Editorials 
What can I say about this series?
I really enjoyed watching it. Each character has a well-defined personality. Jin and Haruki, although they seem very different, share a lot in common, not least their loneliness in the face of parents who don't understand them. The tension between the two characters is well-developed and captivating. I would have liked to see more of their adult lives, but the ending is satisfying. It really is a touching story.Was this review helpful to you?
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Entertained
I really enjoyed watching this series, even though it isn’t really a love story for me . It’s more of a lakorn, with over-the-top villains and dramatic scenes, but it’s still entertaining.I especially liked Pheem’s character, particularly his development, which was interesting to follow. However, his obsession with revenge sometimes made him really annoying.
Than, my poor baby, should never have ended up with that crazy Pheem he clearly deserved better. Even though he had his flaws, I really liked him. The antagonists were over the top but fun to watch. Still, I would have preferred a different ending for them than the one we got.
If you like lakorns, I would still recommend it.
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A Gem
The dynamics between the main characters are really well developed. The show takes its time, and honestly, it’s hard to explain you just have to watch it to get it.I also really appreciate that the series doesn’t try to force us to feel sorry for Jomkwan. She’s scary and clearly unhinged. And yet...
The slow burn between Boon and Win? I absolutely love it. You can really feel that they’re drawn to each other, but there’s always a monster to kill, so they don’t have time to talk about it. The soulmate concept? I’m obsessed with it.
I feel so bad for Win. She’s such a tortured character nothing goes right in her life. Her mother hates and belittles her just to highlight her older sister. Her father tries to support her, but he can only do so much, and her sister ends up being her emotional anchor.
On the flip side, Boon is cherished and protected by her mother. I really liked this contrast it makes sense and adds depth to both their personalities.
Jomkwan is absolutely a crazy, desperate villain, but I still kind of like her. The series actually managed to make me feel sympathy for her.
You also learn a lot about spirituality through the show the prayers, rituals, the meaning of water, and the importance of monks.
I especially love the past timeline in the series. I don’t know what it is, but it brings something fresh and different to the story.
This was the best final episode I’ve seen in a GL. Usually, I skip the last episodes because you already know how it ends but here, it was a pleasant surprise.
And overall, the acting is really solid. The main trio works so well together.
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Passionate Piece of work
It’s clear that Shine is a true success in terms of writing and depth. The work on the characters, both main and supporting, is remarkable and makes them both interesting and memorable.The five main characters are all very different, but they are united by common circumstances. I particularly liked Trin, Krailert, and Victor, who, despite the trials they face, continue to fight and do their best.
I found the historical context very relevant, as the series highlights the protests in Thailand and the weariness of a youth suffering from political corruption and deprived of their freedom and money. This subject, unfortunately, remains current even in 2025.
I would have liked the series to explore the potential love triangle between Trin, Tanwa, and Victor more deeply. Victor was rejected too soon. I also felt that the relationship between Trin and Tanwa deserved more development. Their couple doesn't exude great passion; it feels more like two people just having a good time together without worrying about tomorrow, even if Trin tries to clarify things. Tanwa's indecision and his inhibited side don't help.
In contrast, the relationship between Krailert and Naran is much more intense and passionate. They understand each other without needing to speak, but they have a lot to lose. Both are already in relationships, making their homosexual love impossible to live out in the open, which makes them very complex characters.
My favorite characters remain Krailert and Victor.
Krailert leads a difficult life. As a soldier, he is a victim of blackmail and repeatedly loses people he holds dear. He tries to do his best, but fate is against him. Furthermore, he suffers in silence from not being able to openly live his homosexuality. This is reflected in his personality: he is constantly on guard, as if he expects to be attacked at any moment.
As for Victor, he brings a breath of fresh air to the series. However, his character, initially described as a determined activist aiming to start a business, was relegated to the role of a student madly in love with his teacher whose love is unrequited. I like him a lot, because he represents what many young people should do: fight for their rights.
I would have loved if the politics on the show were not toned down but hey it is what it is. They take a side.
To conclude, Shine is not a classic BL. Far from being a simple romantic comedy, its political approach and authenticity set it apart from other series in the genre, and I wonder if the usual BL audience will appreciate it for what it is.
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An Enjoyable Confusing Show
Milklove released their second series, featuring June and Mewnich as the second main couple, aiming to give the story more depth. The series had a promising start and an interesting plot, but, as usual, the writers seem to enjoy throwing ideas at us without ever developing them or giving them any real impact on the storyline. As a result, the whole thing ends up feeling confusing and sometimes frustrating.There were quite a few issues with the show :
The lack of conflicts between characters, as everything gets resolved too calmly.
The way the relationship between Champoo and Toonam was handled very poorly, even though Champoo’s emotional scene was touching.
That said, there were also positive aspects. The series nicely highlighted :
The importance of a supportive community and how it can help you overcome hardships.
The way grief was portrayed, handled with sensitivity.
And especially the relationship between Wan and Maewman, which was absolutely adorable and heartwarming to watch.
Lastly, I want to emphasize Milk’s acting performance, which genuinely surprised me in this series. I’m looking forward to seeing how she grows and what she will bring to her future projects.
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A Refreshing and Well-Built Surprise
Honestly, I really enjoyed this BL! The concept was original, and I felt there was real character development—for both the main and supporting roles.I was especially moved by Thun. He seems cold and violent at first, but he turns out to be the complete opposite: sweet, deeply loyal, and ready to do anything for the people he loves. Keen also pleasantly surprised me. I was afraid he’d be portrayed as passive or fragile, but not at all—he truly takes control of the situation with strength and confidence.
