This review may contain spoilers
Not my cup of tea.
I really tried to get into this drama, but it just didn’t work for me. My experience was very similar to what I felt while watching The Best Thing—another drama that everyone seemed to love and praise, yet I personally found painfully boring. So I think this comparison might help: if you enjoyed The Best Thing, chances are you’ll probably also like Shine on Me.
My main issue was the pacing. There simply isn’t enough happening in the plot to justify 30+ episodes that run over 40 minutes each. On top of that, many scenes honestly felt like blatant propaganda. Anyone choosing to watch this drama is expecting a slow-burn romance, not an extended lesson on photovoltaic technology nor company management.
Another point that really pulled me out of the story was the whole conflict about LYS somehow blaming her for his car accident. The logic just wasn’t there. Even if he was on his way to meet her, the accident itself had nothing to do with her. I mean… blame the truck driver who hit you, my guy.
The OST was another major letdown. I genuinely don’t understand this recent trend of using songs with predominantly English lyrics in Chinese modern dramas. Instead of enhancing the emotional impact, the music did the opposite—it made key scenes feel cheap and unnecessarily cheesy, completely undercutting whatever feelings the drama was trying to build in my opinion.
On the positive side, the FL is cute, rich, smart, and—most of the time—not a complete pushover, which is always appreciated. The ML is also likeable, but his background was just impossible for me to take seriously. You’re telling me this man is 28 years old, already a former neurosurgeon, and then—just like that—manages to switch careers and become a fully competent director of a tech company without missing a beat? Please. That level of career whiplash completely broke my suspension of disbelief.
Honorable mention goes to the FL’s cousin, who was genuinely a great character. The siblings-like dynamic between them was always a highlight, and their banter brought some much-needed energy to the episodes he appeared in.
My main issue was the pacing. There simply isn’t enough happening in the plot to justify 30+ episodes that run over 40 minutes each. On top of that, many scenes honestly felt like blatant propaganda. Anyone choosing to watch this drama is expecting a slow-burn romance, not an extended lesson on photovoltaic technology nor company management.
Another point that really pulled me out of the story was the whole conflict about LYS somehow blaming her for his car accident. The logic just wasn’t there. Even if he was on his way to meet her, the accident itself had nothing to do with her. I mean… blame the truck driver who hit you, my guy.
The OST was another major letdown. I genuinely don’t understand this recent trend of using songs with predominantly English lyrics in Chinese modern dramas. Instead of enhancing the emotional impact, the music did the opposite—it made key scenes feel cheap and unnecessarily cheesy, completely undercutting whatever feelings the drama was trying to build in my opinion.
On the positive side, the FL is cute, rich, smart, and—most of the time—not a complete pushover, which is always appreciated. The ML is also likeable, but his background was just impossible for me to take seriously. You’re telling me this man is 28 years old, already a former neurosurgeon, and then—just like that—manages to switch careers and become a fully competent director of a tech company without missing a beat? Please. That level of career whiplash completely broke my suspension of disbelief.
Honorable mention goes to the FL’s cousin, who was genuinely a great character. The siblings-like dynamic between them was always a highlight, and their banter brought some much-needed energy to the episodes he appeared in.
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