Shine Review
Director: Pond Krisda Witthayakhajorndet and Ning Bhanbhassa Dhubthien
Date Created: 2025-09-20 22:08
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Shine Review: When I first heard about the drama ชาย, I knew it was not going to be yet another romantic drama. With bold directional strokes from Pond Krisda Witthayakhajorndet and Ning Bhanbhassa Dhubthien, and with lead performances from Mile Phakphum, Apo Nattawin, Son Yuke Songpaisan, Euro Yotsawat Tawapee and a talented supporting ensemble. Spanning over eight hard-hitting episodes, it juxtaposes romanticism with political uprisings in the 1970s in Thailand and constructs a narrative bigger than that of a romantic affair. What emerges is a show that is engrossing as it is emotionally taxing, and while it is far from perfect, it is definitely one of the most ambitious BL productions in recent times.
Shine Review
Shine The Series follows Trin, an idealistic young professor newly back home from overseas. His idealism is tested as he is drawn into community development initiatives as much as the gritty surroundings of the protest movement amongst students. He crosses paths with Tanwa, the son of an abusive, rich politico, and their tenuous love affair is the emotional centre of the work. Complexity is introduced in the person of Victor, Trin’s intensely close friend, whose unrequited love and tragic ending give depth upon layer upon sadness.
On the other side of the political divide, the series also explores the secret affair between Krailert, a military man spokesman, and Naran, a young muckraking reporter. What makes the Shine series so compelling is the manner in which it is able to intertwine the personal loves with the larger themes of corruption, repression, and self-sacrifice.
What I liked most about the series is that it never patronises. In lieu of offering a fluffy romantic narrative, the bl drama Shine positions its leads in political tension. The writers never blinked in showing how dangerous it was to open one’s mouth back in the day, and how powers stifled the voices of dissent. Trin, as an example, wrestles with whether his reforms in education are enough, and Victor and Naran put their lives at risk in favour of freedom of expression. These are deeper and richer than what is usually seen in BL dramas, where the romance necessarily overwhelms all else. Political tension and love coexist herein, as understandable and as compelling as one another.
All the same, that ambitious mixing is also what keeps me from giving Shine a perfect score. You’ll find that at times the pacing is hampered by there being so much that is going on. In some scenes during the mid-series episodes, you get the sense that it is pulled and stretched with unnecessary confrontation, and I personally wish the show would focus a little less on Trin and Tanwa’s relationship.
There is chemistry between the actors, and Mile and Apo have already proven how goated their chemistry is in KinnPorsche, and here also, it is cohesive moments as subtle as trading origami with one another or Trin singing Tanwa are incredibly tender—it is, however, regularly overpowered by heavy political moments. While I applaud what the creators tried with balance, the writing isn’t as smooth at times as it later might have been.
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Still, the performances elevate the story. Mile’s Trin is both gentle and strong, embodying the quiet courage of a man who refuses to compromise his ideals. Apo’s Tanwa brings vulnerability to a character who is constantly torn between family loyalty and his desire for freedom. I was especially impressed by how Tanwa’s emotional walls slowly cracked in front of Trin, giving us glimpses of his longing and fear.
Victor, played with sincerity, became one of my favourite characters despite his tragic arc. His unrequited love, his loyalty, and ultimately his heartbreaking fate in Episode 7 hit me harder than I expected. Meanwhile, the Naran-Krailert subplot gave the story a different shade of romance—one rooted in secrecy, tension, and unspoken promises.
Visually, the Bl series Shine is stunning. The cinematography captures both the beauty of Thailand and the chaos of protests, while the costuming and set design immerse us in the 1970s era. The music, especially Trin’s serenade to Tanwa, feels carefully chosen to highlight emotion without being overbearing. I could tell that BoC Productions paid attention to every detail, making this feel like prestige television rather than just another BL romance.
The series left me shaken. Without giving away every detail, I can say that it was one of the most devastating finales I’ve watched in a BL drama. The loss of a key character, the heartbreak of dreams unfulfilled, and the cruel twist of history being rewritten by those in power all left me staring at the screen long after the credits rolled. While some may argue the ending is too heavy, I think it fits the message the show wanted to convey: love does not exist in a vacuum, and sometimes even the purest relationships are crushed by the weight of society and politics.
Thai BL Drama Shine Review: Summing Up
So, do I think that the hype around Thai drama Shine lives up to what people have been claiming? In my opinion, yes—although with certain qualifications. It is not a lightweight-as-a-feather or undemanding watch, and viewers expecting familiar sweetness may leave disappointed. But if you are ready to introduce a BL drama that is boundary-pushing and that blends romance with history, then you absolutely need to watch Shine the Series. Flaws do not detract from it for being experimental or for being well-made. Indeed, they do much the same, as it makes it even more realistic because love and politics are seldom clean and predictable.
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