This review may contain spoilers
Slow Burn Romance and Second Chances at Life
Shine on Me(SOM) has been a quietly engaging watch so far. I’m enjoying its slow-burn approach and the steady, unhurried pace of its storytelling. Though it is yet to be one of the best dramas for me, there are flashes of genuinely wonderful moments that linger, especially in the way ML pursues the FL with a rare unpretentiousness and also the family dynamics that are portrayed. Those relationships feel reminiscent of You Are My Glory, and while I absolutely love Yu Tu and Qiao Jingjing as a couple, SOM somehow keeps nudging me back into YAMG nostalgia rather than fully eclipsing it.
One of the drama’s interesting aspects is its second male lead. The SML here has narrative weight, and it’s hard not to feel for him even while consistently rooting for the ML. His insecurities feel integral to who he is—not entirely unjustified—and it’s clear the story is intentionally framing him as someone who “misses out” on being the ML in life, not because he lacks worth, but because of timing, fear, and self-doubt. In contrast, despite having his own demons to battle the ML (Yinsen) is secure in his space when it comes to his love for the FL. Yu Tu struggled with insecurities owing to his not being financially that stable in YAMG in the initial part and it is Jingjing's re-entry into his life that makes him realise how much he loves working for the outer space. While Yu Tu took the chance the third time in YAMG, in SOM it is almost as if we are seeing an alternate narrative of how a good looking, genius, aloof hero battling insecurities misses out on real happiness (Zhuang Xu). And so, midway in the drama's journey, you cannot help feeling bad for him too and like I said above, while rooting for the ML who so deserves the FL, rather whom the FL deserves so well as they are actually of similar natures, I also would hope Zhuang has his own happy closure in the drama.
I also loved Jiang Rui, the younger brother. His moments—particularly at the Changbai Mountain resort, where he tries to stand up for his sister—add warmth and emotional grounding to the story.
I appreciate that none of the characters are painted in pure black or white. Their greyer shades make them feel human, flawed, and believable.
For now, I’m content to wait and see how the story unfolds, hoping it leans fully into the emotional depth it’s been quietly building.
One of the drama’s interesting aspects is its second male lead. The SML here has narrative weight, and it’s hard not to feel for him even while consistently rooting for the ML. His insecurities feel integral to who he is—not entirely unjustified—and it’s clear the story is intentionally framing him as someone who “misses out” on being the ML in life, not because he lacks worth, but because of timing, fear, and self-doubt. In contrast, despite having his own demons to battle the ML (Yinsen) is secure in his space when it comes to his love for the FL. Yu Tu struggled with insecurities owing to his not being financially that stable in YAMG in the initial part and it is Jingjing's re-entry into his life that makes him realise how much he loves working for the outer space. While Yu Tu took the chance the third time in YAMG, in SOM it is almost as if we are seeing an alternate narrative of how a good looking, genius, aloof hero battling insecurities misses out on real happiness (Zhuang Xu). And so, midway in the drama's journey, you cannot help feeling bad for him too and like I said above, while rooting for the ML who so deserves the FL, rather whom the FL deserves so well as they are actually of similar natures, I also would hope Zhuang has his own happy closure in the drama.
I also loved Jiang Rui, the younger brother. His moments—particularly at the Changbai Mountain resort, where he tries to stand up for his sister—add warmth and emotional grounding to the story.
I appreciate that none of the characters are painted in pure black or white. Their greyer shades make them feel human, flawed, and believable.
For now, I’m content to wait and see how the story unfolds, hoping it leans fully into the emotional depth it’s been quietly building.
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