

They are the ROMANCE in this show, and their CHEMISTRY??? INSANELY GOOD. Their acting was amazing too!

Now as for Shine’s storyline, umm, can I be honest? It’s supposed to be a capitalism critique but it’s not a successful one.

The plot and the revolutionary movements felt too childish and hard to comprehend, but I understand Thai BLs are never “perfect.”

You can tell this is supposed to be an “unconventional deep political romance story that will criticize capitalism” but it didn’t resonate like that with me. The storyline is just …meh?? And the attempt to make it very philosophical just didn’t really get to me.

HOWEVER, it’s not in any way a bad watch. I enjoyed watching it but the rewatch value is not high.

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BL Sizzle Overwhelmed by Vibrant Historical Storytelling

Shine is an outstanding historical drama. The series opens in July 1969, its initial scenes set during the very moment of Neil Armstrong’s “great leap for mankind,” and that timeline places its events in a Thailand struggling to make democratic principles viable amidst a military dictatorship. This reviewer lacks the expertise in the history of Thailand to comment on the accuracy of the events portrayed across the series’ 10 episodes as a reflection of that country’s past. But I am not sure accuracy was ever a goal of the producers. They set out instead to create a triptych of a turbulent time—one panel devoted to politics and protest, one to cultural transformation and ferment, and the third to romance and lust. The blend of history, politics, and romance--atypical for a series created by any company known for BL productions—yields a series with strong characters and a compelling narrative. It is thoughtful, complex, and nuanced.

As a work of historical drama, Shine shines for its ability to evoke the zeitgeist of that period. Not just Thailand, but the whole world was inspired by mankind’s first steps on the moon. Not just Thailand, but the whole world felt the rush of new trends in music and fashion. Not just Thailand, but the whole world grappled with the implications of the Sexual Revolution, still unfolding. Not just Thailand, but many countries struggled to balance rapid industrialization with quality of life. Not just Thailand, but many western-allied countries struggled to balance fidelity to democracy to protecting against communist influence. The late 1960s were a turbulent era for cultures spread across many continents. What Shine does is convey a sense of how that era looked and felt in Thailand; how the people of Thailand might have behaved and believed. In this regard, Be On Cloud’s production succeeds in evoking the spirit of those times. The genius of Shine is that it may be specific to Thailand, but in many respects its depiction of 1969 has universal overtones.

Be On Cloud made a name for itself as a producer of BL series, notably 2022’s Kinn Porsche. Indeed, cast in lead roles for Shine are the same duo who headlined Kinn Porsche, Mile Phakphum Romsaithong and Apo Nattawin Wattanagitiphat. To rally the support of that series’ and duo’s considerable fanbase, marketing for Shine made clear that Mile’s and Apo’s characters would again become romantically involved. A clear expectation existed among the fandom that Shine would be a BL. The reality is somewhat more complicated. The only notable romances are indeed between male characters, and (typical of Be on Cloud’s production ethos) the sex scenes sizzle with steamy encounters between actors wearing very little clothing indeed. Nevertheless, the production team clearly had ambition beyond the romance-centered storylines commonly associated with the BL genre. Neither of the two principal romances drives the action. Neither evinces the sort of idealized fantasy romance commonly typical of BL. Indeed, the second-class status (and less, even, in 1969) of same-sex relationships bespeaks tropes associated with LGBT genre series more so than BL. The vibe is closer to “love that dares not speak its name” than to “idealized fantasy romance.” The "curse episode" (a customary BL trope) so plausibly, so effectively, uses a clandestine queer relationship against the characters that one feels queasy watching the plot unfold. In the end, pinning down Shine’s genre as either BL or LGBT strikes me as an irrelevancy. Its real purpose seems to be the portrayal of a moment in Thai history where protest helped wrest back control of the country from a military dictatorship. The romance never spurs the plot forward; a desire to discredit authoritarian government does.

The Thailand of 1969 was still modernizing. In economic terms modernization meant rapid industrialization, even where “progress” might impose harm on ordinary people. In social terms, modernization meant transitioning between a traditional social structure where oligarchic families concentrated power (economic, political, military) in their own hands (as the nobility once had) and a democratic society that rewarded individual brilliance regardless of the social class that birthed the person. Such transitions create contradictions and tensions, and Shine captures effectively the ensuring discomfort. The military justifies its control of society by the need to preserve order. Industrialists justify the development of industry as keystones to the nation’s future, even if their efforts cause harm to people living in the present. Students seeing the injustice of both (and certainly aware of student protest movements elsewhere in the world during the 1960s), take to the streets to protest all of the above.

