I love this series, I have always loved Ngern’s acting and I really like Oat’s portraying of Dao. I’ll likely comment some more on them, but I really wanted to praise Meen and Do’s actress/actor as well, their story broke my heart and it wouldn’t have been the same with mid actors. I felt so sorry and emotional watching these two characters, so thanks to the comedians for their honest portrayal.
I absolutely loved this series - the way it immerses you in such a pivotal era of the 20th century is just brilliant. What I really don’t get are the comments that focus only on the ending of one couple, instead of appreciating the series as a whole. Every time there’s more than one couple in a show, some people seem to forget the actual story and turn it into a competition of “which couple deserved better” – and honestly, that gets really tiring.
To go as far as discrediting an entire production company just because the ending of one couple didn’t match your personal expectations feels unfair. From the very beginning, it was quite clear to me that Naran and Krailert were not going to end up together, given their professional circumstances. Yes, it’s painful, but it’s also a realistic portrayal of what countless couples experienced at that time. Krailert was never truly “free” from the start of their relationship, unlike Trin and Tanwa, who had at least a slightly better chance because of their non-governmental work and the fact that neither of them was already married.
That’s why the ending didn’t surprise me. It hurts, sure, but this series never promised to be a light BL with rainbows and guaranteed happy endings. From the start, it was clear the story aimed for authenticity, not fantasy. And in my opinion, that choice - combined with the outstanding execution and the GREAT acting - makes Shine one of the strongest series of its kind.
Unpopular opinion I guess but I really liked Book and Force in this (as well as the other actors). The story of Mew and Top interested me the most, especially since episode 6. Really liked their acting (everyone was good, but I guess I expected it from the others and was more surprised by them since I never really saw theme in serious / sad characters).
I’m on episode 17 and I’m so annoyed by the misunderstandings since 2 episodes (I hate it when they drag it in a show), but everyone seems to love it so much that I don’t know if I should drop it or continue🥲 I fast-forwarded a lot
I respect your point of view, but I really can’t agree with the idea that GMMTV has “the best stories.”…
What you’re saying actually reinforces the point I was trying to make. 😅GMMTV’s strength is in producing a high volume of shows, constantly creating new Cps, and promoting them heavily - that’s why their fanbase is so huge and why every new pairing gets attention. But that doesn’t mean every series is amazing in terms of writing, cinematography, or acting.
BoC (among others), on the other hand, doesn’t focus on fan service because that’s not where they put their energy. Their emphasis is on storytelling, production quality, and creating something more cinematic, even if it means fewer Cps overall. It’s simply a different approach.
I am goingg to be honest. GMMTV might not have the biggest budget for their shows but their stories are the best.…
I respect your point of view, but I really can’t agree with the idea that GMMTV has “the best stories.” Their strength is in producing a lot of shows and promoting their actors/couples well - but quantity doesn’t equal quality. When you produce that much, of course some will be interesting, but many are also very average.
If you compare that to other companies or producers (like BeOnCloud but there are others) which put out far fewer series but invest much more in the writing, cinematography, and depth of the story, the difference is clear to me. GMMTV’s model is built on volume and fan-service, and that’s why they’re popular - not because every story they tell is top tier.
It’s true that the representation is very unbalanced and that there’s a clear complacency toward the United…
That’s a fair point, and I agree - the US’ support for the junta did create a contradiction that the student movement was probably very aware of. You’re right that portraying those same students as pro-American does feel like a form of revisionism.
Thanks to you for taking the time to share your perspective. I’ll keep watching Shine with all this in mind!
It’s true that the representation is very unbalanced and that there’s a clear complacency toward the United…
I get your point of view and you seem to know history well, so I understand that it might be frustrating.
About your first question, I’d say that’s a really important point, because yes, Thailand at the time was capitalist and supported by the U.S., but it was also under a military dictatorship. So while the regime fit neatly into Washington’s “anti-communist camp,” it was still deeply authoritarian at home. For the generals, any democratic rhetoric - no matter if it sounded Western - was a threat to their power, which is why they repressed it. In my opinion this is where the contradiction lies: the U.S. claimed to stand for democracy, but it was willing to back dictatorships so long as they were anti-communist. And on the Thai side, opposing the regime didn’t automatically mean embracing communism. Some people could reject the dictatorship yet still distrust the Soviet model, so they leaned toward liberal-democratic ideals, even if the U.S. government itself was propping up the junta.
