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The peoples princess

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It is actually so important to me that Clark did not defeat Luthor. He stopped his current rampage, yes, and that is very important. But Luthor loses the moment the news article goes live.

He is defeated by Eve, who found a way to document all his shady bullshit despite understanding perfectly well what kind of danger she is in. He is defeated by Lois, who already knows Luthor is up to no good but spends the whole movie finding proof of it so she can publish it.

Clark didn't even know about basically any of that stuff before he saw it on the news. He did not defeat Luthor. He just bought Lois the time she needed to do it.

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:)

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what the hey dude!

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Mood post Superman

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CAUSE I'M A PUNKROCKER YES I AM!

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they are best friends

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No boundaries. SUPERMAN (2025)

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Does the comparison make you sick? Does the desire to maintain happiness in the present conflict with the need to share the realistic sorrows of the future? Does the hope to explore all the possibilities override the obligation to fight for just one?

Trin wants Tanwa to be in his future and to share a life with him, but Tanwa simply wants to enjoy what they have now because nobody knows what tomorrow brings. Then, Naran wants to change the future with Krailert, but Krailet can't see beyond now because now is all they have.

Naran and Krailet are talking about matches and flares while candles light the closed room. Everything is artificial even the stories Naran is forced to write, but it could be real. Yet Trin and Tanwa are discussing pain about Tanwa's dad being a threat to Trin, and Tanwa always leaving Trin to suffer alone. They are in an open space where the light comes through, but they just can't make it outside.

Trin lost someone who he didn't fight for, who he didn't fight alongside with and now he won't let that happen again. But Tanwa lost someone and can't fathom letting himself feel that pain again. Krailert won't even allow himself remember all that he has lost. Yet Naran is willingly to lose it all for something real.

*turns over on my bed and stares at the textured ceiling* AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

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Handkerchief Symbolism in Shine

Since the beginning we Trin's handkerchief has been an integral part of his character, which makes sense since the Trin we know is always neat and well put together, its understandable why his character will always use them. But apart from being a practical cleaning tool, his handkerchief has also been an interesting tool for his love life.

In the beginning, Tanwa used it as a cute keepsake when Trin accidentally dropped it and eventually, use eventually use it as a reason to see him.

It is similar how during the Victorian Era, women used to drop their handkerchief in front of a man they are interested with. It is meant to draw the man's attention, a sign that they could initiate a conversation with the woman.

I really liked how the series made use of this, because even though Trin unknowingly dropped his handkerchief, we as the audience, know that at this point of the series that Trin is interested (and attracted) to Tanwa, but was still in denial mode and running away from his feelings (and Tanwa).

Then in the latest episode, Tanwa asked for Trin's handkerchief in exchange for his origami star (cute!!) and Trin gave it to him saying that it's a gift.

Seems cute, right? I thought so too.

But in most Asian cultures, gifting someone a handkerchief is actually bad luck, because of the superstition that the person who gave it you will make you cry or leave you, then at the end of the episode we see Tanwa crying as he drive away from Trin's home... :(

However, gifting handkerchief to your lover can also mean fidelity and romance like how it was used in Shakespeare's Othello as he promised his love and loyalty to his wife (I know it ended badly but I'm talking about the initial intention).

And lastly, historically, handkerchiefs also used as a tool for conveying secret messages to lovers. They would sometimes embroider secret passages or images conveying their love for one another, similarly with what Victor did for Trin when he made the special lunch for Trin, we could see that he even embroidered a little "T x V" on the corners of the handkerchief.

I just really like how Shine is great in keeping and integrating little symbolisms such as this and apply it each of the character's plot, goes to show that this series is really one of a kind!

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MILE PHAKPHUM & APO NATTAWIN as Tanwa Chatbodi & Trin Suwannapas Shine (2025) | EP. 5

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fifteen minutes into shine the series and this is so cool!!!

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"i'm addicted to your scent"

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i say this in all seriousness, a great way to resist the broad cultural shift of devaluing curiosity and critical thinking is to play my favorite game, Hey What Is That Thing

you play it while walking around with friends and if you see something and don't know what it is or wonder why its there, you stop and point and say Hey What Is That Thing. and everyone speculates about it. googling it is allowed but preferably after spending several minutes guessing or asking a passerby about it

weird structures, ambiguous signs, unfamiliar car modifications, anything that you can't immediately understand its function. eight times out of ten, someone in the group actually knows, and now you know!

a few examples from me and my friends the past few weeks: "why is there a piece of plywood sticking out of that pond in a way that looks intentional?" (its a ramp so squirrels that fall in to the pond can climb out) • "my boss keeps insisting i take a vacation of nine days or more, thats so specific" (you work at a bank, banks make employees take vacation in long chunks so if youre stealing or committing fraud, itll be more obvious) • "why does this brick wall have random wooden blocks in it" (theres actually several reasons why this could be but we asked and it was so you could nail stuff to the wall) • "most of these old factories we drive past have tinted windows, was that just for style?" (fun fact the factory owners realized that blue light keeps people awake, much like screen light does now, so they tinted the windows blue to keep workers alert and make them work longer hours)

been playing this game for a long time and ive learned (and taught) a fuckton about zoning laws, local history, utilities (did you know you can just go to your local water treatment plant and ask for a tour and if they have a spare intern theyll just give you a tour!!!) and a whole lot of fun trivia. and now suddenly you're paying more attention when youre walking around, thinking about the reasons behind every design choice in the place you live that used to just be background noise. and it fuckin rules.

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CW: Suicide

I've been thinking about this question: "If that day, you had known what your mom was going to do, would you have stopped her?" and answer all week, because (a) it's kind of an unhinged thing to ask a man who was 12 years old when his mother planned the perfect beach day and then drowned herself in the surf and (b) I don't really like this positioning of suicide (in this context) as some sort of "well, follow your bliss!" activity. If you are 12 years old and your mom wants to die in the ocean, you have every right to be like, you know, that sucked of her, actually.* However, the question does make more sense in the context of Trin's history with Claire. He did try to stop her from doing something he saw as dangerous/suicidal, and she did die, and maybe he needs to relieve himself of the guilt he's carrying over a choice that was hers. Personally, I don't think the two make great parallels. Claire was of sound mind, she was not trying to die, and she wasn't creating a nearly diabolical amount of trauma for a 12-year-old child. If I'm being honest, I don't love using suicide this way in a narrative! That said, these are 1960s characters and I think the fact that Trin asks this question does give insight into how his character feels this deep sense of responsibility for making change in his country without putting anyone at risk for violence. It's personal to him and seems nearly compulsive - but he's taking on a lot of responsibility for things outside of his control. And I suppose Tanwa's answer of "no" to this question stands in stark contrast to the impossible task he's set himself. I'm guessing we're going to pick up on the conflict between their two worldviews in the last half of the series, so it'll be interesting to see where the final balance lands. *there are many nuances of discussion to be had around depression and treatment and the lack of options in the 1960s, but I think they only add to my point that this was not necessarily a logical decision made by a person of sound mind. Also, Shine does not seem to be having those conversations, so I'm not going to feel obligated here.

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"If the glint in my eye traced the depths of your sigh Down that passage in time

Back to the moment I crashed into you

Like so many wrecks do

Too impaired by my youth To know what to do."

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In which Tanwa returns the favor finger SHINE (2025), dir. Jean Khamkwan Duangmanee