The characters in Shine fit into all these groups, some more than one. Here, Apo portrays Trin, an intellectual groomed for a future serving his nation in government ministries. Trin returns from France in the first episode, having obtained the best western education possible. He will be snapped up for a position as an architect of the country’s economic development. Paraded like a prize at a high-society social event on his first day back Trin encounters Tanwa (Mile), the disaffected scion of an industrialist family. Tanwa is a classic long-haired slacker: he has deliberately failed out of college, refuses to be drawn into his father’s desired career path, and plays in a rock band. He smokes and drinks constantly, befitting that Sixties rocker vibe. (His hair and wardrobe also scream “San Francisco, Summer of Love” another element in how this series recreates the vibe of an era, albeit a style so on-the-nose for 1969 San Francisco that it may not yet have reached Bangkok that quickly.) Tanwa takes an immediate shine to Trin, and they engage a smoldering game of off-and-on flirtation for the remainder of the series. (Having professionally known many high achievers like Trin in my career, I am skeptical that Trin would ever be so strongly attracted to a chronic underachiever like Tanwa, but after all, anything is possible. Perhaps the “idealized fantasy romance” in Shine derives from accepting that Trin feels a spark with a slacker.) At any rate, most fans of the MileApo ship will feel satisfied by the actors’ interactions despite the plausible hesitance of the plot to commit to TrinTanwa.

As a side hustle, Trin also finds himself teaching a university class. That serves the narrative purpose of bringing him into contact with a group of students who have decided to take their discontent to the streets. The students mistrust Trin, since his family background and professional training position him as an opponent of their cause. Yet, his political sympathies prove more expansive than they expect. Even as he critiques their faith in socialist ideology, he acknowledges where their critiques of capitalism have validity. His willingness to listen, even as he challenges them, wins their trust. Trin becomes a de facto mentor to the group. Here, an element of Trin’s backstory becomes crucial. He was present in Paris during the student protests of 1968. Those upheavals scarred French society deeply, an historical analysis the script shortchanges. Understandably, since the story is about Thailand; yet, I cannot help but think that a deeper dive into Trin’s experience of Paris 1968 might have made his choices in Bangkok 1969 resonate even more deeply. When he chides the would-be revolutionaries for their naïve approach to the danger inherent to protesting, that caution speaks to what he witnessed in Paris. Lives were lost in the City of Light in ’68, and lives are at stake in the Great City of Angels in ’69. (Indeed, anyone conversant with the general history of student protests against military dictatorships can by Shine’s middle episodes anticipate the tragedy looming ahead.) Trin’s involvement with the younger generation also creates a love triangle when one of the students becomes enamored with the professor. Victor is the half-farang offspring of a dissident Soviet émigré. (Dad’s cynicism about the communist leanings of the student protestors resonates quite differently than the objections of the capitalist characters. His character’s point of view adds a nuance to the political discussion that demonstrates that the Cold War dichotomy “capitalism versus communism” had drawbacks no matter which side a developing nation might pick.) His character becomes the viewpoint character for the student protestors. In fact, I would argue, that Victor may actually be the most important character in the series because his various storylines thread through all thematic elements of the triptych. Certainly, his arc proves the most compelling to follow. The part was portrayed by debutant Ukranian-Thai actor Peter Deriy, and one can only hope the role springboards his career to leading man status.

Finally, Shine also features a second couple. Krailert is Trin’s uncle, but he is also an army colonel. In fact, he is the army’s public face, as press spokesperson. For the sake of his career, Krailert married a former commander’s daughter. (Flashbacks make clear he was maneuvered into the arrangement, because his romance with a male film star would have disgraced not just himself, but the service.) Inevitably, in a genre known for “idealized fantasy romance,” Colonel Army Press Spokesman will be drawn into an affair with a reporter hostile to the military dictatorship. Naran is a champion of liberal democracy and the free press, deeply suspicious of the government. He is also often at odds with his own editor, whose job entails not getting the paper shut down by the authorities if they openly oppose or subvert the regime. I shall eschew details of how Krailert and Naran transition from professional antagonists to torrid secret romance, but suffice it to say their relationship provides the most compelling romantic storyline Shine has to offer. Orchestrated via coded message, their rendezvous scenes convey danger, intrigue, mystery, desperation, and desire. Of course, 1969-70 is a bit premature to expect a same-sex couple to experience acceptance; so, that sense of impending doom that looms over the student protestors also haunts Krailert and Naran as their bond deepens. Lives are, indeed, at stake.

