This review may contain spoilers
This Is How You Should Learn to Respect Yourself
This drama experienced a significant delay before it was finally aired. Thankfully, it turned out to be worth the wait—my anticipation didn’t feel wasted at all. It gained massive popularity, and I think the timing of its release, along with a premise that’s easy to digest, played a big role in that success.
From You Are My Glory, I’ve always loved how Gu Man writes her male characters. Yu Tu remains my all-time favorite. In Shine On Me, Yu Sen may not feel as realistic as Yu Tu, but you can still sense his humanity. He feels real in his own way.
One thing I truly appreciate is how this drama demonstrates that not every tragedy leads to trauma. Sometimes, it simply becomes something we regret. I also love how Gu Man portrays the age gap between Yu Sen and Xi Guang—not through numbers, but through maturity and attitude.
Because of that, Xi Guang can fully grow into her potential when she’s with Yu Sen. This contrasts sharply with her relationship with Zhuang Xu, where what gets triggered instead is the unresolved wound left by her father.
We all know Xi Guang was initially drawn to Zhuang Xu because of his looks. But what kept her there was familiarity—his personality resembled her father’s. With Zhuang Xu, Xi Guang felt comfortable because she was used to handling men like him. With Yu Sen, however, she felt comfortable because she could simply be herself.
Xi Guang is the kind of character who easily absorbs the energy around her. That’s why someone like her must be in the right environment. When surrounded by the wrong people—like her college friends—her potential gets suppressed instead of nurtured.
As for Yu Sen, he’s one of the best portrayals of a mature man who actually acts his age. The way he handles problems, faces obstacles, and socializes with others reflects a mindset shaped over many years. Everyone may have a difficult childhood, but choosing what kind of adult you become is still a choice. Yu Sen could have stayed traumatized, but instead, he chose to move forward. He used his wounds as motivation, allowing himself to see the world from many perspectives—not just as a “victim.” That’s why he ends up becoming a winner in his own life.
Zhuang Xu, on the other hand, perfectly represents an insecure man who constantly sees himself as the victim. It’s exhausting. He only cares about himself. I would definitely avoid someone like Zhuang Xu—not just as a romantic partner, but even as a friend or coworker. People like him always do what they think is right, regardless of whether it hurts others or not.
What I like about this drama is that the “annoying” characters aren’t corrected through lectures. Instead, they’re confronted in the same way they hurt others. Personally, I find that much more effective—and fair.
The pacing is quite slow, so I think this drama works better when watched while it’s ongoing rather than binged in one go.
As for acting, all the actors did an excellent job. There’s really nothing to criticize—they fully delivered their roles.
However, the editing deserves serious criticism. I noticed weak CGI before in Song Wei Long’s Seven Relics of Ill Omen, but since that’s a fantasy drama, I could understand it from a budget perspective. This drama, however, is not fantasy—and it was delayed multiple times. With that much time, the CGI quality was honestly disappointing and distracting. On top of that, there were noticeable audio issues: sound leakage and muffled dialogue in several scenes. Technically, the drama felt inconsistent.
If it weren’t for the enjoyable story—despite its slow pace—I would’ve given this drama a score below 6 because the editing was that distracting. But because the actors performed so well and the story carries many meaningful messages, I’m giving it an 8 out of 10.
From You Are My Glory, I’ve always loved how Gu Man writes her male characters. Yu Tu remains my all-time favorite. In Shine On Me, Yu Sen may not feel as realistic as Yu Tu, but you can still sense his humanity. He feels real in his own way.
One thing I truly appreciate is how this drama demonstrates that not every tragedy leads to trauma. Sometimes, it simply becomes something we regret. I also love how Gu Man portrays the age gap between Yu Sen and Xi Guang—not through numbers, but through maturity and attitude.
Because of that, Xi Guang can fully grow into her potential when she’s with Yu Sen. This contrasts sharply with her relationship with Zhuang Xu, where what gets triggered instead is the unresolved wound left by her father.
We all know Xi Guang was initially drawn to Zhuang Xu because of his looks. But what kept her there was familiarity—his personality resembled her father’s. With Zhuang Xu, Xi Guang felt comfortable because she was used to handling men like him. With Yu Sen, however, she felt comfortable because she could simply be herself.
Xi Guang is the kind of character who easily absorbs the energy around her. That’s why someone like her must be in the right environment. When surrounded by the wrong people—like her college friends—her potential gets suppressed instead of nurtured.
As for Yu Sen, he’s one of the best portrayals of a mature man who actually acts his age. The way he handles problems, faces obstacles, and socializes with others reflects a mindset shaped over many years. Everyone may have a difficult childhood, but choosing what kind of adult you become is still a choice. Yu Sen could have stayed traumatized, but instead, he chose to move forward. He used his wounds as motivation, allowing himself to see the world from many perspectives—not just as a “victim.” That’s why he ends up becoming a winner in his own life.
Zhuang Xu, on the other hand, perfectly represents an insecure man who constantly sees himself as the victim. It’s exhausting. He only cares about himself. I would definitely avoid someone like Zhuang Xu—not just as a romantic partner, but even as a friend or coworker. People like him always do what they think is right, regardless of whether it hurts others or not.
What I like about this drama is that the “annoying” characters aren’t corrected through lectures. Instead, they’re confronted in the same way they hurt others. Personally, I find that much more effective—and fair.
The pacing is quite slow, so I think this drama works better when watched while it’s ongoing rather than binged in one go.
As for acting, all the actors did an excellent job. There’s really nothing to criticize—they fully delivered their roles.
However, the editing deserves serious criticism. I noticed weak CGI before in Song Wei Long’s Seven Relics of Ill Omen, but since that’s a fantasy drama, I could understand it from a budget perspective. This drama, however, is not fantasy—and it was delayed multiple times. With that much time, the CGI quality was honestly disappointing and distracting. On top of that, there were noticeable audio issues: sound leakage and muffled dialogue in several scenes. Technically, the drama felt inconsistent.
If it weren’t for the enjoyable story—despite its slow pace—I would’ve given this drama a score below 6 because the editing was that distracting. But because the actors performed so well and the story carries many meaningful messages, I’m giving it an 8 out of 10.
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