"Still Shining" Review

This drama might have only 10 episodes, but it felt like 10 years of watching it.

I usually write reviews in a monthly post of what I have watched, but I think it's time to put more focus on one specific drama. I'll try to go more in-depth about the director and screenwriter, the plot of the drama and some other things.

Let me know which review style you prefer, and of course, your thoughts on "Still Shining"!

"Still Shining" director Kim Yoon Jin, screenwriter Lee Sook Yuk, and their previous works.

Looking at "Our Beloved Summer" director, you know that everything will be beautifully filmed; however, you can expect a bit more slow-paced romance. The same goes with the screenwriter, who will try to make it more healing, will analyse the character's feelings, and these expectations come up when you see them both working on "Still Shining".

I'm not the audience for this type of kdramas, but from time to time they surprise me. Especially after the trailer and cute poster, there was excitement built up in me.

Visuals: 10/10

Synopsis:

A story in which young people who share a world of their own become each other’s confidants, and the light that illuminates their lives. Yeon Tae Seo is a subway driver with a sharp perspective on the world. While successfully achieving his longed-for independence and settling down, he encounters Mo Eun A. She is a former hotelier turned Seoul lodging manager, brimming with passion, depth, and lovable charm. This gently stirs up ripples in their daily lives as they were each other's first loves. (Mydramalist)

Find out a spoiler-free review of "Still Shining"

After watching the first episode, I wrote down: "It seems like a sweet first love romance", but it became the most miserable one, and I can't recommend it to anyone. Even if you like slower-paced dramas, "Still Shining" is 10 episodes about nothing.

The storyline has a good start, but quickly goes downhill with the couple breaking up. We can't focus on anything else, too, because not even Tae Soo's family get much screen time.

Not even his brother, whom he cares so much about!

You can't even say that this is a healing drama, as the characters are always sad, and they don't find any happiness in their lives. In the drama, ten years pass after their separation, for them to grow as people, but they're all stuck in the same position, except for Eun A's father.

What I would compliment the drama on is the visuals; everything is shot beautifully, and that's the only thing I can say good things about. The acting wasn't bad either.

Overall: 3.5/10

It should have been a 4, but I really want to give it a two, so we're compromising with my calculations.

Now let's look at it from a more elaborate view...

The storyline of "Still Shining" is all about first love...

"Young people becoming each other's confidants", "light illuminates their lives", what wonderful descriptors they are of the drama that does not bring any hope or light!

The first two episodes were amazing. As expected, it was a bit slow, but it carried a first-love feeling. It was sunny; there may have been struggles, but there is still light and hope in these people's lives.

However, as years pass by, those feelings slowly disappear, except for the first love they had for each other.

After meeting again, they realise what a miserable time they had while they weren't together... But even being with each other doesn't make life different. This drama perfectly portrays that you should not meet your first love, as it will turn into nothing. There won't be the happiness that you had when you first met them, only lingering feelings that still cannot be fully shown.

It never becomes happier, lighter or better; in the end, you just understand how pathetic both of the leads' lives are.

If you're confused about what this drama's plot is about, I'm also confused. It was supposed to be a second-chance romance, but somehow became very plotless. It felt like the writer didn't even know where she wanted her characters to end up.

It felt like watching two people suffering for no reason except their own misery.

Storyline: 2/10

Character pictures are from Asianwiki.

"Still Shining" focuses on two main characters who are incredibly lost, miserable, and we're moving through life with them to reach the same destination.

Yoon Tae Soo was the first character I saw who didn't strive for a better career, more money, or even family goals. He wants to keep his simple life without any improvements. If you look at his background (losing parents when he was a teenager, having to take care of his brother, who now has a limp, and moving from Seoul to his grandparents', who live in the village), it's quite understandable why he's so closed off.

He might not have been, but he always felt like a protector for the rest of his family. He became this saviour that nobody asked for, and he's tired.

Even for Mo Eun A, he tries to be a helper.

However, ten years pass, and nothing changes about him. He is still grieving his parents, acts like he's the only one taking care of this family, when his brother wants to take some responsibility from him.

The most pathetic moment of his life was pining for one girl and forgiving her every time.

Mo Eun A is no better: at school, she seemed like a bright, outgoing teenager. She already had the hardships of looking after her suicidal father, but she still tried her best to put on a smile.

Everything was fine until the break-up scene.

Long-distance relationships are hard, which is understandable when you're both busy, but they're not even living in different countries. It's just one or two hours away from each other.

One mistake is fine; we can let it pass!

She also acknowledged that she shouldn't have done this, especially on the phone, but even with that realisation, there is no change in her character.

Most of the time, she's moaning about her life for no reason. There is a guest house situation, which was hard to understand, as one moment Seong Chan was supposed to take care of it. The next time, it was her step-mother, and then she was in that house.

She's lost more than ever; her storyline is not thoroughly explained, and there is ex-boyfriend Bae Seong Chan, who still has a one-sided crush on her. (I'm sorry, but I cannot understand why everyone is falling in love with her except that she's pretty)

When Eun A decided to be together with Tae Soo again, it felt more like it's just her trying to feel something. Quickly, she understood that he still cares about his family, and bailed again.

There is no other way to explain their relationship: both of them are pathetic.

One runs to the other whenever he gets a call or a message. The other never knows what she wants, even though she has so many loving people all around her.

There is nothing much to say about other characters, as we don't really know them.

Seong Chan is another pathetic guy, but he doesn't even have a background story. Im A Sol was great, but Tae Soo did not care about her, so she's the one running after him.

The whole "okay, let's date" scene, and later Tae Soo running to Eun A minutes later, pissed me off so much. He may not have feelings for her, but that doesn't mean he cannot have a little bit of respect for A Sol and her emotions.

There is not much talk about the father except that his death is needed to make Eun A even more lost. His partner, So Hyeon, would have been more interesting with better development. It's understandable why teenage Eun A hates her, but her mindset never changes (except at the very end).

Of course, grandparents are there, but we barely see them. How can we even be emotional about grandma's scenes when we barely know her??? It's sad that she's in the hospital, but there is no emotional connection to her.

Also, in one scene, Eun A has friends we never saw before... And then after that, they're completely gone??? It was a great cameo for the actors, but where have the characters gone??

Characters: 1/10

Time for Shin Jae Ha to shine with his acting??

The acting wasn't bad, but there was nothing to grab onto; maybe it's because I didn't feel that keen on the characters.

We've seen this side of Jin Young before, which is not bad but nothing new and exciting. He played a similar role in "Out Unwritten Seoul", and especially when Tae Seo's ear hurt, it really reminded me of the character from there.

Kim Min Ju was also good. It might have been the way she understood the character, sad and stoic, but during emotional scenes, I wished for something more.

The biggest disappointment was how little we saw Shin Jae Ha in this drama!

Acting: 7/10

OSTs from "Still Shining"

To finish, OSTS of the drama didn't really impress me. They're not very memorable, and as soon as the episode ended, the music faded from my memory too.

It was surprising to open up the whole OSTs list, and see Jeong Sewoon (who I usually really enjoy), Rothy and Soobin, who have done a lot of music for dramas too. So it was a bit upsetting that, even when listening to each song individually, they were not my cup of tea.

The instrumentals are quite simple, and there are no memorable lyrics that you would want to sing along to.

If I had to pick a favourite song, it would be "Shining" by Kim Pureum.

Music: 4/10