I also liked Sian Therp. At first, he didn’t leave much of an impression, but later on, he becomes a proper antagonist, which added good tension to the story.
If I had one small regret, it’s that I wish we had seen more moments of friendship within the group. It would’ve emphasized even more how Keen found a new family. Still, the emotional build-up was definitely there.
Visually and story-wise, it was refreshing to watch. Some episodes were over an hour long, which could feel like a lot, but honestly, the pacing made them fly by.
And I can’t finish without mentioning Itt and Mawin’s love story—I loved it! They’re totally different from each other, yet so complementary. And Mawin is such a brat—it’s incredibly entertaining.
I recommend this BL!
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A Visually Impeccable and Moving Series
I absolutely loved ! The direction is excellent, with beautifully shot scenes and colors that tell a story.Akin is the most striking and endearing character. He endures every misfortune and cries from episode 3 to 11, but his sincerity makes him very human. On the other hand, Jin is often in the background, and his behavior is sometimes strange, even aggressive (the hospital kiss, his reactions to Akin's assaults).
I was disappointed by the lack of development for Johnny and Jade. We didn't get enough time to truly despise Johnny, and Jade deserved more depth.
The series effectively exposes agency tactics for promoting or ruining artists, which is sad but realistic. Boom's acting is excellent, and I hope he wins awards!
I highly this series!
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Entertaining, but Lacking Depth
This series offered some good entertainment, and the acting was solid. However, the rest left me wanting more.The main issue? A lack of in-depth character development. We're left with many unanswered questions and storylines that often feel **rushed or unfinished. It's frustrating when characters don't evolve or when their arcs remain incomplete.
The relationship between Wan and Pleng particularly bothered me; I found it clearly toxic. Wan is constantly insistent, both physically and morally, making it seem like Pleng has no say and is subjected to heavy guilt-tripping. Despite this, I must admit that the sexual tension between Wan and Pleng is remarkably well-executed. It's an interesting paradox, but it's not enough to redeem the core dynamic of their relationship.
One positive point worth highlighting: the character of Ek genuinely made me laugh. Their appearances brought a welcome touch of lightness.
In conclusion, while entertaining at times and well-acted, the series suffers from significant shortcomings in terms of character development and narrative coherence.
I don't recommend it
**Rating: 4.5/10**
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Falling asleep
In general, I enjoy the series, even if I find it rather slow. It's hard to explain, but there doesn't seem to be much going on, while we're discovering important elements about the characters.I find that the story is more about family than romance between women. There's certainly a love story between two young women, but what really interests me is family dynamics.
06/10/2025
With news eyes the show is pretty boring
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Something fun to watch
If you want to discover a live-action adaptation of a shonen, this is the series for you. The character of Yun Ga Min is particularly endearing, surrounded by his friends. I also appreciated that the female characters were not relegated to the background, but had a real story to tell. Although it's not the main theme, some of the harassment scenes really worried me.Was this review helpful to you?
Heartsopper for the girls
I really enjoy stories featuring teenage characters. Although “23.5” isn't a coming-of-age series, it nevertheless has the beginnings of one, as Ongsa, over the course of the episodes, begins to open up and gain self-confidence.I really enjoyed the acting in Milk and Love, which was really believable in its role as a high school girl, especially when you know how old they really are.
I really enjoyed the ending, where we see the evolution of all the characters. It's a bit reminiscent of the British series “Heartstopper”, which I really like.
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Thank You Philippines
I really enjoyed the story of Luna and Harry, two characters with diametrically opposed personalities, but who share one thing in common: they live by night. Harry works as a radio presenter, while Luna produces simplified science magazines. Their characters are very different: Harry is radiant and organized, while Luna is rather reserved and seems a little lost in her life. I found the story simple, but extremely enjoyable.The originality of this series lies in the fact that the characters are disabled. Harry uses a wheelchair, while Luna suffers from a sleeping sickness that forces her to sleep during the day and be full of energy at night. I really liked this aspect, as it's rare to see young women with disabilities on screen, which is a real breath of fresh air.
As for the acting, I have nothing negative to say. The chemistry between the actors is palpable and contributes greatly to the series' appeal.
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Loved Junxi, Hated Tuo
It’s a very easy series to watch, with the classic clichés of the childhood friends to lovers trope.I really liked Junxi’s character, as well as the female characters who, although they had only minor roles, deserved more visibility and their own story arc.
On the other hand, I really disliked Tuo’s character. If I had been in Junxi’s parents’ place, I would have said no to this relationship.
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Are they being serious ?
My review isn't going to be very positive because... how do you have FreenBecky in your cast and still end up with such a boring series?I honestly felt like the characters didn't make much sense together, and I never really connected with their relationships. The only truly interesting part of the series is the villain. The performance is excellent, and the character has real depth and complexity.
As for the romance between the Princess and Vayo... I was just bored. It genuinely surprised me because I expected so much more. Their love story never managed to pull me in, and I found myself losing interest instead of getting emotionally invested.
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They tried but it is a miss
I really enjoy how gay and flamboyant this series is it’s refreshing and different. However, compared to the two previous anthologies, it feels a bit all over the place and you end up getting lost. To me, having only a few episodes doesn’t mean a series can’t be good.There isn’t enough time to get attached to the characters. The humor is nice, but when it’s overused, it kind of ruins things a bit, in my opinion.
I really like the cast. I hope Fluke, Lego, Soodyatch, and Neo get to appear together in another series, because they work really well as a group.
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