BL Drama Lovers Club

Shine (Orchestric Ver.) - Finale

1000/10

💔💔💔

If I had to give a name to this finale it would be, "Beautiful Melancholia".

A masterpiece 🤌

Even though the main couple, Thanwa and Trin, got their happy ending, the fact that the second couple, Krailert and Naran, did not get a happy ending it cast a sad shadow over the ending as if the entire finale is sad. It speaks to how much the second couple owned the screen and effectively eclipsed the main couple.

I will try to be very brief; staying away from going off on tangents.

This series is excellently done in terms of production. Be On Cloud have certainly put themselves at the forefront of production in the industry. The production team dropped the viewers in 1960s Thailand. All the props, costumes and other setting elements brought the story alive in such a way that it felt like a trip down memory lane; a journey of memory that many of us have never experienced in real life, but our minds have been so successfully convinced by the production that a sense of familiarity overcomes us. Every episode delivered imagery that appealed to that sense of familiarity that had our senses smelling the cigarette smoke and hearing the 60s music on a deep level that transports your mind to a time you have never lived (for the younger viewers). A job well done to Be On Cloud's production team.

The acting is excellent from every single one of the actors. Special recognition to Peter Deriy, who plays Victor, is demanded from viewers. The fact that this is his first major acting role and he delivered such a palpable performance is incredible. The scene, in my view, that really cemented his stellar performance is the scene in which Victor confesses to Trin. You can not only see the emotions flashing in his eyes in this scene, but also feel them. Your heart breaks a little for him in that moment. He truly conveyed the emotions of young love being rejected as well as young love being desperately expressed; the way he held back his tears as they tried to escape his eyes shows his character silently breaking inside. Peter's performance truly moved me, and I look forward to his future BL projects.

I must also highlight Kob Pimolrat Pisolyabutr who plays Ms. Dhevi. She delivered her role in such a way that I am left feeling ambivalent about her character. On one hand I feel sympathetic, but on the other I feel some anger towards her in this finale; however it is hard to stick to that anger alone when I consider everything that leads to this finale. Her character can easily have a separate series as the main character. Ms. Dhevi is the type of character that produces memoirs that literature students take apart, interpret and analyse in open discussion. Well done Kob, it is truly an amazing display of acting.

Another interesting character is Moira played by Nok Sinjai Plengpanich. This single and independent older woman paints a rebel to the social order of that time period I believe. Moira represents freedom; she is a contrast to all the other main characters. She has what they all crave - freedom, but at the expense of what they all have - love. It makes one wonder, is love a golden cage?

I remember that I had stated in a previous post that fans where looking to Mile and Apo to deliver more than just their sizzling chemistry now that they have become familiar; fans are now asking more of them in terms of delivering moving performances with depth of characters. I can confidently say that they did just that in this series. A job well done! Mile's character captured the grief of a son whose mother committed suicide when he was young. In my opinion Mile conveyed emotions of loss and resignation of being left alone quite well. One scene in this finale that choked me up is when Thanwa's father comes to him and holds him at his lowest point. His father took him home and provided some shelter to his broken heart. This scene showed the softer and vulnerable side of the father that we did not get to see before. It is that breaking of his hard shell to expose the caring father within that grips your heart, compounded by Thanwa's broken state.

Now, Krailert and Naran, oh my God! These two surpassed the main couple with their story. They delivered such an arresting love story that whenever they were on screen, whether together or individually, all else seems to melt away leaving their journey raw and exposed for the audience to not just witness, but also feel, live, experience, mourn for, and break for. Their struggle to love each other freely in such an oppressive time period for the gay community brings out feelings of being trapped in darkness where it feels as if no hope can shine through. It is the feeling of being pushed down beneath the surface  of the ocean by society's cruel realities, while watching your reflection at the surface slowing disappear - the reflection of your true unapologetic self; being told that who you are is inferior to who society wants you to be based on their own constructs that are flawed. 