In closing, Shine offers a narrative rich in character detail, ripe with flavors of the time period, and textured with complex, nuanced political statements. Its queer romances provide emphasis and distraction; they do not drive the action forward. But those romantic yearnings do rather tie together the disparate threads into a whole. Journalist Naran has professional connections with the student protestors; Soldier Krailert has the familial connection to Trin; and both colonel and reporter tangle with economic project overseen by Tanwa’s father’s conglomerate. So, all three elements of Shine’s thematic triptych weave together into a cohesive series. It’s all fiction, of course. But it’s a fiction that seems to slot right into the world of 1969 Thailand. From beginning to end, Shine is a compelling watch.

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The chronicles of butts

It's a known fact that BOC has ass fetish, so you know you are going to see some bare butts when you watch this.

The reason I didn't want to watch this is I didn't like the story, it's not really my cup of tea but I saw too many edits for the second couple which made me intrigued.

And as I expected, I didn't like it very much, and I ended up with too many things that bothered me

1-where is the comedy? This is supposed to be a romcom as far as I know, yet it's all about politics and power games, if it wasn't for the second couple i wouldn't even dare to call it romantic, well I mean it has romance but not satisfying one, the whole comedy part is put on Mile's shoulder and my man isn't even that funny, I dare say his character was annoying to some extent.

2- what is the role of tanwa? Tanwa is supposed to be the main lead character next to Trin, right?? Nope!! That's not the case, all he did was live a happy go lucky life, seduce a - supposedly - straight man, and piss his dad off. Aside from that he can be completely removed from the cast and the series would still be the same, he contributed nothing to the story aside from being the love interest of Trin and he can easily be replaced by Victor.

3- why isn't Victor one of the main characters? That guy was fantastic, he nailed his role which was big btw, he even appeared more than Tanwa - until you know what happens - he was a better person whose conversation is up to bar with Trin's, and there is a fairly good reason for them to be together, also he and Trin both try to make the other person a better version of himself.

4- the way the solved the whole lert situation! A video? Really?? This has to be the most unreasonable and unrealistic way to prove someone is innocent, better make the bad guy surrender and admit to all his crimes, I wasn't really invested in the riot part but I was waiting to see how will they solve everything and tie all the loose ends.

5-happy end for the wrong couple!! I wish they did the second couple the same courtesy they did the first, alas they didn't and they opted to only keep things fairytale-like for the first but very very realistic to the second, I was fine with the end I wasn't disappointed or anything, this was late 60s so what else can I expect? Happy end for homosexual couple? Don't be ridiculous!

I believe that sums everything up, on the bright side, you can enjoy what BOC can do most, great cinematography, and nice direction, story and character, probably not so much.
I believe after 4mins and this, I won't have any high expectations from BOC anymore...

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I'm confused.

Whatever presumptuous AI ghost-writer gave birth to this is just lucky Navalny's ghost already has a lot on his plate…………………………………………………………….

But, hey, the love birds are together in the end so it’s all good then.
OR IS IT?

Also: lame sunglasses.
Also: the "Victor" fella managed a couple of words in French perfectly fine, couldn't he, idk, have taught his scene partner properly?
Also: my sincerest wish is that the Russian-speaking "dad" actor would never ever get lines as lame as his character's ever again. AI-screenwriter, have some mercy!
Also: the "Tanwa" character's flat as a paper sheet, might as well have made origami out of himself. Has to be studied in film-schools as a perfect example of, idk, a flat character?
Also: unnecessary underdeveloped side plotlines, anyone?
And the banal question is (always has been and always will) - can a naked butt really cover up for bad writing?

