Mature and Heartfelt
Do not let the high school setting fool you- this is a very mature examination of connection, loss, grief, and navigating your burgeoning sexual awakening.This Coming of Age tale wraps itself in a very grounded fantastical element while delivering the narrative with both a humorous and deeply existential deft hand.
The actors are perfectly cast and seemed to melt into their characters. The fantastical element could have been played very broadly (which Japanese dramas tend to do, I'm looking at you, Cherry Magic) but the actors' choices kept the fantastical firmly rooted in reality. What I particularly loved about their chemistry was the achievement of what I thought was impossible in standard BL fare: balancing the sweet and romantic with animal need.
A common complaint regarding Japanese BLs usually rests with endings. The refrain is that the oftentimes pessimistic, open-ended (bordering on nihilistic) endings leave the audience unsatisfied. I don't know how others will feel about the conclusion of this love story, but I was profoundly satisfied in its courage and honesty.
And don't get me wrong- this is a love story and not a romance, which should be evident from the synopsis.
If you are looking for a love story whose journey will warm, touch, and try your heart in all the satisfying ways, I highly recommend this drama.
Was this review helpful to you?
Standing Ovation
First and foremost, I have to state my utmost respect to Mile and Apo. They leveraged their clout, brand, and fan base to not only bring a stellar work to fruition, but to hand over the spotlight to other actors and cast themselves as supporting characters. The humility and commitment to their acting community, authentic and damn good storytelling, and the audience's experience should be loudly noted. This type of generosity should be resoundingly applauded and acknowledged.This should not be billed as a BL- not because it is lacking in BL romance and spice (oh, it brings it all) but because the representation of gay and bisexual love is incidental representation- gay and bisexual humans have existed throughout history, lived that history, and had to find ways to love and survive in that history. The history and the lived experience is what SHINES in this production. The human experience- gay, straight, and bi, young, old... human- is represented beautifully.
The storytelling does not paint villains and heroes easily. Instead, it leans into the moral ambiguity that often exists when fighting for what you believe. Living the consequences of your choices is a major theme to the piece, and instead of moralizing by assigning "happy endings" or "just desserts" to characters, the storytelling firmly takes the position that making the choice is what is important; to do nothing, to not choose, is the greatest sin we commit. This is a thematic statement that feels incredibly poignant to me as an American at this time and place in my nation's history.
The acting and delivery is truly next level, the production values are top notch including the sound engineering (a particular pet peeve of mine with regards to many Thai productions), and no budget was spared in recreating this indelible moment in Thai history. The script, directing, and execution are award-winning worthy.
Early in its run (as episodes were dropping) a great deal of negative reaction was popping up on social media. For some, I think they were expecting a redux of the Kinn Porsche aesthetic and storytelling. For others, I think they expected to be spoon fed important histocultural details that makes the viewing experience a little easier. It doesn't take much time to hop on Google and get some context to this period in Thai history so you can understand the sociopolitical implications as you watch. If we are going to embrace the art of a culture, don't we have a little bit of an obligation to do our homework and meet the storytelling halfway when we are lacking prior knowledge to enhance our understanding? I firmly believe the answer to that question is, "yes." For every 20 BLs that require no effort on the part of the international audience in order to understand and enjoy, you will find that beautiful treasure- like Shine- that requires a little more effort to participate. Take five minutes to gather some prior knowledge as it will truly make this viewing experience better.
I will rewatch this someday. But for now, I just want to sit with it in my heart and in my brain and give myself some time with it before I rewatch.
Was this review helpful to you?
Overcoming Intergenerational Traum
what a heartbreaking, bittersweet, human story of the long reach childhood abuse and neglect can have. Like Love in the Big City, I don’t feel this romance is center stage- the human pain and drama will sear into your memory.The acting is stellar. Tje awkwardness of first physical love is handled with honesty and dignity, all while forcing the viewer to remember their own unsure first steps into a romantic relationship.
Tjere is a significant time jump that is jarring, but by the end, I truly understood why the writers made this choice.
Solidly number one in my favorite BLs of the year.
Was this review helpful to you?