Aside from the romance of the series, it delves into the underbelly of politics. When you look at the political landscape of 60s Thailand you realise that much has not changed; same politics just different facades. The army still wields significant political power in Thailand. Just this year the Thai Prime Minister had to resign after a leaked phone call implicated her giving the impression of her talking against the army to Cambodia's de facto leader, the president of the Cambodian Senate. Bringing it back to the series, the events also extend to the realities of modern day South East Asian countries. In recent times in both Bangladesh and Nepal University/College students rose up in protest and were met with blunt crackdowns resulting in many deaths, but they succeeded in bring down the governments that they viewed as oppressive. These modern day examples of student led revolutions brings the events in the series closer to the mind of some viewers. It is easier to relate to the events of the series as you watch similar events unfold in real time in Nepal about two weeks ago. The series showed us how corrupt leaders exploit the common people for their own benefits, while blaming the people for being in a state of poverty. I do not think you have to be a politically informed person to look at these events in the series and take a step back and contemplate how socialites' institutions frame citizens' lives, and how depending on those institutions' mechanisms determine ones quality of life and self determination.  I said in my penultimate episode review that this repetition in history shows that time progresses, but politics in South East Asian remains stagnant; different players, same cards.

A huge topic that was delved into is Freedom of Speech and Freedom of The Press (sensitive topic right now for our American friends 😬). I am wrapping up soon I promise. In the series Naran's character is the symbol and vehicle of both these fundamental democratic principles that enable the democratic process. Through Naran's character they underscore the importance of the press. It is the press that allows for freedom of information. It is the press that frames the narrative that people depend on to make sense of their country and how they are being treated by their government. "He who controls the flow of information controls the narrative, and he who controls the narrative controls the people." - quote by RXinw lol. Seeing how the Thai army officials in the series used and controlled the press in order to spin the only narrative in the country for the sake of satisfying their corrupt agenda puts into perspective the danger of state controlled media; people often think of mind control as this elaborate and magical process, but in truth mind control is simply the manipulation of information to control a narrative because when you control what people hear, read, see, and believe you control how they respond. Naran rebelled against this mind control and fought for freedom of speech to write about what is true and not what is convenient for the government. This underscores the underlining message of the series - freedom of speech allows for the common people to demand their employees (the government) do good by them, with freedom of press delivering an organized, clear and blunt check on the power of the government on behalf of the people - the press is the mouthpiece of the people. I feel like I am going off on a tangent lol sorry

The music in the series is beautifully written and placed throughout the series. Every emotion conveyed is blustered by the moving lyrics of each song. The songs cement you in each scene, making you fully absorb the significance of the scenes. 

The NC scenes are well done. The team balanced explicit imagery and romantic expressions quite well. I must say that the second couple took the spotlight when it came to the NC scenes. That switch scene is something else 🥵

This is definitely another well done series by Be On Cloud. Out of the four BL series released by them - KinnPorsche, Dead Friend Forever - DFF, 4Minutes (Sultrier Version), Shine (Orchestric Ver.) - I have given three of them a 10/10. I think it is fair to say that they tend to deliver well for me.

I look forward to their next series, especially since each series gets more explicit hehehe

Anyway, I am done now lol. I managed to keep this review short 😌.  If you read until this point thank you for reading lol

 RXinw:

Shine (Orchestric Ver.)

Did you or anyone else figure out why they call the uncut version "Orchestric"?
Or is this just Be On Cloud being Be On Cloud, as with "4 Minutes (Sultrier Version)"?

CHALLENGE by @RXinw - part 3

DAY 16 → favourite food
I'm a foodie with a sweet tooth and an aversion to spicy food. I like lots of different cuisines, but since @RXinw was such a great advocate for Jamaican food (page 2182), I've decided to follow in his footsteps.
Here we go, my favourite Polish food:

BREAKFAST
Freshly baked bread with my mum’s fish paste, made from smoked mackerel, eggs, mayo and pickled cucumbers. So good 😋
DINNER
Silesian dinner: kluski śląskie (Silesian dumplings), rolada (beef roulade) and modro kapusta (cooked red cabbage) Silesian dumplings are made from mashed potatoes and flour. They’re quite tricky to make, because you have to keep the proportions right. Beef roulade is filled with bacon, mustard, onions and pickled cucumbers. Red cabbage is cooked with onions, bacon and spices.
	Placki ziemniaczane (potato pancakes) Especially the ones made by my dad. Made from potatoes grated to a pulp, eggs, flour and spices. My family prefers to eat them ‘naked’, but they may be served with sugar, sour cream, ketchup, mushroom sauce...
SOUPS
Flaczki (tripe soup) Tender pieces of cow stomach, rich in flavour beef broth, vegetables and spices. What’s not to like?
	Żurek (sour rye soup) Usually eaten around Easter time. Served with sausages and hard-boiled eggs. Sour, but flavourful 😋
Kapuśniak (cabbage soup) Made with sauerkraut, potatoes, bacon and sausage. Slightly sour, but delicious 👍

