This review may contain spoilers
A love that comforts you like a warm blanket in the harshest and darkest winter.
This happens to my very first review in MDL even after 6 years of watching cdramas because if any drama deserved appreciation more than what it already has right now - It is this one.
**Be aware the review might contain spoilers !**
**Overall** : This drama can be called as the *blueprint* on how modern idol romance dramas should be made. There is nothing new, nothing mind-blowing, no heart wrenching angst to keep you hooked and definitely not a dramatic love story. The love of Nie Xiguang and Lin Yusen is very ordinary and yet ever-present, the kind of companionship and warmth that you would long for in your everyday life and that is exactly why this drama shines among many others of this genre. With an impeccable cast delivering in their acting and chemistry, a solid and comforting plot to drive the story forward and beautiful camera language that tells the story on its own - Shine On Me is your perfect winter companion.
**Plot** : For any drama to entertain throughout its airing time, it needs a solid script and where can you find a modern idol romance writer better than Gu Man? She strikes once again! You see a girl (Nie Xiguang) being shamed for being brave in her love and your heart aches right then for her. For a love as blazing as her to be met with only coldness and indifference, it pierces your heart as it does to her. Zhuang Xu, her first love, he was not a bad person, he just was not right for her. She has always deserved better. The dialogues in this drama hits you and then stays with you forever. This drama is a perfect example of how you do not need a story with twists and turns causing adrenaline rush, all you need is a story that makes you fall in love with the 'love' they convey. It is not just the main leads, I cannot emphasize how much this drama showed the power of woman in business. The male lead's arc was also equally exciting. If every piece of a puzzle falls in piece just perfectly together, it has to be this drama!
**Screenplay/Direction** : There is not many dramas where the camera language is intentional and the story is told just through frames but once again, Shine on Me did it better than any! There was a scene that beautifully encapsulated the entire plot within a few shots -- Xiguang chasing after the shadow of Zhuang Xu, knowing that he has come to the place she is working at, but as she ran and ran towards him, he was only walking forward. The moment she stopped, he stopped and looked back - they happened to miss each other and he walked forward. But when she stopped and turned back, she found Lin Yusen standing right behind her. By stopping and turning back, she found the person who has walked into her life steadily and became her constant sun.
**Acting** : Zhao Jinmai quite literally becomes a sun in your darkest winter! She has long since shed the skin of every other role and when you see her on screen now, it gives you an out of world experience making you believe Nie Xiguang is real. She is real. This drama made me want to check every work of Zhao Jinmai, I'm that obsessed! Song Weilong does a decent job and most definitely improves throughout the drama. In the beginning I did find his line delivery and acting a bit awkward but he quickly picks up and presents a Lin Yusen who is believable and everybody's ideal companion to walk the life with. Every other actor on screen has made sure that we never feel disconnected from their characters even for a moment.
In a nutshell - If there is one cdrama that you really cannot miss out on, it is Shine On Me and none other.
**Be aware the review might contain spoilers !**
**Overall** : This drama can be called as the *blueprint* on how modern idol romance dramas should be made. There is nothing new, nothing mind-blowing, no heart wrenching angst to keep you hooked and definitely not a dramatic love story. The love of Nie Xiguang and Lin Yusen is very ordinary and yet ever-present, the kind of companionship and warmth that you would long for in your everyday life and that is exactly why this drama shines among many others of this genre. With an impeccable cast delivering in their acting and chemistry, a solid and comforting plot to drive the story forward and beautiful camera language that tells the story on its own - Shine On Me is your perfect winter companion.
**Plot** : For any drama to entertain throughout its airing time, it needs a solid script and where can you find a modern idol romance writer better than Gu Man? She strikes once again! You see a girl (Nie Xiguang) being shamed for being brave in her love and your heart aches right then for her. For a love as blazing as her to be met with only coldness and indifference, it pierces your heart as it does to her. Zhuang Xu, her first love, he was not a bad person, he just was not right for her. She has always deserved better. The dialogues in this drama hits you and then stays with you forever. This drama is a perfect example of how you do not need a story with twists and turns causing adrenaline rush, all you need is a story that makes you fall in love with the 'love' they convey. It is not just the main leads, I cannot emphasize how much this drama showed the power of woman in business. The male lead's arc was also equally exciting. If every piece of a puzzle falls in piece just perfectly together, it has to be this drama!
**Screenplay/Direction** : There is not many dramas where the camera language is intentional and the story is told just through frames but once again, Shine on Me did it better than any! There was a scene that beautifully encapsulated the entire plot within a few shots -- Xiguang chasing after the shadow of Zhuang Xu, knowing that he has come to the place she is working at, but as she ran and ran towards him, he was only walking forward. The moment she stopped, he stopped and looked back - they happened to miss each other and he walked forward. But when she stopped and turned back, she found Lin Yusen standing right behind her. By stopping and turning back, she found the person who has walked into her life steadily and became her constant sun.
**Acting** : Zhao Jinmai quite literally becomes a sun in your darkest winter! She has long since shed the skin of every other role and when you see her on screen now, it gives you an out of world experience making you believe Nie Xiguang is real. She is real. This drama made me want to check every work of Zhao Jinmai, I'm that obsessed! Song Weilong does a decent job and most definitely improves throughout the drama. In the beginning I did find his line delivery and acting a bit awkward but he quickly picks up and presents a Lin Yusen who is believable and everybody's ideal companion to walk the life with. Every other actor on screen has made sure that we never feel disconnected from their characters even for a moment.
In a nutshell - If there is one cdrama that you really cannot miss out on, it is Shine On Me and none other.
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