That’s why it might feel off when the show’s anti-regime characters simply echo pro-U.S. talking points when in reality, their stance would have been more complicated I guess. I agree that the way Shine presents it looks more like a modern projection: good guys = pro-Western democracy, bad guys = communism/dictatorship. It ignores the messy historical reality (maybe because it’s not solely a historical serie) in favor of a simplified message that resonates with Thailand’s current political climate.
I am a bit confused as to what the political message here is. Thailand at the time was under an authoritarian…
It’s true that the representation is very unbalanced and that there’s a clear complacency toward the United States, but it also has to be put back into context.
I’m not a history specialist so sorry if I leave a bunch of details, but I take it that at the time, the world was structured around a direct opposition between the USSR and the USA: the Cold War wasn’t only military or ideological, it was also a battle of influence. As a result, every country caught in that gray zone almost naturally tended to lean toward the side that shared its political outlook, or that seemed like the lesser evil compared to the other.
With that it reflects this simplified framework: on one side, communism presented as a direct threat; on the other, a democratic capitalism that was imperfect, but perceived as the guarantor of a certain freedom. That doesn’t mean reality was actually that binary (far from it), nor that the US didn’t commit atrocities in the global south.
So, both couples had non-explicit love scenes, and of the two, it was implied that Rati and Thee wemnt "all…
I’m not entirely on the same page with you here. I’ve loved this series from the very start (and Great and Inn) and I’ve actually taken some time to think about why I connect with it the way I do.
I think part of the difference you’re describing isn’t about one couple being “hot” and the other being “sexless,” but about the kind of story they’re each telling. Boom and Aou often play impulsive, passionate characters - the fire is immediate, and it’s a huge part of their charm. It works perfectly for the roles they take on, and that physical intensity works incredibly great for them.
But with Great and Inn in this, I see something different - and for me, just as compelling. Their characters here feel written more like a slow-burn Jane Austen romance: measured, layered, where meaning lives in glances, pauses, and the smallest of gestures. Instead of impulsive sparks, it’s the steady warmth that builds over time. That doesn’t make it “artificial” — it makes it a different style of intimacy.
What I get from Great and Inn is emotional precision. A hand lingering just a second longer than necessary, the shift in tone when they say each other’s names, the way their eyes soften - that’s their version of passion. It’s not about ignoring someone’s body or avoiding heat, it’s about showing attraction in a way that matches their characters’ personalities and the tone of the story.
So, I don’t see a lack of chemistry at all, I just see a quieter, more romantic register. And honestly, that contrast is what makes having both couples in the story so satisfying, in my opinion. :)
He just needs a nose job, that will bring out his features
Saying someone needs a nose job? That’s not “just an opinion” — that’s tearing someone down. And if you can’t see that, I honestly don’t even know how to talk to you. Comments like that are pure BS and show a serious lack of empathy. All the “sorry not sorry,” “I’m just being honest,” “he needs this or that,” or “my opinion is the truth” stuff? Please. Your opinion is just that — an opinion. It’s subjective. Just like mine is. For example, I personally find that actor incredibly attractive and love his face — does that make it a fact? No. And that’s perfectly fine. But I would NEVER tell someone to change their appearance to fit my personal tastes. But hey, if you genuinely think you’re doing nothing wrong, good for you. I’m not arrogant enough to believe I could change your mindset. Just don’t pretend it’s “no hate”. It is.
He just needs a nose job, that will bring out his features
Honestly, if you think making comments like that is ok, I really hope you’re not giving your friends the same kind of “advice” under the excuse of being kind. There’s nothing kind or constructive about tearing someone down over their appearance. It’s just bs and this is exactly what’s wrong with the world - people thinking others need to fit their personal standards to be acceptable. It’s arrogant and toxic.
I wish there was a way i could watch it to see what its like without supporting the shit company BOC. left me…
It’s totally valid not to want to support a company you disagree with (even if I don’t get why you consider them as shit) — but that also means accepting the trade-off of not consuming what they produce. Wanting access without support kind of dodges the choice. And if everyone went by your logic, this content you’d like for free wouldn’t even exist in the first place. ;)
The shallowness of some of the comments here shake my belief in humankind
The shallowness and the violence underlying their comments. I had to restrain myself to write a large comment but I’m not even sure these people would understand the problem, as they allow themselves to write such bs.
To go as far as discrediting an entire production company just because the ending of one couple didn’t match your personal expectations feels unfair. From the very beginning, it was quite clear to me that Naran and Krailert were not going to end up together, given their professional circumstances. Yes, it’s painful, but it’s also a realistic portrayal of what countless couples experienced at that time. Krailert was never truly “free” from the start of their relationship, unlike Trin and Tanwa, who had at least a slightly better chance because of their non-governmental work and the fact that neither of them was already married.