But, hey, the love birds are together in the end so it’s all good then.
OR IS IT?

p.s:
to this very day I fondly remember,
as if it was yesterday,
one fateful evening,
my now partner quietly said "I love you"...
and took off his pants.
relatable relationship dynamics right there, what can I say)

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Unpopular opinion

Unpopular opinion: I don’t think Shine is the masterpiece people hype it up to be. To me, it feels like cheap fanservice dressed up as a serious political/romance thriller.

Main couple (Trin & Tanwa — MileApo):
They didn’t work for me. Tanwa comes off as childish, so it’s hard to take him seriously; I honestly don’t get why Trin is into him. Victor made far more sense to me.

Second couple (the colonel & the journalist): Naran, Krailert

They’re the reason I kept watching. The chemistry is insane; their scenes are 🔥🥵 and genuinely compelling. That said, even with them, the writing undercuts realism, like flirting in a bathroom during a high-profile event in a period hostile to homosexuality. It just made no sense. Instead of coming across as daring or romantic, it pulled me out of the story because it felt careless and unbelievable.

That’s my biggest problem with the show: it tries to blend politics, social commentary, and romance, but it never balances them well. The “serious” parts feel hollow, and the romantic parts lean too heavily on fanservice. The end result is a story that wants to be meaningful but doesn’t have the weight or realism to back it up.

Shine wants to be a layered political romance, but deep down it’s still just fanservice wrapped in fancy packaging. 😒

That being said, if you enjoyed the show, that’s great, I did enjoy certain parts too. This is just my personal take, so don’t come for my head 😂. Feel free to disagree, just keep it respectful.

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Don't let the BL tag scare you off

Shine isn't your typical BL that focuses on cute, giddy first crushes, misunderstandings, or excessive fan service. It’s fundamentally a mature political and social drama underpinned by a gay love story. It's a another level of elite production, top-tier acting quality, gripping story and phenomenal execution.

The romance isn't characterized by cute schoolyard antics or simple cohabitation. Instead, the characters are adults grappling with their identities and desires under immense personal and national pressure. Their relationship is a slow burn that is earned through shared trauma, difficult choices, and deep connection, not simply physical attraction.

The individuals in Shine are not painted in simple black-and-white. They have flaws, trauma, and conflicting loyalties, making their journey of self-discovery and love feel incredibly realistic and complex.

Don't let the genre tag scare you off. Shine is an ambitious, unforgettable historical drama about love, repression, and revolution. It's a must-watch masterpiece.

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A Tale of Hidden Truths and Unfinished Goodbyes

The overall concept of the show was clear and engaging, with well-executed performances from the cast. Trin and Thanwa — two wounded souls who found one another, and in doing so, discovered the healing they had been searching for. Their journey together was tender, and a beautiful reminder of love’s power to mend what’s broken.”

However, Victor’s unnecessary stubbornness, which ultimately led to his death, came across as frustrating and avoidable. It seemed as though he wanted to go out with a dramatic flourish — and unfortunately, that decision cost him everything.

While I don’t personally agree with suicide, I can understand how, from a storytelling perspective, this could have been a powerful and more realistic ending for Krailert. If the directors had chosen this route, it might have given the finale greater emotional depth and resonance. For a character forced to conceal his true self from the world, who had already lost his first love at the hands of his own family, such a tragic conclusion would have underscored the painful reality of repression, control, and generational expectations.

Instead, the narrative emphasized the forced path of conforming — being compelled into a relationship, marriage, and parenthood that only deepened his misery. Exploring this darker, more authentic trajectory could have left a more heartfelt and impactful impression, aligning with the emotional weight the series aimed to deliver.

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Rawness at its peak

I didn't watch this series first because I was so skeptical about it as less people were watching it, but one morning I found myself watcing it. From the reels and shorts that I watched first I was like nah, I don't like the settings and the background but the series turned out to be good.

Firstly it was raw and the tension was there and it was the right amount for both couples and I liked the way of communication the second couple had, it was poetic and liberating and the way both of them would unfold for each other emotionally was beatiful.

I understand that many people may hate this because of the political setting but despite the setting I think we should focus more on the characters the way they evolved and their ways of understanding each other despite their differences in their jobs and backgrounds.

That said, I would recommend watching this, at least give the first episodes a chance and you wil be suprised because the chemistry here is explosive.

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