ysadulset

Tried to avoid major spoilers, but tagging just in case.
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The romance in Shine On Me takes its time, and I can see why some people might find it slow or even boring. Personally, I thought the pacing suited the story it wanted to tell. The slow build felt intentional rather than dragged out, and despite that, the chemistry between the leads is definitely there.

I was hesitant to start this drama at first because I thought it would be one of those stories where the female lead keeps going back and forth between the male lead and the second male lead. I fully expected emotional limbo, confusion, and dragged-out feelings, especially since I thought the drama began with the FL being in a relationship with the SML. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case.

There was actually nothing between the FL and the SML, it was clear from the beginning. For a long time, the FL genuinely believed her feelings weren’t reciprocated. The problem wasn’t that she couldn’t let go, but that the SML kept confusing her. He stayed vague, showed up at the wrong moments, and never clearly drew a line. What made him especially frustrating was that he had multiple chances to make things right, yet only started moving when the ML entered the picture. He projected his insecurities onto the FL, questioned her abilities, and clung to what he called a promise, even though there wasn’t a promise at all. He rejected her, never reassured her, and still somehow expected her to wait. He had the most pride and the most insecurity. While I appreciate that the drama allows him to reflect on his mistakes, I personally wished the consequences had hit harder. What I really liked, though, was that once the FL recognized this pattern, she didn’t fall back into it. Even when he tried to pull her back later, she stood her ground.

Both the ML and FL come from wealthy families, which I actually liked because it meant we didn’t have to sit through insecurity arcs about money or status. At the same time, they aren’t portrayed as out-of-touch rich characters. They’re where they are because of their own efforts. The FL does have moments early on where she doesn’t fully understand how much more difficult things can be for others, but that felt realistic rather than annoying, and she does grow from it. Her character growth is also very evident in my opinion. She learns how to value herself and choose people who don’t dim her light, whether that’s friends, family, or a partner. I also liked that both leads were able to pursue what they genuinely wanted, without being controlled by family expectations. This rich x rich pairing worked so well because there were no ego games between them.

So, instead, the insecurity shows up in other characters, especially the SML and the woman who likes him. I really disliked how this girl kept pushing the narrative that the FL only succeeded in things because of her background and connections. It felt more like jealousy she refused to admit. She wanted that story to be true because it made her feel better about herself. What made it worse was how no one around them actively defended the FL when there was no real proof to back those claims. It made sense that the FL eventually felt closer to her coworkers than to her college “friends.” I did appreciate tho that she didn’t just accept this quietly and actually stood up for herself.

The relationship between Yu Sen and Xiguang is the complete opposite of all that mess. They trust each other and communicate well. There are several situations where misunderstandings could have easily been used to create conflict, but the writers chose to let the characters communicate instead, and I really appreciated that. Yu Sen is also a very solid male lead. He gave the FL the reassurance she never received from the SML. He’s clear about his feelings and intentions and never expected her to read his mind. He’s emotionally mature, patient, and respectful. He starts off cold due to misunderstandings from before they even met, but he has never put the FL in a bad light. He never pressured her either. He simply showed up consistently when she needed him until she opened her heart to him.

One last note: I really disliked the FL’s father, while I loved her mother. Her father’s greed and pride were hard to watch, and it took a bit too long, for my liking, for the FL to finally put him in his place. He’s definitely on my list of bad cdrama fathers. I also think his affair storyline dragged longer than necessary. Her mother, on the other hand, was supportive of the FL and was steady without adding unnecessary drama. She was just as strong-headed as the FL and eventually had her own breakthrough later in the story, which was very much deserved.

The best side characters go to the FL's cousin and his parents. Thanks uncle and auntie for being there for the FL. Lots of love for them!!