DESSERT
	Faworki Eaten during the carnival. Dry biscuits of fried paste (the classic ones). I prefer the ones made by my mum, which are more similar to doughnuts (soft and fluffy) 😍
Pączki (doughnuts) Eaten all year round, but mainly in the carnival. Big, sweet, no holes, full of filling. My favourite ones are filled with rose jam or eggnog cream.
	Karpatka (Carpathian mountain cake) Two layers of choux pastry filled with custard cream. My aunt makes the best one, so tasty 🤤
OTHER
Oscypek Oscypek is a cheese made by Polish highlanders. Made from sheep milk (with a little bit of cow milk), it’s kind of salty, but tastes really good  with bread or grilled with cranberry sauce, which is both sweet and sour.
	‘Ulena’ plum Hard to find at shops or supermarket. I’ve got a tree in my garden. Big, yellow, soft, very juicy and super sweet. My favourite 😍
‘Cukrówka’ pear Hard to find at shops or supermarket. I’ve got a tree in my orchard. Quite small, yellow and red, juicy and sweet. Delicious 😋
	Czarne jagody (wild blueberries) Found in the forest. Much darker and smaller than regular blueberries, they’ve also got a much more intense flavour.

BEVERAGES
Kompot A drink made from fresh or dried fruits cooked in water, sometimes with addition of herbs or spices (like mint or cloves).
	Miód pitny (mead) [don’t drink if you’re underage] Alcoholic drink made from fermented honey and water. Usually 12-18%, warming and sweet.
Nalewki (liqueurs) [don’t drink if you’re underage] Many people make those at home. Made from different fruits, herbs, flowers or roots mixed with vodka or spirit. Their strength varies from 15 to 70% (yes, they can be pretty strong). Majority provide health benefits (they’re good for you).

Now I'm hungry 😅

This weekend's Khemjira was another fantastic one, and dang them for leaving us hanging on that last scene closing out the episode til next weekend lol.

My Magic Prophecy was an intense one, and just continues to prove itself to be a superb series solidly through since the start. I cannot emphasize HOW MUCH I adore Jimmy & Sea. They are so dang sweet, lovey-dovey, and affectionate. Just the way they interact with each other in every way and how they look at each other is so entrancing.

 ZhouYanRan:

Kapuśniak (cabbage soup)
Made with sauerkraut, potatoes, bacon and sausage. Slightly sour, but delicious

This is my personal pick - I love a good soup!
(I eat low carb and zero sugar/sweets, so that sadly rules out much of your menu.)

 ZhouYanRan:

Silesian dinner: kluski śląskie (Silesian dumplings), rolada (beef roulade) and modro kapusta (cooked red cabbage)

This is also a very common menu where I am, except that our potato dumplings (Kartoffelklöße) don't have the cute identation. But I no longer eat dumplings anyways, so for me: Poproszę dwie rolady z modrą kapustą ale bez klusek!

+++

To make this post BL-compliant: Happy Birthday to my dearly beloved Hu Yetao!

IG has no business giving me this video before noon on this Monday; Lord have mercy my thoughts are going to have me thinking sinful things in my lectures.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLVUUq_MeJP/?igsh=ZXFlYjdwejcxZGtu

 Dramatic Deb:

Get well soon😊

Thanks 

 Jadeheart:

This weekend's Khemjira was another fantastic one, and dang them for leaving up hanging on that last scene closing out the episode til next weekend lol.

My Magic Prophecy was an intense one, and just continues to prove itself to be a superb series solidly through since the start. I cannot emphasize HOW MUCH I adore Jimmy & Sea. They are so dang sweet, lovey-dovey, and affectionate. Just the way they interact with each other in every way and how they look at each other is so entrancing.

Yes to all of that!