1
A Heartbreaking Masterpiece
If you're looking for a BL series more like a gay series, that is more than just a romance, look no further than "Shine." This is not a light watch; it's a painful, realistic, and profoundly moving journey into the oppressive social landscape of the late 60s and early 70s. By the time I reached episode 7, the emotional weight was unbearable, and I found myself moved to tears by the characters' plight.
What sets "Shine" apart is its unwavering commitment to realism in every character. The actors don't just play their roles, they embody them completely. Unlike many BLs where female characters are reduced to plot devices, the women here are fully realized human beings. Similarly, the villains are not comical obstacles but formidable forces to be reckoned with, making their threat feel terrifyingly genuine. Every character, no matter how minor, is written with depth, allowing me to feel their pain, suffering, and ambitions as if they were my own.
While the overall story is excellent, I felt one narrative thread was slightly underserved. The central romance between Lert and Naran rightfully steals the show, but in the process, the relationship between Trin and Tanwa felt relegated to the background. Their romance only truly began to progress meaningfully towards the end, leaving me wanting a more balanced development.
A particularly powerful theme was the shattering of idealism. I was deeply engaged when Trin and the university students realized their dreams of changing the world were just that—dreams. The series poignantly underscores that the world is inherently unfair, rigged in favor of the rich and powerful.
However, the character who left the most lasting impression was Dhevi. Her arc towards the end was a masterstroke. The revelation that she knew the truth all along, yet chose to bind Lert to her in a gilded cage of a marriage, was devastating. Her actions, born of a one-sided love so intense that death seemed preferable to her than letting go, are not easily condemned. I cannot hate Dhevi, only pity the choices she felt compelled to make. In the end, she allowed Naran to escape to America, but Lert remains a bird trapped in a beautiful cage, a tragic symbol of an era where being gay was a forbidden truth. It's a haunting reminder of a homophobic past whose echoes we still confront today.
What sets "Shine" apart is its unwavering commitment to realism in every character. The actors don't just play their roles, they embody them completely. Unlike many BLs where female characters are reduced to plot devices, the women here are fully realized human beings. Similarly, the villains are not comical obstacles but formidable forces to be reckoned with, making their threat feel terrifyingly genuine. Every character, no matter how minor, is written with depth, allowing me to feel their pain, suffering, and ambitions as if they were my own.
While the overall story is excellent, I felt one narrative thread was slightly underserved. The central romance between Lert and Naran rightfully steals the show, but in the process, the relationship between Trin and Tanwa felt relegated to the background. Their romance only truly began to progress meaningfully towards the end, leaving me wanting a more balanced development.
A particularly powerful theme was the shattering of idealism. I was deeply engaged when Trin and the university students realized their dreams of changing the world were just that—dreams. The series poignantly underscores that the world is inherently unfair, rigged in favor of the rich and powerful.
However, the character who left the most lasting impression was Dhevi. Her arc towards the end was a masterstroke. The revelation that she knew the truth all along, yet chose to bind Lert to her in a gilded cage of a marriage, was devastating. Her actions, born of a one-sided love so intense that death seemed preferable to her than letting go, are not easily condemned. I cannot hate Dhevi, only pity the choices she felt compelled to make. In the end, she allowed Naran to escape to America, but Lert remains a bird trapped in a beautiful cage, a tragic symbol of an era where being gay was a forbidden truth. It's a haunting reminder of a homophobic past whose echoes we still confront today.
Was this review helpful to you?