That’s why the ending didn’t surprise me. It hurts, sure, but this series never promised to be a light BL with rainbows and guaranteed happy endings. From the start, it was clear the story aimed for authenticity, not fantasy. And in my opinion, that choice - combined with the outstanding execution and the GREAT acting - makes Shine one of the strongest series of its kind.
BoC (among others), on the other hand, doesn’t focus on fan service because that’s not where they put their energy. Their emphasis is on storytelling, production quality, and creating something more cinematic, even if it means fewer Cps overall. It’s simply a different approach.
If you compare that to other companies or producers (like BeOnCloud but there are others) which put out far fewer series but invest much more in the writing, cinematography, and depth of the story, the difference is clear to me. GMMTV’s model is built on volume and fan-service, and that’s why they’re popular - not because every story they tell is top tier.
Thanks to you for taking the time to share your perspective. I’ll keep watching Shine with all this in mind!
About your first question, I’d say that’s a really important point, because yes, Thailand at the time was capitalist and supported by the U.S., but it was also under a military dictatorship. So while the regime fit neatly into Washington’s “anti-communist camp,” it was still deeply authoritarian at home. For the generals, any democratic rhetoric - no matter if it sounded Western - was a threat to their power, which is why they repressed it.
In my opinion this is where the contradiction lies: the U.S. claimed to stand for democracy, but it was willing to back dictatorships so long as they were anti-communist. And on the Thai side, opposing the regime didn’t automatically mean embracing communism. Some people could reject the dictatorship yet still distrust the Soviet model, so they leaned toward liberal-democratic ideals, even if the U.S. government itself was propping up the junta.
That’s why it might feel off when the show’s anti-regime characters simply echo pro-U.S. talking points when in reality, their stance would have been more complicated I guess. I agree that the way Shine presents it looks more like a modern projection: good guys = pro-Western democracy, bad guys = communism/dictatorship. It ignores the messy historical reality (maybe because it’s not solely a historical serie) in favor of a simplified message that resonates with Thailand’s current political climate.
I’m not a history specialist so sorry if I leave a bunch of details, but I take it that at the time, the world was structured around a direct opposition between the USSR and the USA: the Cold War wasn’t only military or ideological, it was also a battle of influence. As a result, every country caught in that gray zone almost naturally tended to lean toward the side that shared its political outlook, or that seemed like the lesser evil compared to the other.
With that it reflects this simplified framework: on one side, communism presented as a direct threat; on the other, a democratic capitalism that was imperfect, but perceived as the guarantor of a certain freedom. That doesn’t mean reality was actually that binary (far from it), nor that the US didn’t commit atrocities in the global south.
I think part of the difference you’re describing isn’t about one couple being “hot” and the other being “sexless,” but about the kind of story they’re each telling. Boom and Aou often play impulsive, passionate characters - the fire is immediate, and it’s a huge part of their charm. It works perfectly for the roles they take on, and that physical intensity works incredibly great for them.
But with Great and Inn in this, I see something different - and for me, just as compelling. Their characters here feel written more like a slow-burn Jane Austen romance: measured, layered, where meaning lives in glances, pauses, and the smallest of gestures. Instead of impulsive sparks, it’s the steady warmth that builds over time. That doesn’t make it “artificial” — it makes it a different style of intimacy.
What I get from Great and Inn is emotional precision. A hand lingering just a second longer than necessary, the shift in tone when they say each other’s names, the way their eyes soften - that’s their version of passion. It’s not about ignoring someone’s body or avoiding heat, it’s about showing attraction in a way that matches their characters’ personalities and the tone of the story.
So, I don’t see a lack of chemistry at all, I just see a quieter, more romantic register. And honestly, that contrast is what makes having both couples in the story so satisfying, in my opinion. :)
All the “sorry not sorry,” “I’m just being honest,” “he needs this or that,” or “my opinion is the truth” stuff? Please. Your opinion is just that — an opinion. It’s subjective. Just like mine is. For example, I personally find that actor incredibly attractive and love his face — does that make it a fact? No. And that’s perfectly fine. But I would NEVER tell someone to change their appearance to fit my personal tastes.
But hey, if you genuinely think you’re doing nothing wrong, good for you. I’m not arrogant enough to believe I could change your mindset. Just don’t pretend it’s “no hate”. It is.