The series brought by Mile Phakphum and Apo Nattawin, Shine, resonates with the voices that were silenced yet still continue to scream—a movement for change.
Premiered on August 02, 2025, with 8 episodes in total, Shine became a highly relevant series of today. With its political and revolutionary themes, there’s no doubt it became another gem for the BL industry.
Starring Apo Nattawin as Trin, Mile Phakphum as Tanwa, Son Yuke as Krailert, Euro Yotsawat as Naran, Peter Deriy as Victor, and Nok Sinjai as Moira.
The series is set during the political turmoil in Thailand from 1969 to 1971, where ideals and beliefs bring clamor to the country. When different voices ring in corners, and love comes in the way—will duty still matter?
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Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers about the series. Read at your own discretion.
What Happened After the Death of Victor in Shine?
In episode 7, Victor was declared dead after their protest. This caused an emotional burden to his friends—Tiva, Wut, and Narong. Victor’s death also hit Tanwa hard, causing him to drift apart from Trin.
Later, in the final episode, it was revealed that Tiva already knew the protest would be staged. He overheard Tanwa warning Victor not to proceed, but he didn’t realize that the police would be that cruel—to the extent of killing.
Wut and Narong blamed him for letting Victor go on that stage knowing the risks. His friends left him, and he was consumed by guilt. Tiva later went to Victor’s parents to apologize. Crying and down on his knees, he begged for forgiveness. Victor’s father, however, told him that it wasn’t his fault and that no one deserved to die. He told Tiva to live on for Victor.
Tanwa, on the other hand, also felt guilty for not being able to help. Added to his self-blame was Trin’s disappointed look when he learned that Tanwa knew what would happen at the protest. He carried Victor’s death and Trin’s words heavily.
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Krailert Choosing What He Thinks Is Right
From episode 1 up to episode 7, Krailert was someone who didn’t know how to stand on his own. He always followed orders, even when they went against his morals. But in episode 8, he finally stood up.
In front of all the media, he revealed that what happened in the protest was an operation staged by the army under his commander’s orders. He firmly admitted that he also took part in the operation. He knew what was at stake, but in the end, he followed his morals and upheld justice.
Moira’s Help in Unveiling the Truth
Dhevi, Krailert’s wife, went to Moira to ask for help. It turns out Moira had a video of the commander giving orders to Krailert. It was also revealed that he was behind the death of the village chief of Huay Kham Saeng.
Indeed, in Grand Paradiso, there’s no secret Moira can’t uncover. Her help allowed Krailert to prove that the tragedy happened because of the commander’s abuse of power.
Naran and His Journalistic Passion
Delivering the truth—even when your life is on the line—is what a true journalist does. That’s what Naran showed. From the beginning up to the end, his fire for unfolding the truth never faltered, even if it meant hurting the one he loved—Krailert.
Naran was a great representation of how journalists should be, and how media should work. They’re supposed to tell the truth, not manipulate it. Despite being warned by his chief not to meddle with the protesters’ issue, he never listened. Instead, he boldly did what he believed a journalist should do.
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Sarasawadee and Klai Rung
How Sarasawadee and Klai Rung’s story started was beautiful—but it was never meant to last. Sarasawadee was revealed to be Naran, the journalist, while Klai Rung was Krailert, the colonel.
Their different paths collided, but it was never a hindrance to their love. However, in the last episode, Krailert was supposed to leave with Naran, but Dhevi didn’t allow him.
She said that it’s time for Krailert to fully perform his duty as a husband. This led Trin to give the air ticket to Naran so he could leave. Naran left a note to Krailert for the last time. And the story of Sarasawadee and Klai Rung became just pages in the newspaper where they first met.
Tanwa’s Redemption
After Victor’s death, Tanwa became lost and relied heavily on drugs. He often hallucinated and couldn’t sleep. His father eventually came to his aid, even though they weren’t on good terms.
One night, his father gave him a book his mother wrote but never finished. After reading it, Tanwa told his father he would finish the story. Some time later, Tanwa published the book Indigo Moon.
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Did Trin Reconcile with Tanwa in Shine?
Moira sent a copy of Tanwa’s book to Trin in France. After finishing it, Trin called Tanwa’s music shop and Moira, but no one picked up.
Before the finale ended, Trin was leaning on a bridge when Tanwa appeared beside him. Surprised, Trin reached out his hand to introduce himself. The two ended up kissing under the vanilla sky of Paris.
Trin and Tanwa grew old together—a perfect ending for both of them. Krailert was probably happy knowing that his nephew, Trin, lived the life he never got to.
Shine Ending Explained and Review
Shine is not the typical Boys’ Love series that some enthusiasts watch. It’s more of a revolution—a testament to how long people have fought for equality. Trin and Tanwa’s ending fits perfectly, though I couldn’t fully express my satisfaction.
My heart hurts for Victor, a student who fought hard for change but ended up dead. It’s a mirror of reality, especially with what’s happening in the world today. It was both controversial and relevant.
Another piece of me cries for Veera, Krailert’s right hand. He died protecting Krailert, with dignity. In one of the last scenes, Veera’s police friends burned his drawings of Dhevi and a picture of Krailert with Naran to avoid tainting their names. They said it was the very least they could do for him.
As for Naran and Krailert—although their love story was wrong, and I condemn their ways—this was the reality. Krailert was forced to marry Dhevi even though it was never his preference. Maybe it was a fleeting moment for them, but like Sarasawadee said: “Deep down, I know I chose him and he chose me.” It was a bold declaration that even though they didn’t end up together, their hearts still belonged to each other.
Overall, Shine is an intriguing series with highly relevant themes. The protests, the struggles of journalists, the abuse of power, and the inequalities portrayed are still present today. This is the kind of series that awakens the patriotic side of you.
All episodes of Shine are available for streaming on WeTV. Don’t miss this masterpiece!
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Photos: Shine The Series (X)
